Weekly Notices | 26 February 2023
A reflection from Kitty Price
Attempt number one for these reflections was to give you a list of things you might like to consider doing to ensure a spiritually enriching and materially giving Lent, but David said it was dull, so here is an alternative.
I’m going to share a secret with you. I loathe Lent. The only thing in the Church Calendar I loathe more is Holy Week. For as long as I can remember, I have always had what my family jokingly refer to as ‘Kitty’s Holy Week Headache’, which generally appears on the Saturday before Palm Sunday and gets worse throughout the week, lifting on Easter Monday or sometimes even later. Whatever I do to mitigate against it, Kitty’s Holy Week Headache arrives each year without fail. Last year I was also burdened with sinusitis, which was hideous. I spent most of Ash Wednesday 2023 in bed with a migraine, which I hope does not mean I’m developing a Lenten Headache.
If you are aware of the Myers Briggs personality testing, I am an ENFJ. E (extroverted) not introverted; N for iNtuitive rather than S for Sensing; F for feeling rather than Thinking; and J for Judging (planning and being organised) rather than P for Perceiving, AAKA let’s improvise. The N and the F are practically off the scale. In other words, I am empathic. I automatically pick up on other people’s emotions, like a human barometer. As I have got older, I have learnt a few strategies for caring whilst not wearing myself out by caring too much, but it is not my natural state of being.
This is a longwinded explanation as to why I loathe Lent and Holy Week. I feel all the emotions acutely. The journey inwards can be uncomfortable, and I’ve normally been examining my soul and been self-critical long before Lent, so 40 days of intensity can leave me churned up. I know it is supposed to do that, but it’s hard. The dark side of empathy is when you have gone so far into the danger zone, that you have nothing left, so you are no longer able to care. This is scary and difficult to face.
I would like to think I would have stood at the foot of the cross with Mary, watching Jesus being crucified, and been one of the first to believe in the resurrection, but I would probably have been lying down with a headache wanting it all to go away. Each year I have to go through the emotional rollercoaster once again. It’s good for me, apparently, but I don't bounce back with Easter joy as quickly as other people.
You can donate to Bishop Jonathan’s Lent Appeal, the aid relief for Turkey and Syria, or to support The Trussell Trust’s foodbanks; you can do a cleanse of your wardrobe and put your items in a clothing bank; you could even consider downloading the Daily Prayer app and saying one of the daily offices a few times during Lent. Apart from the joy and celebration of Handel’s Messiah on Saturday 25 March, the next few weeks will be a case of grinning – or grimacing – and bearing it and hoping that the headache isn’t as bad as last year.
Kitty Price,
Lay Reader
Dates for your diary…
TONIGHT: Evening Organ Concert: Jeremiah Stephenson - 24 Feb
Confirmation Class – 26 Feb
Lent Course – Christ and the Chocolaterie – with supper – 28 Mar
The Cathedral Club - 2 Mar
Taizé-style Service - 5 Mar
Parish Lunch Club - 6 Mar
Community News
On Friday morning we marked the first anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine, with a 1 minute silence and time for prayer and reflection.
Tickets for Handel's Messiah now available online and in our shop.
Handel's spectacular and moving choral masterpiece, sung by the Portsmouth Cathedral Choirs with Capelle Baroque, and directed by David Price. Tickets are available from £5.00-£25.00, with the concert taking place on Saturday, 25 March at 7:30pm. Be sure to book quick as this very popular event sells-out quickly every year!
Pop-into our shop or Book Online →
Fairtrade Fortnight 27 February–11 March
There has never been a greater need to buy fairly traded products than now. Climate change threatens us all but for the producers of coffee, cacao, bananas and many other essentials in the global south, its impact is far worse. Production is under threat from rising temperatures and fierce weather.
The Fairtrade mark means producers not only receive a fair, regular price for their goods and a community premium, but are also helped to develop more sustainable farming methods with more resistant crops, so preserving their livelihoods and communities.
Please make it one of your Lenten resolutions to use Fairtrade goods as much as possible. You will be helping to safeguard the presence of coffee, bananas and chocolate (and so much more) on our supermarket shelves! We have had our Fairtrade Breakfast but the need to support Fairtrade goes on.
Lent Course: Christ and the Chocolaterie
Come and enjoy our Lent course, written by Hilary Brand and based on the film 'Chocolat', exploring big issues about God, the world, and what it means to be human.
The course will run for five Tuesdays, 28 February–28 March inclusive, from 7:00pm–9:00pm in Becket Hall (except the final session, which will be in the Andrewes Room). A vegetarian meal will be served each week.
Please sign-up here. The course is free of charge (donations for supper welcome but entirely optional), and the course books are available from the Cathedral Shop. If you have any questions please feel free to get in touch with Canon Kathryn.
This Sunday: Lent Sermon Series - Now is the Healing Time
A sermon series on healing and hope will be preached on Sundays in Lent, at our 5:45pm Choral Evensong services. Our Assistant (PtO) Clergy will offer their wisdom and insight on Lenten themes of Healing, as part of the series ‘Now is the Healing Time’.
Read more `→
Lent Confirmation Classes
Confirmation classes will be held this Lent on Sundays at 3-4pm in the Bishop Kenneth Room, from 26 February - 2 April inclusive. This will be a mixed class for adults and young people.
Read more →
Memorial Bench for Nadjia Carpenter
The death of Nadjia Carpenter, our Volunteer Coordinator in October 2022 brought and continues to bring much sadness to the Cathedral Community. In her short time with us, Nadjia was a vibrant and valued member of the Cathedral team and wider community.
The Cathedral is marking her life with a new circular wooden bench that will be located around an existing small tree on the South West part of Cathedral Green. We hope that the bench will be installed by the end of May 2023.
If you would like to make a contribution towards Nadjia’s bench, visit our website →
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: Chris, Martyn, Alistair, Lucy, Tom, Beverley, Jude, Don, Jean, Alan, Margaret, Ann, John, Renee and all those in need.
Long-term sick including: Graeme, Sarah, Alison, Jane, Jill, Suzy, Andrew, Rachel, John, Richard, Edward, Peter, Rachel, Rosemary and Sean.
We pray for those who have died recently, including: Rosie Wilson, Arthur Bailey, Margaret (Marnie) Linington (Memorial Service 2.30pm Tuesday 7th March), Jean Wilsdon (Funeral 12noon Wednesday 8th March at Portchester Crematorium) and James Matthews 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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