Prayer for Liverpool
I’m a child of the ‘80’s! I first went to university in the early part of that decade and my musical tastes then centred upon a whole clutch of ‘new wave’ bands with different looks, different sounds…..different everything. So, I have to shamefully confess that saying the words ‘New Life’, actually starts a song in my head from that era – a hit from Depeche Mode, one of the emerging bands of the time, remarkably who are still going. They were there alongside Spandau Ballet, the Human League, Joe Jackson, Tears for Fears and many others side-by-side in my cassette tape (remember them?!) collection. All started in some small way and the style of music just grew and grew – and some are still there, nearly 40 years on. But it’s the cautious feeling I have at the moment, from where we are in the pandemic, from the current guidelines, from yesterday’s gospel, that brought the words to mind. That in some small way, there is a feeling of a nervous ‘new life’ starting – even amidst the current situation and terrible tragedies still surrounding us, not least still the loss of life. The current guidelines allow some cautious new beginnings…..like, for me, a weekly drive out of the region to get some much-needed space and exercise – which is where the photo above has been taken; the beautiful Ribble Valley in Lancashire, with the magnificent Pendle Hill in the background. The nervous first steps of this new life are beginning too in our own cathedral – as we can re-open our doors today, at least in some small way. The cathedral community can once more, carefully, cautiously venture back to the Lady Chapel if they feel it is right for them, if they feel safe. The cathedral staff have done terrific work in the way of organising risk assessments, PPE and volunteers so it may be open again, as a starting point only, for private prayer and to perhaps light a candle. Yesterday’s gospel too had an element of new life to it, as we heard Matthew’s account of Jesus sending out the 12 disciples in one of their first missions – to tell the Good News; that the kingdom of God has come near. The apostles are named and they are sent, with the authority of the Lamb of God. No doubt for them too it was an anxious, uncertain time, not knowing what to expect…but it was a new way, a new start…..a new life. However we might consider this new phase in the pandemic, we might perhaps just cautiously feel that new life has begun. Whether we visit or not, the fact that the cathedral doors are once more open, might bring us hope and inspiration that a small, stuttering, new life is growing – albeit with uncertainty and trepidation – but nonetheless growing. And our prayers continue for these initial beginnings – knowing that the course of any life will be tough, but also that God is there with us, and always has been throughout the whole pandemic, bringing this first small light of Christ in the darkness; bringing new hope that we can all take courage in….new hope, new life. With my love and prayers for you all to continue to stay safe…. 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.
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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
brought to you from Liverpool Cathedral St James Mount Liverpool L1 7AZ |
Liverpool Cathedral is a place of encounter.
Built by the people, for the people, to the Glory of God www.liverpoolcathedral.org.uk |