THE Archbishop of York preached at choral evensong at York Minster on Friday as a part of the launch of his “Lord’s Prayer Tour” across the north of England.
The initiative invites communities, including schools, to learn the prayer by heart, and to grasp the words and meaning through teaching, reflection, and music.
In his sermon, Archbishop Cottrell used music as a metaphor, saying that the Lord’s Prayer was “a song of heaven on earth”, and that every one had an instrument on this orchestra, whether or not they wished to play or not.
“The will of God, the great purposes of a very good and loving God, God’s good purposes for the entire creation, for this earth and for everybody and all the pieces in it, is sort of a single beautiful, clarifying note played and resonating throughout the universe.
“Everything else is tuned to it. Or no less than it may possibly be and needs to be. Making it so is the missionary challenge of the gospel and the invitation of God’s kingdom.”
He continued: “The universe, the entire creation are held together in harmony by the one note of the desire of God, played throughout the ages by the Holy Spirit and from which all the pieces else is tuned. The music is complex and delightful. But it’s held together, it’s held in tune and we’re a part of it.”
The service included the première of a setting of the Lord’s Prayer by the composer and music educator Lucy Walker.
The tour and newly commissioned music is a component of Faith within the North which has been developed to encourage prayer, storytelling, and church planting, inspired by northern saints including Hild, Cuthbert, Bede, and Paulinus.
Later this 12 months, on 10 October, churches, schools, and individuals across the north of England will probably be invited to come back together to say the Lord’s Prayer as one.
