All Saints Parish Newsletter
Thursday 6 September 2012 at 22:47
Trinity XIV -7th September 2012
From Fr. John:
Dear Friends,
It is with sadness, but also with thanksgiving for the life and vocation of Sr. Jean Margaret that we share with you the news of her death yesterday morning. Many of you will remember Sr. Jean Margaret from The All Saints Sisters of the Poor. We now give thanks for her life, pray for her soul, and ask God’s Holy Spirit to bring comfort to those who mourn. Details of her funeral will follow.
In our Gospel on Sunday (Mark 7:24-37) we are reminded that our Lord, despite his best intention to find seclusion or quiet, can no longer find rest. (I suspect this might be because of his fame). He is in the middle of Gentile land and though his mission is first to the Jews, even away from the glare of many, we are told that he is pursued and challenged by a Syrophoenician Woman (a non-jew). This woman, a Gentile, is the only character in Mark’s Gospel account to win an argument against Jesus and in the process, she teaches him something important about the scope of his ministry which is to be first to the Jewish people, and then to everyone else. Matthew does the same in Ch.15 vv21-28.
Even in the quiet safety of our own homes or in the recesses of our imagination, we too cannot forget that we are called to be Christian people, witnesses to all. We cannot only seek the safety of keeping company with likeminded and similarly styled people who share in our “religious agenda”. But we need to take “risk” and ensure that we grow, becoming more like Christ every day not only towards each other, but to all people. To do this, there has to be in our lives, space and time for us to grow in this “Christian character”, for as you know only too well, it is not complete at baptism or ordination… it is something that we work at and grow into, until the day we are “called home”.
As we remember The All Saints Sisters of the Poor, we might think that the religious life and its discipline might allow one to grow more deeply in Christian character than we might expect for ourselves. Yet, the religious life isn’t devoid of its own distractions, arguments, work and domestic responsibility. Time is something that we feel we have less of these days, and so perhaps discipline. But! We have to keep on trying, constantly living in the daily hope that we can just be a little more “Christian” than yesterday, and a little less “ego” tomorrow. Reminders of this can come from the most unexpected places, not least this email, not least a Syrophoenician Woman, not least in remembering the faithful departed, whose lives with us were spent seeking to be more like Christ. Rest Eternal Grant unto Sr. Jean Margaret O Lord, and let Light perpetual shine upon her.
We look forward to seeing you on Sunday or soon, yours in Christ,
Fr. John
Please pray for Daniel, Michael Harris, Sandra O’Brien, Linda Orme, Mary Barnet, Stephen Collingwood, Sian Evans, Jackie Ferriter, Joshua Levy, Audrey Patterson, Marion Pidgeon, Cecila Shore, Michael Sullivan, Rachel Clayton, Heather Walker, Graham Hawkes, Richard Tann, Brian Sparkes, Ron Cayless, John Rogers, Mason Jacobsen, Barbara Laws, Marguerite Crill, Ondina Brash, Carol Blake, Anne Hamburger, David Day, Susan Parker, Zoe Emerton, Timothy Montgomery, Timothy Harding, Andrew Tillyard, Lise Cribbin.
The Recently Departed: Sr. Jean Margaret Barbara Davis, Alfred Morris, Joseph Simms, Brother Arnold SSF, Peter Vickers, Gwen Norman, Elvira Dibley. At the anniversary of their death: Edith Senior, Emily Burling, Neil Titley, Annie Harrison, Marion Richards, Elizabeth Barker, Winifred Harland, Anne Peduin, Allan Yates, John Monk, Charles Shaw, William Clements, Reginald Bickerton, Peggy Macmillan, Thomas Partridge.
Saturday September 15th ST CYPRIAN’S DAY at St Cyprian’s, Clarence Gate
12noon High Mass – Preacher: Fr. Richard Watson, Vice-Dean, St Albans Abbey
Followed by a reception
3:30pm Sung Evensong and Benediction
Poetry Tea Saturday 29th September 3:00pm at Pamela’s. You are invited to bring poems and prose on the general subject of ‘Summer celebrations and experiences’. If you would like to write something yourself how about ‘My Jubilee’ or ‘My Olympics’ . To accept, or to find out Pamela’s address, please speak to Pamela or Sandra or ring Sandra on 020 7637 8456 leaving your name and phone number. Cost £6 towards the All Saints Restoration Appeal.
ANGLICAN CATHOLIC FUTURE
A series of evenings celebrating our Catholic inheritance in the Church of England .
Wednesday October 17th ‘Our Lady’ – Speaker, The Revd Cally Hammond Dean of Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge 6:30pm Mass ALL SAINTS MARGARET STREET – ALL WELCOME for further details please contact All Saints Margaret Street.
CONFIRMATION – Saturday 3rd November 2012 5pm at St Paul’s Cathedral. Please see Fr. John or Fr. Alan for further information.
Penny Mordaunt MP, (Portsmouth North) and friend to All Saints Margaret Street is arranging for the Parish a Tour of Parliament on 16th November 2012. A maximum number of 60 people can attend, so please book your place with Fr. John Pritchard as soon as possible. johnapritchard@hotmail.co.uk The Tour Starts at 9:55am and will last 75mins. The Tours are free, but I am suggesting that we all make a £10 donation towards Phase IV – Restoration Appeal for All Saints Margaret Street. Please send Cheques to All Saints c/o Dennis Davis or Fr John Pritchard made payable to "All Saints PCC Restoration Appeal". Details of where to meet will follow. ONLY 7 Places left. Please book as soon as possible.