Enter His Gates - Reflection by Canon Myles

I write this on Sunday, the last day, we hope and pray, when the Cathedral will be completely closed. We are about to take the first tentative steps in opening our churches and places of worship once more.  The Lady Chapel, the oldest and in the eyes of many, the most lovely part of the building, is to be available for a few hours each day for people to come and pray quietly, to light a candle if they wish, and just to be still.
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Our first consideration as we take these steps is to keep everyone safe, our staff as well as our visitors. This places a number of restrictions on what it is possible for us to offer. In the coming weeks, we shall make careful plans for further steps once we have advice from Government and the National Church that these are safe, but in the meanwhile there is the continuing need for patience and vigilance from us all.

The Cathedral to which we have longed to return has stood silent but resilient during the past twelve weeks. As some of us enter, it is into the stillness of the building that we return, and there is an invitation to share in such stillness and make it our own. We have not yet reached the moment for songs and shouts of praise, nor even for common prayer together. Such prayer has continued to be offered, and many have shared in it virtually. It has been gratifying to know how warmly this has been appreciated, not least by those confined at home.

Whether you are able to come to the Cathedral in these first days when the doors are open, or whether for whatever reason you need to remain at home for now, we hope you will share our joy that this day has come. There is still a long journey ahead, but the open doors are a sign of hope, that in this holy space we may once again encounter together the God who knows and loves us.

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.