All Saints Margaret Street.

Dear Friend,

This Sunday is the Feast of Christ the King and at the Eucharist we will listen together to the gospel: 

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.”

Some of us had a preview of this picture on Tuesday, the feast of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, revered for her devoted care of the poor.

At weekday Evening Prayer at All Saints, our second reading is taken from a collection of non-biblical readings, usually from the Fathers of the Church.  For St. Elizabeth, we had a powerful passage from a sermon of St. John Chrysostom in which he asked his hearers:

“Do you want to honour the body of Christ?”    Assuming their answer to be “Yes,” He goes on immediately: “Then do not despise his nakedness. Do not honour him here in church clothed in silk vestments and then ignore him, naked and frozen in the street. Always remember that he who said, ‘This is my body’, and gave effect to his word, also said, ‘I was hungry and you gave me no food.”

 This makes for salutary, if uncomfortable, reading for a church like ours. We can see why Chrysostom (a nickname meaning, “the golden-mouthed”) died in exile. His eloquence was too disturbing for those in power. They preferred not to have to hear it.

There are two schools of thought on the interpretation of Matthew’s “Last Judgement.”

The minority report argues that what Jesus says about caring for the needs of the poor, “these little ones,” applies only to the treatment of Christian missionaries or believers by others, the nations to whom they were sent. The nations will be judged, not according to how they have treated the needy of the world, but how they have responded to the Christians.

The majority verdict, represented by Chrysostom, sees it having a wider, indeed universal application. When we serve anyone who is poor, hungry, naked, sick, in prison, then we serve Christ in them.  When we do not, then we fail to recognise him. Even those who do not know Christ but have acted with mercy and kindness, will have served Christ, unawares.  They too will share in the Beatitude, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”

The problem with the minority view is not that what it says about those who welcome or reject Christian missionaries, is untrue, but that it is not the whole truth.  Its narrow view cannot do justice to the scope of our theology of creation and incarnation and the extent of God’s love for his creatures.  Christ has not bound himself to a limited number of disciples, but to the whole of creation and of humankind, – even those who have not heard of him or do not accept him.  Those who are his disciples are called to make that known; in word and also in deed.  As Bishop Frank Weston said to Catholic Anglicans long ago, those who adore Christ in the Blessed Sacrament must also serve him present in the poor.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Alan Moses
Vicar All Saints Margaret Street 

Please pray for those who have asked for our prayers: Douglas Beeken, Susan Beauchamp, Heather Brown, Rosamond Clayton, Kate Down, Tim Harding, Yvonne & Philip Harland, Elspeth Harley, Lewis Harvey, Myrtle Hughes, Molly Leng, Joshua Levy, Christine Loffty, Hilary Morgan, Norman Newby, Linda Orme, Maureen Pride, Malcolm Richards, Peter Royle, Jock Scott, Dilys Thomas, Mary Thomas, Joy Wright and Asia Bibi. 

For the recently departed: Kenneth Lanceley and David Trendell, Rosemary Crome (former All Saints’ chorister), Alan Bishton, David Reeves and Rachel Clayton (whose funeral takes place at 1.30pm on Monday 24 November).

Remember past priests, benefactors, friends, and all whose year’s mind occurs this week: Josephine Fletcher, George Walker, Ailsa Critchley, Ann Swanton, Henry West, Gladys Howard, Alys Purdon, Agnes Mackay, Mabel Egerton, Marjorie Gilley, May Beeken, Philip Burrage, Thomas Tomlinson, Priscilla Sedgewick, John Clayton, Barbara Morrissey, Thomas Ellis, Edith Martin, Margaret Mack, Charles Hawksley, James Crompton, Joseph Kirkham, Margaret Pickering, Valerie Oram, Annie Marshall, Doris Harmsworth, Lavinia Miller and John Clough (former All Saints’ chorister).                     

WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY and NEXT WEEK

Weekday Masses remain in the Parish Room. Due to the construction of scaffolding in the chancel, Church will be closed during the week again from Monday 24 November until at least the end of the month. Thank you for your understanding and flexibility during this challenging period.

WORSHIP SUNDAY 23 NOVEMBER – CHRIST THE KING – Sunday next before Advent – HIGH MASS, 11am
Preacher: Fr Julian Browning
Missa Omnium Sanctorum – Caplin
Jubilate Deo in C – Britten

The flowers in Church today have been donated by Stephen Miller in loving memory of his mother Lavinia and by Hilary Rodger to mark the occasion of the 80^th anniversary of her mother Margaret Rodger’s death. If you would like to mark an anniversary or other event with flowers, please contact Jean Castledine on 020 8858 3508.

Frances O’Neil returns thanks to God for her recovery and to the many people at All Saints who prayed for her, encouraged her and provided unstinting practical help. Please join us for a glass of wine after Mass.  

After High Mass there will be ‘The Shape of the Liturgy’ Ten to One Talk in Church. The topic is The First Reading. The bell will ring beforehand.

Sunday lunch is served this week. Tickets £5 from the Parish Shop in the Parish Room (subject to availability). Patrick Hartley and Rebecca Hirst are preparing Roast Beef, Yorkshire pudding and four vegetables, dessert and coffee.

CHORAL EVENSONG & BENEDICTION at 6pm
Preacher: The Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses
Service in E – Murrill 
Laudibus in sanctis – Byrd

At 7.15pm (after Evensong & Benediction) – ORGAN RECITAL by Timothy Byram-Wigfield, Director of Music at All Saints. The programme includes:

Overture to the Oratorio ‘St Paul’ – Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy 
transcr. W.T.Best

Two settings of ‘Vater unser im Himmelreich’, from the Clavierübung, part 3 – J.S. Bach:
1) à 2 Clav. E Pedal e Canto fermo in Canone’ BWV 682
2) alio modo, manualiter’ BWV 683

Benedictus, Op 59, No 9 – Max Reger
Toccata, from ‘Suite Gothique’, Op 25, No 4 – Léon Boëllmann

Retiring collection to support the Choir and Music at All Saints (suggested donation £4). The All Saints Licensed Club/Bar below the Church will be open after this recital. 

WORSHIP NEXT SUNDAY – 30 NOVEMBER – FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

HIGH MASS, 11am
Preacher: Fr Michael Bowie
Messa da capella – Lotti
People, look East – anon 

Sunday lunch is served next week. Tickets £5 from the Parish Shop in the Parish Room (subject to availability). Daniel Fielden is preparing a main course, dessert and coffee. 

ADVENT SERVICE OF READINGS & MUSIC, 6pm

NOTICES

RETURN OF PENNY BOXES FOR COUNTING – If you have not yet returned your Penny Box to Priscilla Oakeshott in the Parish Shop, please do so by Sunday 23 November. Thank you!

ALL SAINTS’ PARISH RETREAT 2015
The Retreat will be at Ely again, from 13-15 March. As already announced, the conductor will be
Fr John Cullen. If you would like to attend, or to know more about it, please contact Martin Woolley on 07976 275383 or at m.g.woolley@btinternet.com. A careful note will be kept of the order in which firm reservations are received.

WALSINGHAM PARISH PILGRIMAGE 2015
All Saints’ twelfth annual pilgrimage to Walsingham will take place from Friday 17 to Monday 20 July. (In the past the pilgrimage has been from Friday to Sunday, but following feedback after the 2014 event, we are offering an option to stay until Monday lunchtime.) Please indicate which departure date you would like when booking. If you are interested (or would like to find out more) please speak to Jean Castledine or contact Ross Buchanan on 020 7221 1312 or ross.r.buchanan@btinternet.com.

Due to the Shrine’s limited capacity and booking arrangements, those who would like to attend will need to pay a non-refundable deposit of £10 to the Parish Administrator, Dee Prior, by the end of November 2014 to reserve a place on the Pilgrimage. A further £10 deposit will be required by Monday 13 April 2015 and the full payment for accommodation by Monday 15 June 2015. 

ALL SAINTS RESTORATION APPEAL UPDATE – GOOD PROGRESS MADE! FUNDRAISING – Thanks to the huge generosity of parishioners and friends and the award of £10,000 from the Garfield Weston Foundation, we have now received a splendid total of £369,540, reducing our reliance on loans to circa £15,000 (from £35,000). However, we have two significant elements on hold to get within the overall project figure – a CCTV security system and an automatic fire detection system. Both are highly desirable in our Grade 1 Listed Church if more donations are received. 

WORKS – Following the removal of all the old fittings and electrical cable in Church, this week has seen the construction of scaffolding in the south aisle to give access to fit the new cables and lights. From Monday 24 November scaffolding will be put in the chancel for two weeks. The nave altar will need to be used for the first two Sundays in Advent and possibly longer. The overall project is scheduled for completion by the end of January 2015, allowing for a Christmas break and subject to the delivery of all specialist materials.

WEEKDAY SERVICES – taking place in the Parish Room and Confessions heard in the Oratory (access via the Parish Office). Church will be open on Sunday throughout the project and at other times when safe to do so. 

HOW YOU CAN HELP………. further donations will reduce our reliance on loans and complete key fire and security improvements! Cheques payable to: All Saints Church Restoration Appeal. Send 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%. Thank you!

ALL SAINTS EVENTS in NOVEMBER/DECEMBER:

Wednesday 26 November, 6.30pm – Requiem Mass. Please print the name of anyone you would like to have remembered at this Mass in the black folder in the Parish Room (weekdays) or Baptistery (Sunday).

Wednesday 26 November, 7pm – EVENING ADVENT GROUP meets for four consecutive weeks in the Vicarage – reading Rowan William’s Being Christian – Baptism, Bible, Eucharist, Prayer. Other dates are: Wednesdays 3, 10 and 17 December. Please contact the Parish Office (020 7636 1788 or astsmgtst@aol.com to let us know which group you will attend).

Friday 28 November, 11am – DAYTIME ADVENT GROUP meets for four consecutive weeks in the Vicarage – reading Rowan William’s Being Christian – Baptism, Bible, Eucharist, Prayer. Other dates are: Fridays 5, 12 and 19 December. Please contact the Parish Office (020 7636 1788 or astsmgtst@aol.com to let us know which group you will attend).

Sunday 30 November, ‘The Shape of the Liturgy’ Ten to One Talk: topic is The Psalm. The bell will ring beforehand.

Sunday 30 November, 6pm – ADVENT SERVICE OF READINGS & MUSIC by candlelight.With the Choir of All Saints Margaret Street.

Monday 8 December, 7pm – Standing Committee Meeting of the All Saints PCC, Vicarage

Monday 15 December, 6pm – FESTIVAL OF NINE LESSONS & CAROLS. With the Choir of All Saints Margaret Street. Followed by Mince pies and Mulled Wine.

Thursday 18 December, 6.30pm – CAROL SINGING IN THE PARISH – all welcome to join in – please meet in the Church Courtyard. Followed by mince pies and mulled wine in the Vicarage.

Sunday 21 December, 11am HIGH MASS and HOLY BAPTISM.

Monday 22 December, 12.30pm – CAROL SERVICE and Blessing of the Christmas Tree. With a soloist from the Choir of All Saints Margaret Street.

Wednesday 24 December – CHRISTMAS EVE – MIDNIGHT MASS and BLESSING OF THE CRIB at 11pm.

Thursday 25 December – CHRISTMAS DAY Low Mass 9am and HIGH MASS at 11am. 

Sunday 28 December – FIRST SUNDAY OF CHRISTMAS HIGH MASS AT 11am.  NB. There is no Choral Evensong this Sunday.

EVENTS BEYOND ALL SAINTS 

Saturday 29 November, 3pm – St Cyprian’s, Clarence Gate – ADVENT VESPERS

Friday 5 (15-21hrs) and Saturday 6 December (10-16hrs) ALL THE FUN OF THE CHRISTMAS FAIR – St Cyprian’s, Clarence Gate, London NW1.
All proceeds to Marie Curie Cancer Care. Candle-lit Gala 5 December from 6pm – entry suggested £3 (with wine) and general entry other times suggested £1. Over 40 professional stalls selling all you need for Christmas, with exhibitors usually found at top Christmas Fairs such as Country Living Fair, Save the Children Fair and Spirit of Christmas. Artisan food, music, vintage, designer makers, books, children’s favourites – they have Christmas wrapped up! See Fair website www.funofthefair.co.uk for full details.

Thursday 4 December – 6.30 – 8pm – ST PAUL’S CATHEDRAL
December 2014 marks the 50^th Anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr. preaching to an audience of 4,000 under the dome of St Paul’s. As a tribute to his legacy, a panel of leaders and thinkers from the black and minority ethnic community will reflect on “Martin Luther King’s Dream: How Can We End Racism Today?” The panel is led by Baroness Doreen Lawrence of Clarendon OBE, Hugh Muir diary editor at The Guardian, and Dr Heidi Mirza, Professor of Race, Faith & Culture at Goldsmiths College. Further information can be found at: www.stpauls.co.uk/MLK. Free tickets can be booked at: http://MLKstpauls.eventbrite.co.uk.  

Saturday 6 December, 3pm – CHRISTMAS POETRY TEA AT PAMELA’S
A seasonal version of the popular regular event, come along with a poem and treat yourself to an early mince-pie! To accept or to find out 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.

Friday 12 December, 6.45pm – ALL SAINTS’ CELL OF OUR LADY OF WALSINGHAM EVENT – In the octave of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception – an Ecumenical Visit to the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Farm Street, Mayfair.
All are invited and welcome to join the liturgy – Anglican Evensong led by Fr Michael Bowie with address by Fr Dominic Robinson SJ, a tour of the church, followed by light refreshments. You do not have to be a member of the Cell to attend but please advise Mrs Rosa Postance by email (rosa_postance @hotmail.com) if you are going to come to this event.

ALL SAINTS YEAR ROUND SUPPORT for HOMELESS PEOPLE

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 – This year we have been able to donate £3,000 (up on last year’s support of £2,790) to this Mission Project, collected through the All Saints Festival and Lent Appeals.

Year Round Support – we also support the Resettlement Project with non-perishable food and toiletries or household necessities like cutlery or bed linen/blankets. Please contribute to this effort, bringing donations to the Parish Office or leaving them in Church in the basket in the Baptistery. Thank you to everyone who has so generously contributed in this way in recent weeks – we have quite a large number of bags of goodies to deliver to the Project.

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 during Refurbishment until January 2015
(Church guaranteed open Sunday only from 7am to 7pm and at other times when safe to do so)
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 in the Parish Room
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. During the refurbishment works, confessions will be heard Monday – Friday in the Oratory at 7 Margaret Street. Please ring the bell
at the Vicarage or Parish Office doors for admittance. 

www.allsaintsmargaretstreet.org.uk and e-mail: astsmgtst@aol.com.