This weekend we welcomed those who were newly ordained deacon and priest in the Diocese of Sheffield. It was a time of much rejoicing and thankfulness; of much prayer and expectation.
Those beginning their new ministries in the Church will be helping to shape the life of the Church at a time of great change and development. As they came to the Cathedral they reminded us of our place at the centre of the Diocese and as a focal point for the unity of the Diocese expressed through the ministry of the Bishop.
These ordinations were a powerful reminder to us all of the greater ministry in which we share. Let us pray again for those newly ordained and as we do so let us pray that we all may find strength and renewal in our ministries.
Canon Christopher Burke
Vice Dean and Canon Precentor
It was a great joy this week to join with many folk from across our Diocese, as well as from the community here at the Cathedral, to celebrate the consecration of Pete Wilcox as a bishop.
There are times when it seems we are faced with genuine difficulty and the only response we can offer is to pray.
One great early teacher of the Christian faith, Gregory from Nazianzus in Turkey, said that there are only two ways to God, "journeying outwards, and journeying inwards."
Next Sunday we will be processing from the Cathedral after the morning service, up Fargate, to join with the other city centre churches for a short service at the cross beside the Town Hall.
If nothing else the last few weeks have reminded the Church of England of some of the many areas where it has found it difficult to gather agreement.
As we give thanks for our new Bishop and our new Bell, let us pray that we may also have the courage to share the good news of Jesus in our communities and across this diocese.