Weekly Notices | Sunday 31 January 2021
A reflection from Portsmouth Cathedral
Our 26th annual Muslim-Christian evening was a great success via Zoom this year!
As you might expect, much of our planning for 2021 is including how we try to ensure many of our services and events can be made to work physically in the cathedral as well as online. We are building up a sequence of talks, concerts and of course services to help lead us all through the season of Lent through to this year’s Holy Week and Easter.
Lent, Holy Week and Easter include some of the most important dates in the Christian calendar. We follow the story of Jesus’s life, how he faced suffering and death, and inspired many to believe and live a new kind of life. Portsmouth Cathedral will be bringing the opportunity to follow these seasons, with our regular services both in the Cathedral and online, plus extra online events this year and additional talks, reflections and music you can join in from your homes.
This year Ash Wednesday lands on 17 February, and so following on from a culinary fiesta led by Curate Catherine and Chief Operating Officer Richard on the previous evening, Shrove Tuesday, we shall be inviting you to join us for Tuesdays and Wednesdays in Lent for informal talks on subjects close to cathedral staff hearts. Thursdays will feature devotional lunchtime concerts and evening Lent Groups. Saturdays will find our 5.30 pm Evening Prayer replaced with ‘Stations of the Cross’ when, each we week we will explore different interpretations through music, art and word.
We will be pleased to welcome The Rev’d Stephen Hance, former Dean of Derby and currently the Church of England’s National Lead for Evangelism and Witness for our Holy Week reflections including Good Friday.
Do look out for the publicity when it lands on our website, social media and post-boxes in the next few weeks. Just as the light working in our lives only makes sense set against the dark times, so with Easter we can only begin to fully understand the awesome power of Christ’s Resurrection in the knowledge of the sacrifice and pain he also showed us. Lent can be this journey for you too.
Dr David Price
Organist and Master of the Choristers
Apologies for the disruption…
We’d like to apologise for any of our community and congregation who may not have received our Weekly Notices email over the past two weeks. The Cathedral has been making a number of improvements and updates to our communication systems, including our email database.
Part of the process of changing email database was ensuring we complied with data protection legislation. An unanticipated result was that we were not able to send the Notices to some email addresses. Whilst this was out of our control, our team have worked with our new email providers to find a solution for this issue as soon as possible and are pleased to confirm this has now been rectified.
Thank you again for your continued support; if you know anyone who is having trouble still, please ask them to contact us or sign-up again here.
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 those on Sundays.
More information can be found on our worship pages, where you can also download our most recent service list.
Special Services
This Sunday’s Candlemas Carols will be livestreamed via our live page on our website, you may like to have a candle to light at home as you join us for this service.
Candlemas Eucharist on Tuesday 2 February at 5:30 pm will be sung by the Choral Scholars. This will be taking place both at the Cathedral (booking not required) and livestreamed online via our live page.
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 31 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, please sign-up to our mailing list to receive the Zoom link for this event
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, Dave, Mercedes, Peter, Amanda, Joan, Paul and all those in need.
We pray for those who have died recently: Sheila Deans, Maurice Crane, Bill Westwood, Nigel Pickering, Enid Gull, Dorothy Bellamy (priest) and Colin RIP.
To add someone to the prayer list, please email info@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk
Cathedral closed for a day, so we can be open to all in the future! – Thursday 4 February
The Cathedral will be closed for private prayer and worship on Thursday 4 February as we prepare for an exciting digital project launching later this year allowing us to increase our online presence for those unable to join us in-person.
Becket Hall will instead be open for private prayer and those wishing to light a candle or attend our midday Holy Communion. Opening hours will remain the same from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.
Although we try to keep the Cathedral open as much as possible, on this occasion it was unfortunately not possible due to the nature of photography being captured. We appreciate your understanding and look forward to sharing this project with you very soon.
In the notices this week…
Upcoming Services and Events
Toddler service – 3 February, 2:00 pm
Bible Discussion Group – 4 February, 7:00 pm
How the Light Gets In – 13 February, 2:00 pm
Confirmation classes – from 14 February
Lent, Holy Week & Easter – from 16 February
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Party – 16 February
Art Wednesdays – from 24 February
Lunchtime Live returns
Community News
Prayer for the Nation
Last chance to let us know your thoughts…
A good time had by all at the Annual Muslim-Christian Evening
Chapter Meeting Update
Upcoming Services and Events
Toddler Service – 3 February, 2:00 pm
On Wednesday, our monthly Toddler service will be taking place and we encourage you to welcome friends along too! The theme will be ‘Jesus - the Light of the world’, so why not bring along something shiny to help us think about the Light in the darkness. (If you’d like to read about our theme, see Luke 2.22-33 - the Presentation of Christ in the Temple.)
Stream online via our live page
Bible Discussion Group – 4 February, 7:00 pm
Join us online for our weekly Bible Discussion Group. We will be looking at John 6.60-7.24.
For security purposes, please sign-up to our mailing list to receive the Zoom link for this event
How the Light Gets In – 13 February, 2:00 pm
Canon Angela Tilby leads a short afternoon retreat on Zoom for the Oxford Centre for Spiritual Growth. This is focused on words Leonard Cohen’s ‘Anthem’.
It will include scenes and images from and around Portsmouth and particularly the Soup of Souls installation by Pete Codling which was in the Cathedral in 2019.
Participation is free, but donations to OCSG are always welcome. When booking, you will be asked 'How did you hear about this', indicate your connection with Portsmouth Cathedral and the organisers will not require the donation otherwise indicated.
Find out more and book to participate here
Confirmation Classes – from 14 February
In preparation for confirmation services on Easter Eve (3 April), we will be running Zoom confirmation classes on Sundays for adults (2:00 pm) and young people (3:00 pm), starting on 14 February and running for six weeks. Explorers and enquirers welcome.
If you, or someone you know, is interested in joining a class, please contact a member of the ministry team.
Lent, Holy Week & Easter – from 16 February
Explore God’s story of loving and creative engagement with the world in our season of inspiring services, courses and events during Lent as we prepare to celebrate Easter.
Visit our website to find more information, services and events as they are announced in the coming weeks.
Save the Date! Shrove Tuesday Pancake Party – 16 February, 7:30 pm
Mark your calendar to join us for a pancake party hosted by the Cathedral Curate and Chief Operating Officer to celebrate Shrove Tuesday on 16 February at 7.30pm on Zoom. Bring out your inner Mary Berry or Nigella Lawson!
Find out more
Lent Group on Thursdays – from 18 February– 25 March, 7:00 pm
During these weeks, our Thursday Bible Discussion Group will turn into a Lent Group – all are most welcome to join. We will be using the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent Book 2021: Living His Story, by Hannah Steele.
Order your copy online
Art Wednesdays – from 24 February, 7:30 pm
Join us over Zoom, as each week, a speaker helps us to study and reflect upon a work of art with a Lenten theme.
Lunchtime Live returns
Our weekly recitals from the Cathedral return, weekly on Thursday's at 1.10pm. Join via our live page to enjoy from home.
Community News
Prayer for the Nation
In response to reaching the terrible milestone of 100,000 deaths from COVID-19, the Archbishops invite all to call on God in Prayer. Starting on 1 February we invite you to set aside time every evening to pray, particularly at 6pm each day. More than ever, this is a time when we need to love each other. Prayer is an expression of love.
Read the letter or find more resources
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.
A good time had by all at the Annual Muslim-Christian Evening
Last Tuesday, we gathered on Zoom with our friends from the Wessex Jamaat for our 26th annual Muslim-Christian Evening. There was real sadness in not being able to meet in the Cathedral and share food as we usually do but the online platform presented us with new opportunities.
Breakout rooms were a great way of getting to know each other in small groups, as we discussed the impact of the pandemic on our communities, and the things we have learned through the past year. There was singing from our choir, and accounts of the Annunciation were read from the Bible and form the Qur’an.
The Dean spoke of the tree planted by water in Jeremiah 17.8: ‘In the year of drought it is not anxious, and it does not cease to bear fruit,’ and Sheikh Fazle Abbas Datoo, Imam of the Wessex Jamaat spoke of discovering a revived and refreshed normality through the pain of these times. Over 50 people attended this moving celebration of the bonds between our communities.
Chapter Meeting Update
Chapter met on 20 January and 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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If you know someone without internet access, we also provide a printed mailing. Please contact our pastoral team using the contact details below to sign up.
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.