An article from the Cathedral Times
by the Very Reverend Samuel G. Candler,
Dean of the Cathedral of St. Philip
We are definitely back! Did you feel the energy around the Cathedral of St. Philip during the past two Sundays? Over 1300 people attended church two Sundays ago, on Homecoming Sunday; I noted the joy and wonder of that occasion. This past week, our classes and programs began fervently. Even though we were sad to say good-bye to the Wiggers family last Sunday, we were also glad to be starting a new term.
The joy and wonder of this time of year feels like resurrection to me. Classes and services have come back to life! Programs are resuming. I am seeing old friends, and I am making a slate of new friends. Church feels like the fresh buds of Spring. I know this is not truly "resurrection," for we were surely not dead during the summer. But we did slow down. Maybe our programs were simply in hibernation!
At any rate, the Fall of 2009 begins a new season of joy and wonder at the Cathedral. Many of the things we do are routine. We will conduct classes and programs and mission events that inspire us and serve the world. But we also have some new features at the Cathedral.
First of all, you must meet Dale Adelmann, our new Canon for Music. He comes to us from All Saints Church, Beverly Hills, California; and he is a true talent. I have already introduced him to the parish, and I will say more about him when he is formally installed. However, I urge you to meet him personally, either at services or somewhere around church. Not only will he bring joy and wonder to our musical service, but he will bring order and hope!Secondly, you must try out our new kitchen service. As one of our cost-saving measures, the Cathedral of St. Philip has entered an arrangement with Five Star Culinary Group to manage our kitchen-for their own catering purposes and for service to the Cathedral on Sundays and throughout the week. Don't worry: we have not lost any Cathedral personnel! But we do have some excellent new food offerings and presentations. I believe that our lunches and Wednesday dinner times will be renewed this year!
Joy and wonder. Your energy, the energy of this parish, thrills me every Fall, but especially this year. We are still experiencing financial challenges. Our priest staff is now down by two full-time positions, and we cannot responsibly hire another full-time priest until our financial giving returns to pre-recession levels. But that has not deterred our energy. Financial challenges do not prevent joy and wonder!
In times of resurrection, "all things are made new," and that is certainly the case here at the Cathedral of St. Philip. God is in Christ, making all things new in this sacred place. I am glad we are back!
The Very Rev. Sam Candler