​

In last Sunday’s Gospel reading Peter had recognised Jesus as the Messiah. Once Peter has recognised and confessed Jesus as the Messiah, Mark begins a programme of teaching about the nature of Jesus’ Messiahship.  Jesus is the Messiah who suffers.  Peter’s confession is followed immediately by the first prediction of Jesus’ suffering and death. Now in today’s Gospel reading Mark offers a second more detailed prediction.  This view of Messiahship reverses the common expectation for a triumphal Messiah.  Such a reversal must change the disciples’ hopes for themselves as well, and reshape their ambitions.  In place of power they find weakness. 
 
For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited reflection on the image of ambition. In today’s picture from their book, Myself and Others, Aled and Sian are setting out on their adventure to shape their ambition in life.    
 
Lord Jesus Christ, 
you call your followers 
to give service to others 
and not to seek power for themselves. 
Help us to live up to our calling, 
that our lives may witness to you; 
now and always. 
Amen. 
 
Next Sunday’s Gospel reading draws attention to the way in which tensions emerged among Jesus’ followers. There is a controversy about who counts as a disciple: who is in and who is out. The image to help us prepare for next Sunday’s theme is gangs. You can find out more about that theme here https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. We would really appreciate you letting us know how you are using these materials. Please send us your ideas and photos of the things you may create; email them to Nelson.Pike@liverpoolcathedral.org.uk.  

To read more about Myself and others and for more resources for children , you are welcome to follow this link to the relevant page of the St Mary's Centre.

Today’s Gospel reading from Mark chapter 8 presents Peter’s confession of faith at Caesarea Philippi when he identified Jesus as the Messiah. Peter’s confession of faith is a significant turning point in Mark’s Gospel.  Up to this point the emphasis has been on the hidden and secret nature of Jesus’ Messiahship.  Up to this point only the spirit world has recognised Jesus for who he really is.  Now the secret is out. Peter had been following the clues and putting the pieces together. However, no sooner does Jesus accept the title Messiah than he also qualifies it.  He is not the warrior Messiah, whom some were expecting, but a fully human Messiah who is destined to suffer. 
 
For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited reflection on the image of following the clues. In today’s picture from their book, Signs and Symbols, Aled and Sian are following the
​clues to discover the ancient castle. 

 Lord Jesus Christ, 
you made yourself known to Peter, 
and Peter recognised you as the Messiah. 
Make yourself known to us, 
when we break bread in your name; 
for we recognise you, 
as our Lord and Saviour. 
Amen. 
 
Next Sunday’s Gospel reading explores Jesus’ teaching on what it means to follow in his footsteps. Those who follow this kind of Messiah have to reshape their ambition. The image to help us prepare for next Sunday’s theme is ambition. You can find out more about that theme here https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. We would really appreciate you letting us know how you are using these materials.

To read more about Signs and Symbols and for more resources for children , you are welcome to follow this link to the relevant page of the St. Mary’s Centre website.
 
You are warmly invited to join us in worship online. We are livestreaming our 10:30am service on both our Facebook and YouTube pages. To stream the service on Facebook, follow this link to our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LiverpoolCathedral. To stream the service on YouTube, follow this link to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/user/LiverpoolCathedral/videos.

​Today’s Gospel reading from Mark chapter 7 marks an important point of transition in Jesus’ ministry. In Mark’s narrative Jesus began his ministry among the Jewish people, but today we find him in Gentile territory. Then a Gentile woman comes to Jesus for help. The opening conversation between Jesus and the woman sounds offensive. The woman says of Jesus, ‘Sir, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs’. Jesus’ response indicates that the turn of the Gentiles has now arrived.  The Gentiles also deserve to be treated as God’s children.
 
For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited reflection on the image of dogs. Today’s picture is taken from the illustrated communion book, The Lord is Here!, where the picture is set alongside the Prayer of Humble Access.  
 
Lord Jesus Christ,
your love is for all people.
Teach us to share your love with all,
that your reign may reach
to the ends of the world;
for you are our God.
Amen.
 
Next Sunday’s Gospel reading takes us to Peter’s confession at Caesarea Philippi when he says to Jesus, ‘You are the Messiah’. The image to help us prepare for next Sunday’s theme is following the clues. You can find out more about that theme here https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. We would really appreciate you letting us know how you are using these materials. Please send us your ideas and photos of the things you may create; email them to Nelson.Pike@liverpoolcathedral.org.uk.
 
To read more about The Lord is Here! and for more resources for children regarding Communion, you are welcome to follow this link to the relevant page of the St. Mary’s Centre website: http://www.st-marys-centre.org.uk/resources/childrenandcommunion.html.
 
You are warmly invited to join us in worship online. We are livestreaming our 10:30am service on both our Facebook and YouTube pages. To stream the service on Facebook, follow this link to our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LiverpoolCathedral. To stream the service on YouTube, follow this link to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/user/LiverpoolCathedral/videos.
 
​Canon Leslie

Six weeks ago our lectionary journey through Mark’s Gospel reached the end of Chapter 6. For five weeks our attention has been on John’s discourse concerning the bread of life. Now today’s Gospel reading picks up Mark’s narrative at the beginning of chapter 7. Jesus’ radical attitude toward the Jewish law had already brought him into open conflict with the Pharisees on several occasions.  In chapter 2 the Pharisees accused Jesus of disregard for the sabbath when his disciples plucked ears of grain.  Now the Pharisees accuse Jesus of disregard for the ritual laws of washing.  Jesus replies that a clean heart is more important than attention to the ritual laws of washing. 
 
For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited reflection on the image of washing. In today’s picture, from his book, Water, Teddy Horsley reflects on the physical and spiritual significance of washing.   
 
Lord Jesus Christ, 
you call your people to 
pure and holy lives. 
Wash from us all that defiles 
that we may serve you with clean hearts; 
now and always. 
Amen. 
 
Next Sunday’s Gospel reading from Mark presents Jesus’ remarkable conversation with the Gentile woman who came to him seeking help. The image to help us prepare for next Sunday’s theme is dogs. You can find out more about that theme here https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. We would really appreciate you letting us know how you are using these materials. Please send us your ideas and photos of the things you may create; email them to Nelson.Pike@liverpoolcathedral.org.uk.  

You are warmly invited to join us in worship online. We are livestreaming our 10:30am service on both our Facebook and YouTube pages. To stream the service on Facebook, follow this link to our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LiverpoolCathedral. To stream the service on YouTube, follow this link to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/user/LiverpoolCathedral/videos.

​Canon Leslie

Today’s Gospel reading is the last of a series of five readings drawn from chapter 6 of John’s Gospel. In this chapter John has developed a clear progression of thought from feeding the five thousand, to Jesus as the bread of life, to Jesus giving his flesh for the life of the world, and to the bread and wine of the eucharist.  Now John draws that progression of thought to its conclusion.  ‘Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood’, says Jesus, ‘abide in me, and I in them...  Whoever eats me will live because of me...  The one who eats this bread will live forever.’  This is the guarantee of new life in Christ, fed on the eucharist.
​
For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited reflection on the image of festival flowers. In today’s picture, from their book, Easter Family Service, Aled and Sian are helping to arrange a festival of seasonal flowers in their church.
 
Thank you Lord Jesus,
for sharing bread with the five thousand
when they were hungry.
Thank you Lord Jesus,
for sharing bread with your disciples
before you suffered death.
Thank you Lord Jesus,
for sharing bread with your people
in the communion service.
Thank you Lord Jesus.
Amen.
 
Next Sunday the Gospel reading returns to our journey through Mark’s Gospel, picking up the narrative in chapter 7. Here Jesus is coming into conflict with some Pharisees over the matter of ritual purity. The image to help us prepare for next Sunday’s theme is washing. You can find out more about that theme here https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. We would really appreciate you letting us know how you are using these materials. Please send us your ideas and photos of the things you may create; email them to Nelson.Pike@liverpoolcathedral.org.uk.
 
To learn more about Easter Family Service aand for more adventures with Aled and Sian in the Christian Special Places series, check out this page of the St. Mary’s Centre website: http://www.st-marys-centre.org.uk/resources/christianspecialplaces.html.
 
You are warmly invited to join us in worship online. We are livestreaming our 10:30am service on both our Facebook and YouTube pages. To stream the service on Facebook, follow this link to our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LiverpoolCathedral. To stream the service on YouTube, follow this link to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/user/LiverpoolCathedral/videos.
 
Aled and Sian send their Sunday greetings to all.
 
Canon Leslie

​Today’s Gospel reading is the fourth of a series of five readings drawn from chapter 6 of John’s Gospel. In this chapter John has developed a clear progression of thought from feeding the five thousand, to Jesus as the bread of life, and to Jesus giving his flesh for the life of the world.  Now in verses 52-58 John leaves us in no doubt that this progression of thought is driven by the church’s experience of the eucharist.  Now the two elements of the bread and the wine are linked as Jesus proclaims, ‘Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.’
 
For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited reflection on the image of communion cup. In today’s picture, from their book, Bread, Aled and Sian are with their friends Peter and Mary. Peter and Mary’s mother (who is priest in the local Anglican church) has baked a special loaf of bread for the Sunday communion service. Here Aled and Sian are placing that loaf of bread alongside the eucharistic paten and chalice.
 
Lord Jesus Christ,
you teach your people
to share your bread
and to drink your cup.
Come and stand among us
when the bread is broken
and when the wine is poured,
that we may know your presence;
for you are the Bread of Life.
Amen.
 
Next Sunday concludes the series of five readings from chapter 6 of John’s Gospel. The image to help us to prepare for next Sunday’s theme is festival flowers. You can find out more about that theme here https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. We would really appreciate you letting us know how you are using these materials. Please send us your ideas and photos of the things you may create; email them to Nelson.Pike@liverpoolcathedral.org.uk.
 
To read the story, Bread, in its entirety, follow this link to the resource on the St. Mary’s Centre website: http://www.st-marys-centre.org.uk/resources/Exploring%20Why%20Series/Bread/Bread%20Short%202016%20WEB.pdf. To learn more about the Exploring Why series and more adventures with Aled and Sian, follow this link to the appropriate page under the Resources section of the St. Mary’s Centre website: http://www.st-marys-centre.org.uk/resources/Exploring%20Why.html.
 
You are warmly invited to join us in worship online. We are livestreaming our 10:30am service on both our Facebook and YouTube pages. To stream the service on Facebook, follow this link to our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LiverpoolCathedral. To stream the service on YouTube, follow this link to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/user/LiverpoolCathedral/videos.
 
Aled and Sian send their Sunday greetings to all.
 
Canon Leslie

Today’s Gospel reading is the third of a series of five readings drawn from chapter 6 of John’s Gospel. This chapter begins with John’s account of Jesus feeding the five thousand people.  The feeding leads into Jesus teaching that he is the bread of life.  Now this teaching about the bread of life is linked directly to the church’s experience of the eucharist or communion.  Jesus says, ‘Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.’
​
For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited reflection on the image of communion bread. In today’s picture, from their book, Bread, Aled and Sian have been helping their friend’s mother (who is priest in the local Anglican church) to bake a special loaf of bread for the Sunday communion service.
 
Lord Jesus Christ,
you feed your people
in the eucharistic feast.
Come and stand among us
when the bread is broken
and when the wine is poured,
that we may know your presence;
for you are the Bread of Life.
Amen.
 
Next Sunday continues with a further reading from John’s Gospel that links the feeding of the five thousand even more clearly with the Church’s experience of the eucharist. The image to help us to prepare for next Sunday’s theme is communion cup. You can find out more about that theme here https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. We would really appreciate you letting us know how you are using these materials. Please send us your ideas and photos of the things you may create; email them to Nelson.Pike@liverpoolcathedral.org.uk.
 
To read the story, Bread, in its entirety, follow this link to the resource on the St. Mary’s Centre website: http://www.st-marys-centre.org.uk/resources/Exploring%20Why%20Series/Bread/Bread%20Short%202016%20WEB.pdf. To learn more about the Exploring Why series and more adventures with Aled and Sian, follow this link to the appropriate page under the Resources section of the St. Mary’s Centre website: http://www.st-marys-centre.org.uk/resources/Exploring%20Why.html.
 
You are warmly invited to join us in worship online. We are livestreaming our 10:30am service on both our Facebook and YouTube pages. To stream the service on Facebook, follow this link to our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LiverpoolCathedral. To stream the service on YouTube, follow this link to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/user/LiverpoolCathedral/videos.
 
Aled and Sian send their Sunday greetings to all.
 
Canon Leslie

Last Sunday the Gospel reading was John’s account of the feeding of the five thousand. Today and the next three Sundays, the Gospel readings reflect deeply on that event. In John’s Gospel the feeding of the five thousand opens the way for Jesus to teach about himself as the bread of life.  In this teaching Jesus contrasts the need for physical food with the need for spiritual food.  The followers whom Jesus desires to attract are those who have seen through the physical feeding to its spiritual significance.  Jesus exhorts them, ‘Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life.’
​
For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited reflection on the image of sell-by-date. In today’s picture, from their book, Bread, Aled and Sian are captivated by the freshly baked bread in the shop window.
 
Lord Jesus Christ,
you taught your people
to work for the things that last.
Give us grace to follow your teaching,
that we may share with you
the things that really matter;
for you are the Bread of Life.
Amen.
 
Next Sunday continues with a further reading from John’s Gospel, in which Jesus says, ‘Whoever eats of this bread will live for ever’. The image to help us to prepare for next Sunday’s theme is communion bread. You can find out more about that theme here https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. We would really appreciate you letting us know how you are using these materials. Please send us your ideas and photos of the things you may create; email them to Nelson.Pike@liverpoolcathedral.org.uk.
 
To read the story, Bread, in its entirety, follow this link to the resource on the St. Mary’s Centre website: http://www.st-marys-centre.org.uk/resources/Exploring%20Why%20Series/Bread/Bread%20Short%202016%20WEB.pdf. To learn more about the Exploring Why series and more adventures with Aled and Sian, follow this link to the appropriate page under the Resources section of the St. Mary’s Centre website: http://www.st-marys-centre.org.uk/resources/Exploring%20Why.html.
 
You are warmly invited to join us in worship online. We are livestreaming our 10:30am service on both our Facebook and YouTube pages. To stream the service on Facebook, follow this link to our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LiverpoolCathedral. To stream the service on YouTube, follow this link to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/user/LiverpoolCathedral/videos.
 
Aled and Sian send their Sunday greetings to all.
 
Canon Leslie

One of the tragedies of the hot weather was the death of so many people through water based activities. In the North West up until Monday there have been ten fatalities through drowning.
 
Last Sunday, 25 July, was the United Nations World Drowning Prevention Day. According to the United Nations web-site (www.un.org), ‘this global advocacy event serves as an opportunity to highlight the tragic and profound impact of drowning on families and communities.’
 
It is so easy on a hot day to jump into cold water, but there are so many dangers with open water. There are currents not visible from the bank, there are objects beneath the surface and there are the tides that catch people out. The Royal Life Saving Society UK (www.rlss.org.uk) on its website talks about Drowning Prevention Week which happens in June. They want people to enjoy the water safely.
 
For many families life will never be the same after the death of a loved one through drowning. The suddenness of a death through drowning will take families a long time to come to terms with the death of a loved one.  Grieving the loss of a son, daughter sibling, husband or wife will be hard. Life will be empty and the unfairness crippling. We in the Christian faith believe that at times like this Christ walks with us in the darkness. We often don’t see the hand of God at the time, but as we look back we see a guiding hand offering us comfort and peace.
 
Life is a gift from God, to be lived fully and God wants us to enjoy life, but not by living dangerously or by putting others lives in dangers. Water is such a powerful symbol in the Christian faith. It has good qualities. Without water we could not live. Our body weight is made up of 60 percent water and we need to drink at least eight glasses of water a day or around 2-3 litres of water depending on body weight. Without water we dehydrate and we will eventually die. We also use water to wash and to clean ourselves. In our journey of faith as Christians water is used at our baptism to wash us clean from our sins and it enables us to begin a new life in Christ.
 
Water is also, however, dangerous as we hear of the destruction of the world through stories like Noah’s ark. Water can destroy and as we have seen through the floods in Europe and London over the past weeks water can wreak havoc in people lives and ultimately water can be the cause of death.
 
So this summer as you enjoy the warm weather remember that water is double edged, we need it to live and flourish, but water also brings sadness and destruction. Follow some of the guidance on water safety. A good starting point is the RNLI web-site (www.rnli.org)
 
Please stay safe this summer and please enjoy the beauty of water.

Dean Sue

While you're here:
Why not prepare for next Sunday's worship? Our preparation sheet for adults and for children can be accessed by clicking on the Resources tab of this website: https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html.

,
​Since Trinity Sunday the Gospel readings have taken us on a journey through Mark’s Gospel. Last week we got as far as chapter 6, the chapter in which Mark narrates the feeding of the five thousand. Today’s Gospel reading about the feeding of the five thousand, is however, John’s account. The account of the feeding of the five thousand is one of the few narratives which John’s Gospel holds in common with the three synoptic Gospels.  Yet there are significant ways in which John’s account is different.  For example, according to Mark’s account of the feeding of the five thousand, the disciples draw Jesus’ attention to the people’s hunger.  In John’s account Jesus initiates the conversation himself.  Mark speaks simply of there being five loaves.  John describes them as barley loaves.  Barley was used to make bread for the poor and as grain to feed animals.
 
For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited reflection on the image of world breads. In today’s picture, from their book, Bread, Aled and Sian are wondering how many different types of bread they will find when they go out looking in their town, and where they will see them.
 
Lord Jesus Christ,
you fed the five thousand people
with five loaves and two fish.
Have pity on those who go hungry,
that the food of the world
may be shared more fairly;
for you are the bread of life.
Amen.
 
Next Sunday continues with a further reading from John’s Gospel, in which John reflects on Jesus’ teaching about himself as the Bread of Life and on the contrast between the food that perishes and the food that endures to eternal life. The image to help us to prepare for next Sunday’s theme is the sell-by date on perishable foodstuffs. You can find out more about that theme here https://www.prayerforliverpool.org/prayer-resources.html. We would really appreciate you letting us know how you are using these materials. Please send us your ideas and photos of the things you may create; email them to Nelson.Pike@liverpoolcathedral.org.uk.
 
To read the story, Bread, in its entirety, follow this link to the resource on the St. Mary’s Centre website: http://www.st-marys-centre.org.uk/resources/Exploring%20Why%20Series/Bread/Bread%20Short%202016%20WEB.pdf. To learn more about the Exploring Why series and more adventures with Aled and Sian, follow this link to the appropriate page under the Resources section of the St. Mary’s Centre website: http://www.st-marys-centre.org.uk/resources/Exploring%20Why.html.
 
You are warmly invited to join us in worship online. We are livestreaming our 10:30am service on both our Facebook and YouTube pages. To stream the service on Facebook, follow this link to our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/LiverpoolCathedral. To stream the service on YouTube, follow this link to our YouTube page: https://www.youtube.com/user/LiverpoolCathedral/videos.
 
Aled and Sian send their Sunday greetings to all.
 
Canon Leslie