A reflection from Anthony Rustell

As the date of the Great South Run approaches, it seems appropriate to reflect on the image of a race that is used by the Letter to the Hebrews. Hebrews uses the language of a Roman games arena to give a comparison between the life of faith and an ancient athletics event: competing runners completing a race of faith before a cheering crowd of saints who have already completed the course. In this analogy there is a prize of faith to be won: a goal that motivates the faithful runners.
 
Whilst it is the case that most of the runners at the Great South Run will not be competing for the prize of coming first, those who participate will be challenging themselves to run the distance and complete the event, and through their effort’s funds will be raised for good causes through charitable sponsorship. Crowds will be present throughout Portsmouth to cheer the runners on and encourage them to finish the race.
 
The analogy of a race for the Christian life has much to commend it. Alasdair MacIntyre in his great work After Virtue speaks of a good ethical life in such terms. He states that human life is about moving from a place of unrealised potential to another more complete place, and there is a process in between in which one acquires the virtues and character necessary to complete the journey. MacIntyre argues that the primary purpose of Christian ethics is not addressing isolated difficult questions about particular moral controversies, but rather is about a more holistic approach to life that asks what it is to be good (and not simply what it is to do good). Athletes know that there is much more to competing well than just being lucky on the day: there is dedication and training that is required to form the practices upon which they will rely during an event.
 
Christian training and education are about more than acquiring information that we can mentally recall: Christian formation should shape our lives by giving us a vision to pursue and the necessary character to persevere. The Christian character of our lives should manifest itself in the way we virtuously deal with everyday issues of time, relationships, power and money. Scripture tells us that it is not by our cerebral knowledge that we will be judged, but by our character.
 
The image of running a race is about purpose and perseverance. It suggests that human life has a teleology: an end to which it moves. As we watch the Great South Run later this month, it is perhaps worth us asking about the direction and propose of our own lives and that of the cathedral, and to ask the question ‘what would it mean for us to run the race of life in a way that is truly good’?

Anthony Rustell
Residentiary Canon 

Dates for your diary…

• Pet Blessing Service – 13 October, at 3:00pm – 3:50pm

• Lunch Club – 14 October, at 12:00pm – 2:30pm

• Exploring the Bible: Mark's Gospel – 14 October, at 6:45pm – 8:45pm

• Portsmouth Authors Collective Book Signings - Fiona Ballard – 15 October, at 11:00am – 2:00pm

• Specialist Tour Tuesdays – Organ Tour – 15 October, at 1:00pm – 2:00pm

• The Word is Near – 16 October, at 10:30am – 11:30am

Community News 

Pet Blessing Service – this Sunday at 3pm

 
Bring your pets along (or a picture of your pet) to this service of blessing and thanksgiving for the animal companions with which we share our lives. The service will be short, with music and readings reflecting the season of Creationtide, with a special emphasis on animals, and will conclude with an individual blessing of each pet present.
 
All are welcome to stay for refreshments (and treats) afterwards at the West end. Please note that your animals are your responsibility throughout the event. The West doors will be kept open so that people are free to come and go as needed.
 
We look forward to welcoming you to this service – do bring family, friends and neighbours!
 

Specialist Tour Tuesdays start 15 October

 
After the success of the Summer Specialist Tours, we are excited to announce Specialist Tour Tuesdays. Join us on select Tuesdays at 1pm for a variety of tours around the Cathedral, exploring our history and much much more! 
 
The first tour will take place on the 15 October, with our Organist and the Master of the Choristers, Dr David Price leading a tour of our Organ. Including a behind the scenes tour of the Trompette de Maris. Adults can enjoy the experience for £15, while a reduced rate of £13 is available for children 16 and under.* Please note there are limited spaces on the tour, and they must be booked in advanced. Please be advised that this tour may not be suitable for some, please see the website for more details.
 
For more Specialist Tour Tuesday's dates, see our website here.
 

Great South Run - 20 October

Thank you so much to all who have sponsored me in raising money for the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) by participating in the Great South Run. When our third child was born with a hearing impairment, it was a worrying time as we had no experience of deafness in children and were fearful of what life would be like for him. Discovering the NDCS was a real lifeline for us, and I am glad (through your generosity) to help support the NDCS in continuing its vital work with deaf children and their families. Now all I to need to do is carry on training and complete the run!

On Sunday 20 October, I’d be grateful for your cheers and waves, and if there are any final sponsors out there, that would be hugely appreciated.  My fundraising page can be foundhere.

Dean Anthony 
 

Gaza Appeal

 
There is an opportunity to donate to Christian Aid's Gaza Emergency Appeal at the Cathedral. We are all aware of the desperate need for food, shelter and medical help for millions of displaced people in the Gaza Strip. Emergency Appeal envelopes for cash or cheques and a QR code for online giving are available in the Welcome Area and at the north door. Please fill in the gift aid form if possible, include it with your gift and put the sealed envelope into a collection box. 

You can view the Christian Aid Gaza appeal here.

Thank you!
 

Choir BBC Music Magazine recording

Cathedral Choir and Royal Marines Band records cover disc for BBC Music Magazine Christmas edition.
 
After last week's busy weekend of services the Cathedral Choir stayed behind on three nights to record Advent and Christmas Carols for the December edition of The BBC Music Magazine. We recorded 18 beautiful carols and featured a Brass Quintet from the Band of His Majesty's Royal Marines in three of them.
 
The BBC Magazine has a huge readership and is distributed world-wide and so we were delighted to have been selected to be the featured choir for 2024.

See video here.
 

Changes to services - Sunday 20 October (Great South Run)

 
Please note due to the Great South Run, visiting to the Cathedral may be impacted. Both #PompeySunday at 9:30am and the 11:00am Eucharist will also not be taking place, but there will be a 5:45pm Sung Eucharist taking place instead. Our shop will also be closed all day on this date, but you can continue to shop online.

See road closures and other changes here.

Charity Event in aid of The Friends

 
Congratulations to The Dean's Dynamo's who came joint third in the Charity Curry and Quiz Night held on Monday at The Tenth Hole by the Coastal Dining Group.  The sold-out evening included challenging and enjoyable quizzing and raised £1000 for the Friends of Portsmouth Cathedral.  Thank you to the Coastal Dining Group for their generousity in supporting the Friends in this way. For more information about the Friends and membership please our website here.
  

College of Canons 

 
The annual meeting of the College of Canons took place on Tuesday afternoon followed by Choral Evensong.
 
The College and Bishop Jonathan heard reports from Canon Harriet about her work in the area of Adult Christian Learning, David Price on diversity and inclusion in Cathedral Choirs, Richard Abraham on the financial performance of the Cathedral alongside work in the areas of events, visitor experience, marketing and improved governance.

It also heard from CP Robinson on the first steps as we begin the master planning process of what the Cathedral Precinct may look like in the coming years to support our Cathedral mission in a financially sustainable way.
 
Dean Anthony welcomed new members of the College and thanked departing ones.
  

Flora Winfield, the new Bishop of Selby consecrated

 
The Right Reverend Flora Winfield, D.D. was consecrated on Thursday becoming the Bishop of Selby in the Diocese on York.
 
Flora was educated at Portsmouth High School with Portsmouth Cathedral playing an important part in her religious formation.  For the past three years she has been the Church of England's Third Estates Commissioner responsible for the care of the 42 English cathedrals as well as the housing of Diocesan bishops.
 
Dean Anthony says "We are delighted here at Portsmouth Cathedral to warmly congratulate Bishop Flora on her appointment as Bishop of Selby.  She has a depth and range of experience across the Church that we have benefited from during her time as Third Estates Commissioner. We pray for her continued ministry as she takes up this new role and responsibility."
 

Help Us, To Help You

If you are one of our valued Volunteers you will have received two important emails from our new system ChurchSuite in the past week. The first was an invitation to login to ChurchSuite and the second was regarding Safeguarding Training.  If you are also on a rota, you may have had emails regarding that as well. 
 
To see more view the full blog story here.

Changing of the light bulbs

 
Light bulbs in the Cathedral will be replaced as required on Friday, 18 October 2024.  This before the clocks go back on 27 October.
 
A further replacement will take place shortly before Christmas.

Out and About

Canon Anthony is taking services at Hayling Island this Sunday as part of the Cathedral’s ongoing support and outreach to the Diocese. 

The Malus Jelly King shares its bounty again

 
You may not be aware but in the Memorial Garden is a Malus Jelly King Crab Apple Tree…
 
This tree was donated by Tracy Reid in remembrance of her husband Frank.  Frank was elected as a Cathedral Churchwarden in 2005 and served for several years in this role and many others. Chris Lovett has once again turned the fruit from this tree into a wonderful Crab Apple Jelly, as you can see in the picture above.  We thought it would be lovely to add a jar of “Churchwarden’s Crab Apple Jelly” to a Luncheon Hamper, as a raffle prize in this year’s Christmas Fair. By the way, there are now only 64 sleeps until the Christmas Fair…
 
Which means there is lots to do.  Ann Wilson has kindly said that she is happy to run the Chocolate Tombola again this year and we are grateful for any donations of chocolate which can be given to Ann, or dropped into the Cathedral office.   The other task which needs focusing on early is gathering raffle prizes, particularly the key prizes which feature on the printed raffle tickets.  If you work for or run a business that is able to sponsor or donate a prize, please get in touch.  Thank you!
 
Your help with this year’s fair is much needed and there are many ways to contribute towards this fundraising event.  If you would like to volunteer to help organise the event or give a few hours on the day, then please email volunteer@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk
 
Save the date - Portsmouth Cathedral Christmas Fair 11am Saturday 7 December.
  

Worship & Visiting

Every day, Portsmouth Cathedral is open for worship, prayer, and visiting. Unless otherwise specified, services do not require booking. Our website contains orders of service, as well as information about visiting the Cathedral.

Sunday 13 October

• 8:00am – Holy Communion - Book of Common Prayer

• 9:30am –  #Pompey Sundays                                                          

• 11:00am –  Choral Eucharist sung by the Cathedral Choir (Girls)                                                     

• 3:00pm –  Pet Blessing Service

• 5:45pm –  Choral Evensong sung by the Cathedral Choir (Boys)

Prayers & Intercessions

We remember the following for whom prayer has been asked by members of the Cathedral Community:  Sue, Betty, Pauline, Marc, Elizabeth, Chris, Tom, Gemma, Zoe, Paul, baby Joy (and her parents Tabitha and Tom) and all in need.  
 
We continue to pray for the long-term sick, including: Alistair, Alison, Jill, Suzy, Richard, Rosy, Philip, Mathai, Graeme, Muriel and Geraldine.
 
We remember those who have died recently, including: Joan Benning, Philippa O'Brien, Joan Eddings, John Jarvis and Wendy. RIP

 Upcoming Services & Events

Getting in touch

Please feel free to get in touch if we can help in any way, or if you just want to hear another voice!

Get in touch with us by email to info@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk or leave a message via phone on 023 9282 3300.

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