Weekly Notices | 19 March 2023
A reflection from Canon Jo
This Sunday, half-way through Lent, is known as Refreshment Sunday – as well as Mothering Sunday. It used to be a time for young people in service to be allowed a weekend off to visit their families, taking a gift of some flowers or a Simnel cake. Also it was a time for parishes to remember and sometimes visit their Cathedral – their mother Church.
We have the delight this Sunday of two little ones being baptised in the Cathedral at 11:00am – both of whom were born on Fathers’ Day, last year! We will welcome Oscar Green (son of Adrian and Malina) and Frankie Bates (granddaughter of David Carpenter) into the family of God’s Church.
Refreshment Sunday (and the traditional lightening of the Lenten mood and austerity) gives me the excuse also to advertise Messiah which will be sung by our Cathedral Choirs next Saturday (25th March) starting at 7.30pm. We try to ensure this is performed within the week of Lent 4, so that the Canon Precentor doesn’t struggle too much with liturgical propriety when it comes to singing what many regard as the highlight of the work, at the end of the second part: the Hallelujah Chorus! (Having used the word once, I will abbreviate it from now on… Messiah was originally written for after Easter in 1742, so there was not an issue when the H-Chorus was first sung.)
It is said that while writing this movement, Handel was discovered in tears by his servant, and exclaimed: “I did think I did see all Heaven before me, and the great God Himself seated on His throne, with His company of Angels.”
Handel, astonishingly, composed Messiah in just 24 days, and coined a new genre of music – part German Passion, part English oratorio, part Italian opera. We reflect less of that third element with the style of how the performance takes place here at Portsmouth Cathedral: the solos are all sung by our senior boy and girl choristers, and by former Choral Scholars and Lay Clerks: movingly it makes for more of a prayerful and devotional occasion than simply a concert.
In Handel’s day, the Bishop of London had forbidden performances of works with religious overtones on London stages so Handel knew his work was destined to be performed in church. The three parts of his work tell the story of the Nativity and its prophecy; that of the Crucifixion and redemption of humankind; and a commentary on the Christian soul and its victory over death.
The chorus, together with the soloists and orchestra, deliver what is colloquially recognised as “some of Handel’s most heart-stopping music – ‘gobsmackingly’ dramatic and effective, profoundly touching and spiritual…”
So come along on Saturday 25th March and prepare to celebrate Easter (when the H- word and indeed the A- word come back in full force) by experiencing the story of Christ through one of the greatest choral works of all time – Handel’s Messiah.
The Reverend Canon Jo Spreadbury,
Canon Precentor
Dates for your diary…
Parish Lunch Club - 20 Mar
Lent course: Christ and the Chocolaterie – 21 Mar
Lunchtime Live: Simeon Walker - 23 Mar
Eucharist for the Eve of the Annunciation - 24 Mar
Handel's Messiah - 25 Mar
Choral Evensong with Lent Sermon Series: Now is the Healing Time - 26 Mar
Palm Sunday - 2 Apr
Taizé-style Service - 2 Apr
Community News
Help support our wonderful Easter Lily display around the Cathedral, donate a lily on our website in memory of a loved one. Donate online,
Bishop’s Lent Appeal
This year, donations to Bishop Jonathan’s Lent Appeal will be split between the work of USPG and the Disasters Emergency Committee’s appeal to help those affected by the recent earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.
A display in the Cathedral ambulatory, using Lent course resources from USPG this year, offers some reflections on the theme of ‘Who is our neighbour’.
There will also be information about the charities and causes we have supported with our outward giving from the Cathedral over the past 3 years.
Please come to have a look, to reflect and learn and pray. To learn more or to donate to the Bishops Lent Appeal, please visit the Diocese of Portsmouth website.
Mothering Sunday this weekend
Refreshment Sunday, also known as Mothering Sunday, has long been a tradition in the Church of England. It is a day to honour mothers, maternal figures, and motherhood, but where did this custom originate? Read our blogwhich gives you a brief overview of the tradition and how it came to be what we know it as today.
If you haven’t picked something up yet, you’ll find a great selection of thoughtful gifts including jewellery, books and much more in our Cathedral Shop, open throughout the week and online.
Read the blog or shop online.
Easter Eggs - Signs of Hope and New Life
You are invited to support the Portsmouth Deanery in its annual appeal to collect Easter Eggs to share with those who are supported by The Roberts Centre.
As well as financial challenges there is also a strong sense of being overwhelmed by the situations we are facing and a weariness and sense that the world is perhaps a dark and unfriendly place. In our Churches our Easter message is one of hope, new life and light in the darkness. We hope that the sharing of an Easter Egg – a sign of that hope, life and light will in a small way bring some light and hope into the lives of those who receive them.
Eggs can be left in a donation box in the Cathedral Welcome Area during standard Cathedral opening hours, or at St Mary's Church, Fratton 9:00am-12:00pm midday each day.
Easter Lilies In Memoriam
Remember a loved one this Easter: donate £5 for an Easter Lily that will form part of our beautiful floral display at Easter, there name will also be included in our Easter Lily Memorial Book.
The date for the name of your loved one to be entered in our Easter Lily Memorial Book is 10 April 2022, you can donate in person at the Cathedral using the forms at the Welcome Desk, or you can also donate online →
Lent Sermons
Our Lent Sermon series deviates from our usual theme this Sunday for Mothering Sunday with the theme, “I Believe in…”. At Sunday’s Choral Evensong, 5:45pm: Canon Tom Kennar, Rector of St Faith’s Havant, and one of our Honorary Canons, will preach on the theme of: ‘I believe in… God the Father Almighty?’. Next week our Lent series "Now is the Healing Time" resumes at our Sunday evening Choral Evensong, Canon Ian Woodward, one of our Assistant priests, will preach on the theme of ‘Healing and restoration’.
TOMMOROW: Help our flower team for Mothering Sunday
Would you like to get-involved with our Cathedral Flower Team to help make posies for our Mothering Sunday services? Pop by on Saturday 18 March, from 9:00am in Bishop Kenneth Room. Whether it’s something you’ve never tried before, or you’re a green-fingered expert, come and meet the team who help regularly fill the Cathedral with wonderful flora.
If you would like to learn more about volunteering with the Cathedral visit our website →
Bags for the Roberts Centre
At this time of great need, we are asked to increase our donations to the Roberts Centre Food Bank. Morrison’s have kindly donated some carrier bags for us to fill with donations, and the bags are available in the Welcome Area. Please take a bag, fill it with non-perishable donations, and bring it back to the Welcome Area.. (Terry will be collecting the donations on Monday mornings.)
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.
Prayers and Intercessions
We remember the following for whom prayer has been asked by members of the Cathedral Community: Edward, Judith, Jean, Alan, Margaret, Chris, Alistair, Beverley, Ann, Yvonne, Oonagh, Hazel and all those in need.
Long-term sick including: Suzy, Andrew, Rachel, John, Richard, Graeme, Peter, Rosemary, Sean, Sarah, Alison, Jane, Jill, Martyn, Lucy, Tom and Renee.
We pray for those who have died recently, including: Anne Powell (Memorial Service 2pm Tuesday 28th March), James Taylor, Joanne Zanelli, Helga Blaim, Ray Keele, Anna Matthews and Jeanne Ridley 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 pastoral@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk or leave a message via phone on 023 9282 3300.
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