Portsmouth Cathedral

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Weekly Notices | Sunday, 2 October 2022

Portsmouth Cathedral

A reflection from Canon Nick

Change is in the air. It is not just in the Royal family, but as summer turns to autumn and it gets colder but more colourful at the same time. There is turmoil in the world, in international relationships, turmoil in the markets, and concerns at the weight of extra costs being borne by individuals and businesses. At the heart of our faith, though, is an unchanging God. October is the month when, however, we worship him slightly differently and at different times of day as we have first our Annual Services for Seafarers, today, then the Royal Marines Band Memorial Service next Sunday, and after that the Great South Run. There are changes to the main Sunday morning service on all those days so please check what is on when. In some cases service are cancelled or start in a different place or time.

So on this day, when we remember and celebrate our seafarers in a special service, we think of and pray for all those who are involved in working at sea, in the Royal Navy, the Merchant Navy including the ferries, the fishing fleets, the Coastguard, the RNLI, the Kings Harbour Master. As we celebrate their work, the work of those who support them ashore, and all our maritime heritage, and as the Cathedral of the sea, - ‘a beacon and a safe haven, anchored in Jesus Christ’, there is no better to time than this to be reminded of the Cathedral prayer which we use here daily:

Creator and Father of all, we pray for those who go down to the sea in ships and serve upon the waters of the world. Bless them and those who serve their needs, that they may put their trust in you and find in you a strong anchor for their hopes and so be filled with your peace, through Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Amen.

The Reverend Canon Nick Ralph,
Residentiary Canon

Highlights this week...

Upcoming dates for your diary…

Community News

St Thomas Ward Councillors' Advice Surgery

Second Wednesday of each month, from 5pm to 6pm, the councillors of St Thomas Ward will be running an advice surgery in the new meeting space in Cathedral House.

Fabric Advisory Committee Meeting

The Fabric Advisory Committee meets on Tuesday when it will hear from Tom Ashley, Deputy Head of the Cathedrals Fabric Committee for England (CFCE), the planning authority for Cathedrals. The meeting will offer anan opportunity for the Committee to discuss with Tom emerging issues and priorities.

In addition to normal business, the Committee will also hear from the Cathedral's Energy Consultant, Adrian Reed, about the work that has been undertaken and what further work is needed to move the Cathedral towards being carbon neutral by 2030, the target set by the General Synod of the Church of England.

The agenda is available from ourdownloads page.

2021 Cathedrals Measure Update

At Chapter on the 14 of September, the Dean updated members on the preliminary work being undertaken. A delegation of the Dean, Canon Kathryn, the Chair of Council (Kate Branigan, KC), a member of Cathedral Council (Dr. Bryn Hughes), the Dean’s EA (Liz Snowball) and the COO (Richard Abraham) all met virtually with Katie Clark from Church House who is our lead person for the Measure.

Further discussion with the wider Foundation (College of Canons, Council and Chapter) as well as staff, volunteers and external stakeholders will take place leading up to our inclusion within the Measure in late Summer 2023.

60+ Festival – Tour of Cathedral Bell Tower

An opportunity to visit the bell ringing chamber and clock in the tower of Portsmouth Cathedral, see the bells, learn about the art of bell ringing, see a demonstration and hear about the 150-year-old clock. Please note that there is a stone spiral staircase to climb to get up to the tower.

Tours starting at 2pm and 3pm on 2 October

Portsmouth Cathedral Club relaunches – 6 October

Portsmouth Cathedral Club will be returning, last meeting in 2020. It is an opportunity to hear from interesting speakers, and meet other people over refreshments. Taking place on the first Thursday of every month until December, starting on 6 October at 2:30pm in the Bishop Kenneth Room. This month, we will be hearing about some interesting village churches with wall-paintings or engraved windows.

Find out more and enquire here →

Help for Ukrainian Refugees

Our diocese is continuing to work as a partner with the charity Citizens UK to offer accommodation to refugees who are fleeing from the conflict in Ukraine. They were already running a project to sponsor refugees before the Ukrainian crisis, and have partners in Ukraine, Moldova and Poland who can identify refugees and organise transport to the UK.

If you would like to know more, visit the Diocese website or speak to Canon Nick Ralph.

Foodbank Donations

‘New to you’ The Roberts Centre is going to launch a ‘New to you’ project – which will include pots and pans, crockery, cutlery, household goods – not furniture (good enough that you would give them to someone you cared about). If we cut down the amount spent on essential bits and bobs that redirects outgoings to the basics like food and heating.

‘Layers’  - the Roberts is launching – children and young People - Layers. We have asked for coats for some years but since the advent of central heating we as a society have stopped wearing layers of clothing. We are potentially back to those days. Do you know people who might turn off their heating who might benefit from having more layers – given not charged for?

Toiletries – we are in need of Toiletries, can you help?


Please bring your donations to the Foodbank collection point in the Welcome Area during the Cathedral’s daily opening hours.

Worship and Visiting

Worship & visiting

Portsmouth Cathedral is open daily for prayer, services and visiting. Booking is not required for services, unless otherwise indicated. You can find out more about visiting on our website, where you can also download orders of service.

British Nuclear Test Veterans

The Dean will be saying prayers with members of the BNTVA, the charity for Nuclear Veterans in the Memorial Garden, at 11:00am on Monday, 3 October. All are welcome to attend.

Les Gosling RIP

We were sorry to learn of the death of Les Gosling The service is at Portchester Crematorium on Friday 7 October at 2:30pm.

Leslie (Les) served in the Royal Air Force as an Instrument Mechanic from 1955-65, which included participation in the British Nuclear Tests in the Pacific. He later served in the Ministry of Defence Police until his retirement in 1996. He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal in 1994. In recent years, Les has been the Chair of the Portsmouth Branch of the British Nuclear Tests Veterans Association, and arranged for the installation of their Memorial Stone in the Cathedral Garden. Les died after prolonged ill health in the last week of August.

#PompeySundays at Café Bleu:  9 October

On 9 October, #PompeySundays will be meeting at 9:30am, at Café Bleu in Southsea (18, Highland Road, PO4 9AH), as the Cathedral will be closed to prepare for the Royal Marines Band Service Memorial Service later that morning. We are grateful to the café for opening early for us: come along and try a different kind of café church!

Prayers and Intercessions

We remember the following for whom prayer has been asked by members of the Cathedral Community: Tom, Beverley, Richard, Jane, Alan, Amanda, Lucy, Jean, Alistair, John, Nina, Pauline, Leo, Maryna and her daughter Maria, Sandra and all those in need.

Long-term sick including: Alison, Clifford, Christopher, Jane, Melissa, Suzy, Bob, Sarah, Izzy, Andrew, Peter, Rachel, Graeme and Derek.

We pray for those who have died recently: John Pengel, Yashwant Gunga, Barbara King and Sue Davis RIP.

Upcoming Services & Events

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Getting in touch

Please feel free to get in touch if we can help in any way, or if you just want to hear another voice!

Get in touch with us by email to pastoral@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk or leave a message via phone on 023 9282 3300.

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