This week is a week of remembering. Throughout the week as a nation we are called on to remember the life and work of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. On Thursday as a Cathedral and as a city we are called on to remember the Hillsborough disaster and those who died in or who have been affected by that disaster. Remembering is an important part of the Christian tradition. Having so recently journeyed through Holy Week and Easter we see the importance of remembering the last week in Jesus’ life, his death and his glorious resurrection. Here in the Cathedral we celebrate Holy Communion every day as we remember Christ’s promise to be there with us in the Blessed Sacrament. Throughout the week, as we reflect on the life of Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh we are reminded that he was a refugee, he left his homeland in an orange crate. We are reminded that he served in the Second World War and is a War veteran. We are reminded of his passion for the earth and his work with the World Wild Life Fund. We are reminded of his Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme for young people. We are reminded that he was a husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather besides being the Queen’s consort. Here in the Cathedral we are remembering the visit of HRH Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip to the Cathedral in 1949. The pictures of the day reveal two very young royals and as Princess Elizabeth is given the ‘Golden Key’ to open the Rankin Porch we see Prince Philip two steps behind her. In commemoration of that visit the monograms ‘E’ and ‘P’ were entwined with a true ‘Lovers Knot’ and carved on the first pier of the Nave. Choristers Kevin Lavelle and Peter Smith held the stencil while the Princess dipped the brush in the white paint to trace her initial. A member of the Cathedral Congregation, Alan Matthews recounts the story of his friend Peter Smith, one of the boys holding the pot of paint. Peter told Alan that Prince Philip said ‘let’s slosh it on!’ After the ceremony Tom Murphy carved the sculpture into the stonework. Where it proudly stands today. For over 72 years the ‘Lovers Knot’ has witnessed the love and devotion of monarch and consort. It stands as testament not only to their love for each other, but also for the love of this Country. The service given by Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh to Queen and Country is an example to a world which has become so individualistic. He lived a life for others whether it be for the family or for his many charities and in that is an example for all of us. In remembering Prince Philip over the past days I have become more aware of how I benefited from the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme. I have a Gold Award and as I think back I now realise how trekking 50 miles and more across the Brecon Beacons, how serving others through the award gave me an outlook on life that is about resilience and service to others. I have much to be grateful for in the way the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme allowed me to become the person I felt called to be. There is much to remember this week and there is much to be grateful for. Blessed Jesus, Lord of Lords and King of Kings, we give you thanks for the life of Philip, Duke of Edinburgh . for the grace and mercy he received from you, for his faithful love and support of Her Majesty, The Queen, and his service to this nation at home and abroad. Enfold him in your everlasting arms grant him rest and raise him up at the last in the company of the saints in light. Amen. Dean Sue While you're here: Why not prepare for next Sunday's worship? Our preparation sheet for adults and for children can be accessed by clicking on the Resources tab of this website: https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html.
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Christ is risen. He is risen, indeed. Alleluia! Today is the Second Sunday of Easter. Last Sunday, on Easter Day, the Gospel reading proclaimed afresh the way in which Mark tells the story of the first Easter Morning with stark simplicity. The women simply see that the stone has been rolled away and they hear the angelic messenger spell out the implications: ‘He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him’. Today’s Gospel reading from John picks up the narrative, relating what happened later that day. John portrays Jesus coming and standing among his disciples on the evening of Easter Day. Thomas, who was not present when Jesus came, refused to believe without proper evidence. A week later (the second Sunday of Easter) Jesus came and stood among his disciples again. This time Thomas was there and Jesus provided him with the evidence he needed. Thomas saw and heard and touched the risen Jesus, and then he believed. But Jesus said, ‘Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.’ For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited you to reflect on the image of touch. Like Thomas’s encounter with the risen Jesus, we too embrace physical contact with the Body of Christ in the eucharistic feast. In today’s picture, taken from the illustrated communion book, The Lord is Here! young people are encountering the sacramental presence of the risen Jesus. Risen Lord, you made yourself known to doubting Thomas. When we, too, are surrounded by doubts, help us to feel your presence; for you are alive and reign for ever. Amen. Next Sunday, the Third Sunday of Easter, the Gospel reading gives Luke’s account of the evening encounter in Jerusalem when the risen Jesus ate fish with his disciples. The image to help us prepare for next Sunday’s theme is eating fish. You can find out more about that theme here https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. We would really appreciate you letting us know how you are using these materials. Please send us your ideas and photos of the things you may create; email them to [email protected]. To learn more about The Lord is here!, follow this link to the relevant page of the St. Mary’s Centre website: http://www.st-marys-centre.org.uk/resources/childrenandcommunion.html. You are warmly invited to join us in worship online. We are livestreaming our 10:30am service on both our Facebook and YouTube pages. To stream the service on Facebook, follow this link to our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LiverpoolCathedral. To stream the service on YouTube, follow this link to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/user/LiverpoolCathedral/videos. I send Easter greetings to all. Canon Leslie This Easter Day it felt as if the Cathedral and city were returning to life. Ever since my arrival two months ago we have been in lockdown, and although the opportunity to offer and attend public worship has been a blessing, the building has been sorely lacking its people. First we celebrated the eucharist at dawn under the Welsford Porch, the light gradually creeping over the houses of Gambier Terrace, beginning to penetrate the deep shadows in the old cemetery below. Then, the steady flow of people began to arrive for the 10.30am liturgy. By the time the bells stopped ringing there were hundreds of people in place to celebrate the Risen Christ with the Bishop of Liverpool. An army of people returned to their duties in Holy Week, from stewards, to bellringers; Vicars Choral, and flower arrangers; all to the greater glory of God, in the service of the Cathedral being a place of life changing encounter. Through Lent, as throughout the last year, many have joined in the Cathedral’s worship from home online. Lee Ward responded with great creativity to the ever-changing guidelines, and proposed the premiere on Tuesday of Holy Week of a new work for the organ, ‘Via Crucis’, given by organ scholar Dan Greenway, who only had weeks to learn it. Honourable mention must be given to Dr Chris Newton for his work preparing pre-recorded services. At the beginning of Lent a decision was made to attempt to better capture the live liturgies, and by Holy Week, with the invaluable help of choral scholar Edmund le Brocq, Dan Bishop and Jack Watson, former choristers both, took up the reins of not only recording but also of beautifully presenting the special liturgies of the last week, through Facebook, and YouTube, meaning they are now accessible to the whole world. And on Easter morning although our choristers were not permitted to sing, because of the ongoing restrictions, several took leading parts in the liturgy. After such a disrupted year that is a powerful sign of their dedication, and the quality of the relationships and loyalties being forged, in our best traditions. Our confidence and pride is in God, to whom we are truly thankful for our deliverance. My prayer is that our life together will continue to be a source of blessing to many, as the sound of Great George rang out across the city, and brought hope to people who had perhaps lived so long without hearing its sound that they had forgotten what they had been missing, and found themselves surprised by joy. Canon Philip While you're here: Why not prepare for next Sunday's worship? Our preparation sheet for adults and for children can be accessed by clicking on the Resources tab of this website: https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. It is all too easy not to encounter ‘Redemption’ when you visit Liverpool Cathedral. What on earth am I writing about? ‘Redemption’ is a work of art which has been in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit for the last 25 years. It was planned originally only to be there for twelve months, but happily it is still with us. It has a fascinating history. It is the work of two very different artists who in the course of their work, struck up a most unlikely friendship. Arthur Dooley is known for his sculpture, including the Black Christ on the Methodist Church on Princes Road and St Mary del Quay in Liverpool Parish Church. He lived an eventful and colourful life, and was once described by Nicholas Frayling as a ‘rough, tough, large adopted scouser.’ Ann McTavish came to Liverpool to study at Liverpool School of Art and became one of the world’s most talented embroiderers, who produced work on an epic scale. The two became firm friends, and Arthur became convinced that they should produce a religious work together, using metal, stone and textiles. Ann took a considerable amount of persuasion, but eventually agreed. The theme was to be either a Resurrection or Crucifixion figure of Jesus combined with the veil of the Temple being rent in two at the moment of the Crucifixion. It was to be called ‘Redemption.’ By 1993, Ann had begun work on the veil of the Temple. On Christmas Eve, 1993, they attended Evensong together at Liverpool Cathedral and agreed to meet up early in the new year to take forward their planned collaboration. Sadly, this was not to be, for Arthur died in the first week of January 1994. Ann was deeply saddened by the death of her friend, and her thoughts were that the project must now be abandoned, as Arthur had not created his figure of Christ before he died. She and Arthur’s mother went on a tour to see Arthur’s work, and at the Swedish Church on Park Road, there were two pieces by him. One of them was the figure which now forms part of ‘Redemption,’ and it was clear to Ann that this would enable her to complete this joint project. A short service was held in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit in January 1996 on the second anniversary of Arthur’s funeral. ‘Redemption’ remains there after 25 years, still proclaiming the power and joy of the Risen Christ, and with the good news that the barriers between God and humanity have been torn down. When the curtain was divided, Mark tells us that the Roman Centurion – a gentile pagan – declared ‘Truly, this man was the Son of God.’ The Easter hope is now open to us all. When you are next in the Cathedral, which we hope and pray will be soon, take a moment to visit the Chapel of the Holy Spirit, remember both Arthur and Ann, and, with their help, ponder our world’s redemption. Happy Easter to everyone! Canon Myles While you're here: Why not prepare for next Sunday's worship? Our preparation sheet for adults and for children can be accessed by clicking on the Resources tab of this website: https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. Christ is risen. He is risen, indeed. Alleluia! Last week, Holy Week, has been an exhausting week for Christian disciples as we have relived the trauma that culminated in the crucifixion and death of Jesus on Good Friday. Holy Saturday was a long day of mourning as Jesus rested in the sepulchre. Now on Easter Sunday we hear afresh, as if for the first time, the way in which Mark tells the story of the first Easter morning with stark simplicity. The women simply see that the stone has been rolled away and they meet a young man dressed in a white robe. They leave in fear. At the heart of the narrative stands the message of the empty tomb. The angelic messenger spells out the implications: ‘He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him.’ The empty tomb points to the Easter message of new life. For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited you to reflect on the image of spring flowers. Now on Easter Sunday spring flowers in our homes, in our churches, and in our cathedral, can shout aloud the message of new life and the message of new hope. In today’s picture, from his book The Sunny Morning, Teddy Horsley celebrates the new life of Easter by admiring the spring flowers. Lord Jesus Christ, you are risen, you are risen indeed, alleluia! Now, Lord Jesus Christ, call all the nations of the world to hear the good news of Easter, and to see the empty tomb; for you are risen, you are risen indeed, alleluia! Amen. Next Sunday, the Second Sunday of Easter, the Gospel reading focuses our attention on how, after the resurrection, Jesus met with his disciples, first when Thomas was not present, and again a week later when Thomas was present. The image to help us prepare for next Sunday’s theme is touching. You can find out more about that theme here https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. We would really appreciate you letting us know how you are using these materials. Please send us your ideas and photos of the things you may create; email them to [email protected]. To learn more about The Sunny Morning and other adventures with Teddy Horsley, follow this link to his page of the St. Mary’s Centre website: http://www.st-marys-centre.org.uk/resources/TeddyHorsley.html. You can also check out his website here: https://teddyhorsley.org/. You are warmly invited to join us in worship online. We are livestreaming our 10:30am service on both our Facebook and YouTube pages. To stream the service on Facebook, follow this link to our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LiverpoolCathedral. To stream the service on YouTube, follow this link to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/user/LiverpoolCathedral/videos. Teddy Horsley sends his Easter Day greetings to all. Canon Leslie Join us at 2pm online on Good Friday for an Hour at the Cross, a service with readings, prayers, reflections and music. The past year has taught us that the hands of people are important. So many people have lived the past year without the touch of family and friends. I know that I have missed the hand shake, the hug and the physical contact of strangers, friends and family. Michael Rosen, Children’s author and poet wrote a poem about hands to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the NHS titled, ‘These are the Hands,’ These are the hands That touch us first Feel your head Find the pulse And make your bed. These are the hands… and so the poem goes on as we hear how the doctors and nurses care for us. The hands of those in the caring professions have become so important in the last year. Today, as we begin the three most important days in the life of the church hands will pay a significant part in the last days of the life of Jesus. On this Maundy Thursday we will see and reflect on Jesus’ hands as he washed the disciples’ feet and as he gave the instruction, to wash one another’s feet. So if I your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. (John 13:14) On this Maundy Thursday we also reflect on the hands of Jesus as he blesses the bread and wine at the last supper: While they were eating, he took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to them and said, ‘This is my body.’ Then he took the cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, and all of them drank from it. He said to them, ‘This is my blood of the new covenant, which is poured out for many.’ (Mark, 14: 22-24) On Good Friday we see others using their hands, not in service and care of others, but in cruelty and ultimately death. Pilate in the Gospel of Matthew washes his hands as a symbolic gesture that he was innocent of Jesus’ death. So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.’ On Good Friday we see the hands of the Roman soldiers nail Jesus’ hands to the cross, those compassionate hands of Jesus that had shown love and care to all so cruelly impaled. But the story does not end there, on the cross. Easter Day, the day of resurrection will reveal the hands of Jesus as caring and loving hands once more as Jesus stands and offers his scarred hands as testimony to his resurrection, to a doubting Thomas. Hands are important in our Holy Week and Easter Story, but hands are also important for our Covid world. Hands show us how we love, care and serve others. As Jesus revealed himself and God to those first disciples through the work of his hands, God is revealed to us through the care love and service of all those who have supported us through the past year with their hands. These are the hands… Dean Sue While you're here: Why not prepare for next Sunday's worship? Our preparation sheet for adults and for children can be accessed by clicking on the Resources tab of this website: https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. We are now in Holy Week, that great week of weeks, when we travel with Christ through the final days of his earthly ministry. An early Christian understanding of the liturgy was to ‘make real again’ the events about which we read in the Bible, and which are central to our faith, and over the centuries, the church’s liturgy has evolved with this in mind and the liturgies of Holy Week are no exception. The offices of the early days of the week call to mind the events leading up to Mandy Thursday and the great triduum of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter does this especially well; we can add to this the devotion known as the Stations of the Cross, and the Medieval inspired Passion Plays which we in Liverpool came to know only too well with the powerful performances of the ‘Liverpool Passion Plays’, here in the Cathedral in the last decade. As with other aspects of the liturgical year, we at Liverpool Cathedral have evolved the traditional liturgies of Holy Week for a twentieth century cathedral and our use of the building to such good effect means that Good Friday especially, has become known as one the great liturgical events of the year. Such liturgies help us to stand, unobserved, in the crowd in the temple and watch the tables of the money changers overturned; they help us we weep with Christ at the tomb of his friend Lazarus and marvel at the events which followed; they help us watch from the corner of that far off dining room in Bethany, as a woman anoints Christ with precious ointment; they help us to stand, unobserved in the corner of the upper room, and witness the Last Supper, and Christ’s instruction to, ‘do this in remembrance of me’, they help us watch with Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane and no doubt there are times when we fall asleep, as the disciples fell asleep. They help us stand in the crowds and observe the betrayal and trial of Jesus; they help us walk the way of the Cross and watch, horrified and confused, as Our Lord is crucified; they help us watch and weep and wonder as our Lord is laid in the tomb. And finally, ultimately, they transport us through the ages and we watch the women walk through the garden in the dawn mist of that far off morning, we see them running to Simon Peter and the others, we see them talk to the Angel and with joy, we hear them proclaim the good news of the resurrection. After that, we are transported back to our own age and our own lives and this year, to COVID, and we begin life again, as the disciples on the Road to Emmaus were doing, and as the whole of creation does, fresh with the knowledge that sin and death have been overcome. What a lot we have to come back to this year though, despite the wonderful success of the vaccination programme, the effects of the pandemic will be felt for years to come and as we say and sing, Christ is Risen, we have much to reflect on. We are hoping that we can return the Cathedral to some form of normality just as soon as we can; we are now able to safely welcome you back for worship, we are able to have some music, although we will miss our Choristers at this year’s Easter services, and we are able to grow our online community, thanks to the technology available to us; please do join us this Holy Week; however best suits you, and invite others to do so, whether in person or online and journey with us and with Christ; help us to make these events real again, and in so doing, together, we will bring the Kingdom of God closer to those who need it the most and ultimately, to us all. We all look forward to praying and worshipping with you this Holy Week, we continue to hold in our prayers, all who have suffered as a result of the pandemic, and we hope and pray that this Easter we will sing Alleluia as an Easter People, with fresh hope and determination to build a better world for us all. Canon Nick While you're here: Why not prepare for next Sunday's worship? Our preparation sheet for adults and for children can be accessed by clicking on the Resources tab of this website: https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. Today is Palm Sunday, the day that marks the beginning of Holy Week. Today the events of Holy Week begin with Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey. Each of the three synoptic Gospels tells the story in a slightly different way, but the key idea remains the same. Drawing on imagery from the Old Testament, the Gospel writers make it plain that Jesus is entering Jerusalem as Messiah. Some people spread their cloaks on the road. Other people spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. As Jesus rode on the donkey people shouted the salutation from Psalm 118: Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming Kingdom of our ancestor David! Hosanna in the highest heaven! For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited you to reflect on the image of processional banners. Today’s picture of processional banners has been taken from the illustrated communion book, The Lord is Here!: Lord Jesus Christ, you rode into Jerusalem to shouts of Hosanna. Ride into our lives and accept our praise. Hosanna to the Son of David, Hosanna in the highest heaven; Hosanna now and always. Amen. Next Sunday, Easter Sunday, focuses our attention on the resurrection of Jesus. The image to help us prepare for next Sunday’s theme is spring flowers. You can find out more about that theme here https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. We would really appreciate you letting us know how you are using these materials. Please send us your ideas and photos of the things you may create; email them to [email protected]. To learn more about The Lord is here!, follow this link to the relevant page of the St. Mary’s Centre website: http://www.st-marys-centre.org.uk/resources/childrenandcommunion.html. You are warmly invited to join us in worship online. We are livestreaming our 10:30am service on both our Facebook and YouTube pages. To stream the service on Facebook, follow this link to our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LiverpoolCathedral. To stream the service on YouTube, follow this link to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/user/LiverpoolCathedral/videos. I send Palm Sunday greetings to all. Canon Leslie Probably the most agonizing promise in the whole of Scripture is Jesus’ foretold return, as John the Revelator proclaimed in His voice: “Sure, I am coming soon” (Revelation 22:20b). It is with this phrase, followed by a final doxology, that John concludes his Revelation, and since the fourth century, the whole narrative of Scripture for the Christian Church. But unlike early Christians, Christians two millennia on know that it will probably be a while yet before the Second Coming actually comes. And more to the point: we don’t know when it is coming: “But about that day and hour no one knows, neither the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.” (Matthew 42:36). Jesus left us an important instruction regarding the end times: keep awake. “Keep awake therefore, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. But understand this: if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour” (Matthew 24:42-44). So we have to act like the end is coming just around the corner, even if we know it may not be for a bit. Does that attitude sound familiar? Many of us can appreciate the agony of patiently and fervently waiting for something that is still a ways away: the almost mythic-sounding easing of lockdowns, wide-spread vaccinations, and opportunities to interact with others face to face. The agony of the past year is akin to the agony Christians have experienced for two millenia. We, like in lockdown, must wait, and more importantly prepare for when this world is over and we face the merciful judgement of God. Here’s the key to doing well at the last judgement: make sure you have kept awake. We may be waiting for the end times, as may be God, but we aren’t supposed to be sitting at a table with anxiety for thousands of years. The Christian call to wait is also a call to action. “Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, “The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’ For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you” (Luke 17:20-21). God is already at work among us! Like the labourers in the field, there’s plenty for us to do. But Matthew provides us with a final warning-parable we ought to take note of before picking up our shovels. In the parable, Jesus tells the story of a landowner who hires labourers for his field throughout the day, yet pays each the same daily wage. The workers, however, “grumbled against the landowner, saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous? So the last will be first, and the first will be last” (Matthew 20:11b-16). There’s so much to do that there’s a place for everyone in God’s kingdom. God values all the varying contributions from different folks according to different abilities and varieties of gifts. And pray tell: what does that kingdom look like? Right now, even during lockdown, how do we prepare for both the world beyond Covid-19, and more importantly, the world beyond this life? I think Mary said it best: “His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly; he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.” (Luke 1:50-53) Let’s get busy. For, “Surely I am coming soon.” Nelson, Tsedaqah Community Member While you're here: Why not prepare for next Sunday's worship? Our preparation sheet for adults and for children can be accessed by clicking on the Resources tab of this website: https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. |
supporting you during these uncertain times AuthorLiverpool Cathedral is a place of encounter. Built by the people, for the people, to the Glory of God Archives
September 2022
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Prayer for Liverpool
brought to you from Liverpool Cathedral St James Mount Liverpool L1 7AZ |
Liverpool Cathedral is a place of encounter.
Built by the people, for the people, to the Glory of God www.liverpoolcathedral.org.uk |