An article from the Cathedral Times
by the Very Reverend Samuel G. Candler,
Dean of the Cathedral of St. Philip
And I found some lovers last week. You were here throughout Holy Week; you were praying, worshiping, and serving. There is something in you that wants to love, and I honor that!
I'm looking for folks who love to get up early and come to church. They come on Sunday mornings, some as early as 7:45 am every week. Some showed up on Easter at 5:30 am! They loved it! For other folks, "early" means the 11:15 service (for them, 11:15 is early!); and they love it!
I'm looking for folks who came to church last Sunday, on Easter, for the first time in years. At the door, I talked to at least ten people who fit that category. Each one claimed that they were definitely coming back. They loved it!
I'm looking for folks who love to serve. This Cathedral is blessed with hundreds of people like you. You love serving through the Habitat For Humanity builds. You love volunteering at Buckhead Christian Ministry. You serve at Emmaus House. You serve at the Cathedral Thrift House. You visit prisons. You find that such service often does more for you than you think you are doing for others.
Many of you serve in the Cathedral facility itself. You staff the new Information Desk. You serve in the kitchen. You volunteer in the Cathedral Bookstore. You do beautiful garden and flower work. You prepare the altars. You read the lessons. You pray. And you love it.
I'm looking for folks who love to learn. You show up at one of our many Bible Studies during the week. You attend the Sunday Education Hour. You are in book studies, Christian formation groups; and you attend special education events.
I'm looking for folks who love to teach! The best teachers among you are sometimes the ones who don't think they know how to teach. You just love. You just love the people you are with, and those people-from infants to youth to adults-end up learning from your love. Our students always learn from what we love.
I'm looking for folks who love the city of Atlanta. Sometimes, this is a hard one, isn't it? Most of us find it difficult to love institutions, and the city is certainly an institution. It is a complicated one! But we-the Church-are an integral part of this city, and the city needs our commitment and service. The city needs our love. I remain committed to this magnificent Cathedral community being a community who serves-and loves-our city.
I'm looking for lovers. Thanks for being here last week. Thanks for being here on Easter. Thanks for loving this beautiful Cathedral. Thanks for being willing to love God, with all your heart, your mind, and your strength. Thanks for loving your neighbor as yourself.
We are all looking for love, I know that. The world is looking for love. But in order for us to find love, we have to find lovers first. Some of us have to take the lead; we have to be lovers. I'm looking for lovers. Praise God; the Cathedral of St. Philip has them!
The Very Rev. Sam Candler