Open Hands: Pride at Liverpool Cathedral - The Welcoming Christ
Sculpture of The Welcoming Christ by Elizabeth Frink, which has stood over the entrance to Liverpool Cathedral for 30 years.
PHOTO: Man vyi via Wikimedia Commons. Click on the image to view in full screen.
“Our Open Table hands mirror Jesus’ hands. Identity embedded in Christ,in diversity and distinction. Embellished with love. ”
AT THE CLOSE of Pride in Liverpool on Sunday 30th July 2023, Liverpool Cathedral and Open Table collaborated to host a reflective service that brought us together and celebrated the vulnerability and visibility of Pride.
The theme of the service took inspiration from the statue of the Welcoming Christ by Elizabeth Frink which stands over the entrance to the Cathedral, greeting visitors with open hands. We came with open hands to celebrate that God loves us all equally.
The Very Revd Dr Sue Jones, Dean of Liverpool Cathedral, welcomed us and shared that she took inspiration from this sculpture when applying for her role. She spoke about Christ welcoming and drawing people up from the city to the cathedral, and her hope that the Cathedral would be a place for everyone.
She also drew our attention to the current art installation inside the Cathedral, IDENTITY by Peter Walker - seven columns, with individual strips of light representing the double helix of DNA and demonstrating the unique make-up of each person. Together, the seven columns represent our distinct differences, gathered in union. The columns are wrapped in over 3000 individual portraits of people from the city, photographed as part of Peter Walker’s 2022 installation Being Human. The illuminated columns change colour, representing our shared values as well as individuality, including our ethnicity, gender and sexuality.
Dean Sue said:
‘For me this installation speaks of the way God has made us as individuals each with out own DNA but in God’s image and all of us together create the whole.’
The statue of the Welcoming Christ was the inspiration for our first reflection of the service, by Revd Canon Dr Ellen Loudon, Director of Social Justice for the Diocese of Liverpool and Canon Chancellor of Liverpool Cathedral, following a reading from Matthew 28:5-6:
Our Jesus has open hands
an open heart,
face to the city.Our Jesus’ hands are open,
indiscriminately welcoming.
Palms out,
finger tips down.
Vulnerable.These open hands could be asking:
why? how? Why don’t you trust me, how can I help you to believe?They might be beckoning,
encouraging,
sharing,
drawing you into love.
Longing for you to place your open hands into these open hands.
Feeling them wrap around your fingers, hugging your palms, holding you. Holding the hands of Christ.Our Open Table hands mirror Jesus’ hands.
Identity embedded in Christ,
in diversity and distinction.
Embellished with love.
A seriousness of intent.
A flourish of joy.
A kindness that is full of justice.
Hands open in peace,
Longing for unity.
Expectant and hopeful.Our Jesus hands are open.
Open hands.
