This last day of 2020 gives us the opportunity to reflect on the past year. You may say that we do not need to reflect as the year has been dominated by the Covid 19 pandemic. That of course is true, but while there have been significant challenges and sadness to the year, there have also been some positives, although sadly the positives get forgotten in the negatives. The leader of the Jesuit religious community, St Ignatius of Loyola, recognised this and so each evening he encouraged his followers to undertake what he called the Examen. St Ignatius thought that the Examen was a gift from God, and wanted it to be shared as widely as possible. There are five steps to the Examen: 1. Give thanks Spend a few moments in gratitude for the gifts and blessings of the day. 2. Ask for Light Ask God to enlighten you, showing where God has been at work and present in your day through events, people and places. 3. Examine the Day Review the moments of the day, noticing what led to consolation (goodness that leads to God) and what had led to desolation (not good, when we are wrapped up in ourselves) and the reactions within you to these events, people and places. 4. Seek forgiveness Ask God’s forgiveness for the times when you have acted, spoken or thought contrary to God’s Grace and calling for you. 5. Resolve to change Decide what in your behaviour or attitude you will try to improve tomorrow. (www.jesuitsinstitute.org) In the Cathedral over the past month we have been doing a form of the Examen at our weekly diary meeting so that people can see that, although a lot of what we planned was cancelled due to Covid and the restrictions placed upon us, we did so much more than we realised and that God was in all our plans. As we look over the year we have seen so much sadness with so many deaths from Covid, and so much sadness in relation to the lack of respect and human dignity towards black people and elderly people. While we rightly lament this, we have also seen the kindness of strangers as people have respond to the situation by giving selflessly of themselves as front line workers. We have also seen how humanity cares for humanity through the Black Lives Matter campaign and the raising of funds for charity. We only have to think of Sir Captain Tom, Marcus Rashford, Kevin Sinfield and hundreds of others who have raised millions of pounds to help others. As a New Year dawns, do please undertake the Ignatian Examen and reflect on where you have seen God’s hands at work in our world. 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.
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One of my favourite Christmas stories comes from Mexico. I’ve no idea if it’s true, but I so want it to be! It concerns a little girl called Pepita, who lived in a village in that country, many years ago. It was Christmas Eve, and the residents of the village were on their way to the church to celebrate the birth of Jesus. It was their tradition to place flowers at the Crib on their way into church. People would buy large and bright floral arrangements, usually spending a lot of money. But Pepita had no money at all, let alone money to spend on flowers. She was sad as she walked along the road to the church. She had nothing to lay at the Crib and offer as her ‘thank you’ to Jesus. Her brother suggested that she collect some of the weeds by the roadside – it was better than nothing. Being the middle of winter, none of the wild plants appeared to be in flower so she picked a bunch of greenery. Unbeknown to her, amongst the greenery were some stems of a plant that the Aztecs called ‘cuetlaxochitl’. It had dark green leaves and the tinest white flowers – barely visible. Pepita laid her bunch of ‘weeds’ at the Crib, trying to do it without being noticed whilst everyone else proudly placed their grand bunches of showy, colourful flowers. Then she and everyone else went into the serivce. Pepita felt better in the service, singing hymns of praise to Jesus and hearing again the wonderful story of that first Christmas. When it was time to leave the church, she noticed that a crowd of people had gathered excitedly around the Crib. They were looking at her ‘bunch of weeds’. Except that, far from being a handful of greenery, it was resplendent with colour! One of the stems of cuetlaxochitl had developed pure and bright white leaves at the top. The other had the most vivid scarlet leaves. They outshone all the other bunches of flowers. The priest proclaimed it as a miracle! He said that the white leaves were there to remind them of the star of Bethlehem and the light of the world that came to earth that first Christmas in the form of a baby. The red leaves were to represent the blood of Jesus, that he would shed at the end of his earthly life on that first Good Friday. So Pepita’s humble bunch of weeks became the most precious offering of flowers at the Crib that Christmas in Mexico. As you have probably guessed by now, the cuetlaxochitl of the Aztecs is the plant that we know as the Poinsettia. [For the horticulturally-minded among you, it is a type of Euphorbia.] As I say, I’d love that story to be true! It does, however, explain how we come to have poinsettias in many of our homes at Christmas time. In Mexico, they are known as the ‘Flores de Noche Buena’ – the ‘Flowers of Holy Night’. The story is really about love: of the love of God the Father in sending Jesus to earth to bring about his rescue plan for all humanity; of the love of Jesus in being willing to come to earth as a baby, and to die as a man so that the we could be brought back into a beautiful relationship with our Creator. It is surely also about the love of Pepita for Jesus. She brought the best that she could offer to Jesus that evening, as her way of showing her devotion and gratitude. Her loving actions blessed many other people by reminding them of the true message of Christmas. That message is love; self-giving love which flows out of the love of God, when we respond in adoration and worship and then allow that love to move us in action to pass it on to others. What we may regard as the ‘weeds’ of our life can, when offered whole-heartedly to God, be taken by him and transformed into something that makes a real difference. At Liverpool Cathedral, we seek above all things to allow people to encounter the God who knows them and loves them. And to give them space to respond to his love in whatever way seems appropriate and right to them. As we come to the end of this year of very alien experiences and emotions, that vision has not dimmed. The desire for all of us to encounter God’s love is still there, front and centre, through crises caused by a global pandemic, and in the good times too. It will be a vision which will carry us on into 2021, whatever that may bring. In the meantime, why not take a few moments to gaze at a poinsettia, either in the picture or at a real plant if you have one in your home, and to give thanks for the ‘Flores de Noche Buena’?! Canon Neal 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. Today is both the First Sunday of Christmas and the Feast of John, Apostle and Evangelist. The Gospel reading at today’s service for the Feast of John is taken from the very last verses of John’s Gospel (John 21: 19b-end) that speaks of ‘the disciple whom Jesus loved’. The background to today’s service is also shaped by the Gospel for Christmas Day, Luke’s account of the birth of Jesus that gives prominence to the shepherds. The birth of Jesus went neither unnoticed nor uncelebrated, because the shepherds were there to pay homage. In the Christmas tradition, the shepherds have come to represent the ordinary people of first century Palestine, people whose lives the Saviour was born to change. For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for the service on Christmas Day and for the service on the First Sunday of Christmas, I invited you to focus on the image of the shepherds. As we place the shepherds around the manger and around the Christ child in our own homes, we see ourselves standing there among the shepherds, having travelled with them to Bethlehem and with the song of the heavenly host, praising God, ringing in our ears: Glory to God in the highest heaven and on earth peace among those whom God favours! In today’s picture, from their book Christmas crib service, Aled and Sian have brought their sheep with them to Bethlehem to worship the Christ child. Next week on the Second Sunday of Christmas we are anticipating the Feast of the Epiphany. It is Matthew’s account of the birth of Jesus that draws the magi (often translated as the wise men) to worship the Christ child. The image to help us prepare for the Feast of the Epiphany this year is Christmas journey. 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 [email protected]. To find out more about Christmas Crib Service and other adventures with Aled and Sian, please visit the following page of the St. Mary’s Centre website: http://www.st-marys-centre.org.uk/resources/christianspecialplaces.html. We warmly invite you to join us in worship with our service for Christmas Day: Aled and Sian send their Christmas greetings to all. Canon Leslie You are warmly invited to join us for the Eucharist on Christmas Day here: We warmly invite you to join us online for a service of lessons and carols for Christmas Eve here: I guess I do not have to tell you that it is Christmas Eve, but I do wonder how people will celebrate Christmas this year. For many they will find it difficult to celebrate, having lost loves ones, either to the pandemic or to any number of other illnesses. For others they will find it difficult to celebrate having lost their jobs or their businesses because of COVID 19. Life is hard for many and unfortunately there is an expectation around us to have a fun packed Christmas. I know only too well, from my own life experience how difficult it can be to try and ‘celebrate’ Christmas when you have a sick family member with a terminal diagnosis. There are so many emotions that come to the fore. Memories of past Christmases and present sadness evoke strong emotions. So this Christmas is going to be hard for so many people with so much loss all around. Many have talked about cancelling Christmas, but Christmas cannot be cancelled. Christmas is after all a religious festival, the festival when we Christians reflect on the significance of the birth of a tiny baby who was destined to change the world. Jesus was not born into a perfect world. He was born into the darkness of a county occupied by a foreign force. He was born into a world of poverty and of dishonesty; a world of sickness and death. In many ways the world into which he was born is no different from our own world as we face another resurgence of the pandemic and as we face the reality of no longer being part of the European Union. For us in the Northern hemisphere Christmas comes at the darkest point of the year. Being in the dark is not a good place to be, as we stumble around trying to find a light to be guided by. All of us have experienced darkness in our personal lives – disappointment, failure, sorrow, grief, broken dreams. We also live in a world darkened by greed, violence, tragedy and Covid. But the birth of Christ lights a lamp in our world. Christ is the great light and through his ministry we see light as Christ healed the sick, spoke out for the poor and brought to light the injustices of the world. The light of Christ continues to shine in our world when we see little act of kindness, when we see the hungry fed through foodbanks, when people speak out for others, and when our world is healed from the ravishes of climate change. It is Christmas Eve and tomorrow will be Christmas Day, the day when we celebrate the birth of the light of the world. However you celebrate, whether in the dark or in the light, remember that Christ is with you and remember that Liverpool Cathedral will continue to pray for you each day as we continue to walk together from the darkness of Covid to the light of a better world. Heavenly Father we thank you for coming into our darkened world. We remember before you all who have died from Covid and other illnesses. We remember all who are living in the darkness of our Covid world. Grant to them your light, peace and hope this Christmas. We ask this through our Saviour Jesus Christ, who is the light of the world. Amen 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. I do love the words of the carol, “Love came down at Christmas” which has perhaps dropped out of common usage these days. Yes, this short, and yet poignant poem by Christina Rossetti, really sums up for me the kernel of the message of Christmas. It reminds me that it was the deep love of God the Father for us his children that prompted him to ask Jesus to come to earth as a human being, and Jesus’ love for us that prompted him to accept that ministry of self-giving. Yet it is the final verse that especially packs the punch for me: “Love shall be our token, love be yours and love be mine; love to God and neighbour, love for prayer and gift and sign.” In other words, whatever we do at Christmas, as we celebrate God’s love coming among us, Emmanuel, should prompt us to show love for one another not just in terms of warm feelings but of actions that make a difference in our troubled world. This came home to me so powerfully ten years ago, almost to the day. At the time, I was Vicar of a city-centre church on the other side of the Pennines. The end of 2010 was a terribly bitter affair, with heavy snow in late November and thick ice on the pavements for weeks on end. In the run-up to Christmas, night-time temperatures were down to as low as -13°C, and with a nithering wind-chill to boot. Near to the church were a couple of hostels for men who were homeless. They were not exactly the Ritz, but at least offered a warm and dry bed for the night, plus a hot evening meal and breakfast. We used to see quite a few of these men wondering into our church during the day-times, looking for some (relative!) warmth and somewhere for a hot drink and snack. Two of these were Mike and John (not their real names). They seemed to look out for each other, and were both in the same hostel. But Mike had got into several fights at the hostel and was on a final warning. The next time he started with the agro he would be out straight away. Fair enough – the hostel needed to be safe for everyone else. One morning, though, they both came into church absolutely frozen, dishevelled and damp. They were starving and ashen white. It turned out that, the previous evening, Mike had started a punch-up and was thrown out in the middle of the night back onto the streets, into the bitter weather. John had been fast asleep in his room, but was woken by the commotion outside. Mike had gone by the time that John got into the corridor. What happened next was remarkable. John put his outer clothes back on, stuffed his meagre belongings into his carrier bag and checked out of the hostel, giving up the chance of a dry and warm bed and hot breakfast. As he said, he couldn’t leave Mike outside on a night like this to fend for himself. John went and eventually found Mike in a doorway shivering. And there the two of them huddled together to try and share what warmth they had. When I heard this the following morning I was stopped in my tracks. Utterly, utterly amazing. I had been preaching for years about what love is and trying to fathom its depths; yet in one truly self-sacrificial gesture, John had shown me a stunning example of what true love is – love in action. I found myself questioning whether I would have given up my place in a warm and dry hostel, to head into the inevitable misery and danger of such a night. At this Cathedral, we desire that everyone who comes into our courts (physically or virtually!) will indeed encounter the God who knows them and loves them. No more so is that true than at Christmas. And this Christmas of all Christmasses. We also pray that people would find ways to respond to that love, by receiving it in their lives, and also to share that love with those around them, and especially those whom they find it hard to love. We may not be asked to do what John did for Mike, but God surely asks us to be open to that kind of self-sacrificial love which came down to us at that first Christmas, a love which is made evident in action; in “prayer and gift and sign.” May you all have a peaceful Christmas and a hope-filled New Year, and bring some peace and hope to others too. Canon Neal 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. Today is the fourth Sunday of Advent when we light the last of the purple candles that adorn the Advent wreath. Christmas has not yet arrived. The purple candle and the purple vestments remind us of the penitential mood of the Advent season. The Advent theme of keeping watch, keeping awake, keeping ready for the Lord’s coming is still ringing clearly in our ears. On the fourth Sunday of Advent, the reading from Luke’s Gospel focuses attention on Mary, the mother of Jesus. As the season of Advent draws to a close, we are invited to prepare alongside Mary to welcome Jesus afresh into our world on Christmas Day. In Luke’s account, the news of Jesus’ conception is brought to Mary by the angel Gabriel. Mary’s response is positive and direct: ‘Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.’ We are reminded of the Annunciation by the inspiring icon in the Chapel of the Holy Spirit. For those of you who wanted to do some thinking and preparation for today’s service during the preceding week, I invited you to focus on the image of the Nativity stable. As Mary prepared for the birth of Jesus, so we prepare our homes and churches by re-enacting the Nativity, and the stable is an important reminder of the kind of world into which Jesus was born. In today’s picture, from their book Christmas crib service, Aled and Sian are preparing the stable in their local church. On Christmas Day, the Gospel theme turns attention to Luke’s account of the birth of Jesus that gives prominence to the shepherds who leave their sheep in order to greet the Holy Family. The image to help us prepare for Christmas Day is the shepherds. 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 [email protected]. To find out more about Christmas Crib Service and other adventures with Aled and Sian, please visit the following page of the St. Mary’s Centre website: http://www.st-marys-centre.org.uk/resources/christianspecialplaces.html. We warmly invite you to join us in worship online here: Aled and Sian send their Sunday greetings to all. Canon Leslie When I was about to move to 2 Cathedral Close nearly ten years ago, Canon Richard and Louise who lived next door asked me about the silver birch tree which is shared between our two back gardens. It had got a little out of hand, and they hoped I would be happy for it to be pruned. I was more than happy for this to happen and it was duly scalped. It has certainly grown back with a vengeance in the intervening years. The first photo hardly does it justice, but at this time of year, it is not much to look at – a bit like the present Precentor! It comes to its full glory in late spring and is one of the last of the trees to shed its leaves in the autumn. When I first contemplated moving in retirement, I thought how much I was going to miss the various views from this house - the River Mersey, the Welsh hills, and indeed this silver birch as it marks the seasons each year. The house to which I move in January is literally just around the corner. It doesn’t offer views of the river, nor of the hills of Wales, but from one of the windows in the main living room, I will still be able to see the Silver Birch in the garden here. From the other window, there are more trees. The second photo was taken a few weeks ago during the autumn. I dare to hope that these two views which will be there for me as I retire from stipendiary ministry will help me to look back with thankfulness for so many wonderful years here at the Cathedral and in the parishes of the diocese too. So many lives and experiences have enriched my own, and for this I shall always be grateful. But I hope that the view from the other window will help me to look forward, to press on in the knowledge that with God our Creator and Redeemer, who years to make all things new, the best is always yet to be, and God’s mercy is renewed with each returning day. Thanks be to God! Canon Myles 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. Well, the above photo could be one used in an amusing caption competition or similar; and it has made us all smile as we have entered the vestry in the cathedral recently! For those who may not be able to see it so well, the photo is of a wooden crate with its lid off. Inside all one can see is straw. Handwritten on the side of the crate are the words “Baby Jesus – do not remove!” The photo clearly shows that Baby Jesus has most definitely been removed and is no longer in the crate! Oh dear! Ah but worry not – that’s because Baby Jesus is safely in our crib within the cathedral – our crib which was blessed last Sunday; one of a number of nativity scenes around the cathedral reminding us of this most special time of year. Scenes which, even with the current restrictions, have many families visiting just to see the cribs, the trees and all the cathedral can offer this year – in a safe and secure way. It is different and yet the same….in that Baby Jesus definitely hasn’t been removed! But as well as the smiles and the amusement behind such writing on an empty box, the words also spoke to me about ourselves, and where Jesus is for each of us. This time of Advent allows us to reflect upon such things, as well as busily prepare ourselves for the Christmas services and festivities. As I said in my homily on Sunday – what do we see as to where Jesus is? What do we see as Christian disciples when we have the love of God, the power of the spirit – and the Baby Jesus in our hearts and minds….as we should do if we invite him to be with us? That we, like Mary and Joseph might cradle him in our arms – a tiny infant, so fragile and delicate – yet so powerful and wonderful. What do others see in us, if we invite Jesus in – if we look beyond the historical and into the world of the faithful. What do we see in others in their needs and requirements – can we see as Jesus grew up to see….to see the injustices and the wrongs? What do others see in us, if we truly have Baby Jesus within every fibre of our being – can we act as he grew to act; with gentleness, kindness, compassion and love? The title I’ve chosen for this piece may sound a little out of place from what I’ve just written or read. “The Kingdom of God has come near….” It is taken from Luke chapter 10, verse 9 – and is one of my favourite verses. It is part of the directive Jesus is giving to his disciples as he sends them out into the towns and villages – to heal the sick who are there and tell the people, the Kingdom of God has come near to you. There are many different ways of interpreting this – but one I particularly like and always have in my own mind, is not something to do with time, but with space. That in coming to the people of the town, the Kingdom of God has indeed come physically near to them….by what they as disciples say and do; bringing the love of God, the power of the spirit – and that Baby Jesus within each of them. For Jesus is with them – and as such, so is God’s Kingdom. When they are there, the Kingdom of God has indeed come near. And this is the power that God gives each of us – at this time, at all times. The power to freely invite the Baby Jesus once more into our lives, to ask the Spirit to be with us and work through us, to pass on the love of God by who we are…..it is a mission for each of us; a charge for each of us – as special and as precious as the Baby Jesus himself. So much so, that our own words should cry out from our hearts – Baby Jesus within…..do not remove! May we, even in these troubled times, invite the Baby Jesus once more into our hearts and minds. May he become afresh an integral part of our daily lives – that we cry out from deep within ourselves “DO NOT REMOVE”! For with him there, wherever we are with others, the Kingdom of God does indeed, in small way, come near to those we are with. For which we give thanks and praise to God. Since this is the last reflection of mine before the glorious feast of Christmas – may I take the liberty of wishing you personally a Very Happy, Holy and as safe a Christmas as possible. With my love and prayers for you all; God bless you and go gently. Canon Mike 😊 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. |
supporting you during these uncertain times AuthorLiverpool Cathedral is a place of encounter. Built by the people, for the people, to the Glory of God Archives
September 2022
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Prayer for Liverpool
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Liverpool Cathedral is a place of encounter.
Built by the people, for the people, to the Glory of God www.liverpoolcathedral.org.uk |