The CATHEDRAL TIMES The weekly newsletter of the Cathedral of St. Philip · Serving Atlanta and the World · September 27, 2020
THE CHURCH IS A LABORATORY FOR FORGIVENESS (from the Very Rev. Sam Candler’s sermon of 13 September 2020, titled “Forgiveness Is The Eraser!”) There are lots of names and images we use for the church. The church is a body, a congregation, a community – yes, all those things. But I have another favorite image for “Church.” The church is a “Laboratory.” The church is a laboratory for forgiveness. The church is where we test, and experiment with, and practice forgiveness. Over time, it is the church where we learn how to forgive, and where we learn how to be forgiven. This is because there are so many mistakes in church, and so much imperfection, all in the same place where people generally want to do the right thing. And yet, we don’t, over and over again, and all on top of each other. Let me tell you a secret: Forgiveness is the way I determine how often someone goes to church. A lot of people claim that they are spiritual, or that they are Christian, or that they are members of a church. But I can never tell by what they say. I can tell people who go to church by how they are able to forgive and be forgiven. Yes, for me, the key evidence of whether someone goes to church, is whether they know how to forgive, whether they have learned forgiveness in the great laboratory of forgiveness, the church. Those who attend faithfully are comfortable with forgiveness. Of course, forgiveness makes all of us uncomfortable; but it makes some people truly uncomfortable. There are people, I have heard, who claim that they have never had to ask for forgiveness, or never asked for forgiveness. Yes, forgiveness is the best evidence that someone attends church, or is a Christian. If we do not understand forgiveness, we haven’t really understood Christianity yet. Well, in some weird sense, we have all been in various laboratories of forgiveness lately, wherever we are living. We have been on top of each other, living in petri dishes, and not really knowing what else is living here with us, at the same time. And dealing with those very real things: diseases and strengths, mistakes and solutions. Oh, and if you live by yourself, you don’t escape this laboratory! Your laboratory might be online, on one of the various social media platforms on the internet. You know what they are. And the old, offline, ways are still available for us to make careless comments. Each of them is another opportunity for us to say something wrong, or unkind, or even sinful. In fact, some of the algorithms of those online platforms seem to be weighted toward the sensational and sensationalist, the divisive and antagonistic. It’s how those platforms drive us to crave more. It is hard for those social media platforms to deliver forgiveness. I suppose that they, too, can be laboratories, or tests, for how we want to live in this world. Do we want to live in impatience, and short outbursts of anger? All forgiven people get tempted by these opportunities to lash out against someone else. That is exactly the tragedy of the gospel parable we heard from the Book of Matthew a few Sundays ago. The forgiven servant is grateful, but he immediately loses that gratitude by not being able to pass on the forgiveness, the release. He was released, but he cannot release another; instead, he attacks the other, and binds the other. He has not learned from church community, the laboratory of forgiveness. …. The church is a grand laboratory for forgiveness. Where we learn forgiveness seven times seventy times. And, if we are paying attention, our families and households are the same spiritual laboratories, where we learn to forgive and where we learn how to be forgiven. Both sides of the forgiveness are critical: giving forgiveness and receiving forgiveness. Giving release, and receiving release. To forgive means to release. It is truly one of the major principles of the Christian life. To release. For, when we release others, we suddenly feel ourselves released, too. When we let go of what we believe people owe us,
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This SUNDAY
SEPTEMBER 27, 2020 · The Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 21, Year A Exodus 17:1-7 · Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16 · Philippians 2:1-13 · Matthew 21:23-32
REGISTER FOR IN-PERSON OUTDOOR SERVICES OF KOINONIA AT CATHEDRALATL.ORG, ON THE CATHEDRAL APP, OR BY CALLING 404-365-1009 STARTING WEDNESDAY AT 10 A.M. THESE SERVICES ARE LIMITED TO 50 ATTENDEES, WITH MASKS REQUIRED.
7:45 A.M. SERVICE OF KOINONIA, CLOISTER GARDEN 8:45 A.M. SERVICE OF KOINONIA, LABYRINTH 11:15 A.M. SERVICE OF KOINONIA, LABYRINTH CONTINUE TO 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 Very Rev. Sam Candler Music: George Shearing (1919-2011), There is a Happy Land from Sacred Sounds (1977) John Rutter, Benedictus es, Domine, S-236 Psalm 78:1-4, 12-16 (Plainsong Tone I.2) Hymn 435, “At the name of Jesus” King’s Weston Gerre Hancock, The Lord will surely come William Mathias, Sanctus & Benedictus S-128 Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), Ich ruf zu dir, Herr Jesu Christ, BWV 639 Hymn 450, “All hail the power of Jesus’ Name” Coronation Craig Sellar Lang (1891-1971), Tuba Tune in D major, Op 15
10:30 A.M. LA SANTA EUCARISTÍA Celebrant: The Rev. Canon Lauren Holder Preacher: The Rev. Deacon Juan Sandoval
ADULT Education
CHILDREN and YOUTH
These classes gather on Zoom at 10:10 a.m. on Sunday. Go to cathedralATL.org/education for links.
CHILDREN'S CHAPEL & GODLY PLAY/STORYMAKERS
OLD FASHIONED SUNDAY SCHOOL
YOUTH SUNDAY SCHOOL
led by the Rev. Canon George Maxwell
Sunday, 10:10 a.m., for youth in 6th–12th grades
PARENTING UNSCRIPTED
CHILDREN'S SOCIAL HOUR
EYSEEDLINGS
Sunday, 4 p.m., through 3rd grade
5 p.m., 4th-5th grades
HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT IS SAYING TO GOD’S PEOPLE: Exploring Contemplative Practices and Meditation Together led by seminarian Will Drosos
Sunday, 10:10 a.m., for children through 5th grade
IGNITE MIDDLE SCHOOL BIBLE STUDY Sunday, 6:30 p.m., 6th-8th grades, in-person on the Labyrinth
EMBER NIGHTS HIGH SCHOOL BIBLE STUDY Tuesday, 6:30 p.m., 9th-12th grades, in-person on the Labyrinth
SUNDAY AFTERNOON RECITAL: OAK MARTIN, ORGAN STREAMING LIVE AT AT 3:15 P.M. AT CATHEDRALATL.ORG/RECITALS AND ON THE CATHEDRAL FACEBOOK PAGES Margaret Vardell Sandresky, Johann Sebastian Bach, William Grant Still, Elegy Sonata No. 1 for Organ (based on Grant Wood’s Trio Sonata in C Major, BWV 529 painting Spring Turning)
PRAYER List FOR THOSE WHO ARE ILL OR RECOVERING: IMMEDIATE NEEDS Julie Sutton • Laura and Mike Treacy
LONG TERM PRAYERS R. Huntley Allen • T. Mayo Atkins • Edgar and Judith Beach • Perry Benton • Virginia Bicksler • Judith
Borden • Bernice Burton • Heather Clark • Sharon Crews • Terry Dornbush • Sarah duBignon • Deborah
Ellington • Dan Elson • Randy Farmer • Jenny Ham • Louise Kan • Del King • 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 • Marty Ruegsegger • Louis “Skip” Schueddig • Tom Sharpley • Julie Thompson • Tommy Truesdale • Faye Van Winkle
FAMILY AND FRIENDS Eileen Abeyesundere • Bettina Bass • David Bond • Billy Campbell • Lynn Chandler • Andrew Clark • Jan Fortune • Carleton Fuller • Jean Hand • Stephen Jones • Tom Jones • Beth and Al Levine • Pete Livezey • Pat
Martin • Marge Massey • Michelle Maxwell • Katie McCrae • Trina Mercado • David Mickle • Malcolm A. Moore • Malcolm A. Moore Family • Nancy Morehouse • Steven Norman • Dot Oscher • The Papanikolaou Family • Charlotte Roland • Gina Rosa • James Sands • Caroline Southerland • Tina Susco • Tarvin Family •
Yvonne Tate • Pierson Thames • Jeffrey Thomas • Roger Traylor • Ron M. Wallace • Lois Williams • Whit A. Wright • Hollis Youngner
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DIED Kelvin Craven • Linda Lou Ohmart • Nancy Shuford
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, OCTOBER 4 ISSUE, THE DEADLINE IS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23. FOR THE SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11 ISSUE, THE DEADLINE IS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30. 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 then it is we who feel wonderfully free. The way God sets people free, is by using people to do it! God uses us to set his people free.
POSTMASTER: Dated Material. Please deliver by September 26, 2020 POSTMASTER Send address changes to: The Cathedral of St. Philip 2744 Peachtree Road, NW Atlanta, Georgia 30305-2920 404-365-1000
Once? Seven times? Seventy-seven times? Yes. Yes to all those numbers. And Yes to a lifetime of release. It is like washing our face, like saying “I love you.” When those acts become practices and habits, they become part of who we are. And when forgiveness becomes part of who we are, we are close to the heart of God.
The Very Rev. Sam Candler Dean of the Cathedral
WORSHIP
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
Cathedral STAFF THANK YOU, CAROLYNNE WILLIAMS! Greetings all, I am writing to tell you that the Rev. Carolynne G. Williams, Canon Associate for Pastoral Care and Elder Ministry, has retired. Carolynne joined the pastoral care team on the Cathedral staff in 1999 after a successful career within In-Flight Service at Delta Airlines. She has been the embodiment of grace, excellence, and hospitality ever since – though, I must say, Carolynne has her own elegant way of doing this.
ST. FRANCIS DAY – A CELEBRATION OF CREATION! One of the beloved aspects of our celebration of the Feast of St. Francis has been our tradition of blessing animals. We continue that tradition this year, with your help! Please send pictures of your pets and other animals, insects, and living creatures of all kinds, to be celebrated and blessed in our online service on Sunday, October 4. Upload your pictures at cathedralATL.org/ stfrancis by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, September 30. We will also celebrate St. Francis and God’s beautiful creation in person on St. Francis Sunday. Although we will not have animals at our outdoor services of Koinonia in the morning, all are invited to bring the pets to a drive-thru blessing of the animals in the Cathedral parking lot, anytime between 1 and 2 p.m. Cathedral clergy will be on hand to greet and bless your furry, fuzzy, scaly, or otherwise wonderful animals!
I’ll never forget Carolynne preaching about cleaning the birds and an occasional rabbit that her father brought home for dinner or watching the procession of the casket of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. from her dorm room window at Spelman College. Nor will I forget the way she pronounces “forever” in the Postcommunion Prayer! Carolynne has a way of revealing God’s presence. We will miss her. Please join me in saying thank you to Carolynne for all that she has given to us. If you would like to send Carolynne a card, letter, or other thanks, you can still reach her at the Cathedral. Blessings and peace, The Rev. George Maxwell, Jr. Vicar