Weekly Reflection – A Great Weekend

I had a great weekend last weekend. It is not often I get to say that – also because in English culture, I have discovered, people are rather reluctant to admit that something might have been really good. I have learnt over the years that when a Yorkshireman says, “T’is all right”, that is the equivalent of a standing ovation and jumping up and down and shouting hurrah from anyone else.

But I did have a great weekend. I had the joy of being in the cathedral for the Rhubarb Festival and for the service installing Bishop Ulrica from the Diocese of Skara as an Honorary Canon. And I must say, both events showed off the cathedral from its very best side! On the Saturday, we welcomed what we reckon is above 1500 people into the cathedral throughout the day, many of them multiple generations of families, who sat and chatted with great food and listening to great music. Plenty of children wandered around the cathedral, hunting for that elusive rhubarb, and the pride when they’d finally spotted it was a sight to behold! Have you discovered it yet, by the way? I must admit, until I actually had to go find it so that I could give some clues to the desperate after they’d spent half an hour looking in vain, I had no idea where it was.

And on the Sunday, the team of musicians, servers, choir, lay canons, clergy, welcomers, vergers, sides people and the whole congregation pulled together for a wonderful welcome for the delegation from Skara, and made for a memorable service of praise, preaching and sacrament. And I found myself thinking, “This is what our faith is: an open door to welcome in the stranger, a welcoming community formed in prayer and in praise, and at the centre of it all our loving Lord and God.” I had a great weekend. I hope and pray you will have a great weekend too.

Canon Erik