The CATHEDRAL TIMES The weekly newsletter of the Cathedral of St. Philip · Serving Atlanta and the World · November 24, 2019
I AM THANKFUL – FOR INSTITUTIONS! By the Very Rev. Sam Candler, Dean of the Cathedral Yeah, I know. Institutions get a bad rap these days, maybe ever since the 1960s. And, in this season of thanksgiving, it’s easy to forget them. It’s good, and easier, to give thanks for more simple organisms, like friends and family and even blessings. I certainly like giving thanks for those things! But, I was reading a concise little book the other day by Timothy Snyder, warning us about tyranny. In that book, On Tyranny, he offers twenty directives for how to avoid tyranny. One of them goes like this: Defend Institutions. It is institutions that help us to preserve decency. They need our help as well. Do not speak of “our institutions” unless you make them yours by acting on their behalf. Institutions do not protect themselves. They fall one after the other unless each is defended from the beginning. So choose an institution you care about—a court, a newspaper, a law, a labor union—and take its side. (Snyder, Timothy. On Tyranny (p. 22). Crown/Archetype.) I like his advice. Continuing the thanksgiving theme I began last week, I give thanks also for institutions. Yes, institutions like those Snyder mentions, but also churches, and governments, and schools, and even companies. And certainly things like families, too, and marriage and tradition. They are noble institutions. Institutions are those cultural assemblies which give us tradition, guidance, and wisdom. Often, they have been around a long time. Sometimes, institutions need to be changed. Sometimes, people want to change them drastically, even violently, so great is the cultural change needed. The institution of slavery, for instance, did indeed need to be changed. The institution of colonialism needed to be changed, and our American revolution stands as one of the great cultural achievements of our country. But, more often, institutions are also those cultural creations which keep us wise and strong. The institution of marriage, for instance, offers couples a way to formalize commitment and hope. We are better when relationships are formalized and ritualized in marriage, and touched by holiness as well. Our governments are institutions, too. I imagine that each of us has some area of government that we would like changed, or perhaps a political leader we would prefer elected over someone else. But that is how the institution works. The system works because we have usually raised up political leaders of good faith and integrity. I am thankful for the institutions of good and decent government. Institutions are schools, too – from preschools to universities. They contain established and proven ways of learning and developing. They raise up educators, teachers and administrators, who see the big picture, who make wise decisions that ultimately affect individuals. I am thankful for school institutions, where many of us have spent significant energy and time. Finally, of course, institutions are churches. Yes, the same complaint applies to churches as is often directed at governments: “Let’s throw the whole system out and start from scratch!” In fact, this sentiment often affects churches and spiritual life. Naïve devotees often believe they could create a better spiritual institution if only they were in charge! But they usually end up fabricating a pretty weak and naïve spiritual group, one which quickly repeats whatever error the originators thought they were correcting, and propagates new errors as well! Instead, I am thankful for communities of faith that have been around for more than one generation – that have been around for many, many generations! An established church is an institution that has weathered storms, and ups and downs, and both faith and unfaith. Of course, my usual description of church is not “institution,” but “corporation.” The word, “corporation” comes from the Latin word, “corpus,” which means “body.” The church, as the “Body” of Christ, is really a living organism! Still, I am thankful for church, as institution, too. I agree with Snyder, too, that institutions—good ones, at least—need defending. And many of the institutions that comprise the rich fabric of our country’s life really do need defending – from governments and schools, to churches and families. I give thanks for them this Thanksgiving!
This SUNDAY
NOVEMBER 17, 2019 · The Last Sunday after Pentecost, Year C Jeremiah 23:1-6 · Canticle 16 · Colossians 1:11-20 · Luke 23:33-43
7:45 A.M. HOLY EUCHARIST, MIKELL CHAPEL
Celebrant and Preacher: The Rev. Dr. Thee Smith
8:45 A.M. HOLY EUCHARIST, CATHEDRAL Celebrant: The Rev. Julia Mitchener Preacher: The Rev. Nate Huddleston Cathedral Singers: Alexander L’Estrange, Let all the world in every corner sing Dan Locklair, King of glory, King peace
9 A.M. HOLY EUCHARIST, MIKELL CHAPEL
Celebrant and Preacher: The Rev. Dr. Thee Smith
11:15 A.M. HOLY EUCHARIST, CATHEDRAL Celebrant: The Rev. Dr. Bill Harkins Preacher: The Rev. Nate Huddleston Cathedral Choir: Alexander L’Estrange, Let all the world in every corner sing Dan Locklair, King of glory, King peace
11:15 A.M. LA SANTA EUCARISTÍA, MIKELL CHAPEL
Celebrant and Preacher: The Rev. Canon Lauren Holder
4 P.M. CHORAL EVENSONG, CATHEDRAL THE REIGN OF CHRIST Officiant and Preacher: The Rev. Nate Huddleston Cathedral Schola: Paul Halley, Preces and Responses William Mathias, Jesus College Service Alexander L’Estrange, Let all the world in every corner sing Ralph Vaughan Williams, O clap your hands
THANKSGIVING Day
NOVEMBER 28, 2019 · Thanksgiving Day, Year C
Deuteronomy 26:1-11 · Psalm 100 · Philippians 4:4-9 · John 6:25-35
10 A.M. HOLY EUCHARIST, CATHEDRAL Celebrant: The Rev. Canon Lauren Holder Preacher: The Rev. Julia Mitchener Cathedral Choir: Herbert Howells, Jubilate Deo (Collegium Regale)
Adult EDUCATION
Most regular children’s, youth, and adult Sunday School classes meet at 10:10 a.m.
OLD FASHIONED SUNDAY SCHOOL
LONELY IN AMERICA
Child Hall Contemplating Christ: How to Become a Mystic without Really Trying!
Room 370 In this class, the Rev. Dr. Bill Harkins will discuss what some are calling an ‘epidemic of loneliness’ in the US, and the concomitant psychological/emotional effects such as depression, suicide, and disconnection. We will also discuss how to cultivate resilience and community in response to these public health issues, and theological considerations of both the epidemic, and the possible communal responses.
This term, we are looking at what it means to be a mystic (it’s not as extraordinary as you might think!) and how the recovery of the contemplative tradition in the church might change how we go about being church. This Sunday, November 17, Mary Hunter Maxwell will discuss storytelling as a spiritual practice.
LIVING FAITH Room 120 Join Canon Cathy Zappa and Canon Lauren Holder as they wrap up this fall’s discussion of the Enneagram.
WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOUR STUDENTS ARE LEARNING IN SUNDAY SCHOOL? Room 121
SMALL GROUP BIBLE STUDY
MUSIC ORGAN RECITAL ON SUNDAY This Sunday, November 24 at 3:15 p.m., we welcome organist Oak Martin as our Sunday recitalist. A multiple-time performer on our Sunday recital series, Oak is a student of Alan Morrison at Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. He will perform Widor’s entire Symphony No. 5 in F minor, ending, of course, with the often-played “Toccata.” We encourage everyone to come and hear this marvelously talented young man.
Room 122
The CATHEDRAL off ST. PHILIP
The Very Rev. Samuel G. Candler, Dean Dale Adelmann, Ph.D., Canon for Music The Rev. Lauren R. Holder, Canon for Community and Education The Rev. George M. Maxwell, Jr., Vicar The Rev. Catherine Zappa, Canon for Liturgy and Pastoral Care The Rev. John William Harkins III, Ph.D., Priest Associate The Rev. Nathan G. Huddleston, Priest Associate for Youth and Young Adult Ministries The Rev. Julia B. Mitchener, Priest Associate for Children’s Ministries 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 Dorsey DeLong, Junior Warden
CATHEDRAL TIMES SUBMISSION DEADLINES: FOR THE SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1 ISSUE, THE DEADLINE IS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20. FOR THE SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8 ISSUE, THE DEADLINE IS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 27. TO SUBMIT AN ANNOUNCEMENT REQUEST OR RECEIVE THE TIMES BY EMAIL, CONTACT THE EDITOR, DAN MURPHY, AT DMURPHY@CATHEDRALATL.ORG.
404-365-1000 | cathedralATL.org cathedralatl
CHILDREN'S Ministries
CONGREGATIONAL Life
CHRISTMAS PAGEANT SIGN-UPS It is time to sign up for the Christmas Pageant, held every year at 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve. All children registered in Sunday School, from the 4-year-olds through fifth grade, are welcome to participate. If your child is not registered for Sunday School, please contact Lisa McNamara, lmcnamara@cathedralATL.org, or register at cathedralATL.org/children. A pageant sign-up table will be in the Atrium on Sunday, December 8. We do request that all sign ups are done in person. Dress rehearsal will be Sunday, December 22 at 12:45 p.m. If you have any questions, contact Sara Chapman, sarachapman@ westminster.net. The Christmas Pageant is a tradition not to be missed!
ADVENT WREATH MAKING SUNDAY, DECEMBER 1 5:30–7 P.M. BRING YOUR OWN GREENS! WREATH KITS: $12 SPAGHETTI SUPPER: $5/CHILD; $8/ADULT Please RSVP so we can order supplies and dinners: CATHEDRALATL.ORG/WREATHMAKING
DINNER WITH ST. NICK WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 4 — 5:30–7 P.M.
SPIRITUALITY
DINNER: $5/CHILD; $8/ADULT CATHEDRALATL.ORG/STNICK
ADVENT QUIET DAY: BEFORE YOU WERE BORN As we prepare for the birth of the Christ child, we are invited to remember or ponder anew that which God has made incarnate in each of us. Join Canon Lauren Holder for an Advent Quiet Day of warmth and reflection. Imagine a time before you were born, a time of gestation and creativity, of being knit together by a loving God. Give yourself the gift of quiet and prayer as you enter into Advent. The Quiet Day will take place in the Lanier House on the Cathedral campus, 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m., Saturday, December 7. The cost is $20 and includes lunch. Please register before December 2 by contacting Jeannie Mahood, jmahood@ cathedralATL.org or 404-365-1031.
Join us at 5:30 p.m. in Mikell Chapel for a special Advent Liturgy celebrating the life of St. Nicholas. Leave your shoes in the hallway outside of the Chapel and you will find a surprise from our special guest. Dinner will follow immediately after the service. This evening is for the young at heart and anyone filled with joy by the mystery of Christmas.
MUSIC ATLANTA SYMPHONY BRASS HOLIDAY CONCERT The Atlanta Symphony Brass returns to present its third annual holiday concert, Monday, December 9, at 7:30 p.m., certain to be one of the most delightful and thrilling musical events of the season again this year! The program will feature some of the finest arrangements for brass ensemble and percussion, including traditional holiday carols and beloved standards from the symphonic orchestra repertoire. Purchase tickets at cathedralATL.org/concerts or the Cathedral Book Store.
Advent
Lessons & Carols december 1 — 4 pm
Our service of Lessons and Carols is adapted from the famous carol service at King’s College, Cambridge, which has become popular worldwide since World War II through annual radio broadcasts on Christmas Eve. For our Advent service we include the ancient O Antiphons, one after each of the seven readings.
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.: Hillary Jones, 2744 Peachtree Rd., NW, Atlanta, GA 30305. You may also make arrangements by contacting Hillary Jones, 404-365-1038 or hjones@cathedralATL. org. The Flower Guild will also be taking these requests in the Atrium on Sundays through December 15.
OUTREACH
MUSIC
TOY DRIVE 2019 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. Santa and Mrs. Claus come to Emmaus House and give presents to more than 550 children from all over Atlanta.
HERE'S HOW YOU CAN HELP: Donate gifts: Bring new, unwrapped gifts to the bins in the Atrium until December 17. Write a check or give online: $35 will sponsor a child but any donation amount is helpful and appreciated. Make checks payable to “The Cathedral of St. Philip” and write Toy Drive in the memo line. Checks can be handed to a guild member on Sunday mornings at the table in the Atrium or mailed to the Cathedral – Attention St. Monica’s Guild. Or, give by credit card online at cathedralATL.org/contribute or at the kiosk in the Atrium.
THE CATHEDRAL CHOIR’S LATEST CD, TIDINGS OF COMFORT AND JOY, IS ON SALE NOW AT THE CATHEDRAL BOOK STORE AND CATHEDRALBOOKSTORE.COM!
Reach out to Johanna Barnes at jpbarnes74@gmail.com with any questions.
Throughout the WEEK WORSHIP SERVICES
BIBLE STUDIES
Morning Prayer, Mikell Chapel 8:45 a.m., Monday–Saturday
The Dean’s Men’s Bible Study, Room 319 7 a.m., Tuesday
Holy Eucharist, St. Mary’s Chapel 12:15 p.m., Monday–Friday (Healing service on Friday) Evening Prayer, Mikell Chapel 5:45 p.m., 2nd Thursday Taizé Service, Mikell Chapel 8 p.m., 3rd Monday Centering Prayer, Lanier House 6 p.m., Wednesday (through December 18) 7 p.m., Monday (beginning January 8)
Women’s Early Morning Bible Study, Walthour Library 7 a.m., Tuesday The Dean’s Women’s Bible Study, Room 319 10:45 a.m., Wednesday Eat Your Word Bible Study, Room 239 Noon, Wednesday Sons of Thunder, Gould Room 7 a.m., usually 1st Thursday
OUTREACH
PASTORAL Care
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY CHRISTMAS BASKETS
BLUE CHRISTMAS SERVICE
Come be part of the annual and joyful experience of Christmas baskets for our Cathedral Habitat families – we are building an amazing 24 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 13), or delivering baskets (meeting at 9 a.m. on Saturday, December 14). This is something for kids and adults alike; make it a family event. Sign up in the Atrium, online at cathedralATL.org/ habitatbaskets, or contact John Champion at 404-307-0817 or jchampion@bellsouth.net for more details.
For many of us, Christmas is a tough time, and can be the occasion for “feeling blue” in the midst of the culture focused on being happy and celebrating. At such times, we need to take time to acknowledge our sadness, loss and grief. The anguish of broken relationships, of unemployment, the weariness of ill health, the loss of a loved one, and even the loss of a dear family pet – all can contribute to a feeling of being alone, of “feeling blue,” in the midst of the season around us. The Cathedral invites you to join us in sharing a Blue Christmas service on Wednesday, December 18, at 6:30 p.m. in St. Mary’s Chapel. We invite you to move from “feeling blue” to experiencing the wonder and hope of Christmas. For questions, please contact the Rev. Dr. Bill Harkins, bharkins@cathedralATL.org, or Canon Cathy Zappa, czappa@ cathedralATL.org.
PRAYER List FOR THOSE WHO ARE ILL OR RECOVERING: LONG TERM PRAYERS R. Huntley Allen • T. Mayo and Pat Atkins • Edgar and Judith Beach • Virginia Bicksler • Wicke Chambers • Heather Clark • Suzy Cohen • Terry Dornbush • Sarah duBignon • Kitty Dukehart • Randy Farmer • Rita
Fink • William Ham • Caroline Hatcher • Katie Hughey • Louise Kan • Lisa Krysiak • Sandy Land • Elaine Lyon • Carol McDonald • Glenn Miller • Cecil Miner • Royce Mitchell • Susan Myers • Charlie Neal • Liz Nelson • Mary Nelson • Garry Pryor • Tommy Ripley • Agnes Elizabeth Robertson • Louis "Skip" Schueddig • Julie Thompson • Sammy Van Leer • Faye Van Winkle • Randy Wilson • Karen Young
FAMILY AND FRIENDS Eileen Abeyesundere • James and Julia Allen • Alex Collins Astrop • Karyn Bacon • Daniel Baker • Bettina
Bass • Sondra Bowen • Terry Brennan • Lynn Chandler • Andrew Clark • Robert Coatney • Tyler Crumb •
Anna Donovan • Kathy Dopp • Janie Dowdy • Deborah Ellington • Amy Franklin • Carleton Fuller • Bruce
Gillies • Peggy Govan • Greg Hentz • Elizabeth Homer • Stephen Jones • Grace Lawson • Meredith Lucius • Betty C. Lyons • Camille Martin • Pat Martin • Michelle Maxwell • Dawna Newton • Steven Norman • Ron
Peters • Rowland Radford • Frank Roth • Lillian Sandoval • James Sands • Milton Shiver • Donna Steigerwald • Tina Susco • Tom Talley • Yvonne Tate • Jeffrey Thomas • Roger Traylor • Janiece Townshend • Susan Varcie • Ron M. Wallace • Katherine Welden • Trish Weller • Roger Williams • Whit A. Wright • Patricia Young
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DIED Steven Maynard Bomgardner
POSTMASTER: Dated Material. Please deliver by November 23, 2019
YOUTH Ministries
Middle and high school students, don’t miss the best weekend of the year! On January 17–20, we’re heading to Beech Mountain Resort, North Carolina, for a weekend of skiing, snowboarding, and building lasting friendships! The cost is $450 and includes all ski rentals, lodging, food, and transportation. Contact Father Nate Huddleston, nhuddleston@cathedralATL.org, for more information or to sign up!
Cathedral PRESCHOOL PRESCHOOL REGISTRATION IS UNDERWAY The Cathedral Preschool is delighted to register students ages 18 months through kindergarten, now through January 8, 2020. Applications for the 2020-2021 school year may be completed quickly and easily online at thecathedralpreschool.org. See the admissions tab to schedule a tour or find the application link. For more information or if you have any questions about registration or tours at the Preschool, contact Lisa Wilson, lisa.wilson@cpsatl.org, or Laurie Campbell, laurie.campbell@cpsatl.org.
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