The CATHEDRAL TIMES The weekly newsletter of the Cathedral of St. Philip · Serving Atlanta and the World · July 12, 2020
WHAT DO BARS AND CHURCHES HAVE IN COMMON? By the Very Rev. Sam Candler, Dean of the Cathedral What do bars and churches have in common? Well, these days, I group them together whenever anyone asks me when the Cathedral might enjoy intimate and up-close and in-person worship services again. When can we safely resume praying together? My answer has become: “Whenever it is safe for people to resume congregating in bars, it will also be safe for people to congregate in churches!” Of course, if it is up to me, I reverse the order of precedence: “When it is safe for people to resume congregating in churches, it will also be safe for people to congregate in bars!” Yes, the outward experience and appearance are the same. When people gather in bars, we are there for the time of extended community, for relaxation and for excitement, for community and for close conversation. I have enjoyed many an hour in bars myself ! And, of course, there are plenty of people who gather in bars who do not drink alcohol. In a similar way, when people gather in churches, we also gather for extended communion, for peace and inspiration, and for close conversation with God and with each other. I guess some people have met God in a bar. I guess some people have met God in church, too! We certainly meet lots of our fellow pilgrims in those places. Bars and churches can both be places where we are open to meeting new people, and where we sustain our relationships with familiar friends. Being close together in bars and churches often means we are sharing things together. We are sharing breath and food and drink together! Often those things we share are the deep nourishments of life: support from our friends, support from our God, love, and community. But, with that closeness, bars and churches are also where we have shared things that are dangerous, things like viruses (and sometimes things like untrue rumors! They are dangerous!). For all of us, it has been especially devastating that churches may be among the last places that fully re-open safely, though I suppose that sports events, music concerts, and other large gathering venues will also be among the last to resume full and open operations. In the Bible, the people of God were not afraid to be found gathering in such bars and churches. You might remember that several biblical heroes found their spouses at springs, at watering holes! We might consider that those wells were similar to our present-day bars. People gathered there for social community, and they often met a special person there! Isaac and Jacob both found their wives, Rebecca and Rachel, at the local watering hole. One of the most important conversations of Jesus’ ministry occurred at a well, at Jacob’s well, where Jesus engaged the Samaritan woman. We need those occasions and places of social community. God works through our patient and complicated relationships with other people. Of course, I claim that churches are always places where that relationship and community happen. I also admit that bars and watering holes are also suitable occasions for holy relationships to occur. But, in the long run, churches and places where congregations of faith gather – those are the places that will strengthen both body and soul. Faith is strengthened and edified by congregating! By congregations! So, I long for the time, the healthy time, when we all can return to places where we share breath and bread, drink and food, together. At the Cathedral, we can not return until we know that our public health is a bit safer and well. We will watch and listen to the news and medical reports. When it is safe to resume gatherings in bars and watering holes, it will also be safe to resume our beautiful hours of community and communion in church!
This SUNDAY
JULY 12, 2020 · The Sixth Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 10, Year A Genesis 25:19-34 · Psalm 119:105-112 · Romans 8:1-11 · Matthew 13:1-9,18-23
WORSHIP WITH THE CATHEDRAL ONLINE AT CATHEDRALATL.ORG/STREAM, ON THE CATHEDRAL APP, AND ON THE CATHEDRAL FACEBOOK PAGE.
8:45 A.M. AND 11:15 A.M. HOLY EUCHARIST Celebrant: The Rev. Dr. Bill Harkins Preacher: The Rev. Canon Lauren Holder Cathedral Singers octet: Hymn 632, “O Christ, the Word Incarnate” Munich Psalm 119:105-112 (Anglican chant: Derrick Cantrell) Hymn 629, “We limit not the truth of God to our poor reach of mind” Halifax Gerald Near, Christ hath a garden Richard Proulx, Sanctus & Benedictus from A Community Mass From Geistliche Lieder (1533), I call on thee, Lord Jesus Christ Hymn 376, “Joyful, joyful, we adore thee” Hymn to Joy
PRAYER List FOR THOSE WHO ARE ILL OR RECOVERING: IMMEDIATE NEEDS Maggie Maddux • Rebecca McDonough
LONG TERM PRAYERS R. Huntley Allen • T. Mayo Atkins • Al Bailey • Margarito Barragan • Edgar and Judith Beach • Perry Benton •
Virginia Bicksler • Mindy Boggs • Josh Borden, Jr. • Bernice Burton • Connie Chapman • Heather Clark • Terry Dornbush • Sarah duBignon • Deborah Ellington • Randy Farmer • Jenny Ham • Katie Hughey • Louise
Kan • John Kelleher • Chris Kopecky • Lisa Krysiak • Elaine Lyon • Patricia Madison • Carol McDonald •
Glenn Miller • Ashley Minear • Royce Mitchell • Bud and Emily Murphy • Susan Myers • Charlie Neal • Linus Nickel • Edith Oliveros • Marion Palmore • Garry Pryor • Rowland Radford • Rubye and Wayne Reid •
Tommy Ripley • Agnes Elizabeth Robertson • Louis “Skip” Schueddig • Julie Thompson • Tommy Truesdale • Faye Van Winkle • Karen Young
FAMILY AND FRIENDS Eileen Abeyesundere • Bill Aycock • Bettina Bass • David Bond • Lynn Chandler • Andrew Clark • Marie
Corrigan • Carleton Fuller • Tom Ingegneri • Stephen Jones • Bernard A. Kan • Susan Kuzia • Pete Livezey •
Pat Martin • Michelle Maxwell • Bonnie Shields McCormack • Bob McGill • David Mickle • Steven Norman • Frank Roth • James Sands • Milton Shiver • Tina Susco • Yvonne Tate • Pierson Thames • Jeffrey Thomas • Janiece Townshend • Roger Traylor • Ron M. Wallace • Whit A. Wright • Patricia Young • Hollis Youngner
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DIED Pat Atkins • Karyn Bacon • Sanders Green • Beth Jones • Rick Latham • Víctor Muñoz • Jim Thomas • David Coyne Tomberlin
Adult EDUCATION
WORSHIP
OLD FASHIONED SUNDAY SCHOOL
ALTAR FLOWER DONATIONS
This Sunday, July 12 at 10:10 a.m. in Old Fashioned Sunday School, the Rev. Julia Mitchener will continue a class titled, “Freedom for What? Biblical and Cultural Perspectives on Liberty.” Join us on Zoom for more of our exploration of basic biblical understandings of freedom and how these may compare and contrast with postmodern American ideas.
Even though we are in a time of social distancing, please know that you may still donate the altar flowers in the Cathedral and Mikell Chapel to be given in memory or in thanksgiving of loved ones. The minimum suggested donation is $100 per name. For information on donating, contact Hillary Jones, hjones@ cathedralATL.org, 404-365-1038.
RAISING WHITE KIDS Talking about race can be hard. Talking to kids about race might be even harder. Dr. Jennifer Harvey’s book Raising White Kids addresses this challenge, opportunity, and responsibility. Canon Lauren Holder will lean on Dr. Harvey’s book in a three-week Sunday School class open to all adults at the Cathedral. The class will be held July 12, 19, and 26 at 10:10 a.m. and 8 p.m.—you choose the time of day that works best for you! Join us from anywhere on Zoom.
PARENTING UNSCRIPTED Scott Russell, Kathy Loomis, Jeff Cunningham, and Michelle Perkins lead this group at 10:10 a.m. on Sunday. Contact the Rev. Nate Huddleston for more information.
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 Del King, Senior Warden Dorsey DeLong, Junior Warden
CATHEDRAL TIMES SUBMISSION DEADLINES: FOR THE SUNDAY, JULY 19 ISSUE, THE DEADLINE IS WEDNESDAY, JULY 8. FOR THE SUNDAY, JULY 26 ISSUE, THE DEADLINE IS WEDNESDAY, JULY 15. TO RECEIVE THE TIMES BY EMAIL, CONTACT MELANA DICKSON, MDICKSON@CATHEDRALATL.ORG. TO SUBMIT AN ANNOUNCEMENT REQUEST, CONTACT THE EDITOR, DAN MURPHY, AT DMURPHY@CATHEDRALATL.ORG.
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HELP RELIEVE MEDICAL DEBT IN PEOPLESTOWN
partnering to REDUCE MEDICAL DEBT IN PEOPLESTOWN
Your $1 = $100 of debt relief Your $100 = $10,000 of debt relief Your $1,000 = $100,000 of debt relief
Donate today: cathedralATL.org/medicaldebt
Imagine a scenario where you need medical attention but must choose between going to the doctor or feeding your family. Or another situation in which a single trip to the emergency room ruined your credit rating and sent you into a debilitating debt from which you may never recover. Now imagine being able to prevent such scenarios. We can! The Cathedral of St. Philip is partnering with Emmaus House to buy the medical debt of residents of some of our most financially vulnerable communities. This debt reduction will give struggling families a fresh start, allowing them to receive critical medical attention and support on their journey toward financial stability. In partnership with the non-profit RIP Medical Debt, we seek to forgive $11.5 million in medical debt from our neighbors in and around Peoplestown. Every dollar donated forgives $100 of medical debt. Your gift of any amount will help us to reach our goal of $115,000 to purchase and forgive the medical debt of families in the communities served by Emmaus House. Emmaus House works to improve the economic and social wellbeing of the residents of Peoplestown and surrounding neighborhoods. It provides resources to build long-term, economic self-sufficiency for individuals and families in crisis through a variety of social services. However, no matter how hard some families work to break the cycle of generational poverty, crushing medical debt can be virtually impossible to overcome. Your support of this unique campaign will help us reach 4,800 households in south Atlanta to help break this debilitating cycle. Now imagine a scenario when a resident of Peoplestown opens an envelope telling them that a third party has paid for and erased their medical debt with no strings attached – they owe nothing and have no tax penalty. Families can pay mortgages, utility bills, put food on their tables, and, most importantly, remain in the neighborhood. Every gift will make a difference. Please join us today in fellowship with our Cathedral family, our neighbors in Peoplestown, and our partners at Emmaus House to make a significant difference in our city. The Rev. Lauren Holder
Canon for Community & Education
Haven Long
Greg Cole
Cathedral Treasurer
Executive Director
Emmaus House Board Member
Emmaus House