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The Lessons Appointed for use on
 
The First Sunday after Pentecost
Trinity Sunday   
Year B
RCL
 
Rite II  
 
May 31, 2015

Trinity  
Masaccio   1427-28
Fresco   21' 10 1/2" x 10' 4 7/8" (6.67 x 3.17 m)
Santa Maria Novella, Florence
Source: Christian Century, May 27, 2015


The Collect

Almighty and everlasting God, you have given to us your servants grace, by the confession of a true faith, to acknowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, and in the power of your divine Majesty to worship the Unity: Keep us steadfast in this faith and worship, and bring us at last to see you in your one and eternal glory, O Father; who with the Son and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 
  
Sunday's Bulletin
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WORSHIP NOTES FOR THIS SUNDAY

The First Sunday after Pentecost     Trinity Sunday     May 31, 2015
This week in our worship, we will experience the sacred mystery of the Holy Trinity. The artwork that appears at the beginning of this email blast is a compelling evocation of the unity of God's triune nature. Masaccio executed this painting, located in the Dominican church of Santa Maria Novella in Florence, Italy, around 1426-27. At the foot of the cross stand Mary and the Beloved Disciple. Kneeling on the ground are two members of the Lenzi family, who commissioned the painting. Our attention is drawn to Jesus, who hangs on the cross. God the Father stands behind and slightly above him (not distant and high above in the heavens) and holds the cross; God is powerful and loving, supporting suffering and sacrifice. The Holy Spirit appears as a dove-like shape, descending from the Father's chest to the head of Jesus-uniting them. The association here of the "throne of grace" with the crucifixion reflects the profound mystery of the Trinity: in this moment the full unity of the Trinity is revealed.

    We will welcome Emily Ann Seawell into the household of God this Sunday in the sacrament of baptism. At the font, she will be "born from above," by "water and the Holy Spirit," as Jesus explains to Nicodemus in our gospel lesson from John 3. Water sanctified by the Holy Spirit will be poured on her "in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit," and with oil of chrism she will be "sealed by the Holy Spirit [...] and marked as Christ's own forever." With these signs and words, we attempt to evoke the unseen and mysterious "adoption" that we all have received as children of God, the heirs of the promises God made to Abraham so long ago. In the sacred moments of the sacrament we are united to Christ in his baptism, his death, and his resurrection. Like Nicodemus listening to Jesus in the darkness illumined by the lamp of his understanding, we struggle to understand this mysterious unity, and our limited capacities fail us. Ultimately, we rely on the grace Jesus expresses in John 3:16-17: God loved the world so much that he sent his Son to us, not to condemn us for our failings and shortcomings and sin, but to save us by his mercy and grace.

    I hope that you will be present on Sunday to join in our prayers for Emily, to renew the promises of your Baptismal Covenant with her, and to welcome her into the household of God and the Christ Church Cathedral family. There could be no better, more joyful or hopeful way to begin your week-and the rest of your life.
 

 

The Very Reverend Beverly Gibson, Ph.D. 

 

Dean of the Cathedral
THE BIBLE CHALLENGE


Bible Challenge: Week 15   June 1-7 

 

Sometimes we have to stop and recalibrate. On the road to a destination-a journey, a big project, an education, a job or career, a training program for a particular goal, a challenge like reading the Bible in a year-we will usually get sidetracked, lose focus, run out of gas, be called away to other duties. When this happens, the important thing is not to give up and go home. Rather, we stop and get our bearings and begin again, understanding that the process and its goal are really about having the experience and allowing ourselves to be changed by it.


    I will confess that in our Bible Challenge beginning in Lent I have had weeks of falling behind in reading, then catching up, while feeling guilty. Some weeks have been blissfully "successful," but others have been frustrating as life and my own distractibility took control. Perhaps you have received the grace of dedication and discipline and this has not been your experience. If not, God is still merciful. 


    Here is a resource that may be helpful. If you go online to thecenterforbiblicalstudies.org, the home of the Bible Challenge, you will find a link to the Lent to Lent Bible Challenge for 2015. There you will find a day by day listing of the Bible Challenge readings, beginning on Ash Wednesday of this year. According to this listing, the week beginning with the first day of June (next week) will be Days 104-110. This week completes I Samuel and begins II Samuel, while concluding the gospel of John and covering the first five chapters of Acts.


    If you have fallen behind, here is my suggestion. Go back and look at the conclusion of Judges, read the short and enjoyable book of Ruth, and acquaint yourself with the structure of the story recounted in I Samuel. Read toward the ending of John's gospel. Then, begin with Day 104 and accept forgiveness for whatever you have not read or have skimmed!


    As summer unfolds and we all go away for vacations or relocate to summer locales (or get busy with the new bishop's consecration!), each of us will no doubt need to stop and recalibrate along the way. Please do so, and don't deprive yourself of the sustaining, enlightening, and empowering Word of God this summer. May you know God's blessings and peace.

 

Dean Gibson's Bible Challenge study guides are on the Cathedral website here. 

 

 Reading Schedule 

 

THE BIBLE CHALLENGE: READ THE BIBLE IN A YEAR 

An accompanying devotional, The Bible Challenge: Read the Bible in a Year, by Episcopal priest, The Rev. Marek P. Zabriskie, is available in the Cathedral office for $15. Devotional materials are also available free of charge at: www.thecenterforbiblicalstudies.org. 

If you are interest in participating as a part of a group here at Christ Church Cathedral, please contact Dean Gibson.  

 
MUSIC NOTES FOR THIS SUNDAY

The First Sunday after Pentecost   Trinity Sunday      May 31, 2015    

    As we celebrate Trinity Sunday at the Cathedral this week, we turn our eyes toward the long liturgical season of "after Pentecost", or "Ordinary Time". In the book, Bach: Music in the Castle of Heaven, the author, Sir John Elliot Gardner, reflects that the Lutheran liturgical year was divided into two cycles - the life of Christ (Advent to Easter), and the life of the faithful (Ordinary Time after Pentecost). Musically, Bach reflected this shift of focus by constructing his music differently during these two times. Unfortunately, in our time, church music tends to be more detached from the rhythms of nature. Here at Christ Church, this is not necessarily the case.

     Here at the Cathedral, summer is a more "laid back" time of year. The choir will be on vacation from rehearsals (they will, however, still be preparing for the Bishop's Consecration) after this Sunday until the end of August, and while they will still be present on Sundays, there won't be any choir anthems. This season gives us a unique opportunity to focus on chamber music and small ensemble pieces. Rather than lowering our musical standards for summer, we are simply shifting our focus to a different kind of expression that flows more perfectly with the rhythm of the season.

 

     On Sunday, the choir will offer its final anthem of the season, Laudate Dominum, by W. A. Mozart (1756-1791). This beautiful piece is one of Mozart's greatest "liturgical hits" alongside such works as his Ave Verum Corpus, Exsultate, Jubilate, and even the larger scale Requiem. This piece radiates the optimism for which Mozart is known. It begins with a simple soprano solo and grows to include full chorus without ever upsetting its delicate mood. The English translation of the Latin text is as follows:

 

"Praise the Lord, all nations;
Praise Him, all people.
For He has bestowed
His mercy upon us,
And the truth of the Lord endures forever.

Glory to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now, and forever,
and for generations of generations.
Amen."

 

     The prelude music, offered by me and violinist, Gosia Leska, is the first movement from a violin sonata by Johann Christian Bach (1735-1782). J. C. Bach, a son of the more famous Johann Sebastian, was known as "the English Bach" because of the amount of his life spent in London. The Baroque period in music is considered to have ended with the death of Johann Sebastian in 1750, and so his sons are usually categorized in the Galante style, a mini-period pre-dating the Classical period of Haydn and Mozart. Interestingly, Johann Sebastian's sons were better known than he until the great Bach revival in the 19th century by Felix Mendelssohn. Johann Christian was a successful composer of popular and delightful music, although he wasn't as successful as his older brother, C. P. E. Bach. Since the great resurgence of their father's music, Bach's sons have fallen into relative obscurity, but we hope you will enjoy this rare piece of music on Sunday.

 

Christopher Powell

 

Organist and Choir Master

 

 
CATHEDRAL NOTES 
CATHEDRAL NOTES


EYC BLOWOUT SUNDAY
May 31st following the service.
The McElhaneys' Dog River House
2007 Riverview Avenue, 36605

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
We need your help with events for the Bishop Consecration on Friday, July 24 and Saturday, July 25, please sign-up on the form at the ministry table or contact the Cathedral office:
office@christchurchcathedralmobile.org or 251-438-1822.

CATHEDRAL READ
Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope
Initial Meeting: Tuesday, June 2
Discussion: Tuesday, June 23
5:30 p.m.

Barchester Towers, Trollope's most popular novel, is the second of the six Chronicles of Barsetshire. The Chronicles follow the intrigues of ambition and love in the cathedral town of Barchester. Trollope was of course interested in the Church, that pillar of Victorian society-in its susceptibility to corruption, hypocrisy, and blinkered conservatism-but the Barsetshire novels are no more 'ecclesiastical' than his Palliser novels are 'political'. It is the behavior of the individuals within a power structure that interests him.

Hard copies are available in the Cathedral office for $10. To receive reading information, please contact Marla in the Cathedral office: mreis@christchurchcathedralmobile.org or 251-438-1822.
VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
Tuesday, June 9 - Thursday, June 11
HOMETOWN NAZARETH: WHEN JESUS WAS A KID
Volunteers of ALL ages needed.


VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL
Tuesday, June 9 - Thursday, June 11
9:00 am. - Noon
Bring the whole flock to
HOMETOWN NAZARETH: WHEN JESUS WAS A KID
Volunteers of all ages needed.
To attend or volunteer, sign-up online at
www.groupvbspro.com/vbs/hl/christchurchcath or look for the link on the Cathedral website:
http://www.christchurchcathedralmobile.org/vbs.html

Questions? Please contact
Alison Mitchell at 689-7874 or alisonsmitchell2@gmail.com.

VBS Important Dates: 
  •  Set-up-Sunday, June 7 following the service.
  •  Volunteer training and decorating-Monday, June 8 from 9:00 a.m. to noon.
  •  All ages are invited to visit the Petting Zoo-Wednesday, June 10.
  • Take down-Thursday, June 11 from noon until 2:00 p.m.
As we plan and prepare for Hometown Nazareth VBS, our team requests your prayers. You may also show your support by making a monetary gift.

VBS 2015 Supply List
Food Items 
  •  Bananas & Green Grapes-daily (snack for 40 children for 3 days)
  •  Herbs-fresh mint, dried lavender, or dried rose petals (any quantity)
  •  2 bags of Sugar (10 lbs. total)
  •  3 bottles of Extra Virgin Olive Oil (any brand-at least 35 oz. total)
  •  2 boxes Saltine Crackers
  •  Heavy Whipping Cream (100 oz. total)

Non-Food Items 
  • 1 Bag of Potting Soil
  • 1 Bag of Grass Seed
  • 20 cans of Play Dough (any color)
  • 3 bags of Cotton Balls
  • 5 packages of Baby Wipes

 

FAREWELL AND THANK YOU TO
BISHOP PHILIP AND KATHY DUNCAN
Open to all area churches who wish to attend.


REGIONAL CELEBRATION OF BISHOP DUNCAN'S MINISTRY AND RETIREMENT
Sunday, June 7
2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m.
Church of the Redeemer
7125 Hitt Road
Mobile, Alabama
Covered dish picnic and refreshments on the lawn from 2:00 until 5:00 p.m. For more information and to RSVP, please contact
Lois Bolter Lobolter1@gmail.com or call the church office at 639-1948.

 
 
BISHOP CONSECRATION SCHEDULE



Friday, July 24
10:00 a.m.

CLERGY EUCHARIST
Christ Church Cathedral

CLERGY SPOUSE EVENT
Trinity Episcopal Church
1900 Dauphin Street

12:00 p.m.
CLERGY & SPOUSE LUNCHEON
Trinity Episcopal Church
1900 Dauphin Street

YOUTH OUTREACH EVENT
Wilmer Hall
3811 Old Shell Road

6-8:00 p.m.
CONSECRATION CELEBRATION
Christ Church Cathedral
This event will require a ticket.

Saturday, July 25
10:00 a.m.

BISHOP SIGNING & SEALING
Home of Virginia and Ron Snider

BISHOP SPOUSE COFFEE
Brantley House-CCC


11:45 a.m.
BISHOP & SPOUSE LUNCHEON
Home of Virginia and Ron Snider

2:00 p.m.
ORDINATION & CONSECRATION
Mobile Expo Hall

4:00 p.m.
RECEPTION
Christ Church Cathedral

Sunday, July 26
10:00 a.m.
SEATING OF THE 4TH BISHOP
Christ Church Cathedral 
CATHEDRAL PRAYERS

O God, the strength of the weak and the comfort of sufferers: Mercifully accept our prayers, and grant to your servants the help of your power, that their sickness may be turned into health, and our sorrow into joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

We pray for:
Members:
Brink Brinkley, Butch Trawick, Alice Carwie, Raymond Fields, Lisa Williams, Fairley Morton, Katherine Deaton, Carol Rodgers, Hank Cobb, Icy Lee Neel, Patricia Burchfield, Mary Searle

Friends & Family:
Peggy Naughton, Gary Davis, Harrison Leff, Michael Cameron, Nancy & Don Cameron, Rob & Amy Archer Ellis, Joyce Lee, Davis Nelson, Michael Sumrall, Gwen Cook, Alfred Showers, Jim Elia, Anne Brown, Mark Brown, Harriett Lillich, Dave Carlyn Block, Rachel McClanahan, Tom Cunningham, Francis Grace Hirs, Norma Beazley, Curtis Bullock, Valerie Boatman, Ann Jones, Hank Wozniek, Lisa Thompson, Stella Phillips, James Thomas, Ted Fraiche, Mark Miles, Tot Swanson, Art Swanson, Hayden Jenkins, Maggie Jenkins, Betty Ruth Patek, Carolyn Pryor, Merle Findley, Louise Douglas, Shirley & Dunlap Peeples, Steve Harris, Marian Macpherson Currie, Mary Lou Peake, Bill Goodloe, Kit & Roger Geil and the Geil family, Angel & Larry Torres, Kathy Boucvalt, Bill Stevens, Ginger Simpson, Karen Sentilles, Lila Fisk, Tracey Johnson, Joe Lowrey, Temple Webber, Celeste Hall, Betty Browder, Allan Tucker, Wyatt Ison, Kathy Sanders, Davis Sarrett, Clarise Waters, Glenn Hill, Leslie Ellis Sharbel, Cora Lemmon, Marian Hall, Homer Kemp, Jane Behlen, Dan Jones, Florence Tucker, Betty Larison, Mike Barnett, Carolyn Graham, Ralph and Catherine Neal, Willie Thomas, Mark Mason, Anita Stead, Gillette Slaton, Jim McCall, Tim Fulton, Carter Albrecht, Marty Davidson, Bennett Stenger, Gladys Crowson, Billy Yost, Noel Fell, the Ward Family, Sybil Willis Rodgers, Hap Myers, Jr., Paul Vickers, , Sr., George Robison, Georgia Dominick, Mitch Johnson, Robin Wade, Randy Moore, Rick Nichols, Eric Kosche, Patrick Smith, Kate Heddrich, Julie Brinson, John Aduston Rogers IV, Ceaser Bryant, Moana Karstater, Dianne McCall, Vieva Steele

For Those Serving in the Military:
Angela Brunson Buysman, Brian Caselton, Louis Coggin, Jonathan Duralde, Tyler Gamble, Sam Garcia, Darrien Gibson, Parker Hollinghead, Kelley Hood, Brian Hudson, Abby Hutchins, Randy Johnson, Ron Lansong, Jean-Michael Lemieux, Chris Marslender, Zack Miller, Todd & Jordana Mouthaan, Keith Moss, Michael Nassar, Jerry Olin, Tyler Oubre, Brian Pennell, Josh Power, Daniel White-Spunner Reed, Susan Reniewicz, Evan Sizemore, John Snyder, Conner Thigpen, Ryan Anthony Thomas, Ryan Walker, The Rev. Bowen Woodruff

Baptism:
Emily Ann Seawell, daughter of Kristyn and Henry Seawell

Anglican Cycle of Prayer:
The Anglican Centre in Rome, Nova Scotia, and Prince Edward Island, Canada

Cathedral Cycle of Prayer:
St. Luke's, Mobile; Sara Phillips, Pastoral Leader, St. Mary's, Coden

Ecumenical Cycle of Prayer:
The Church in Brunei, Malaysia, and Singapore, and New Light Baptist Church, Mobile

Prison Ministry Cycle of Prayer:
Atmore Community Work Center, Atmore, Alabama

Flowers:
The flowers on the font are given to the glory of God and in thanksgiving for the baptism of Emily Ann Seawell.



Prayer for the Diocese:
O God, by thy grace you have called us in this Diocese to a goodly fellowship of faith. Bless our Bishop Philip and our Bishop-elect Russell, and other clergy, and all our people. Grant that thy Word may be truly preached and truly heard, thy Sacraments faithfully administered and faithfully received. By thy Spirit, fashion our lives according to the example of thy Son, and grant that we may show the power of thy love to all among whom we live; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
LITURGICAL MINISTERS FOR THIS SUNDAY

Celebrant and Preacher 
Dean Gibson


Assisting 
Canon Wagner


First Reading 
Margaret Thigpen


Second Reading 
John Ferguson


Intercessor  
Holly Hall


Chalice Bearers  
Carolyn Jeffers, John McClelland


Oblationers 
Mary Allison Potts,
Stephen Nolen Potts
 
Crucifers 
Yates Grehan, Livy Ferguson

 
Acolytes  
Blake Ferguson, Elinor Gibson


Children's Chapel  
Corinne Betbeze, Skip Archer


Altar Guild 
Barbara Archer, Jennifer Grehan, Donna Moree, M. J. Ramo, Martha Ann Stafford


Flower Guild 
Perrin Drew, Judy Henson, Robbie Lynn Irvine


Ushers 
Christian Hines, Robby McClure, Sonny Irvine, Homer McClure

 
Hospitality Team 
Marianne Hall, Chambliss Brister, Kim Ellis, Valerie Hines, Lucy Moore
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