Weekly Record

9th December 2007

Having had two meetings today – one regarding New Year’s Eve and the other with the BBC planning for Easter – it is taking a great deal of effort to mentally return to the season of Advent without jumbling the various seasons together. If I start talking about Lent and Advent together you will know the reason why, anyway I have some cause as Lent virtually follows on straight after New Year for 2008 - Easter is extremely early.

This Sunday at 5.00pm, after Choral Evening Prayer in the Cathedral, there is a service arranged by Marie Curie Cancer Care “Lights to Remember”. It is an ecumenical service of remembrance but celebrated in a spirit of hope, love and gratitude.

The Catholic Schools Advent services take place this week on Wednesday and Thursday at 2.15pm. This year the services have been co-ordinated by St John Bosco Arts College. From the information I have heard it seems to be a very contemporary service involving torches, badges, dance, gift boxes etc. Bishop Williams is presiding at the first service and I am due to lead the Thursday one. I will have a chance to see how the bishop copes first – not that there is ever much for us to do at these services apart from a prayer or a blessing and waving things at the right time. Sadly Rodney the donkey is not making a guest appearance this year. Not only did he attract the children’s attention he was the only individual I have known that could be heard throughout a full Cathedral without a microphone.

On Friday evening at 7.00pm the NCH (National Children’s Homes) are holding their Christmas Carol Service and Concert. Mervyn Cousins will be directing this and a number of primary and secondary schools and colleges are involved. Following this on Saturday evening the Cathedral Concert Society are holding their Christmas Concert in the Cathedral at 7.30pm. By the way for those of you who are fans of real ale the tickets for the beer festival, held in February, go on sale at the Crypt Brownlow Hill entrance also on Saturday between 11-2pm. Be warned they do sell out!

Last week we had another successful Car Boot sale with a growing number of attendees, or punters as we car booters term them. All these small fund raising events are helping to raise not just money but also awareness of the construction project at the Cathedral and greater interest in Cathedral activities. None of them would be possible without the consistent hard work of a faithful, small band of people who are very committed to the Cathedral. I am extremely grateful to them for their hard work and energy. Just last week we were offered an opportunity to have a day ‘Bag Packing’ in Marks and Spencer’s city centre food department with proceeds raised going towards the ‘Crypt Project’. With this being short notice we are looking for any adults who could help for a few hours between 10am-4pm on Friday 14th. If you are able to help could you ring Claire at Cathedral House on Monday.

Looking ahead to next Sunday, the 3rd Sunday in Advent. At 3.00pm the afternoon service will be ‘Britten’s Ceremony of Carols’. In the evening the ‘Live Nativity’ to be televised by the BBC will take place at St George’s Hall at 8.00pm. There will be a huge stage at the bottom of William Brown Street where the public can go and watch events unfold. Bring a torch! The Christmas story as you’ve never seen it before.’

Canon Anthony O'Brien
Cathedral Dean