An article from the Cathedral Times
by Dean Sam Candler
In two weeks, on December 10, the Cathedral Parish of St. Philip will hold our annual parish meeting. I look forward to that day for two special reasons! Of course, I always enjoy welcoming a new class of chapter members, and I enjoy seeing all sorts of parishioners in one place. Usually I see parishioners at one of the many services – 7:45, 8:45, 9:00, 11:15, 4:00, 5:00. On most Sundays, different parishioners show up at different times; that is fine!
However, on Sunday, December 10, we ask all parishioners to be in the Parish Hall at 10:00 for one grand meeting: our official and legally necessary annual parish meeting. The business part of the meeting is not long. We elect six new chapter members (see their biographies elsewhere – and pray for them!), we hear a brief treasurer’s report, we hear a wardens’ report, and I deliver a report. And, there is usually some special report.
This year, the special report will indeed be special! We are planning to honor the wonderful and irreplaceable Judy Johnson! Judy has been the Executive Assistant to the Dean for fourteen years! Before that, she served four years here in the areas of liturgy and membership. Eighteen wonderful years! Some of you have heard by now that Judy, who has surely been one of my closest colleagues here, is retiring. I tried for a while to avoid that reality! She would be too hard to replace! But the time has come for her, and her dear husband, Bill, to move to Peoria, Illinois, her home state, and enjoy a more restful life than the one she has served here at the Cathedral!
I will miss Judy and Bill, as will so many of you. They have been exemplary parishioners, neighbors, ushers, acolytes, thurifers, chalice bearers, vergers, altar guild persons, lector/intercessors, daily office leaders, and Godly Play story tellers! Wow, what a list! At one time, Bill was the driver of our bus bringing people from Lenbrook, Canterbury Court, and other places. Together, Judy and Bill used to serve Wednesday night dinners at Holy Comforter; they served at Peachtree Pine, and they served at the earliest “Eucharist without walls” in downtown Atlanta parking lots. Bill served at many an Antiques Show event and Book Store event.
Judy, of course, has been the beautiful and steady voice and presence in my office. I cannot begin to thank her enough for her grace, hospitality, and excellence in dealing with SO MANY events and phenomena in my life! As some of you know, she was the one making sure I got to emails and telephone calls and requests and letters and calendars and pretty much everything! Thank you, Judy!
So, on Sunday, December 10, I want to celebrate the ministry and service of Judy Johnson at our annual parish meeting. I will not ask her to be the recording secretary! Do join us. We have a fine chapter class to elect, and we have fine parishioners to greet during this Advent season.
And; A Second Celebration! It is on this Parish Meeting Sunday that we will celebrate our Procession of Pledges! On Sunday, December 10, bring your Pledge Card for your 2018 financial commitment to God’s work through the Cathedral of St. Philip. We need your commitment, no matter how small or large. Even if you do not have a pledge card that day, you may process simply with your commitment to give in 2018. This beautiful church, the Cathedral Parish of St. Philip, and the world needs the Cathedral!
Grace and peace to all of you – and to Judy! – See you on December 10 and before!
The Very Reverend Samuel G. Candler
Dean of the Cathedral of St. Philip