Issue 43 Christmas edition 2018 InHousethe Journal of the Lincoln Cathedral Community Association A new vice-chair Sacred Space Page 12 Page 5 A day in Bethlehem Muriel Robinson In November I was one of 55 peo- ple on the diocesan pilgrimage to the Holy Land. To capture the whole impact would take many more words than I have, so given this is the Christ- mas edition, let me tell you about our day in Bethlehem. Bethlehem is, of course, in Palestine and so to go there involves crossing a border. On our way in, in our Israeli-regis- tered coach and with Arab Israeli guides, we had a fairly short wait but could see the very long queues of Palestinian ve- hicles waiting to cross back into Israel, a first glimpse of the very real tensions on this border. Soon after, we began to pass graffiti, including the well-known Bank- sy with its dove of peace in the sniper’s crosshairs, and were then able to stop to lems stem from this. Their families often there, and joined the lunchtime proces- see the Palestinian side of the separation blame the mothers and the children sion to the shrine, and we celebrated an wall before our first visit of the day. This receive very little stimulation at home. outdoor Christmas Eucharist at the shep- was not to any of the religious sites, but Most live in outlying villages and, as trav- herds’ fields (downhill from Bethlehem, to the Al Shurooq School for blind and el between the parcels of land that make by the way). These were also very moving partially-sighted children. The school up Palestine is so difficult, the children experiences, though perhaps most pow- is run by Arab Christians with no state are weekly boarders. Some children have erful was when we were singing support; the children, between 3 and 11 multiple disabilities. As we were shown ‘and man, at war, with man, hears not years old, are all Muslim. The director of round the school, we were impressed the love-song which they bring: the school was very clear that we would by the holistic, play-based educational Oh hush the noise, ye men of strife see no visible Christian symbols; rather, approach, and moved by the challenge And hear the angels sing’ the staff see their role as expressing their the school faces and by the care taken to while jet fighters flew noisily overhead. faith through their actions- a sharp re- help each child develop life and educa- But without that visit to the school, I minder of the reading at morning prayer tional skills so that where possible they think the day would have been poorer. on the bus: can be integrated back into mainstream Here we saw one of the hymns from the What good is it, my brothers and sis- schools at 11. The staff also work with the previous day’s liturgy lived out: ters, if you say you have faith but do not mothers wherever the fathers will permit I will hold the Christlight for you have works? this. One powerful memory is of the old- In the night-time of your fear; (James 2.14-17) er children singing to us, in English they I will hold my hand out to you, We learned that most, if not all, of the clearly understood, ‘We shall overcome’. Speak the peace you long to hear. children have been born prematurely to We could only hope that they will. (Richard Gillard) mothers as young as 14 who have been And yes, later we visited the Church of May we all do the same this Christmas married to cousins, and their sight prob- the Nativity and queued to see the sights and every day. 2 A Journey of Faith Elaine Johnson We are pilgrims on a journey, fellow trav’llers on the road; We are here to help each other Walk the mile and bear the load. (Richard Gillard, 1977) Many of us will have read Alan Wilson’s interesting description of the ‘Journey of Faith’ from Louth to Lincoln in the Cathedral Times but what was it really like for those who did it? Rachel Ford was asked by Alan to be a second core member who would com- plete all the five days, as well as represent- ing the Cathedral Chapter on the journey. Reflecting afterwards, Rachel said how pleased she was that she had said ‘yes’. She thought it was likely to be the sort of pro- ject which people hear about and think, “That sounds really interesting, I must get around to doing it” ... and then most people won’t. But, having done it, Rachel really emphasised how important it is to make that time and do it. The journey was such a good opportunity to think and re- flect and be quiet, taking time out of busy lives, whether Christian or a non-believer. Although it can be done alone, Rachel felt that she got more out of it by doing it with others, although initially it could be daunting because people might not know each other very well. However, sharing this time together became pre- cious and, as the week progressed and treasures of churches. They met warm, tion and another psalm was needed. As confidence increased, people became friendly people and heard wonderful sto- a member of Chapter, Rachel is allocated closer, sharing personal experiences. For ries. In one church the sundial, although a daily psalm and her psalms are 41 and Rachel, the essence of the week was cap- created in the 1940s, was carved from 42, the first verse of the latter being, ‘As a tured by a broken bicycle chain when two twelfth-century stone gifted from the deer longs for a stream of cool water, so I of the participants walked together. The Cathedral. Another, St Mary’s at East Bark- long for you, O God’. What could be more one whose bike was intact had his arm with, was approached by bike down a appropriate for a church of St Giles whose around the other, acting like a propeller to wooded path, with sheep grazing in front sole companion, according to legend, was help him up the hill. An artist in the group of church. At Wragby, it was the feast day a deer who sustained him with her milk? captured the image in a cartoon. of St Francis and Rachel had Rupert, her The journey can be done over several Over the five days, the numbers varied dog with her; the vicar was delighted! consecutive days or in single days over as people joined and left as they could At each church, the guide to the jour- a period of time. Alan and Rachel hope fit it in. Some days they walked, one day ney of faith includes a point to ponder that the guide will encourage people to they cycled, one day there was a bus ride - a verse from a psalm - and it was only do it because, physically, mentally and and another day their transport was a nar- at St Giles, Langton-by-Wragby, that the spiritually, ‘It’s good to talk and it’s good row boat. Along the route they visited real group realised that there was duplica- to walk.’ 3 Will Harrison, Chapter Clerk Judi Jones In January 2018 Will took on the de- manding and exciting role of Chapter Clerk (he had been acting Chapter Clerk since August 2017). I called in at the Chapter Office to find out about his first few months. I asked Will about his role in the Cathe- dral and he explained that the national Cathedrals’ Working Group has laid out clearly how cathedrals should be man- aged. Thus, a new legislative model is being developed and followed ahead of legislative changes which are expected to follow within a few years. This mod- el emphasizes the pre-eminence of the Dean, who, in all Church of England ca- thedrals, is effectively the Chief Execu- tive and therefore Will’s role as Chapter Clerk is to manage the cathedral for the Dean and the Chapter and to ensure cathedral has to its large army of volun- services, and he hopes that an example that everything is run properly. teers and is delighted that a new Volun- will be displayed on a mannequin for us These last few months have been teer Officer has recently been appoint- to see. This will be a long-term invest- very busy ones. The property agency ed. ment (fully funded, Will explained, part- has been put out to tender and a new Will is really looking forward to the ly by the Friends of the Cathedral and by agent has been engaged to ensure that completion of the Cathedral Connect- the generosity of another fund) but an the long-term plan for all our properties ed project and hopes that it will open important investment as our choristers is sustainable. This new system is work- up the cathedral to more people. In act as ambassadors for our cathedral. ing well. the meantime, there is plenty to con- Arriving here in 1996 as a Choral There has been a major IT review and centrate on. The day I spoke to him the Scholar, Will believes that the cathedral a new company is now responsible for first of the Forest Stations was due to has had a huge influence on his life. As updating all the technology. The email be tried out in what might be their new Chapter Clerk, he is no longer able to is now stored on the ‘cloud’; a great im- exhibition area in the south cloister.