Portsmouth Cathedral Notices Sunday 14th July 2019

The parable of the Good Samaritan is so over-used, even in a relatively secular society, that it is often very difficult to get beyond our familiarity with it and see its message afresh.

When asked to imagine ourselves in the position of the Samaritan, we often think of the scene in the following way: a poor person is sitting at the side of the road, bleeding after having been attacked. Of course we would help any such person, we tell ourselves. Yet we should ask ourselves what that person by the side of the road looks like. I think it is quite likely that he or she is someone we regard as respectable or acceptable, someone who looks quite similar to ourselves, someone we want to help because we can see them as an obviously innocent victim whose situation is in no way their fault.

But life is rarely as simple as that. What if the person was someone whose behaviour or background we found difficult or alien, would we care for them or would we blame them? Would we run to help them or would we question them first to find out if they are worthy of our help, or if their past actions mean that they are somehow ineligible? Would we make them take a series of tests before offering any help? Would we make sure that the help was not too generous to ensure that they hastily went back to their normal life and did not become ‘welfare dependent’?

The parable of the Good Samaritan reaches beyond personal generosity and hospitality: it is political. It is about one person encountering another from a different nation, potentially a political threat, and yet the Samaritan somehow overcoming his prejudices in order to offer help. The test of whether we follow Christ’s teaching in this parable is therefore also political: are we willing to offer support, both charitable and through taxation, to support the poor and vulnerable, the elderly and the refugee. If our priority is tax cuts for the wealthy in our society, following the dubious assertion that this will reward the successful and bring economic growth for all, then we are like those who walk past the injured man.

This week we remember those killed on the Mary Rose, who laid down their lives so that others might enjoy security at home. This is a reminder of the cost of being a good neighbour. And as the Cathedral welcomes new Canons of Honour, it is worth us reflecting on what ‘generous hospitality’ really means for this Cathedral. I suggest that it means more than being friendly to our visitors, and includes advocating for those who find themselves in a place of helplessness.

The Reverend Canon Dr Anthony Rustell

Residentiary Canon

SUNDAY

Welcome to the Choir of St Faith’s Church, Havant who are singing for us today and to the members of the Mary Rose Trust attending Eucharist this morning to commemorate the anniversary of the sinking of Henry VIII’s flagship in 1545. We also welcome the families and friends of the Revd Canon Angela Tilby, Professor Graeme Smith and the Revd James Grenfell who are being installed as Canons of Honour during Choral Evensong. The service is followed by a reception.

Spartan Race for Heart UK David Price and some of our choir are running the Spartan Race at Marston today. If you’re able to sponsor them you can do so at Just Giving via https://bit.ly/2XAGUlS

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

NEWS

Constitution and Statutes The Cathedral Council wishes to revise the Constitution and Statutes using the authority invested in it by the Cathedral’s Measure of 1999. The amendments are in respect to the appointment of a Vice Dean and the term of office of the Churchwarden also elected as a Lay Member of Chapter. Please take time to read the full details which are in the Welcome Area and on the website. Comments should be submitted by 3rd August to the Dean’s PA liz.snowball@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk .

NOTICES

Installation of Lay Chapter Linda Swinburne and Sheila Picton, who were elected as lay members of Chapter earlier in the year, will be installed during the 10.30am Eucharist on Sunday 21st July.

Diocesan School Leavers’ Workshops and Services Over 1,300 children from 35 schools across the Diocese visited the Cathedral in the first week of July to attend the Church School Leavers’ Services and Workshops. Each school created a Bee Canvas artwork some of which are displayed in the Cathedral, with others in local business windows and the Hot Walls Studios. Why not pick up a leaflet in the Cathedral and walk the trail to see their amazing designs and explore the local area? A huge thank you to all the volunteers and staff who made this possible.

Volunteers Thank You Tea next year will be held on Thursday 4th June 2020, Please put this date in your diaries. If you would like to join our team of volunteers please contact outreach@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk.

Appointments Interviews for Canon Chancellor and Vice Dean will take place on Tuesday 23rd July. Further information is given in a letter from the Dean which is available in the Cathedral and on the website.

Michael Purvis the obituary from the Times Higher Education Supplement published on the 30th May 2019 of our former Churchwarden and member of the Fabric Advisory Committee is available here with a copy in the Welcome Area.

Lunchtime Live We are looking for volunteers to help prepare sandwiches, sell snacks and drinks at our term-time weekly recital series on Thursdays. Please contact Tim Burnett for more information. The new series starts on Thursday 12th September at 1.10pm with Isabel Nisbet and Rhidian Jones (contralto & piano)

Ride & Stride Saturday 7th September. If any members of our congregation would like to take part as riders and striders in the annual event in aid of the Hampshire and the Islands Historic Churches Trust then please contact Liz Snowball in the Cathedral Offices.

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

EVENTS and SERVICES

Omega Printmakers until Friday 19th July. The tenth exhibition of original works curated by Omega Printmakers. All the works have been printed here in Portsmouth. The work of over twenty artists will be show in the ambulatory.

Cathedral Lunch Club 12.30pm Tuesday 16th July in Becket Hall. Enjoy good company over a two course lunch, served by a dedicated team of volunteers. £4.00 per person. All welcome.

Diocesan Spirituality Day - Hymns and Spiritual Songs 10.00am – 1.00pm Saturday 20th July in Becket Hall. Join the Revd Dr Ruth Tuschling for a chance to explore what God might be saying to us, and what we might be saying about God, through the words that we sing as well as those that don’t with speaker Rev David Morgan. Cost £6.00 per person. Coffee available from 9.30am, hot drinks provided during the day. Booking essential via https://bit.ly/2RThkaB.

Living Well - “Lighten Our Darkness” – sermons on aspects of Mental Health Sunday 21st July. ‘Breakthrough rather than breakdown?’ with the Revd James Hair, Portsmouth Diocesan Adviser for Mental Health. Please join us at 6.00pm Choral Evensong as we continue to explore wellbeing and mental health.

Portsmouth and Hampshire Art Society Summer Exhibition 26th July – 7th August. PHAS was formed in 1909 under the guidance of the renowned marine artist W L Wyllie RA. The exhibition is of works by both professionals and amateur artists in a range of styles and media.

Lunchtime Recital 1.10pm Monday 29th July. Wyatt Smith and Tracelyn Gesteland (organ, piano and voice). Free with retiring collection. Light refreshments available from 12.30pm.

Silver Screen: The Greatest Showman (2017) 2.00pm Tuesday 30th July in Becket Hall. Free event, tickets available from the Cathedral Shop.

Peter Marlow ‘The English Cathedral’ Exhibition 9th August – 6th September. An exhibition of photographs taken by Peter Marlow between 2010 and 2012, of the Naves of all 42 of England’s Anglican Cathedral’s using natural light at dawn.

PLEASE PRAY FOR

All those in need including: Donald, Robert, Poppy, Barry, Mary, Tim, Susan, Stuart, Derek, Brian and Sue.

And those who have died: Hugh Rees Phillips, Geoff Hewitt, Freda Evans, June Cox, John Fellows (deacon), Joanne Chapman and John Leighton RIP.

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