All Saints Margaret Street.

Dear Friends,

Some of you have made kind comments on my recent letters from abroad – even the archdeacon tells me he has been reading them. Thank you.

Well, I am home again, so it is back to thoughts from Margaret Street rather than traveller’s tales.

Unlike Moses in Sunday’s first reading at Mass (Exodus 32.7-14), I have not been ordered back by the Lord to deal with idolatry and rebellion by a “stiff-necked people”. In that story we hear of Moses interceding with the Lord on behalf of the people.

Intercession for the people and places entrusted to our care is one of the duties of a priest, one whom God has appointed to his service (1.Tim 1.12). But this is not a clerical monopoly.  Together we are a priestly people and in our daily worship at All Saints we pray for a great variety of people and situations.

At the Eucharist, we intercede for the Church – its people and pastors, the World – its leaders and its peace, our City, communities and families, the sick and the suffering, and the departed. Many of you join in when you worship with us; others by using the lists below.

Each day the Eucharist is offered for a particular intention. On Fridays for those in need – the petitions left on the board in church or sent to us by email.

At Morning Prayer we pray for our three parishes street by street and for the Friends of All Saints. At Evening Prayer we use the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, praying for Churches around the world and around our city, and for our religious communities.

This weekend, we will be praying especially for St. Cyprian’s on their festival. Many of us will be there on Friday evening for our three parishes Quiz Night with 15 teams in fierce but friendly competition. Then, on Sunday, the Archdeacon will license Fr. Simon Stokes as he begins his new ministry among us.

In 1 Timothy Paul speaks of his gratitude to Christ who has called him to his service. Thanksgiving and intercession work to open our hearts to share in God’s compassion seen in the heart of Jesus.

We see that compassion In Sunday’s Gospel (Luke 15.1-10). Jesus welcomes the “tax collectors and sinners” who come to listen to him. He is also the one who searches for the lost sheep and lost coin.

Our mission, and the prayer which undergirds it, must include both generous welcome and a willingness to seek out the lost; to do more than wait for them to find us.

It must be focussed on Jesus. It is his voice people need to hear – not the complaints and grumbles of the “stiff-necked” and “righteous”.

It must be based in penitence. Even if we are not the “foremost” of sinners, as Paul describes himself in the epistle, we are all numbered among the tax collectors and sinners, the lost sheep whom Christ came into the world to save.

It must overflow in thanksgiving that the “grace of our Lord overflowed for me” (for us and for others) “with the faith and love that are in Jesus Christ”.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Alan Moses
Please address any future emails for the Vicar to: alanmoses111@gmail.com. 

PRAYER DIARY
Please pray for those who have asked for our prayers: Harry Allan, Damon Brash, Peter Burbidge, Margaret Campbell, Rachel Clayton, Sheena Cruse, Rosie Davis, Denise Inge, Mason Jacobsen, Linda Jervis, Jill, Mary Johnstone, Katherine Lee, Joshua Levy, Christine Lofty, Miriam Morris, Rev. Andrew O’Connor, Marimar Perez Fabo, The Ven. Jim Rone, Celia Shore, Stephen Short, Ian Stevens, Kate Thomas, Andrew Tillyard, Melanie Toogood, David and Jo Vincent, Heather Walker, Pat Walker, Wendy Wall, Fr Stephen Williams.

For the recently departed, RIP: Robert LLoyd (Priest), William Page (whose Memorial Service was yesterday) and Pauline Dossor, Rosemary St John (whose funeral is on 22 September) and Stanley Mogford (Priest).

At the anniversary of their death (during the coming week): Augusta Kirby, Gwen Duckett, Richard Dinnis, Evelyn Hutt, Virginia Ambridge, Flora Subbiah, Arthur Bourchier, Guy Fleming, Greville Howard, Anthony Andrews, James Wright, Mary Baddeley.

NOTICES AND NEWS

FUTURE EVENTS AT ALL SAINTS, THE ANNUNCIATION
AND ST CYPRIAN’S

Sunday 15 September, 10.30am – St Cyprian’s Clarence Gate,
SAINT CYPRIAN’S DAY HIGH MASS with licencing of Fr Simon Stokes as Curate (SSM) by The Ven. Dr Bill Jacob, Archdeacon of Charing Cross (who will also preach). Mass setting: Ralph Vaughan Williams: Mass in G minor. Communion Motet: Benjamin Britten: ‘Jubilate in C’. Mass with be followed by a reception. 

Sunday 15 September – Ten-to-One Talk Series: WHY DO YOU DO THAT? The Sign of the Cross.  This is the first of twelve Ten-to-One Talks, to be given by the Vicar after High Mass courtyard refreshments from September-December. The bell will be rung to announce the start.

Tuesday 17 – Sunday 22 September, 12 – 6pm JOHN LEWIS & WAITROSE ARTS & CRAFTS CLUB EXHIBITION 2013, Parish Room. Entry is free. A variety of works will be on display and for sale: including jewellery, needlework, pottery and original watercolours and oil paintings. NB. Purchases may only be collected from Sunday 22 September after Evensong.

OPEN HOUSE LONDON – the capital’s greatest architectural showcase  
Saturday 21 (10am-5pm) and Sunday 22 (1 – 5pm) September
Open House London celebrates all that is best about the capital’s buildings, places and neighbourhoods. Every September, it gives a unique opportunity to get out and under the skin of London’s amazing architecture, with over 700 buildings of all kinds opening their doors to everyone – all for free. All Saints is participating once again with talks on the history of the church given by Churchwarden John Forde – Saturday 11am and 3pm, Sunday at 2pm.  *** Over 600 people visit All Saints for Open House London 2012.We need lots of volunteers to welcome visitors in 2013. Please see Chris Self to put your name down on his rota of 2 hours slots (or more!). Thank you! ***

Sunday 22 September, after Evensong – the ALL SAINTS CLUB ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING will be held in the Bar.

Sunday 22 September – Ten-to-One Talk Series: WHY DO YOU DO THAT? Bowing and genuflecting.  This is the second of twelve Ten-to-One Talks, to be given by the Vicar. The bell will be rung to announce the start.

Thursday 26 September, 7pm at the Annunciation Marble Arch, Bryanston Street, London W1H 7AH – IONA PILGRIMAGE MEETING – there is an exploratory meeting led by Fr Gerald Beauchamp for all those interested in going on the Iona pilgrimage planned for April 2015.

Sunday 29 September, 12.45pm – there will be an EVENTS COMMITTEE MEETING.

Sunday 29 September, 7.15pm (after Benediction)
ORGAN RECITAL – CHARLES ANDREWS, Associate Director of Music. Programme includes: Bach, Franck and Heiller. Retiring collection to support the Choir and Music at All Saints (suggested donation £3.50).

FUTURE EVENTS ELSEWHERE

Saturday 28 September, 7.30pm St John the Evangelist, Duncan Terrace N1 8AL – ORGAN RECITAL – PETER STEVENS of Westminster Cathedral will be appearing in the 50^th Anniversary Organ Recital Series since the opening of the Walker Organ.

Tuesday 8 October 13.00, St Lawrence Jewry – Lunchtime organ recital – CHARLES ANDREWS, Associate Director of Music.

Monday 14 October 2013, starting 7pm – All Hallows by the Tower

BRITTEN AT 100: RECITAL AND SEMINAR SUPPER. Sion College celebrates Benjamin Britten’s centenary year with a recital and seminar supper on Britten at 100: “Britten and the Church” exploring Britten’s relationship with Christianity.

Thursday 24 October 13.05, Lunchtime organ recital at St John’s, Smith Square – TIM BYRAM-WIGFIELD, Director of Music All Saints. Tickets: £10. Programme includes: Handel, Beethoven, Liszt, Hollins and Widor. See SJSS website for full details.