The CATHEDRAL TIMES The weekly newsletter of the Cathedral of St. Philip · Serving Atlanta and the World · December 16, 2018
HOW WELL DOES YOUR HOUSEHOLD TRAVEL TOGETHER? By the Very Rev. Sam Candler Dean of the Cathedral Are you traveling anywhere this season? It is a question that I hear often this time of year. Maybe we are standing around at the office. Maybe we are at a party with nothing else to say. Maybe it is simply a question we are asking ourselves! Are you going anywhere this time of year? Are you traveling? For sure, some of us are not. But also for sure, many of us are. For some of us, we use time between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day to travel. Maybe we drive to the homes of relatives, or friends in other cities. Maybe we visit our children away at school. Some of us use vacation time to plan longer trips. Many of us are, simply, on the move. So it was that Mary and Joseph, and the soon-to-be-born Jesus, were on the move, too. Of course, our one story of the birth of Jesus is really a collection of various stories. Taken together, however, they tell of a holy family on the move. Joseph and Mary, apparently, lived in Nazareth, but they were required to travel to Bethlehem to meet the requirements of the government census. While in Bethlehem, away from home, the time came for Mary to deliver Jesus. Then, before they could all return to Nazareth, they had to flee to another place, a foreign country, Egypt, in order to escape the impetuous fury of Herod. It was, maybe, after two years in Egypt that the holy family could return safely to Nazareth. How well does your household travel together? I have no idea how the holy family of Jesus traveled. (A later story will describe how the parents of Jesus actually forgot Jesus when he was twelve years old; apparently, to every parent’s horror, they actually left Jesus behind when they left the temple in Jerusalem one year. But that’s another story!) No, I do not know how well the holy family traveled. But I do know that the places they touched during their travels became holy. I have been to present day shrines in the Holy Land that commemorate those places. Somehow, we remember those destinations with holy awe; Jesus was there. What if we, today, traveled with the intention of making our destinations holy? I know that, for many of us, those destinations are already “holy” to us. Maybe those destinations are where we grew up; or maybe those destinations are where our grandchildren are! They are holy! But, sometimes, those destinations can seem, or can become, chores and labors for us. We fight along the way. We get bored and tired there. We long to be somewhere else. Even when we stay right where we live, sometimes we long to be somewhere else. I imagine that not every moment during the holy family’s travels was exhilarating. I suppose there were moments when an infant was crying, when a spouse was complaining, when there was too much traffic, or too much confusion, some wrong turns, and some disagreements. But, in the end, something holy was going on. Let’s hope for holiness during whatever traveling, or staying, we do this season. Let’s treat our destinations, and our trips, as if we are treading on holy ground. Even when things go wrong, there can still be something there for us. We might still find something powerful or tender or striking or revealing about the moment; those are the moments we can recall later as holy moments. The holy moments occur when something true or good or loving shows up; those are the moments when God has touched us and that place. May all our traveling be holy!
This SUNDAY
DECEMBER 16, 2018 · The Third Sunday of Advent, Year C Zephaniah 3:14-20 · Canticle 9 · Philippians 4:4-7 · Luke 3:7-18
7:45 A.M. HOLY EUCHARIST, MIKELL CHAPEL
Celebrant and Preacher: The Rev. Canon Cathy Zappa
8:45 A.M. HOLY EUCHARIST, CATHEDRAL Celebrant: The Very Rev. Sam Candler Preacher: The Rev. Canon George Maxwell Staff Singers: Charles Beaudrot, Comfort, comfort ye my people Anonymous, 16th century, Rejoice in the Lord always
9 A.M. HOLY EUCHARIST, MIKELL CHAPEL
Celebrant and Preacher: The Rev. Canon Cathy Zappa
11:15 A.M. HOLY EUCHARIST, CATHEDRAL Celebrant: The Very Rev. Sam Candler Preacher: The Rev. Canon George Maxwell Cathedral Choir: Charles Beaudrot, Comfort, comfort ye my people Anonymous, 16th century, Rejoice in the Lord always
11:15 A.M. LA SANTA EUCARISTÍA, MIKELL CHAPEL Celebrant: The Rev. Canon Cathy Zappa Preacher: The Rev. Deacon Juan Sandoval
4 P.M. CHORAL EVENSONG, CATHEDRAL Celebrant and Preacher: The Rev. Canon Carolynne Williams Cathedral Schola: Thomas Morley, Preces and Responses Orlando Gibbons, Short Service Orlando Gibbons, This is the record of John Orlando Gibbons, O thou the central orb
The CATHEDRAL of ST. PHILIP
The Very Rev. Samuel G. Candler, Dean Dale Adelmann, Ph.D., Canon for Music The Rev. Lauren R. Holder, Canon for Outreach and Congregational Life The Rev. George M. Maxwell, Jr., Vicar The Rev. Catherine Zappa, Canon for Education and Worship The Rev. John William Harkins III, Ph.D., Priest Associate The Rev. Deacon Juan Sandoval, Deacon for Hispanic Ministries The Rev. Theophus “Thee” Smith, Ph.D., Priest Associate The Rev. Carolynne G. Williams, Canon Associate for Pastoral Care and Elder Ministry Austin Hall, Senior Warden Doug O’Bryan, Junior Warden
CATHEDRAL TIMES SUBMISSION DEADLINES: FOR THE SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23/30 ISSUE, THE DEADLINE IS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12. FOR THE SUNDAY, JANUARY 6 ISSUE, THE DEADLINE IS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19. PLEASE EMAIL ANNOUNCEMENT REQUESTS TO THE EDITOR, DAN MURPHY, AT DMURPHY@CATHEDRALATL. ORG. TO RECEIVE THE TIMES BY EMAIL, CONTACT JANIE HARRIS AT JHARRIS@CATHEDRALATL.ORG.
404-365-1000 | cathedralATL.org cathedralatl
WORSHIP SERVICES FOR THE 2018 CHRISTMAS SEASON Sunday, December 23 –The Fourth Sunday of Advent
The 7:45 a.m., 8:45 a.m., 9 a.m., and 11:15 a.m. services will be held as usual. Children’s, youth, and adult Sunday School will not meet this Sunday. 4 p.m. A Festival of Nine Christmas Lessons and Carols Officiant: The Rev. Canon Lauren Holder The Cathedral Schola
Monday, December 24 – Christmas Eve
4 p.m. Children’s Christmas Pageant with Holy Eucharist Celebrant: The Very Rev. Sam Candler The Cathedral Choristers and members of the Cathedral Schola Overflow seating and live streaming in Child Hall The Pageant will be broadcast online at cathedralATL.org/stream 8 p.m. Choral Prelude and Carols 8:30 p.m. Festival Choral Eucharist Celebrant: The Very Rev. Sam Candler; Preacher: The Right Rev. Robert Wright The Cathedral Choir with members of the Atlanta Symphony Brass 11 p.m. Choral Prelude and Carols 11:30 p.m. Festival Choral Eucharist Celebrant: The Very Rev. Sam Candler; Preacher: The Right Rev. Robert Wright The Cathedral Choir with members of the Atlanta Symphony Brass Worship with the Cathedral on WSB-TV, Channel 2, starting at 11:35 p.m.
Tuesday, December 25 – Christmas Day
10 a.m. Holy Eucharist Celebrant: The Rev. Dr. Bill Harkins; Preacher: The Rev. Canon George Maxwell
LIVING NATIVITY! Join us for the Living Nativity from 10–11 a.m. this Sunday, December 16 in Child Hall. All are welcome! Regular Sunday School classes will not meet.
WORSHIP BLUE CHRISTMAS SERVICE For many of us, Christmas is a tough time and can be the occasion for “feeling blue,” while the culture around is focused on being happy and celebrating. The constant refrain on radio and television, in shopping malls and churches, about the happiness of the Christmas season, and about getting together with family and friends, reminds many people of what they have lost or have never had. The anguish of broken relationships, the insecurity of unemployment, the weariness of ill health, the pain of isolation, the gut-wrenching loss of a loved one, and even the loss of a dear family pet – all can contribute to feeling alone, or “blue,” especially during the holidays. There are years when we hurt at Christmas, and we struggle to join in the festivities. At such times we need to co-create sacred space, and take time to acknowledge our sadness, loss, and grief. And, we need to know that we are not alone. The Cathedral invites you to join in sharing a Blue Christmas Service on Wednesday, December 19, at 6:30 p.m., in St. Mary’s Chapel. God’s presence is also for those who mourn and for those who struggle, and God’s Word comes to shine light into our darkness. We pray that you may find comfort and peace and may experience the wonder and hope of Christmas, even in the midst of “feeling blue.” Please feel free to invite others to come. For questions contact Dr. Bill Harkins at bharkins@cathedralATL. org or Canon Cathy Zappa at czappa@cathedralATL.org.
Christmas Lessons & Carols
The Cathedral Schola will lead our annual Festival of Nine Christmas Lessons and Carols by candlelight this Sunday, December 23 at 4 p.m. Biblical readings narrating the prophecy and birth of Jesus are illuminated by congregational carols and choral music of the Christmas season. Our festival is modeled on the famous worship service at King’s College, Cambridge, which has become popular worldwide since World War II through annual radio broadcasts on Christmas Eve. Whether you best sense the Eternal through beautiful choral music or popular carols sung by all, this service holds something for everyone. Amid the frenetic pace of the Christmas season, this is a perfect opportunity to take a few moments to step back to contemplate and enjoy its real meaning.
Christmas ALTAR FLOWERS Please list the name (or names) as you want them to appear: In Memorial for:
In Thanksgiving for:
name(s): In Memorial for:
In Thanksgiving for:
name(s): In Memorial for:
In Thanksgiving for:
name(s): In Memorial for: name(s):
In Thanksgiving for:
Please complete the following information about you: your name(s): phone: date: Please include a check with your request, made payable to The Cathedral of St. Philip. While any gift is appreciated, a minimum of $100 per printed line is suggested. Checks and forms should be sent to: The Cathedral of St. Philip, Attn.: Janie Harris, 2744 Peachtree Rd., NW, Atlanta, GA 30305. You may also make arrangements by contacting Janie Harris, 404-365-1034 or jharris@ cathedralATL.org. The Flower Guild will also be taking these requests in the Atrium on Sundays through December 16.
GUEST Speaker
YOUTH Ministries YOUTH CONFIRMATION STARTS IN JANUARY
Join us as we welcome Nadia Bolz-Weber on Saturday, March 2 at 7 p.m. at the Cathedral. A former stand-up comic and a recovering alcoholic, Nadia is the founder and former pastor of a Lutheran congregation in Denver, House for All Sinners and Saints. Join Nadia for a lively evening of truth-telling, conversation, humor, healing and maybe a short dance party as she proposes “...a sexual reformation for those who have been hurt...for those who have done the hurting...and for those who are certain they know all there is to know about what God thinks of sex.” Also on stage for a conversation with Nadia will be Neichelle Guidry. Tickets are $15 at cathedralATL.org/shameless.
Confirmation is when a person makes the decision to take ownership of the promises made by their parents, Godparents, and grandparents at their baptism, in order to live out their Baptismal Covenant. At the Cathedral, we encourage Confirmation during the 8th grade year, and our 8th grade Sunday School curriculum is a Confirmation curriculum. All youth are invited to participate in the Confirmation program if they feel ready, so long as they are at least in 8th grade. Those wishing to participate in the Confirmation program are asked to prayerfully commit to attend classes during the spring semester, participate in small group discussions during that time, attend the Confirmation retreat, complete the Confirmation journal questions every week, and be an active member at the Cathedral. The Confirmation program begins January 11-13 with a retreat to Camp Mikell and continues throughout the semester during the Sunday School hour. Those who choose to be confirmed will participate in the Confirmation service on April 28. Please contact Maggie Paul, mpaul@cathedralATL.org, if you are interested in registering your youth in the Confirmation program.
STEWARDSHIP YEAR-END GIVING The Cathedral needs to receive at least $980,000 in contributions in December in order to have our income meet our expenses. Here’s how you can help: •
Cash and check contributions can be mailed, placed in the plate at any service, or hand-delivered to the Cathedral stewardship or finance offices. A contribution must be received at the Cathedral by Monday, December 31 or postmarked by Monday, December 31 in order for it to be considered a 2018 tax deduction.
•
Online contributions can be made via cathedralATL.org/contribute. Contributions can be processed through Monday, December 31 in order to be considered for a 2018 tax deduction.
•
Credit card donations may be processed at the Atrium kiosk any time the building is open.
•
Stock certificates must delivered to our office by Monday, December 31 or be received by our broker by Monday, December 31. Shares can be transferred electronically to Morgan Stanley Smith Barney (DTC #0015), Account #308-130762. Our contact is Cathy Lamb at 404-266-6315. Please notify David Rocchio, drocchio@cathedralATL.org or 404-365-1033, of the transfer.
Year-end statements of contributions will be mailed in late January 2019 accounting for all of your contributions in the 2018 calendar year. Please contact David Rocchio, drocchio@cathedralATL.org or 404-365-1033, with any questions.
OUTREACH SEND A MESSAGE OF HOPE
HABITAT CHRISTMAS BASKETS
Every Christmas Eve, Cathedral parishioners pack sack lunches and worship with the members of Church of the Common Ground. The sack lunches contain sandwiches, fruit, and cookies. Sign up to help serve at cathedralATL.org/ commonground. This year we would like for each sack lunch to also contain a Christmas card for the person to open. Christmas cards are special to receive no matter whether your home roof is on a building or whether your “home roof ” is the canopy of sky, trees, and clouds. So, stop by the Atrium on Sundays, December 16 and 23 between services to add your name to the Christmas wishes we are sending this year. Help us send a message of God's hope and a reminder that we are all God’s beloved! For more information, contact Canon Lauren Holder, lholder@cathedralATL.org.
Come be part of the annual and joyful experience of Christmas baskets for our Cathedral Habitat families – we are building an amazing 23 this year and need your help! This has become a very popular event for us each year and you can help in any of several ways, including contributing food or monetary support, building baskets (beginning at 6 p.m. on Friday, December 14), or delivering baskets (meet at 9 a .m. on Saturday, December 15). This is something for kids and adults alike; make it a family event. Sign up online at cathedralATL.org/habitatbaskets, or by contacting John Champion at 404-307-0817 or jchampion@ bellsouth.net for more details.
TOY DRIVE 2018 BENEFITING EMMAUS HOUSE Please join St. Monica’s Guild in a toy drive to assist Emmaus House in providing a cheerful Christmas to all in their neighborhood. Last year, 540 children were given a new gift from Mr. and Mrs. Claus during the Children’s Christmas Festival. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas, Emmaus House welcomes more than 1,000 neighbors to share in a variety of holiday celebrations ranging from children all the way to seniors. We are asking for either a toy donation or monetary donation in order to provide another wonderful Christmas season for them in 2018. For any questions please reach out to Johanna Barnes, jpbarnes74@gmail.com.
HERE'S HOW YOU CAN HELP: Donate gifts: Bring new, unwrapped gifts to the bins in the Atrium until December 18 or to the toy drive table on Sundays through December 16. Write a check or give online: $35 will sponsor a child; $70 two children; for $175, five children will awaken to gifts on Christmas morning! All donation amounts are helpful and appreciated. Make checks payable to “The Cathedral of St. Philip” and write Toy Drive in the memo line. Or, give by credit card online at cathedralATL.org/contribute or at the kiosk in the Atrium. Visit cathedralATL.org/toydrive for a list of suggested toys. If a toy requires batteries, please provide them. No military toys, especially guns.
Esquina HISPÁNICA Las Posadas – 22 de diciembre a la 6 p.m. El Pageant de Navidad – 24 de diciembre a la 4 p.m. Invitamos a familias y especialmente los niños que sean parte de este servicio a la 4 p.m. Tenemos formas para llenar si desean que sus niños tengan una parte en el pageant de Navidad. Tendre los formas para los tres grupos por edad, en la capilla Mikell o en el tercer piso en la entrada.
MEMBERSHIP TRANSITIONS BIRTHS Emilia Jane Wagner, daughter of Molly Reed Wagner and Brendan Wagner, graddaughter of Sally and Tom Reed, born December 6, 2018
WEDDINGS Janet Keller and David Gwynn, married December 1, 2018
NEW MEMBERS Kate and Ron Henry, and their children Oliver and Mason, from Brookhaven, Georgia
Give yourself a treat this Advent season with the Cathedral’s Labyrinth Walk and Taizé Service Monday, December 17 7 p.m. Labyrinth Walk in Child Hall 8 p.m. Taizé Service in Mikell Chapel 9 p.m. Holiday Reception in the Court of Gratitude Treat your soul and your senses to an evening of prayers, music, and candlelight. Join us for fellowship as we thank our Taizé musicians with a simple reception of drinks and desserts. Feel free to bring a friend! Sponsored by the Spiritual Formation Committee.
PRAYER List FOR THOSE WHO ARE ILL OR RECOVERING: LONG TERM PRAYERS Harris Allen • T. Mayo and Pat Atkins • Virginia Bicksler • John Blair • Pat Brinson • Dick Burgin • Wicke
Chambers • J. Franklin Clark • Heather Clark • Lawrence Cowart • Joyce and Tom Creely • Terry Dornbush • Sarah duBignon • Kitty Dukehart • Lynn Alexander Ehrlicher • Randy Farmer • Jimmy Fluker • Philip Gwynn •
Betty Hall • William Ham • Jane Hannah • Caroline Hatcher • Katie Hughey • Louise Kan • Margaret
Kresge • Elaine Lyon • Frank Mathews • Lorri McClain • Carol McDonald • Jim McKenzie • Charlie Neal •
Paul O'Connor • Marian Palmore • Garry Pryor • Rubye and Wayne Reid • Pamela Reid • Agnes Elizabeth Robertson • Louis "Skip" Schueddig • Ellie Scully • Margaret "Peggy" Shaw • Ruth Swanson • Faye Van Winkle • Andy Westafer • Sandy Williamson • Hollis Youngner
FAMILY AND FRIENDS Alex Astrop • Bettina Bass • Edward Whiting Chapin • Ruth Davis • Helen Nixon Fleming • Carleton Fuller • Peggy Govan • John Hall • Bobby Hearn • Greg Hentz • Sun Ja Kim • Jeanette Lumpkin • Betty C. Lyons •
Pat Martin • Michelle Maxwell • Michael McClelland • Pamla Moore • Andy Nelson • Irene Nesper • Betty and Bill Poole • Frank Roth • James Sands • Clark Shelton • Helen P. Stewart • Brian Sturgell • Tina Susco • Hubert Tate, Sr. • Pierson Thames • Julie Thompson • Roger Traylor • Janiece Townshend • Ron M. Wallace • Marion Wilson • Whit A. Wright • Patricia Young
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DIED Jim Powers • Marilyn Beebe Sherrill
POSTMASTER: Dated Material. Please deliver by December 15, 2018
BLOOD DRIVE Thursday, December 27 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Child Hall No reservation needed. Help save a life!
POSTMASTER Send address changes to: The Cathedral of St. Philip 2744 Peachtree Road, NW Atlanta, Georgia 30305-2920 404-365-1000
CATHEDRAL TIMES (USPS-093440) is published weekly by The Cathedral of St. Philip 2744 Peachtree Road, NW Atlanta, Georgia 30305-2920 Periodicals Postage Paid at Atlanta, GA
Dean Sam Candler introduced the slate of nominees for the Chapter class of 2021—Scott Russell, Coty Rosenblath, Haven Long, Del King, John Beane, and Teddi Bair—as well as the nominee for Junior Warden, Dorsey DeLong (not pictured). All were duly elected. Thanks to all who serve this Cathedral parish as Chapter members!
Sara and Donnie Chapman invite you to the
CHILDREN'S Ministries CHRISTMAS PAGEANT Dress rehearsal for the Christmas pageant is this Sunday, December 16 at 12:45 p.m. If you have any questions, contact Sara Chapman at sarachapman@ westminster.net.
AN N UAL E PI PHANY PART Y Sunday, January 6 7 to 9 P.M. 3051 Greendale Drive, Atlanta, GA 30327 $20 per person — B.Y.O.B. R.S.V.P. by check to Sara Chapman: 404-966-6602 or sarachapman@westminster.net