Are We There Yet - Reflection by Dean Sue

Scruffy, the (soft toy) companion animal of Nelson in the Tsedaqah House, pauses outside the West end of the Cathedral

Another week has gone by and we are almost there. Where I wonder is ‘there.’ ‘There’ for me is moving back into the magnificent public sacred space of the main Cathedral. ‘There’ is opening the Cathedral to visitors, pilgrims and worshippers.
 
Over the past few weeks, the Lady Chapel has been open for private prayer. Many have said how wonderful it is to be able to sit and reflect in the quiet of the Lady Chapel. Many have said how important the building has been to them in giving them space to think back over the past few months.
 
Sundays for me have been a real joy as I have welcomed people into the Lady Chapel, into a space that is sacred, into a space that is public, into a space which is common ground. I have encountered many different people, people searching for peace, people searching for understanding, and people searching for the one who they may not name as God.
 
As we continue to offer people the public sacred space of the Lady Chapel and as we move into the public sacred space of the main Cathedral, we invite people to come, to dwell, to pray, to reflect on what has happened over the past few months. We invite people to feel that they belong. What the Cathedral does well is to point people to someone greater than themselves, to someone whom I name God.
 
We invite people to come to Liverpool Cathedral to encounter:
- Inspiring Christian Worship
- A breath-taking experience
- A place committed to justice and mercy
- A safe and generous place in joy and in sorrow
- A dynamic staff and dynamic volunteers.
 
Above all we want people to encounter the God who knows and loves them.
 
In order to do all this safely, we need as a Cathedral to be committed to the well-being of all people who come and for whatever reason. We (the staff and volunteers) are working hard to keep people safe and this means things will be a bit different for the foreseeable future.
 
We ask that if you are coming to the Cathedral, for whatever reason, you book through Eventbrite. We ask that you keep looking at our website and Facebook page to keep up-to-date with all that is taking place in the Cathedral.
 
As we build back there will be different opening times for visitors, mid-week services of Morning and Evening Prayer will take place in the Lady Chapel and be at a different time to the main opening times. The Cathedral website: www.liverpoolcathedral.org.uk will hold information about visitor opening and times of worship.

From Monday we will live stream Morning and Evening Prayer on our Facebook page, we will Blog on Tuesdays, Thursday and Sundays on the main Cathedral website page. We will continue to offer you the opportunity to prepare for Sunday Worship through Exploring the Sunday Gospel at Home linked through the Sunday Blog and we will continue to pre-record the Sunday Service from the 26 July for all those who are shielding and worshipping at home.

And above all, we will continue to be ‘there’, wherever ‘there’ is for you.
 
Booking Links
Consecration Sunday Service on 19 July at 10:30
https://livcathedralconsecration.eventbrite.co.uk
 
Visiting from 19 July at 12 noon
https://livcathedralvisit.eventbrite.co.uk
 
Eucharist Service from 20 July at 12:05
https://livcathedraleucharist.eventbrite.co.uk
 
Sunday Eucharist Service from 26 July at 10:30
https://livcathedralsunday.eventbrite.co.uk
 
Worship Services
Monday to Saturday      
9:00        Morning Prayer                Lady Chapel
12:05     Eucharist                            Nave Altar in Main Cathedral (booking required)
15:00     Said Evening Prayer         Lady Chapel
 
Sunday
10:30     Eucharist                           Nave Altar in Main Cathedral (booking required)
15:00     Said Evening Prayer        Lady Chapel
 
 
Web Links
https://www.liverpoolcathedral.org.uk/home/visiting-us/a-great-place-to-visit.aspx
https://www.liverpoolcathedral.org.uk/
 
Social Media
Twitter: @LivCathedral
Facebook: @LiverpoolCathedral
Insta: @livcathedral
 
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.