All Saints Parish Newsletter 21st March 2014
Dear Friends,
Christianity, with the cross at its heart, has sometimes been attacked as a cult of suffering. There have been times when there has been some truth in this. We have learned to be suspicious of those who glorify suffering and from positions of comfort tell others that it will be good for them.
There is much suffering that we would not want to boast about: terminal illness, disability, mental illness, bereavement, grinding poverty, physical, psychological and sexual abuse. The litany of suffering chronicled in the media seems endless. To speak of boasting in such cases would seem to belittle the pain of others, to deny its reality.
We know that suffering does not always ennoble. It can destroy and distort lives, families and communities. And down the centuries Christians have often been in the forefront of efforts to remove causes of suffering or to alleviate their effects.
So what are we to make of Paul in this Sunday’s epistle (Romans 5.1-11) saying, ‘we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.’
More than once, Paul speaks of the sufferings he has endured for the sake of his mission. He is not a masochist. What he writes springs not from a belief in some good in suffering itself but from the relationship with God established through Jesus Christ.
He can make this seemingly outrageous statement because he believes that our response to these things can be creative because of our relationship with God: “since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ in whom we have access to his grace.”
It is that grace which enables us to respond creatively and positively to suffering. And he knows this as more than a theory. He has experienced it amid the sufferings of his ministry. He knows in his heart, in the depth of his being, that grace is able to teach that patience or endurance which is not a grim stoicism, a dogged putting up with things, a reliance on our own stubbornness to see us through, but an active and positive trust in the one whose love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit. He knows it because grace has taught him. He knows from experience too that this love is able to generate hope even when things seem dark and hopeless.
I am sure I am not alone in having seen that in the lives of people we have known; people who have not pretended that suffering is unreal, but have lived faithfully and graciously, in patience and hope.
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: Harry Allan, Jean Brackston, Rachel Clayton, Rosie Davis, Ursula Edwards, Canon David Garlick, Geoff, Yvonne Harland, Denise Inge, Jill, Fr Kevin, Katherine Lee, Joshua Levy, Christine Loffty, Kerry Manuel, Norman Newby, Andrew O’Connor, Stephen Short and Joy Wright.
For the recently departed: Mary Lundell, Clare Connly, Gavin Rider, Sister Margaret ASSP, John Cook, Sister Edwina S.L.G, Frederick Parrot.
At the anniversary of their death (during the coming week): Constance Eveline Kirk, Belle McCarthy, Beryl Williams, Ralph Ballard, Mary Montgomery, John Davies, Amy Burnett-Brown, Maya Dean, John Hosier, Diane Suzans, Georgina Carlton-Williams, Joseph Semlyon.
WORSHIP AT ALL SAINTS THIS SUNDAY, 23 March – Third Sunday of Lent
HIGH MASS, 11am
Preacher: The Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses
Missa Brevis – Rodney Bennett
A Hymne to God the Father – John McCabe
Choral Evensong & Benediction, 6pm
Preacher: The Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses
The Short Service – Morley
Nolo mortem peccatoris – Morley
Followed at 7.15pm by an ORGAN RECITAL – Charles Andrews. Programme includes works by Bach and pieces to mark the recent Centenary of the birth of William Lloyd Webber, Organist of All Saints Margaret Street). Retiring collection to support the Choir and Music at All Saints (suggested donation £3.50). The All Saints Licensed Club/Bar below the Church will be open afterwards.
EVENTS & NOTICES THIS WEEK
HOLY WEEK – AN INTRODUCTION
Organised by Anglican Catholic Future in the Diocese of London
Saturday 22 March 11am-3.30pm, All Saints’ Church – Led by Fr Christopher Woods and Fr Gerald Beauchamp. Please sign up on the ACF website or by contacting the Parish Office.
Saturday 22 March, 7.30pm, Cadogan Hall – BACH MASS IN B MINOR. Ealing Choral Society, Sinfonia Britannica, Conductor: Jonathan Williams. Bach completed this, his greatest mass setting, in the late 1740’s shortly before his death. It is recognised as his religious last will and testament and represents the summation of his life’s work in writing masterpieces for the church. Even by Bach’s own extraordinary standards, the emotional depth and majestic proportions of this work are awe-inspiring. Tickets £10 – £22 from the Box Office 020 7730 4500 or online.
HIGH MASS OF THE ANNUNCIATION of our Lord to the Blessed Virgin Mary
at the Annunciation, Marble Arch on Tuesday 25 March, 7pm. High Mass & Procession of the Image of Our Lady – Preacher: Bishop Rowan Williams, Baron Williams of Oystermouth. There will be no Evening Mass at All Saints.
Thursday 27 March, 10.30 – 12.30, Parish Room, SINGING FOR THE BRAIN run by The Alzheimer’s Society. Please see leaflets on the table in Church. If anyone is interested in joining this session (12th of 12) please contact: Samerah Malik on 07891 888539.
LENT 2014 – STUDY GROUPS and STATIONS OF THE CROSS during LENT
“The Joy of the Gospel” – a study of Pope Francis’s Letter on “The Proclamation of the Gospel in Today’s World” – Thursday Evenings from 6 March onwards, 7pm in the Parish Room.
“Love bade me welcome”- The Poetry of George Herbert – Friday Mornings from 7 March onwards, 11am in the Vicarage.
THE WAY OF THE CROSS – Friday evenings in Church at 7pm throughout Lent.
ALL SAINTS’ LENT APPEAL 2014
Our Lenten self-denial is complemented by giving alms to those in need.
Almsgiving this year is divided between All Saints’ Mission Projects:
- The Church Army Hostel for Homeless Women in Marylebone, providing emergency housing and enabling them to find long-term accommodation and work.
- The work of Us (formerly USPG) in Zimbabwe tackling the stigma associated with people having HIV-Aids
and The Bishop of London’s Lent Appeal, which will support:
- ALMA (The Angola, London and Mozambique Association) and
- The Bishop of London’s Mission Fund, which is aimed at reaching ‘beyond the walls of the church’ to increase its mission work in areas of social need as well as keeping pace with the needs of the growing church in London. Since 2004, 100 projects + have received grants totalling £3.8M.
Lent Boxes are available for you to collect in church. Please return by Easter.
OTHER NOTICES
MEETING OF PARISHIONERS & ANNUAL PAROCHIAL CHURCH MEETING, SUNDAY 30 MARCH 2014
A meeting of parishioners will be held on Sunday 30 March 2014 at 12.45pm in Church, at which Churchwardens for the year 2014-2015 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 four members of the laity will be elected to serve on the Deanery Synod for the years 2014-2017. Retiring members are Mr R Buchanan, Mr C Stephens, Dr D Thomas and Mr M Woolley. All are eligible for re-election.
Six members of the laity will be elected to serve on the Parochial Church Council for the years 2014-2017, and three members of the laity to serve for the year 2014. The retiring members of the Council are Miss G Dare, Mr D Fielden, Miss C Hodgetts, Mr R Oram, Mr G Prince and Mr Q Williams. Of these, only Mr Williams is NOT ELIGIBLE for re-election. The one year vacancies have been caused by the resignations from the PCC of Mr D Brash, Mrs D Prior and Dr N Hartman.
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 hand-written statement giving their reasons for standing for election. Nomination forms may be obtained from the PCC Secretary. 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 Monday 17 March to enable the papers to be available one week before the Annual Meeting. Sidesmen for the year 2014-2015 will be appointed at the meeting.
Dilys M. Thomas, Hon PCC Secretary
PAPERS FOR THE MEETING ARE AVAILABLE IN CHURCH FROM SUNDAY 23/3/2014.
LOOKING AHEAD – DATES FOR YOUR DIARIES
CHORAL EVENING PRAYER & BENEDICTION – Saturday 5 April, 3pm at St Cyprian’s Clarence Gate. Responses: Thomas Tomkins, Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis: Henry Purcell – from “Evening Service in G minor” and Thomas Tallis – Lamentations of Jeremiah I. With the St. Cyprian’s Singers, directed by: Julian Collings.
POETRY TEA – Sunday 6 April, 3pm at Pamela’s
All welcome. The subject will be “My Favourite Poems or Prose”. Bring pieces you have written – why not take this opportunity to showcase your best work – or best-loved pieces you have read. To accept or to find out Pamela’s address please ring Sandra on 020 7637 8456 and leave a message with your name and phone number. Cost £6 towards the All Saints Restoration Fund.
SPRING CONCERT in memory of Nicholas Luff – Thursday 10 April at 7.30pm, the Musicians’ Church, St Sepulchre-without-Newgate (opposite the Old Bailey, London EC1A 2DQ) – The London Ripieno Society directed by Geoffrey Hanson. Programme: Requiem Mass – Duruflé, Stabat Mater – Rheinberger, Motets – Bruckner. Tickets £10 (concs £8) online at www.ticketsource.co.uk/londonripieno or telephone the Treasurer on 020 7724 2046 or by email: marybee2@aol.com.
HOLY WEEK, 13 – 20 April
For this particularly special time at All Saints, we welcome as our preacher an old friend of All Saints: Bishop John Flack. His ministry has stretched from West Yorkshire to Rome, as Director of the Anglican Centre and the Archbishop of Canterbury’s representative to the Holy See. More recently he has served as both a parish priest and an assistant bishop in the Diocese of Peterborough.
ALL SAINTS PARISH RETREAT – Friday 30 May to Sunday 1 June 2014
This year’s retreat at Bishop Woodford House, Ely will be conducted by Fr Julian Browning, and is now well but not fully subscribed. We need four more people, and can take up to eight. The cost (standard room) is £130. Enquiries please to m.g.woolley@btinternet.com or on 0207 436 2858 or 07976 275 383. The order of receipt or requests to participate will, as usual, be carefully noted to enable peaceful allocation of rooms and facilities. Full details will be issued in due course to those who put their names down.
WORSHIP NEXT SUNDAY – 30 MARCH – Fourth Sunday of Lent
HIGH MASS, 11am
Preacher: The Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses
Mass in C – Schubert
Otche nash – Arensky
Choral Evensong & Benediction, 6pm
Preacher: Fr Julian Browning
Service in C – Stanford
Ave Maria – Bruckner
ALL SAINTS RESTORATION – Lighting & Electrical Renewal Update
The display of our proposals for this Restoration Project continues in the Baptistery. We have now received approval to proceed with this essential work in our Grade 1 Listed Church, but must secure all the funds to go ahead. We are delighted to announce that we have now raised or had pledged £172,630 (69% of target). Thank you to everyone who has contributed donations large and small; we are extremely grateful. We hope that works will commence after Easter in 2014.
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.
DAILY SERVICES (the Church is open every day of the week from 7am to 7pm)
SUNDAYS
Low Mass at 6.30pm (Saturday), 8am and 5.15pm
Morning Prayer at 10.20am
HIGH MASS AND SERMON at 11am
CHORAL EVENSONG, SERMON and BENEDICTION at 6pm
MONDAY TO FRIDAY
Morning Prayer at 7.30am
Low Mass at 8am, 1.10pm and 6.30pm
Confessions from 12.30pm -1pm and 5.30pm
Evening Prayer at 6pm
SATURDAYS
Morning Prayer at 7.30am
Low Mass at 8.00am and 6.30pm (First Mass of Sunday)
Confessions at 5.30pm
Evening Prayer at 6pm
On major weekday feasts, High Mass is sung at 6.30pm.
A priest is available in church for confessions or counsel every weekday from 12.30-1pm (except Saturdays) and at 5.30pm, or by appointment. The clergy are always happy to see anyone for whatever reason. Please enquire at the Parish Office (to the right as you enter the church courtyard).
www.allsaintsmargaretstreet.org.uk and e-mail: astsmgtst@aol.com.