Weekly Notices | Sunday, 10 April 2022
A reflection from Canon Anthony
There is a deep contradiction at the heart of the trial of Jesus. The Gospels tell us that false witnesses rose up and testified against Jesus, but the two things of which Jesus is convicted are things that are in fact true: Jesus had entered into the temple and performed an act that suggested its imminent destruction, and also,he was rightly to be thought of as a king, the Messiah of Israel. At one level the verdict was entirely right because he was the Christ who would build a new temple, and yet entirely wrong in that it based on a complete misunderstanding of the claims that he made and, through the misuse of legal process, led to a brutal and violent execution.
Christ’s trial and death have been symbolic of the need to stand up for truth in the face of wrongdoing and violence throughout Christian history. The stories of many saints and martyrs are ones in which their testimony to the truth is a very costly because their opponents used anything from mob rule to the manipulation of legal process to achieve their ends.
As a society we are often in danger of working with the assumption that because something is legal, or conforms to a formal process, it is morally justifiable, but there is a fundamental difference between what is necessary and sufficient for something to be just. Far too many cases are reported in the press in which governments, companies and institutions behave badly towards their staff, volunteers, and members of the public: silencing whistle blowing and dissent through any legal process that is open to them.
Jesus’ trial and death remind us that the life of the church cannot be like this: we are called to a higher degree of integrity, respect, forgiveness, and generosity. The church is also called on to support those who make the costly choice to stand up for truth in the face of bullying and coercion.
During Holy Week, as we remember the events of Christ’s trial and death in worship and prayer, we pray for all those around the world who suffer oppression for the cause of right.
Community News
Holy Week and Easter at Portsmouth Cathedral
Join us for Holy Week which starts this Sunday (10 April). Our Palm Sunday services includeHoly Communion (BCP)with blessing of palms at 8:00am, and special furry guests will be joining#PompeySundaysat 9:30am. AEucharist with Blessing of Palms and SungPassion will start with a procession, with donkeys, from Grand Parade at 11:00am; bring a branch of greenery with you from home if possible.
Palm Sunday services conclude withChoral Evensongat 5:45pm, with our Holy Week Preacher Canon Tim Schofield giving the first address in his‘Signs of Glory’series: The Touchstone.
See all our Holy Week and Easter services on our website →
Holy Week Addresses 'Signs of Glory'
We are delighted to welcome Canon Tim Schofield as our Holy Week preacher this year. Ahead of Holy Week, see the full list of addresses as part of his ‘Signs of Glory’ sermon series below…
Palm Sunday Evensong: The Touchstone
Monday in Holy Week: The Fragrance of Christ
Tuesday in Holy Week: The Gaze of Love
Wednesday in Holy Week: The Listening Ear
Maundy Thursday: The Taste of Freedom
Good Friday Three Hours:
Address 1: The Still Centre (The White Crucifixion – Marc Chagall)
Address 2: The Power of the Cross (The Bound Lamb (Agnus Dei) – Francisco de Zurbaran)
Address 3: The Reconciliation of the Cross (The Prodigal Son – Pompeo Batoni)
Address 4: The Wisdom of the Cross (Jesus before Pilate – Nicolaes Maes)
Address 5: The Ecology of the Cross (The Rubbish Dump – George Warner Allen)
Address 6: The Victory of the Cross (Death where is thy victory? – R.O. Hodgell)
Easter Day Evensong: Glorious wounds
Maundy Thursday – Gethsemane Watch of Prayer
After the Eucharist of the Last Supper and the stripping of the altars, a watch of prayer will be kept in the St Thomas Chapel at the altar of repose until midnight. Please sign up if you can take part, a list can be found in the Welcome Area. We are looking for two or more people present if possible, for each half hour.
Good Friday children’s worship and Easter Garden
Calling all budding gardeners! At our children’s worship (also suitable for adults) at 10:00am on Good Friday, 15 April, we will be making an Easter Garden. This will be displayed in the Cathedral from our Easter Vigil service onwards. Making the garden together will be a wonderful way of learning about the significance of these holy days, with all welcome to join!
Why not invite friends who are new to church or haven’t been for a while?
Your generosity reaches a new milestone
Thanks to your tremendous generosity over the past two years, regular giving to the Cathedral during 2021 exceeded £100,000 for the first time. Following the Season of Generosity in spring 2021, regular donations increased by an amazing 24%.
Your support plays a vital role in enabling our core mission and work to happen. Regular donations are particularly welcome as they help us to plan our work with greater confidence.
From all of us at Portsmouth Cathedral, thank you for your generosity.
An introduction to our new Curate, the Revd Hannah Barraclough
We look forward to welcoming a new Curate to the Cathedral; ahead of her arrival, the Revd Hannah Barraclough introduces herself in a short blog on our website…
“Hello! My name is Hannah and I am really looking forward to joining you at Portsmouth Cathedral in the next few weeks.
I have completed two-thirds of my curacy in the Parish of Newport and Carisbrooke with Gatcombe on the Isle of Wight, working with a team of people there in creating a new combined parish of 4 churches. It has been richly rewarding and I have learnt a lot about myself as a Priest and about Parish ministry. I have had a good deal of experience in funeral ministry, hospice work, engagement with children and families, and service planning and preparation. Before that I completed a 3-year BA in Theology, Ministry and Mission in Bristol and at Cuddesdon, Oxford. I hope that this next phase of my ministry will enable me to experience rich and well-rounded ministry, liturgy, preaching and music in the Cathedral.”
Read the full blog from Hannah on our website →
Help for Ukrainian Refugees
The diocese is inviting anyone who would be interested in finding out more about hosting an Ukrainian refugee to get in touch. There is an agreement with Citizens UK to be a strategic host for fifty refugees. If you would like to know more, visit theDiocese websiteor speak toCanon Nick Ralph.
Portsmouth Cathedral Institute upcoming events
We’re pleased to announce new dates for our Portsmouth Cathedral Institute events, 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.
The 2022 Robert Dolling Lecture: 23 May, 6:45pm
‘Fr Dolling, Anglo-Catholics and the Conquest of the Slums’
Revd Professor Mark Chapman, Professor of the History of Modern Theology (University of Oxford) and Vice Principal, Ripon College Cuddesdon.
Six Works that Changed the World: 6 June–11 July, 7pm
Portsmouth Cathedral Institute host a series of short talks on six theological works that changed the world. Join speakers for short presentations introducing a short book, sermon or address which significantly changed how we think theologically.
Speakers will assume no prior knowledge of the work, or the author and it is not necessary to read the works in advance. It is hoped you will be inspired to go away and read more afterwards. After the short presentation there will be time for questions and discussion.
All Portsmouth Cathedral Institute events are free to attend and open to all.
Find out more on our website →
Fish & Chip Quiz Night – 7:30pm, Apr 23
We’re pleased to welcome the return of our traditional quiz night, with our unique quizmaster. Supper will be supplied by Fisherman's Kitchen, with all proceeds to USPG fund for Ukraine.
Tickets available to book online →
Revision of Electoral Roll
With the APCM and Parish Meeting taking place on 24 May 2022, the time has just about come to revise our Electoral Roll. The revision of the Electoral Roll will begin on 21st April 2022 and conclude on 5th May 2022. During this time, copies of the current Electoral Roll will be available to view in the Cathedral or at the Cathedral Offices. Forms will also be available for new or returning members of the congregation to join/re-join the Electoral Roll.
Read more on our website →
Chapter Met on Wednesday
Chapter approved the 2021 Annual Accounts on Wednesday evening. Chapter noted the significant progress being made to address the structural deficit, but it noted that there are still very significant funding issues as Covid-related grant funding has ended and inflation has started to increase our expenditures. There will be more news on the 2021 accounts in these notices before the annual accounts are presented to the APCM on 24 May 2022.
New Churchwarden and Chapter members
At the Cathedral's APCM on 24 May, there is the opportunity to elect a new Churchwarden, and two members of Chapter (the Cathedral's governing body). One of the Chapter members must also be a Churchwarden. We are indebted to our Churchwardens for all they do in enabling our life and work, and to members of Chapter for their vital role in overseeing our overall strategy, and key decision making.
You are invited to consider if either of those roles might be for you - and if so, to discuss this withDean Anthony. He would be delighted to have several conversations, with a whole variety of people!
Cathedral Comfort Survey
Our Cathedral heating plant is ageing and will require substantial replacement work in the next five years. In anticipation of this, we have been monitoring temperatures and energy consumption since 2017 and commissioned a condition survey in late 2018, however, temperature statistics only tell one part of the story.
We are keen to get feedback from parishioners, volunteers, and regular visitors on how comfort levels are perceived in the Cathedral, whether it be at an early morning service in the chapel, Sunday service in the Nave or at a concert – plus anything and everything in between.
Any feedback will not only help inform the design feasibility process but also be helpful to the vergers in managing the heating day to day. We would be grateful if you could spare a few minutes to complete this questionnaire online or find a paper version in the Cathedral and return it to the welcome desk before the end of April.
Your response can be anonymous or feel free leave your contact details if you would like to be more involved in this dialogue as we move forward. Please don’t hesitate to be frank in your responses!
Complete the survey online →
Stations of the Cross concludes
The final of our Stations of the Cross series will conclude this evening (Friday 8 April) withStations of the Cross by Alan Ridout. Played by David Price on organ with reflections from Angela Tilby, we welcome you to join us at 7:30pm.
See more of our Lent, Holy Week and Easter programme →
Catch up with Art Tuesdays
Our Art Tuesdays series concluded on 5 April with a talk by Pete Codling. We’re adding all previous sessions for you to catch up on via YouTube.
Watch Art Tuesday’s on YouTube →
Easter in the Cathedral Shop
Find our full Easter range in the shop, including Easter gifts, cards, and eggs. Back by popular demand – Love Cocoa’s luxury vegan chocolate range is perfect for the eco-conscious shopper. You’ll also find The Real Easter Egg range, perfect for the little ones, with Fair Trade chocolate and a book featuring stories from the Bible. Homeware, such as mugs, coasters and candles, is also available to fill your home with Easter joy!
Shop online or visit in-store
Please note the shop will be closed for an Easter break from Maundy Thursday 14 April and reopen on Tuesday 26 April. Orders can be placed online but they won't be processed until after the break.
Remember a loved one by donating an Easter Lily
This Easter, remember your loved ones by donating an Easter Lily. All donated lilies will form part of our beautiful floral display in the Cathedral. The names of all those remembered will also be entered by hand into our Easter Lily Memorial Book. Please make your donation by this Sunday (10 April).
Donate an Easter Lily online →
Current Vacancies
We are currently recruiting for an Assistant Verger and Precinct Officer. We have readvertised this position with new salary options, please share this opportunity with your wider networks.
Find out more and apply on our website →
Foodbank Donations
Many families are feeling the struggle of the recent cost of living crisis, your support of the Roberts Centre Foodbank has never been more important. Donations of food and toiletries are particularly needed at the moment and greatly appreciated by those using the service.
Please bring your donations to the Foodbank collection point in the Welcome Area during the Cathedral’s daily opening hours.
Worship and 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 or find our Covid-19 visitor information.
New time for Morning Prayer
From Monday 25 April, Morning Prayer will revert to its pre-pandemic time of 7.40am, with a service of Holy Communion following at 8.00am. And after more than two years of live-streaming Morning Prayer, first from the homes of the Ministry Team and then from the Cathedral itself, we have taken the difficult decision to cease doing this.
We would like to express grateful thanks to all who have prayed with us in this way, especially during successive lockdowns. and also to the small core of people who have stayed with us as the numbers doing so (very understandably) have got smaller and smaller. All comers will of course be extremely welcome to join us in St Thomas's Chapel as we begin the day in prayer.
Restoration of the chalice from Easter Day
Chapter has agreed that from Easter Day, all who wish to, will be able to receive Communion in both kinds - the consecrated wine as well as the bread. Our celebrations of Easter seemed a wonderful occasion to restore the chalice, which will be available at each service of Holy Communion from Easter onwards.
Anyone who wishes may of course continue to receive in one kind only and just take the consecrated bread, if they have any concerns about receiving from the common cup. But for the safety and welfare of all, intinction will not be possible - you will not be able to dip the wafer into the wine - since this represents a greater risk to others, from 'thumbs and crumbs' inadvertently being dipped also.
Please speak to one of the Ministry Team if you have any questions.
Prayers and intercessions
We remember the following for whom prayer has been asked by members of the Cathedral Community: Beverley, Richard, Jane, Alan, Amanda, Wendy, Derek, Denise, Debbie, Jane, Margaret, Rachel, Lucy, Martin, Susan, Caroline, Tom, and all those in need.
Long-term sick including: Alison, Christopher, Clifford, Jane, Johnny, Melissa, Jenny, Suzy, Sarah, Bob, Michael, Rita, Izzy, Graeme, Clare, Libby, Hilary, Andrew, and Peter.
We pray for those who have died recently: Evelyn Small, Colin Garner, Mona Elliot, Stan Hoare, Fred Middleton, Gordon Jones, and Audrey Kaminski 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.