No. 445

St German’s News

COMMUNITY, WORSHIP, CULTURE

Suggested Donation—£1

April 2017

hosanna to the son of david!

The Opening of the Labyrinth Cathedral Isle of Man were delighted to welcome Mr John Morphet, Chair of the Cathedral Campaign to open the labyrinth on Sunday 26 March 2017.

The labyrinth, unlike a maze, has only one path so there are no tricks to it and no dead ends. The path winds throughout and becomes a mirror for where we are in our life journey.

The labyrinth has an important history in the Christian church and was sometimes found in Gothic Cathedrals, but over time, many were destroyed. The most famous remaining labyrinth is at Chartres Cathedral near Paris, which is 12.88 metres in diameter.

The Cathedral Labyrinth, which happens to just fit into the footprint of Rushen Abbey’s Cloister (represented by the apple tunnel around the labyrinth), is a full scale replica of the one at Chartres. It was created in Bali by Ongky Wijana, who has created other works in the Cathedral gardens, such as the stone crosses. It differs from the one at Chartres in that apart from the names on the foundation stones, it carries the names of the eight monasteries that had lands on the Isle of Man in the 13th century:

Rushen Abbey

Douglas Priory

Whithorn Priory, Galloway

Furness Abbey, Cumbria

Bangor Abbey, Ulster

Sabal Abbey, Ulster

St. Bees Priory, Cumbria

Rievaulx Abbey, Yorkshire

There has been at recent times much research done on the health benefits of walking the labyrinth. We hope that a great variety of people will take the opportunity to walk the labyrinth and also feel the spiritual benefits of a slow meditative walk, reflecting on their life.

Cathedral Isle of Man is very grateful to the Manx Lottery Trust who provided a grant of £35,000 in late 2014 to enable the landscaping of the Corrin field to take place.

Thanks to all who helped in any way in making the day a success.

Editor: Christiane Litman ciom.news@gmail.com 271326

The editor is happy to publish articles and photographs from contributors but they do not necessarily represent the views of the editor or the Cathedral. Please inform the editor directly if you have any dates to be included in the diary.

Please submit articles and images for consideration by the 25th of each month.

You are warmly invited to attend the official unveiling of the Knockaloe Garden Sculpture and the four gardens surrounding the sculpture that make up the 20th Century Garden at 12.30pm on Easter Day. The unveiling and garden openings will be followed by a bring and share lunch in the Cathedral.

Mrs Clare Christian, OBE, has kindly agreed to unveil the sculpture and the four gardens will be opened by people who are in some way connected with a particular garden – Miss Megan Walkom is an A level student who is going to spend 4 weeks in Rwanda in July/August, Mrs Karolina Davison who is from Ukraine will open the Ukrainian garden, Dr Richard Arning (German) and Mr Leonard Singer (Jewish) will jointly open the German garden and Mrs Vicky Harrop, a volunteer who carried out a lot of work on the Chinese garden, will open the Chinese garden.

If you are able to and would like to attend please speak to Val Garrett. Offers of food and help to set up the lunch and clear away after the lunch would be greatly appreciated.

Photo taken from a drone by Eric Lace. You can watch the bird eye view video on our facebook page.

All welcome to Opening of the 20th Century Garden

Music Department News

Congratulations To our Organist & Director of Music, Dr Peter Litman who has been awarded Associate of the Royal School of Church Music (ARSCM). Each year the RSCM Council confers Honorary Awards on those who have made outstanding contributions to church music. These will be presented at the Celebration Day later this year. ARSCM is an award for achievements in church music and/or liturgy of national significance. To our Organ Scholar, Max Smith, who has been awarded an Associate of the Royal Schools of Music (ARSM) in organ performance. To one of our Lay Clerks and Organist of St Mary-on-the-Harbour, Castletown, Clive Davenport, on also being awarded an Associate of the Royal Schools of Music (ARSM) in organ performance. To Francesca Fairbairn and Aalish Mayne, who will be awarded their RSCM Dean’s Awards by the Bishop of Warrington on Monday 10th April at Choral Evensong. To former Organ Scholar, Jack Oades, who has been appointed the Organ Scholar at St Patrick’s Cathedral, Dublin for 2017-2018. Jack will also be studying for his Masters degree in composition. Welcome to Probationers Jasper Emery and Jidfe Pantapalan.

On April 18th, 19th and 20th twelve of the Lay Clerks with Max and Dr Litman will be the resident choir at Wakefield Cathedral in Yorkshire, where they will be singing Choral Evensong each day. Featured music will include canticles by Batten, Sumsion and the ‘Peel Service’ by John Hoskins. Anthems include works by Tallis, Howells and our own Jack Oades (who will be joining us on the trip). We wish them well for their upcoming singing holiday.

Advance notice On May 21st, the Cathedral Choir will be singing alongside Aled Jones at the Gaiety in Douglas. The choir will open the show as well as sing with Aled and the choir from Anagh Coar School. Tickets are available from the Villa Marina Box office and are going fast!

Lent Lunches– Reflection

I am writing this note before the series of Lent lunchtime talks finishes, in order to get it into the April magazine. We who enjoyed the food and chatted com-panionably, and then listened to the speakers, have much to thank other people for. The Mothers’ Union team who produced the delicious food and who wait-ed at the table – we thank these ladies. We thank also our speakers who cov-ered a wide range of subjects from Eleanor’s caring ministry as our Hospital Visi-tor, through John’s lively account of a lifetime of being an altar server. Helen told us about the behind-the-scenes work handling Cathedral finances. Joan shared with us the adventures of being a wedding co-ordinator. Lynne took us through the intricacies of Baptism preparation and her other work for Fairtrade. As I write we are looking forward to Penny telling us about bell ringing and or-ganising the tower. We end the series with Val ex-plaining her considerable and complex work. I am sure that I speak for us all when I thank all these peo-ple. Finally, thank you all for attending the lunches and I hope that the speakers inspired you to think about the many and varied ways we can all work under discipline, and thus become better disciples of our Lord. Colin Fleetney, Cathedral Chaplain

The CD with music including a Chorister from every British Cathedral is

now available. Mackenzie Brown represented Cathedral Isle of Man.

Friends of Cathedral Music– CD Release

Sat 1 Messy Church 16.00– 18.00 Corrin Hall

Sun 2 Passion Sunday

Choral Eucharist (Schola) 10.30 Cathedral

Choral Evensong (Choristers) 15.30 Cathedral

Sat 8 Tea Dance (Mothers’ Union) 14.00– 17.00 Corrin Hall

Sun 9 Palm Sunday

Worship Sunday 10.30 Cathedral

Choral Evensong (Schola) 15.30 Cathedral

Mon 10 Chrism Eucharist with the Rt Revd 12.00 Cathedral

Richard Blackburn (Bishop of Warrington)

Choral Evensong with presentation of 15.00 Cathedral

RSCM awards (Music includes Allegri’s Miserere)

MU meeting: Action Saves Kids 19.30 Deanery

Compline 18.30 Cathedral

Tues 11 Compline with Benediction 18.30 Cathedral

Wed 12 Seder Meal 18.30 Deanery

Thurs 13 Maundy Thursday

Choral Eucharist and foot washing 18.30 Cathedral

Fri 14 Good Friday

Contemporary Worship 10.30 Cathedral

Liturgy with the Choristers 14.00 Cathedral

Sat 15 Holy Saturday

Taizé– style Vigil 18.30 Cathedral

Sun 16 Easter Sunday

Choral Eucharist (full choir) 10.30 Cathedral

Unveiling of Knockaloe sculpture and 12.30 Cathedral

Opening of 20th Century gardens

Healing Service 15.30 Cathedral

Cathedral Diary– April 2017

Youth Groups:

1st Saturday of every month 16.00 - 18.00 Messy Church Corrin Hall

1st and 3rd Wednesdays of every month 10.30 Caterpillar Club Corrin Hall

Every Friday 20.00 - 22.00 Revolution Corrin Hall

Cathedral Choristers:

Every Wednesday 16.00-17.00 Senior Boys Song Room

Every Thursday 16.00-17.30 Rehearsal Song Room

Regular Services:

Sunday 08.30 BCP Eucharist

10.30 CW Eucharist

15.30 Choral Evensong

or Said Evening Prayer (holidays)

Wednesday 09.30 BCP Eucharist

Monday– Friday 09.00 Morning Prayer

Monday– Saturday 17.30 Evening Prayer

Last Saturday of every month 18.00 Taizé Prayer

The Cathedral is open daily between 09.00 and 18.00.

Regular Events and Services

Cathedral Diary– continued

Sun 23 Low Sunday

Eucharist 10.30 Cathedral

Evening Prayer 15.30 Cathedral

Mon 24 MU meeting: Osteoporosis 19.30 Deanery

Sun 30

Choral Eucharist (Schola) 10.30 Cathedral

Choral Evensong 15.30 Cathedral

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Who are servers? These are specially trained individuals who have ceremonial and practical roles that have become established over centuries. The present day practices are little different to those practiced in the Temple and synagogues in the time of Jesus. These, in turn are rooted in religious practices with common elements world wide in other civilisations such as Egyptian, Inca, Aztec and Druid. Why robes? Robes, like any uniform, affect the wearer as well as the observer. They enable the participants in a ceremony to recognise each other and to speedily identify the part they are playing.. Equally, they enable the individual to be identified by the congregation. This is important in the service of holy communion or the mass, which is not only a re-enactment of the Last Supper but once the bread and wine are consecrated ,we are all at God’s table. This is when the drama becomes reality - the whole atmosphere changes. This is as close as we are likely to get to heaven in this life,

The robes have become stylised. Their roots lie in the normal wear of Roman gentlemen in the 1st century. In the Temple, we read in the Old Testament, that, ” Samuel, ministered unto the Lord, girded in a linen ephod”. Do look up ephod in Google. You will see a whole series of pictures of this simple over-garment. Priests’ wear is similar but increasingly ornate. Robes help to define roles in the same way as do costumes in a play or as do uniforms. These are increasingly common, as they have extended from the military to schools to restaurants and bank staff. How do they affect the wearer? Just look at the face and bearing of a soldier in dress uniform or a choirboy singing in church. Yes, it’s role- play but in the drama of the mass, or in any religious service, the wearer feels different. Interestingly, descriptions

of the wear of the heavenly hosts, including the visits of angels to the Earth are not dissimilar to the albs, (white robes), that we wear. What are the tasks of servers? When I began at the age of 4 or 5, in 1940, I was a boat boy. I wore a black cassock, white surplice and carried the incense boat. I had to keep to the left of the thurifer to add incense to the burning charcoal, as required. Again, on the website for ephod, you will see drawings of incense in use in the same way as today. Its original purpose may well have been to add ‘sweet savour’ to a building full of people from the desert with limited washing facilities. The rising smoke was likened to prayer rising to heaven - another example of the practical becoming ritualised. Why carry candles? It is only in recent years that we have had the benefit of electric lighting. Gas lighting that preceded this, in Victorian times, was very limited. We do have two remaining gasoliers here but they would not have

Serving in Church

Serving in Church– continued

illuminated books for reading and were not portable. Think of the candleholders attached to Victorian pianos. The servers who carry the candles are called acolytes. They stand either side of the reader to illumine the book. They also light the way in a procession, often lead by a crucifer carrying a processional cross. Once again, this is full of symbolism as we are reminded of the crucifixion cross once seen as a sign of disgrace, as carried by Jesus on the road to Calvary. Now it is a Christian symbol of success. Each time we see it we are reminded not only of Jesus’ death but also of his resurrection. The symbol of death was transformed to the symbol of eternal life. The crucifer is acutely aware of the role he is playing. The communion. Server or servers will ensure that there is sufficient wine, water, the priest’s and people’s wafers all in place. The altar is set as the heavenly table with chalice, paten and linen. The cruet of water and a bowl for the lavabo and towels are in place on a side table called the credence. The server, if duly appointed and anointed may help to administer the sacrament. The bread and wine can only be consecrated by a priest. Once consecrated it must all be consumed at the time, or a quantity set aside in a special safe to be taken to the housebound. The service may be elaborate with much fine music, when it is referred to as a High Mass or a simple ceremony with just priest and server when it is referred to as a Low Mass. Importantly, the consecration and communion is identical and can be most moving in its simplicity. Other services. Servers may be called upon to fill a number of roles in Evensong or Mattins. Traditionally, there is a hierarchy in serving from boat boy to torchbearers who may also carry banners in procession, acolyte, crucifer, thurifer and top of the tree, the M.C. who acts as director of operations, standing next to the priests in complex services. We don’t have an MC! After 75 years of serving, I should be able to cope! John Slater

Update from the Cathedral Quarter Trust Mr Chris Hutt has stepped down as Trustee and Secretary of The Cathedral Quarter Trust and Mrs Jacqui Turner has stepped down as a Trustee. We would like to thank Chris and Jacqui for what they achieved as Trustees and are extremely grateful that Jacqui has agreed to continue as Projects Manager for the developments around the Cathedral quarter.

We welcome The Revd Canon Margaret Burrow as a Trustee and Mr Tim Henwood as Trustee and Secretary.

We are delighted that HE the Lieutenant Governor, Sir Richard Gozney and Lady Gozney have agreed to open phase 1 of the Cathedral gardens on the evening of Friday 21 July 2017 and join us for a banquet in the Cathedral afterwards.

The evening will include a Barbershop quartet singing while people wander around the grounds and a string quartet playing in the Cathedral.

Further information to follow (including price of tickets).

Save the Date!

BAPTISMS

Owen James Sweeney

Baptized: 5th March

Leighton William George Bartlow

Baptized: 19th March

Please keep all these and their families in your prayers.

From the Registers

Car Boot Sale Easter Monday (17 April) Car Boot Sale in Corrin Hall, 11am to 2pm. If you are interested in having a table at the sale, (£10) please speak to Val Garrett. Admission by donation, proceeds towards automation of the new entrance doors into the Corrin Hall for those less able. Refreshments including sausage baps will be on sale along with Apple Jelly and various Chutneys. If anyone has anything that is suitable for an instant raffle prize or can help with setting up please speak to Val Garrett.

Who’s who? St German’s Cathedral Chapter

The Very Revd. Nigel Godfrey (Dean of St German’s Cathedral.

Vicar for Parish of the West Coast serving Dalby, Kirk Michael, Patrick, Peel and St John’s)

The Ven. Andie Brown (Archdeacon of the Isle of Man)

Revd. John Coldwell (Canon of St Patrick)

Revd. Joseph Heaton (Canon of St German)

Revd. Clive Burgess (Canon of St Maughold)

Revd. Janice Ward (Canon of St Columba)

Cathedral Clergy

Precentor: Revd. Ian Faulds

Cathedral Chaplain: Revd. Colin Fleetney

Cathedral Staffing

PA to the Dean: Helen Parry

Tel.: 01624 844830

Email: deanpa@cathedral.im

Cathedral Fundraising Campaign: Val Garrett

Tel.: 01624 844830/ 07624 316001

Email: campaign@cathedral.im

Cathedral Verger: Andrea Quine

Cathedral Premises: Geoff Hall

Cathedral Booking: Val Garrett

Hall Booking: Moira Hall Tel.: 401435

Safeguarding Coordinator: Christiane Litman

Tel.: 07624 271326

Email: safe.stgermans@gmail.com

Children and Families Worker: Vacant

Contact the Cathedral Office

Organist and Director of Music: Peter Litman MA, DMus, FLCM, ARSCM, HonFGCM

Tel.: 07624 226356

Email: music@cathedral.im

Organ Scholar: Max Smith BMus (Hons) ARSM

FISH AND CHIP SUPPER

UPDATE 3RD MARCH

Were you there?