All Saints Margaret Street.

Dear Friends,

This past week, the Church of England celebrated two figures whose path took them into relative obscurity, but who initiated developments which shaped church life long after their deaths and continue to do so. 

In the early years of the 6^th century, appalled at the city’s immorality, the young Benedict of Nursia abandoned his studies in Rome for a hermitage.  He attracted a group of disciples who looked to him for spiritual guidance and leadership.  After settling at Monte Casino, he codified his Rule.  This became one of the most influential documents in the medieval world; shaping not just the monastic life, but much of medieval society.  Communities living under the Rule proved able to adapt to new circumstances and challenges, including the preservation of classical culture and learning and the evangelization of northern Europe. 

The Rule also acted as an inspiration for renewal when monasteries became too comfortable and compromised. In our own day, as well as new Benedictine communities like the Anglican Mucknall Abbey in Worcestershire and Roman Catholic ones like the French Jerusalem Community, there is renewed interest in the moderate wisdom of the Rule as a guide to life in the world beyond the cloister.

John Keble is commemorated on Friday 14^th July, because John Henry Newman dated the beginning of the Oxford Movement, of which this church of All Saints is a product, to the preaching by Keble of the Assize Sermon on this day in 1833.  A sermon for judges seems an unlikely catalyst for a spiritual revolution.  Keble used it to protest against government interference in the Church and to recall the Church to a sense of its spiritual identity. 

Unlike Newman, Keble was no controversialist. He would exchange a brilliant career at Oxford for ministry in a country parish as Vicar of Hursley in Hampshire. He would spend the remaining 30 years of his life there; carrying out the duties of a parish priest, continuing his scholarly work and carrying on a large correspondence with many to whom he acted as a spiritual guide.

The lives and ministries of a monk in 6^th century Italy and a country parish priest in 19^th century England would seem very far removed from each other, and both from a city centre parish in cosmopolitan, multi-cultural 21^st century London.  Looking deeper, however, we discover common threads linking them with each other and with us.

Benedict saw the monastery as a “school of holiness,” in which the community’s life of prayer, work and study provided the context and support for the conversion of life.  Keble thought of his parish in the same way.  We, in a parish dedicated to the communion of saints, a communion in holiness, in holy things, should recognize our calling to be the same.

At the heart of monastic life is the Divine Office, the daily recitation of the Psalms and the reading and reflection on the Scriptures, which is the Opus Dei, the work of God. At the heart of Keble’s parish life was the same daily routine of prayer and scripture in the simplified form devised by Cranmer for the Common Prayer of the Church of England. The same is true, and has been for more than a century and a half here in Margaret Street.

A Benedictine monastery is set apart from the world but not sealed off from it: one of its ministries is that of hospitality. A parish church must be actively engaged in the world, open and welcoming to those outside. At the same time, if the church is to maintain its Christian character, its distinctiveness as a sign of the kingdom of God, then its worship and prayerful engagement with scripture, with the word that goes forth from the mouth of God, and “shall not return to me empty, but….shall accomplish that which I purpose and, succeed in the thing for which I sent it,”  in Sunday’s reading from Isaiah (55.10-13) ; the “word of the kingdom” in the Parable of the Sower  in Sunday’s Gospel (Matthew 13.1-9; 18-23),  are essential if it is to bear fruit.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Alan Moses
Vicar, All Saints Margaret Street

 THIS WEEK’S PRAYER DIARY 

Those who have asked for prayers
Asia Bibi, Fr Graham Francis, Hannelore Sibley, Maria Magdalena Gemanaite, Faddy Hardo, Ken Hales, Fr Giles Fraser, Gulzari Babber, John Hughes, Ron Capon, Patricia Capon, Nancy Gardner, Katie Marko, Andrew Evans, Sarah Payne, Rodney Bickerstaffe and Ros Tagoe.  

Those known to us recently departed
Hugh Cox, Vicky Wilmott and Charlotte Nikoi and Graham Wheeler Priest.

Remember past priests, benefactors, friends, and all whose year’s mind occurs this week Doris Thrift, Kathleen Wait, William Hewetson, Isabel Bruxner, Kathleen Gardner, Mark Williams, Muriel Latter, Lucy Heales and Anne Finley.

WEEKLY NOTICES and FUTURE EVENTS

PARISH PILGRIMAGE TO WALSINGHAM – Friday 21 to Monday 24 July. Places are limited but contact Ross Buchanan (Mob: 07905 863578 or email:
ross.r.buchanan@btinternet.com) and he will try to fit you in. 

“HELP US TO STAY” Wednesday 26 July, 7pm
An illustrated talk on his recent pilgrimage to the Lebanon with Aid to the Church in Need,
by Fr. David Ackerman, Vicar of St. John’s, Kensal Green. Aid to the Church in Need was one of the charities supported by the 2016 Bishop of London’s Lent Appeal, and one of All Saints’ Lent Appeal projects.

Tuesday 15 August – FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY – HIGH MASS & OUTDOOR PROCESSION with choir and brass accompaniment 6.30pm
Preacher: Fr Richard Peers, Director of Education, Diocese of Liverpool
Mass Setting: Mozart Missa Brevis in C ‘Orgelsolo’, K.259
Motet before procession: Elgar Ave Maria
Voluntary: Guilmant Grand Choeur in E flat (Op. 40 No 4)  

WORSHIP THIS WEEK:

Sunday 16 July – Trinity 5

11am HIGH MASS with Choir and Sermon  
Guest Preacher: The Revd Canon Grace Kaiso, General Secretary of the Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa
Gabriel Jackson Missa SanctÓ• MargaretÓ•
Arr. Tippett O, by and by  

Sunday Lunch this week is being prepared by Robin Clutterham. The menu is:   Summer chicken with salad followed by dessert. Please see the full Menu in the courtyard. Tickets £5 on sale at the Parish Shop before and after Mass. 

6pm EVENSONG & BENEDICTION with Sermon
Preacher: Fr Michael Bowie
Wood Setting in D
Stanford Iustorum animae 

SERVICES THIS WEEK

Monday 17 to Friday 21 July
7.30am Morning Prayer
8am Low Mass
12.30-1pm Confessions
1.10pm Low Mass
5.30pm Confessions
6pm Evening Prayer
6.30pm Low Mass

Saturday, 22 July
12 noon Low Mass
6pm Evening Prayer

6.30pm First Mass of Sunday 

NEXT SUNDAY’S SERVICES
23 July ~ Trinity 6

8am Low Mass
10.20am Morning Prayer
11am HIGH MASS with Choir & Sermon
Preacher: Fr Michael Bowie
Haydn Jugendmesse  
Parry Never weather-beaten sail 

There will be no Sunday Lunch as the Parish Pilgrimage to Walsingham takes place this weekend.
 

5.15pm Low Mass
6pm EVENSONG, SERMON AND BENEDICTION
Preacher: Fr Julian Browning
Bairstow in G  
Mendelssohn Ave Maria

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

ALL SAINTS MISSION PROJECTS

Our year-round fundraising efforts go to support three charities:

The Church Army hostels and programmes in Marylebone empowering homeless women into independent living.
The USPG-led UMOJA, HIV Project in Zimbabwe, enabling people living with HIV and Aids to have positive lives, and
The Soup Kitchen (American International Church, Tottenham Court Road) feeding up to 80 vulnerable people daily in central London. 

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 also need men’s outerwear of all varieties and rucksacks and duffle-bags to help our guests carry their belongings!’

The Soup Kitchen team (only part-time cover) asks: ‘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/

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 Parish Church of All Saints Margaret Street, London W1 W 8JG
Vicar: The Revd Prebendary Alan Moses
T: 07973 878040 E: alanmoses111@gmail.com (Day off: Saturday)

Assistant Priest: The Revd Dr Michael Bowie
T: 07581 180963 E: mnrbowie@gmail.com (Day off: Wednesday)

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.)

For amendments to the prayer list please contact:
Dee Prior, Parish Administrator (020 7636 1788).  E: astsmgtst@aol.com

Or make use of the prayer request facility on the website at: www.allsaintsmargaretstreet.org.uk/prayer. 

Safeguarding Officers: Chris Self (Vulnerable Adults) and: Janet Drake (Children)

allsaintsmargaretstreet.org.uk   www.facebook.com/AllSaintsMargaretStreet