What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6.8 Micah Liverpool (https://micahliverpool.com/) has continued supporting people who need emergency food aid. On a Tuesday at St Vincent’s Church and a Thursday at St Brides. This work is also supported by our sisters and brothers at the Metropolitan Cathedral and Liverpool Parish Church (St Nicholas and Our Lady). Every day I pray for Micah – for the staff, volunteers, trustees, people who donate and most importantly for everyone who currently, has, or will ever need, the support of Micah. These are challenging times but for many in our city, diocese and region their need is intense and frightening. Micah brings to those is most need not just food but also kindness. Please join me in praying for this charity and the work they do. If you’d like to donate food or money to support this vital front line work please click on the website for more information. Twitter: @MicahLiverpool for daily updates Canon Ellen
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In the iconic Disney film ‘Bambi’, there is a lovely section of the film set in the spring when, according to the wise old owl, ‘nearly everybody gets twitterpated’. Bambi and Thumper, his young rabbit friend, are adamant that they won’t get twitterpated: “It’s not going to happen to me’, they say. Well, of course, little did they know….but I don’t want to spoil what happens next. You’ll have to watch, or re-watch, the film to find out!
For us humans, it’s a very strange spring indeed and becoming ‘twitterpated’ is probably pretty far off our radar. But on my daily exercise recently, as allowed by the current ‘lockdown’ rules, I was reminded that, for all our woes, the rest of creation carries on regardless, doing what it normally does at this time of year. Around us, there is a lot of ‘twitterpation’ going on! I am fortunate to live within a short walk of the delightful St. James’ Gardens, adjacent to the Cathedral. I had already been trying to make a point of a short walk around it as many mornings as possible (let’s face it, I need the exercise!). But the current stringencies have persuaded me that I need to make a brisk walk each day a key priority of my daily routine. And what a blessing it has been. Admittedly the fine weather of recent days has been a great help, but it has been a profoundly enriching experience to wander round that little bit of parkland in the heart of this large and normally buzzing city, and see nature in all its glory. The spring flowers are looking lovely in the morning sunshine: daffodils, primroses, hyacinths and violets. The buds on some of the trees are starting to swell. Grey squirrels are scampering around the trees. Even the odd butterfly has been venturing out into the early spring sunshine. And there are lots and lots of birds. I counted, on one half-hour walk, no fewer than 17 different species. There were robins singing away to each other – it sounds beautiful, but what it really means is ‘keep off my patch’. Long-tailed tits diving into a bramble bush with beaks full of feathers, lichens, moss and spider-silk to make their incredible Easter-egg shaped nests, that will soon be packed with a mind-boggling number of tiny youngsters. A redwing (a type of thrush) filling its boots with juicy worms before heading off to northern climes to breed, and a chiffchaff (a kind of warbler) that, unsurprisingly has a song that goes ‘chiff chaff’. It will probably have just arrived here and will be getting ready to find a mate and camp out for the summer. I was halted in my tracks simply to stop and watch and listen. Which is all the more easy when there is rather less traffic zooming along the neighbouring streets. It struck me so powerfully that we have such treasures on our doorsteps, and yet I am often in too much of a rush to take them in. Yes, I am a bit of a wildlife nerd, but it’s helping me to get through this time of confinement. Maybe it might help you too? There is something quite cathartic about getting outdoors especially as the days grow longer. And if it helps us to take a bit more interest in our environment that surely should be a good thing? You don’t have to know all the names of the birds to enjoy it, but maybe it would be an opportunity to learn about some of them. Perhaps, too, it might take us a bit closer to the Creator of the world – the One who formed the earth and ‘every living creature that moves’. Not without good reason did the Psalmist declare (Psalm 19:1), “The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork”. Admittedly, he didn’t talk about getting twitterpated, but the sentiment is surely there….? So, if you’re not confined to barracks because of self-isolation or ill-health, and are able to get outside for a wee while for your daily exercise, keep your eyes open to see what the rest of nature is up to. The fact that all of this is moving on apace, apparently oblivious to the woes of humanity at this moment, is something that I find strangely re-assuring. Canon Neal This morning I said my prayers from the third floor of my house. The third floor has wonderful views over the city and on such a clear sunny day the city looked magnificent. I lit my candle to remember the people of Liverpool, Merseyside and the world and prayed earnestly for an end to the Corona Virus. I remembered all people suffering from the virus. I prayed for all who have died and I thanked God for our NHS and for all those who are working so hard to relieve the pain of others.
Please do take time in your day, as you sit at home, to be grateful for good health and kind people. Dean Sue In our digital world it’s hard to escape the news and we know that many people are feeling quite overwhelmed in the current situation. For our congregation, like for so many of us, being stuck at home is a difficult time but to fight the spread of this horrible disease, we all need to play our part.
Keeping everyone safe and healthy is a key priority and we’ve had to close the doors to the Cathedral for the time being. So while you’re not able to join us in person to worship at Liverpool Cathedral, we’ve introduced Prayer for Liverpool. It’s a way for us to come together as a church community virtually. You’ll be able to find prayers, view the worship services we’ve filmed or find inspiration from our Education Team on how children can engage with us. From the Dean of Liverpool The Very Revd Dr Sue Jones "Our doors are now closed. While we cannot offer you a face-to-face, physical encounter, you can encounter our love and support virtually. “This morning we woke up to a very different world. I would never have imagined two weeks ago that this magnificent building, set on the hill, overlooking the City of Liverpool would be closed. The Cathedral stands as a testimony to those who built it and have worshipped in it since it was built. “We say that Liverpool Cathedral is a place of encounter built by the people for the people to the Glory of God. From today, your encounter with us will be different. Our doors are now closed. While we cannot offer you a face-to-face, physical encounter, you can encounter our love and support virtually. “You can use this space for reflection and prayer and also to remember loved ones. On the website, you can continue to encounter us in prayer, through our virtual worship services. We will continue to pray daily for this Diocese, for our city, for Merseyside and for the world. We will pray the prayers you have share with us through our website. “Each day, one of our clergy will light a candle in the Cathedral to remind us all of the hope that is in God and His Son Jesus Christ. We will get through this. We will do it by caring for each other and being kind to one another. “In our kindness, we need to look after the vulnerable. The Cathedral’s foodbank, run through the Micah charity needs our support so that the most vulnerable can be fed during the coming weeks. Food donations are welcome, as are financial contributions. You can leave food at the Constables Lodge at the Cathedral and you can give financially through Micah’s website. “Liverpool Cathedral will continue to be a praying heart for everyone.” As a place of encounter, we want Liverpool Cathedral to be a safe place for visitors, worshippers, staff, and volunteers. We are following the advice of the national church and UK government over our approach. We remain open to visitors and worshippers and have put a series of sensible measures in place.
You can read all the details on our website. The Double Cross symbol of Liverpool Cathedral, is a familiar sight in and around the building and here is a creative way to make one at home with your children. Use this and display in a window as a sign of unity and hope.
You will need:
What to do: 1. Cover the tracing paper by sticking on the tissue paper squares. Make sure you overlap them to create a wider range of colours. Why not create a stripy or symmetrical pattern? 2. Use the black paper strips to make a frame for your window. 3. Make the shape of the double cross from black paper and place in the middle of your design. 4. Put your creation in a window for others to see and for you to focus on when praying with us on Sundays. Keep us, good Lord,
under the shadow of your mercy in this time of uncertainty and distress. Sustain and support the anxious and fearful, and lift up all who are brought low; that we may rejoice in your comfort knowing that nothing can separate us from your love in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen. |
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 |