大象传媒

RADIO 4 OPENING ANNOUNCEMENT:

At ten past eight on 大象传媒 Radio 4 and 大象传媒 Sounds it鈥檚 time now for Sunday Worship.

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CLARE:

Good morning, and welcome to Newcastle Cathedral. I鈥檓 [The Reverend] Clare MacLaren, Canon for Music and Liturgy here at the Cathedral. This has been a place of Christian worship for almost 1000 years and is an iconic building at the heart of our city.听 Hemmed in by office blocks, restaurants and night-clubs, the Cathedral precincts can often be noisier at 2 in the morning, than at 2 in the afternoon.听 But whether we are open for Night Church, or for daytime visitors, we rejoice in our urban context.

This week, we are hosting the National Cathedrals鈥� Conference 鈥� when representatives of Cathedrals across the country will gather to ponder the Church鈥檚 response to climate justice, racial justice and social justice.

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This morning, however, we take this time to explore the joys and challenges of city life and ministry, in the presence of the God who walks these streets with us.听 We shall hear some contrasting images of the city, from the scriptures, listen to stories of challenge and hope 鈥� and we begin by singing of the heavenly city 鈥� the new Jerusalem.

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CHOIR/ORGAN/CONGREGATION: Glorious things of thee are spoken (Abbots Leigh)

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CLARE:

We come from scattered lives to meet with God.

Let us recognize God鈥檚 presence with us.

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As God鈥檚 people we have gathered:

ALL: let us worship God together.

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CLARE:

There are many cities mentioned in the bible, but the first is remembered for the great tower that the people built in its midst. Let us attend to the word of the Lord as we hear now from Genesis, Chapter 11 and beginning at the first verse.

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RAY:

Now the whole earth had one language and the same words.听 And as they migrated from the east, they came upon a plain in the land of Shinar and settled there.听 And they said to one another, 鈥楥ome, let us make bricks, and burn them thoroughly.鈥櫶� And they had brick for stone, and bitumen for mortar.听 Then they said, 鈥楥ome, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let us make a name for ourselves; otherwise we shall be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.鈥�

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The Lord came down to see the city and the tower, which mortals had built.听 And the Lord said, 鈥楲ook, they are one people, and they have all one language; and this is only the beginning of what they will do; nothing that they propose to do will now be impossible for them.听 Come, let us go down, and confuse their language there, so that they will not understand one another鈥檚 speech.鈥�

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So the Lord scattered them abroad from there over the face of all the earth, and they left off building the city.听 Therefore it was called Babel, because there the Lord confused the language of all the earth; and from there the Lord scattered them abroad over the face of all the earth.

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CLARE:

Canon Peter Dobson, Canon for Outreach and Discipleship at Newcastle Cathedral now offers a reflection on the challenge of creating cities where nobody is left behind.

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PETER:

鈥淲hat鈥檚 in a name?鈥�, Juliet asks Romeo in that most well-known of love stories. Juliet鈥檚 suggestion, of course, is that a name is just a name, a mere convention, and nothing more.听 Your experience, might be like mine, that names are in-fact powerful, one way or another.听 Names, in no time, take on meaning 鈥� intended or otherwise.听 That is certainly the case here, this City鈥檚 designation serving to continually call it, call us, back to its historic heart and story.听 The question might be, whether that story is now a romantic one, or whether it is (or could continue to be?) real?

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The 鈥榥ew castle鈥� from which this City takes its name is just 200 yards south of here, founded in 1080, near the site of the Roman Fort which once also stood there.听 This marked the beginning of the creation of Newcastle鈥檚 contemporary urban landscape, advanced by the building of what was, then, St. Nicholas鈥� Church and the City Walls.

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As this City grew, from its beginnings and life source (the iconic River Tyne) - growing up the hill, finding strength and protection in its Castle - the next symbol for its future came in St. Nicholas鈥� Church, one which, as the City grew beyond it, continued to hold an important place for the town鈥檚 citizens when local philanthropists, Robert and Alice Rhodes, paid to construct it's striking lantern tower in 1448.听 The tower was lit with a brazier by night - a beacon above a city in its becoming and a navigation point for those finding their way here, to trade, and visit and make a home: finding life, and strength and hope in its oldest landmarks.

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In the words we鈥檝e just shared from the Book Genesis, it is another story of how a people come to belong and grow in a place, which we hear.听 In this story, we watch how this so-called growth comes as a people and place turn in on themselves, and, more than that, how, in-fact, that turning in together to focus on one place continues, and seems to develop into different groups of people turning in on themselves to create an ever smaller group who will reach the heavens, attain wisdom and power.

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What is created to reach the heavens is not a scaffold to hold a whole platform of people but a tower - something which gets smaller at the top.听 Easier, perhaps, to build, but ultimately limiting those whose view can be expanded.

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How we grow communities and expand their vision without leaving some behind is, of course, a tension, we know well, and are living with.听 The confusion that comes upon the people of Babel is cast as a punishment, not only for leaving people behind in that place but also for not sharing the blessing of communities and their gifts with others beyond the place we call home.听 A punishment it might be, but was it ultimately inevitable anyway?听 Some are literally at the top - attaining so called wisdom and certainly power - whilst all the while long, different levels are created below until we return to the plain, and see the people we have forgotten 鈥榙own there鈥�.

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At Newcastle Cathedral our doors open out onto a busy road, onto the Job Centre on one side, offices on another, and the City鈥檚 vibrant pubs and clubs in the other directions.听 From these different directions come, thank goodness, all comers, and all of life is here.听

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Part of our ministry over the last years has been to wonder how we bring what we can make the margins back to the heart of this historic City鈥檚 life, to ask how can we play our part in doing this together with all who make up a City: that the City which grew from its life-source, finding strength and protection, light and hope, up the hill from the Tyne, might continue, in a real and not romantic way to do that for all who spend their time here.

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CHOIR/ORGAN/CONGREGATION: Jesus Christ is waiting (No毛l Nouvelet)

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CLARE:

Jesus Christ, risen Master and triumphant Lord, we come to you in sorrow for our sins, and for the sins of the world, of which we are a part.

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Lord Jesus, you wept over the sins of your city.

On our cities:

Lord, have mercy.

ALL: Lord, have mercy.

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Lord Jesus, you heal the wounds of sin and division,

jealousy and bitterness.

On us and on our communities:

Christ, have mercy.

ALL: Christ, have mercy.

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Lord Jesus, you bring pardon and peace to the sinner.

Grant us your compassion, forgiveness and peace:

Lord, have mercy.

ALL: Lord, have mercy.

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May the God of love and power

forgive you and free you from your sins,

heal and strengthen you by his Spirit,

and raise you to new life in Christ our Lord.

Amen.

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CHOIR/ORGAN: There is a Land of pure Delight (Grayston Ives)

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CLARE:

In contrast with the chaos of the city of Babel, our scriptures also offer us the promise of an eternal home in a heavenly city 鈥� and one day, the establishment of that city, here on earth.听 A place where all will live in joy and peace 鈥� where all will have room to grow and opportunity to flourish. We hear now from Revelation, Chapter 21.

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SIMDI:

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

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And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

鈥楽ee, the home of God is among mortals.

He will dwell with them;

they will be his peoples,

and God himself will be with them;

he will wipe every tear from their eyes.

Death will be no more;

mourning and crying and pain will be no more,

for the first things have passed away.鈥�

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And the one who was seated on the throne said, 鈥楽ee, I am making all things new.鈥�

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CLARE:

鈥淪ee, I am making all things new鈥︹�澨� We鈥檙e now going to hear from Jon Canessa, who heads up the Lantern Project, based here at Newcastle Cathedral, and Karen, with whom he has been working as part of our 鈥淩ecovery Church鈥�.

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JON:

Karen, yesterday you celebrated 6 months of sobriety. Congratulations!听听 How have you arrived at this point in your life?

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KAREN:

Well, I started drinking socially with my friends when I was 14. And that led to groups of us going into town at the weekends. We鈥檇 go to the Bigg Market and the quayside which was a great night out. Newcastle is a party city 鈥� when I was younger it wasn鈥檛 about getting drunk, it was more about having a good time out with your mates.

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My drinking continued at university and after that, when I worked as a holiday rep, where drinking at work was normal. I was in a relationship with someone who was a heavy drinker. He was violent and I ended up in hospital and my drinking became a way of trying to hide from the trauma of all that.听 I鈥檝e been alcohol dependent to get me through the day for years and years.

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JON:

How did the lockdown affect you?

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KAREN:

Awful. I referred myself to Plumber Court, which is a rehab service here in Newcastle because my drinking was just out of control.听 I was sent to hospital because my liver was so damaged. I am lucky to be alive.

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Val at Changing Lives runs a 12 week recovery programme called Oaktrees which looks at the 12 steps of recovery used by Alcoholics Anonymous.听 This is when things started to change because I had to look at the reasons why I was drinking, and for the first time I had to look at everything that had happened to me . . . which was really painful. It鈥檚 not easy looking at yourself honestly.

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I had to get my head around the idea that alcoholism is a disease. And that the trauma of being in violent relationships wasn鈥檛 actually my fault. So it was about working through all that, so I didn鈥檛 go home and need another drink to cope.

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JON:

You鈥檝e spoken to me about how important it is to be with other people who are also in recovery.

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KAREN:

Yes, when I first went into Oaktrees I was lost. I didn鈥檛 know who I was anymore or who I was meant to be. I hadn鈥檛 been anybody for so long. When you鈥檙e an addict, you think you鈥檙e the only person who鈥檚 going through the chaos and madness. That you鈥檙e the only one who drinks in the morning before getting out of bed, and steals alcohol or panics when there鈥檚 no booze in the house.

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Just before I went into hospital I found myself saying to God, 鈥淚 need help鈥� because I can鈥檛 go on.听 Being in recovery I鈥檝e realised I have a higher power that wants me to have a life, whereas my addiction to alcohol just wants to destroy me.

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I don鈥檛 want to block stuff out with drinking anymore. I actually embrace the fact that I have emotions that I鈥檓 alive to. I can deal with them 鈥� I don鈥檛 have to wear a mask or pretend anymore. I love being alive! Which is crazy because for so long I was in so much pain 鈥� emotionally, physically and mentally 鈥� I honestly just wanted to die.

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Now, I鈥檇 be devasted if I couldn鈥檛 go to my 12 step recovery meetings here and elsewhere because I have made friends for life. Everyone鈥檚 honesty, strength and bravery in the rooms is just so amazing. People say, 鈥渋f you could bottle what you get from those recovery meetings, there wouldn鈥檛 be any addicts in the world鈥�

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I don鈥檛 hide the fact that I am an alcoholic in recovery. Because I know how hard it can be for people to admit that they have an addiction.听 And to seek out help for that, that鈥檚 hard too.

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I am grateful for so much 鈥�

For the peace that I feel when I wake up every morning

For friends I have made in recovery

for the rehab and recovery services here in Newcastle,

for the Cathedral

and for Newcastle College where I have just started a course in counselling.

If you鈥檇 told me 6 months ago that I was going to return to studying, I鈥檇 have laughed in your face.

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CHOIR: Ubi Caritas (Thomsett)

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CLARE:

Risen Christ,

your wounds declare your love for the world

and the wonder of your risen life:

give us compassion and courage

to risk ourselves for those we serve,

to the glory of God the Father

ALL: Amen.

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CHOIR/ORGAN/CONGREGATION: In our City Life is Promise (Ar hyd y Nos)

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BEN:

Through the prophet Jeremiah, God advised the people to 鈥渟eek the welfare of the city where I have sent you, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.鈥�

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So let us pray for our cities, using a response set to the tune 鈥淭he Water of Tyne鈥�:

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CHOIR/ORGAN: O God of all justice (Refrain)

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BEN:

For your holy church throughout the world,

that every Christian may

be filled with resurrection hope

and overflow with love for their neighbours.

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For our Cathedrals, and the cities in which they are located,

let us pray to the Lord.

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CHOIR/ORGAN: O God of all justice (Refrain)

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BEN:

For the peace of the world,

and for all affected by conflict, climate change

and natural disaster.

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For Marioupol and Odessa, Colombo and Kabul,

for Newcastle, New York and New Delhi 鈥�

that our cities may be places of sanctuary and flourishing for all.

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CHOIR/ORGAN: O God of all justice (Refrain)

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BEN:

For all who suffer in body, mind or spirit,

and those who care for them -

that they may know God鈥檚 healing presence

in their time of need.

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For those who have died recently,

those whose anniversaries of death fall at this time -

and for all who mourn their loss.

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CHOIR/ORGAN: O God of all justice (Refrain)

CLARE:

Rejoicing in God's new creation, as our Saviour taught us, so we pray.

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Our Father,

ALL:

who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done; on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power, and the glory
for ever and ever.听 Amen.

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CHOIR/ORGAN/CONGREGATION: All my hope on God is founded (Michael)

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CLARE:

God, who has prepared for us

a city with eternal foundations,

bring you to the triumphant joy

of the city of the great King;

and the blessing of God Almighty,

the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit

be upon you and remain with you,

now and for ever.听听

ALL: Amen.

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ORGAN: VOLUNTARY: Paean (Howells)

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RADIO 4 CLOSING ANNOUNCEMENT:

Sunday Worship came live from Newcastle Cathedral. It was led by the Reverend Canon Clare MacLaren, the Director of Music was Ian Roberts, and the organ was played by the Assistant Director of Music, Kris Thomsett. The producer was Ben Collingwood. The programme is available now on 大象传媒 Sounds from where you can also click through to a copy of the script. Next week鈥檚 Sunday Worship comes from Durham Cathedral and commemorates the greatest of all Anglo-Saxon scholars, the Venerable Bede.