Sources of peace and perspective
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8
There are some very life affirming influences on twitter at the moment. If that sentence comes across as an alien language, I apologise! The point I am making is that whilst all too many social media postings can be rather toxic and include trolling and jibing, there are in fact some very inspiring contributions.
Three of my favourites are #imagesofcalm which displays beautiful moments of calm from glorious countryside and sacred spaces, @Ravilius1942 which is a tribute to the work of Eric Ravilious, a wonderful post-modern landscape artist and @SeaWindowCraster. The latter commits every day to photographing the same window of sea and sky. It captures a moment of weather or time or season through sunrise or sunset, storm or calm. Over 13000 people subscribe and follow.
In this time of further gloom on the Covid-19 front we all need to tap into the things that inspire us. Here at the cathedral we have launched two such opportunities in this past week.
The Dean’s Green in front of the new Old Deanery Visitor Centre is now open during the day. It provides an oasis of calm and contemplation and is already being enjoyed and appreciated by many.
Choral Evensong on Tuesdays and Fridays is proving to be a source of inspiration and joy not just to those attending but to over a thousand people who are viewing online. It nurtures our souls and lifts our hearts in the worship of our faithful God and in the praise of the beauty of holiness.
As the evenings grow darker and the weather cooler we will all need to consider how we maintain a sense of well-being and keep in touch with what is life affirming, inspiring and nourishing to our lives.
Another source of peace and perspective is through sharing in Evening Prayer at the east end of the Cathedral at the end of the day. A growing number are attending this act of worship. The focus on the psalms with all the range of human experience they express, passages of Scripture and a reflective and prayerful space provides the focus to meet with God amongst a praying community.
Whatever it is that provides you with those moments of stillness and calm, to apprehend the divine, whether it be pausing to notice and take in a breath-taking view, joining in worship, or a contemplative walk with the dog, I commend the habit to you.
DEAN CHRISTINE
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Worship & Mission
Harvest
We will be celebrating Harvest at our 9.30am Eucharist on 11 October, as we give thanks to God who crowns the year with goodness and gives us the fruits of the earth in their season. With no County Harvest Festival this year due to the current restrictions on gatherings, we will offer our prayers for all who cultivate the fertile fields in Greater Lincolnshire and for those who bring in the harvest of the sea.
As part of our expression of gratitude for the food security we enjoy we are supporting LINCON COMMUNITY LARDER in their mission to provide emergency food parcels to families and single people who face a crisis in their lives. Most of their customers are either unemployed, employed on minimum wage and/or a zero hours contract (leaving little or nothing to put by for an emergency) or unable to work at all due to illness or disability.
If you feel able to help, please bring items to place in the food hamper located near the front desk. Useful donations include:
Jam/Marmalade/Honey | Tinned Fruit | Tinned rice pudding | Tinned meats eg. Minced beef, stews, curries, meatballs | Hot dogs | Tinned tuna | UHT Milk, semi skimmed | Sweetcorn | Tinned carrots | Tinned peas | Tinned tomatoes | Tinned potatoes | Weetabix Pasta sauces | Small jars of coffee | Sweet biscuits.
Please could we ask that the donations are not out of date.
Proposed change to time of worship
The Director of Music has asked if the time of the Sunday Eucharist can be changed to 10am to enable the choir a solid amount of rehearsal time on a Sunday morning after the 8am Eucharist.
With the current Covid-19 restrictions the choir need to rehearse socially distanced. No morning rehearsals during the week are possible and as part of the after school schedule the choir are rehearsing on a Friday evening. This is proving to be very demanding for our young choristers and their parents at the end of the day and the school week.
As the regular worshipping community, we would value your consideration of this proposal. It protects are choristers’ well-being and ensures the high standard of choral music can be maintained.
At the end of the Eucharist there will be an opportunity to contribute to a ballot. Two boxes one in support of moving to 10am and one preferring no change. It will be done with a slip of paper anonymously. If you are unable to attend you may wish to indicate your view via email to my PA, Katie Grainger: dean@lincolncathedral.com or by hand addressed to The Dean’s PA, in an envelope via the Cathedral entry desk. I would be grateful to have responses by 3 October please.
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Community
Dean’s Green
The newly landscaped Dean’s Green is now open to the public for the first time in more than 40 years. All visitors can now enjoy the peaceful, outside space and marvel at the magnificent view of the North-side of the Cathedral, which until now hasn’t been fully visible.
The Dean’s Green, which is accessed from Minster Yard, is open Monday to Saturday 10am-4pm and Sunday 11am–4pm.
Provide, Protect, Preserve
Lincoln Cathedral has launched an urgent fundraising appeal to secure its future as a place of worship and as an international visitor attraction, in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ‘Provide, Protect, Preserve’ recovery appeal has a target of £1.5million to stabilise the Cathedral’s finances.
If you are able to do so, please consider giving to the Provide, Protect, Preserve recovery appeal. To find out more or donate to the appeal please visit: https://lincolncathedral.com/recovery-appeal/
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Events
Organ Concert series
Tickets are now on sale for our series of organ concerts
For more information and to book tickets, please follow the link to each recital. Pre-booking is essential as there will not be tickets available on the door.
7 November: Colin Walsh
20 December: La Nativité du Seigneur, Colin Walsh
Flower Festival
Tickets for Lincoln Cathedral’s Flower Festival – Vision 2021 – are now on sale.
Adult – £15
Concessions – £13.50
Group (10+) – £12.75
Under 16 – FREE
There is also a preview evening on Wednesday 28 July.
And a ‘Musical Meander’ on Friday 30 July.
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Bible Readings
Sunday 27 September
Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity
Eucharist
Ezekiel 18: 1-4, 25-end
Philippians 2: 1-13
Matthew 21: 23-32
Evening Prayer
Ezekiel 37:15-end
1 John 2: 22-end
—–
Sunday 4 October
Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity
Eucharist
Isaiah 5: 1-7
Philippians 3: 4b-14
Matthew 21: 33-end
Evening Prayer
Proverbs 2: 1-11
1 John 2: 1-17
—–
Sunday 11 October
Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity
Eucharist
Deuteronomy 8: 7-18
2 Corinthians 9: 6-end
Luke 17: 11-19
Evening Prayer
Proverbs 3: 1-18
1 John 3: 1-15
