All Saints Margaret Street.

Dear Friend,

“What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you came to believe, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages according to the labour of each. For we are God’s servants, working together….”

Faced with the problem of factions in the Corinthian church attaching themselves to one or other personality, Paul could have demanded that they all demonstrate their loyalty to him as their founding father. That he does not is a mark of both his humility and his greatness as an apostle and disciple of Christ.  He sees his apostolic ministry and that of others like Apollos, not in terms of jealousy and rivalry but of a common source and purpose in God.  The seeds which he planted, Apollos then fed and nurtured.

This echoed something I had been reading in Quam Dilecta, Fr. Whitworth’s history of the first fifty years of All Saints.  In it he quotes extensively from what Berdmore Compton, the second Vicar, said about his role in that life.

“The second incumbent of a recently constituted cure of souls has always a peculiar sphere of duty.  The first incumbent, next to being pious and zealous, must, before all things else be an organiser.  He has to initiate every department of parochial work. He has to settle and order the services, to raise funds for various objects……..But the second incumbent….takes up a system in working order, but with all the instability and friction of recent construction and newly-adjusted machinery.  Before all things else he has to consolidate his predecessor’s arrangements…..”

“There is now a fashionable craze for organisation.  Every priest who runs hither and thither, attempting everything rather than the quiet work of building up the people committed to his charge is praised as a good organiser.  Every spiritual effort is called a Mission.  The tendency of the time is to elaborate the machinery rather than perfect the manufacture, to refit the ship’s tackle rather than to give one’s self to the navigation of the vessel.  The method of the day is rather by excitement than by steady feeding of the flock.”

“But the successor of the first organiser of a new parish must check himself when tempted to win the fame of being an organiser. His aim is, as far as possible, to eliminate the personal element from the system, so that the parochial machinery may acquire such habitual steadiness and smoothness of action that in a few years’ time it shall have the prestige of long standing, and be independent of the personal influence of the incumbent for the time being.  The second incumbent has to use the reins and bit, rather than the whip, and the people resent being guided more than they resent being stimulated!….He can, as the pioneer cannot, press on to perfection, safely devote his entire energy to teaching the baptised to live the regenerate life which they have received in the sacrament of baptism, the communicant to rise higher and higher as that life is again and again renewed by the sacrament of the Eucharist.”

That word “pioneer” which Berdmore Compton used in that final sentence, is one which has entered the official jargon of the Church of England. It signifies those whose task and training is to set up new worshipping communities or church plants rather than to minister to existing ones.

Because All Saints has been around a long time, we can forget that it began its life as such a new worshipping community.  The clergy, religious and laity who began it were ‘pioneer ministers.’ The difference between it and some of those being set up today, was that it was firmly anchored on a renewed commitment to the worship and life of the Church expressed in its liturgical, sacramental and teaching life.

Fr. Gerald Beauchamp spoke recently to the congregation of St. Cyprian’s about the shape of the ministry there over the coming three years. In his address he spoke kindly of my role in the progress that has been made there and at the Annunciation.  In a sense that role has been as a “midwife,” helping something new to come to birth. We recognized a need and were able to respond to it. Quite early on it became clear to us that the role of All Saints should be one of support to churches with a similar tradition; a family likeness. To set up an official team ministry in which I was in charge of everything would simply result in me being spread too thinly everywhere to be much use anywhere.  Ecclesiastical empire-building was not going to be the way to do the work of the kingdom. 

With the large expansion of the congregation at the Annunciation, in which he has played a key role, Fr. Gerald has wisely concluded that he is being spread too thinly over two churches; both of which need significant restoration.  We are very pleased that Fr. Michael Fuller, a recently retired priest who lives not far away, has agreed to be the Sunday-by-Sunday presence at St. Cyprian’s. We had identified this as a need for both pastoral and missional readings. (‘Missional’ is another piece of jargon among those who are allergic to the term ‘missionary.’)  Fr. Michael Bowie has taken on the role of Bishop’s representative on the governing body of Francis Holland School; the immediate neighbour of St. Cyprian’s, so that Fr. Gerald does not have to be governor of two schools. Being a school governor is a considerable responsibility these days and he already has the Annunciation’s parish school: Hampden Gurney.  I have the enjoyable task of being his assistant at the weekly school mass.

Clergy are often thought to be lone wolves who find cooperation with our brothers and sisters difficult.  In our little family of three parishes, we hope that we have been able to demonstrate that we are able to work in collaboration.

Yours in Christ,  

Fr. Alan Moses
Prebendary Alan Moses
Vicar of All Saints Margaret Street
Area Dean of Westminster – St Marylebone

Please pray for those who have asked for our prayers:  Asia Bibi, Paul Curno, David Evans, Gwyneth Hopkins, Bishop Michael Perham, Andy Steenhoff, Roy Jenkins, Melanie Stimmler, Bill Rodger , Alix Bainbridge-Spring, Jenna Stanbrook and Carol Naismith. 

For the recently departed:  Udho Forward, Michael Ovey (Priest), Jean Sheppard, Yap Kim Kee, Joan Cooper, Stephen Lawrence, Brenda Wheeler, Jon Vosper, Hans Ashbourne, Richard Buck (Priest) whose Funeral takes place on Thursday 23 February , Paula Sormani, Sr Anne Frances ASSSP (whose Funeral takes place on Friday 24 February) and Myrtle Hughes (whose Funeral takes place at St Nicholas, Harpenden on Monday 27 February and for whom a Requiem Mass is planned at noon at All Saints on Saturday 18 March).   

Remember past priests, benefactors, friends, and all whose year’s mind occurs this week including: Charlotte Druitt, Helen Buck, Sister Barbara ASSP, Charles Lethbridge, Nellie Chapman, Margaret McWilliam, Mary Dick, John Knight (Priest), Charles Forker, Marion Clark, Constance Rivington, Henry Hewetson, John Bartle, Alec Rodger, Margaret Menzies, Frederick Howard, Letty Attlee, Jack Hope, Alice Mackay and Angela Thomson. 

For full service information: www.allsaintsmargaretstreet.org.uk. 

WORSHIP THIS WEEK:

SUNDAY 12 FEBRUARY – 3^rd Sunday before Lent
HIGH MASS, 11am
Preacher: The Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses
Missa super ‘Sancta Maria’ – Händl
O sacrum convivium – Messiaen

Sunday Lunch is served – tickets £5 on sale from the All Saints Shop in the Parish Room before and again after Mass (subject to availability). The chefs are Chris Self and Jan Fielden. Chris is preparing roast lamb with a selection of vegetables and Jan is making Mandarin Ginger Cream for dessert. Coffee is available as usual.    

EVENSONG & BENEDICTION, 6pm
Preacher: Fr Barry Orford
Wood in E Flat No 2 

 Christe qui lux es et dies – Whyte 

WORSHIP NEXT WEEK

SUNDAY 19 FEBRUARY – 2^nd Sunday before Lent
HIGH MASS, 11am
Preacher: The Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses
Mass in G – Schubert 
Faire is the heaven – Harris  

Sunday Lunch is served – tickets £5 on sale from the All Saints Shop in the Parish Room before and again after Mass (subject to availability). The chef is John Forde.

EVENSONG & BENEDICTION, 6pm
Preacher: Fr Julian Browning
Chichester Service – Walton 
Great and marvellous are thy works – Tomkins 

PARISH NOTICES & NEWS

‘THIS IS OUR FAITH’ Course – for those wishing to be prepared for adult Baptism and/or Confirmation/Reception into the Church of England. Names to the Vicar, please. 

PARISH OFFICE CLOSURE – Friday 17 February and Tuesday 21 to Friday 24 February inclusive. Emails will be checked from time to time and phone messages reviewed, but the Parish Office will not be regularly attended on these dates due to annual leave. We apologise for any inconvenience.

OU GEOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION (OUGA) TALK, Parish Room, Thursday 16 February 7pm Coffee for 7.30pm Talk start. This is the first monthly talk this year, following the recent AGM.  We hope to provide information about the topics, as the OUGA has extended an open invitation to members of the All Saints’ congregation to attend their talks free of charge.

POETRY TEA, Sunday 26 February 3pm at Pamela’s home.  Please bring “Your Favourite Poetry and Prose”.  If you would like to come to this event please speak to Pamela or Sandra in the courtyard, or ring Sandra on 020 7637 8456 leaving your name and phone number.  Charge £6 in aid of the All Saints’ Restoration Fund.

MYRTLE HUGHES RIP – for many decades a regular worshipper at and good friend of All Saints (and stalwart helper of Chris Auton in the Parish Shop) , Myrtle’s Funeral will be held at her request at her local church –
St Nicholas, Harpenden – at 11am on Monday 27 February. A Requiem Mass will be said for her at All Saints at 12 noon on Saturday 18 March.

CONFESSIONS AT THE BEGINNING OF LENT and ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICES
Monday 27 February 12 – 1pm and 5 – 6pm

Tuesday 28 February 12 – 1pm and 5 – 6pm

ASH WEDNESDAY, 1 MARCH
Low Mass with Ashing           at 8am 

Confessions                             12 – 1pm

Low Mass with Ashing           at 1.10pm
Confessions                             5 – 5.45pm

ASH WEDNESDAY HIGH MASS &
IMPOSITION OF ASHES 6.30pm
Preacher:  The Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses
Mass in Five Parts – Byrd 
Salvator mundi I – Tallis

LENT READING GROUP FRIDAY MORNINGS AND TUESDAY EVENINGS
Following the positive response at our occasional Friday morning reading group to Bishop Rowan Williams short books on Paul and Mark, we are going to use as our Lent book this year his Being Disciples. While not specifically designed as a Lent Book, it has a conveniently Lenten six chapters. They are entitled:

• Being Disciples
• Faith, Hope and Love
• Forgiveness
• Holiness
• Faith in Society
• Life in the Spirit. 

The reading group will meet in the Parish Room on Friday mornings, beginning on the 24 February at 11am. If there is sufficient interest from those who work during the day, there will also be a group on Tuesday evenings after Mass – on 28 February (with pancakes), 7 March, 14 March, 21 March, 28 March and 4 April. Please sign the list in church or contact the Parish Office to indicate your interest in either Friday mornings/Tuesday evenings. Sunday evening sermons in Lent will also be related to these themes.

THE WAY OF THE CROSS
The devotion of Stations of the Cross will take place after the Evening Mass at 7pm on Fridays during Lent starting on Friday 3 March. Quentin Williams will kindly play the organ. 

CELL OF OUR LADY OF WALSINGHAM EVENT
On Thursday, 16 March 2017 Fr Pascal Boisin S.M., Rector of Notre Dame de France R.C. Church in Leicester Square will be the visiting speaker, giving a Talk about the Marist Order. A Low Mass with Hymns at 6.30pm will be followed by the talk and light refreshments will be served. This is an ecumenical event and all are welcome.

BEYOND ALL SAINTS and of interest…

Richard Chartres Fund for London Launch
To mark Bishop Richard’s retirement, the Diocese of London has launched this special fund to support work towards the 2020 Capital Vision goals in London, described by the Bishop as: ‘a city where we hold fast to that which is good; render to no one evil for evil but strengthen the fainthearted and afflicted, honouring everyone and rejoicing in the love of God and the energy of the Holy Spirit’.

To find out more about this new initiative, please go to: www.london.anglican.org/rcf4l  

HUGH PRICE LECTURES – “Speaking of God in Public”
All lectures at Hinde St Methodist Church, London W1. Admission free. All welcome.
Tuesday 14 February, 7.30pm – A Mills and Boon Deity for the 21^st Century
Revd Dr Peter Phillips
Tuesday 14 March, 7.30pm – God, Public Life and Privacy
Ruth Gledhill

** MISSION NEWS**
Men’s clothing especially is needed by the Jesus Centre in Margaret Street and also by the Soup Kitchen at the American International Church, both of whom provide a daily range of services to homeless people. If you have women’s or men’s clothes to give away, please bring to Church and leave at the Parish Office so we can continue to help support our neighbours’ efforts. The Church Army is now also collecting women’s clothes for their Homeless Hostel so all donations can be found a good new home!

The Soup Kitchen specifically calls for: men’s trousers (sizes 32-36) and men’s sturdy/athletic shoes (sizes 9-12 especially) and say ‘we are also beginning to need men’s outerwear of all varieties and we always need rucksacks and duffle-bags to help our guests carry their belongings!’

Miranda Suit, Director of the Soup Kitchen (part-time, usually in the office on Tuesdays and Thursdays) says: ‘Please drop me a line if you are planning to drop things off here. As always, many thanks for your support.’ Soup Kitchen at the American International Church, 79a Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 4TD T: 020 7580 2791    www.amchurch.co.uk/soup-kitchen/

ALL SAINTS REGULAR MISSION PROJECTS:- 
Marylebone Project – emergency refuge and rehoming project for homeless women. Between our Lent and Festival Appeals, we raised £5,120 for them in 2016

USPG –work with those experiencing Aids and HIV in Zimbabwe. Between our Lent and Festival Appeals, we raised £5,120 for them in 2016

ONGOING SUPPORT for HOMELESS PEOPLE through: 
MARYLEBONE PROJECT run by the CHURCH ARMY – A Day Centre, Residential and Transitional accommodation provider, re-settlement project and Educational and Training Unit for women. The Emergency Bed Unit – for which we have for some years helped to provide the funds for one of the 4 beds – offers a safe haven and refuge for women escaping domestic violence, financial crisis, sexual exploitation and mental health issues. 

Year Round Support – we also support the Marylebone Resettlement Project with non-perishable food and toiletries or household necessities like cutlery or bed linen/blankets. Thank you to everyone who contributes food and household essentials via the basket in Church or handed in to the Parish Office. Please continue to donate these so we can help more people in need.

Day-to-day Support – we respond to the needs of homeless people who visit the church allowing them to sleep there in the daytime and signposting them to other agencies who can offer help and donating a total of £3,454 in 2016 (a one off £1,000 and part of our Festival Appeal collection) towards the Soup Kitchen at the American International Church in Tottenham Court Road. We also allow individuals, who need a place to shelter or sleep during the day, to rest in the back of the church. We have created an information resource for Church Watchers, giving useful advice to homeless and vulnerable people seeking particular support or services. In the face of a rising tide of homelessness in London and as the cold weather starts to bite, please help us fund and support people in need through our Mission activities.

Want to help someone sleeping rough but don’t know how? 
Call Streetlink on 0300 500 0914 and they will get a visit from the local Street Team who can put them in contact with the services they may need. 

FURTHER COMMUNICATIONS OR ASSISTANCE FROM ALL SAINTS MARGARET STREET:- 
* If you would like to encourage others to take an interest in All Saints/keep up with what is happening here, please forward this email on to them, or to people you would like to invite to services or tell them about our websitewww.allsaintsmargaretstreet.org.uk, which has a full colour 360 virtual tour for viewing the wonderfully restored interior of the Church – seewww.allsaintsmargaretstreet.org.uk/history/virtual tour – before a visit or if unable to travel. 

* If you know of others (near or far) who would like to receive this regular update on what’s happening at All Saints please encourage them to sign up for the email on the All Saints website – see the tab News & Events> Weekly Newsletter. 

* If you would like prayers offered at All Saints, please email the Parish Administrator Mrs Dee Prior at: astsmgtst@aol.com. Or make use of the prayer request facility on the website at: www.allsaintsmargaretstreet.org.uk/prayer. 

* If you would like any pastoral assistance, please do not hesitate to contact:

The Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses: alanmoses111@gmail.com. 

Or Assistant Priest Fr Michael Bowie: mnrbowie@gmail.com. 

DAILY SERVICES AT ALL SAINTS 
On major weekday feasts, High Mass is sung at 6.30pm 

SUNDAYS in Church 
Low Mass 6.30pm (Saturday), 8am and 5.15pm. Morning Prayer 10.20am
HIGH MASS and SERMON, 11am and   
EVENSONG, SERMON and BENEDICTION, 6pm. 

MONDAY – FRIDAY
Morning Prayer 7.30am
Low Mass – 8am, 1.10pm and 6.30pm
Evening Prayer 6pm
(Except Bank Holidays – 12 noon Mass only)

SATURDAY 
Morning Prayer 7.30am
Low Mass – 12 noon and 6.30pm (First Mass of Sunday) 
Evening Prayer 6pm

Confessions 
A priest is available for confessions/counsel Monday – Friday from 12.30-1pm and at 5.30pm Monday – Saturday, or by appointment. (Special arrangements apply in Lent and for Holy Week.)

www.allsaintsmargaretstreet.org.uk and e-mail: astsmgtst@aol.com