The CATHEDRAL TIMES

The Best Day Of My Life

By the Very Rev. Sam Candler, Dean of the Cathedral

I do not mind the routine answers that people usually give when we ask them, “Hey, what’s up?” or “How are you doing today?” Most of us answer rather easily, something like, “Pretty good,” or “Alright, how about you?” Those are our manners.

Most of us realize that there is probably a lot more going on, with both of us, than we are willing to discuss right then. When we ask those pleasant greeting questions, I think it is okay that we don’t prepare ourselves for a thirty minute full disclosure of someone’s problems or achievements! Our polite manners accepts the reality that neither of us wants, or needs, to go there right then.

Occasionally, I will hear from some earnest soul, “Don’t just tell me things are pretty good; how are you REALLY doing?” At that point, of course, I have to make a decision about time and resources. Who is this person asking, or sometimes demanding, that I tell them more about myself? If it is simply some random person who thinks he/she is doing good by pressing for more disclosure, some person that I am not really interested in revealing to, then I will probably find a way to share a touch more, but not entirely more.

Of course, if the person who asks, “How are you REALLY doing?” is my mother, then I will answer more fully (or not!). If the person asking for more, is my trusted spouse or friend, and if my history with them informs me that they really do care about me, then I realize they are sincerely inviting me to share more, so that they can share my burdens. However, such friendships can be rare. In these encounters, both of us are sensitive as to whether the occasion is opportune for intimate sharing.

Years ago, I had a good friend who had developed another habit, another answer, to that routine daily question. When someone asked him pleasantly in the morning, “How are you doing today?” he would look at them and say, “Today is the best day of my life!”

“Today is the best day of my life!” What a joy it was to hear those words from him. People smiled when they heard that reply. We realized, and he realized, that things might not have gone so well for him so far. But his were words of happiness and hope. He had practiced his immediate reply to that simple question. If we are going to have a practiced reply to that ordinary question, why not make it a hopeful one? Yes, indeed, this could be the best day of my life!

Practice. The way we act on routine occasions, over and over again, can shape our souls. Maybe when we answer, “Pretty good,” to daily status inquiries, we are practicing taking the optimistic path. Maybe if I say, “pretty good,” maybe my day will be pretty good! Okay. But how about, then, if we practice saying, “Today is the best day of my life!” I think I might need to practice saying that more, practice not just optimism, but practice the best! And, of course, “best” can mean lots of things. In some way or another, this could be the best day of my life!

“Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” –Philippians 4:8.

This SUNDAY

MARCH 5, 2023 · The Second Sunday in Lent, Year A

Genesis 12:1-4a • Psalm 121

Romans 4:1-5, 13-17 • John 3:1-17

8:45 A.M., 11:15 A.M. AND 4 P.M.: IN-PERSON AND ONLINE

CATHEDRALATL.ORG / THE CATHEDRAL OF ST. PHILIP APP / FACEBOOK / YOUTUBE

7:45 A.M. HOLY EUCHARIST, MIKELL CHAPEL

Celebrant and Preacher: The Rev. Canon Cathy Zappa

8:45 A.M. HOLY EUCHARIST, CATHEDRAL

Celebrant: The Very Rev. Sam Candler

Preacher: The Rev. Canon Lauren Holder

Cathedral Choristers and Cathedral Singers:

Colin Mawby (1936-2019), I will lift up mine eyes

Bob Chilcott (b. 1955), God so loved the world

11:15 A.M. HOLY EUCHARIST, CATHEDRAL

Celebrant: The Very Rev. Sam Candler

Preacher: The Rev. Canon Lauren Holder

Cathedral Choir:

Bob Chilcott (b. 1955), God so loved the world

Spiritual arr. Carl Haywood (b. 1949), There is a balm in Gilead

11:15 A.M. LA SANTA EUCARISTÍA, MIKELL CHAPEL

Celebrant: The Rev. Canon Cathy Zappa

Preacher: The Rev. Deacon Juan Sandoval

4 P.M. CHORAL EVENSONG , CATHEDRAL

Officiant and Preacher: The Rev. Canon Julia Mitchener

Cathedral Schola:

William Smith (c. 1603-1645), Preces & Responses

William Byrd (c. 1540-1623), Short Service

Heinrich Schütz (1585-1672), Also hat Gott die Welt geliebt

Thomas Tallis (1505-1585), Sancte Deus

Cathedral NEWS

WELCOME SALMOON!

Please join me in welcoming Salmoon Bashir and his wife, Mari!

Salmoon is currently serving the Cathedral as an intern, but will step into the full time position of Curate as of the first of March. A Curate traditionally has general responsibilities in connection with the liturgy, pastoral care, education, parish life, and outreach ministries of a church, but in this case, Salmoon will also take on specific responsibilities in support of the ecumenical and interreligious relations ministries of the Episcopal Church.

A recent graduate of the Candler School of Theology, Salmoon is from Pakistan and has more than ten years of experience providing thoughtful leadership in diverse, multi-cultural and multi-faith spaces, including Fearless Dialogues (where he was the Chief of Staff) and the National Office of the Episcopal Church (where he served as an Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations Consultant).

He and Mari will be living in the Fisher House.

–The Rev. Canon George Maxwell, Vicar of the Cathedral

Sunday Afternoon Recitals

SARAH HAWBECKER, ORGAN

Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Atlanta

SUNDAY, MARCH 5 — 3:15 P.M.

IN-PERSON AND ONLINE AT CATHEDRALATL.ORG/RECITALS

Pierre Du Mage (1674-1751), Suite du premier ton

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897), Schmücke dich, o liebe Seele

Johannes Brahms (1833-1897), O Welt, ich muss dich lassen

Mary Beth Bennett (b. 1954), Prelude and Toccata on “Kingsfold”

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750), Passacaglia in C minor, BWV 582

The Chenault Duo

Elizabeth and Raymond Chenault, organ

SATURDAY, MARCH 11, 2023 AT 7:30 P.M.

Specializing in the works written for four hands and four feet at one pipe organ console, Elizabeth and Raymond Chenault have made a monumental and unmatched contribution to the pipe organ repertoire by commissioning, premiering, and recording over 70 organ duets in a wide array of styles. The program will include two world premiere performances: a duet commissioned from David Briggs, Homage to Pierre Cochereau , and a solo work written expressly for the Aeolian-Skinner organ and acoustic of the Cathedral nave by Ray Chenault, Fantaisie Mystique.

Program:

David Briggs (b. 1962), Hommage à Pierre Cochereau (World Premiere) (2023)

Raymond Chenault, Fantaisie Mystique (Organ Solo—World Premiere) (2023)

Rachel Laurin (b. 1961), Fantaisie á Deux (2018)

Richard Shephard (b. 1949), Eclogue (1991)

Philip Moore (b. 1943), Allegro for Organ Duet (1993)

Charles Callahan (b. 1951), The Emerald Isle (based on Londonderry Air) (1994)

Melinda Lee Clark (b. 1945), “Two to Tango” from An American Suite (2012)

Nicholas White (b. 1967), A Spiritual Romp for Two (2019)

This FREE event is presented by Friends of Cathedral Music and the Atlanta Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.