What does it mean to be human? That is the question to be addressed by the Dean of Wakefield, the Very Revd Simon Cowling, in a series of special talks for Holy Week.
Starting on Monday, the ltalkss will use the poetry of Mark Jarman in Questions for Ecclesiastes and the Belgian expressionist painter, Gustave van de Woestyne’s Last Supper as prompts to thought and reflection on the human condition.
Dean Simon said: “The message of the journey to the cross is a very powerful message and one that speaks to us at all times and not just during Holy Week
“It’s one of humanity.
“It is about the ability of human beings to hold within themselves the tendency to good and the tendency to bad.
“That’s the human condition,’ he added.
The Dean's lectures start at 7pm on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday April 15-17 and will be part of a special service first developed in the early Middle Ages, called Tenebrae that leave the church in darkness by the end and include portions of text based on scripture which reflect on the suffering and death of Jesus.
The services are non Eucharistic.
Wakefield Cathedral services for Holy Week:
Monday 15 April
08.15 Morning Prayer and Holy Eucharist
12.30 Holy Eucharist
19.00 Tenebrae and Sermon
Tuesday 16 April
08.15 Morning Prayer and Holy Eucharist
19.00 Tenebrae and Sermon
Wednesday 17 April
08.15 Morning Prayer and Holy Eucharist
10.30 Holy Communion (BCP)
19.00 Tenebrae and Sermon
Maundy Thursday 18 April
08.15 Morning Prayer and Holy Eucharist
19.00 The Eucharist of the Last Supper,
foot washing, and Watch of the Passion until 22.00
Good Friday 19 April
08.15 Morning Prayer
10.00 Walk of Witness starting at Wakefield Cathedral
10.30 Ecumenical Service
12.30 An Hour at the Cross
13.35 The Liturgy of Good Friday
17.00 Missa