Portsmouth Cathedral News

Highlights

Last week was Epiphany Sunday. Magi from the East travelled to see this child whom they believed was worthy of their worship. The journey would have taken some time, the shepherds will have been long gone by the time these ‘wise’ men arrived. Journeys are interesting experiences. For most journeys we know the destination; we could be flying abroad for a holiday, driving to visit family over the Christmas period, sitting on a train commuting to work. We know where these journeys end, and hopefully we haven’t sat on the wrong train! Other journeys we might have an idea of where we want to arrive but can be unsure of exactly where. These can be more abstract; composing a piece of music or writing poetry. And then there are journeys where the destination is unknown. Life perhaps being the biggest one of this kind.

Highlights

Epiphany is a significant period of celebration. It is associated with the wise men coming to visit the infant Jesus. Matthew’s gospel tells us that they were ‘wise men from the East’. As they were therefore not Jews, they represent the manifestation of Christ to the gentiles, to the non-Jews – to us! Light is always a significant symbol at Epiphany because it reminds us of the recognition of the light that had come into the world in the form of a baby.

Highlights

Away in a Manger…. the words of this traditional carol warms hearts as little children wearing dressing gowns and with tea towels on their heads presents an image of a warm and clean stable on a beautiful starlit night. In reality it would have been dark and smelly and filthy. The animals would not have been gazing adoringly but making unpleasant smells and noises. Mary would have been exhausted, Joseph bewildered. As for Jesus being woken by the lowing of cattle and not making a sound - he’d have screamed like every baby.

Highlights

2018 has been the 300th anniversary of the ‘opening’ of the Organ which will play such an essential part in our worship and services over the coming days.

The tercentenary was commemorated by David Price with an organ recital in July. Since then Jo Godfree, our Archivist, has discovered the Vicar’s sermon of 26th July 1718 when the organ was first played. I offer some extracts as a timely anticipation of how our Cathedral organ and Choirs and music will lift our hearts and souls as we join in singing carols and celebrating the Birth of our Saviour.

Highlights

It’s only the Second Sunday of Advent, but already our choirs have sung four Carol Services including a service for The Hampshire and IoW Emergency Services and The Second Sea Lord’s Carol Service on board HMS Victory.

Highlights

This time of year can be a bit of a struggle with darkness. In order to function normally, we have to fight our instinct to hibernate. However, I wish to highlight the importance of rest and reflection, particularly during Advent. We are tasked with waiting and watching in the darkness for the light, thinking about the impact of God breaking through into human history and being born in a manger.

Highlights

This last Sunday of the year - before the new Church year starts next week – was sometimes known as ‘Stir up Sunday.’ The Book of Common Prayer collect for today, which we still use as the post-Communion prayer, begins ‘Stir up, O Lord, the wills of thy faithful people…’ This image led to the idea that this week was when people should be stirring their Christmas pudding mix, or baking their Christmas cakes, to give them plenty of time to mature and improve before the Christmas feast. We hope this week many of you will be baking cakes and making sweets and looking out your contributions for our Christmas Fair next Saturday!

Highlights

While we have been remembering with gratitude and sadness the many lives lost in conflict but especially those in the First World War; the armistice was also a moment of joy that the end of the war had come. Sometimes we long for the end to come in our political dealings as well, although they usually chug on somehow, as indeed they usually need to!

Highlights

Remembrance Sunday is always a poignant, moving and important day. Even more so this year as we commemorate one hundred years since the end of the First World War. As we stand in silence we remember all of those men and women who have given so much to ensure that we can live the lives we do today.

Here at Portsmouth Cathedral, we are fortunate to have dedicated membership of bell ringers who ring the 12 bells in the cathedral tower. This weekend for Remembrance Sunday they will be ringing to remember the Armistice 100 years ago:

Highlights

As we draw to the end of a liturgical year, the church turns to matters of life, death, holiness and the world to come. November presents the church with the opportunity to ask what life is all about before the hectic preparations of Advent and Christmas begin.