All Saints Parish Newsletter 20th March 2015
Dear Friend,
The Fifth Sunday in Lent brings a shift of attention to the passion of Jesus, his “hour,” as John calls it. In the Gospel reading from John (12.20-33), Jesus responds to the arrival of some Greek pilgrims by saying that, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified.”
But this is no hour of worldly triumph as his contemporaries or ours might expect: “unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.”
Here we see human glory, not in terms of power and status, but of self-giving love which bears fruits of love. This is a strange glory; one which challenges us.
In John’s Gospel, Jesus is not so much a passive victim as the divine figure who commands events.
But his humanity is not lost sight of. John does not speak of the agony in the Garden of Gethsemane with its “Father, let this cup pass from me, but your will be done,” but he does have Jesus say: ‘Now is my soul troubled. And what should I say – Father, save me from this hour? No it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.’
Whatever is true of Jesus is true also of his disciples: “Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honour.”
Christian honouring of the saints began with those who had followed Jesus even to death: the martyrs. Marytrdom is a present reality for Christians in the Middle East and Pakistan.
Some die simply because they are Christians: a bomb explodes at their church; their village is overrun by Muslim extremists and they are faced with the stark choice of conversion or death.
Some martyrs have known in advance that their witness to the faith and truth might well lead to their death. The 50th anniversary of the Selma March brings to mind Martin Luther King’s acknowledgement that the violent response to the Civil Rights movement might mean that he would not live long. The Vatican has, somewhat belatedly, recognised Archbishop Oscar Romero as a martyr. He was gunned down at the altar by an agent of right wing government forces determined to silence his courageous chronicling of their violent oppression of the poor. He knew that he might be killed, as so many clergy and religious had already been. “My life had been threatened many times,” he said, “I don’t believe in death without resurrection. I will rise again in the Salvadorean people. ” Dietrich Bonhoeffer could have remained safely in the United States when the 2nd World War began. Instead, he returned to Germany even though his opposition to Hitler might lead to imprisonment and death. The monks of Tibhirine in Algeria were advised to leave when their lives were threatened during the bloody civil war there. After much anguished prayer and discussion, they decided to stay among the people who were their friends and neighbours. Following Jesus, being where he is, meant for them, being in that place; as men of prayer among people who pray. That choice, in obedience to their vocation, would cost them their lives.
This is echoed too in Sunday’s epistle from the Letter to the Hebrews (5.5-10):
“In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears, to the one who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission…….he learnt obedience through what he suffered; and having been made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.”
In this Sunday’s passage from Jeremiah, (31.31-34) from what is called “The Book of Comfort,” God says: “I will put my law within them, and I write it on their hearts.”
With those Greek pilgrims, we come as those who would see Jesus. As we look at him in Passiontide, we see again that the law of life, the way to that perfect humanity for which we are made, is his life of self-giving love. That way of life is rooted in those prayers and supplications with loud cries and tears. His prayer is not a means of escape but of faithful obedience to his law of love. Our prayer is the means he uses to write that law on our hearts. His victory over suffering and death, his resurrection, is the victory of all those who obey him whatever the challenges and fears.
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: Jane Allen, Asia Bibi. Fr. Bruce Barnett- Cowan, Jean Bray, James Cary-Elwes, Cynthia Drury, Hugo Gralka, Tim Harding, Yvonne & Philip Harland, Elspeth Harley, Lewis Harvey, Myrtle Hughes, Maxwell Hutchinson, Sheila Kenyon, Molly Leng, Joshua Levy, Christine Loffty, Hilary Morgan, Norman Newby, Malcolm Richards, Jock Scott, Fr. Nicholas Stacey, Buzz Stokes, Celia Swan, Joy Wright, Martin Wright, Marc Young and Mary.
For the recently departed: Tom Devonshire-Jones (Priest and former Vicar of St Mark’s, Regent’s Park), John Martin, Norman Greenfield (Priest), Lowell Blankfort, John Allen (Priest) and Patrick Graham (former PCC Secretary at St Cyprian’s Church).
Remember past priests, benefactors, friends, and all whose year’s mind occurs this week: Charlotte Read, Olive Evans, Geoffrey Constable (Benefactor), Constance Kirk, Belle McCarthy (Matron of the Choir School), Beryl Williams, Ralph Ballard (Choir member), Mary Montgomery, John Davies, Amy Burnett-Brown, Maya Dean, John Hosier and Diane Suzans.
WORSHIP THIS WEEK
SUNDAY 22 MARCH – FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT (Passiontide begins)
HIGH MASS, 11am
Preacher: Fr Michael Bowie
Mass for five voices – Byrd
Remember not, Lord, our offences – Purcell
The Vicar is preaching at the Annunciation, Marble Arch.
There is a meeting of the All Saints’ Servers after Mass.
A SEQUENCE OF PASSIONTIDE MUSIC & READINGS at 6pm followed by BENEDICTION – with the Choir of All Saints Margaret Street.
WORSHIP NEXT WEEK
SUNDAY 29 MARCH – PALM SUNDAY
Please note that British Summer time starts
Liturgy of Palms in Market Place at 10.45am, followed by
PROCESSION & HIGH MASS
Preacher: The Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses
Mass in B flat – Rachmaninov
O Saviour of the World – Goss
Sunday Lunch is being prepared by Robin Clutterham and Team. Tickets £5 from the Parish Shop in the Parish Room before and after Mass (subject to availability).
CHORAL EVENSONG & BENEDICTION, 6pm
Preacher: Fr Julian Browning
Service in B flat – Rachmaninov
O Saviour of the World– Ouseley
LENT at ALL SAINTS
LENT STUDY GROUP underway – The Study Group meets on Fridays at 11am in the Vicarage. This year, at the Sunday Eucharist, the Church is reading St. Mark’s Gospel. So the publication of Rowan Williams’ book “Meeting God in Mark” is providential. The book is based on Holy Week talks given Archbishop Rowan in Canterbury Cathedral in 2010.
THE WAY OF THE CROSS – Fridays: at 7.05pm (after the Evening Mass),a weekly devotional service in Lent meditating on the events of Jesus’ Passion.
EVENSONG SERMONS during LENT
In the Common Worship Baptism service the “Commission” gives a summary of the Christian life. At Evensong on the Sundays of Lent, we will have a series of sermons based on this to guide us in our corporate and individual self-examination. These will lead up to our corporate renewal of baptismal vows at Easter.
Lent 1 “Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in the prayers?”
Lent 2 “Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?”
Lent 3 “Will you proclaim by word and example the good news of God in Christ?”
Lent 4 “Will you seek and serve Christ in all people, loving your neighbour as yourself?”
Lent 5 (preached on Palm Sunday) “Will you acknowledge Christ’s authority over human society, by prayer for the world and its leaders, by defending the weak and seeking peace and justice?”
ALL SAINTS’ LENT APPEAL
Our Lent Appeal 2015 will be shared equally three ways:
- Bishop of London’s Appeal, which is concentrating on supporting Youth, Children and Family projects across the Diocese,
- Us (formerly USPG) and their support of the church in Zimbabwe in working with those affected by HIV and AIDS and providing local clergy and lay leaders with skills and training to undertake the work, and
- The Marylebone Project, where our money goes towards providing one of the emergency beds in the Homeless Women’s Centre.
For more information about the Bishop of London’s Appeal see:
HOLY WEEK AND EASTER 2015 – THE DRAMA OF THE PASSION
Preacher: Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses
PALM SUNDAY, 29 MARCH
10.45am Liturgy of Palms in Market Place, W1
Procession to Church & HIGH MASS
6pm Choral Evensong & Benediction
MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY
6.30pm Low Mass with Homily
WEDNESDAY, 1 APRIL
7.30pm TENEBRAE for Maundy Thursday
MAUNDY THURSDAY, 2 APRIL
6.30pm HIGH MASS of the Lord’s Supper
GOOD FRIDAY, 3 APRIL
12 noon The Preaching of the Passion
1 – 3pm The Solemn Liturgy of the Passion
6.30pm Stations of the Cross
HOLY SATURDAY, 4 APRIL
12 noon Liturgy of the Day
9pm HIGH MASS of the Easter Vigil
EASTER DAY, SUNDAY 5 APRIL
11am Procession, Blessing of the Easter Garden
& HIGH MASS
Preacher: Fr Michael Bowie, Assistant Priest
6pm Festal Evensong, Te Deum and Benediction
Preacher: The Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses
ALL SAINTS’ DATES FOR YOUR DIARY IN MARCH
Monday 23 March, 6.45pm and 7.30pm – Meetings of the All Saints Choir & Music Trust and the Foundation in the Vicarage.
Sunday 29 March – PALM SUNDAY – Liturgy of Palms in Market Place, Procession to Church and HIGH MASS at 10.45am
PLEASE NOTE – BRITISH SUMMER TIME STARTS – CLOCKS CHANGE FORWARD BY ONE HOUR.
EVENTS BEYOND ALL SAINTS
Wednesday 25 March, 7pm – FEAST OF TITLE, The Annunciation Marble Arch – HIGH MASS & PROCESSION, Preacher: Fr Paul Thomas, Vicar of St James Sussex Gardens. Drinks reception after mass. All welcome.
Monday 30 March 2015, 6.30pm, St Cyprian’s Clarence Gate – Francis Holland School presents a
Charity Choral Concert in aid of St Cyprian’s Church. Music by Handel, Haydn, Parry & Rutter including Handel’s Zadok the Priest. Tickets £10/Under 18s Free. For tickets please contact Mrs Gurini (sue.gurini@fhs-nw1.org.uk)
NOTICES
REVISION OF THE ALL SAINTS’ ELECTORAL ROLL
The Electoral Roll has to be revised before the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) on 19 April 2015. Inclusion on the Roll is the qualification to attend, participate and vote at the Meeting, or to be nominated for office. The Roll will be closed for revision between Tuesday 24 March and Friday 3 April. No further entries may be made to the Roll between 23 March and the close of the APCM. Would members of the Roll please check their entries on the copy of the Roll available in the Parish Office? Alterations should be notified to me, c/o the Parish Office. Anyone else who wishes to be included on the Roll, and who fulfils the qualifications, is welcome to apply. Competed forms (to be found on the table in Church) should be returned via the Parish Office.
Catherine T Burling,
Electoral Roll Officer
MEETING OF PARISHIONERS AND ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING, SUNDAY 19 APRIL 2015
A meeting of parishioners will be held on Sunday 19 April 2015 at 12.45pm in Church, at which Churchwardens for the year 2015 – 2016 will be appointed. Members of the Electoral Roll and residents of the Parish on the Electoral Register are eligible to attend. Any person wishing to be considered for the Post of Churchwarden must be (a) 21 years of age or over, (b) on the Electoral Roll and (c) an actual communicant member of the Church of England. Nominations must be proposed and seconded, and candidates must indicate their willingness to stand. In addition, candidates are asked to submit a short typed or clearly written statement giving the reasons for their wishing to stand, and the benefits they could bring to the post if appointed. Nominations for the post of Churchwarden MAY NOT be made at the meeting.
Prebendary L. A. Moses, Vicar
The Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) will follow immediately. Only members of the Electoral Roll are eligible to attend. At the meeting three members of the laity will be elected to serve on the Parochial Church Council for the years 2015 – 2018. The retiring members of the Council are Janet Drake, Patrick Hartley and Geoffrey Woodcock. Of these, only Patrick Hartley is eligible for re-election. Candidates for election must be (a) on the Electoral Roll, (b) at least 16 years of age, and (c) actual communicant members of the Church of England. All nominations must be proposed and seconded by persons on the Electoral Roll and all candidates must indicate a willingness to stand. In addition, candidates are asked to submit a short typed or clearly handwritten statement giving their reasons for standing for election. Nomination forms may be obtained from the PCC Secretary or the office. Although nominations may be made at the meeting, it would be helpful if completed nomination forms, together with statements, are returned to the PCC Secretary by Friday 3 April to enable the papers to be available one week before the Annual Meeting. Sidesmen for the year 2015 – 2016 will be appointed at the meeting.
Jaron Lewis, PCC Secretary
ALL SAINTS RESTORATION PROJECT UPDATE
EXCELLENT PROGRESS with work and fundraising but FURTHER DONATIONS NEEDED to reduce the reliance on loans
New wiring and lighting, essential CCTV security and fire detection systems cost £372,000. Finishing works on the fire alarm and back of house areas continue to mid-March. As the project reaches its conclusion, we want to reduce our overall reliance on loans to pay for the works.
We have recently had a number of generous gifts that have greatly helped. Loans have been successfully reduced from £35,000 to £13,500 so any further gifts will reduce this still further.
HOW YOU CAN HELP………. please be as generous as you can, making cheques payable to: All Saints Church Restoration Appeal and sending them to:
The Parish Administrator, 7 Margaret Street, London W1W 8JG.
Please indicate where Gift Aid may be applied as it increases the value of your contribution by 25% at no cost to yourself. Thank you!
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.
Seasonal Appeals – The grand total collected in 2014 was £3,463 (up significantly on 2013’s support of £2,790) to this Mission Project through the All Saints Festival and Lent Appeals. The Project (in acknowledging our support) said: ‘Such a wonderful amount to have raised, thank you so very much for your valued support’.
A further £3,000 raised in 2014 for Us (formerly USPG) was acknowledged to be a ‘very generous gift’ which will be used to feed communities and generate income to support AIDS orphans in child-headed families in Zimbabwe.
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 all those who have recently contributed to this effort, by bringing donations to the Parish Office or leaving them in Church in the basket in the Baptistery. We have a lot of things to take to the Project shortly which will be of great benefit to 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 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 project.
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.
* If you know of others who would like to receive this correspondence 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.
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@hotmail.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 – SATURDAY
Morning Prayer 7.30am
Low Mass – 8am, 1.10pm and 6.30pm
Evening Prayer 6pm
(Except Bank Holiday – 1.10pm Mass only)
Confessions
A priest is available for confessions/counsel Monday – Friday from 12.30-1pm and at 5.30pm Monday – Saturday, or by appointment.
www.allsaintsmargaretstreet.org.uk and e-mail: astsmgtst@aol.com.