FATHER FORGIVE
THE 2020 LENT BOOKLET
Introduction
This booklet serves two purposes:
On Page 3, you will find a summary of events taking place in the Cathedral this Lent. From Page 4 onwards events are listed week-by-week.
Banners
This year we are displaying a new series of banners in the Cathedral. Page 11 onwards contains a series of meditative reflections on these banners. These can be used each week, or as you are moved by your Lenten discipline throughout the six weeks.
What is Lent?
Lent – the great 40 days of preparation for the Feast of Easter – begins on Ash Wednesday (26 February), a solemn day of repentance and forgiveness. As we receive the cross of ashes on our foreheads, we are reminded of our mortality and our utter dependence upon God our Father.
With this in mind, Christians are encouraged throughout Lent to examine and review their spiritual lives. 2
LENT AT THE CATHEDRAL
For those intending to undertake some sort of spiritual discipline this Lent – visitors and regular members of the congregation – the Cathedral is offering several very different opportunities for growth and renewal.
Sacred Space On Sunday 1 March, at 6.00pm join Sacred Space: a meditative service with Taizé chant, led by our Trinity College placement ordinand.
Mark Read Right Through On Saturday 28 March, at 10.00am, hear Mark’s Gospel read in its entirety.
Lent Lunches On Sundays, join the cathedral community for Lent Lunches, with reflections from Canon Michael Johnson, the Acting Dean. Proceeds go to Christian Aid.
Live Lent On Tuesdays in March, the Bishop of Bristol will give a series of talks on the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent Book, Saying Yes to Life, by Ruth Valerio.
Stations of the Cross On Fridays, walk the way of the Cross with Stations of the Cross, before the 12.30pm Eucharist.
The Way On Saturday 7, 14 and 21 March, at 11.00am, Canon Michael Roden leads The Way, a welcoming setting in which to learn, discuss, and consider one’s place at the Cathedral. As Easter approaches, please speak with a member of the clergy should you wish to make your Confession or discuss any other spiritual matter. In the meantime, let us pray that we may be given the grace to keep a Holy Lent.
Nicola Stanley Canon Precentor 3
ASH WEDNESDAY
Wednesday 26 February
8.00am Holy Communion (BCP) in the Quire with Imposition of Ashes
12.30pm Eucharist in the Eastern Lady Chapel with Imposition of Ashes
6.00pm CHORAL EUCHARIST in the Quire with Imposition of Ashes sung by the Cathedral Choir Music to include Allegri’s Miserere Mei Preacher: The Revd Canon Nicola Stanley, Canon Precentor
STATIONS OF THE CROSS Friday 28 February 11.45am, starting in the Eastern Lady Chapel followed by SAID EUCHARIST at 12.30pm in the Seafarers’ Chapel
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W E E K O N E
SUNDAY 1 MARCH THE FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT
CATHEDRAL EUCHARIST 10.00am in the Nave Preacher: Canon Michael Johnson, Acting Dean
LENT LUNCH 12noon in the Cathedral Café A simple lunch of soup and rolls
SACRED SPACE 6.00pm in the Eastern Lady Chapel Candlelit, meditation-led Taizé followed by Lenten refreshments Tuesday 3 March
LIVE LENT – THE BISHOP’S LENT TALKS 6.30pm in the Nave Reflections on the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent book following CHORAL EVENSONG at 5.15pm in the Quire Friday 6 March
STATIONS OF THE CROSS 11.45am starting in the Eastern Lady Chapel followed by SAID EUCHARIST at 12.30pm in the Seafarers’ Chapel Saturday 7 March
THE WAY led by Canon Michael Roden 11.00am in the Old Library
Followed by SAID EUCHARIST at 12.30pm in the Elder Lady Chapel
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W E E K T W O
SUNDAY 8 MARCH THE SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT
CATHEDRAL EUCHARIST 10.00am in the Nave Preacher: Canon Nicola Stanley
LENT LUNCH 12noon in the Cathedral Café A simple lunch of soup and rolls Tuesday 10 March
LIVE LENT – THE BISHOP’S LENT TALKS 6.30pm in the Nave Reflections on the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent book, by the Revd Canon Dr Martin Gainsborough following CHORAL EVENSONG at 5.15pm in the Quire Friday 13 March
STATIONS OF THE CROSS 11.45am starting in the Eastern Lady Chapel followed by SAID EUCHARIST at 12.30pm in the Seafarers’ Chapel Saturday 14 March
THE WAY led by Canon Michael Roden 11.00am in the Old Library
Followed by SAID EUCHARIST at 12.30pm in the Elder Lady Chapel
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WEEK THREE
SUNDAY 15 MARCH THE THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT
CATHEDRAL EUCHARIST 10.00am in the Nave Preacher: The Revd Sarah Evans, Cathedral Chaplain
LENT LUNCH 12noon in the Cathedral Café A simple lunch of soup and rolls Tuesday 17 March
LIVE LENT – THE BISHOP’S LENT TALKS 6.30pm in the Nave Reflections on the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent book following CHORAL EVENSONG at 5.15pm in the Quire Friday 20 March
STATIONS OF THE CROSS 11.45am starting in the Eastern Lady Chapel followed by SAID EUCHARIST at 12.30pm in the Seafarers’ Chapel Saturday 21 March
THE WAY led by Canon Michael Roden 11.00am in the Old Library
Followed by SAID EUCHARIST at 12.30pm in the Elder Lady Chapel
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W E E K F O U R
SUNDAY 22 MARCH THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT MOTHERING SUNDAY
CATHEDRAL EUCHARIST 10.00am in the Nave Preacher: Canon Michael Roden Tuesday 24 March
LIVE LENT – THE BISHOP’S LENT TALKS 6.30pm in the Nave Reflections on the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent book following CHORAL EVENSONG at 5.15pm in the Quire Friday 27 March
STATIONS OF THE CROSS 11.45am starting in the Eastern Lady Chapel followed by SAID EUCHARIST at 12.30pm in the Seafarers’ Chapel Saturday 28 March
MARK READ RIGHT THROUGH 10.00am in the Nave
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W E E K F I V E
SUNDAY 29 MARCH THE FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT PASSION SUNDAY
CATHEDRAL EUCHARIST 10.00am in the Nave Preacher: Canon Michael Johnson, Acting Dean
LENT LUNCH 12noon in the Cathedral Café A simple lunch of soup and rolls Tuesday 31 March
LIVE LENT – THE BISHOP’S LENT TALKS 6.30pm in the Nave Reflections on the Archbishop of Canterbury’s Lent book following CHORAL EVENSONG at 5.15pm in the Quire Friday 3 April
STATIONS OF THE CROSS 11.45am starting in the Eastern Lady Chapel followed by SAID EUCHARIST at 12.30pm in the Seafarers’ Chapel Saturday 4 April
THE WAY led by Canon Michael Roden 11.00am in the Old Library
Followed by SAID EUCHARIST at 12.30pm in the Elder Lady Chapel
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H O L Y W E E K
Palm Sunday 5 April 10.00am EUCHARIST WITH PROCESSION OF PALMS Starting on College Green 3.30pm THE PASSION: MUSIC + MEDITATION with Howells’ Requiem Monday 6 April 5.15pm CHORAL EVENSONG Quire sung by the Lay Clerks and Choral Scholars Tuesday 7 April 5.15pm MEMBRA JESU NOSTRI – BUXTEHUDE Eastern Lady Chapel sung by the Fitzhardinge Consort Wednesday 8 April 7.30pm COMPLINE WITH THE Eastern Lady Chapel LAMENTATIONS OF JEREMIAH, TALLIS sung by the Lay Clerks & Choral Scholars Maundy Thursday 9 April 10.30am DIOCESAN EUCHARIST Nave with the Blessing of the Holy Oils T H E T R I D U U M I 7.30pm THE LITURGY OF THE LAST SUPPER Nave with the washing of feet & watch until midnight Preacher: Canon Nicola Stanley Good Friday 10 April 12noon MEDITATIONS ON THE CROSS Nave Preacher: Canon Michael Roden T H E T R I D U U M II 1.30pm THE LITURGY OF THE LORD’S DEATH Nave Preacher: Canon Michael Roden Holy Saturday 11 April T H E T R I D U U M III 8.30pm THE LITURGY OF THE RESURRECTION Nave with the lighting of the new fire and confirmations by the Bishop of Bristol followed by fireworks in the Cathedral Garden Please see the back page of the booklet for details of Easter Day
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THE LENT BANNERS
The new Lent banners are an artistic response to the conversation between the public and the faith of this Cathedral. We hope that you will find them helpful.
Every day, at a small desk, near the middle of the Cathedral, visitors stop to write prayers. We use these prayers in the services as they are a snapshot of 21st century concerns. Sometimes the prayers have hints of humour, for example asking for good grades and clear skin. Some are timeless please pray for my unkind neighbours. Often, the prayers are deeply moving and many mention sick relatives by name.
Dionne Warwick once sang: Where am I going? And what will I find? What's in this grab-bag, that I call my mind?
Like Dionne’s questioning, some of the prayers reveal a sense of being adrift in this puzzling world. People ask us to pray about climate change, people trafficking, the refugee crisis, homelessness and racism. Sometimes, there is an underlying feeling that life is going the wrong way. Many are searching for forgiveness. In Lent, we think about our lives and our need of divine help.
The banners use phrases from African-American gospel songs, soul songs and spirituals to remind us of the struggles on our way to find a spiritual home. Some of these songs date back to slave times and have been sculpted by the restless, uncrushable search for hope in the presence of dehumanising evil.
We are immensely grateful for the help of the artist and musician, Jeb Loy Nichols to make this possible. Michael Roden Canon Chancellor
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ALIENATION
I was born by the river in a little tent Oh and just like the river I've been running ever since It's been a long time, a long time coming But I know a change gonna come,
It's been too hard living, but I'm afraid to die 'Cause I don't know what's up there, beyond the sky It's been a long, a long time coming But I know a change gonna come
I go to the movie and I go downtown Somebody keep tellin' me don't hang around It's been a long, a long time coming But I know a change gonna come.
Sam Cooke
Whilst Bristol is a beautiful city, we cannot be complacent. Not everyone feels a freedom of movement or feels welcome or enjoys a sense of belonging. There are invisible but real divisions. Sometimes people feel as if they are adrift and alienated.
What should you and I be doing this Lent to reach out to our neighbours?
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HOMELESSNESS
Sometimes I feel like a motherless child Sometimes I feel like a motherless child Sometimes I feel like a motherless child a long way from home.
Every day, in Bristol, we pass people on the pavement who are sleeping rough. Sometimes they lie in doorways and we can almost mistake them for a pile of rubbish, but they are all somebody’s child, somebody’s brother or sister.
Jesus asks us to imagine what a world is like when we don’t blank people off and walk on the other side. A world where we see other people, not as threat but as God’s work of art.
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CONFLICT
Some of these days I'm going home Where no sorrows ever come, (We'll soon be done) We'll soon be done with troubles and trials; (Troubles and trials) Safe from Heartaches, pain and care, We shall all that glory share, (And I'm gonna) Sit down beside my Jesus, (Lord, I'm gonna) Sit down and rest a little while.
Most people long for peace but we often lead frenetic lives. We can be surrounded by people but feel misunderstood and disconnected. There is a void in 21st century city life and we have been sold the idea that material goods will fill the emptiness.
We have learnt to try to buy things on the cheap and dispose of them quickly. As a result, someone somewhere is being undervalued. Consuming is seen as our raison d’etre, so we panic when anything threatens that consumption. We stumble into unnecessary conflicts. We even treat our celebrities as if they are also goods to be bought and sold. We build them up and then bring them down in a culture of public shaming.
We are like a mob ready to crucify someone, but who?
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CLIMATE CHANGE
Louis Armstrong sings of Daniel being thrown into a fiery furnace.
Heaped on the coals and the red-hot brimstone (Oh Shadrach), Meshach, Abednego. Seven times hotter, hotter than it oughta be (Oh Shadrach), Meshach, Abednego.
The strange thing is that, as we use energy to consume more and more, we begin to value less and less. We need to look around us at the mess we are making. In recent months the space outside the cathedral, known as College Green, has often been filled with people worried about global warming. They warn us that we are sleepwalking into destroying the future of our planet.
How do we free ourselves from being trapped in guilt and use our energy to look after God’s beautiful creation?
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SLAVERY
When Israel was in Egypt's land, Let my people go! Oppressed so hard they could not stand, Let my people go!
Chorus: Go down, Moses, Way down in Egypt's land. Tell old Pharaoh To let my people go!
We are all God’s children but we seem to be struggling with this message at the moment. Racism and human slavery are not only still going on but on the increase.
It is as if we have learnt nothing from the shameful period in this city when Bristol was a key part of the slave trade.
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FATHER FORGIVE…
Jesus was crucified because he had such a direct message. He walks to Jerusalem reminding people of the basics of faith – look after the poor, make the stranger feel welcome, don’t grab all the earth’s resources and fill your barns at the expense of others and don’t oppress people. Learn instead to love your neighbour and to seek and give forgiveness. When he arrives in the Holy City he finds the religious authorities have completely lost the plot. They reject the message and pay a mob to call for his death.
The crowd who then taunt Jesus are dead to the holiness of life. As his friends watch him die, Jesus stirs himself to say Father forgive them for they know not what they do.
Jesus is dying in agony but he is, amazingly, morally alive. He should be overcome with hate but he is not. He is inside the love of God and his voice comes from this shared place. This is the shared place where all suffering is known and all love is to be found.
Father forgive them for they know not what they do.
At Easter we will hear how love ultimately overcomes all that threatens to destroy.
Meanwhile, the question of Lent is: are we really alive?
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EASTER DAY SUNDAY 12 APRIL 7.40am Morning Prayer Berkeley Chapel 8.00am Holy Communion (BCP) Quire 10.00am FESTIVAL EUCHARIST Nave President Canon Nicola Stanley Preacher Canon Michael Johnson, Acting Dean 3.30pm FESTAL EVENSONG Nave with Procession Preacher The Revd Sarah Evans, Cathedral Chaplain
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