From The Dean... On avoiding a train wreck. November, The. Welcomes You

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1 November, 2014 The Canticle The Episcopal Church From The Dean... On avoiding a train wreck One of the greatest honors that I have ever received was being named the 2009 Distinguished Alumnus of General Theological Seminary. I loved my time at GTS, and am grateful for the theological education that I received. Some of you may have seen the media reports in recent weeks painting an ugly picture of the current Seminary environment, and, as I write this, I am not sure that this 200 year old Landmark Institution of the Episcopal Church will survive. In a recent Washington Post Commentary the Reverend Tom Ehrich observes: [General Seminary] is like the best of historic church properties: harking back to a day of noble architecture and tradition and yet looking outward to a frenetic city and changing religious environment. Why, then, is GTS on the verge of financial collapse and, now, paralyzing internal conflict? Its dean is under attack, 80 percent of its full-time faculty were dismissed, its board is floundering all in the glare of press and blogosphere. Why? For the same reason that historic churches and denominations are trapped in train wrecks. Their time has passed......many congregations are in the same situation. The needs they filled 60 years ago neighborhood churches providing a mobile postwar world with a place to belong and to ground the family have largely vanished. I ask your prayers for the General Seminary Community, and I hope it doesn t escape notice that some of Fr. Ehrich s comments apply to Christ Church Cathedral as well. We are well situated, beautiful, historic, while at the same time, challenged to discern how we are being called to share the Gospel of Christ in a City and World unimaginable to our 19th and even many of our 20th century forebears. Your Vestry has spent the year focusing on this very topic. We have realized that the hurricanes of 2005 forced us into new ways of being that may well hold the seeds to our future. This Cathedral parish has been resilient through massive changes that have included the death or relocation of almost half of our 2005 membership, and, by the grace of God, we are looking toward 2015, our 210th anniversary, with financial and structural hurdles, but a virtual absence of the paralyzing internal conflict which is at the heart of the General Seminary meltdown. When faithful people seek to serve God and God s people, and do so with a sense of mutual affection and respect, even the most difficult obstacles can be overcome. In fact, despite the setbacks, the past decade has seen unprecedented innovation and creativity in our life and ministry. Just a few examples of this include the combining the former 9 and 11AM Sunday services which created a richer more diverse worshipping community; looking outward to the neighborhood in the creation of Jericho Road Episcopal Housing initiative which has dramatically deepened our community presence; the four massive All the Saints concerts put us in the national spotlight; and, in our sacramental life the creation of Real Presence and our new practice of Home Eucharists. Help us continue to grow into the Church of the future. The Vestry is made up of me and fourteen members elected by the Congregation (their names are on the back of every Sunday bulletin). Tell us how we could better meet your spiritual, educational and pastoral needs. Tell us how we could better serve the vulnerable and marginalized in God s name. Tell us how we might grow more fully live into historic role by calling our City to be a more just and equitable place. Dream with us the vision of Christ Church Cathedral in 2025 and the Holy Spirit may well be heard to say: Amen. Welcomes You

2 Lectionary Texts (Sunday Readings) November 2 Micah 3:5-12 Psalm 43 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13 Matthew 23:1-12 November 9 Wisdom of Solomon 6:12-16 Psalm 70 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 Matthew 25:1-13 November 16 Zephaniah 1:7, Psalm 90: Thessalonians 5:1-11 Matthew 25:14-30 November 23 Ezekiel 34:11-16, Psalm 95:1-7a Ephesians 1:15-23 Matthew 25:31-46 November 30 Isaiah 64:1-9 Psalm 80:1-7, Corinthians 1:3-9 Mark 13:24-37 Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana The Right Reverend Morris K. Thompson, Jr., Bishop Christ Church Cathedral The Very Reverend David A. duplantier, Dean The Reverend Steven M. Roberts, Canon The Reverend W. Gedge Gayle, Jr., Priest Associate The Reverend Travers C. Koerner, Priest Associate The Venerable Priscilla G. Maumus, Deacon The Reverend Bridget K. Tierney, Director of Advent House Mr. Jarrett R. Follette, Canon Precentor Ms. Lisa Wilkie, Parish Administrator Ms. Carol Butcher, Executive Assistant to the Dean Ms. Suzette Follette, Parish Secretary & Wedding Coordinator Mr. Aymen Ammari, Sexton Ms. Tania Sabillon, Housekeeper Mr. Manny Garcia, Sunday Sexton Ms. Sharon Henry, Nursery Worker Ms. Karen Landry, Nursery Worker Ms. Jeanette Gilmore-Burrell, Nursery Worker Submissions for Cathedral publications are always welcome. *Items for the December, 2014 issue of The Canticle are due November 14. Please articles to canticle@cccnola.org. Send photos to photos@cccnola.org Sunday bulletin and/or weekly e-blast announcements should be submitted before noon on Tuesdays to canticle@cccnola.org. Christ Church Cathedral 2919 Saint Charles Avenue New Orleans, Louisiana (fax) Honorary Canons Non-Residentiary The Reverend S. Chad Jones Mr. David R. Pitts The Reverend E. Mark Stevenson Vestry 2015 Jim Buck, Dick Moreland Lisa Sibal, Bill Soileau 2016 Chris Beary (Treasurer), Sam Buckley (Secretary) Julio Figueroa (Senior Warden) 2017 Mikey Corcoran, Sandy Jackson (Junior Warden) Karen Whitfield 2018 Kendall Genre, Jesse George Lawrence Marrione, Rick Mithun Weekly Liturgies Sundays 7:30 AM ~ The Holy Eucharist (Spoken) 1928 Prayer Book 10:00 AM ~ The Holy Eucharist (Sung) Rite II (Rite I in Lent) 6:00 PM ~ The Holy Eucharist (Sung) Real Presence Weekdays (M-F) 12:15 PM ~ The Holy Eucharist Saturdays 9:30 AM ~ The Holy Eucharist (Spoken) Rite I Sunday Morning 10 AM Eucharist Live Broadcast on WGSO 990 AM Radio. Online streaming and downloadable podcast at Broadcasts underwritten in part by St. Martin s Episcopal School.

3 Daylight Savings Time Ends! Don t forget to set your clocks back on Sunday, November 2!!

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5 From Advent House Advent House is moving right along! We recently hosted a Centering Prayer Workshop, led by Deacon Maggie Dawson, which drew fourteen participants from across the New Orleans area. They are now having follow-up sessions to deepen and practice what they learned and then they will, hopefully, settle into a regular prayer group. It is powerful to have that energy of prayer in this space. If you wanted to attend and where unable to come to this one, don t worry, she is planning on doing it again, so just keep watching for the date. The School for Contemplative Living is going to host a series of Quiet Days, beginning on 7 November from 9:30 AM 2 PM. This will simply be a time to stop in for prayer and quiet. There is something about sharing silence that I have found to be very profound, in ways I did not expect. I do not think you would have to be there for the whole time and could certainly bring lunch if you choose. Please think about putting it on your calendar. All this talk about praying! It all makes me want to end with one of my very favorites prayers: My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone. Thomas Merton, Thoughts in Solitude I think we all worry that we don t know how to pray, that we aren t doing it right, that there must be some perfect way. I don t think that is true. If Thomas Merton didn t know where he was going or what he was doing, then I guess it s OK when we don t. Blessings, and look for more interesting things to come at Advent House. Bridget+ All Saints Day All Faithful Departed & All Saints Sunday All Saints Day is Saturday, November 1. Mass will be celebrated at 9:30 AM in the Chapel. We will collect names beginning October 12 on sheets in the back of the cathedral and chapel for the annual reading of the necrology during the All Faithful Departed or All Souls Day Eucharist at 12:15 PM on Monday, November 3, in the chapel. From the Treasurer As your Vestry prepares to finalize the 2015 budget, I want to thank those who have completed a pledge form for next year, and ask those of you that plan to do so to please bring or mail your card to the Cathedral on or before Stewardship ingathering Sunday, November 23. Last month you should have received a statement of your contributions to date for the current year. Please review this for accuracy and feel free to contact the Parish Administrator, Lisa Wilkie, with any questions or concerns (lisawilkie@cccnola.org). Also, please let her know if for any reason you will not be able to fulfil your commitment before the end of the year. Thank you for your support of the Cathedral s ministry. Chris Beary, Treasurer

6 Choir to sing with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra in a concert celebrating the life of Patrick F. Taylor on Thursday, November 6 at 6:30 PM at Saint Louis Cathedral. Admission is free. The Lord Nelson Mass by Joseph Haydn 1 Kyrie 2 Gloria 5 Credo 6 Et incarnatus 7 Et resurrexit Betsy Uschkrat, Soprano Lisa LaFleur, Mezzo Soprano Casey Candebat, Tenor Thomas Middleton, Bass Raul Gomez, Conductor Parents Night Out Altar Flower Donations Thanks to all of you who have donated flowers for the cathedral and chapel. There are still opportunities for you to donate flowers in memory or thanksgiving of loved ones. Please sign up on the sheet in Stuart Hall or for more information, contact Sue Blankingship - phone or wyattpump1@aol.com. A great opportunity for a few hours for a quiet dinner? or errands? or just peace and quiet? Friday night November 21, 6pm - 9 pm. We will provide for your children: dinner, a time to play, do crafts & other activities. Cost: Free Please use the back entrance of Church on Carondelet Street. Supervising Adults: Christian Formation leader Page Beary (504) and Canon Steven Roberts (504) Feel free to call if you have any questions and get ready for a Parents Night Out!

7 Coffee Hour Visitors to the cathedral are often surprised by our Coffee Hour. I ve heard many a person say they were going to go home and tell their church about our hospitality. You can help us keep up our reputation for great hospitality by volunteering to host Coffee Hour one Sunday. Drinks are provided by the cathedral and volunteers provide their choice of food. Host with a friend or two. If you have no time to shop and prepare food, donations are always gladly accepted. For additional information or to volunteer, contact Kathy Boy, or kboydaj@yahoo. com. Recent hosts: Les Bradfield, Frances Beverly, Troy Buttone, Kathy Boyd, Meryl and Boyd Fink. The Gardening Group meets every third Saturday of the month from 8am to 10am in an attempt to beautify and maintain the gardens. The next gathering is scheduled for November 15. Everyone is invited. Your help is appreciated. Baptism Many thanks to all! Calling All Gardeners! is especially appropriate at the Easter Vigil, on the Day of Pentecost, on All Saints Day or the Sunday after All Saints Day, and on the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord (the First Sunday after the Epiphany). It is recommended that, as far as possible, Baptisms be reserved for these occasions or when a Bishop is present. (BCP, page 312). Our next opportunity for baptism is January 11, Please contact Canon Roberts for more information. 2 - Beth Buckley 2 - Michael Ibiwoye 8 - Scott Smith 9 - Carl Gaines, Jr Les Bradfield 12 - Alicia Heard 13 - Erica Dodson 13 - Bobette Dudley 13 - Verna Lombard 14 - Caitlin Kirkwood November I publish the Banns of Marriage between 14 - Jason Kirkwood 14 - Katherine Lee 16 - Jimmy Faust 20 - Bob Carr 28 - David O Leary 29 - Bennett Benge 29 - Hudson Benge 30 - James Mangum 30 - Victoria Willis O God, our times are in your hand: Look with favor, we pray, on your servants as they begin another year. Grant that they may grow in wisdom and grace, and strengthen their trust in your goodness all the days of their lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. If your name isn t listed, we don t have your date of birth in our records. Please send an to acs@cccnola.org or call the cathedral office and we ll be sure to wish you a Happy Birthday next year! Gentle Reminders The street just in front of the cathedral steps is a dropoff zone for passenger unloading. Please do not park there. Our choir and organist work very hard to prepare the music offered during worship. Please respect their ministry and do not visit with y our neighbor during their offerings. Many thanks. Mary Margaret Pate Barrett & Brian Ferrand Brignac Victoria Maria Willis & Briggs Alexander McKey If any of you know just cause why they may not be joined together in Holy Matrimony, you are bidden to declare it. ~ The Very Reverend David A. duplantier

8 Cathedral Get Away It s that time again mark your calendar and make reservations for the Annual Cathedral Get Away: December 12-14! A great opportunity within the hectic pace of life to get away from it all. This beloved annual event is a time to retreat to the scenic and relaxing Solomon Episcopal Conference Center. The Cathedral Get Away is designed to allow you to spend this time in a way that best refreshes and renews you - perfect for individuals, as well as families. This year our Get Away will be lead by The Reverend David Lowry, former Dean of Christ Church Cathedral For more information and to sign up, check the Cathedral bulletin boards or call Canon Roberts. Mark your calendar Monday, November 3 Commemoration of All Faithful Departed All Souls Day The Holy Eucharist, Rite II with reading of the necrology 12:15 PM ~ Chapel Thursday, November 6 The Choir of Christ Church Cathedral sings with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra at St. Louis Cathedral Wednesday, November 19 Potluck Supper and Presentation by The Reverend David Lowry 6:00 PM Sunday, November 23 Stewardship Ingathering and Guest Preacher The Reverend Dr. James Hanisian Sunday, December 14 A Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols