The CATHEDRAL TIMESThe weekly newsletter of the Cathedral of St. Philip · Serving Atlanta and the World · June 17, 2018

SPIRITUAL WARFARE IN THIS POLITICAL PENTECOST SEASON

By the Rev. Dr. Thee Smith Priest Associate

You might have thought what former President Obama said last week was most admirable. Not only did he affirm democracy and our national freedoms of conscience and religion. He also invoked God and even echoed one of our baptismal vows: “to respect the dignity of every human being” (Book of Common Prayer 305). Speaking at a state event in Germany he said:

“In the eyes of God, a child on the other side of the border is no less worthy of love and compassion than my own child. We can’t distinguish between them in terms of their worth and their inherent dignity, and that they’re deserving of shelter and love and education and opportunity.”

Now here’s our civic problem. No matter how admirable and praiseworthy such declarations sound, in the context of our political climate they cannot be appreciated simply on their own terms. To think so naively ignores the fact that we live in a season—perhaps like most political seasons—when public debate is so conflicted, so polarized and adversarial that even the most admirable and praiseworthy declarations too often read as political rhetoric and partisan self-interest.

But here’s the gospel good news! Christian freedom empowers us to belong to a different order of politics and debate. Indeed, divine empowerment was the focus of our new Pentecost season inaugurated just a few Sundays ago. So our Pentecostal identity in this political season empowers us to engage in spiritual warfare that does not vilify fellow citizens at home or opponents abroad.

Our struggle is not against enemies of blood and flesh, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12).

The hallmark of spiritual warfare is opposition not against other people but against the ideologies that hold us differently captive. Confessing our share of complicities, we refuse to let ourselves be possessed by the Luciferian spirit who delights in civil strife, discord, and mutual condemnation. Scripture calls that spirit “a murderer from the beginning,” declares that “there is no truth in him . . . for he is a liar and the father of lies” ( John 8:44), and discerns him as “the accuser of our comrades . . . who accuses them day and night before our God” (Revelation 12:10). In defiance we renounce his relentless campaigns of accusation and blame, gossip and fault-finding, scapegoating, shaming, and scandal-mongering.

More affirmatively we reframe our relationships with one another in the terms that Jesus himself evoked in the gospel reading this past Sunday. There he himself was grossly misunderstood for his spiritual warfare (and elsewhere warned that his followers would be similarly maligned). Nonetheless, knowing people as did, he also affirmed:

“‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ And looking at those who sat around him, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.’” (Mark 3:33-35)

Taking into account our differences we must still do the will of God as we understand God—certainly! But precisely in that context let us also reach out to other people as kindred citizens—sisters and brothers across our differences, alter egos on multiple issues of difference. An awesome challenge, isn’t it? That’s why, in the providence of God, we have this long Pentecost season every year—again this year before the fall elections—to practice, practice, practice. And may the Holy Spirit empower us to practice with far more grace this Pentecost season than ever before in years past!

7:45 A.M. HOLY EUCHARIST, MIKELL CHAPEL Celebrant and Preacher: Canon George Maxwell

8:45 A.M. HOLY EUCHARIST, CATHEDRAL Celebrant: The Rev. Dr. Bill Harkins Preacher: Canon Lauren Holder Cathedral Choir (Sopranos & Altos): David Willcocks, Psalm 150 Franz Schubert, Psalm 23

9 A.M. HOLY EUCHARIST, MIKELL CHAPEL Celebrant and Preacher: Canon George Maxwell

11:15 A.M. HOLY EUCHARIST, CATHEDRAL Celebrant: Canon George Maxwell Preacher: Canon Lauren Holder Cathedral Choir (Sopranos & Altos): David Willcocks, Psalm 150 Franz Schubert, Psalm 23

11:15 A.M. LA SANTA EUCARISTÍA, MIKELL CHAPEL Celebrant: The Rev. Dr. Bill Harkins Preacher: Deacon Juan Sandoval

This SUNDAYJUNE 17, 2018 · The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 6, Year B

1 Samuel 15:34-16:13 · Psalm 20 · 2 Corinthians 5:6-17 · Mark 4:26-34

FOR THOSE WHO ARE ILL OR RECOVERING: IMMEDIATE NEEDS

Carolyn Alexander • Richard Stallcup • Sam Wilmoth

LONG TERM PRAYERS

Dr. T. Mayo and Pat Atkins • Virginia Bicksler • John Blair • Pat Brinson • Dick Burgin • Kaye Cairney • J. Franklin Clark • Heather Clark • Lawrence Cowart • Terry Dornbush • Sarah duBignon • Kitty Dukehart • Randy Farmer • Jane Hannah • Caroline Hatcher • Katie Harris • Richard Hill • Elaine Lyon • Robert and Aggie Maddox • Carol McDonald • Elaine McEachern • Jim McKenzie • Charlie Neal • Paul O'Connor • Marian Palmore • Garry Pryor • Rubye and Wayne Reid • Pamela Reid • Agnes Elizabeth Robertson • Louis "Skip" Schueddig • Jim Segars • Cindy West • Andy Westafer • Sandy Williamson • Hollis Youngner

FAMILY AND FRIENDS

Beth Baltz • Bettina Bass • Bill Campbell • Patricia Campbell • Andrew Clark • Judy Eggers • Carleton Fuller • Peggy Govan • Doyce Gunter • Beverly Grizzle • Chris Hardy • Bobby Hearn • Greg Hentz • Liz Grant Hilton • Sun Ja Kim • Kaye Luckey • Betty C. Lyons • Pat Martin • Michelle Maxwell • Michael McClelland • Karen K. Moore • Andy Nelson • Irene Nesper • Tom Norwood • Betty and Bill Poole • Frank Roth • James Sands • Patricia Schooley • Helen P. Stewart • Jeff Straw • Tina Susco • Hubert Tate, Sr. • Roger Traylor • Janiece Townshend • Christi Vasquez • Peter Veverka • Nina Vila • Ron M. Wallace • Jacqueline Watkins • Susan Wellman • Marion Wilson • Whit A. Wright • Patricia Young

FOR THOSE WHO HAVE DIED

Bill Hammond • Jean Loveridge

PRAYER List

The CATHEDRAL of ST. PHILIPThe Very Rev. Samuel G. Candler, DeanDale Adelmann, Ph.D., Canon for Music

The Rev. Lauren R. Holder, Canon for Outreach and Congregational LifeThe Rev. George M. Maxwell, Jr., Vicar

The Rev. Catherine Zappa, Canon for EducationThe Rev. John William Harkins III, Ph.D., Priest Associate

The Rev. Deacon Juan Sandoval, Deacon for Hispanic MinistriesThe Rev. Theophus “Thee” Smith, Ph.D., Priest Associate

The Rev. Carolynne G. Williams, Canon Associate for Pastoral Care and Elder Ministry

Austin Hall, Senior WardenDoug O’Bryan, Junior Warden

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Sunday ADULT EDUCATIONFAITHFUL CONVERSATIONS

Join Canons Cathy Zappa and Lauren Holder as we engage in Faithful Conversations, at 10:10 a.m. Sundays in Child Hall. Each week, we will invite a member of our community to sit down with us and talk with us about faith and society in a real and personal way. This Sunday, June 17, Canon Holder will interview the Rev. Monica Mainwaring, vicar of Church of the Common Ground, about worshipping with homelessness. Our hope is that the courage our conversation partners bring to our discussions will equip us to go “out into the world to do the work God has given us to do.”

OUR TRUE SELVES

The Rev. Dr. Thee Smith leads this series of co-listening classes at 10:10 a.m. Sundays in Room 240 that aim to enhance our personal, interpersonal, and intergroup ability to be fully ourselves—our true, worthy, and estimable selves. This class explores the theory and practice of genuine listening—listening with skilled awareness that can focus on everyday experiences, or range through tough political issues to include a vast variety of life choices and faith matters.

THE ENJOYMENT OF BIBLICAL GREEK

Open to beginners, this class includes long-term members who who use translation aids including lexicons and commentaries to enjoy how probing the Greek of New Testament texts adds nuance and depth to reading Holy Scripture. The class meets at 1:15 p.m. Sundays in Room 356. For more information, contact the Rev. Dr. Thee Smith, tsmith@stphilipscathedral.org.

BIRTH

Anderson Elizabeth Nixon, daughter of Ansley and Coby Nixon,

born May 29, 2018

MEMBERSHIP TRANSITIONS

SPIRITUALITYJUNE 18 LABYRINTH WALK AND TAIZÉ

Get your week off to a peaceful start with a labyrinth walk and Taizé this Monday, June 18. A labyrinth introduction will take place at 6:30 p.m., followed by a facilitated walk 7-8 p.m. (outdoors by the Lanier House, weather permitting). The Taizé prayer service starts at 8 p.m. in Mikell Chapel. Originating in Taizé, France, this simple service of scripture, music and candlelight will bring a beautiful and prayerful close to your Monday. The labyrinth and Taizé take place every third Monday of the month. Come to one, or both – and bring a friend!

POSTMASTERSend address changes to:The Cathedral of St. Philip2744 Peachtree Road, NWAtlanta, Georgia 30305-2920404-365-1000

CATHEDRAL TIMES(USPS-093440) is published weekly by The Cathedral of St. Philip2744 Peachtree Road, NWAtlanta, Georgia 30305-2920

Periodicals Postage Paid at Atlanta, GA

POSTMASTER: Dated Material. Please deliver by June 16, 2018

SUMMER MUSIKGARTEN/ALLEGRO MUSIC CLASSES

Looking for fun family activities this summer? Join one of our Allegro music classes. Using a unique Musikgarten curriculum designed for families with children of mixed ages, “My Musical World” addresses early childhood developmental processes through music and movement activities. It’s a truly holistic experience, and it’s great fun!

Open to children from birth through age 5, choose one of our weekly class times: Tuesdays and Wednesdays, at 10:30 a.m. or 11:15 a.m. For more information, go to stphilipscathedral.org/allegro.

CHILDREN'S Music

WORD TO YOUR MOTHER

Canon Lauren Holder will facilitate a book study every other month intentionally geared toward busy, busy moms. We will cover a range of topics, including parenting, marriage, women’s spirituality, faith at home, and friendship. While this group is specifically designed for moms, it is open to all women. Our first meeting will be Tuesday, July 10 at 7 p.m. and our first book will be Brene Brown’s Rising Strong: How the Ability to Reset Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent and Lead. Find your copy of Rising Strong in the Cathedral Book Store, or download it on Audible today! Word to Your Mother will meet on the second Tuesday of every odd month. Contact Canon Holder, lholder@stphilipscathedral.org, for more information.

Join us in Child Hall at 5:30 p.m. on June 17 for a special Father’s Day edition of the Peachtree Road Farmer’s Market’s annual Sunday Supper. Celebrate dad with a bountiful summer harvest meal fresh from our farmers. The chefs will serve up their dishes family style while you enjoy refreshing libations and live music by Funk Cake. The chef lineup includes Thomas McKeown of the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Jenn Robbins of Good Foods Kitchen, Suzi Sheffeld of Beautiful Briny Sea, Sarah O'Brien of The Little Tart Bakeshop, and Nick Anderson of City Winery. Find out more and get your tickets at peachtreeroadfarmersmarket.com.