The Ascension came to the disciples like a second bereavement: they had known the pain of The Cross and then the joy of Easter resurrection, the company of Jesus and then the agony of his being taken from them again as he ascended to God the Father. That bereavement must have also been accompanied by not only a sense of loss but also a lack of comprehension and understanding. They must have been asking themselves, What now? Where do we go from here?
To these, and all the other questions that there must have been, the guidance they’re given is simple and easy to understand: go to the Temple, praise God and the promised Holy Spirit will come upon you.
That guidance is counter cultural to the world of 2018, where many are valued by how busy they are, what is being made, produced, meetings attended and targets achieved.
To be active in God’s service is a wonderful thing, but that activity is at its most rewarding when we have first of all waited upon God prayerfully, quietly and patiently. Like the young Samuel we ask, “Speak Lord for your servant is listening”.
As we go through these days from Ascension to Pentecost, may we, receiving again God’s Holy Spirit, be equipped to do his work in the world bringing in the Kingdom of Heaven and bring forth the fruits of the Spirit.
John Patrick, Subdean
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Lincoln Theological Society Lecture: The next lecture will take place at 7.00 for 7.30 pm on Wednesday 16 May in the Robert Hardy building at Bishop Grosseteste University. The speaker is Dr Jonathan Koestie-Cate on the theme of ‘Modern Stained Glass and Monastic Tradition’. For details look at the Cathedral website or fuller details at www.Lincolntheogicalsociety.net. Tickets are £5.00 each and available from the Cathedral Shop or on the door.
Organ Recital Series 2018: Join us and experience an instrument like no other: This series of concerts showcases talent from across the UK and Europe, bringing some of the greatest organists to perform on the world famous Father Willis Organ – 19 May – Jeffrey Makinson, Lincoln Cathedral. 9 June – Franz Hauk, Ingolstadt, Germany. 7 July – Jan Vermeire, Dunkerque, France. 21 July – Phillip Rushforth, Chester Cathedral. 8 September – Wolfgang Kleber, Darmstadt, Germany. 29 September – James Lancelot, Emeritus, Durham Cathedral. 5 October – Organ Extravaganza, with Lincoln Cathedral Resident Organists and Lincoln Cathedral Choir. 16 December – Olivier Messiaen’s La Nativité du Seigneur, Colin Walsh
Thy Kingdom Come Prayer Stations 10th – 20th May 2018 – Works, Guilds and St Anne’s Chapels:
Thy Kingdom Come is a global prayer movement, which invites Christians around the world to pray between Ascension and Pentecost. The theme for the prayer stations is ‘Life of the Cathedral’. The prayer stations reflect some of the reasons people visit the Cathedral and some of the different aspects of Cathedral life. Please do take a look and use the stations.
Lincoln Cathedral Community Association Pentecost Tea Party: Tickets are now available for Lincoln Cathedral Community Association Afternoon Tea in the Cloisters on Sunday 20 May 2018 after Evensong (Pentecost Sunday). Tickets cost £3 to include cake, tea, coffee, bring your own savouries. Also bring your own wine and glasses. Tickets available from LCCA Committee Members and also Lincoln Cathedral Shop
The Dean’s Verger writes: A Memorial Service will take place in St Hugh’s Quire on Monday 4 June 2018 at 11am, to give thanks for the life of Margaret Phillips RIP, a long standing member of the cathedral community and congregation
LCCA Summer Walk: On Saturday 14 July there will be a Summer Walk around Market Rasen. The Walk starts at Willingham Woods car park and includes woods, fields and flat terrain. The morning route of 4 miles takes us to a pub lunch in Market Rasen, and the 3 mile return leg in the afternoon gets us back to the car park. Further details will be provided nearer the date. Please make a diary note for Saturday 14 July.
Evensong Collections: Would anyone in the Community feel able to take on a regular Evensong Collection role. Collections are made Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Fridays when there is a sung service and the money funds a chorister for a year. If so, please let me, Michaela Philp, or the Subdean know.
RAF Centenary Dinner Friday 10 August 2018, 19.00 in the Nave: A black tie dinner in the Nave to mark the RAF Centenary, the dinner will be a fundraising event with a percentage of all ticket sales going to an RAF charity. Tickets and booking forms available now on the Cathedral website www.lincolncathedral.com
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Bible Readings
Sunday 13 May 7th Sunday of Easter
Sung Eucharist
Acts 1:15-17, 21-end; 1 John 5:9-13; John 17:6-9
Mattins
Isaiah 14:3-15; Revelation 14:1-13
Evensong
Isaiah 61; Luke 4:14-21
Sunday 20 May Pentecost
Sung Eucharist
Ezekiel 37: 1-14; Acts 2: 1-21; John 15: 26-27 and 16: 4b-15
Mattins
Isaiah 11: 1-9; 1 Corinthians 12: 4-13
Evensong
Ezekiel 36:22-28, Acts 2:22-38
Sunday 27 May Trinity Sunday
Sung Eucharist
Isaiah 6:1-8; Romans 8:12-17; John 3:1-17
Mattins
Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31; 2 Corinthians 13: [5-10], 11-end
Evensong
Ezekiel 1:4-10, 22-28a, Revelation 4
