All Saints Margaret Street.

Dear Friend,

PENTECOST 

The Jewish feast of Pentecost was one of the days when many made pilgrimage to Jerusalem. They came from all parts of the known world where Jewish colonists had settled. Their languages were many and diverse, but the power of the apostles’ preaching overcame the barriers to understanding that day: clearly an unforgettable moment.

So we hear on Sunday about the Christian faith getting going in a great burst of novelty. And yet, throughout the church’s life we have also set great store by faithfulness to tradition. Both components are essential to a balanced faith. Bishop Rowan Williams reminds us that what we call fundamentalism in all religions (and other areas of human life, for fundamentalism is a cast of mind, not a doctrinal position) always arises from an impatience with or refusal to acknowledge the history between our texts and us. In Christianity (and in Islam) it arises when we try to pretend that our scriptures can be understood and acted upon without any other information than the text before us, as if their time, place and context is undifferentiated from ours.

So tradition is essential and, correctly understood, the Bible is part of our tradition. But this feast is a powerful reminder that Christian tradition has always developed and adapted itself. The trick is to make the process of renewal and adaptation itself a living tradition.

Jesus’ teaching about the Spirit is a frequent topic in John. For John, the gift of the Spirit is an assurance that the time of Jesus’ physical human presence was not an all-time high in the past, the like of which we can never see again. On the contrary, ‘the Spirit’ means that what Jesus was and did then is still true and available for his own now, as it has been in a continuum of growth and gradual revelation in the succeeding centuries. There is a reliable continuity in God’s presence with us as our ‘Advocate’.

On Sunday we celebrate the Christian message swiftly breaking free of its original bounds, becoming universal in its scope (that is the point of the many tongues): a tradition broken open and renewed. The Spirit is the gift of God’s presence and the sign of our hope. May the Spirit renew our enthusiasm to live in the presence of God and communicate the truth and joy of that to others.

Yours in Christ,

Fr Michael Bowie 
Assistant Priest
All Saints Margaret Street

Please pray for those who have asked for our prayers: John Adams, Asia Bibi, John Bailey, Alixe Bainbridge-Spring, Fr Allan Buick, Vivien Caplowe, James Cary-Elwes, Dennis Davis, Mark Dougly, Kate Down, David Fettke, Ghislain Hamelin, Lewis Harvey, Valerie Hawkins, Gwyneth Hopkins, Julia Holland and family, Maria Keen, Julie Knight, Andrew Laird, Tom Leader, Miriam Nelson, Fr. Robert Norwood, Oliver Orr, David Pearce, Canon John Rees, Stella and Helen Skinner, Margaret Spencer, Rose Stephens, Madeleine Storer, Christine van Dyck, Robert Walmsley and Joy Wright.   

For the recently departed:  Robert Middleton , Jock Scott, David Crawley, Sylvia Smith, James Winters (Priest), Debbie Peatman, Jonty Gordon, Laura Bannerman, Sister Katherine Maryel SSB, Mary Collins, Peter Hirst and Jim Craddock.  

Remember past priests, benefactors, friends, and all whose year’s mind occurs this week including: Elsie Rybczk, Winifred Prince, Peggy Beavan, Muriel Burling, John Carter (Server), Elsie Scott, Charles Simon, Richard Britten, Lucy Heath, Michael White-Cooper (Priest), William Crane (PCC Member & Sidesman), Thomas O’Neil, Flora Clutterham, Charles Oram, Frank Biggart, Betsy Johnson, Eliza Pountney, Eric Arnold (former Director of Music, All Saints), Alan James and Wendy Johnson.

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

WORSHIP THIS WEEK:

WALSINGHAM CELL DEVOTIONS
11.30am, Saturday 14 May before 12 noon Mass.

SUNDAY 15 MAY – THE DAY OF PENTECOST (Whit Sunday)
HIGH MASS, 11am
Preacher: The Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses
Missa Christi – Leighton
Veni Sancte Spiritus – John Rutter

There is no Sunday Lunch service.

CHORAL EVENSONG & BENEDICTION, 6pm
Preacher: Fr Michael Bowie
Magnificat in A flat – Rubbra
The spirit of the Lord – Elgar

WORSHIP NEXT WEEK:

SUNDAY 22 MAY – TRINITY SUNDAY
HIGH MASS, 11am
Preacher: Fr Julian Browning
Missa Secondi Toni – Lassus
O sacrum convivium – Tallis

The Vicar is preaching at St Cyprian’s, Clarence Gate this morning.

There is Sunday Lunch service and the chef is Martin Woolley. Tickets £5 may be purchased from the Parish Shop before and after Mass (subject to availability).

CHORAL EVENSONG & BENEDICTION, 6pm
Preacher: The Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses
Murrill in E
O beata et benedicta
et gloriosa Trinitas – Palestrina

ORGAN RECITAL, 7.15pm following Evensong & Benediction
David Graham, Director of Music, Farm Street.
Programme:
Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in C minor (BWV 546)
Vierne’s Clair de Lune (Pièces de Fantaisie Op 53)
Liszt’s Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen (Variations on a theme of Bach).
Free entry with retiring collection (donation of £5 suggested) to support the
choir and music at All Saints. The All Saints Licensed Club/Bar will be open afterwards.

PARISH NOTICES 

There is a Health & Safety Committee meeting on Sunday 15 May after Mass.

ALL SAINTS’ STEWARDSHIP 2016 & your Regular Giving
If you are on the All Saints Electoral Roll, we hope you will have received the recent mailshot. Please contact Dee Prior in the Parish Office on 020 7636 1788 or astsmgtst@aol.com if you have not yet had a Stewardship pack. We ask you to respond if you can by Monday 23 May so the PCC can be briefed on progress at its 24 May meeting. If you attend All Saints regularly and are not on the Electoral Roll, please consider signing up. If you are not in regular giving or currently contribute by weekly envelope, please consider changing to Standing Order saving the Church time and money. If you would like an All Saints Stewardship 2016 leaflet or an Electoral Roll form, you can pick them up in Church this Sunday or ask to have copies forwarded to you by contacting Dee Prior (as above).

CHRISTIAN AID WEEK 15 – 21 May
As always, May brings Christian Aid Week and this year it runs from May 15th. The theme for this year is Bangladesh. Last year more than 20,000 churches worked hard to raise money and over £11m went to development work for the poor of the world. Please be generous in your support. There will be an envelope with the service sheet and they may be returned at any time to the church. Christian Aid is one of the country’s largest grant making charities and much respected in the UK and throughout the world. Please return envelopes by 29 May to enable the donations to be promptly passed on to the charity.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Thursday 26 May, 6.30pm,
High Mass with Street Procession of the Blessed Sacrament
Guest Preacher: The Revd. Kevin Scully, Rector, St Matthew’s Bethnal Green.
Missa Brevis in G – Mozart
Jesu dulcis memoria – Victoria
Please join us for this memorable annual public act of witness on Oxford Street. The procession will be accompanied by choir and brass as in 2015. If anyone would like to assist with stewarding the procession or carrying the canopy, please get in touch with Cedric Stephens, Head Server or Dee Prior, Parish Administrator Tel: 020 7 636 1788.

WALSINGHAM NATIONAL PILGRIMAGE
All Saints will again be running a coach to the Walsingham National Pilgrimage on Monday 30 May. The coach will leave All Saints at 7.30am prompt. Mass at 12 noon in the Abbey Grounds; Preacher: The Revd Andrew Mitcham, Vicar of Walsingham and Guardian of the Shrine. Cost will be approximately £20 for adults. Please get in touch with Ross Buchanan (Tel: 020 7221 1312) if you would like to book a seat or know more.

SPONSOR THE VICAR ON PILGRIMAGE
Fr. Alan will begin his 1000 km walking pilgrimage from Seville to Santiago de Compostela on Tuesday 31 May. If you would like to sponsor him in support of the Diocese of London’s projects for persecuted Christians and for refugees from the conflicts in Iraq and Syria, sponsorship forms will be available in church and the parish office. You can also donate online through www.give.net, account number 20197723.

You are invited to a POETRY TEA PARTY on Saturday 4 June at 3pm, at Pamela’s.  All welcome.  Please bring Poetry and Prose relating to the subject of ‘Europe’.  To accept, or to ask for Pamela’s address, please speak to Pamela or Sandra in the courtyard or ring Sandra on 020 7637 8456 leaving your name and phone number.  Cost £6 towards the All Saints Restoration Appeal.

FITZFEST 2016: 8-11 JUNE (10 June at All Saints)
8-11 June 2016 sees the inaugural FitzFest celebrating London’s Fitzrovia with all its musical heritage from past generations together with the contemporary diversity that thrives today.

With a programme of music made entirely by musicians who have lived or worked in Fitzrovia over the centuries – and often played on historical instruments made in Fitzrovia – the festival is grounded in the local community. It offers a vast array of community concerts, workshops, social and fitness events to draw the local people into the festival and to celebrate the current community alongside the historical culture of the area. Venues during the festival include unconventional spaces such as shops, bars, pubs, art galleries and community spaces. And All Saints Margaret Street…

Friday 10 June 4pm-4.45pm – All Saints Margaret Street

ORCHESTRA OF THE AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT WIND QUINTET CONCERT – Wind players from the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment play Wind Quintets on Fitzrovian Instruments. Programme includes works by Danzi and Weber.

Friday 10 June 8pm-9.45pm
Simultaneously at All Saints Margaret Street and Fitzrovia Chapel

ORCHESTRA OF THE AGE OF ENLIGHTENMENT: FITZROVIAN FLUTES and OLGA JEGUNOVA (PIANO)

Half of the concert at All Saints Margaret Street:
Boismortier Flute Music, played by the flautists of the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment on Fitzrovian Instruments.

At the interval the audiences will swap venues, led through the streets by tour guides, where they will listen to the other half of the concert.

Half of the concert at the Fitzrovia Chapel:
Wind players from the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and pianist Olga Jegunova play Mozart Quintet for Piano and Winds on Fitzrovian Instruments.
Played on historical instruments made in Fitzrovia.

For ticket booking, see: http://www.fitzfest.co.uk/ where you can buy guaranteed tickets or register for free events. Half of the total paid-for tickets will be available to buy online at full price shown. The other half will be available on the door on a first come, first served basis.  Any remaining free/donation tickets will also be available on the door.

SERVICES & EVENTS FOR MAY 2016 BEYOND ALL SAINTS

HUGH PRICE HUGHES LECTURES 2016 
The last lecture in the series will be held at Hinde St Methodist Church at 7.30pm.  Admission is free & all are welcome! www.hindestreet.org.uk/hph

Living as Christians in Multi-faith Britain and
the Importance of Religious Literacy
14 June – Michael Wakelin, Religion & Media Consultant

Churches Together in Westminster “Meet the Neighbours”
There are two “Meet the Neighbours” events happening in May. Westminster is blessed with a large number of churches of all shapes and sizes, but each church is unique. One of the aims of “Meet the Neighbours” visits is to give everyone the opportunity to both respect and be open to experiencing and learning a little more about the worship traditions and ministries of the host churches.

7pm, Thursday, 19 May 2016 at NOTRE DAME DE FRANCE, (The French Church) 5 Leicester Place, WC2H 7BX
This visit, which is to a Roman Catholic church, includes an act of worship, talk and refreshments. (For those wishing to attend beforehand at Notre Dame there is Evening Prayer at 5.45 pm, (R.C) Mass at 6pm, followed by silent Eucharistic Adoration 6.30-7pm. The “Meet the Neighbours” will start afterwards at 7pm.) All are most welcome to attend. For further information see: http://ctiw.london/meet-the-neighbours-notre-dame-de-france-the-french-church-5-leicester-place-wc2h-7bx/

11 am on Wednesday, 1 June 2016. Our hosts will be THE ROYAL MILITARY CHAPEL, The Guards’ Chapel, Wellington Barracks, Birdcage Walk, SW1E 6HQ.  All welcome. The visit includes: Weekday Holy Communion (Anglican) Celebrant: The Senior Chaplain (please advise if you need a gluten free wafer) followed by a talk about the Guards Chapel Silver and coffee. Please see: http://www.westendatwar.org.uk/page/guards_chapel_wellington_barracks?path=0p28p

ALL SAINTS MISSION ACTIVITIES:-

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, providing luncheon vouchers for the West London Day Centre for rough sleepers who apply to the office (and just recently in 2016 donating £1,000 towards the Soup Kitchen at the American International Church in Tottenham Court Road) and allowing a few 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, 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/virtualtour – 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   
CHORAL 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