Christine Wilson, Dean Mark Hocknull, Chancellor John Patrick, Subdean Philippa White, Succentor
A procession is different from a parade. A parade is welcoming Lincoln City FC on winning the FA Cup! A procession is Graduation Day at Bishop Grosseteste University. A parade is political. A procession is the funeral of a beloved person. A parade is Mardi Gras. A procession is Lent. A procession is orchestrated and purposeful. It is the movement from one time into another time. It marks transition with dignity and grace. Most rites of passage begin with a procession, especially those with a religious content: baptism, confirmation, marriage and funerals.
A procession moves from one space into another space. It takes us from the secular into the sacred. It enables us to approach the altar, the word, and the sacraments and gives us time to make the adjustment to the holy and leave the irreverent behind. As we process through Lent we are gently nudged and moved into a deeper understanding of the sacred and the holy through worship and prayer, study and discipline. Lent is a procession to the glory of Easter. The church gives us gifts to help us order this time for the movement of the Spirit. There is a stripping away of the trappings of the parade. All this helps us to answer the question, ‘How is it between God and me?’
As Jesus processes towards Jerusalem and the cross people are asking that same question: ‘How is it between God and me?’ Lent provides us with a wonderful opportunity to examine ourselves and remove that which can weigh us down and hamper our procession. The procession of Lent to Easter is a progression of unpacking. We examine relationships to self, family, society and God.
A regular, perhaps daily asking of the question: ‘How is it with me and God?’ is a good place to begin. We know at our deepest fibre which is the constant in the equation. All our badgering when we are hungry or tired or sad, or wistful or empty, cannot change the presence of God, cannot add or subtract to or from the love that God has for each of us. The love is there, we have to unpack to find it.
‘How is it with me and God?’ is answered with finality at the cross. The loveliest thing about the stories of the Easter procession is that we do know the ending. We will be with God in a new and purer sense. This is what the Easter story tells us. We want to be the best of ourselves when we get there. Lent is a tool to help us do this; to exchange self for life in Christ.
‘How is it with me and God?’ let us continue to process through Lent with that question always in our hearts and on our lips, so that when we get to the end of our wanderings and kneel at the foot of the cross we may know the answer.
John Patrick, Subdean
Stanley B Hall – sometime Chief Steward. We will be remembering Stan, who died in October, at Evensong Sunday 19th March, after which his remains will be interred in the cloister. Refreshments will be served in the Cathedral Centre following the interment.
Lincoln Theological Society – Wednesday 29 March, 7.00 for 7.30. in the Robert Hardy Lecture Theatre of Bishop Grosseteste University. “The destructive power of a troubled conscience” the Speaker, the Revd Dr Jonathan Trigg will examine some thoughts of Martin Luther. Tickets £5.00, to include wine or juice and parking, available after 9.30 Eucharist from the Cathedral Shop and Unicorn Books.
Christine Talbot, Chairman of the Lincoln Area Committee of the Fabric Fund Council writes: Please ‘SAVE the DATE’ – Once again we are holding the very successful ‘Champagne and Strawberry Evening’ on Friday 14th July, 2017 by kind permission of the Subdean, Canon John and Mrs Jo Patrick. Further details will be announced shortly.
Organ Concerts: We are excited to announce our 2017 Organ Concert Series with performances from both local and international organists:13 May Jeffrey Makinson (Lincoln), 20 May Peter Wright (London), 17 June Colin Walsh (Lincoln), 15 July Alessandro Bianchi (Italy), 16 September Henk Galenkamp (Germany). For further information on the programmes or to purchase tickets please visit www.lincolncathedral.com. Tickets are priced at £6 per person.
Passiontide Concert, Saturday 1 April 2017 at 7pm. Join the Lincoln Cathedral Choir as they perform St. John Passion by Johann Sebastian Bach in the Nave. This masterpiece is the older of two surviving Passions by Bach, and is described as the more extravagant of the two. It is at times raw and unbridled, accompanied by Manchester Baroque Orchestra and four soloists, this is set to be an incredible celebration of the Passiontide season. Tickets from £8 on sale now www.LincolnCathedral.com
Lincoln City 10k Road Race – Sunday 2 April 2017. Please note there will be restricted access and parking restrictions to the uphill area of Lincoln for the duration of Sunday 2 April 2017 due to the Lincoln City 10km Road Race. The route is the same as last year and finishes on Minster Yard. Traffic flow and parking will be affected.
Charter of the Forest Dinner, Friday 22 September 2017. 2017 marks the 800th anniversary of the Charter of the Forest. Celebrate the sealing of this historic document by attending a special dinner for 800, set within the Nave of the Cathedral. From 10am on Tuesday 7 March you will be able to download a booking form from the Cathedral website or collect a copy from The Chapter Office. In the interest of fairness, we kindly ask that all applications are sent by post. Should you wish to hand deliver your application, it will be treated as arriving in the following day’s postal delivery. To download a booking form please use the following link: https://lincolncathedral.com/forthcoming-events/charter-forest-dinner/
La Nativité du Seigneur, Sunday 10 December at 7.00pm: The annual performance of Olivier Messiaen’s La Nativité du Seigneur will be performed on the historically renowned ‘Father Willis’ Organ where Colin Walsh will explore the story of The Immaculate Conception through to the birth of Christ. The series of nine mediations beginning softly leading to a crescendo and the finale in ‘God Among Us’. Tickets are priced at £6.00 and will be available through the Cathedral website. Tickets to go on sale Spring 2017.
The Subdean writes: The Dean’s Verger, John Campbell was discharged from hospital on Wednesday after being taken ill in the Cathedral on Monday. Both John and Pauline have said how very grateful they are for all the support and good wishes, care and concern they have received from everyone. It is vital that John rests and recuperates and to that end John and Pauline have asked me to say that they would really appreciate no visits or calls just for the next ten days or so. The Dean and I will be in touch throughout and will keep everyone posted.
Bible Readings
Sunday 5th March 1st Sunday of Lent
Sung Eucharist Genesis 2.15-17, 3.1-7; Romans 5.12-19; Matthew 4.1-11
Mattins Jeremiah 18.1-11; Luke 18.9-14
Evensong Deuteronomy 6.4-9, 16-end; Luke 15.1-10
Sunday 12th March 2nd Sunday of Lent
Sung Eucharist Genesis 12.1-4a; Romans 4.1-5, 13-17; John3.1-17
Mattins Jeremiah 22.1-9; Matthew 8.1-13
Evensong Numbers 21.4-9; Luke 14.27-33
Sunday 19th March 3rd Sunday of Lent
Sung Eucharist Exodus 17.1-7; Romans 5.1-11; John 4.5-42
Mattins Amos 7.10-end; 2 Corinthians 1.1-11
Evensong Joshua 1.1-9; Ephesians 6.10-20
