Weekly Notices | Sunday 24 January 2021
What a difference a day makes… a reflection from Canon Nick
One day Trump is US President, and you wonder what dangers he presents before he leaves office, and the next he is gone, yesterday’s man, and Joe Biden is president, and it feels as if the adults are back in charge. I must confess to feeling mighty relieved; relieved for our world, for its environment; for international relationships; for minorities not just in America but everywhere, and for truth, decency and the English language to be brutally honest.
What a difference a day makes! For those in the midst of some of the awful weather the country has experienced, it is the difference between being dry and being flooded. For those in hospital with Covid-19, it can be the difference between being on a ventilator or not, or, in some cases, very sadly, being alive or dead. Our heart and prayers go out to all who are suffering.
Our Sunday readings remind us of the difference a day made for a variety of people as they celebrated different things – a victory in war for Abram; the wedding that Jesus attended at Cana and where he performed his first sign turning water into wine in the gospel; and ‘the marriage feast of the lamb’ and the ultimate victory and celebration in heaven in the reading from Revelation.
We look forward to the day when we can all celebrate together again in person but for now, we must make do with doing things remotely. Many people have enjoyed discovering the church’s new on-line offerings, and the great thing about that is that people can join from all over the country and even from around the world. We can and do have people joining us at times from around the globe. All sorts of people have found that they can use apps/programmes like Zoom and join in on-line events. (Do join the Cathedral coffee meetings at which you can of course, choose what you like to drink!)
Of course, we all miss personal contact, but we can give thanks for and celebrate the new friends being made through these media as well as the ability to keep in touch with old ones and people we haven’t seen for a while. This week I had the sudden and unwelcome realisation that this year, it will have been 40 years since I left school! At the same time, I was able to share this pain with some people I was at school with who I am now, and only very recently, in touch with again through Facebook. I don’t think I have seen them in person since 1981!
On Monday we come to the end of the week of prayer for Christian Unity but on Tuesday we maintain our links with our friends at the Wessex Jamaat mosque in Fareham with our annual get-together. This will be the 26th year we have done this. It will, of course, be on zoom this year but it will enable more people to participate. Please do get the link and come and say hello. Everyone is very friendly! We will have to leave sharing the lovely food, though, to another time. It is a good opportunity to meet one another and find out more. It is also a good way to reduce barriers and build up trust and friendship that can endure.
Opportunities to celebrate in the winter are rare enough and harder still in lockdown so these days are important and worthwhile as a reminder that there is more to life that the immediate issues we see before us and within our firmly locked doors but let us make the most of the opportunity to unlock the doors to connection and hope, and look forward to the day, even plan it, when we can gather together in person once again.
There will be parties eventually again. And there are parties even in Heaven! What a day that will be!
Canon Nick Ralph
Covid-19 Information & Visiting the Cathedral
In line with recent government guidance, we welcome all who come for private prayer and communal worship. We are however unable to allow sightseeing or visits to exhibitions, and our shop is also closed for now.
For further information and our latest updates regarding Coronavirus, visit our Covid-19 information page and find the latest information on visiting the Cathedral here.
Services and Worship
We continue to hold communal worship at the Cathedral. Our regular service of midday Holy Communion and our Sunday Services continue. All Evensong services are now online only, including on Sundays.
More information can be found on our worship pages, where you can also download our most recent service list.
Special Services
Candlemas Carols (31 Jan) will no longer be happening in person as originally planned, but please still do join us from home via our livestream.
Changes to our services in the Cathedral
We are making some changes further to enhance safety at the Cathedral, particularly focusing on reducing the potential for the transmission of Covid-19 between households.
Our clergy team will no longer be present at the door after services. We also remind those attending services to remain at least 2m distant from other households, and to leave the Cathedral promptly after services without engaging in conversation. If you do need to speak to someone, please do feel free to contact a member of our ministry team using the contact details below.
We will also be reducing the number of people involved with our services at the Cathedral. All readings and intercessions will be given by the ministry team for that day for the foreseeable future. and our Midday Eucharists will now be taken only by the Cathedral clergy. This is counter to our instinct to involve as many people as possible, but we hope you understand our reasons in making these adjustments.
We continue to monitor Government and Church of England Guidance as well as any local developments in Portsmouth to inform any future changes to our opening.
Online Worship
Livestreamed daily online worship continues via our live page and via Facebook. Find out more about our online services or download service lists and orders of service from our prayer resources page.
Sunday Refreshments via Zoom – Sunday 24 January at 6:30 pm. Join us for our weekly Sunday Refreshments hosted on Zoom. It is a great opportunity to catch up with other members of the congregation and members of our ministry team.
For security purposes, the Zoom link will be sent out in our email notices. Please subscribe here to get the latest news, services and events from the cathedral.
Prayers and Intercessions
We remember the following for whom prayer has been asked by members of the Cathedral Community: Bob, Derek, Trevor, Izzy, Clare, Sarah, Jenny, Monty, Michael, Laurence, Rita, Tara, Dave, Mercedes, Peter, Amanda , Joan and all those in need.
We pray for those who have died recently: David Hughes, Sheila Deans, Maurice Crane, Bill Westwood, Nigel Pickering, Enid Gull and Colin RIP.
To add someone to the prayer list, please email info@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk
In the notices this week…
Upcoming Services and Events
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity – 18–25 January
Annual Muslim-Christian Evening – Tuesday 26 January, 7:15 pm
Bible Discussion Group – 28 January, 7:00 pm
Community News
Last chance to let us know your thoughts…
Cathedral welcomes two new vital grants
Farewell to Archdeacon Gavin
Chapter Meeting Update
Upcoming Services and Events
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, 18–25 January
For this Week of Prayer for Christian Unity and we will be joining in by sharing a daily prayer online on Facebook and Twitter. You can find updates on Twitter by following the #wpcu2021 hashtag or share your own prayer on their Prayer Wall by adding #wpcuwall to your prayer on Twitter.
Annual Muslim-Christian Evening – Tuesday 26 January, 7:15 pm
Portsmouth Cathedral and the Wessex Jamaat are looking forward to celebrating their 26th annual Muslim Christian Evening on 26th January. This much-valued event has moved online this year, and the communities are looking forward to strengthening their bonds of friendship and exploring together the impact and opportunities which the pandemic has presented for faith groups.
Find out more and join online
Bible Discussion Group – 28 January, 7:00 pm
Join us online for our weekly Bible Discussion Group. We will be looking at John 6.22-end.
For security purposes, the Zoom link will be sent out in our email notices. Please subscribe here to get the latest news, services and events from the cathedral.
Community News
Last chance to let us know your thoughts…
Portsmouth Cathedral has received funding to undertake a project to better understand how the cathedral is perceived by the community, including our current and potential visitors. This survey will help us to ensure we meet their needs now and in the run-up to us celebrating our centenary in 2027.
We are keen to hear from as many people as possible, so please do share widely with family and friends, even those who have not visited us before. If you are part of any local Facebook groups, please do share the link to the survey there also.
You can complete the short survey online here.
Cathedral welcomes two new vital grants
We are pleased to welcome two much-needed grants to support our heritage and improve how we work as an organisation.
We have received a grant from the Heritage Stimulus Covid-19 Emergency Heritage at Risk Response Fund, part of the Government’s Culture Recovery Fund. The grant will enable us to repair the rapidly decaying stonework and glazing to the South West of the nave.
We have also received another grant from the Cathedral Sustainability Fund, who already cover the salaries for two of the cathedral staff. The Fund has agreed to fully pay the costs for a one-year Records Manager post. This position will enable the Cathedral to streamline office functions and make full use of our new database and our recent upgrade to Office 365. In addition, as we prepare to come under the regulatory overview of the Charity Commission for the first time as part of the Cathedrals Measure, this role will enable our records to reflect best practice in the management of data, thereby aiding good governance.
We are so grateful for this funding, without which these important projects would not be possible.
Find out more on our website.
Farewell to Archdeacon Gavin
This weekend we were due to say farewell to Archdeacon Gavin at the Cathedral during Choral Evensong on Sunday. Due to the current restrictions the Bishop will now a separate farewell service from his chapel in Bishopsgrove which will be live-streamed through the diocesan Facebook page. and available to watch later on the diocesan Youtube channel.
We wish Gavin well as he moves to become Bishop-elect of Dorchester.
Chapter Meeting Update
Chapter received departmental reports from the Chief Operating Officer (COO), Canon Chancellor and Canon Precentor covering their areas of responsibility. Specifically, the COO (overall management of Cathedral operations including Finance and Fundraising), the Canon Chancellor (Safeguarding and Learning & Engagement) and the Canon Precentor (Liturgy & Music and Electoral Roll & Pastoral Matters).
The Dean provided an update on the Vision and Strategy and timings of the implementation of the new Cathedrals Measure that will impact upon our governance arrangements. He outlined the plans for the retirement of Bishop Christopher and, as Chair of the Vacancy in See Committee, the selection process for the new Bishop of Portsmouth.
Chapter approved the rates and fees for 2021 and agreed policies related to fundraising. Members also made their annual declaration of interests.
Chapter reviewed progress on the building works ongoing at the Cathedral. It received the final management accounts for the financial year ended 31 December 2020 which show a deficit figure of £156,000. The COO noted that while this marked a significant improvement from the deficit of £227,000 projected in May 2020, most of this decrease was due to one-off Covid-19 related grants that will not be repeated in future years. The budget deficit for 2021 set in December at £96,500 will be a challenging target to meet.
The elimination of the deficit remains of crucial importance to enable the Cathedral to deliver its mission both within the Cathedral and more widely in the community and Diocese. The generosity of the Cathedral community, especially over this past year, has been hugely important in helping us to take steps toward a balanced budget. The continued financial commitment of the Cathedral community, as the expression goes, is “needed now more than ever.”
It’s thanks to your support we’ve been able to continue providing services and support throughout the pandemic, we receive no regular government funding therefore your support at this time is vital. To donate to the Cathedral, visit our support page on our website.
Recommend our notices to a friend…
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Foodbank Collection Point
The Cathedral is home to a foodbank collection point for the Roberts Centre. Donations of food and toiletries are particularly needed at the moment and greatly appreciated by those using the service.
See what items most in need are on our website.
Getting in touch
We know that this is a lonely and anxious time for many people. Please feel free to get in touch if we can help in any way, or if you just want to hear another voice!
Dean Anthony: 023 9282 4400 or Anthony.Cane@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk
Canon Jo Spreadbury: 023 9275 2335 or Jo.Spreadbury@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk
Canon Kathryn Percival: 023 9289 2967 or Kathryn.Percival@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk
Cathedral Curate, Revd Catherine Edenborough: 023 9282 3300 extn 221 or Catherine.Edenborough@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk (Usual days at the Cathedral: Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday)
Messages can also be left on the Cathedral phone system 023 9282 3300 or by email to info@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk or pastoral@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk.