Mark Hocknull, Chancellor John Patrick, Acting Dean & Subdean Philippa White, Succentor
Dietrich Bonhoeffer is one of the most puzzling and perplexing of recent theologians. Because he died, executed by the Nazis, before he had the opportunity to bring his ideas together in a systematic way, he left behind him tantalizing fragments of thoughts and ideas which later generations of theologians have taken up in many different ways. Many a short phrase has entered into Christian language from Bonheoffer, including ‘cheap grace’, ‘only the suffering God can help’, ‘silence in the face of evil is evil itself.’ Amongst his books arguably the most famous is The Cost of Discipleship. It is considered a Christian classic by many and is almost required reading for many. Interestingly its original German title is simply Nachfolge- Discipleship. The book centres on an exposition of the Sermon on the Mount and in it Bonhoeffer spell out what he believes it means to follow Christ. It was first published in 1937, when the rise of the Nazi regime was well underway in Germany and it was against this background that the book and indeed much of Bonhoeffer’s theology was developed.
What can the call to discipleship, the adherence to the word of Jesus, mean today to the businessman, the soldier, or the worker? What did Jesus mean to say to us? What is his will for us today? Drawing on the Sermon on the Mount, Dietrich Bonhoeffer answers these timeless questions by providing a seminal reading of the dichotomy between “cheap grace” and “costly grace.” “Cheap grace,” Bonhoeffer wrote, “is the grace we bestow on ourselves…grace without discipleship….Costly grace is the gospel which must be sought again and again, the girl which must be asked for, the door at which a man must know….It is costly because it costs a man his life, and it is grace because it gives a man the only true life.”
The book is a powerful statement of the demands of sacrifice and ethical consistency from a man whose life and thought were shining examples of a different type of leadership inspired by the Gospel but which had strong focus on life in this world. For me one of the most striking and attractive, and at the same time challenging aspect of Bonhoeffer’s theology, is the spirit of Christian humanism that it expresses. Bonhoeffer’s is a religion, a form of Christianity focused very much on changing the world we live in, of driving it towards the fulfilment of the Kingdom of God.
The paradox is that though this life is challenging and demanding, it is a way of life full of energy and excitement, full of the fullness of life. What might seem a sacrificial way of life from the outside, from the inside is quite the reverse. It is the paradox of the gospel that what appears to be death is really life and what appears to be life is in reality death. A paradox seen today in the gospel reading in which Jesus calls us to embrace our own cross and follow him. The cross, an instrument of death, is in reality and instrument of life and energy.
Mark Hocknull, Chancellor
11 September – Linda Tilbury R I P The life of Linda will be remembered at Evensong Sunday 11th September at 1545. Linda, former [reputedly the first] visitor officer of the cathedral was on the staff of the cathedral in the 1980/90s she was also instrumental in assisting with and accompanying Magna Carta on its successful visits to the USA. Linda was very involved in guiding and guide training within the cathedral and latterly was a volunteer on the information desk. A ‘truly’ bubbly character, Linda will be remembered in many Lincoln circles not least with the WEA and within Bishop Grosseteste [College] University where she was a tutor and of course here in the cathedral we will remember her commitment, enthusiasm and genuine love of, and interest in, people which brought, what we now call visitor services, to a higher level – we have much to thank her for. The service will be followed by refreshments and appreciations in the Chapter House – all welcome.
23 September – Hallé Friday, 7.00pm and Messiah Saturday 19 November 2016 7.00pm: Tickets can be purchased in person through the Cathedral shop or by calling 01522 561644. The system will automatically allocate you with the best possible seats available in your chosen area, at the time of purchase. Wheelchair seating is available and can be booked by telephone on 01522 504394.
24 September – The Community Association Autumn 2016 Walk – This is confirmed to take place on Saturday 24 September. There is still time to sign up if you wish to join the walk, and to indicate your menu choice. You can choose to walk either a longer morning walk or a shorter post lunch one – or both. Please look at the CA noticeboard for further details re meeting location and departure time, and indicate which walk sections you would like to join. Any queries please see John Harker or Barbara Wilson.
10 October – Lincoln Cathedral Community Association – The AGM of the LCCA takes place on Monday 10th October t, 7pm for 7.30pm, in the Cathedral Centre. This year we are not making any charge for the social part of the evening when we have invited Dr. Anne Irving to tell us more about the progress of the Cathedral Connected programme. However, the main part of the meeting is to review the work the of the Executive Committee since October 2015 and as always, we would welcome any members of the community, who are already on the Electoral Roll, to think about putting their energies and expertise to the work of the Cathedral Community. Anyone interested should contact the secretary, Margaret Campion, before mid-September to complete the necessary nomination forms.
10 December – Lincoln Cathedral Music Fund are hosting a performance by the Cathedral Choristers and Thea Butterworth of Benjamin Britten’s Ceremony of Carols on Saturday 10th December 2016 in the Chapter House at 2pm in the afternoon and, again in the Chapter House at 7pm in the evening. The evening performance will be followed by a Lanternlight Tour of the Cathedral. Tickets are £10 for the afternoon performance (£5 for children under 14) and £25 for the evening performance and Lanternlight Tour and will include a glass of wine and canapés.
Kate Hocknull writes, new volunteers are urgently needed for the coffee rota after the 9:30 service. If you are able to offer help please have a word with either Kate Hocknull or Jenny Valentine after the service or leave a message on the Chancery phone 561627
Vacancy for an Assistant Verger: Reporting to the Dean’s Verger and working 39 hours per week on a rota system we are seeking to appoint a flexible and hard working person to join the Verger team at the Cathedral.
The Dean’s Verger writes – Congratulations to Jim Newton (Verger Five) who assumes the title Bedel (and Verger Four). Among other things Jim will be charged with the care of the choir – in processions.
Bible Readings
Sunday 4 September 15th Sunday after Trinity
Sung Eucharist Deuteronomy 30:15-end; Philemon 1:21, Luke 14:25-33
Mattins Jonah 3:10-end of 4, Revelations8:1-5
Evensong Isaiah 43:14-44.5, John 5:30-end
Sunday 11 September 16th Sunday after Trinity
Sung Eucharist Exodus 32:7-14, 1 Timothy 1:12-17, Luke 15:1-10
Mattins Isaiah 44:24-45.8, Revelation 12:1-12
Evensong Isaiah 60, John 6:51-69
Sunday 18 September 17th Sunday after Trinity
Sung Eucharist Amos 8:4-7, 1 Timothy 2:1-7, Luke 16:1-13
Mattins Isaiah 45:9-22, Revelation 14:1-5
Evensong Ezra 1, John 7:14-36
