Hear what comfortable words our Saviour Christ saith unto all that truly turn to him.
These words introduce the “Comfortable Words” In the Book of Common Prayer. There is little doubt that in our fractured and fragile world words of comfort are greatly appreciated. We don’t need to raise our heads far above the parapet to see where comfort is required whether in the world of international and national politics; the situation that presently exists within our diocese and cathedral; or our own personal and private anxieties and concerns.
Words of Comfort are thought just that, Words. As important as they are, words only get it so far: in the political world, for example, three years’ worth of words have not got us far with the debacle known as Brexit.
One of the Comfortable Words reminds us that God acted: So God loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, to the end that all that believe in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3.16). God, in the person of Jesus Christ, entered into our world to know our pain, to share our worries and to be ever present in the midst of uncertainty and doubt.
That same Jesus Christ came to be our mediator, If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. When we place ourselves before God in prayer Christ is our advocate and mediator. And for our prayer to be genuine and heartfelt it must be more than words, it must be accompanied by willingness, a desire even, to act and be God’s hands and feet in the world. Over the last fortnight that has been shown by the amount of food given to the Lincoln Food Bank through Oliver! Little did Charles Dickens know what effect his words would have 200 years later.
God’s Incarnate Word, Jesus Christ, demands that Christians live out their lives as Christ-like disciples: by which our words are turned into action, we support those known to ourselves in any kind of need, and become God’s ambassadors of peace, goodwill and comfort.
Come unto me, all that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you.
JOHN PATRICK, SUBDEAN
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Worship & Mission
Change of service time
Sunday 1 September
The Eucharist will be held at 10.30am and there will be no Mattins. The service will focus on the topic of climate change and marks the end of the Diocesan Climate Change Conference: Moana Water of Life: Navigating Climate Change for Planetary Health.
Lectio Divina Bible reflection Group
Saturday 24 August, 4pm-5pm
The Precentory, 12 Eastgate, LN2 1QG
We meet to read, ponder and pray through the Sunday readings for Eucharist of the following day. All welcome.
Stillpoint
Saturday 7 September, 9am-9.45am
You are invited to 45 minutes of guided silent prayer in the Ringers’ Chapel of Lincoln Cathedral. No experience of contemplative prayer needed. All are welcome.
Lincoln Theological Network Lecture by Dr Sibylle Erle
Saturday 7 September, 3.00pm – 4.30pm
Anti-Clerical Views and Theological Thought: William Blake’s Visionary Christianity by Dr Sibylle Erle, Reader in English Literature in the School of Humanities at Bishop Grosseteste University, author and co-editor of the two-volume collection titled The Reception of William Blake in Europe (Bloomsbury, 2019). This lecture, which is on William Blake’s response to the creation story in Genesis, explores body-making in Blake’s creation myth to consider the relationship between the human and the divine.
Spiritual Classics Reading Group
Saturday 28 September, 10.30am
The Precentory, 12 Eastgate LN2 1QG
This is an open group in which members read a book prior to the meeting and discuss it together.
This month the book is Awareness by Anthony de Mello
Sacred Space
Once a month on a Sunday at 6.45pm
This popular service is gentle and reflective with time to wonder and explore, encouraging everyone to use all their senses; it offers a different way to experience worship at Lincoln Cathedral.
Dates and themes for the coming months are:
September 22 – Abundant Grace
October 27 – Saints and Sinners
November 24 – Kingdom
December 15 – Light in the Darkness
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Community
Lincoln Cathedral Community Association
Monday 7 October, 7pm
The Annual General Meeting of the LCCA will take place on Monday 7 October in The Cathedral Centre at 7pm for a 7.30pm start. Elections will be held for Lay Vice Chair; Deanery Synod Representatives and New Committee Members – nomination forms for these roles will be available in September.
LCCA Harvest Supper will be held on Wednesday 16 October in the Chapter House – more details nearer the event.
Please put the above two dates in your diaries, thank you.
The Dean’s Verger writes…
Having read reached a certain age earlier this month I have much to give thanks for not least for being whisked away for a 24-hour break.
Thanks also need to be expressed for the experience we had on our return home; when we tried to open the front door of the Chantry we were greeted with so many envelopes that the front door jammed! Over 160 greeting cards have been received celebrating the 65th anniversary of my nativity, a significant number of which came from members of the Cathedral Community. So thank you to all who have expressed good wishes in so many ways and special thanks go to the anonymous perpetrator of the exercise!
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Events
Organ Concert Series 2019
Saturday 21 September, 7pm, Charles Harrison
Friday 4 October, 7pm, Organ Extravaganza
Sunday 22 December, 5.30pm, La Nativité du Seigneur
The Hallé
Friday 27 September
The Hallé returns to Lincoln Cathedral for its popular and highly acclaimed annual concert.
The Cathedral is delighted to announce the return of Sir Mark Elder CH CBE, as the conductor for this year’s performance. The Hallé will be joined by Colin Walsh for a rendition of Saint-Saëns’ Organ Symphony No.3 in C minor.
Ticket prices start from £12.
Tristram Hunt Lecture: Prince Albert’s great Legacy
Thursday 10 October
Historian, journalist and former politician Tristram Hunt, became director of the Victoria and Albert Museum in 2017.
The V&A is the world’s largest museum of applied and decorative arts and design, as well as sculpture, housing a permanent collection of over 2.27 million objects. It was founded in 1852 and named after Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
Ticket will be available from Monday 19 August.
Handel’s Messiah
Saturday 23 November
We welcome you once again to our popular annual performance of Handel’s Messiah performed by the Choir of Lincoln Cathedral and the Lincolnshire Chamber Orchestra, conducted by our Director of Music, Aric Prentice.
Tickets will be available soon.
Wallace and Gromit In Concert; The Wrong Trousers
Saturday 4 January
Audiences will be treated to five showings of the film on a big screen in the Nave, and the 30-piece chamber orchestra will bring the soundtrack to life in spectacular fashion.
Tickets
Tickets for all events are available from our website – www.lincolncathedral.com, by calling 01522 561658 or in the Cathedral Shop.
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Bible Readings
Sunday 18 August Ninth Sunday after Trinity
Sung Eucharist
Jeremiah 23: 23-29
Hebrews 11: 29-12.2
Luke 12: 49-56
Mattins
Jonah 1
2 Peter 3: 14-end
Evensong
Isaiah 28: 9-22
2 Corinthians 8: 1-9
Sunday 25 August Tenth Sunday after Trinity
Sung Eucharist
Isaiah 58: 9b-end
Hebrews 12: 18-end
Luke 13: 10-17
Mattins
Jonah 2
Revelation 1
Evensong
Isaiah 30: 8-21
2 Corinthians 9
Sunday 1 September Eleventh Sunday after Trinity
Sung Eucharist
Ecclesiasticus 10: 12-18
Hebrews 13: 1-8, 15-16
Luke 14: 1, 7-14
Mattins
Jonah 3: 1-9
Revelation 3: 14-22
Evensong
Isaiah 33: 13-22
John 3: 22-36
