Mark Hocknull, Chancellor John Patrick, Acting Dean & Subdean Philippa White, Succentor
As I write this, on Thursday morning, there are six words constantly ringing out across the airwaves. The words were written by one man to another in a private memo which proved to have momentous significance for the rest of the world. The six words are ‘I will be with you whatever.’ Six words that express a personal commitment and there is much discussion about what those words written by Tony Blair to George Bush meant. Many see them as offering uncritical ad unconditional support but Blair himself defends the words by pointing out the seventh word in the memo, ‘but.’
I’m not in a position to form a judgement on what those words meant when they were written, but in listening to the discussion about them I was struck by a potentially alarming parallel with a sentiment that Christians often express about God’s attitude towards us. The very last words of Matthew’s Gospel are ‘And remember, I am with you always to the ends of the age.’ These are the words of Jesus to his disciples. His final promise at the end of the gospel. They are given in the context of the command to go into the world and make disciples of all nations, ‘teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. A little more poetic than ‘I will be with you whatever,’ but the same sentiment. Whatever happens, whatever you do or say, I will always be with you.
The Apostle Paul expresses the same idea in his letter to the Romans. ‘For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Nothing can come between the love of God and the Christian Disciple. Nothing can alter God’s commitment to be with us and to work ceaselessly for our ultimate good. This is an absolute commitment, but what it is not is an absolute guarantee that God will approve all that we do or say. But God’s unbreakable love for us is not uncritical support for us, not an authorisation for us to do whatever we want. God’s love is unlimited and unbreakable but it nevertheless comes with expectations and hopes. In particular it comes with the hope and expectation that we return this love with our own love for God which is expressed in this world in concrete form through our actions towards our fellow human beings, our neighbour to use the word from today’s Gospel. It also comes with the expectation that we will treat the world in a loving and respectful way, not exploiting its resources but stewarding them and caring for the world as we enjoy and use its resources.
But what happens when we fail to live up to those hopes and expectations? So long as we are honest with ourselves and with God, there is always forgiveness and the opportunity to begin again.
Mark Hocknull, Chancellor
Tuesday 26 July – Messy Cathedral Following on from the pilot event last year, we will be celebrating the school holidays with another Messy Cathedral event. Everyone is invited to come and enjoy a morning of craft and Messy Science activities, a celebration and for lunch, all on the theme of “Stories Jesus Told.” Messy Cathedral is church for the whole family: so please bring your children, grandchildren, godchildren, nieces and nephews, and let your friends know! If anyone would like to help out on the day or preparing beforehand, that would be brilliant (if you don’t have under-11s to bring, that would be the best way to enjoy the day!) – if that is you, please contact the Succentor (curate@lincolncathedral.com / 01522 567004
Saturday 16 July – Organ Concert by Colin Walsh, Saturday 16 July at 7:00pm. Tickets are £6 and available through lincolncathedral.com, via the Cathedral shop or on the door.
Programme – Dupré: Cortège et Litanie, Messiaen: Offrande au saint sacrament, Schumann: Study in A flat Op 56 Bach: Fantasia and Fugue in G minor BWV 542, Franck: Cantabile, Reger: Dankpsalm Op 145 no 2 Vierne: Allegro vivace and Final from Symphony 1
Sunday 28 August – Jesus Christ Superstar: We are delighted to announce an extra performance of Jesus Christ Superstar on Sunday 28 August 2016. Tickets go on sale on Friday 15 July 2016 at 9:30am and available through lincolncathedral.com and via the Cathedral shop. There will also be a limited number of tickets going on sale, at the same time, in the premium section at £28.00 per seat, for the following performances – Friday 26 and Saturday 27 August.
Hallé Friday 23 September 7.00pm and Messiah Saturday 19 November 2016 7.00pm: For further information and to book your tickets please visit lincolncathedral.com. Tickets can be purchased in person through the Cathedral shop or by calling 01522 561644. The system will automatically allocate you with the best possible seats available in your chosen area, at the time of purchase. Wheelchair seating is available and can be booked by telephone on 01522 504394.
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Bible Readings
Sunday 10 July 7th Sunday after Trinity
Sung Eucharist Deuteronomy 30: 9-14, Colossians 1: 1-14, Luke 10: 25-37
Mattins Deuteronomy 28: 1-14, Acts: 28: 17-end
Evensong Genesis 32: 9-30, Mark 7: 1-23
Sunday 17 July 8th Sunday after Trinity
Sung Eucharist Genesis 18:1-10a, Colossians 1:15-28, Luke 10:38-end
Mattins Deuteronomy 30:1-10, 1 Peter 3:8-18
Evensong Genesis 41:1-16, 25-37, 1Corinthians 4:8-13
Sunday 24 July 9th Sunday after Trinity
Sung Eucharist Genesis 18:20-32, Colossians 2:6-15 [16-19], Luke 11:1-13
Mattins Song of Solomon 2, 1 Peter 4:7-14
Evensong Deuteronomy 30:11- end, Mark 5:21-end
