The CATHEDRAL TIMES The weekly newsletter of the Cathedral of St. Philip · Serving Atlanta and the World ·September 5, 2021
REAL, BUT NOT FINAL By the Rev. Julia Mitchener, Priest Associate Someone I loved died last fall. Tony, a professor of American literature, was my faculty advisor in college and, later on, a friend. He lived a long life, one that had its share of ups and downs—perhaps, on balance, more downs than many of us experience. He had a daughter, you see, who died of cancer when she was only four years old, and this affected him profoundly. There were other sadnesses as well, yet Tony was a man who was relentlessly hopeful. I cannot recall a time I ran into him on campus when he did not greet me with his trademark impish grin. He had a frequent twinkle in his eye, one that suggested he was privy to some great cosmic joke a lot of people didn’t get but that he kept trying to share because he wanted others to be in on the fun, too. Hundreds of moving tributes poured in after Tony’s death. One in particular has stuck with me. Reflecting on the emotional, physical, and spiritual trials of living through a global pandemic, its author wrote: “In this season of torment, we should offer gratitude for the life of this kind man who would have reminded us that the torment is real, but not final.” The torment is real, but not final. I’ve been holding these words in my heart ever since I read them. They have been especially comforting during the last few weeks—weeks in which crisis upon crisis has assaulted our country and our world even as so many of us continue to face our own personal struggles. The torment is real, but not final. Here, it strikes me, is the essence of our Christian faith—the conviction that while sin and death may do their worst, they are not the last words about human existence. Neither are the Delta variant, overflowing ICUs, suicide bombings, earthquakes, fractured relationships, racism, poverty, mental illness, loneliness, wildfires, or catastrophic storms. There have always been some traditions that encourage Christians to pretend as if pain and sorrow are somehow illusions. Jesus didn’t actually suffer on the cross, one movement in the early Church called Docetism asserted—he merely appeared to do so. Have a positive attitude, some celebrity preachers proclaim today, and everything’ll be fine. The reality, of course, is that bad, even horrific, things do happen, sometimes all at once. No amount of positive thinking will change this. We cannot wish away, or pray away, every hardship that assaults us. And yet we do not lose hope. My eight-year-old says frequently, “I hate this stupid coronavirus! I hate it!” To which I reply, “I hate it, too, Sweetie. I wish I could wave a magic wand and make it go away.” I can’t, of course, so I do my best to try to comfort her. I sit down with her on the floor and hold her in my arms. I stroke her hair and ask if she’d like something to eat, maybe a cookie or two. I remind her of all the happy times we’ve had in the past and promise her that we will have these times again. I call to mind other hard things we’ve had to do and how we got through them together. In this way, I reassure both my daughter and myself that though the torment is real, it is not final. Something similar happens each Sunday when we gather here at the Cathedral. We tell stories of how God’s people lived through—and overcame—evil and despair in days of old. We share one another’s present joys and sorrows. We ask God to be with us as we seek a better future. We have something to eat—not cookies, but the Bread of Life. We eat at the table of One whose very death proved to be not the end, but the beginning. Dear friends, with God’s help, you and I will come through this dark time. This I believe with all my heart. If you cannot believe it right now, though, that’s all right. You are not failing yourself or anyone else because of your doubt or despair. Rest for a while, knowing that others will believe for you. Even now, as you read this, there are those holding space for you in the realm of hope, joy, comfort, and peace. The torment is real, but not final.
This SUNDAY
SEPTEMBER 5, 2021 · The Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 18, Year B Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23 · Psalm 125 · James 2:1-10, 14-17 · Mark 7:24-37
7:45 A.M. HOLY EUCHARIST, CLOISTER GARDEN
Celebrant and Preacher: The Rev. Dr. Thee Smith
8:45 A.M. AND 11:15 A.M. HOLY EUCHARIST, CATHEDRAL WORSHIP WITH US IN-PERSON AND ONLINE AS WE LIVESTREAM THE 8:45 AND 11:15 A.M. SERVICES FROM THE CATHEDRAL. THEY WILL BE BROADCAST AT CATHEDRALATL.ORG, ON THE CATHEDRAL APP, AND ON THE CATHEDRAL FACEBOOK AND YOUTUBE PAGES. Celebrant: The Rev. Canon George Maxwell Preacher: The Rev. Dr. Thee Smith Cathedral Singers: Gordon Jacob (1895-1984), Prelude and Meditation Hymn 586, “Jesus, thou divine Companion” Pleading Savior Hymn 607, “O God of every nation” Llangloffan Herbert Howells (1893-1982), Jubilate Deo (Collegium Regale) Hymn 423, “Immortal, invisible, God only wise” St. Denio Robert Powell, Sanctus & Benedictus S-129 Craig Phillips (b. 1961), Teach me, my God and King Hymn 315, “Thou, who at thy first Eucharist didst pray” Song 1 Hymn 493, “O for a thousand tongues to sing”, Azmon Gordon Jacob (1895-1984), Fanfare
11:15 A.M. SERVICIO DE KOINONIA, CON LA SANTA EUCARISTÍA , MIKELL CHAPEL
Celebrant and Preacher: The Rev. Deacon Juan Sandoval
PRAYER List FOR THOSE WHO ARE ILL OR RECOVERING: LONG TERM PRAYERS: R. Huntley Allen • Penny Barnett • Perry Benton • Virginia Bicksler • Heather Clark • Sharon Crews • The
Crossley Family • Jerri Darnell • Marg Denny • Melana and Nyland Dickson • Terry Dornbush • Sarah duBignon • Deborah Ellington • Dan Elson • Ruth Fuqua • Douglas T. Grey, Jr. • Jenny Ham • Rebecca Harris • Jane Jones • Louise Kan • Lisa Krysiak • Jill Mahaffey • Tommy Mason • Carol McDonald • Kay McPherson • Glenn Miller • Ashley Minear • Royce Mitchell • Susan Myers • Charlie Neal • Linus Nickel • Dudley Ottley • Marian Palmore • Garry Pryor • Rowland Radford • Debbie Ragen • Rubye and Wayne Reid • Lorraine Reynolds • Agnes Elizabeth Robertson • Nora Robillard • Louis "Skip" Schueddig • Daniel Sherman • Linda Stallcup • Tommy Truesdale • Ron Wallace • Elleanor Wilson • Faye Van Winkle
FAMILY AND FRIENDS: Lisa Bachman • Bettina Bass • David Bond • Darrell Boyette • Pam Breedlove • Elizabeth Cannon • Andrew
Clark • Vickie and Bob Coffman • Marie Corrigan • Ava Corroon • Nathan Curry • Sandy Ford • Carleton Fuller • Peter Garbus • Theresa Gent • Patricia Plummer Glowatsky • Gayle Higley • Robert Hoder • William Hudson • Cadel Ingraham • Lilliana Isola • Karen Kauffman • Robin Kemp • Carole Kline • Rita Lewis • Pete Livezey • Lauren Makhlouf • Pat Martin • Michelle Maxwell • Betsy Moore • Jovita Moore • Steven Norman • Bill Poole • Ann and Tom Quigley • Ginny Quinn • Carter Randall • Carson Rengel • Courtney Rosenthal • Lisa and Sophia Rowe • Einar Sagstuen • James Sands • Milton Shiver • Timothy Shotmeyer • Richard Smith • Mike Stone • Paul Sturtz • Vernon T. • Yvonne Tate • Pierson Thames • Bryson Thomas • Wayne Thurman • Olive Toy • Harris Wilson • Whit A. Wright • Hollis Youngner
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DIED: Raymond Dillard Cook • Brantley Echols • Greg McGinnis
Congregational LIFE DEMENTIA CAREGIVER SUPPORT GROUP Thursdays, 1 – 2 p.m. This group offers emotional support, practical information, and supportive companionship for dementia caregivers. It is led by an experienced facilitator and dementia caregiver, Roy Kerfoot, and sponsored by Piedmont Sixty Plus. The group usually meets at Second Ponce de Leon Baptist Church (across the street from the Cathedral); however, for the time being, it is meeting online. For more information and for the Zoom link, contact Canon Cathy Zappa at czappa@cathedralATL.org or Roy Kerfoot at roy.kerfoot@gmail.com.
GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP The Cathedral is hosting a grief support group facilitated by Hospice Atlanta and open to all who are grieving the death of a loved one. The group meets in the Lanier House on second and fourth Sundays, from 2–3:30 p.m. Feel free to come as you can, and plan to wear a mask. For more information, contact Canon Cathy Zappa, czappa@cathedralATL.org.
12 STEP PROGRAMS AA and Al-Anon groups meet weekly at the Cathedral. Contact Canon Cathy Zappa, 404-365-1043 or czappa@cathedralATL.org, for more information. Alcoholics Anonymous Group Meeting “Alcoholics Anonymous is an international fellowship of men and women who have had a drinking problem. Membership is open to anyone who wants to do something about his or her drinking problem." -AA.org Tuesday, 7 p.m., Lanier House Wednesday, 7 p.m., Lanier House Al-Anon “Al Anon is a mutual support program for people whose lives have been affected by someone else’s drinking. By sharing common experiences and applying the Al-Anon principles, families and friends of alcoholics can bring positive changes to their individual situations, whether or not the alcoholic admits the existence of a drinking problem or seeks help.” -Al-Anon.org Tuesday, 10 a.m. Peachtree Al-Anon Family Group Thursday, 10:30 a.m., Room 122
The CATHEDRAL off ST. PHILIP The Very Rev. Samuel G. Candler, Dean
Dale Adelmann, Ph.D., Canon for Music
CATHEDRAL TIMES SUBMISSION DEADLINES: FOR THE SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12 ISSUE, THE DEADLINE IS
The Rev. Lauren R. Holder, Canon for Community and Education
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1. FOR THE SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER
The Rev. Catherine Zappa, Canon for Liturgy and Pastoral Care
TO RECEIVE THE TIMES BY EMAIL, CONTACT MELANA
The Rev. Deacon Juan Sandoval, Deacon for Hispanic Ministries
ANNOUNCEMENT REQUEST, CONTACT SARA CRAIG-GOODELL,
The Rev. George M. Maxwell, Jr., Vicar
The Rev. Julia B. Mitchener, Priest Associate
The Rev. Theophus “Thee” Smith, Ph.D., Priest Associate Del King, Senior Warden
Samuel T. Wilmoth, Junior Warden
19 ISSUE, THE DEADLINE IS WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8. DICKSON, MDICKSON@CATHEDRALATL.ORG. TO SUBMIT AN SCRAIGGOODELL@CATHEDRALATL.ORG.
404-365-1000 | cathedralATL.org pastoral care emergency line: 404-365-1003
cathedralatl
WORSHIP Support “GOOD MORNING AND WELCOME TO THE CATHEDRAL OF ST. PHILIP!" These are the first words you might hear on any given Sunday when you arrive at 2744 Peachtree Road and are greeted by one of our ushers, wearing a carnation and nametag. My name is Rod Bunn. My wife and I have been St. Philip’s parishioners since moving to Atlanta in 2000. Shortly after we arrived, we were asked to be oblation bearers—that is, to carry the offering of bread and wine to the altar for Communion—by Dr. Emile Fisher, the Chief usher. As many of you know, Dr. Fisher was a person to whom you could not say “no.” In as much, we accepted the task! At the Presentation (when we present our offerings), we made it to the altar with the wine and bread, as we had been instructed, without tripping, falling, or spilling anything. Apparently, we succeeded, as Dr. Fisher asked both of us to join the usher ministry, and I have been an usher at St. Philip’s ever since. Serving as an usher has been a wonderful experience, offering me the benefit of meeting and getting to know parishioners and making and cultivating new friendships. Ushers are generally the first to welcome parishioners and among the last to say as they depart, “Have a great week, and thank you for being here in this wonderful place!” Our ministry is one of hospitality. In addition to greeting worshippers with a smile and a leaflet, we are there to answer questions, like “Where are the restrooms?” or “How do I learn more about this church?” Hospitality also entails facilitating a sense of safety and comfort, which we do in many ways, such as responding when someone needs medical assistance and preventing falls on the steps during Communion. Many ushers have participated in this ministry during a large part of their lives at St. Philip’s, some serving as long as sixty years. There is no age limit! Ushers as young as mid-teens routinely serve alongside older team members. We also have a junior usher program, for children of adult ushers, which adds a wonderful dimension to the overall worship experience. We are currently seeking ushers for all Sunday services (7:45 a.m., 8:45 a.m., 11:15 a.m., and 4 p.m. Evensong), as well as special services such as funerals or diocesan services. Ushers typically serve seven to nine services a year. Should you be interested in joining the usher ministry, please speak to one of the ushers wearing a carnation, or contact Rod Bunn, 678-428-7444, rdbunn@bellsouth.net. Thank you for your consideration.
YOUTH YOUTH SUNDAY SCHOOL AND BIBLE STUDY RESUME IN SEPTEMBER Sunday morning formation for all youth in grades 6-12 will begin on Sunday, September 12 from 10:10 – 11 a.m. Bible Study will begin Tuesday, September 14, at 6:30 p.m. Contact Keith Dumke, kdumke@ cathedralATL.org for more information and to register.
Children's MINISTRY GODLY PLAY RETURNS SEPTEMBER 12! Godly Play will return on Sunday, September 12 at 10:10 a.m. Registration for Godly Play can be found at cathedralATL.org/godlyplay. Please contact Lisa McNamara, lmcnamara@cathedralATL.org, for more information.
OUTREACH SUPPORTING PARTNERS IN HAITI The loose offering the first Sunday of every month normally supports the Discretionary Fund for the Needy, the Cathedral's emergency funds for our local community partners who support our neighbors in need. The first Sunday of September, however, these funds will be donated to Episcopal Relief & Development in their ongoing support for the people of Haiti, who suffered a devastating earthquake on August 14. The Diocese of Haiti quickly assessed the most urgent needs of vulnerable groups such as pregnant women, mothers with young children, the elderly, and people whose homes were damaged or destroyed. The diocese selected 400 families in hard-to-reach areas that have been affected by the earthquake and Tropical Storm Grace. With Episcopal Relief & Development’s support, these families will receive direct assistance so that they can meet basic needs such as food, medicine, and housing. We ask that you give generously on Sunday, September 5, to support the Episcopal Relief & Development’s efforts to help these families recover from the combined disasters of the earthquake and tropical storm. Online donations made to the Discretionary Fund for the Needy during the first week of September will also go towards the ERD's relief efforts and can be made at cathedralATL.org/ discretionaryfund.
HELP WELCOME AFGHAN ALLIES TO GEORGIA Our friends at Inspiritus have a long history of welcoming refugees and Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) holders to Georgia and accompanying them on their journey from surviving to thriving. When Afghan allies and their families arrive at Inspiritus, they often have little more than the clothes on their backs. In some cases, there can be a 5-7 day gap between the families’ arrivals and the services they are eligible to receive through the United States resettlement program. To help rapidly resettle and support a large influx of Afghan SIVs into the metro Atlanta area, Inspiritus is gathering much needed items for these families including: blankets, clothing (men, women, children, and babies), diapers, baby food, canned goods, rice, and oil. These items will be used to supplement the emergency kit they give each family upon arrival. The Cathedral Young Professionals are also collecting gift cards from grocery stores and general merchandise stores to donate to families so they may purchase additional needed items. Donations can be left at the information desk in the Atrium. (Please make a note that they are for the Inspiritus collection drive). Please contact Sara Craig-Goodell, scraiggoodell@cathedralATL.org, 404-3651049, for questions or more information.
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PODCASTS
Cathedral ANTIQUES SHOW TAKING A PAUSE FOR A PURPOSE In January 2021 the Cathedral Antiques Show celebrated its 50th Anniversary. This milestone marked our continued commitment of supporting local nonprofit organizations that are dedicated to advancing their missions and broadening outreach. To date, over $5.8 million has been donated to meet the needs of some of our most vulnerable citizens. This year we were pleased to partner with our beneficiary 180 Degree Kitchen at City of Refuge. The pandemic required us to do things differently and we were thrilled with our success, and with the continued support of our faithful St. Philip’s community. We are proud of the Antiques Show and the legacy it represents; we are also aware that the world has changed and new approaches are required to maintain and expand our fundraising efforts. For the past several years an ad hoc committee has studied and evaluated best practices to guide the future of the show. As a result of the study a new committee, Community Charity Council, was formed to explore future outreach efforts. The research and the work of the combined committees will give us an opportunity to build on our past successes. After careful consideration the decision has been made to take a pause for 2022 as we reflect, redirect, and develop a new and improved show for the next fifty years. We are so grateful for the countless volunteers, church parishioners, antique dealers, designers, sponsors, patrons, and show enthusiasts whose generosity enables the Cathedral Antiques Show to give back to the Atlanta community in meaningful ways. We look forward to your continued support when we return in 2023. In the meantime, if you have any questions, please contact Anne Matthews, show@cathedralantiques.org, 404-365-1107, or Nancy Rizor, rizorr@bellsouth.net, 404-606-3011. Visit the CAS website to stay up to date with plans for 2023: cathedralantiques.org Sincerely, Nancy Rizor Ad Hoc Committee
Julie Rief and Caroline Wallace Anne Matthews Community Charity Council 2021 Cathedral Antiques Show Chair
AD HOC COMMITTEE
COMMUNITY CHARITY COUNCIL
Nancy Rizor, Chair Laura Cullen Margaret Denny Grace Foster Beverly Gwynn Katherine Hill The Rev. Lauren Holder
Anne Matthews Jenny McClure Mary Mercer Mary Perrin Julie Rief Caroline Wallace Elspeth Willcoxon
Julie Rief, Co-Chair Caroline Wallace, Co-Chair Ann Burns Teddi Bair Alexis Guilbert Kate Hearne
Kiley King Lisa Lombardo Haven Long Mary Perrin Abby Schultz Daisy Starr
Cathedral THRIFT HOUSE Truly satisfying shopping does not happen in front of a keyboard, and does not involve a river in South America. THIS IS SHOPPING!
UTTERLY UPSCALE CATHEDRAL THRIFT HOUSE TRUNK SHOW Wednesday, October 20 2 – 5 p.m. 4655 Lake Forrest Drive Jewelry, Fur, Designer Clothes and MORE!
SPIRITUALITY 2021 SPIRITUALITY CONFERENCE Amy-Jill Levine, Ph.D., is Rabbi Stanley M. Kessler Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies at Hartford Seminary and University Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies Emerita, as well as Mary Jane Werthan Professor of Jewish Studies Emerita at Vanderbilt University. Understanding Jesus Means Understanding Judaism Jesus and his first followers were Jews, thoroughly grounded in Jewish Scripture, Jewish ethics and theology, and Jewish hopes. To understand the New Testament is thus to recover part of Jewish history. How has knowledge of this common history become lost? How might understanding the New Testament in its historical context provide not only a new way of approaching Jewish-Christian relations but also a new way of celebrating our common roots? Our topics include the Our Father prayer, the Parables of the Prodigal Son and the Good Samaritan, Jesus’ comments on observing Torah ( Jewish Law), and Jesus’ relations to women and to gentiles. This day-long conference includes lunch, and there will be a book-signing after. For questions, please contact Jeannie Mahood, jmahood@cathedralATL.org. Registration and more information can be found at cathedralATL.org/spirituality.
Adult EDUCATION OLD FASHIONED SUNDAY SCHOOL RESUMES NEXT SUNDAY SUNDAYS AT 10:10 A.M. IN CHILD HALL AND ON ZOOM Old Fashioned Sunday School will meet every Sunday at 10:10 a.m., beginning September 12, to discuss topics of general interest to the Cathedral community. All are welcome. You will find a light heart, warm welcome, and good coffee! This year the class will, in a sense, be a return to the basics. Each class will address themes that arise in the lectionary readings scheduled to be read in church on that Sunday. Specifically, there will be five separate series. As we conclude Ordinary Time in the fall, the class will open with a series on the Gospel of Mark, focused on the political nature of the gospel. For Advent, the class will study the Gospel of Thomas to prepare us for the wonders of Christmas. The series scheduled for the seasons of Christmas and Epiphany will focus on the feast day liturgies that we typically celebrate during these seasons. The Lenten series will address the spirituality of death and dying with a focus on how hope helps us make sense of suffering. Finally, the Easter series will focus on the psychological dimensions of faith and how they might help us to live into the idea of resurrection now. It’s going to be fun and will help you use your faith to find meaning in your daily life. This class meets in Child Hall and is available online. For more information, contact Canon George Maxwell at gmaxwell@cathedralATL.org.
WOMEN'S EARLY MORNING BIBLE STUDY TUESDAYS AT 7 A.M. IN ROOM 239 AND ON ZOOM All women are welcome to this group, resuming September 7. This class is led by Canon Lauren Holder, lholder@cathedralATL.org. Drop in when you can!
POSTMASTER: Dated Material. Please deliver by September 4, 2021
WORSHIP EVENSONG RESUMES! The service of Evensong (sung Evening Prayer) resumes at 4 p.m. next Sunday, September 12 in the Cathedral, and continues weekly. One of the jewels of our Anglican/Episcopal worship tradition, Evensong has given birth to one of the largest and richest bodies of sacred music outside of the Mass itself. It is, at its heart, a contemplative worship service, and much of the service is sung by the choir alone, employing sounds that span the known history of Christian music. At the formal close of Evensong, an intimate “liturgy of the table” is celebrated for those who wish to receive Communion. Occasionally a classically sung Choral Eucharist, or a diocesan confirmation, or a service of Lessons and Carols takes the place of Evensong. Preceding the service, at 3:15 p.m., is usually a recital on organ or other classical instrument. This season's first recital, on September 12, will be performed by the Cathedral's associate organist-choirmaster, Dr. Caroline Robinson. These recitals and services are all also available online at cathedralATL.org, the Cathedral app, and Facebook.
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
CATHEDRAL Farmers Market WITH GRATITUDE Our parochial entities, like the Cathedral Farmers Market, are long-established ministries of the Cathedral that connect us to the broader community. This past Saturday, Nancy Qarmout, the executive director of the Cathedral Farmers Market, quite unexpectedly took charge of more than 10,000 containers of blackberries that were otherwise bound for the landfill. Through quick thinking, long hours, and making many community connections, she was able to rehome the blackberries to a variety of charitable organizations including the Free 99 Fridge, Turning Sun Schools, Intown Collaborative Ministries, St. Bartholomew's food pantry, Meals on Wheels, Just Bakery (who trains and serves refugees), and the Paideia school farm. It is with gratitude that we recognize the efforts of Nancy (and our tireless sextons and security!) for their efforts in unloading, delivering, and distributing such a bounty to our neighbors. For more information about the Cathedral Farmers Market, please visit the market on Saturday mornings, March through December from 8:30 a.m.–noon in the Cathedral parking lot.