The Cathedral Times - April 21, 2024

The CATHEDRAL TIMES

ZOOM MEETINGS AND GHOSTS

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

According to Luke’s gospel, when Jesus appeared to his disciples, just after the resurrection, they thought he was a ghost (Luke 24:37). I think they could have just as easily thought it was a Zoom meeting.

I acknowledge that Zoom meetings (or Teams meetings, or virtual meetings, or whatever) can be better than nothing. But they are definitely worse, far worse, than embodiment. I think of ghosts when I am staring at Zoom screens. Is that person really there? What is that weird, murky, image behind that person? Why is their screen turned off?

My frequent joke is that Zoom meetings are our modern, technological equivalents of séances. “Are you there?” “We can hear you, but we can’t see you.” “We can see you, but we can’t hear you.” “Why do you keep going in and out of focus?” The séance is supposed to grant us important information, but it rarely does; it is stuff we could have looked up, or remembered, on our own.

The disciples thought Jesus was a ghost, because they were not convinced he was with them, in the flesh. Their sensibility changed only when, a few moments later, Jesus asked, “Do you have anything here to eat?” (Luke 24:41). “Touch me,” said Jesus, “and see.” (or, as The Who would sing 1,930 years later, “See me, feel me, touch me, heal me.”)

That’s what I want to ask when I am on a Zoom meeting: “Do you have anything here to eat?” Is there any way I can grow in community in this meeting? Usually, the people who feel they have accomplished something in a Zoom meeting are the people who have done the talking. Thus, my experience is that executives and preachers and authoritarians like Zoom the most: they get to talk at people, and then they think they have accomplished something.

I sense that Zoom meetings are the latest development in that way of thinking that claims, “I am spiritual, but I am not religious.” For, “religion” means “re-ligio,” to tie back together, as ligaments tie bodies together. Zoom meetings, on the other hand, are for realities that have no body. They have no flesh. They produce little community. We need spirituality, AND we need religion. Good spirituality needs good religion!

Of course, yes, I have benefitted from Zoom meetings! But usually it was because a sense of community preexisted the virtual meeting; we were building on relationship that we already knew.

Jesus needs embodiment to be real. And we, the Body of Christ need embodiment to be real. We need religion; we need to be tied back together. And, of course, we need to be the Body of Christ out in the world, feeding the world, touching the world, sensing the world, healing the world. Healing requires touch and time. We need to be there in person.

This is why the risen Christ does not appear in a weird, out-of-body, séance. The risen Christ is not a ghost. The risen Christ wants something to eat. The risen Christ appears in the flesh. The risen Christ appears in us, the people of God, who engage each other, who touch each other, who laugh and sing together! The risen Christ appears in bodies, real people. Do you have anything to eat? Let us keep the feast!

This SUNDAY

APRIL 21, 2024 · The Fourth Sunday of Easter, Year B

Acts 4:5-12 • Psalm 23 • 1 John 3:16-24 • John 10:11-18

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 Julia Mitchener

8:45 A.M. HOLY EUCHARIST, CATHEDRAL

Celebrant: The Rev. Canon Cathy Zappa

Preacher: The Rev. Canon Julia Mitchener

8:45 a.m. Cathedral Singers

Becky McGlade (b. 1974), The Lamb

Percy Whitlock (1903-1946), Be still, my soul

11:15 A.M. HOLY EUCHARIST, CATHEDRAL

Celebrant: The Rev. Salmoon Bashir

Preacher: The Rev. Canon Julia Mitchener

11:15 a.m. Cathedral Choir:

Becky McGlade (b. 1974), The Lamb

Percy Whitlock (1903-1946), Be still, my soul

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

Officiant and Preacher: The Rev. Deacon Iñaki Guevara Cuence

4 P.M. CHORAL EVENSONG FOR THE FEAST OF ST. ANSELM, CATHEDRAL

Officiant and Preacher: The Rev. Canon Lauren Holder

Cathedral Schola:

Robert Lehman (b. 1960), Preces & Responses in A flat

Charles Villiers Stanford 1852-1924) in C

Gabriel Jackson (b. 1962), A Prayer of King Henry VI

Bob Chilcott (b. 1955), Now the green blade riseth

SUNDAY AFTERNOON RECITALS

ISABELLA WU, ORGAN

The Curtis Institute of Music

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

SUNDAY, APRIL 14 — 3:15 P.M. IN-PERSON AND ONLINE AT CATHEDRALATL.ORG/RECITALS

Marcel Dupré, (1886-1971), Five antiphons from 15 Versets pour les Vêpres du Commun des Fêtes de la Sainte Vierge

Robert Harris (b. 1938), Elegy for a Time of Change

Percy Whitlock (1903-1946), “Allegro Risoluto,” “Lantana,” and “Toccata” from Plymouth Suite

MUSIC

Upcoming Concerts at the Cathedral

AMERICAN GUILD OF ORGANISTS GALA

Friday, April 26

7:30 p.m., Cathedral

The Cathedral is delighted to serve as host of the 2024 AGO Gala honoring the beloved Atlanta Chenault Duo, who have contributed more to the corpus of organ repertoire for four hands and four feet than every other organist in the history of the instrument, combined. This will be an incredibly special evening of magnificent music and musicianship, and a celebration to remember!

Concert tickets (recital only), Patron tickets (includes recital & gala donor reception), and more information at agohq.org/2024-gala.

ENGLAND PILGRIMAGE PREVIEW CONCERT

Friday, May 3

7:30 p.m., Cathedral

The Cathedral Choir will serve as choir-in-residence for a week each at St. Paul’s Cathedral, London, and at York Minster in July 2024. This concert will be an opportunity to hear some of the magnificent repertoire that the Choir will offer during the fifteen services they will sing in England, while also supporting their efforts to raise the funds needed to travel. Presented by Friends of Cathedral Music. Purchase tickets at cathedralATL.org/concerts.

CATHEDRAL SINGERS CONCERT

Friday, June 7

7:30 p.m., Cathedral

Enjoy a lovely June evening’s respite amid the glow of stained glass, basking in music to sooth the soul and delight the senses! This concert features the professional core of the Cathedral Choir & Schola and the Cathedral’s magnificent organists. Presented by Friends of Cathedral Music. Purchase tickets at cathedralATL.org/concerts.

The CATHEDRAL of 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. Canon Julia B. Mitchener, Canon for Mission

The Rev. Catherine Zappa, Canon for Liturgy and Pastoral Care

The Rev. Salmoon Bashir, Curate for Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations

The Rev. Deacon Juan Sandoval, Deacon for Hispanic Ministries and Pastoral Care

The Rev. Theophus “Thee” Smith, Ph.D., Priest Associate

Geoff DeLong, Senior Warden

Melody Palmore, Junior Warden

CATHEDRAL TIMES SUBMISSION DEADLINES:

FOR THE SUNDAY, APRIL 28 ISSUE, THE DEADLINE IS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17. FOR THE SUNDAY, MAY 5 ISSUE, THE DEADLINE IS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24.

TO RECEIVE THE TIMES BY EMAIL:

CONTACT LIZ AULL, LAULL@CATHEDRALATL.ORG.

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CONTACT SARA CRAIG-GOODELL, SCRAIGGOODELL@CATHEDRALATL.ORG.

404-365-1000 | cathedral ATL .org

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ADULT Education

ADULT EDUCATION THIS SUNDAY

Old Fashioned Sunday School

Reading Genesis: The Beginning of Wisdom

10:10 a.m., Child Hall

Since the nineteenth century, biblical scholars have become largely uninterested in the wisdom offered by the book of Genesis. They tend to focus on the fact that the book is a collection of separate documents that were written by different people at different times for different reasons and devote themselves to answering questions about whether and how these various pieces fit together. This approach means that they avoid the larger questions about life like, “What is the meaning of life?” and “How it should be lived?”

This series focuses on what the book of Genesis has to say about these larger questions. They are as important to us today as they were when they were first asked! We need the wisdom of Genesis as we work through issues facing us now about family and private life, community and politics, and our relation to nature and the earth. You will not be disappointed! As it turns out, Genesis doesn’t tell us stories about what happened as much as it tells us stories about what always happens.

The Rev. Canon George Maxwell leads a discussion based on Leon R. Kass’ book titled The Beginning of Wisdom: Reading Genesis (Univ. of Chicago Press, 2023). You don’t need to buy or read the book to participate in the series.

Enjoy Biblical Greek!

1:15 p.m., Room 239 and on Zoom

Provided on a drop-in basis, first-time visitors need no previous knowledge of Greek. Please contact the Rev. Dr. Thee Smith, tsmith@cathedralATL.org, for more information.

THE CHOSEN! Wednesdays

5–7 p.m., Gould Room

On Wednesday evenings, join us from 5–7 p.m. to enjoy a second year of this popular and deeply inspiring video discussion of The Chosen. You may bring a meal for yourself or to share with others when we break bread together during an intermission, then resume screening about 6 p.m. We’ll screen selected videos from the latest Season 4 episodes as they become available. Independently you may also watch the entire series or individual episodes at watch.thechosen.tv, download The Chosen app, or search the internet for many reviews and interviews that highlight one of the greatest breakthroughs in Christian media this century.

For questions, or to be added to the newsletter, please contact the Rev. Dr. Thee Smith, tsmith@cathedralATL.org.

Living Faith

10:10 a.m., Room 239

Join Canons Lauren Holder, Julia Mitchener, and Cathy Zappa for conversation guided by The NY Times bestseller Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic and What We Can Do About It by Jennifer Breheny Wallace. While this book will be of particular interest to those with young people in their lives, it is also relevant to anyone wanting to reflect on the deeper meaning and purpose of human existence and on what Christianity may have to offer a culture in which so many question their self-worth. All are welcome!

Young Professionals Formation Hour: Episcopal 101

10:10 a.m., Room 368

Please join The Rev. Salmoon Bashir for Episcopal 101: An introductory class on Episcopal beliefs and practices. This class is designed for those who are new to The Episcopal Church, as well as cradle Episcopalians interested in deepening their understanding of our traditions, liturgy, theology, beliefs, and practices.

These classes are meant to be an open forum for questions and conversations. No advance preparation is required. We look forward to embarking on this journey of discovery and faith together. All are welcome.

JOURNEYING WITH THE LIVES OF EARLY CHURCH SAINTS

Wednesdays through May 15

12 p.m., Room 239

Join the Reverend Salmoon Bashir and Eat Your Word Bible Study for this series on saints from the early church who held onto their faith amidst trial and tribulation, shaped the life of the church, and changed the course of civilization. We will also learn about the early women leaders and saints and their role in shaping the church. You will never see the saints the same way again! For more information, contact Salmoon Bashir, sbashir@cathedralATL.org, or 404-365-1035.

UNITED THANK OFFERING: SMALL STEPS THAT CHANGE THE WORLD

Sunday, May 5

Even the smallest acts of gratitude and giving can create a meaningful impact on your own life and on the struggling communities that United Thank Offering (UTO) supports. This spring, we’ll come together on May 5 for our spring UTO offering and join Episcopalians around the world who continue to give and give thanks as one community. It doesn’t matter how small or large, the act of gratitude and giving as a community is the gift of UTO.

We invite you to spend a few moments this week to pause with gratitude to consider the gifts God has given you, then on UTO Sunday, May 5, reflect on those blessings, and make a thank offering at cathedralATL.org/uto. Learn more about UTO 2025 grant giving for ministries focused on communities impacted by water access, water quality, and environmental impacts at unitedthankoffering.com.

“In ordinary life, we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich.”

–Dietrich Bonhoeffer

“Gratitude looks to the past and love to the present.”

–CS Lewis

PASTORAL Care

GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP

Landscapes of Grief

Sundays, April 21–May 19

3:30 p.m.–5 p.m., Lanier House

This grief-support group, offered in partnership with Hospice Atlanta, is open to anyone in the community who is grieving the death of a loved one and is willing to commit to attending all six sessions. We meet from 3:30 – 5 p.m. on Sunday with new sessions beginning periodically. To maintain a comfortable group size, space is limited, and registration is required. Contact Canon Cathy Zappa, czappa@cathedralATL.org, for more information.

Saturdays 8:30 a.m.– noon

OUTREACH

WOMEN’S RESOURCE CENTER TO END DOMESTIC VIOLENCE (WRCDV) SEEKS INTERNS AND VOLUNTEERS

The Women’s Resource Center to End Domestic Violence is recruiting interns and volunteers for the summer. There are multiple opportunities including:

• Camp PEACE Teacher ( full-time): co-teach workshops for youth in Camp PEACE (late May–late July).

• Legal Advocate: Work at the main office to answer temporary protective order (TPO) phone calls, follow up with clients, and file TPOs.

• Data Management: Work at the main office to manage data systems, with opportunities from data entry to analysis.

• Program Support: Work at a community-based location to accompany families through transitional housing.

Interns are required to make a 10 hour/week commitment for at least 10 weeks (summer). Learn more at wrcdv.org/volunteer.

The WRCDV was the 2023 Cathedral Giving by Design beneficiary and is a nonprofit organization that meets the immediate and longterm needs of the diverse community of battered women and their children with programs that promote safety, compassion, connection, advocacy, and prevention.

PRAYER List

FOR THOSE WHO ARE ILL OR RECOVERING:

LONG TERM PRAYERS: R. Huntley Allen • Lucy Baker • Ken Brownlee • Catalina Barragan Oliveros • Virginia Bicksler • Scott Brown • The Bryant Family • Joe Burton • Heather Clark • The Crossley Family • Rita Daly • Jerri Darnell • Terry Dornbush • Stephen Douglass • Joan Duncan • Jill Dyas • Deborah Ellington • Paul Fekete • Joyce Egan Ferris • Phoebe Forio • Tom Frolik • Ken Griffiths • Steve Gunter • Jenny Ham • Tory Hartness • Gena Inman • Jane Jones • Randi King • Harry Lamon • Liza Lanier • Ralph Lewis • Robert Lewis • Lisa Krysiak • Jill Mahaffey • Barbara Maples • Leslie Marlowe • Tommy Mason • Christopher Mitchum • Barbara Moore • Graham Mulling • Susan Myers • Jim Myrick • Charlie Neal • Marian Palmore • Patricia Payne-White • Buddy and Sue Redd • Rubye Reid • Lorraine Reynolds • Barbara and Joel Rice • Bob Riggins • Agnes Elizabeth Robertson • Lana Sachsenmaier • Kay Sanders • Nancy Sanders • Louis “Skip” Schueddig • Tommy Truesdale • Len Wagner • Ginny Wolf • Jonathan Wright

FAMILY AND FRIENDS: Josephine Rose Adams • Elizabeth Alexander • Bettina Bass • Ray and Pat Bell • Josh Bennett • Donna Burgess • Jason Brady • Trip Bray • Chet Brewer • Paul Brewer • Catherine Brinton • Darnell Brown • Lila Jo Callaway • Bayard Stout Chapin • Mika Chorey • Anna Clifford • Marie Corrigan • Ava Corroon • Marty Dunn • William Erb • Sam Fender • Kyle Garcia • Ann George • Larry Hamilton • Christine Hanson • Judson Harper • Rick Hoyle • Sarnia Hoyt • Thomas Hagood, Jr. • Gayle Higley • Brian Huestis • Beth Ingle • Clinton Johnson, Jr. • Kathy Johnson • Sara Kissel • Mary Kyle • Herb Larrabee • Pete Livezey • Hilda Lukwago • Carolyn R. Lusk • Lauren Makhlouf • Margaret McKinnon • Elaine Metcalf • Marion Hickman Meythaler • Betsy Moore • Margaret Moriarty • Fred Neuschel • Linus Nickel • Sterling Pace • Rosemary Palmer • Stephen Pararo • Kimbrooke Pavlich • Ginny Quinn • Terri Reece • Jean Rudolph • Einar Sagstuen • Joe Salas • James Sands • Skip Saunders • Patricia Schooley • Stacey Schuitema • Lelia Sinclair • Alan Smith • Don Smith • Philip Gregory Smith • Michael and Kathryn Snider • Esther Rose Spade • Izzy Straus • Brandon Streets • John and Cleary Tanner • Timothy Tew • Pierson Thames • Leopildo Velita • Pat Volpicella • Marjory Wall • Thomas Francis Wall • Christie Woodfin • Karen Woodward • Whit A. Wright • Hollis Youngner

PARISH Life CHILDREN’S Ministry

May 24-26 parish retreat

REGISTER AT CATHEDRALATL.ORG/KANUGA

Join us Memorial Day Weekend for the Annual Parish Retreat at Kanuga Conference Center in Hendersonville, North Carolina. The weekend includes evening socials, programming for adults and children, kayaking, hiking, swimming, napping, rocking chairs, pickle ball, bingo, and Holy Eucharist. For more information or questions, contact Lisa McNamara, lmcnamara@cathedralATL.org.

This year we will continue following the Israelites after they traveled through the wilderness making their way to the Promised Land. In the Promised Land, unexpected journeys, epic battles, secret spies, and other surprises are in store as we follow God’s pursuit of his people.

Week of Wonder is a traditional week of Vacation Bible School for children ages 4 – 5th grade. We will enjoy the simple and relaxed joys that summer brings, using nature, art, music, play, wonder, and of course, popsicles.

The Nurturing Center will also be open for younger siblings! Register at cathedralATL.org/weekofwonder.

Want to volunteer? There are daily volunteer opportunities or join the whole week as a counselor! Contact Lisa McNamara lmcnamara@cathedralATL.org for more information.

This Sunday at a glance

10:10 a.m. Holy Eucharist Instruction Class St. Mary’s Chapel

10:10 a.m. Informed First Communion Class Walthour Library

11:15 a.m. Holy Eucharist Cathedral

11:15 a.m. La Santa Eucaristía

Mikell Chapel

1:15 p.m. Enjoy Biblical Greek! Room 239 and online

3:15 p.m. Sunday Afternoon Recital Series: Isabella Wu Cathedral

3:30 p.m. Landscapes of Grief Lanier House

4 p.m. Choral Evensong for the Feast of St. Anselm Cathedral

Please note that the Youth Retreat takes place this Sunday. Sunday Evening EYC will return April 28.

Thank you for Joining Us at the Thrift House Follies!

The Cathedral Thrift House Follies on Thursday, April 11 was a Frenchinspired Cabaret and Fashion Show that celebrated the 75th anniversary of the Cathedral Thrift House. Since its inception, the Cathedral Thrift House has returned its net profits each year to fund nonprofit Atlanta community charities and special projects at the Cathedral which benefit the wider community and our parish. All proceeds from the Follies were donated to Motherhood Beyond Bars, a nonprofit that ensures a healthy start for infants born to incarcerated women by providing a network of comprehensive support for mothers and caregivers.