The Third Sunday before Advent - Reflection by Canon Leslie

​Today, the second Sunday in November, and the Sunday closest to Armistice Day (11 November), is held as Remembrance Sunday in the United Kingdom as a day ‘to commemorate the contribution of British and Commonwealth military and civilian servicemen and women in the two World Wars and later conflicts’. Within the liturgical and lectionary cycle of the Church of England Remembrance Sunday comes within the period of All Saints’ tide.
 
Last Sunday, when we kept All Saints’ Day the Gospel reading came from the first of Matthew’s five blocks of Jesus’ teaching, the Sermon on the Mount. We heard proclaimed the beatitudes that hold out God’s promises of how things may go well when God’s reign is welcomed. Today’s Gospel reading comes from the last of Matthew’s five blocks of Jesus’ teaching. We hear proclaimed one of the narratives about people who were not ready to welcome God’s reign, the bridesmaids who ran out of oil for their lamps. We hear the warning about how things may not go well when God’s reign is rejected.
 
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 candles. Candles are an important image during the season of All Saints’ tide. Candles remind us of the lamps we light at baptism to welcome God’s reign into our lives. Candles remind us of the lights we kindle to pray alongside the saints who have illuminated our Christian path, and to commend to God’s loving mercy our loved ones whom we see no longer. Candles remind us of the lives lost in war and conflict. Candles call us on Remembrance Sunday to stay on message to welcome the reign of God into our world. Today’s picture is taken from the illustrated communion book for Common Worship, The Lord is Here!
 
To find out more about The Lord is Here!, follow this link to the relevant page of the St. Mary’s Centre website: http://www.st-marys-centre.org.uk/resources/childrenandcommunion.html.
 
Next week the image to help us prepare for participation in the Sunday service, whether offline in the cathedral or online at home is talents. 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].
 
We warmly invite you to join us in worship today here:

Canon Leslie
 
Message from the Dean re: Cathedral Restrictions:
 
The Cathedral will continue to be open every day for private prayer. This means Monday to Saturday 11am till 3pm. Sunday we will be open from 10.30 till 3pm and on Sunday clergy will be in the Cathedral to offer pastoral support to people. If you need pastoral support during the week please ask at the welcome desk and one of the Canons will be available.
 
The Mezz in the Well is also open for takeaway food and drinks whenever the Cathedral is open.
 
Worship
 
Monday – Saturday
Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer and the 12.05 Eucharist will be live-streamed on the Cathedral Facebook page. Please do join us.
 
After every evening prayer we will be joining other Christians to pray for the nation during this period of lockdown.
 
Sunday
A pre-recorded Eucharist Service will go out on Facebook at the usual time. At 10.30 the clergy will also celebrate and receive communion on your behalf. This service will be held in the Lady Chapel.
 
Please keep looking at the Cathedral Web-site for further information.
 
The Future
 
At present it is our intention on the 22 November to live-stream the Durufle Requium at 3pm, the usual Choral Evensong time.
 
On Advent Sunday it is our intention to live-stream an Advent Evensong at 3pm and the usual Darkness to Light Service will be pre-recorded and on Facebook form 5.30pm.
 
As things change we will amend the worship we offer so please do go to our website for updates: www.liverpoolcathedral.org.uk.
 
Dean Sue
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