Mark Hocknull, Chancellor John Patrick, Acting Dean & Subdean Philippa White, Succentor
Does God really listen to and answer prayer? I think I would find it much easier to answer this question if there weren’t so many terrible things happening in the world. In recent weeks violence and hatred have risen to renewed prominence. Shootings in American cities, the lorry attack in Nice, and the shooting of a family in Spalding to name but a few. There are too many people dying violently at the hands of others for me to read this morning’s gospel passage (Luke 11: 1-13) and wonder not how to pray but rather why pray. It is perhaps part of the real life of faith that we all have moments when life seems so overwhelming or unbearable or when God seems so absent that we wonder why we should even bother to pray.
In times like ours, prayer raises more questions than it answers. Does God answer prayer? If so, why are some of my prayers not answered? Even if God does answer prayer, can I really pray for anything – healing, wealth, relationship – and expect God to answer? And if God doesn’t seem to answer, does that mean I prayed badly? Such questions are notoriously difficult to answer without sounding trite or without giving simplistic answers “God always answers, but sometimes the answer is ‘no’.” That’s not exactly what Jesus says in the gospel, and even if the answer is no, how do we live with that when the questions are about healing a loved one with cancer, or bringing an end to violence, or providing the way out of an abusive relationship.
Perhaps the solution is to rethink what we mean by prayer. Often we think about prayer as being something passive. We pray, ask for something, and then wait around for God to answer with either a yes or a no. But what if prayer were something else altogether? Not simply a petition or request to God, but part of a more active and full relationship with God. Seen like this, prayer is less like sending God a thought or a letter or an email and more like the regular conversations we have with those with whom we are in relationship, our friends and loved ones.
Dialogue with others changes our perspective, our understanding, or at least if it doesn’t radically alter our view and understanding it enriches it. How would we act if our prayers were offered to God confidently, trusting that God will respond so much more generously than any earthly parent (vs. 13)? Perhaps I wouldn’t just sit back and wait for God to answer but would start moving, get to work, actually start living into the reality for which I’ve prayed. So rather than just pray for someone who is lonely, maybe I’d go visit. Rather than simply pray for an end to violence, maybe I’d join a peace march.
I know this doesn’t answer all of the questions that prayer raises and it certainly doesn’t ease the pain of when we feel our prayers go unanswered. It does however invite us to engage with the world that we pray for, to see ourselves as the vehicle through which God answers our prayers.
Mark Hocknull, Chancellor
Monday July 25 at 7:15pm Lincoln interfaith group Peace Walk to start from the Cathedral and then proceed to Lincoln Castle, to the poppies and walk around the Bailgate area and finally return to the Cathedral
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
Friday 23 September 7.00pm Hallé 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.
Saturday 17 December 2016 – The Snowman, featuring a live production of ‘Walking in the Air’ with orchestra and soloist : We are delighted to announce Lincoln Cathedral will be hosting three screenings of the Raymond Briggs’ animation ‘The Snowman’ in the Nave. Show times are 11:30, 1:30 and 3:30. Tickets will go on sale on Monday 1 August 2016 at 9:30am and are priced from £6.00. Available through lincolncathedral.com and via the Cathedral shop. Wheelchair seating is available and can be booked by telephone on 01522 504394.
From the Works Manager We have been fortunate in securing the services of Martin Coward, a consultant stonemason and carver, who is giving specialist setting out advice and mentoring to the masonry team. Martin is an architectural stone carver. He comes to us from York Minster, where among his most recent high profile projects, he carved the statue of St Peter on the East end of the Minster. Martin has been with us for several months, and will continue to be at Lincoln every Tuesday and Wednesday until the end of March 2017, incorporating one overnight stay each week. He has been staying at the Precentory, and most recently at the Deanery, but as we prepare the property for the new Dean, this is no longer possible. Would anyone in the Cathedral community be able to offer Martin a bed for one night a week, for all, or part of his remaining period with us? Martin will need to be within walking distance of the Cathedral, as he comes down by train. If you feel you may be able to help, please ring the Works Manager on 01522 561621. Thank you.
Roy Dowson celebrates his 90th birthday Friday 12th August – the glorious 12th. Please join us as we mark his celebration with cake at coffee following the 0930 service on Sunday 14th August in the Chapter House.
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Bible Readings
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
Sunday 31 July 10th Sunday after Trinity
Sung Eucharist Ecclesiastes 1:2,12-14; 2:18-23, Colossians 3:1-11, Luke 12: 13-21
Mattins Song of Solomon 5:2-end, 2 Peter 1:1-15
Evensong Genesis 50:4-end, 1 Corinthians 14:1-19
Sunday 7 August 11th Sunday after Trinity
Sung Eucharist Genesis 15:1-6, Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16, Luke 12:32-40
Mattins Song of Solomon 8:5-7, 2 Peter 3:8-13
Evensong Isaiah 11:10-end of 12, 2 Corinthians 1:1-22
