Then I saw that you had indeed sinned against the Lord, by casting for yourselves an image of a calf; you had been quick to turn from the way that the Lord commanded you… Deuteronomy 9: 16

 What parent has not come home, having left his or her children unattended for a period of time to find that the children had done something they shouldn’t have.  Many of us, depending on the severity of the action have also uttered the words, “Can’t I leave you alone without worrying that you won’t get into something?”  These words used to be followed with the admonition, “Go to your room!”  I sense that this form of punishment works less well today than in my time, where going to your room meant that there might be something to read, but precious little else to do.  Today, our kids rooms are electronic showrooms, complete with smart phones, computers, televisions, and video gaming systems.  Perhaps we should simply send them outside, or to the library if we want them to feel “punished”
 
I get the feeling from the passage in Deuteronomy that Moses feels like an exasperated parent, in that he has gone up Mt. Sinai as God has directed him, and that while he is away, the Israelites, whom he has been leading, have turned from God and fashioned an idol which becomes the object of their worship.  I suspect his instinct is to “send them to their room”, to punish them for misbehaving in his absence.  I can almost hear him, in his anger, roar “Can’t I leave you alone for even a little while?”
 
Lent is a time when we can reflect on our relationship with God, and with one another.  It is a time for us to acknowledge those things that we have done that are not of God… in many ways, it is a time for us to “go to our room.”  In St. Matthew’s gospel, Jesus instructs us that “whenever you pray, go into your room and shut your door and pray to your Father…” 
 
As we find ourselves in the midst of our Lenten journey, let us take the time to reflect on our relationship with God, and with those around us; let us take the time to reflect on God’s love for us, and his desire for us to live lives that are holy; let us take the time to seek God’s forgiveness, and to celebrate the grace that is ours, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 
If this is your first visit, it is a joy to welcome you to our Cathedral web site. Perhaps you are looking to find the presence of God in your own life journey, a search that, amid the noise and confusion of our age, can at times seem overwhelming. Maybe we can be of some assistance. Contained within this site are examples of the ministry that we share as the cathedral church of St. Paul’s. We enjoy a wonderful mix of young and old, those who are new to the faith, as well as those who are mature Christians. Within this wonderful blend of personalities comes the blessing of a variety of gifts and ministries. May the information you find here encourage you in your own faith journey. We invite you to come and make your spiritual home with us at St. Paul’s, but pray that wherever you are, you will find a Christian community where you can deepen your faith and explore what it is that God is calling you to.  Wherever you are, your prayers for the ministry of the people of St. Paul’s Cathedral are appreciated, and know that you will be in ours.

  We are thankful for the people of St. Paul’s, who offer their gifts for the ministry of the church as we seek to live out the commission that our Lord gave to us all, and we are thankful that you have visited us here… we wish you every blessing as you continue your journey in faith. 

The rich history of the Anglican Church of Canada is celebrated through liturgy and music in the beautiful setting of St. Paul’s Cathedral.  The Cathedral is the oldest church in the city of London, Canada, and the faithful have worshipped as part of this community for almost 200 years, establishing a congregation that has endured and flourished.  Generations have wrestled with human issues, celebrated life’s events, reached out to others and praised God in this same sacred space, providing profound continuity in the expression of faith. 
“GLORY be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.”