All Saints Margaret Street.

Dear Friend,

Pentecost

‘Don’t know much biology’, as Sam Cooke sang, but I am always struck by that weird biological fact that we are all about 70% water. St Cyril of Jerusalem, 1600 years ago, didn’t know much biology either. But he knew the vital importance of water, especially living in the very dry Middle East. Thinking about one of Jesus’ promises about the Holy Spirit, ‘I will give you water, welling up to eternal life’, he wrote something for the people he was preparing for baptism and first communion from his own observation of the natural world which chimes in very effectively with what we now know and helps us to understand the Holy Spirit:

Why did he call the grace of the Spirit water? Because all things depend on water. Water produces herbs and living things. Water comes down from heaven as rain: water always comes down in the same form, yet its effects are many – thus it takes one form in the palm-tree and another in the vine; it is in all things and takes all forms, though it is one thing and always remains itself. For the rain does not change, coming down now as one thing and now as another, but it adapts itself to the nature of the things which receive it and it becomes what is appropriate to each. Similarly with the Holy Spirit. He is one and of one nature and indivisible, but he shares his gifts as he wills to each one. … Though the Spirit is one in nature, yet by the will of God and in the name of Christ he brings about multiple effects of virtue.

Because we know that we, and all living things, are largely made up of water, that image of the Spirit as water welling up to eternal life is especially powerful: the Spirit comes to us, like the element of water, as one thing, always recognizable to us. But, as when we drink water it nourishes our bodies and is transformed into what each of us needs; it becomes part of us, and as when another person, or an animal, or a plant, takes in water and is nourished differently and appropriately, so it is with the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is given to us freely by God; we mark his coming into our lives by Holy Baptism and Confirmation; we are nourished with the Holy Spirit in Holy Communion and the other sacraments. He is with us in all that we do according to what we need. And, for Christians, like water in the human body, he is literally part of who each of us is.

As we complete our 50-day Eastertide we celebrate the greatest of God’s gifts to us all as a result of Jesus’ rising from the dead – new life, the Spirit in us, to make us ever more God’s own children.

Yours in Christ,

Fr Michael Bowie 
Assistant Priest 
All Saints Margaret Street 

Please pray for those who have asked for our prayers: Asia Bibi. Fr. Bruce Barnett- Cowan, Ella Carroll, James Cary-Elwes, Ian Coull, Paul Curno, Jonty Gordon, Hugo Gralka, Tim Harding, Yvonne & Philip Harland, Elspeth Harley, Lewis Harvey, Maxwell Hutchinson, Alice Jullien, Molly Leng, Peggy Leeman, Anthea Lepper, Joshua Levy, Christine Loffty, Hilary Morgan, David Pearce, Jock Scott, Fr. Nicholas Stacey, Buzz Stokes, Celia Swan, Henrietta Varsey, Joy Wright, Marc Young and Revd. Mary Spredbury.

For the recently departed: Jane Allen and Patrick Lepper, Sheila Kenyon, Jack Symes, Malcolm Richards, Richard Walker, Jeremy Bunting (Priest), Clifford Jones (Priest) and Dougal Oldfield.  

Remember past priests, benefactors, friends, and all whose year’s mind occurs this week: Francis Irving, Rita Hodgetts, Frederick Seales, John Davies, Clare Jackson, Percy Aspinall, Elsie Davies, Betty Scott (one time member of the PCC & Parish Paper Secretary), Ivan Sutton, Joy Cooch, Constance Crozier, Agnes Barry, Brenda Lusha, Dominic Borg, Henry Pelham Clinton (7^th Duke of Newcastle) and Constance Porter.

WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY 24 MAY – THE DAY OF PENTECOST (Whit Sunday) PROCESSION & HIGH MASS, 11am

Preacher: Fr Michael Bowie
Missa Solemnis in C, K337 – Mozart
Dum complerentur dies Pentecostes – Palestrina

Ten to One Talk in Church after Mass: Theme: The Lord’s Prayer. The bell will ring beforehand.

There is an Events Committee Meeting after Mass.

Sunday Lunch is being cooked by Stuart Voy and Team. Tickets on sale in the Parish Room before and after Mass – £5.

CHORAL EVENSONG & BENEDICTION, 6pm 
Preacher: Fr Julian Browning 
Service in E – Watson
Der Geist hilft –Bach

WORSHIP NEXT SUNDAY 31 MAY – TRINITY SUNDAY 
HIGH MASS, 11am
Preacher: Fr Julian Browning
Communion Service, ‘Collegium Regale‘– Howells
Benedicta st Sancta Trinitas – Victoria 

Ten to One Talk after Mass: Theme: Fraction and Agnus Dei. The bell will ring beforehand.

Sunday Lunch is being cooked by Martin Woolley. Tickets on sale in the Parish Room before and after Mass – £5.

CHORAL EVENSONG & BENEDICTION, 6pm 
Preacher: The Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses 
Service in F – Dyson 
Hymn of the Cherubim – Rachmaninov 

NOTICES

PARISH OFFICE CLOSED for the week from Bank Holiday Monday 25 May. Office opens again Monday 1 June. Emails and phone calls will be monitored and anything urgent will be dealt with.

Monday 18 – Saturday 23 May – BISHOP OF LONDON’S THIRD DIOCESAN WEEK OF PRAYER – this year for the Great Feast of Pentecost, praying that we may be strengthened in our inner being with power through his Spirit (Ephesians III. 16). In his invitation to take part in the Week of Prayer Bishop Richard says:

I hope that once again many of you will come to St Paul’s Cathedral to pray during this week. As well as the Cathedral’s regular pattern of worship there will be dedicated space in the Chapel of St Michael and St George to support your prayer journey over the week in creative and different ways…..In whatever ways you are able, join us in prayer between Ascension and Pentecost, for I am convinced that there is nothing that is impossible for a Church that is confident, compassionate and creative in the power of the Spirit and in union with Jesus Christ our Lord. With thanks for our partnership in the Gospel, Richard London +

Saturday 30 May – please note that there will be no 12 noon Mass at All Saints on this date, due to a long-standing commitment for a visit by the West Sussex Organists Association, which was made before the Mass time was changed.

HELP NEEDED with CORPUS CHRISTI – Hospitality and Procession – Thursday 4 June – Help is needed with catering either in provision &/or preparation late afternoon or distribution as the Service ends.  Anyone able to help with hospitality, please contact either Chris Self or Janet Drake or see them after Mass.  Stewards and leafleters to assist with the Procession from Church around Oxford Street – training will be given. We want to make this an even bigger act of witness this year and need additional helpers. If you can assist, please contact Cedric Stephens on 020 7 637 7468 or see him after Mass one Sunday before then.

EVENTS AT ALL SAINTS IN JUNE

Thursday 4 June 6.30pm – CORPUS CHRISTI – HIGH MASS and followed by Outdoor Procession of the Blessed Sacrament. Choir with brass and drum accompaniment. Come along and swell the numbers! Refreshments served afterwards.

Preacher: The Revd Dr Peter Groves, St Mary Magdalen, Oxford
Mass Setting: Missa Brevis in F – Mozart,
O sacrum convivium – Messiaen, Ave verum corpus – Mozart

Sunday 7 June – ALL SAINTS CLUB AGM takes place after Evensong. All members are welcome to attend and vote. The bar will open afterwards.

EVENTS ELSEWHERE in MAY/JUNE

IRAQI CHRISTIANS IN NEED FUNDRAISING RECITALS – Carl Bahoshy (who came to All Saints last year) has been giving fundraising piano & organ recitals over recent weeks at churches and Cathedrals outside London in aid of Iraqi Christians In Need (www.icin.org.uk). He is keen to spread the word as far as possible. Please could you let any friends who might attend and who live in these areas know of these recitals? The venues and times are as follows:-

St. George’s RC Church, Billet Street, Taunton TA1 3NN (Somerset): TODAY Friday, 22 May, 7pm (piano & organ recital)

St. Matthew’s Church, 71 Station Road, Redhill, RH1 1DL: Thursday, 4 June, 1:10pm (piano & organ recital)

St. Patrick’s RC Church, Netham Road, Redfield, Bristol BS5 9PF: Saturday, 20 June, 7:30pm (piano & organ recital).

Sunday 24 May – THE CHURCHES TOGETHER IN WESTMINSTER 2015 PENTECOST CELEBRATION will be held at Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church, 235 Shaftesbury Avenue, WC2H 8EP.  It will take the form of Informal Church and will commence at 5.15pm with cold buffet, followed by worship, reflection and response. Organisers advise that this is an ecumenical service, and all are very welcome to join. They look forward to meeting you there!

Monday 25 May – THE NATIONAL PILGRIMAGE, WALSINGHAM – a day excursion by coach from All Saints to Walsingham. To find out more/book a place on the coach, please contact: Ross Buchanan (020 7 221 1312).

Saturday 30 May, 6.30 – 7.30pm – St Cuthbert’s, Philbeach Gardens, Earl’s Court (nearest tube: Earl’s Court)

RECITAL BY THE AMERICAN CONCERT ORGANIST, CHRISTIAN SCHOEN
Repertoire: JS Bach, Buxtehude, Vierne and several 20th century American composers. Free admission, collection in support of Organ Restoration Fund.

Sunday 31 May, 3pm – POETRY TEA AT PAMELA’S – Theme of ‘Light’. Please see Pamela or Sandra Wheen for directions to the house. Tickets £6 in aid of All Saints’ Restoration Appeal.

Wednesday, 17 June 2015, 6 – 8pm – Churches Together in Westminster – MEET THE NEIGHBOURS hosted by the German Christ Church, Knightsbridge (Deutsche Evangelische Christuskirche), Montpelier Place, SW7 1HL.  Evening Prayer with elements in German and English; a short talk (in English) about the history of the church, and the specific situation of the German speaking congregation and their ministry. An opportunity for further questions. Refreshments afterwards – wine, soft drinks, nibbles – in the church hall, the Bonhoeffer-Saal, in the basement of the church.  Website for church http://www.ev-kirche-london-west.org.uk Located off Montpelier St to north of Brompton Road (opposite side to Harrods) – nearest station Knightsbridge. All are welcome to join us. 

Thursday 25 June at 7.30pm – St John the Evangelist, Upper Norwood – Organ Concert: THOMAS TROTTER, International Concert Organist, Birmingham City Organist, and Organist, St Margaret’s, Westminster. Admission free; retiring collection in aid of the Church restoration fund. Light refreshments afterwards.

ALL SAINTS RESTORATION PROJECT UPDATE – work and fundraising near complete but FURTHER DONATIONS NEEDED to cover final invoices. New wiring and lighting, essential CCTV security and fire detection systems cost £372,000. Fire alarm commissioning is now completed and the new system in use. The glass shades for the chandeliers have arrived and the majority fitted (last ones by early June). As the project reaches its conclusion, and the final invoices are received, we have recently had a number of generous gifts that have successfully eliminated loans (from an initial level of £35,000) so any more gifts will allow us a small reserve against the final cost of the works. If there are any surplus funds when all bills are paid, these will go towards future restoration projects.

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. Please continue to donate these so we can help more 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 – FRIDAY
Morning Prayer 7.30am
Low Mass – 8am, 1.10pm and 6.30pm
Evening Prayer 6pm
(Except Bank Holidays – 12 noon Mass only)

SATURDAY
Morning Prayer 7.30am
Low Mass – 12 noon (NOTE REVISED TIME for Saturdays and Bank Holidays) and 6.30pm (First Mass of Sunday)
Evening Prayer 6pm

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.)

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