The CATHEDRAL TIMES The weekly newsletter of the Cathedral of St. Philip · Serving Atlanta and the World · November 8, 2020
BARSABBAS AND MATTHIAS: THE PATRON SAINTS OF ELECTIONS By the Very Rev. Sam Candler, Dean of the Cathedral In the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 1:23-26), we read of the earliest record of choosing apostolic leaders in the Christian Church. The apostles are gathered in Jerusalem seeking to do the right thing for the continuation of their identity and ministry. According to Luke, the writer of Acts, the apostles needed a twelfth member. So, first they chose the finalists. They chose two nominees from among all the people who had been with them from the beginning, nominees who would be authentic witnesses to the resurrection of Jesus. They nominated Barsabbas and Matthias. They prayed. Then, they simply chose lots! This week in the United States of America, I want to salute those two men, who were willing to let their names go forward in the church’s first election process: Barsabbas and Matthias. For me, these two saints are the patron saints of elections! Like any nominee of this age, they were willing to be public with their possibility. Each one knew, I am sure, that he might not be chosen. But they were honored. More importantly, they were willing to be vulnerable, to be exposed, to be critiqued and analyzed. These days, this is a key feature of public nomination: the willingness to be vulnerable. That is what any candidate does. They are willing to be public, willing to make an offering of themselves for the greater common good. That means sacrificing some privacy, letting people comment, letting people ask all sorts of questions. In fact, it means sacrificing a lot of privacy! Hard campaigning nominees know that people are saying all sorts of things about them. Some of it is accurate and true and good. Some of it is downright inaccurate and misleading and even pernicious. But that is the way of human curiosity, human speculation, and human sin. And it is certainly the way of human politics. Maybe the most important thing that nominees share, then, even though they rarely say this exactly, is a willingness to lose. They share a willingness to lose. Good people who offer themselves for election always know that there is a distinct possibility that they will lose the election. I believe that is an important offering to any democratic commonwealth: the offering of loss. The offering that, yes, I might lose. And that will be okay. For me, Barsabbas and Matthias, those first two nominees for apostolic leadership in the church, are the patron saints of elections. I suppose that they both knew they might not be chosen. But they let their names stand, anyway. And the name of Barsabbas was not chosen. He, then, might be called the patron saint of losers! According to the record of history, he lost. Alas, this is the only time in the New Testament that his name is even mentioned. There is a small legend about what might have happened to him, but nothing of any substance. He lost, and nothing more is heard about him. I salute Barsabbas this week, about whom we know nothing more than that he lost the election. He is the patron saint of losers. But, here’s the thing. What about the winner, the man whose name was chosen? What about Matthias, whose name was chosen, by lot, who became the twelfth apostle? Is he, therefore, to be remembered as the patron continued on back page...
This SUNDAY
NOVEMBER 8, 2020 · The Twenty-Third Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 27, Year A Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25 · Psalm 78:1-7 · 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 · Matthew 25:1-13
REGISTER FOR IN-PERSON SERVICES OF KOINONIA AT CATHEDRALATL.ORG, ON THE CATHEDRAL APP, OR BY CALLING 404-365-1009 STARTING WEDNESDAY, 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. AND 11:15 A.M. SERVICE OF KOINONIA, LABYRINTH 1 P.M. SERVICIO DE KOINONIA EN ESPAÑOL, CLOISTER GARDEN REGISTER BY CONTACTING DEACON JUAN SANDOVAL, JSANDOVAL@CATHEDRALATL.ORG. 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. Canon Cathy Zappa Preacher: The Very Rev. Sam Candler Music: Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707), Praeludium in D major, BuxWV 139 Hymn 593, “Lord, make us servants of your peace” Dickinson College Psalm 78:1-7 (Plainsong Tone I.2) Hymn 68, “Rejoice, rejoice, believers, and let your lamps appear” Llangloffan David Briggs, Christ’s Peace William Mathias, Sanctus & Benedictus S-128 Jacques-Nicolas Lemmens (1823-1881), Prière No. 4 Hymn 665 “All my hope on God is founded” Michael Dieterich Buxtehude, Praeludium in C Major, BuxWV 137
PRAYER List FOR THOSE WHO ARE ILL OR RECOVERING: IMMEDIATE NEEDS: Patricia Schooley LONG TERM PRAYERS Harris Allen, Jr. • R. Huntley Allen • T. Mayo Atkins • Anne Bao • Edgar and Judith Beach • Perry Benton • Virginia Bicksler • Judith Borden •
Heather Clark • Sharon Crews • Terry Dornbush • Sarah duBignon • Deborah Ellington • Dan Elson • Charles Griffin • Jenny Ham • Louise Kan • Del King • Lisa Krysiak • Sandy Land • Elaine Lyon • Carol McDonald • Glenn Miller • Ashley Minear • Royce Mitchell • Laura Moore • Susan
Myers • Charlie Neal • Linus Nickel • Marion Palmore • Beth Pitzer • Garry Pryor • Rowland Radford • Rubye and Wayne Reid • Tommy Ripley • Agnes Elizabeth Robertson • Fred Rudolph • Louis "Skip" Schueddig • Julie Thompson • Tommy Truesdale • Faye Van Winkle
FAMILY AND FRIENDS Bettina Bass • David Bond • Lynn Chandler • Edward W. Chapin • Andrew Clark • Robyn Kim Crennan • Nancy Cubedo • Carleton Fuller • Priscilla
E. Goss • Jean Hand • Andrea Hollis • John Jackson • Stephen Jones • Robin Kemp • Pete Livezey • Pat Martin • Marge Massey • Michelle Maxwell •
Steven Norman • Richard Pinney • James Sands • Paul Sturtz • Caroline Southerland • Tina Susco • Yvonne Tate • Pierson Thames • Jeffrey Thomas • Roger Traylor • Ron M. Wallace • Whit A. Wright • Hollis Youngner
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DIED Randy Farmer • Grant and Mary Drayton Godbee
Cathedral CHAPTER THE CATHEDRAL CHAPTER IS ACCEPTING CANDIDATES FOR NOMINATION TO THE CHAPTER The Chapter Nominating Committee has begun their work of assembling a slate of nominees for the 2021 Cathedral Chapter. They invite anyone in the parish to submit recommendations of qualified candidates. As the governing body of the Cathedral, the Chapter determines policy issues and provides stewardship of the Cathedral’s complex operations. Each month, the Chapter formally reviews the status of each of the Cathedral’s parochial entities and ministries, and oversees parish financial statements. Each Chapter member serves a three-year term. Our Church By-laws allow for members to be: “Any communicant of the parish in good and regular standing, who is not less than eighteen years of age, a regular attendant in Cathedral worship in the year preceding election, and known by the treasurer to have made and maintained a stated financial commitment for church support
SUNDAY AFTERNOON RECITAL JACOB MONTGOMERY, ORGAN BETHANY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, ROCHESTER, NY STREAMING LIVE AT 3:15 P.M. SUNDAY AT CATHEDRALATL.ORG/RECITALS AND ON FACEBOOK Marcel Dupré, “Allegro deciso” from Évocation William Bolcom, Jesus Loves Me Louis Vierne, “Adagio” from Organ Symphony No. 3 in F-sharp minor, Op. 28 Johann Sebastian Bach, Passacaglia & Fugue in C minor, BWV 582
in the year preceding election.” (A “communicant” is a baptized member who has been confirmed.) The most important quality of an effective Chapter member is an ability to see the larger picture. Most have held leadership positions in more than one of the church’s ministries or parochial entities. After recommendations are given to the Nominating Committee, eligibility is verified and candidates are polled to confirm their interest and availability. The committee then chooses six strong candidates to send to the Chapter for approval. Finally, Chapter members are formally elected by the parish at the annual parish meeting in December. Names of recommendations should be submitted along with a brief supporting statement to any Nominating Committee member or to the Office of the Dean, 404-365-1031, or jmahood@cathedralATL.org.
EDUCATION FOR MINISTRY Education for Ministry (EfM) is a program of the School of Theology of the University of the South. Participants commit one year at a time to meet weekly in seminars led by mentors trained in studying the Bible, church history, and theology, while also developing a wonderful community of members. There is a weekly lesson and study guide, but no tests or papers to prepare. A few spaces are available for an EfM class that begins January 5. The class meets on Tuesdays from 7-9:30 p.m., initially meeting by Zoom and transitioning to the Lanier House once it is safe to do so. For more information and registration procedures, contact Rick Tyler, 404-375-6470, or Deirdra Glover, 770-865-2141.
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 The Rev. Deacon Juan Sandoval, Deacon for Hispanic Ministries The Rev. Theophus “Thee” Smith, Ph.D., Priest Associate Del King, Senior Warden Dorsey DeLong, Junior Warden
CATHEDRAL TIMES SUBMISSION DEADLINES: FOR THE SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 15 ISSUE, THE DEADLINE IS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4. FOR THE SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22 ISSUE, THE DEADLINE IS WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11. 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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... continued from front page saint of winners?
POSTMASTER: Dated Material. Please deliver by November 7, 2020
Well, it turns out that, alas, this is the only time in the New Testament that his name is even mentioned, too! With him, too, there is a small legend about what might have happened to him, but nothing of any substance. He actually won, and yet nothing more is heard about him.
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Barsabbas lost, and nothing more is heard about him. Matthias won, and nothing more is heard about him, either! Whether they won or lost, nothing more was heard about them. They began an apostolic succession, they participated in leadership, but their lives were not remembered. Maybe, apostolic Christian leadership is not about being remembered individually; maybe it’s about being part of the greater common good! This week, I salute all those who offer themselves for service, whether it is in the church, or elsewhere, for the common good. You who run for election anywhere, you who want to be leaders, you who sacrifice your privacy for the greater good anywhere. Your willingness to lose is, actually, a good example to all of us. To follow in the steps of the apostles is to be willing to lose yourself. To be willing to lose is the best form of Christian leadership. Christian leadership is being willing to lose. Christian leadership witnesses to something beyond individual identity, beyond individual pride, beyond whether one wins or loses. Finally, in Christ, there are no winners or losers. There is only the Body of Christ, with its many faithful members. The words of the blessed apostle Paul are the words of a true leader: “We do not live to ourselves, and we do not die to ourselves. If we live, we live to the Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so, then, whether we live or whether we die; we are the Lord’s.” (Romans 14:7-8).
Take-home Advent Wreathmaking
The Very Rev. Sam Candler Dean of the Cathedral
UTO INGATHERING IS NOVEMBER 15 This week, give thanks for all of the departed, saints in our time and saints who have gone before us.
Traditional Wreath Kit and Homemade Pasta Sauce Pickup
Sunday, November 29
Stay tuned for more details!