cathedral times · 6/25/2017 · cathedral times June 25, 2017 Just as Christ was raised from the...
4
e Weekly Newsletter of the Cathedral of St. Philip, Serving Atlanta and the World cathedral times June 25, 2017 Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life. From this week’s lectionary Romans 6:4 HISTORY BELONGS TO THE INTERCESSORS By the Rev. Dr. ee Smith Priest Associate is summer I’m part of a new venture in Atlanta called Standing Silence. We’re a network of peace and justice advocates who also practice meditation and prayer. Both interfaith and humanist, we’re brought together by common interest in the power of silence—silence as complement to the flood of words we all experience, particularly on social justice issues. Our inaugural event occurs at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 25, at the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site on Auburn Avenue. Join us! Standing Silence excites me as a public experiment in the power of intercessory prayer. Last summer I shared in the Cathedral Times related research into the ancient Hawaiian tradition and New Age practice of “Ho’oponopono.” Practitioners claim that persistent and varied applications of its four phrases—“I’m sorry, please forgive me, I love you, thank you”—provide a powerful resource for conflict transformation and spiritual “cleansing” of one’s life circumstances, relationships, larger environment and indeed the world. Similar claims emerged in the early 1990s among New Age advocates intent on empirical verification of a so-called Maharishi Effect. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (d. 2008) was the Hindu guru who founded the Transcendental Meditation movement. In 1993 more than 4,000 such TM practitioners converged on Washington, D.C. for a 6- week mission to reduce crime in local neighborhoods. Among venues like the Washington Hilton and college campuses, they engaged in daily meditation sessions lasting two to four hours. Silently focusing on a mantra, meditators claimed, the mind disengages from ordinary thinking processes and achieves states of consciousness that can impact the world in extrasensory ways. In that state they aimed their energy at crime reduction and claimed they succeeded by as much as 20 percent. (“Meditating to Try to Lower Crime Rate,” NY Times, NY / Region, States News Service; 9/1/1993). Researching such claims continue on the internet. Of course as a Christian believer and pastor I’m most concerned with our own biblical and sacred resources for such outcomes. So last month I offered to explore these matters with our Cathedral Book Store reading group, the Hart Readers, as found in the New Testament theologian Walter Wink’s Engaging the Powers: Discernment and Resistance in a World of Domination (1992). Among Wink’s most powerful aids is the chapter on prayer called, “History Belongs to the Intercessors.” When we pray we are ... [engaged] in an act of co-creation, in which one little sector of the universe rises up and becomes translucent, incandescent, a vibratory centre of power that radiates the power of the universe. [us] if we are to take the biblical understanding seriously, intercession is more than [changing ourselves in order to change the world]. It changes ... what is possible to God ... An aperture opens in the praying person, permitting God to act without violating human freedom ... [thus changing] what God can thereby do in that world. en intercession, far from being an escape from action, is a means of focusing for action and of creating action. By means of our intercessions we veritably cast fire upon the earth and trumpet the future into being. (Engaging the Powers, pp. 298-304) Since the Church’s founding at Pentecost, of course, and expressly at countless prayer sites including convents and monasteries, we Christians have directed our prayer energies at the world’s most compelling needs. So let’s continue to covenant together to advance the next great breakthroughs that will vindicate the faith claim, “history belongs to the intercessors!”
Transcript of cathedral times · 6/25/2017 · cathedral times June 25, 2017 Just as Christ was raised from the...
�e Weekly Newsletter of the Cathedral of St. Philip, Serving Atlanta and the World
cathedral timesJune 25, 2017
Just as Christ was raised
from the dead by the
glory of the Father, so
we too might walk in
newness of life.From this week’s lectionary
Romans 6:4
HISTORY BELONGS TO THE INTERCESSORSBy the Rev. Dr. Thee Smith Priest Associate
This summer I’m part of a new venture in Atlanta called Standing Silence. We’re a network of peace and justice advocates who also practice meditation and prayer. Both interfaith and humanist, we’re brought together by common interest in the power of silence—silence as complement to the flood of words we all experience, particularly on social justice issues. Our inaugural event occurs at 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 25, at the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site on Auburn Avenue. Join us!
Standing Silence excites me as a public experiment in the power of intercessory prayer. Last summer I shared in the Cathedral Times related research into the ancient Hawaiian tradition and New Age practice of “Ho’oponopono.” Practitioners claim that persistent and varied applications of its four phrases—“I’m sorry, please forgive me, I love you, thank you”—provide a powerful resource for conflict transformation and spiritual “cleansing” of one’s life circumstances, relationships, larger environment and indeed the world.
Similar claims emerged in the early 1990s among New Age advocates intent on empirical verification of a so-called Maharishi Effect. Maharishi Mahesh Yogi (d. 2008) was the Hindu guru who founded the Transcendental Meditation movement. In 1993 more than 4,000 such TM practitioners converged on Washington, D.C. for a 6- week mission to reduce crime in local neighborhoods. Among venues like the Washington Hilton and college campuses, they engaged in daily meditation sessions lasting two to four hours. Silently focusing on a mantra, meditators claimed, the mind disengages from ordinary thinking processes and achieves states of consciousness that can impact the world in extrasensory ways. In that state they aimed their energy at crime reduction and claimed they succeeded by as much as 20 percent. (“Meditating to Try to Lower Crime Rate,” NY Times, NY /Region, States News Service; 9/1/1993). Researching such claims continue on the internet.
Of course as a Christian believer and pastor I’m most concerned with our own biblical and sacred resources for such outcomes. So last month I offered to explore these matters with our Cathedral Book Store reading group, the Hart Readers, as found in the New Testament theologian Walter Wink’s Engaging the Powers: Discernment and Resistance in a World of Domination (1992). Among Wink’s most powerful aids is the chapter on prayer called, “History Belongs to the Intercessors.”
When we pray we are ... [engaged] in an act of co-creation, in which one little sector of the universe rises up and becomes translucent, incandescent, a vibratory centre of power that radiates the power of the universe.
[Thus] if we are to take the biblical understanding seriously, intercession is more than [changing ourselves in order to change the world]. It changes ... what is possible to God ... An aperture opens in the praying person, permitting God to act without violating human freedom ... [thus changing] what God can thereby do in that world.
Then intercession, far from being an escape from action, is a means of focusing for action and of creating action. By means of our intercessions we veritably cast fire upon the earth and trumpet the future into being. (Engaging the Powers, pp. 298-304)
Since the Church’s founding at Pentecost, of course, and expressly at countless prayer sites including convents and monasteries, we Christians have directed our prayer energies at the world’s most compelling needs. So let’s continue to covenant together to advance the next great breakthroughs that will vindicate the faith claim, “history belongs to the intercessors!”
CLERGY AND CANONS
2017 CHAPTER
The Very Rev. Samuel G. Candler Dean
Dale Adelmann, Ph.D. Canon for Music
The Rev. George M. Maxwell, Jr. Vicar
The Rev. C. Wallace Marsh IV Canon for Pastoral Care and Worship
The Rev. Catherine Zappa Canon for Spirituality and Mission
The Rev. John William Harkins III, Ph.D. Priest Associate
The Rev. Theophus “Thee” Smith, Ph.D. Priest Associate
The Rev. Carolynne G. Williams Canon Associate for Pastoral and Elder Care
The Rev. Juan Sandoval Deacon for Hispanic Ministries
Matt Anthony, Carol Baker, Mary Bondurant, Kate Brewer, Matt Caine, Mary Caroline Cravens (Senior Warden), Joan Gilbert, Austin Hall, Lindsey Hardegree, Jason Hultgren, Bridget James, Jenny McClure, Eric Mininberg, Doug O’Bryan (Junior Warden), Cyrus Philpott, Brad Reeves, Matt Richardson, Julie Rief, Anne Young
WORSHIP SCHEDULESunday, June 25, 2017 / Proper 7, Year ALiturgy of the Word Lesson: Genesis 21:8-21Psalm 86:1-10, 16-17Epistle: Romans 6:1b-11Gospel: Matthew 10:24-39
7:45 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Mikell Chapel Celebrant and Preacher: Canon Wallace Marsh8:45 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Cathedral Celebrant: The Rev. Dr. Thee Smith Preacher: Canon Cathy Zappa9 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Mikell Chapel Celebrant and Preacher: Canon Wallace Marsh11:15 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Cathedral Celebrant: Canon George Maxwell Preacher: Canon Cathy Zappa11:15 a.m. La Santa Eucharistía, Cathedral Celebrant: Canon Wallace Marsh Preacher: Deacon Juan Sandoval
MUSICSunday, June 25, 2017 / Proper 7, Year A
8:45 and 11:15 a.m. Holy Eucharist / Cathedral Choir (Decani)Gerald Near, For the feast of All Saints’Roland Martin, Love bade me welcome
CHILDRENThe Nurturing Center is open for children three and younger from 8:30 a.m. through the end of the 11:15 a.m. service each week.
MEMBERSHIP TRANSITIONS
DEATH
Priscilla Harrison Beale,
died June 13, 2017
WEDDING
Sarah White and John Schellhase, married on June 10, 2017
All are invited to experience a foretaste of the Cathedral Choir’s pilgrimage on the two Sundays prior to their departure, as they offer the magnificent musical settings of Holy Communion that they will sing in England:
Sunday, July 9, 11:15 a.m.
Zoltán Kodály, Miss Brevis
Sunday, July 16, 11:15 a.m.
William Byrd, Mass for Five Voices
ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL
A LITTLE HISTORY OF RELIGIONSundays, 10:10 a.m., Child HallLed by Canon George Maxwell. See back page for more.
SUMMER SMALL GROUP BIBLE STUDYSundays, 10:10 a.m., Room 356Join a small group at 10:10 a.m. to read and probe interesting features of the Sunday lectionary, June 18 – July 30. The Rev. Dr. Thee Smith and Jim Bingham will lead this class.
CONTINUING BIBLICAL GREEKSundays, 1:15 p.m., Room 356This class, led by the Rev. Dr. Thee Smith, is for anyone who wants to learn the basics of Greek translation using grammar aids, lexicons, and commentaries.
For those who are ill or recovering: Immediate Needs Hall O'NealKaye Cairney
For those who have died: Priscilla Harrison BealeEmma Buck St. John
PR AYERS
Long Term Prayers Julia Ballard • Virginia Bicksler • Cornelia Bird • George Bird • John Blair • David Boone • Josh Borden • Pat Brinson • Catherine Carson • Louisa Chapman • Ginny Collins • Matthew Collins • Lawrence Cowart • Terry Dornbush • Sarah duBignon • Kitty Dukehart • Angela Ellis • Randy Farmer • Amy Feuss • Jane Hannah • Caroline Hatcher • Shirley Heermann • Richard Hill • Pat Humphries • Bob Johnson • Landon Lanier • Tommy Lanier • Elaine Lyon • Robert and Aggie Maddox • Carol McDonald • Dick Miller • Carrick Mollenkamp • Marian Palmore • Beth Pitzer • Brenda Pruitt • Garry Pryor • Jennifer Rankin • Emily Richardson • Cindy Ruegsegger • Martin Ruegsegger • Jeanne M. Smith • Joe K. Steele • Sheila and Lee Stovall • Julie Sutton • Cindy West • Chandra Westafer • Hollis Youngner
Family and Friends Henry Altenbach • Steve Auerbach • Bettina Bass • Rodger Beatty • Janet Bell • Marcia Block • Darrell Boyette • William Brinton • Joan Brooks • Keith Brooks • Meredith, Adam, and Leo Bugenske • Garyn Calvert • Jake Cantrell • Denise Carlson • Andrew Clark • Faye Comer • Timothy Paul Condrey • Rick Copeland • Jackson Culbreth • Ashley Debelbot and Brenda Jones • Robert Eckhart • Joshua Felder • Carleton Fuller • Susan Gill • Peggy Govan • Eudelle Lanier Graham • Amber R. Green • D. Louis Gruver, Jr. • Doyce Gunter • Dottie Gwynn • William Ham • Shannon Hamby • Helen Hammond • Greg Hentz • Debanhi Hernandez • Liz Grant Hilton • Michael Ivy • Annemarie and Ante Jazic • Jon • Sun Ja Kim • Kelly Kolak • Vanessa Krites • Lisa Krysiak • Margaret Winders Kuhn • Annis Marshall • Pat Martin • Janie Mathis • Michelle Maxwell • Michael McClelland • Bonnie Shields McCormack • Anne McMullan • Darel Moe • Lyn Moore • Meg Moye • Andy Nelson • Barrett Nichols • Betty and Bill Poole • Libby Powell • James Sands • Patricia Schooley • Logan Shannep • Michelle Simmons • Lara Smith Sitton • Gwendolyn Slack • Davinique Smalls • Lyda Sorgini • Tina Susco • Carla Sweetwood • David Tenenbaum • Janiece Townshend • Peter Veverka • Nina Vila • Ed Vogel • Meredith Wallace • Jacqueline Watkins • Ann Weathers • Caroline and John Westerhoff • Marion Wilson • Althea Wolf • Thomas Worthington • Whit A. Wright • Patricia Young
INTERCESSORY PRAYER
I believe that I am not alone in having gotten the impression from childhood that “prayer” is intercession. So, when I am asked to pray for someone, I feel the “weight” of responsibility for making exactly the right request. What if I ask God for the wrong thing, and God does it?
Putting this question into words makes me laugh and helps me realize that the point of intercessory prayer is not to tell God exactly what to do. After all, God knows far better than I what is needed in any given situation!
When I am praying for someone I know, I first bring the person to mind. I think about what I know about her and what her needs might be. I imagine holding the person in my hands and lifting her up to God. If the person has asked for something specific, I offer that request. Sometimes, I feel that the Holy Spirit helps me know what to ask for. I always ask God to help the person be aware that God is with her in any situation. As a hospital chaplain, I am often asked to pray with strangers. I may ask the person what he would like me to pray for. I believe that it is always appropriate, whether I know the person or not, and whether or not the person can articulate her desire, to pray for “God’s best.” Many times as I hold the hand of a patient, I ask that God would be “as close as our hands touching”—because I am convinced that if we can truly have “God’s best,” whatever that may be, and we can truly have God’s presence, we will have all that we need.
—Diane Otwell
POSTMASTERSend address changes to:e Cathedral of St Philip2744 Peachtree Road, NWAtlanta, Georgia 30305-2920404.365.1000
cathedral timeS(USPS-093440) is published weekly bye Cathedral of St Philip2744 Peachtree Road, NWAtlanta, Georgia 30305-2920
Periodicals Postage Paid at Atlanta, GA
CATHEDRAL TIMES SUBMISSION DEADLINES: For the Sunday, July 2 issue, the deadline is Wednesday, June 21. For the Sunday, July 9 issue, the deadline is Wednesday, June 28. Please email announcement requests to the editor, Dan Murphy, at [email protected]. Learn more about upcoming events, download sermons, and access contact information at stphilipscathedral.org.
To receive the Times by email, contact Janie Harris at [email protected].
/stphilipscathedral
@stphilipscathedral
POSTMASTER: Dated Material. Please deliver by June 24, 2017
CATHEDRAL PODCASTSSubscribe to the Cathedral's podcasts or check out the sermon archives at
stphilipscathedral.org/sermons
A LITTLE HISTORY OF RELIGIONSUNDAYS, 10:10 A .M. , CHILD HALL
This summer series will consider where religious belief comes from
and the search for meaning through history. Canon George Maxwell
will explore not only the major world religions like Judaism, Buddhism,
Christianity, Hinduism, and Islam, but also more recent beliefs like
Scientology and Creationism. The series is based in large part on
Richard Holloway’s book, A Little History of Religion.
PEACHTREE ROAD RACE
Everyone is invited to the Cathedral to watch
the annual Peachtree Road Race on Tuesday,
July 4! If you’re not running, bring your family
and friends, and chairs or blankets. We will
cheer the runners and celebrate with prayer
together on the lawn.
Or if you or a loved one is running, email Dan
Murphy, [email protected], so
we know to look out for you and cheer you on!
