Portsmouth Cathedral

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Weekly Notices | 27 November 2022

Portsmouth Cathedral

A reflection from Revd. Hannah

On Sunday we celebrated the close of the Church liturgical calendar with the feast of Christ the King. It was also delightful to welcome little Jack into the church family for his baptism, surrounded by close friends and family; a reminder for us all that at our own christening we are anointed as heirs of Jesus the King, with the same oil used at the consecration of a new monarch. In the baptism service we declare together that we are children of the same heavenly Father, and we welcome Jack with whoops and cheers. A fitting celebration and close of the curtain ready for the next chapter.

This Sunday we start with a new liturgical year with the celebration of Advent, though Advent begins in the dark.

On Sunday evening you are invited to join us for Advent Carols at 5.45pm, an atmospheric service where we will move from darkness to light, with music sung by the Cathedral choir including music from Pärt, Trepte, Ferguson, Guest and Manz.

We are also hosting an Advent Course, run by the Cathedral curates, which is 4 weeks of watching and waiting for Christ. We hope it will be a quiet, meditative space for an hour to explore some gentle themes with prayer and reflection. Dates for this course are Wednesday, 30 November and then Tuesdays 6, 13 and 20 December from 7-8pm in St Thomas’ Chapel –sign up here to attend.

We are also keenly aware that darker nights and colder days are difficult for some of us and can make us feel isolated and afraid. We are aware that our bills are ever increasing, and so the Cathedral is pleased to offer a Warm Welcome space in Becket Hall each Monday from 10am-3.30pm starting Monday 28th November (running for 18 weeks until 27th March 2023). Tea, coffee cake and company will be available and hot soup and bread provided for lunch. The space is hosted by Lunch Club helpers, Lay Pastoral Assistants and PtO Clergy who will be available to chat and support where needed. There will be toys, free WiFi, board games, jigsaws, food and drink for all who attend, suitable for the whole family, or come as you are. We will be delighted to see you.

I hope and pray that at the start of this new liturgical year, in the dark mornings and dark evenings, through the cold and wet days, we may know the light of Christ, the light that does not perish or fade. And on the first Sunday of Advent as we begin in the dark, we know that the darkness will not last forever, and are called to be people who live most truly in the unshakeable hope of those who expect the dawn.

The Reverend Hannah Barraclough,
Cathedral Curate

Dates for your diary…

Community News

Celebrate Advent & Christmas at Portsmouth Cathedral

Following a series of difficult Christmases, Portsmouth Cathedral invites you to ‘follow the star’ back to traditional festive services at this extraordinary time of the year.
Discover the good news that we celebrate at Christmas, with our choirs once again singing joyful music throughout the festive season. All are welcome to join us for Christmas Carols, Midnight Mass and Christmas Day services. We’re also pleased to be live-streaming and providing BSL at selected services.

Enjoy events including our annual Cathedral Christmas Fair, the popular Carols on the Green and also the return of the Christmas Gift Market with Love Southsea.

As well as all our Christmas services and events, the Cathedral is open daily for worship and visiting. You’ll also find a wide range of gifts in the Cathedral Shop, including a bespoke range of Christmas decorations and cards. Every purchase made in our shop this Christmas helps ensure the future of our Cathedral for generations to come.

Festive highlights…

  • 25, 26 Nov - Love Southsea Christmas Gift Market

  • 27 Nov - Advent Carol Service

  • 29 Nov - In Dulci Jubilo

  • 10 Dec - Cathedral Christmas Fair

  • 10 Dec - Carols on the Green

  • 17 Dec - Rowans Concert

  • 18 Dec - Christingle Service

  • 21, 22, 23, 24 Dec - Christmas Carol Services

  • 24 Dec - Crib Services

  • 24 Dec - Midnight Mass

  • 25 Dec - Christmas Day Services

  • 6 Jan - Epiphany Eucharist

  • 6 Jan - Nativitas

  • 15 Jan - Epiphany Carol Service

  • 29 Jan - Candlemas Carol Service

  • 2 Feb - Candlemas Eucharist


Learn more and see all events →

Advent Course: Exploring Advent

Join us for four sessions exploring the theme of watching and waiting for Christ. A time to pause amid the busyness of Christmas preparations. Each evening will be based around a guided meditation with opportunity for reflection, discussion, and prayer.

Wednesday, 30 November and then on Tuesdays the 6, 13 and 20 of December. Each evening is from 7pm–8pm in the St. Thomas’s Chapel.

Read more and book a space →

Nadjia Carpenter: a time for reflection in the Cathedral and funeral details

A time of reflection and prayer to remember Nadjia, led by the Reverend Catherine Edenborough, will be held in St. Thomas's Chapel on Friday, 2 December 2022 starting at 11:00am, all are most welcome to attend.

Nadjia's funeral will take place on 2 December, 10:30am, at Our Lady of Muswell Hill Church in London. All are most welcome to attend.

Cathedral clergy at services across the Diocese this Sunday

This Sunday, three of the Cathedral clergy will be presiding and preaching at services elsewhere in our Diocese: Canon Nick will be at St. Wilfred's, Cowplain, Canon Kathryn will be at All Saints', Steep, and Curate Catherine will be at St. Alban's, West Leigh.

Chapter Update - November 2022

Chapter met Wednesday evening (23 November) for its last regular meeting of the year, and to set the 2023 budget. The 2023 budget now goes to Cathedral Council on Wednesday, 30 November 2022 to be received. There will be more detail on the 2023 budget and likely 2022 outturn in the Notices next week.

Read more →

Joint meeting Cathedral Council and Chapter

A Joint meeting of Cathedral Council and Chapter will take place on Wednesday, 30 November 2022 to review the 2023 budget and for Council to receive that budget.

The agenda for this meeting can be found on ourdownloads page →

A warm welcome to a warm space

From Monday 28 November, Portsmouth Cathedral will be welcoming all to a ‘Warm Space’ in Becket Hall. Open Mondays (until March 2023, with a review in December 2022) from 10:00am to 3:30pm.

We hope to help people through the cold winter months – offering a warm welcoming space for anyone who wishes to come to spend time with other members of the community and meet new people, especially with the rising cost of energy and household bills.

Read more →

How you can get involved with our Christmas Fair

This year our annual Cathedral Christmas Fair takes place on 10 December, and is supported by our wonderful team of volunteers. If you would like to get involved, the easiest way is to donate an item for the raffle or for one of the stalls.

See how you can get involved, and what donations we’re looking for →

The Roberts Centre - Family Friends Appeal

This year the Roberts Centre are once again looking for Family Friends to support those less fortunate this Christmas. Those who wish to contribute will be given basic details of the family they are supporting, gifts will be distributed the week of 12 December. You can choose how many people you would like to support, and can also donate supermarket food vouchers for Christmas dinners.

If you would like to contribute to the Family Friends appeal, please emailTara.Couper@robertscentre.org.ukat The Roberts Centre, for further information.

Worship & visiting

Portsmouth Cathedral is open daily for prayer, services and visiting. Booking is not required for services, unless otherwise indicated. You can find out more about visiting on our website, where you can also download orders of service.

Please note that the Cathedral will be closed on the afternoon of Tuesday 29 November for a concert rehearsal, we appreciate your patience during this time, and will be open again as usual on Wednesday 30 November.

Prayers and Intercessions

We remember the following for whom prayer has been asked by members of the Cathedral Community: Nina, Lucy, Jean, Richard, Alan, Dave, Beverley, Jill, Alistair, John, Gerald, David and all those in need.

Long-term sick including: Alison, Jane, Suzy, Andrew, Peter, Graeme, Tom, Sarah, Izzy, Clifford, Christopher and Rachel.

We pray for those who have died recently: Nadjia Carpenter, Baron Bedi and Dylan Gill RIP.

Upcoming Services & Events

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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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