The CATHEDRAL TIMES
The weekly newsletter of the Cathedral of St. Philip · Serving Atlanta and the World · June 16, 2024
PRAYER CHAIR
by the Rev. Canon Lauren Holder, Canon for Community and Education
I recently had to reupholster a chair. But this wasn’t just any chair. It was my prayer chair.
The chair used to live in my childhood home in Virginia. I took it with me to college where I started exploring my faith. I would sit in the chair, throw my legs over the side and read the Bible, or sit cross-legged to write in my prayer journal. I asked lots of questions of myself and of God.
I took the chair to Baltimore. There I would sit to start my day early with my Bible and cup of tea. It was in this chair that I would grapple with my parents’ divorce and my dad’s coming out, and it was in this chair that I would journal about the call I was discerning to full-time ministry.
The chair lived in storage while I lived in West Africa, but it was ready to catch me when I landed in Charlotte. It was in this chair that I prayed for the youth in my care as I discerned a call to Holy Orders. And the chair witnessed Jay get down on one knee to propose.
In New York, the chair traveled from our third-floor apartment to our first-floor apartment to our twobedroom apartment to our “penthouse” apartment. It was my prayer partner through my first years of marriage, through seminary and ordination, and it held me as I held our first child.
Here in Atlanta, my chair lives next to the window in a spot I like to call “air traffic control.” From my chair, I watch people come and go through the Andrews Drive entrance of the Cathedral parking lot. I notice when someone shows up an hour early to work. I watch neighbors walk their dogs, and I notice when a walking partner is suddenly missing from the daily routine. I watch parents push strollers, and I notice when the stroller transitions to a scooter, and then to a bike. I pray for the people I see, and I pray for the people I don’t see.
After 25+ years, my chair showed considerable wear and tear. My dad, an interior designer, advised me that it would be better to replace it than to restore it. But I explained the significance of this sacred artifact, literally steeped in prayer. So Dad picked out a few fabric swatches for my inspection. When I drove up to Virginia in early February to care for my dad and make some end-of-life decisions, he called the fabric studio to order eight yards of the swatch I selected. It was the last fabric he would order.
A couple of weeks later, the fabric arrived here in Atlanta. Dad was back in the hospital, and I sent him a picture. A couple weeks after that, I took the prayer chair to an upholsterer a parishioner recommended to me. By this time, Dad had died. I cried as I described what this chair and this fabric meant to me. I cried again when I picked the chair up, brought it home, and collapsed into its welcoming arms. And I prayed.
I kept a remnant of the old upholstery—it felt too significant not to. We saved the less-worn fabric from the back of the chair to make a throw pillow. It matches the new fabric on the old chair perfectly.
Change is hard. Even when change is good, change is loss. And so, change is hard. I probably waited a bit too long to restore my precious prayer chair. I simply didn’t want to say goodbye to the fabric that had become the tapestry of my life and prayer. But its restoration has been a gift. A tearful gift, but a gift all the same. I wonder what the next 25 years of prayer in this chair will bring.
This SUNDAY
JUNE 16, 2024 · The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 6, Year B Ezekiel 17:22-24 • Psalm 92:1-4,11-14 • 2 Corinthians 5:6-10, 14-17 • Mark 4:26-34
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 Julia Mitchener
8:45 AND 11:15 A.M. HOLY EUCHARIST, CATHEDRAL
Celebrant: The Rev. Salmoon Bashir
Preacher: The Rev. Canon Julia Mitchener
Cathedral Choir (Decani):
Harold Friedell (1905-1958), Draw us in the Spirit’s tether
Percy Whitlock (1903-1946), Be still, my soul
11:15 A.M. LA SANTA EUCARISTÍA, MIKELL CHAPEL
Officiant and Preacher: The Rev. Deacon Juan Sandoval
ATLANTA SUMMER ORGAN FESTIVAL RECITAL: BÁLINT KAROSI
Wednesday, June 26
7:30 p.m., Cathedral
MUSIC
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, 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.
Adult EDUCATION
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
Bibles, Books, Jewelry, Gifts Episcopalia, and more
CATHEDRALBOOKSTORE.ORG
Wednesday–Saturday: 10 a.m.– 4 p.m. Sunday: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
FOR IMMEDIATE NEEDS:
PRAYER List
Ann Blair, Joe, and Lulu Gribbin • Sarnia Hayes Hoyt • Bobby Johnston • Lisa Reeves Martin • Christopher Smithers • Jay Whitten
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 • 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 • 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 • 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 • Rick Nelson • 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: Manning Pattillo, Jr. • William L. Wright
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 23 ISSUE, THE DEADLINE IS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12. FOR THE SUNDAY, JUNE 23 ISSUE, THE DEADLINE IS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19.
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 15, 2024
OUTREACH
SUMMER VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
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.
Emmaus House Mobile Food Market
Saturday, June 29
9 a.m., Emmaus House
Emmaus House has partnered with the Atlanta Community Food Bank to host a free mobile food market for families in the Atlanta area and surrounding communities. Volunteers are needed to help sort and package the food and distribute the items to clients.
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 11 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 opportunities above, please contact the Rev. Canon Julia Mitchener, julia.mitchener@cathedralATL.org.
POSTMASTER
Send address changes to:
The Cathedral of St. Philip 2744 Peachtree Road, NW Atlanta, Georgia 30305-2920
404-365-1000
CATHEDRAL TIMES
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The Cathedral of St. Philip 2744 Peachtree Road, NW Atlanta, Georgia 30305-2920
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the Cathedral Farmers Market
Saturdays 8:30 a.m.– noon
The Cathedral Farmers Market aims to provide a place where customers can reconnect with the food that they eat and the community where they live. Each week you will find an abundance of fresh, locally grown produce, meat, eggs, flowers, prepared foods, and artists with wood, glass, textile, and metal arts, and much more.
The market also purchases excess produce from the farmers and it is distributed at Intown Cares’ farmers market table on Tuesdays and Saturdays. You can help by purchasing something for you and something for your neighbor! Just let your farmer know you’d like to donate part of your purchase to the Intown Cares food pantry. See you Saturday!
SPIRITUALITY
THIRD MONDAY FACILITATED LABYRINTH WALK AND TAIZÉ
Monday, June 17
7 p.m., Labyrinth and Child Hall
Please join us for a contemplative Third Monday of June. We’ll begin on the Outdoor Labyrinth (in front of the Lanier House), weather permitting, for an hour of walking the sacred labyrinth path starting at 7 p.m. Or come a few minutes early for a brief introduction if you are new to the labyrinth. If the weather is not amenable, the indoor labyrinth will be in Child Hall.
Then, come to Mikell Chapel at 8 p.m. for Taizé Prayers for Peace. Originating in Taizé, France, this simple service of scripture, music, silence, and candlelight will bring a beautiful and prayerful close to your Monday.
The facilitated Labyrinth walk and Taizé service take place every 3rd Monday at the Cathedral. Carlisle Dent coordinates our Labyrinth ministry, while Barbara Bazzel and Sandra Carey coordinate the Taizé services. Come to one, or both – and bring a friend! Questions? Contact Jeannie Mahood, jmahood@cathedralATL.org, or 404-365-1031.