Weekly Notices | Sunday, 26 December 2021
A Christmas reflection from Dean Anthony
There has been a huge increase in people wanting to learn BSL – British Sign Language. Whether or not you are a fan of Strictly Come Dancing, you will probably know that this is because the 2021 winner, Rose Ayling-Ellis, is profoundly deaf. Having a hearing impaired child myself, I can appreciate the significance of her win, and the inspiration she is to the deaf community and beyond.
I also wonder if there is something to learn here about the significance of Christmas. In John’s Gospel, the birth of Jesus is described like this: ‘the Word became flesh, and lived among us.’ In sign language, words are communicated by bodily movement, mainly but not only the hands and arms. Words are not simply spoken, but embodied in a tangible way. Having taken our son to many signed Christmas shows, I’ve always been struck how signers use their whole bodies to communicate – and the same was true at our signed carol service (the second) in the Cathedral this year.
At Christmas, God’s Word – of peace, love, grace and truth – is not so much spoken, as embodied. The angels may sing, but babies don’t speak, not even Jesus. The infant Christ is ‘God with us’ as a real, tangible child, who will need to learn to speak like any other infant, sharing as he does in the joys and sorrows of what it is to be human. But as this child lives and grows, we will see in him something extraordinary – that unlike the rest of us, what he says he always does, and that he continues to be ‘the Word made flesh’ throughout his life. Christ uses his whole body as a ‘sign’ to communicate what it means to live life as God intends.
Through Jesus, whether or not we are planning to learn BSL, God invites us to learn a new language and a new world. By attending to Christ and following Him, we can learn to embody and live out that message of peace, love, grace and truth which we receive this Christmas time.
In these testing times, I wish you a joyful and blessed Christmas.
The Portsmouth Cathedral Choir singing at our Christmas carol services this week.
Merry Christmas from Portsmouth Cathedral
All are invited to all to discover or rediscover the good news the Christmas season celebrates, and Portsmouth Cathedral will be at the heart of Christmas this festive season. The Cathedral’s choirs will once again be uplifting spirits with joyful music throughout the Christmas period, with services continuing to be safe and comfortable for all to join.
See more Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services on our website →
The 12 Days of Christmas
After the popularity of last year, celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas with Portsmouth Cathedral in a series of videos to mark the festive season. Join members of the ministry team sharing festive reflections, alongside music from our Cathedral Choirs and fascinating insights into the heritage of Portsmouth Cathedral.
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram as we share a video every day from Christmas Day through to 5 January.
See the full series on our YouTube →
Cathedral Offices closed for Christmas
The Cathedral Offices will be closed from lunchtime 24 December until Tuesday 4 January. The office will operate with a much-reduced number of staff the first week of January.Due to Covid precautions staff will continue to work from home when possible. Please email info@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk or telephone 023 9282 3300 as these will be monitored over the holiday period.
Thank you for your patience whilst our staff team take a much-needed break over the festive period.
Explore more about Portsmouth Cathedral this Christmas
The Portsmouth Cathedral online app is full to the brim with insightful history and interactive experiences. As well as our cathedral highlights tour you’ll find family friendly tours such as the bite-to-eat tour and our brand-new virtual reality experience showing you what the cathedral might have looked like with a different design. As well as this, check back throughout the Christmas holidays for more family friendly tours you can do for free when visiting the cathedral. You’ll also find our 12 Days of Christmas series published here first from the 25 December.
Find the online app free portcath.app
Christmas Opening Hours
We look forward to welcoming you to the Cathedral during the Christmas holidays, please be aware of our adjusted opening hours during this period.
Cathedral
CHRISTMAS EVE Friday, 24 December 2021 – 10:00am - 4:00pm
CHRISTMAS DAY Saturday, 25 December 2021 – Open for services and until 12:45pm
BOXING DAY Saturday, 26 December 2021 – Open for services and until 12:45pm
Saturday, 27 December 2021 until Saturday, 1 January 2022 – 10:00am - 3:00pm
Saturday, 2 January 2022 – Open for services and until 12:45pm
Saturday, 3 January 2022 – Back to normal opening times.
Cathedral Shop
Monday, 20 December 2021 – 10:00am - 3:00pm
Tuesday, 21 December 2021 – 10:00am - 3:00pm
Wednesday, 22 December 2021 – 10:00am - 3:00pm
Thursday, 23 December 2021 – 10:00am - 3:00pm
CHRISTMAS EVE Friday, 24 December 2021 – 10:00am - 3:00pm
Closed Saturday, 25 December 2021 until Tuesday, 4 January 2022
Wednesday, 5 January 2022 – Open again from 10:00am
Worship and Visiting
Portsmouth Cathedral is open daily for prayer, services and visiting. Booking is no longer required for services, unless otherwise indicated. You can find out more on our website , where you can also download orders of service.
We continue to take every precaution to reduce the spread of coronavirus. It is now mandatory to wear a face covering inside the Cathedral, including when singing as part of the congregation, unless you are medically exempt. Please also continue to check in with the NHS Covid-19 app and remaining at a safe distance from other groups. Further information can be found on our Covid-19 information page.
Prayers and Intercessions
All those affected by COVID-19
We remember the following for whom prayer has been asked by members of the Cathedral Community: Derek, Clare, Beverley, Richard, Aaron, Jane, Alan, Libby, Lesley, Hilary, David, Stan, Andrew, Jean, Amanda, John, Wendy, Graeme, and all those in need.
Long-term sick including: Alison, Christopher, Clifford, Jane, Johnny, Melissa, Jenny, Suzy, Sarah, Bob, Michael, Rita and Izzy.
We pray for those who have died recently: Jean McCulloch and Aida Mackenzie 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.