The CATHEDRAL TIMES
The weekly newsletter of the Cathedral of St. Philip · Serving Atlanta and the World · June 9, 2024
UNITY NOT UNIFORMITY
by the Rev. Salmoon Bashir, Curate for Ecumenical and Interreligious Relations
Since I joined the Cathedral, one of my roles has been to serve the wider Church by being part of various Ecumenical dialogues. What this really means is that I, alongside with members of the Episcopal Church, meet and work together with the representatives of other Christian denominations and other faith communities from across the United States and from around the world. The major purpose of this work is to build bridges in our fragmented world so Jesus’ prayer from John 17 may be fulfilled: that they all may be one! By engaging with others, we can know ourselves better and follow the life-giving path of Jesus Christ whose desire and prayer is to bring all together.
You may have seen recent media reports about the ongoing conversations around establishing “full communion” partnership between the Episcopal Church and the United Methodist Church. In April of 2024 during the General Conference of the United Methodist Church, the leaders of the church voted for and expressed a heartfelt desire to establish full communion partnership with the Episcopal Church. But what does this mean?
The full communion agreement states the following:
We understand full communion to be a relation between distinct churches in which each recognizes the other as a catholic and apostolic church holding the essentials of the Christian faith. Within this new relation, churches become interdependent while remaining autonomous. Diversity is preserved, but this diversity is not static. Neither church seeks to remake the other in its own image, but each is open to the gifts of the other as it seeks to be faithful to Christ and his mission. They are together committed to a visible unity in the church’s mission to proclaim the Word and administer the Sacraments.
Through this agreement, the Episcopal Church and the United Methodist Church will be able to offer the riches of their ministries to each other and to the wider world. We will be able to share our resources with each other, exchange lay and clergy leaders between our churches, and learn to walk together in various missions and ministries locally as well as globally. This is quite similar to the relationship we already have with churches such as Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Moravian Church, and Church of Sweden.1 I should emphasize that these agreements and partnerships strive towards unity, not uniformity.
In light of this future partnership, I’d like to share a story of what it looks like when people of God come together to listen to one another and walk together in love. Last year in October I attended Christian Churches Together Forum in Savannah, Georgia. The representatives from over 30 different Christian denominations were gathered under the theme “Water that Unites and Water that Divides: Baptism and the Journey to Unity and Reconciliation.” We learned about each other’s histories, traditions, and worship practices, and dialogued and prayed together believing in the power of One Faith, One Lord, and One Baptism. Sharing the stories of our own baptism and traditions from our Churches deepened our knowledge of self and understanding of others. Inevitably, there were moments when we engaged in difficult conversations over baptism of children or adults, baptism by full immersion or pouring of water, yet, what held the most significance for me was the sense of community and connection and the desire to keep going, desire to listen to one another, even in the most challenging moments. Amidst these tensions I was grateful for the fellowship with our Christian brothers and sisters from across the world imagining ways we could connect and build together the future of the church rooted in Christ. This wasn’t insignificant; it disrupted the routine and served as a reminder that where there is a longing and yearning for unity and harmony, there might be multiple paths leading to it.
My hope and prayer this summer is that we may come ready to listen to each other amidst conflict, disagreements and arguments, whether we are talking about church, politics, or baseball and whether those conversations are behind closed doors, during official meetings, or on our porches over cold summer drinks. Unity does not mean uniformity. It is entirely possible and perfectly okay for two good people to have a disagreement, two good people to have two good but different ways. I believe the unity of the church Jesus prayed for signifies, a commitment and collaboration, learning from and appreciating our differences, the kind of unity which reflects the longing for harmony and cooperation to build the body of Christ.
1 https://www.episcopalchurch.org/ministries/ecumenical-interreligious/full-communion-partners/
This SUNDAY
JUNE 9, 2024 · The Third Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 5, Year B Genesis 3:8-15 • Psalm 130 • 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1 • Mark 3:20-35
8:45 A.M. 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. Canon Cathy Zappa
8:45 AND 11:15 A.M. HOLY EUCHARIST, CATHEDRAL
Celebrant: The Rev. Canon George Maxwell
Preacher: The Rev. Canon Cathy Zappa
Cathedral Choir (Decani):
Benjamin Britten (1913-1976), Jubilate Deo in C
Roland Martin (b. 1955), Love bade me welcome
11:15 A.M. LA SANTA EUCARISTÍA, MIKELL CHAPEL
Officiant and Preacher: The Rev. Deacon Juan Sandoval
Adult EDUCATION OUTREACH
ADULT EDUCATION THIS SUNDAY
Old Fashioned Sunday School
Reading Genesis: The Beginning of Wisdom
10:10 a.m., Child Hall
Living Faith: Book Study
Poverty, by America, by Matthew Desmond
10:10 a.m., Room 239
Enjoy Biblical Greek!
1:15 p.m., Room 239 and on Zoom
Newcomers Tour
This Sunday, June 9
10:10 a.m., Gould Room
Are you new to the Cathedral? Or newish?
Join us this Sunday, June 9 for a tour!
We're Glad You're Here!
SUMMER VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Emmaus House Freedom School Dinner
Help serve a Parent Night meal to this year’s Freedom School students and their families on the evening of Thursday, June 13. Cathedral families including children and youth of all ages are welcome to participate.
Old Fashioned Hymn Sing and Ice Cream Social Sunday, June 23
5-6 p.m., Cathedral Towers
Volunteers are needed to help serve treats and to enjoy fellowship with our neighbors.
Worshipping with Church of the Common Ground Sunday, June 30
11 a.m., Meet in the Cathedral Kitchen
On Sunday, June 30, a team of Cathedral parishioners will prepare lunch for, and worship with, our neighbors at Church of the Common Ground, the Diocese of Atlanta’s “Church without Walls.” We will gather in the Cathedral kitchen to pack lunches at 10 a.m., then travel to International Peace Park to share lunch, enjoy fellowship, celebrate the Eucharist, and encounter God, whose love and care know no boundaries.
To sign up for any of the above opportunities, please contact the Rev. Canon Julia Mitchener, julia.mitchener@cathedralATL.org.
FOR IMMEDIATE NEEDS: Rick Nelson
PRAYER List
FOR THOSE WHO ARE ILL OR RECOVERING:
LONG TERM PRAYERS: R. Huntley Allen • Lucy Baker • Emma Duke Bleke • Catalina Barragan Oliveros • Virginia Bicksler • The Bryant Family • Joe Burton • Heather Clark • The Crossley Family • Rita Daly • Jerri Darnell • Terry Dornbush • Joan Duncan • Darrell Dyas • Jill Dyas • Deborah Ellington • Paul Fekete • Joyce Egan Ferris • Phoebe Forio • Tom Frolik • Ken Griffiths • Jenny Ham • Tory Hartness • Gena Inman • Jane Jones • Randi King • Liza Lanier • Olivia Leon • Ralph Lewis • Robert Lewis • Stewart Long, Jr. • Jo Marie Lyons • Lisa Krysiak • Jill Mahaffey • Tommy Mason • Graham Mulling • Susan Myers • Jim Myrick • Charlie Neal • Lori Hegwood Owens • Marian Palmore • Patricia Payne-White • Buddy and Sue Redd • Rubye Reid • Lorraine Reynolds • Barbara and Joel Rice • Bob Riggins • Agnes Elizabeth Robertson • Lisa Rowe • Lana Sachsenmaier • Nancy Sanders • Louis “Skip” Schueddig • Fred Scott III • Gail Morgan Timmis • Tommy Truesdale • Ginny Wolf • Jonathan Wright
FAMILY AND FRIENDS: Josephine Rose Adams • Elizabeth Alexander • Bettina Bass • Ray and Pat Bell • Jason Borland • Scott Bouchillon • Jason Brady • Trip Bray • Chet Brewer • Paul Brewer • Catherine Brinton • Darnell Brown • Chaz Brownfield • Lila Jo Callaway • Mika Chorey • Anna Clifford • Ava Corroon • Dale Deese • Marty Dunn • Veta Durman • William Erb • Sam Fender • Kyle Garcia • Ann George • Melinda Miller Greenough • Kerry Gresham • Larry Hamilton • Christine Hanson • Judson Harper • Gayle Higley • Brian Huestis • Jane Hunnicutt • Beth Ingle • William Irwin • Kathy Johnson • Pat Jones • Mary Kyle • Pete Livezey • Hilda Lukwago • Carolyn R. Lusk • Lauren Makhlouf • Delaney McGowan • Margaret McKinnon • Elaine Metcalf • Marion Hickman Meythaler • Betsy Moore • Margaret Moriarty • William Morris • Fred Neuschel • Linus Nickel • Sterling Pace • Rosemary Palmer • Stephen Pararo • Kimbrooke Pavlich • Dana and John Pierce • Ginny Quinn • David Raj • Peggy Reese • Terri Reece • Patrick Romett • Jean Rudolph • Einar Sagstuen • Joe Salas • James Sands • Skip Saunders • Patricia Schooley • Stacey Schuitema • Mary Sittig • Alan Smith • Don 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 • Curt Weaver • Christie Woodfin • Karen Woodward • Whit A. Wright • Hollis Youngner
FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DIED: Harry Lamon • Christopher Mitchum • Marcia Padgham
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 Linda Rosengren
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, JUNE 16 ISSUE, THE DEADLINE IS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5. FOR THE SUNDAY, JUNE 23 ISSUE, THE DEADLINE IS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12.
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
POSTMASTER: Dated Material. Please deliver by June 8, 2024
Congregational LIFE
ALL GOD’S CHILDREN PRIDE GATHERING
Saturday, June 8
3-5 p.m., Elbow Room, 248 Pharr Road NE
June is Pride Month! Come and enjoy small appetizers, conversation, and great fellowship with one another. Basically, this is an excuse to get together to enjoy each other’s company!
All are welcome! Those who want to participate with All God’s Children are not required to identify as an LGBTQ+ individual. The only requirement is a loving heart. RSVP at cathedralATL.org/AGC.
PASTORAL CARE
CHANGED, NOT ENDED
Sunday, June 9
1–4 p.m., Lanier House
Join your fellow parishioners from 1 – 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 9, for “Changed, Not Ended,” an afternoon of delving into the beautiful Episcopal liturgy for the Burial of the Dead and to begin considering your own funeral. This spiritual practice is about living as much as it is about death: contemplating death in light of faith helps recenter us in life. With leadership from Canon Cathy Zappa and members of the Funeral Guild, we will explore the theological foundations of this service, engage in small-group conversation, and experience an instructed liturgy. As a community, we will support each other in this deep and important reflection, with the knowledge that life is “changed, not ended” when death occurs.
Please direct questions and/or your desire to attend to Canon Cathy Zappa at czappa@cathedralATL.org. Participation is free and open to adults of all ages.
POSTMASTER
Send address changes to:
The Cathedral of St. Philip 2744 Peachtree Road, NW Atlanta, Georgia 30305-2920
404-365-1000
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MUSIC
ATLANTA SUMMER ORGAN FESTIVAL RECITAL: BÁLINT KAROSI
Wednesday, June 26 7:30 p.m., Cathedral
Dr. Bálint Karosi has been recently appointed as Director of Music at First Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia. Previously he served as Director of Music at Saint Peter’s Church in Midtown Manhattan. After winning the 2008 Bach Prize in Leipzig, Dr. Karosi has been in demand as a recitalist and clinician worldwide and widely known and respected for his interpretation of Bach’s music and his Baroque-inspired improvisations. His recording portfolio includes three albums by Hungaroton, including his original orchestral works, and thirteen albums of the complete works for organ by J. S. Bach. Dr. Karosi served on the faculty of the Organ Department at the University of Michigan for the 2023-2024 academic year 2023-2024 where he taught organ literature, church music, and improvisation. Bálint studied at the Liszt Academy in his native Budapest, Hungary, the Conservatoire Supérieur in Geneva, Switzerland, and at the Oberlin Conservatory in Ohio. He earned his DMA in composition at the Yale School of Music in 2017.
Presented by Delbert Lowell Jacks in memory of Thomas Ruben Jones, and Friends of Cathedral Music. Suggested donation $15 at the door.
NEW MEMBERS
Laura Melson from Conroe, Texas
Annie and Tyler Beesley from Peachtree City, Georgia and Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia
Josephine and Glenn Fish from Houston, Texas
Christopher Morgan from Atlanta
Casey Kilburg and Ken Stewart from Peachtree City, Georgia and Jackson, Mississippi
Joan and Kit Kell from New York, New York
Bobby Johnston and Paul Wilson from Asheville, North Carolina