Holy Week
There are so many things to confront within ourselves and as part of what it is to be human, in the journey through Holy Week. We witness a whole range of emotions, behaviours, acts and omissions.
At the heart of all the turmoil of Holy Week is Jesus, confronting jubilant crowds, receiving an outpouring of devotion at Bethany, encountering betrayal, enduring trial, suffering violence, humiliation and death.
We witness Pilate and Herod, who become friends through a common enemy and Judas leaving the fellowship of a meal table to collect the blood money and gather the soldiers. In Gethsemane Jesus utters the words: “all day long I was with you in the Temple… but this is your hour, when darkness reigns.”
As Pilate washes his hands of any responsibility for his decision we recognise the cowardice of moral injury. Peter’s denial lays open our own moments of betrayal with all the remorse and regret that this can cause in our lives.
At the very centre of this painful recognition of human failings and sinfulness, nailed to a Cross, we see the power and courage of forgiveness. In Christ on the Cross we see the radical, sacrificial love that refuses to stop believing in the triumph of goodness and hope.
Last week in the Chapter Letter I wrote of wounds as the portals of healing and transformation, sites of new life. As we reflect on the drama of Holy Week with all its emotions, behaviours, acts and omissions we have an opportunity to visit our wounds and the wounds we cause to others, and allow Christ to heal us and touch us with his immeasurable love and forgiveness.
Richard Rorh a present day Franciscan and spiritual writer observes that in the sacred writings of the mystic Julian of Norwich are the words “our wounds are our very trophies!” He comments that they are the “holes in the soul” where the Light and the Life can break through.
I find particular delight in his remarks about a Leonard Cohen song: “Forget your perfect offering, there is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in.”
This week may we reflect upon our wounds: the emotions, behaviours, acts and omissions in our own lives and offer up all the cracks and imperfections to the Light and Love of Christ.
May our journey this week be one of blessing and healing.
DEAN CHRISTINE
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Worship & Mission
Compline
On Friday 3 April you will be able to watch a live service of Compline. Visit the Cathedral Facebook page at 8pm to watch live.
Home Worship Resources
We continue to update the range of home worship resources available on our website.
New prayer books are ready for Easter season and will be loaded onto the website very shortly.
You will also be able to find videos of short services during Holy Week, sermons, and a range of other resources. The pages are updated regularly, so we encourage you to keep looking to discover the latest additions.
We also encourage you to follow us on Facebook and Twitter where we will also be posting prayers, videos and more information about the Cathedral.
Lighting for Holy Week
Over the coming week there will be a special lighting scheme in place to reflect that we have entered Holy Week. The Cathedral will be lit as follows:
Palm Sunday (5 April) to Wednesday 8 April – purple
Maundy Thursday – White
Good Friday and Easter Eve – No lights
Easter Sunday – Gold
Palm crosses
As we cannot join together in worship on Palm Sunday, Christians across the country are being encouraged to make their own paper ‘palm’ cross and to display it in their window.
Diocese of Lincoln
Lincoln Diocesan website will be posting a reflection every day of Holy Week from one of the senior staff. You can find them at https://www.lincoln.anglican.org/
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Community
Subdean
We are pleased to share the news that the Revd Canon John Patrick, Subdean of Lincoln has announced that he has withdrawn his notice of resignation and will remain at the Cathedral. John had planned to leave the Cathedral in early summer, but has explained that given the exceptional situation that the country now finds itself in, the decision to leave no longer felt like the right choice.
Thank you from the Dean
On behalf of Chapter I would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank The Venerable Mark Steadman, Acting Dean and Rebecca Thompson, Acting chapter Clerk for their hard work and dedication during the absence of myself and the Chapter Clerk. I know their commitment, leadership and support has been greatly appreciated by the staff at the Cathedral during what was an unsettling time.
Thank you also to each and every one of the staff, volunteers, congregation and community who have supported the life of the Cathedral and worked tirelessly to support the mission and ministry of the Cathedral over the past year. Your skills, prayers and dedication are what makes the Cathedral what it is and we will continue to grow and flourish together into the future.
Chapter Letter
If you know of anyone that does not have access to the internet, but would still like to receive the Chapter Letter, please email Michelle Andrews on communications@lincolncathedral.com and she will print and post a copy to them.
Pastoral care
The Subdean and Dean’s Verger lead the pastoral support at the cathedral, and are, along with others actively contacting members of the community by telephone and assisting those with particular needs. If you would like support, or just a chat with a friendly voice, please do contact either one. We also encourage you to continue to check on the welfare of friends, neighbours and relatives.
John Patrick 07956 566101 subdean@lincolncathedral.com
John Campbell (07733) 276335 deansverger@lincolncathedral.com
The Mind website also has some excellent resources to help you manage your wellbeing during social distancing and self-isolation:
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/coronavirus/coronavirus-and-your-wellbeing/
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Bible Readings
Sunday 5 April
Palm Sunday
Eucharist
Liturgy of the Palms
Matthew 21: 1-11
Liturgy of the Passion
Isaiah 50: 4-9a
Philippians 2: 5-11
Matthew 26: 14-end of 27
Mattins
Zechariah 9: 9-12
Luke 16: 19-end
Evening Prayer
Isaiah 5: 1-7
Matthew 21: 33-end
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Sunday 12 April
Easter Day
Eucharist
Jeremiah 31: 1-6
Acts 10:34-43
John 20: 1-18
Mattins
Exodus 14: 10-18, 26-15:2
Revelation 15:2-4
Evening Prayer
Song of Solomon 3: 2-5; 8:6-7
Revelation 1: 12-18
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Sunday 19 April
Second Sunday of Easter
Eucharist
Acts 2: 14a, 22-32
1 Peter 1: 3-9
John 20: 19-end
Mattins
Exodus 12: 1-17
1 Corinthians 5: 6b-8
Evening Prayer
Daniel 6: 1-23
Mark 15: 46-16:8
