Weekly Notices | 8 January 2023
A reflection from Canon Kathryn
All the hard things of 2022 have led to a particular way of wishing people a happy New Year for 2023. I’ve done it myself – a sort of eyeroll, and ‘Let’s hope it’s a better one’. On top of this anxiety comes the usual forest of suggestions for self-improvement - 100 of them at once, in a newspaper article I read this week.
As we enter the season of Epiphany, and continue to celebrate the presence of our incarnate Lord, there is far more for us to see than this. The Word became flesh in a world of injustice, and that injustice took hold in his life immediately: surrounding him with suspicion, forcing his parents to flee, and setting a pattern for his earthly existence which was to lead him to the Cross. And our liturgical calendar contains darkness, too: straight after our Christmas Day celebration, we have the martyrdom of Stephen and the slaughter of the innocents. At the heart of our faith are harsh realities. But we also have Jesus’s naming and baptism, and the journey of the Magi, following the star until they find him. Summoning us onward is God, who calls us by name and makes us his own, who tells us we are beloved, and who gives us the Light, so that we can see in the dark.
We do not know where 2023 will take us: as a Cathedral community, we are already, in these early days of the year, living with the familiar tension of both celebrating wonderful things, and mourning losses. Through our joy and our mourning, through the tensions of our lives, God draws near to us, and so draws each of us towards him, giving us in his Son a hope which depends, neither on own efforts, nor on whether things are going well, but on him alone. In words and music and fellowship, come and see.
The Reverend Canon Kathryn Percival
Canon Chancellor and Vice Dean
Dates for your diary…
TONIGHT Epiphany Eucharist - 6 Jan
Community Warm Space - 9 Jan
Parish Lunch Club - 9 Jan
The Cathedral Club - 12 Jan
Epiphany Carols - 15 Jan
The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins - Cathedral Institute - 16 Jan
Annual Muslim Christian Evening 2023 - 17 Jan
Ghost Ship: Institutional Racism and the Church of England - Azariah France-Williams - 11 Feb
Community News
Royal honour for cathedral pioneer
She has inspired generations of children to explore the heritage and history of Portsmouth Cathedral – and still contributes hugely to its life in retirement.
Now Rosemary Fairfax has been honoured in the King’s first New Year’s Honours list, as she receives a British Empire Medal for her services to the cathedral and community.
Read more →
Yoga back at Portsmouth Cathedral
Portsmouth Cathedral is excited to announce the return of yoga sessions led by Kat Waters throughout 2023. Following the overwhelmingly positive response to the "Yoga in the Wild Cathedral" in Summer 2022, these classes will offer the opportunity for participants to enjoy the benefits of yoga in a beautiful and peaceful setting.
Read more and book online →
Portsmouth Cathedral Institute launch 2023 programme of lectures, workshops, and talks
The Portsmouth Cathedral Institute is home to high quality research and public debate about the most important questions of ethics, the common good and human flourishing as they relate to the city of Portsmouth. A new programme of events for 2023 has now been announced with the return of the popular ‘Six Works’ series, as well as our 2023 Dolling Lecture, and a new Poetry Day event.
See more and book online →
Annual Muslim Christian Evening – 17 January
Our annual Muslim Christian Evening, now in its 28th year, will be held on 17 January 2023 at 7:15pm. The Cathedral's annual gathering with our friends from the Wessex Jamaat and from across the city has been held online for the last two years, but in 2023 it will return in person. Do join us for readings, music, reflections, and a shared meal and conversation. Our theme will be 'Vocation in Everyday Life'. Please bring an item of vegetarian food to contribute to the meal, if you can.
Azariah France-Williams in conversation with the Dean at Portsmouth Cathedral
Portsmouth Cathedral is excited to announce that Azariah France-Williams, author of 'Ghost Ship: Institutional Racism and the Church of England', will be joining the Dean of Portsmouth for an ‘in-conversation’ event at the Cathedral.
Would you like to become a Cathedral guide?
Are you interested in joining our Cathedral Guides and Welcoming team? We're looking for people with a passion for history and a desire to provide a fantastic experience for every visitor to the Cathedral. If this is you, sign-up for our five week course, where you'll learn everything you need to know to become one of our renowned Cathedral Guides. In the sessions we'll be covering the Cathedral’s history, as well as how tours are operated, and the day-to-day work of volunteering as a guide or welcomer.
Read more & sign-up →
Have you got a typewriter?
Help us to source a typewriter for a new event next year. We are working on an exciting experience for next year and currently we are trying to source a typewriter that can be used by the public for this experience. If anyone has a working typewriter that they no longer want and wish to donate to the Cathedral for this and possibly future events, please contact Rayne, our Visitor Experience Manager atvisit@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk
Lunch Club Christmas Lunch & 2023 Dates
The members of our Lunch Club were treated to an extra special Christmas meal of turkey and all the trimmings, at the final Lunch Club date for 2022, on Monday 12 December. With thanks to Susan, Sarah, Rachael, and newer volunteers Jude, Anna, Claire and Hazel who presented the members with not just a sumptuous main course but also a glass of wine, Christmas pudding, crackers and a raffle! For the raffle we had the assistance of 7-year-old Henry (Hazel’s Son) to sell and draw the tickets which made almost £90 towards the Lunch Club funds. Thank You, Henry!
See photos and 2023 dates →
New career opportunity: Learning and Schools Officer
Are you interested in working with us to:
shape a new approach to education and learning at Portsmouth Cathedral?
engage even more widely across schools and young people of the Diocese?
help children and young people of all backgrounds to grow in their understanding of the Christian faith.
Our Vision and Strategy sets out ambitious plans to increase our impact as a Christian worshipping community, a place of nurture and discovery, a civic space, artistic venue, and visitor destination – whilst improving our financial sustainability through commercial events and fundraising. A central part of this vision is our intention to be bold and inclusive in our approach to learning, as we emerge from the pandemic.
If this sounds like something you would be interested in please download the application pack. Please note that the deadline for applications is 11.59 pm this Sunday, 8 January. For an informal conversation please contact Canon Kathryn Percival at Kathryn.percival@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk
Learn more & download an application pack →
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.
Choirs return for a new term
Remember, this evening (Friday 6 January) our Choirs return for the start of the new choral term, do join us for Eucharist for the Epiphany at 5:45pm.
Prayers and Intercessions
We remember the following for whom prayer has been asked by members of the Cathedral Community: Alistair, Jean, Richard, Alan, Lucy, Beverley, Babs, Chris, Martyn, Tom, Jude, Rosemary and all those in need.
Long-term sick including: Edward, Peter, Graeme, Sarah, Izzy, Clifford, Alison, Jane, Jill, Suzy, Andrew, Rachel and John.
We pray for those who have died recently: Richard Buswell, Shirley Coward, Sheila Downing (Cathedral funeral Monday 23 January at 2.30), John Friars, Andrew Crooks and former Pope Benedict XVI 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.
Have news or story you’d like to share? Submit a notice 📰