The Cathedral Times - June 4, 2023

The CATHEDRAL TIMES

The weekly newsletter of the Cathedral of St. Philip · Serving Atlanta and the World · June 4, 2023

A PENTECOST MOMENT

By the Rev. George Maxwell, Vicar of the Cathedral

We were making more memories at Kanuga last weekend.

I came back to our cabin on Saturday night after Bingo thinking that my evening was over. My stepson Robert (age 11) met me at the door pleading to play pickleball. He loves pickleball and I might be the only person I know who has never played the game. So, we went down to the gym where a court had been set up. Robert patiently explained the rules to me – things like how to keep score, when to let the ball bounce, and what you could and could not do in the “kitchen” – and we got started. It felt a little like playing ping-pong while standing on the table, but it was fun.

After playing several increasingly intense games, I suggested that we end the night with a winner-take-all free throw contest. Robert agreed and we moved to the foul line on the basketball court. My shot rolled off the side of the rim. I rebounded the ball and, after reminding Robert that the championship of the world depended on his shot, gave him the ball. “I know,” he said as he backed up and then stepped into a perfectly arched shot. Nothing but net! Robert’s shot went in without ever touching the rim.

We both jumped for joy, fists in the air and screaming at the top of our lungs.

It was a Pentecost moment.

It was Moses who yearned for all the people to experience the knowledge of God previously known only to the prophets. In the book of Numbers, when the people complained that some were prophesying without having been appointed by Moses, the great prophet famously says, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit on them!” (Num. 11:29)

It was Paul who described the outpouring of the Spirit as the “first fruits” of the Kingdom of God. In the eighth chapter of Romans, he says that those who are in Christ have received “the first fruits of the Spirit” as we await the fulfillment of the coming of the Kingdom and its renewal of the entire created order. (Rom. 8:23)

It was Luke who told the Pentecost story in a way that seemed to directly address the challenges of the destruction of the Tower of Babel and the giving of the Law at Sinai.

In the story of the Tower of Babel, God scattered the people who were building a tower for themselves, leaving them without a common language. (Gen. 11) In the story of Pentecost, God brings the people back together by enabling them to hear and speak to each other. Luke even includes a table of nations in his telling of the Pentecost story (Acts 2:8-12) that seems to parallel the table included in the telling of the Babel story. (Gen. 10:1-32)

In the story of the giving of the Ten Commandments, Moses experienced the power and presence of the Lord on the top of Mount Sinai where the Ten Commandments were revealed to him. Christ too ascended to be with God, but at Pentecost comes down not with the Law written on clay tablets but with the gift of his own Spirit to be written on the hearts of the people which, as Paul claimed, will enable them to fulfill the requirements of the Law.

Pentecost feels like such a big thing. And it is. But it works in the world through the aggregation of small things. Every time we lose ourselves in moments of awe and wonder, or even the joy of just being, we create space for the Spirit to grow and move. Every time we get small, God gets big.

It’s not that Pentecost reveals to us anything that we don’t already know. We already know about Jesus. It’s just that we sometimes need to be reminded of how it is that we go about experiencing the power of the Spirit. Kanuga is a good place to be reminded!

This SUNDAY

8:45 AND 11:15 A.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. Dr. Thee Smith

8:45 A.M. AND 11:15 A.M HOLY EUCHARIST, CATHEDRAL

Celebrant: The Rev. Canon George Maxwell

Preacher: The Rev. Deacon Salmoon Bashir

Decani: Larry King (1932-1990), Canticle of Praise Cesar Franck (1822-1890), Panis Angelicus

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

Officiant and Preacher: The Rev. Deacon Juan Sandoval

4:00 P.M. DIOCESAN CONFIRMATION, CATHEDRAL

Officiant and Preacher: The Rt. Rev. Robert Wright

SPIRITUALITY

BRAVER ANGELS FAITH-SPONSORED WORKSHOP: DEPOLARIZING WITHIN

Thursday, June 8, 3:00 p.m.– 5:30 p.m.

Gould Room

For people of faith, civil discourse begins in recognizing the image of God in our conversation partner. Since we are all children of God, our approach should involve mutual respect. Respect, not agreement, is an essential key for a healthy discussion. This workshop addresses how we may inadvertently be complicit in, or possibly even encourage, polarization.

This free, in-person workshop teaches participants:

• How to be more aware of their own “inner polarizer.”

• How to be critical without demonizing, dismissing or stereotyping large swaths of the population.

• How to constructively intervene in polarizing social conversations with like-minded people.

Who can come? Anyone interested in examining their own inner polarization and learning strategies to disagree without condemning or ridiculing others.

Registration can be found at cathedralATL.org/braverangels.

For questions or more information, contact The Rev. George Maxwell, gmaxwell@cathedralATL.org, or Jeannie Mahood, jmahood@cathedralATL.org, 404-365-1031.

CATHEDRAL News

Cory Lites has decided to leave us to pursue other opportunities. She managed the Cathedral Book Store for three and a half years and served as the Cathedral Event Coordinator for almost a year.

Jen Waters has agreed to serve as the interim manager for the Book Store on a volunteer basis through the end of the summer; Jim Myrick will continue as the Assistant Manager. We are committed to keeping the Book Store open and envision it serving an even larger role in the future in supporting Cathedral programs and providing hospitality to those who visit our campus.

The Book Store is closed this week for a regularly scheduled inventory. It will reopen on Wednesday, June 7. The Book Store will be closed on Mondays and Tuesdays until after Labor Day. We will also manage the role of event coordinator by using volunteer help on an interim basis. We will begin a search for a full-time employee to take on the responsibilities of this position later this summer, but we don’t anticipate any change in those responsibilities.

Cathedral calendar and room requests can be made through the website at cathedralATL.org/events. Questions can be sent to eventcoordinator@cathedralATL.org.

I thank Cory for all that she has done for the Cathedral during her time here and wish her well as she moves on to other things. We will miss her.

–The Rev. Canon George M. Maxwell, Jr., Vicar

PRAYER List

FOR THOSE WHO ARE ILL OR RECOVERING:

FOR IMMEDIATE NEEDS: Wayne Cowan Huey

LONG TERM PRAYERS: R. Huntley Allen • Randy Allen • Virginia Bicksler • Miguel Boaz-Contreras • The Bryant Family • Don Cameron • Connie Chapman • Geraldine Charles • Lawrence Cowart • The Crossley Family • Rita Daly • Terry Dornbush • Sarah duBignon • Deborah Ellington • Paul Fekete • Joyce Egan Ferris • Phoebe Forio • Tom Frolik • Susan Frierson • Aidan Gray • Ken Griffiths • Elizabeth Groseth • D. Louis Gruver, Jr. • Jenny Ham • Suzanne Haerther • Karen Howard • Jane Jones • Randi King • Lisa Krysiak • Liza Lanier • Jill Mahaffey • Tommy Mason • Lee Moran • Estanislao Muniz • Susan Myers • Jim Myrick • Charlie Neal • Marian Palmore • Al Plummer • Rubye and Wayne Reid • Lorraine Reynolds • Barbara and Joel Rice • Bob Riggins • Agnes

Elizabeth Robertson • Betty Roper • Louis “Skip” Schueddig • Greg Smith • Gail Morgan Timmis • Tommy Truesdale • Ron Wallace •

George Watson • Jonathan Wright

FAMILY AND FRIENDS: Josephine Rose Adams • Elizabeth Alexander • Alison and Jeffrey Armor • Caroline Ballard • Shaista Bashir •

Bettina Bass • Charlotte Eloise Bell • Ray and Pat Bell • Jason Brady • Catherine Brinton • Calvin Burgart • Lila Jo Callaway • Kelly

Grey Carlisle • Bob Carreras • Lois Chapman • Mika Chorey • Anna Clifford • Marie Corrigan • Ava Corroon • Apryl Roberts Cox •

Bob Crawford • Judy Crosby • Freddie DeSantiago • Redell DuBose • Megan Dyer • Ron Dyer • Kenneth Farr • Timothy Florence •

Peter Foster • Don Harp III • Gayle Higley • Jay Horton • Beth Ingle • Cami Jackson • Patty and Shannon Jafolis • GK Johnson •

Kathy Johnson • Judith Ann Jones-Keith • The Kelly Family • Robin Kemp • Tim Kirkbride • Herb Larrabee • Rachel Laurin • Pete

Livezey • Cakers Long • Carolyn R. Lusk • Lauren Makhlouf • Kendall Martin and family • Susan Mendivil • Elaine Metcalf • Denise Mims • Betsy Moore • Malcolm A. Moore • Linus Nickel • James Paul • Einar Sagstuen • James Sands • Skip Saunders • Patricia Schooley • Stacey Schuitema • Don Smith • Philip Gregory Smith • Michael and Kathryn Snider • Christine Still • John and Cleary

Tanner • Pierson Thames • Amy Wadsworth • Donnie and Ann Waller • Cheryl Waybright • Jason Wilke • Jennifer Wright • Whit A. Wright • Marjorie Young • Hollis Youngner

SAVE THE DATE: LGBTQ+ PRIDE MONTH OUTING

All God’s Children, the Cathedral of St. Philip’s LGBTQ+ community, will gather for a fellowship outing during this year’s Pride Month celebration. The event will be held on the night of Friday, June 30. Details are still being worked out and more information is forthcoming. But mark your calendars for a night of faith-filled fun. All are welcome!

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. Deacon 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

Ward Bondurant, Senior Warden

Melody Palmore, Junior Warden

CATHEDRAL TIMES SUBMISSION DEADLINES: FOR THE SUNDAY, JUNE 11 ISSUE, THE DEADLINE IS WEDNESDAY, MAY 31. FOR THE SUNDAY, JUNE 18 ISSUE, THE DEADLINE IS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7.

TO RECEIVE THE TIMES BY EMAIL: CONTACT LIZ AULL, LAULL@CATHEDRALATL.ORG.

TO SUBMIT AN ANNOUNCEMENT REQUEST: CONTACT SARA CRAIG-GOODELL, SCRAIGGOODELL@CATHEDRALATL.ORG.

404-365-1000 | cathedral ATL .org

pastoral care emergency line: 404-365-1003

cathedralatl

HABITAT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

The Cathedral will help build another Habitat for Humanity home this summer with volunteers from the Cathedral and several other church partners. No prior skills or tools are required as we will teach you how to do the tasks and provide the tools and supervision. This is a wonderful program and fun experience that makes a lasting impact. If interested, please contact Canon Julia Mitchener, julia.mitchener@cathedralATL.org.

REGISTER FOR SUMMER MUSIC CLASSES! CLASSES ARE JUNE 7 – JULY 26, 2023

All class costs are $50/child.

All Together Now

Open to children from birth through age 4 (caregiver attends with child/children)

Wednesdays, 11:00 a.m.

SIGN UP AT CATHEDRALATL.ORG/ALLEGRO.

Hours: Tuesday – Saturday, 11:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Donations accepted: Tuesday – Saturday, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

Come visit us! We’re just two miles from the Cathedral at 1893 Piedmont Road NE.

LEARN MORE AND REGISTER: CATHEDRALATL.ORG/CHILDREN

Purchase Tickets: cathedralATL.org/concerts