Weekly Notices | Sunday 21 February 2021
A Reflection from Dean Anthony
I’m writing this message on Ash Wednesday, when having thoroughly enjoyed the Cathedral’s online Shrove Tuesday pancake party the night before, I’ve presided at a midday Eucharist in the Cathedral which included the sprinkling of ash on people’s heads. While this ‘ashing’ was done in a Covid-safe way, the accompanying words and meaning were the same: a reminder of our mortality (‘remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return’) and an invitation to renew our lives (‘turn away from sin and be faithful to Christ’).
It strikes me that over the last year, awareness of human frailty and mortality has been at the front of our lives much more than usual, as has the sense of ‘doing without’ much associated with Lent. So, it’s more important than ever to remind ourselves of the positive, life-enhancing purpose of this season in the church’s year. Think of it as a kind of spiritual spring clean: indeed, the word ‘Lent’ is an old English word for spring. Think of it as a time of preparation, not only if you are one of those preparing for baptism and confirmation at Easter. Think of it as a time of renewal. Think of it as at time for praying more, and remembering Jesus’s forty days in the wilderness, the launch pad for all that he did next.
I’m proud of the imagination and creativity of the Cathedral team in putting together an exciting Lenten programme: from our Art Wednesdays and Thursday Bible Discussion, to Stations of the Cross reflections and Lenten chorales; not forgetting ‘Dessert Island Discs’! More information about all of these is to be found in the Cathedral notices and on the website.
There are many ways here to help us this Lent, so that even more than ever in these testing times, we can experience these forty days as a time of preparation, prayer, and renewal: an invigorating spiritual spring clean. I wish you a positive, life-enhancing and holy Lent!
With my prayers and best wishes,
Anthony Cane
Dean of Portsmouth
Community News
Signs of Hope and New life
This year Portsmouth Deanery will be again running their annual campaign, supporting SDA (Stop Domestic Abuse) and the Roberts Centre, most years collecting over 700 eggs for families and children in need. In addition to traditional chocolate eggs, this year they are also looking for donations of seeds, small pots and garden tools, or donations of money so they can buy these items.
Donations can be dropped at St Mary’s Church, Fratton by March 26thbetween 9am and midday. Financial donations should be made directly with St Mary’s, please contact them to find out more.
The Shrove Tuesday Pancake Party – the Results
A lovely hour of fellowship and friendly competition took place via Zoom on Shrove Tuesday with members of the congregation including our Choral Scholars taking part. The results of the friendly competition were as follows:
Best flip – Rob and Jen featuring a one-handed flip with a twist, pretty impressive!
Best Apron – 1: Nicola, George, Nicholas and Susie, with an elegantly designed image of the Southsea lighthouse.
Best Apron – 2: June and Catherine with a suffragette apron complete with replica 100th anniversary medal.
Best Pancake – Eliza, Dom, James, Kathryn and Polly with their edible art installation depicting Lent and Good Friday.
An honourable mention goes to the Dean and Clare for their Japanese-inspired cream and fresh fruit creation encircled by a pancake! The donated prizes for the four winners were Woof and Badger “Are We Having Pancakes” plates.
All looked forward to an in-person competition on Tuesday, 1 March 2022!
Community Arts Project for Lent
Would you like to contribute a picture, painting, poem or piece of art for our Stations of the Cross service on 6 March, part of our Lent programme? It can be your own work or an existing piece that you find meaningful. No need to be a professional artist! The idea is that members of the Cathedral community contribute the focal points for reflection for this service.
The final submission deadline for entries is23 February, the service will be available via livestream and on our website. Email Curate Catherine Edenborough to find out more and submit your piece of art:catherine.edenborough@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk
Final chance to share what the Cathedral means to you
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.
The deadline to complete this short survey is Monday 22 February at 9am. Please do help us by completing it and asking your friends and family to.
You can complete the short survey online here.
Chapter meets on 24 February 2021
A regular meeting of Chapter takes place via Zoom on Wednesday 24 February 2021. An update on the outcomes of this meeting will be shared next week.
You can download the Agenda here
Services and Events
Sunday Refreshments via Zoom – 21 February, 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.
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.
In these uncertain times, planned events and services may need to change. Visit our website for the latest information on services and events.
Introducing our Holy Week Preacher, the Revd Dr. Stephen Hance
We are delighted to welcome the Revd Dr. Stephen Hance, as our Holy Week preacher this year. Ordained here at Portsmouth Cathedral, he is the National Lead for Evangelism and Witness for the Church of England. Previously serving as Dean of Derby, as Canon Missioner in Southwark, and as a parish priest.
The topic for his series of sermons will be God’s Story: Our Story. Stephen explains “Everybody has a story. Our stories include the places, the people, the moments that have made us who we are. Our stories are not ours alone, but part of lots of other stories – those of our family, our church, our community. God has a story too, the story of God’s loving and creative engagement with the world which finds its high point in the events of Holy Week. This week we will explore what it means to live our lives in the light of that story, and how we might be bearers of that story to the world.”
You can follow Stephen’s, God’s Story: Our Story sermon series from Palm Sunday to Easter Day Festal Evensong.
A Way through the Wilderness… Sunday Evensong Sermons in Lent
During Lent, the sermons at Evensong on Sundays at 5.30pm will explore the theme of wilderness. Recalling the forty days Jesus spent in the wilderness, members of our Cathedral Ministry Team will reflect on different aspects of wilderness, including its theological symbolism and our current experience during lockdown.
Canon Anthony on Sunday 21 February: "Entering the Wilderness"
Kitty Price on Sunday 28 February: "Faith in the Wilderness".
The Dean on Sunday 7 March: "The 'Wild beasts' of the Wilderness"
Canon Nick on Sunday 14 March: "What is your Wilderness?"
Canon Kathryn on Sunday 21 March: "Beyond the Wilderness"
Stations of the Cross – from 20 February, 5:30pm
David Price: Alan Ridout Stations of the Cross with reflections by Canon Angela Tilby: The first in our series of six Stations of the Cross where the journey of Jesus to his crucifixion and resurrection is interpreted in various media - using music, words, art, space, prayer and stillness.
Livestream online
Way of the Cross: For Lent this year, around the ambulatory we are using images and texts from the ‘Way of the Cross’, a Biblical pattern of Stations outlined in Common Worship. Further prayers and reflections will be added each week.
You are invited to write a prayer or leave a thought that any of the Stations may have prompted. These will be added to the display as together we follow the journey of Jesus to his crucifixion and resurrection.
Lunchtime Live: Lent Term 2021 – Weekly on Thursdays, 1:10 pm
Delight in our weekly recitals live from the Cathedral, including our series of Chorales for Lent. Featuring members of the Cathedral Music Department, and some special guest artists.
Find out more and watch online
Living His Story: Lent Group – from 18 February – 25 March, 7:00 pm
During these weeks, our Thursday Bible Discussion Group has turned into a Lent Group – all are most welcome to join. We are using the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent Book 2021: Living His Story, by Hannah Steele. (Don’t worry if you don’t have the book – a free handout is also available: please email Canon Kathryn.)
This week, we will be looking at Chapter 2: ‘Catching up with God’.
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.
Art Wednesdays – from 24 February to 24 March, 7:30 pm
This week, the Revd Harriet Neale-Stevens will be talking about two lino cuts by American artists: Jack Baumgartner – Jacob Wrestling with the Angel of God and Robert Hodgell – Prodigal Son and The Prodigal’s Return.
Harriet is the Rector of Harting with Elsted and Treyford cum Didling, a rural benefice on the Western edge of the Chichester diocese. She has a Master’s degree in Art History (Twentieth Century) from the University of London, and a longstanding interest in the arts and their relation to the Christian faith.
Worship and Visiting the Cathedral
Portsmouth Cathedral is open daily for private prayer, daily Holy Communion and Sunday Services. Sadly, government guidelines do not allow for sightseeing and our shop is also closed for now.
We continue to take every precaution to reduce the spread of coronavirus, including the mandatory wearing of face masks, except for those with exemptions (please note face visors should only be worn with a face mask). Find out more on our Covid-19 information page.
We broadcast three services a day on our live page and Facebook. Find out more on our website and download orders of services.
Prayers and Intercessions
We pray for all those affected by Covid-19.
We remember the following for whom prayer has been asked by members of the Cathedral Community: Bob, Derek, Trevor, Izzy, Clare, Sarah, Jenny, Michael, Laurence, Rita, Dave, Mercedes, Peter, Amanda, Joan, Reuben, Kathy, Alison and all those in need.
We pray for those who have died recently: Sheila Deans, Enid Gull,
Dorothy Bellamy (priest), Peter Johnson, Paul Nicol, Beryl Rundle, Dennis Ede (priest), Sister Ruth Etheldreda, David Stuart and Laurie Fricker RIP.
To add someone to the prayer list, please email info@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk
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.