My last Chapter Letter, commenting on the behaviour of some British MEPs, resulted in a certain amount of comment. So I dip my toe somewhat warily into the political whirlpool once again this week.
One of the positive comments I received over the last fortnight to what I had written said, “Disagreement does not warrant disrespect”.
Those words came back to me when I heard that President Trump had tweeted that four progressive congresswomen should (effectively) go back to where they had come from. The President’s tweet has naturally ignited a vociferous debate in the United States and elsewhere about – amongst other things – racism and patriotism.
How we treat one another in word and deed is important and, I would argue, reflects how our Christian faith has borne fruit in our lives. At the end of this month the church commemorates William Wilberforce the social reformer and Olaudah Equiano and Thomas Clarkson anti-slavery campaigners. As Christians they recognised that we are all born in the image of God, his children and that we stand equal before the throne of grace. As Paul wrote in the letter to the Galatians:
There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.
Shortly we shall know who our new Prime Minister will be. I hope and pray that whoever takes that office – and indeed all who lead and govern this nation – will acknowledge that their prime role is to serve all the people of this land, to make it a place where all feel welcome and secure and where mutual respect abounds.
JOHN PATRICK, SUBDEAN
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Worship & Mission
Spiritual Classics Reading Group
Saturday 10 August, 10.30am
Venue to be confirmed.
This is an open group in which members read a book prior to the meeting and discuss it together.
This month the book is The Imitation of Christ by Thomas Á Kempis
Lectio Divina Bible reflection Group
Saturday 3 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 are welcome.
Stillpoint
Saturday 3 August, 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.
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Community
Prayer Group
We are a very small group meeting at 2pm on a Wednesday in the Longland Chapel to pray through the cards left in the chapels. Anyone wishing to join us would be very welcome. The service usually lasts 40 minutes.
‘Travels with my Bag’
A talk by John Campbell, Dean’s Verger, hosted by the Lincoln Cathedral Retired Staff and Volunteers Group. Thursday 8 August, 10.30am, 27 Minster Yard. A perfect opportunity to meet former colleagues and make new friends. Annual membership fee £5, guests very welcome £2.
Assistant Organist
We’re delighted to announce that Alana Brooks will join us as our new Assistant Organist. Alana comes to us from Ripon Cathedral where she has been organ scholar for the last two years. She will take up her post on 1 September.
Director of Works
In the last week we have welcomed Michael Sheppard to the Cathedral as Director of Works and Property. He has been meeting members of his team and is very much looking forward to managing the buildings and works team to become world leaders in conservation and restoration.
Acting Chapter Clerk
As a result of Michael’s arrival, Rebecca Thompson – who has been Interim Director of Works since September 2018 – is handing over the interim role which has freed up some of her time.
Rebecca, who has previous experience as Acting Chapter Clerk at York Minster, has kindly agreed to extend her time at Lincoln and will be staying on as Acting Chapter Clerk. She will continue the role until such time as the current situation is resolved, to ensure the smooth running of day to day operations, in addition to maintaining business continuity and the successful delivery of projects.
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Events
Organ Concert Series 2019
Saturday 20 July, 7pm, Hilary Punnett
Saturday 21 September, 7pm, Charles Harrison
Friday 4 October, 7pm, Organ Extravaganza
Sunday 22 December, 5.30pm, La Nativité du Seigneur
RSPB
You can join RSPB Lincolnshire each weekend throughout June and July to try and catch a glimpse of the Peregrine Falcons nesting on the central tower of the Cathedral. The chicks have fledged and are making their first flights. The RSPB tent is located on the East Green, near to the Tennyson Statue and the team have loads of information and telescopes for you to use. It is free of charge, but donations to the RSPB are gratefully received.
Oliver! Tickets
There are still tickets available for the production of Oliver! If you are struggling to find enough seats for your group online at lincolncathedral.com, please call 01522 561658 and we can look for suitable spaces.
The show takes place in the Cathedral from Monday 5 to Friday 16 August 2019 (excluding Sunday 11 August).
The Hallé
Friday 27 September
The Hallé returns to Lincoln Cathedral for its popular and highly acclaimed annual concert.
The musicians will fill the Nave with the stirring and atmospheric sounds of Elgar, Sibelius and Saint-Saëns.
The Cathedral is also delighted to announce the return of Sir Mark Elder CH CBE, music director at The Hallé as the conductor for this year’s performance.
The Hallé will be joined by our very own Organist Laureate, Colin Walsh for a rendition of Saint-Saëns’ Organ Symphony No.3 in C minor.
Tickets are available from www.lincolncathedral.com, by calling 01522 561658 or in the Cathedral Shop. Prices start from £12.
Wallace and Gromit
Tickets for Wallace and Gromit In Concert; The Wrong Trousers are now on sale.
On Saturday 4 January audiences will be treated to five showings of the film on a big screen in the Nave of the Cathedral, and the 30-piece chamber orchestra will bring the soundtrack to life in spectacular fashion.
It’s guaranteed to be a smashing show and ticket prices start from £6.
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Bible Readings
Sunday 21 July
Fifth Sunday after Trinity
Sung Eucharist
Genesis 18: 1-10a
Colossians 1: 15-28
Luke 10: 38-end
Mattins
Deuteronomy 30: 1-10
1 Peter 3: 8-18
Evensong
Genesis 41: 1-16, 25-37
1 Corinthians 4: 8-13
Sunday 28 July
Sixth Sunday after Trinity
Sung Eucharist
Genesis 18: 20-32
Colossians 2: 6-15
Luke 11: 1-13
Mattins
Song of Solomon 2
1 Peter 4: 7-14
Evensong
Genesis 42: 1-25
1 Corinthians 10: 1-24
Sunday 4 August
Seventh Sunday after Trinity
Sung Eucharist
Ecclesiastes 1: 2, 12-14
Colossians 3: 1-11
Luke 12: 13-21
Mattins
Song of Solomon 5: 2-end
2 Peter 1: 1-15
Evensong
Genesis 50: 4-end
1 Corinthians 14: 1-19
