A time to change…
This past week has seen the cathedral community mark a number of changes as we have marked out the changes that come with the passing of time. One of those has been saying farewell to the dean on her retirement, and another has been the marking of the liturgical change as we celebrated Candlemas.
Candlemas, more formally called The Presentation of Christ in the Temple or The Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary, is one of the Church’s Principal Holy Days and falls 40 days after the celebration of the Nativity. It recalls the journey made by Mary and Joseph to give thanks at the Temple and the words of Simeon – that Christ shall be ‘a light to lighten the Gentiles’ and those of Anna who, pointing toward the passion of Christ speaks of ‘the sword that shall pierce Mary’s heart’.
Candlemas was (until the Victorian reinvention of the Christmas season) the point at which the greenery and decoration of Christmastide was taken down, and marks for us a liturgical and spiritual tipping point as we turn from celebrating the birth of Christ toward the self-examination that will lead us toward the commemorations of Holy Week and the celebration of Easter.
So we now find ourselves occupying a little bit of a ‘fallow space’ in the Christian year: Christmas is now firmly past, the cribs have been packed away and the greenery disposed of, but we are not yet in the penitential season of Lent. This provides us with a little bit of time to take stock, give thanks for all that is good, and look at what we need to change to better fit us for the journey that lies ahead. This speaks as much to the institution of the cathedral as it does us as individuals – there is much that is good and we can give thanks for, but there are undoubtedly things that we could do to make things better, to grow in faith, and to grow into the likeness of Christ.
In practical terms, we might use this fallow space to think ahead to how we might use the time of Lent – traditionally a time to focus on the Christian spiritual disciplines of Fasting, Prayer and Almsgiving. These next two or three weeks give us a chance to step back, look at what needs changing if we are to grow into the fullness of life that God has prepared for us and look how we might open ourselves to the grace and wonder of God. In that way, we will not get caught out by the question ‘What are you giving up for Lent?’ as a question that has not really been thought about until we have been eating our pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, but we can have prayerfully thought about how we can use the disciplines of Lent to prepare us fully for the transforming glory of the Easter that is to come.
NICK BROWN, PRECENTOR
Worship & Mission
Weekly service schedule
The service sheet for the coming fortnight can be viewed on the cathedral website (click link to visit)
Sacred Space
Sacred Space will be taking place at 7pm on the following Sundays in 2023: 19 March, 21 May, 16 July, 10 September and 19 November. Sacred Space is a gentle, reflective service with time to wonder, the opportunity to use all your senses to explore faith and the chance to experience the unique and serene atmosphere of the Cathedral as the day draws to a close.
Services for Ash Wednesday – 22 February
As we begin our Lenten period of prayer, fasting and almsgiving in preparation for the commemorations of Holy Week and the great celebration of Easter, there are several opportunities for prayer and preparation on this day – one of the Principal Holy Days that punctuate to the Christian Year:
8am – Morning Prayer
8.30am – Holy Communion with Imposition of Ashes
12.30pm – Eucharist with Imposition of Ashes
5.30pm – Solemn Evensong (with music sung by the Cathedral Choir)
7.30pm – Solemn Eucharist with Imposition of Ashes
(with music sung by Lincoln Cathedral Consort)
The Feast of the Annunciation of our Lord to the Blessed Virgin Mary – 24th and 25th March
Reflecting the beginning of the Christmas cycle of feasts, this festival recalls the visit of the Angel to the Virgin Mary, announcing the coming birth of Jesus.The following services take place for this day:
Friday 24 March: Eve of the Feast of the Annunciation
5.30pm – Solemn Evensong (with music sung by the Cathedral Choir)
Saturday 25 March: The Feast of the Annunciation
9am – Morning Prayer
12.30pm – Eucharist
5.30pm – Evening Prayer
Stations of the Cross – 29 February to 9 April
Meet in the Nave at 4.30pm every Wednesday. Join one of our chaplains for this quiet and devotional reflection on the journey to the Cross.
Community
Dean Christine’s final service
Lincoln Cathedral’s Dean Christine had preached her final service on 2 February during the evening’s solemn evensong. She will be deeply missed from her role and we wish her all the best on her future journeys.
LCCA Shrove Tuesday Supper
21 February 2023
The LCCA invites you to the Shrove Tuesday Supper on 21 February at 6.30pm for 7pm in the Chapter House to enjoy a 2-course meal and entertainment. Please bring your own choice of drink. Tickets are £15 and can be purchased after Sunday morning Eucharists or by emailing lcca@lincolncathedral.com. When buying your tickets, please let us know if you have any dietary requirements. We look forward to welcoming you at this event.
Events
Life by LUXMURALIS
15 to 18 February
Luxmuralis are bringing the light show spectacular, Life, to Lincoln Cathedral. Mesmerising projections and atmospheric ambience will transform the inside of this historic building into a dazzling extravaganza to celebrate the World: its Earth, Sea and Sky, and all that call it home.
St Barnabas Morriston Orpheus Choir
4 March, 7pm
In support of St Barnabas Hospice, the world-famous Morriston Orpheus Choir will be returning to Lincoln Cathedral.
For more information and to get tickets, go to our Forthcoming Events page on our website.
St John Passion
25 March, 7.30pm
Performed by Lincoln Cathedral Choir, the St John Passion is a much-anticipated regular event in the Cathedral’s calendar.
A night at the Opera – London Concertante
15 April, 7.30pm
London Concertante present a captivating evening at the opera with various works of the finest opera arias and overtures, including works by Puccini, Verdi, Rossini and Mozart.
Verismo! – The Passion of Italy, A Concert by Lincoln Choral Society
22 April, 7.30pm
An Italian choral repertoire given by Lincoln Choral Society accompanied by Lincolnshire Chamber Orchestra and conducted by their Musical Director – Mark Wilde.
Dambusters Concert – performed by the band of the Royal Air Force
13 May, 7.30pm
A special concert to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the 617 ‘Dambusters’ Squadron.
For more details of forthcoming events and to book your tickets, go to our website at www.lincolncathedral.com/forthcoming-events