The CATHEDRAL TIMES The weekly newsletter of the Cathedral of St. Philip · Serving Atlanta and the World · August 30, 2020
ESSENTIALS AND IDIOTS By the Very Rev. Sam Candler, Dean of the Cathedral What are essential businesses, or essential organizations, or essential gatherings, in this pandemic season? Though I understand the necessity of making such decisions, I regret that leaders have gradually assumed that some of our country’s businesses are not as essential as others. Are some people’s vocations, and sources of livelihood, not so essential as others? How do we even place a value on such things? In particular, however, I worry that churches, or at least church gatherings, are not deemed as essential as other gatherings. I hear, for instance, that church gatherings are not of the same essential nature as school gatherings. Well, maybe not at first! At first, of course, we good citizens desire strong and regular school systems for our young people. Information and history and science are transmitted there. That substance is good for all of us, no matter what age we are. Older people, for instance, always need a new generation to be as educated as possible. Over time, however, I claim that church gatherings are just as essential. Church gatherings –mature and seasoned gatherings of spiritual community—are just as essential to a well-developed and healthy commonwealth. By church gatherings, however, I do not mean merely the transmission of our teaching or our latest social ethic. Teachings and social positions vary, from generation to generation. What is essential about church gatherings is our practice of gathering spiritually with people who are different from us! Church members gather in order to acknowledge something – or Someone—greater than any one of us! Church gatherings – or mature religious gatherings (not cult ones)—teach us the habit of sitting and singing and praying and praising with people who are different from us. In this season of social anxiety, church gatherings are as essential as any other gathering – and maybe even more so. For instance, many of us are presently watching, or reading about, our country’s two major political parties as they gather in their usual partisan conventions. There is nothing wrong with that custom, of course. Political party conventions are supposed to be partisan! Sometimes, Christians, too, are meant to proclaim clear messages that stake a current political position! However, Christians gather for an even deeper reason, a reason that is more foundational than that of a current political platform. Christians gather to acknowledge a higher power, outside of ourselves. We gather to acknowledge and worship God. Worshipping God immediately teaches us that we are not the be-all and endall of life. Our positions, and our opinions, are not the only good ones around. The opinions of others, some praying right beside us!—are part of the community. Forgiving others, and being forgiven, are also part of the community. When we begin to lose this sense of community, our voices become more random and untethered. In fact, we become idiots. Do you know what an idiot is? An idiot is not someone who is dumb or stupid. Instead, the true meaning of the word “idiot” (coming from the Greek, meaning “one’s own”) is someone who can think only within his or her own mindset, unable to see the world from another’s perspective. One older definition of “idiot” is “a private person, a person lacking skill or expertise.” For instance, we consider “idiosyncracies” to be distinctive characteristics of single individuals. I believe that when people lose community, we become “idiots.” When we lose community, we lose the continued on back page...
This SUNDAY
AUGUST 30, 2020 · The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 17, Year A Exodus 3:1-15 · Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45c · Romans 12:9-21 · Matthew 16:21-28
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. Julia Mitchener Preacher: The Rev. Dr. Bill Harkins Cathedral Singers octet: Healey Willan (1880-1968), Intermezzo & Fanfare (from Five Pieces) Hymn 477, “All praise to thee, for thou, O King divine” Engelberg Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45c (Anglican chant: George Thalben-Ball) Charles Villiers Stanford, O for a closer walk with God Richard Proulx, Sanctus & Benedictus, from A Community Mass Hymn 707, “Take my life, and let it be consecrated, Lord, to thee” Hollingside Hymn 675 “Take up your cross” Bourbon Healey Willan (1880-1968), Finale Jubilante (from Five Pieces)
10:30 A.M. LA SANTA EUCARISTÍA Celebrant: The Rev. Canon Lauren Holder Preacher: The Rev. Deacon Juan Sandoval
PRAYER List FOR THOSE WHO ARE ILL OR RECOVERING: IMMEDIATE NEEDS Helen Miller • Dot Oscher • The Papanikolaou Family • Tom Sharpley
LONG TERM PRAYERS R. Huntley Allen • Dr. T. Mayo Atkins • Edgar and Judith Beach • Perry Benton • Virginia Bicksler • Jeff
Bonnell • Bernice Burton • Heather Clark • Sharon Crews • Terry Dornbush • Sarah duBignon • Deborah Ellington • Dan Elson • Randy Farmer • Jenny Ham • Louise Kan • Chris Kopecky • Lisa Krysiak • Sandy
Land • Michelle Leiter • Elaine Lyon • Carol McDonald • Glenn Miller • Ashley Minear • Royce Mitchell •
Susan Myers • Charlie Neal • Linus Nickel • Marion Palmore • Garry Pryor • Rowland Radford • Rubye and Wayne Reid • Tommy Ripley • Agnes Elizabeth Robertson • Charlie Roper • Louis “Skip” Schueddig • Julie Thompson • DeeDee Watkins • Faye Van Winkle
FAMILY AND FRIENDS Eileen Abeyesundere • Michael Barnett • Bettina Bass • David Bond • Billy Campbell • Lynn Chandler • Nancy
Lanphier Chapin • Andrew Clark • Kent Corrie • Beverly Fifield • Carleton Fuller • Jean Hand • Vivian Johnson •
Stephen Jones • Susan Kuzia • Pete Livezey • Pat Martin • Michelle Maxwell • David Mickle • Malcolm A. Moore • Steven Norman • Charlotte Roland • James Sands • Mary and Greg Sittig • Tina Susco • Yvonne Tate • Pierson Thames • Jeffrey Thomas • Janiece Townshend • Roger Traylor • Sarah Tunney • Ron M. Wallace • Whit A. Wright • Hollis Youngner
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DIED Elizabeth Brundick • Twilla Haynes • Woody Tison
CHILDREN'S Ministries GODLY PLAY / STORYMAKERS BEGINS SEPTEMBER 13 We invite all children, ages three-years-old through 5th grade, to share in the redemptive narrative of the Bible. Using our beloved Godly Play stories alongside our StoryMakers curriculum, we will connect with our Bible stories in creative and playful ways. Our program season will begin remotely via Zoom on September 13. The Zoom will begin at 10:10 a.m. with Children's Chapel and then we will transition into smaller groups for Sunday School. Please register at cathedralATL.org/godlyplay to receive the class link and to reserve your class materials. Families can pick up their zines and other creative materials at the Cathedral Farmers Market on September 5 or 12. For more information or questions, please email Lisa McNamara, Director of Children's Ministries, at lmcnamara@cathedralATL.org.
OUTREACH AUGUST IS BCM FOOD DRIVE MONTH – PLEASE DONATE! August is food drive month at the Cathedral in support of Buckhead Christian Ministry’s client choice pantry. While COVID-19 has caused the temporary pause of pantry operations, BCM’s work to assist the working poor in our community is ongoing and more important than ever. Much of its current focus is delivering housing support as clients cope with layoffs and job losses, but food assistance remains a critical need and BCM’s reserve funding for the eventual reopening of its pantry is extremely important. St. Anne’s Guild coordinates the Cathedral’s semi-annual food drives (in August and February). Your support in August can be made easily through the Cathedral’s website at cathedralATL. org/BCM. Also, the Cathedral will gladly accept mailed checks made payable to “The Cathedral of St. Philip,” with “BCM” on the notation line.
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, SEPTEMBER 6 ISSUE, THE DEADLINE IS WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26. FOR THE SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 ISSUE, THE DEADLINE IS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2. 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.
404-365-1000 | cathedralATL.org cathedralatl
...continued from front page capacity to experience and understand people who are different from us; instead, we experience only our own selves, only our own opinions, only our own perspectives. One of the great features of church gathering, and church community, is the practice of gathering in unity with people who do not share our idiosyncratic characteristics! Thus, church gatherings are essential in our season of social isolation! Without church gathering, each of us tends to speak only idiosyncratically, without the “give and take” of community conversation. This may not happen immediately; but, after being cooped up in our own isolation, and in our own echo chambers, for six months, such idiosyncratic –and idiotic—outbursts can be quite debilitating. They can also seem absolutist, authoritarian, tyrannical, and puritanistic. I am biased, of course. But church community is what I have committed my life to. I believe the world needs good and healthy spiritual community. Healthy church community is not simply being able to make some absolutist proclamation. And, healthy church community is not even producing a polished video liturgy online! Healthy church community is the Body of Christ, with MANY members! Not just a head, and not just a political platform, and not just a whiz bang technical assistant (though we at the Cathedral are glad to have several such excellent assistants!). The Body of Christ is all of us, partisan and non-partisan, conservative and liberal, democrat and republican, young and old, rich and poor. The Body of Christ resembles what the keystone on our Cathedral Overlook says, “The rich and the poor meet together. The Lord is the maker of us all” (from Proverbs 22). I understand that we are in a season that requires us to be distanced from each other; I accept that we simply cannot gather together safely in large groups right now. However, I also know this: The essential work of the Church is to gather together, and not just to hear one person speak. We gather together so that all of us can speak and be heard. That conversation is essential to our spiritual lives, and it is essential to our world! We do not want to be idiots; we want to be gathered together, essential members of the Body of Christ in the world.
The Very Rev. Sam Candler Dean of the Cathedral
POSTMASTER: Dated Material. Please deliver by August 29, 2020 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
Adult EDUCATION OLD FASHIONED SUNDAY SCHOOL This Sunday, August 30 at 10:10 a.m. in Old Fashioned Sunday School, Canon George Maxwell will lead the last of a series of discussions on Richard Rohr’s book, The Universal Christ: How a Forgotten Reality Can Change Everything We See, Hope For, and Believe. “God loves things by becoming them,” Rohr writes. Our discussion will draw on scripture, history, and spiritual practice as we examine Rohr’s claim that we have never been separate from God, except by our own choice, and that faith is less about proving that Jesus is God and more about learning to recognize the Creator’s presence all around us and in everyone we meet.
PARENTING UNSCRIPTED Parenting Unscripted meets at 10:10 a.m. on Zoom. Parenting is hard... find a community of support. Join other parents in discussions around faith, parenting teenagers, and how to support their spiritual growth.
PASTORAL Care YOU ARE NOT ALONE! You are not alone! As this pandemic goes on, many of us are feeling isolated, lonely, and disconnected. After all, we are social beings, and we all need relationship and connection. If you would like to be connected to another church member, for conversation or simply to have someone check in on you, or if you would like to make a new friend or be a conversation partner for someone else, please contact Canon Cathy Zappa, czappa@cathedralATL.org or 404-365-1043.