Cathedral in Touch A Newsletter for our Community 11 July 2021 | 6th Sunday after Trinity LCR as Exodus The Cathedral Executive and Chapter have been reflecting on how we can think about our forthcoming experience in Leicester Cathedral Revealed (LCR). There are a number of motifs in scripture which refer to change, movement and pilgrimage. The two main stories of disruption in the Hebrew Bible are Exodus (the story of the liberation of God’s people in slavery in Egypt to freedom in the Promised Land) and Exile (the forced removal of God’s people by Nebuchadnezzar from the Land and later their return as a remnant to find Jerusalem in ruins). Welcome Welcome Neither of them fit perfectly with what is to be our experience. However, there are more echoes in the story of Exodus with the hopes of entering into a new place of delight and freedom. This story is also embodied already in our building. The Guildhall was once used as a prison and so the beautiful gates depict bullrushes as a reminder of the place of captivity and slavery. Indeed, the cranberry glass corbels are made by the firing of gold inside glass to high temperatures, bringing a beautiful transformation. The glass doors by the Cathedral font continue the story showing a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night guiding the people in the wilderness. The doors show the waters of the River Jordan. As the doors are opened into the Cathedral (the main way in during the first phase of LCR), so the waters part and people come into God’s place; they become his children in baptism and enjoy similar freedoms to the people of old. Professor Walter Brueggeman describes the Exodus as ‘our indispensable story’ because it is so powerful and recurrent. Essentially, he argues it can be summed up in the dynamics between the lead protagonist who is Pharaoh and the antagonists who are the midwives Shiphrah and Puah. There are plenty of other characters including Moses and Aaron. Pharoah is an anxious man who worries if there will be enough and so he accumulates wealth and power using violence to quell any disruption including cutting off the supply of further insurgents by insisting on the killing of baby boys. Pharoah is nameless and stands for oppressive power of all kinds whether secular or religious. Meanwhile two poor Israelite midwives are named (Exodus 1.15–21). They defy Pharoah, disobey his commands, move beyond the fearful environment he has created. They act because in the words of Martin Luther King they realise ‘the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends towards justice’. They realise God is with them during the mess that is Egypt and in the promise of the future. They let the boys live, shrugging their shoulders saying ‘they just keep tumbling out’. If Leicester Cathedral Revealed is only seen as a building project then we will miss entirely the opportunity before us to reshape our spirituality and our life as a community. Pharaohs re-emerge in every generation and perhaps in an established church we are more prone to getting caught up in Pharoah’s ways. Stepping back from our Cathedral normality – can we learn to spot how and where Pharoah has been at work; and how we have turned away from God or imprisoned others by our attitudes and actions intentionally and unintentionally? Equally, from below, from the ground in every generation there are midwives of the future; full of the promise of life, acting courageously and working with what they have to transform the world. They imagine a world outside the reality of Pharoah and they create the space for new things to emerge and grow. Who might be in our midst ready for a moment such as this? Where might there be life ready to spring up amidst the disruption which needs to be noticed, cherished and grown. I didn’t get ordained to raise money and develop building projects. I was ordained because I knew of Pharaoh and I didn’t like his look. I knew too of a story of liberation and the way of Jesus which brought that liberation home to me. Disruption, dislocation and deep waters will be felt here for the next two years in LCR but there is promise too in this story. We are invited to share in fulfilling it. The Very Revd David Monteith Dean of Leicester CANON-IN- RESIDENCE 4 News and Events ONE OF the clergy always holds this 7 Friends Summer Lunch phone. Do feel able to contact us if you 8 LCR Update need but please be aware we cannot 9 History Now receive texts. 11 Reflection 07399 523 330 13 Prayer Thoughts 15 Worship and Donations News from Leicester Cathedral LEICESTER CATHEDRAL MUSIC LIST Music11 JULY for today's – 17 JULY services 2021 TodayCongregation is the may Cathedral attend Eucharist Choir's services last in choralperson. These services are also as live a- streamedfull group on our until Facebook page. Morning Prayer is live-streamed (Monday to Friday), but it is not possible to attend in person. September.Congregation may Do attend join Choralus, online Evensong or inin person. person! These services are not live-streamed at present. Evening Prayer is said in private and not live-streamed. SUNDAY 11 JULY TRINITY 6 1030 Cathedral Eucharist (Senior Girls and Songmen) Schubert in G 506, 421 Incantations McGlynn Preacher: Canon Paul Rattigan Let all mortal flesh keep silence Bairstow Psalm 23 Schubert Fanfare Lemmens 1500 Choral Evensong (Boys, Junior Girls and Songmen) Brewer in D Responses Reading O thou the central orb Wood Psalm 66.1–8 Hopkins Finale from Symphonie No.4 Widor Hymn 766 MONDAY 12 JULY 0830 Morning Prayer Psalm 126 1730 Evening Prayer Psalm 127 TUESDAY 13 JULY 0830 Morning Prayer Psalm 132 1730 Evening Prayer Psalm 135 WEDNESDAY 14 JULY John Keble, Priest, Tractarian, Poet, 1866 0830 Morning Prayer Psalm 119.153–end 1300 Eucharist 1730 Evening Prayer Psalm 136 THURSDAY 15 JULY Swithun, Bishop of Winchester, c.862; Bonaventure, Friar, Bishop, Teacher of the Faith, 1274 0830 Morning Prayer Psalm 143 1730 Evening Prayer Psalm 138 FRIDAY 16 JULY Osmund, Bishop of Salisbury, 1099 0830 Morning Prayer Psalm 144 1300 Eucharist 1730 Evening Prayer Psalm 145 SATURDAY 17 JULY 1030 Morning Prayer Psalm 147 1530 Evening Prayer Psalm 148 The Very Revd David Monteith The Revd Canon Emma Davies Dr Christopher Ouvry-Johns DEAN CANON PRECENTOR DIRECTOR OF MUSIC Summer Special Tours Prayer and Pilgrimage Saturday 17 July | 2.00pm This tour explores the history of pilgrimage, and focuses particularly on St Martin’s church as a place of pilgrimage during the Middle Ages, as well as aspects that draw the modern visitor. Carved in Stone Monday 26 July and 2 August | 2.00pm Advance bookings Exploring the stone of Leicester Cathedral, from the ancient required to Rebecca. to the present day. Taking in the visible remnants of its [email protected] Norman origins and paying homage to the Romans, it will focus Adults £3, children free primarily on the medieval and Victorian eras whilst also looking carefully at the tomb of Richard III. Tour duration 40 minutes Lunchtime Concerts Summer Season 2021 1.00pm | In person and Online Free admission, donations encouraged 12 July – In person and Online Kezia Robson | Soprano Colin Druce | Piano A selection of arias and art songs on the theme of storytelling, by composers including Handel, Debussy, Britten and Ambroise Thomas Available online for one more day James Upton | Baritone Nigel Simeone | Piano A collection of Baroque, Classical, and Romantic baritone repertoire Summer Together Prayer Trail 12 July – 30 August 2021 Visit the Cathedral to take part in our interactive, five station prayer trail on the theme of Crossing the Causeway: ENTERING: We choose to make space to enter into prayer REMEMBERING: We choose to make space to remember the losses we have experienced WALKING: We choose to make space to notice the presence of God STACKING: We choose to make space to reimagine the future WAYMARKING: We choose to make space to remember the promises of God The trail includes an audio edition of the different meditations, so do bring along your phone and headphones if you would like to use this. Outdoor Prayer Guide Six prayer actions for Summer Together. Get outdoors and P.R.A.Y. Pause in nature Read and reflect on a Scripture Ask God for help Yield to God’s way Download your prayer guide, which you can use at your own leisure, here. David and Joan Beeson invite you and your friends to a Summer Lunch to be held at The Hollies Frolesworth, Lutterworth, Leicestershire, LE17 5EG on Saturday 7 August 2021 at 12.30pm for 1pm Pimms /Fruit Juice & Canapés Chicken Waldorf, Ham or Vegetarian – “Special” Cheese Salad Egg Mayonnaise, Salads Dessert Wine/Fruit Juice Coffee/Tea and Mints Raffle RSVP Tickets by Monday 2 August to: £25 Mrs Joan Beeson The Hollies Cheques made Frolesworth payable to “The Lutterworth Friends of Leicester LE17 5EG Cathedral” 01455 209291 LCR Update Celebrations and Risks Cathedral Chapter have given the go ahead for work to begin on site. This is a cause for great celebration but it doesn’t come without risk and challenge. Chapter were able to make the decision following confirmation of an increased grant of £1.56m from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and grants of £350k each from Leicester City Council and Leicestershire County Council. A number of individual supporters have also made generous donations.