Sunday 10th November 2019

Third Sunday before Advent (Remembrance Sunday)

On Sunday morning I will be standing on the steps of the Guildhall, taking part in the City Council’s Remembrance Sunday Service, concluding with a wreath laying ceremony. It also includes an act of commitment, in which all respond to the question ‘Will you strive for all that makes for peace?’ with the words, ‘We will.’

On such occasions it strikes me that remembrance is never far from regret that it is ever necessary for young men and women to die in times of war. No-one wants to live in a world in which such sacrifice is required. It is clear from human history, however, that achieving reconciliation and peace is extremely difficult. After all, it is usually easier to blame others for violence than to accept that all are in need of forgiveness. When Coventry Cathedral was bombed, Provost Richard Howard wrote, ‘Father forgive’ in the ruins of the building – deliberatively not ‘Father forgive them’.

Recognising the humanity of the ‘enemy’ is also difficult. This may be illustrated by a passage from Erich Maria Remarque’s All Quiet on the Western Front, based on his own experiences as a German soldier in the First World War. In one scene, dramatised in an Oscar winning 1930 film, the central character Paul Baumer stabs a French soldier, and because of intense gunfire is unable to leave his side as the soldier slowly dies. Looking into the face of the dead man, Baumer says to himself:

‘It is only now that I can see that you are a human being like me. I just thought about your hand-grenades, your bayonet, and your weapons – now I can see your wife, and your face and what we have in common. Forgive me, comrade. We always realize too late. Why don’t they keep on reminding us that you are all miserable wretches just like us, that your mothers worry themselves just as much as ours, and that we’re all just as scared of death, and that we die the same way and feel the same pain. Forgive me, comrade; how could you be my enemy?’

The recognition of common humanity, as in this passage, is Biblical through and through, for all people are made in the image of God. Here is the key to building a reconciled and peaceful world that might inform our individual acts of commitment, and so make sure that today is not only about remembrance, but also about ‘striving for all that makes for peace.’

The Very Revd Dr Anthony Cane

Dean of Portsmouth

TODAY

Welcome to all those attending Matins for Remembrance Service this morning and our Eucharist Service this evening which is followed by a Remembrance Concert by The Portsmouth Grammar School. Tickets available at https://bit.ly/2W5pm20.

The Dean is attending the Civic Remembrance Service at Guildhall Square this morning.

The Service and Events Lists are available in the Cathedral or on the website.

NEWS

Cathedral Assistant Curate We are very pleased that following the Bishop’s proposal it has been agreed that Catherine Edenborough will serve her title at the Cathedral following her ordination as deacon next Petertide. She will become Assistant Curate (self-supporting part-time) from July and more details on her role will be made available in due course. Her training incumbent will be the new Canon Chancellor, Kathryn Percival. In the meantime we offer both of them our prayers as they prepare for their work here. Further information is distributed with these notices and also available on the website.

Outreach and Education This week saw 350 children attend remembrance workshops. They made poppies to hang on the crossing inside the Cathedral and an outside display around the War Memorial on the South Front. Another 120 children will attend on Remembrance Day.

NOTICES

Chapter met on Wednesday to discuss, amongst other things, the 2020 budget. Chapter has asked for a budget by the end of November that addresses the underlying issues associated with the Cathedral's ongoing multi-year budget deficits. Chapter and Cathedral Council will meet on 26th November to consider the 2020 budget.

Cathedral Office Neil Sands is providing temporary admin cover following Tim Burnett’s departure. Neil is the first point of contact for diary enquiries and can be contacted through litmus@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk.

Fabric Advisory Committee The agenda for the FAC meeting on Tuesday is on the website and noticeboard.

Christmas Fair Saturday 30th November. Books, CDs, DVDs, jigsaws, games, china, glass and collectables, Christmas decorations, artificial flowers, clay plant pots, jewellery, nearly new or new clothing and scarves, preserves, toiletries, toys and children’s clothes, bottles of wine and boxes of chocolates are needed. Small donations can be left at the Cathedral Shop, large donations please contact the Offices. Please start baking cakes to be donated the day before or on the day (these need to be marked if they have been frozen or contain nuts).

Cathedral Shop Advent candles, calendars, Christmas cards, ornaments, decorations and gifts are now available. The shop will be open after the 10.30am service on Sunday 17th and 24th November for people to buy their raffle tickets for the Christmas Fair.

Pastoral Care If anyone has a pastoral concern and would like to speak to someone, please contact Canon Jo on 023 9275 2335 or the Dean on 023 9282 4400.

Parish Lunch Club The club will soon require a cook with friends to form a team to cook for the club once a month on a Tuesday. For more information please contact the Cathedral Offices.

Friends of Portsmouth The Autumn Newsletter will be sent to members this week.

Churches Homeless Action Churches across the city are collecting supermarket gift vouchers (£5.00 value) to be distributed through charities which support the homeless. Please hand any donations to the Cathedral Offices or Shop by Friday 15th December.

Advent Carol Service at the House of Bethany 7.30pm Wednesday 4th December. Join the Sisters of Bethany for their annual Advent Carol Service, with guest speaker Mrs Michelle Lineros. £3.00 per person in aid of ‘Light for Bulgaria’. To purchase your ticket please ring 023 9283 3498 or email ssb@sistersofbethany.org.uk.

EVENTS and SERVICES

Lunchtime Live 1.10pm Thursday 14th November with Olive Murray (soprano). Free with retiring collection.

RSCM Area Festival 5.00pm Saturday 16th November. All welcome to join us for this special service sung by the Cathedral Consort and RSCM Portsmouth and Isle of Wight.

Rowans Hospice 25th Anniversary Service 2.00pm Sunday 17th November. A special 45 minute service marking 25 years of providing outstanding hospice care for our community followed by light refreshments in the David Bawtree building at The Portsmouth Grammar School. All welcome.

Choral Evensong with Celebration of Cathedral Sing! 6.00pm Friday 22nd November. Children from church choirs and schools across the Diocese will take part in a special Evensong with the Cathedral Choir to commemorate St Cecilia’s Day.

Living Well “Lighten Our Darkness” – sermons on aspects of Mental Health: 6.00pm Sunday 24th November ‘Older people’s mental health’ with The Revd Canon Nick Fennemore, Head of Chaplaincy for Southern Health NHS Trust. Anyone interested in following up on the series is invited for an informal discussion and conversation with the Dean, Dr Kevin O'Shea and Canon Angela Tilby on Wednesday 27th November at 6.30pm in the Cathedral after Evening Prayer.

Advent Carol Service 6.00pm Sunday 1st December. A sequence of seasonal music and readings foretelling Christ’s coming as the Saviour of the world. All welcome.

Christmas Concert by Candlelight in aid of Rowans Silver Jubilee Appeal 7.30pm Saturday 7th December. Tickets will be available soon from the Cathedral Shop.

PLEASE PRAY FOR

The Sisters of Bethany and the Revd Mother Mary Joy

All those in need including: Donald, Bob, Poppy, Barry, Tim, Stuart, Derek, Joey, Paige and Nigel.

And those who have died: John Hewett, Anne Charlesworth and Doris Hedges RIP.

For a complete listing of this week’s notices click here