All Saints Parish Newsletter 2nd December 2016
Dear Friend,
ADVENT 2
We are being encouraged by some to take a more managerial view of leadership in the faith. John the Baptist is one of many people in scripture who would urge caution in this strategy.
A Jesuit priest, after reading an advertisement for a diocesan post, has compiled the following management consultant’s report on applicants for leadership in the formative period of Christianity:
JOHN: Says he is a Baptist, but definitely doesn’t dress like one. Has slept outdoors for months on end, has a weird diet and picks fights in public with religious leaders.
PETER: Has a bad temper and is immoderate in his use of language. Had a big run-in with Paul at Antioch. Aggressive. A loose cannon.
PAUL: Powerful, CEO-leadership material and fascinating preacher. But short on tact, unforgiving with young assistants, harsh; has been known to preach all night.
JESUS: Has been popular at times, but once when his following grew to 5000 he managed to offend them all; it dwindled to some faithful women and his best friend. Seldom stays in one place very long.
JUDAS: Solid references. Conscientious. Good connections. Knows how to handle money. Great possibilities here.
Sunday’s gospel reminds us of John’s fierceness, especially in response to religious hypocrisy: the difference between lip-service and enacted commitment.
There is an essential distinction between personal and private faith. Personal faith knows that God is close and intimate, which is what we celebrate at Christmas. But Christian faith is never private, a box set aside from the rest of life: that is what creates the potential for hypocrisy, sometimes just accidentally. We should always be careful of hymns (or any Christian discourse) which speak about ‘me and Jesus against the world’. Inheriting the promises made to Israel and seeing them as intended for all God’s children, we believed we are saved as a people. For us it is always ‘we and Jesus and for the world’. Aleppo is as important to us as London, for we are all ‘strangers and pilgrims’ and our parish is the world. That is the meaning and outcome of the Christmas story for which we prepare.
Yours in Christ,
Fr Michael Bowie
Assistant Priest
All Saints Margaret Street
Please pray for those who have asked for our prayers: Asia Bibi, Bishop Michael Perham, Doris Saunders, Anthony O’Connor, Archbishop Barry Morgan, Iris Podmore, Paul Curno, Agnes Poitevin-Navarre, José de Oliveira, Nick Russell, James Cary-Elwes, Tim Harding, Patricia Capon, Michael Sullivan, Mary Thomas, Rosemary Harris, Udho Forward and Bishop Michael Manktelow.
For the recently departed: Eric Christiansen, Barbara Reynolds, Patrick Phelan (Priest), David Pearce, Pamela O’Brien, Maria Keen, Timothy Raphael (Priest), Jennifer Shillito, Stuart Pascall, Valerie Reddington (whose Funeral was today at 12.30pm) and Horace Gibson. We also remember those who died in the early November Croydon tram derailment.
Remember past priests, benefactors, friends, and all whose year’s mind occurs this week including:
Pamela Freer, Robin Fletcher, Mary Skelton, Mary Burton, Florence Duggan, William Gelson, Thomas Vaughan, Morgan Griffiths (Priest), John Slater, Frances Lloyd, Zena Monk, Maude Bull, Christine Bramma, Ines Baxter, Marian Borton, Hamish Gray, Natalie Syrnes and Daniel Thomas.
For full service information: www.allsaintsmargaretstreet.org.uk.
WORSHIP THIS WEEK:
SUNDAY 4 DECEMBER, Advent 2
HIGH MASS, 11am
Preacher: Fr Michael Bowie
Missa Brevis – Gabrieli
How beautiful upon the mountains – Stainer
With one new oven working we can offer hot snacks after Mass, with coffee.
EVENSONG & BENEDICTION, 6pm
Preacher: Fr Julian Browning
Short Service – Weelkes
Remember, O thou man – Ravenscroft
The December Parish Paper is now available in Church for £1 a copy.
MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE TO CHRISTMAS for a HOMELESS PERSON THIS YEAR – THE MARYLEBONE PROJECT CHRISTMAS APPEAL
The Church Army-run Marylebone Project – providing 112 long and short term beds to homeless women and essential facilities and support to women who visit their rough sleepers’ drop-in at the Marylebone Centre – has asked for donations of practical items that can be given as Christmas presents. They particularly need: Coats, belts, dressing gowns, blankets, sleeping bags, bubble bath, soap, shampoo, scarves & gloves, socks, make-up, perfume, chocolates, hairbrushes & combs, dress jewellery, books (including puzzle books). There is no need to wrap these items.
MINCE PIES FOR ALL SAINTS CAROL SERVICES
Donations of mince pies would also be appreciated for hospitality at our forthcoming Carol Services.
Please drop off donations for the Marylebone Project Christmas Appeal or of mince pies, to the Parish Office (Mon – Fri 9-1 and 2- 5) or give to Janet Drake or Chris Self on Sundays by Sunday 11 December. Thank you!
WORSHIP NEXT WEEK:
Thursday 8 December 2016 – Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary at St Mary’s Bourne Street – 7pm High Mass
All Saints’ Cell of Our Lady of Walsingham is visiting our friends at Bourne Street for this service. You need not be a member of the Cell to join in this event. They are organised by the Cell members for all to join as they wish.
Saturday 10 December, 11.30 am – Rosary followed by Low Mass of Our Lady of Walsingham at All Saints.
SUNDAY 11 DECEMBER, Advent 3
HIGH MASS, 11am
Preacher: Fr Julian Browning
Little Organ Mass – Haydn
Hymn to the Virgin – Britten
EVENSONG & BENEDICTION, 6pm
Preacher: Fr Michael Bowie
Evening Service in C –Stanford
This is the record of John – Gibbons
THE ADVENT READING GROUP will meet on Friday mornings in Advent (2, 9, & 16* December). 11am at the Vicarage. We will be using Meeting God in Paul by Rowan Williams. It is published by SPCK in paperback and is also available as an e-book. The book is based on one of the series of Holy Week lectures Archbishop Rowan gave at Canterbury Cathedral.
*Please Note: Friday 16 December 12.30pm is the Lunchtime Carol Service with an octet from the All Saints Choir, so Advent Reading Group attenders may like to plan on coming to that service to complete their morning at All Saints.
Please note: as the Freud’s Carol Service takes place on TUESDAY 13 DECEMBER at 7pm, there will be no Evening Mass that day. Morning and Lunchtimes Masses take place as usual.
CHRISTMAS SERVICES WITH THE ALL SAINTS CHOIR
Friday 16 December 12.30pm
LUNCHTIME Carol Service followed by Mince pies & mulled wine.
Monday 19 December 6pm
FESTIVAL of NINE LESSONS & CAROLS by candlelight followed by Mince pies & mulled wine.
Saturday 24 December 11pm
CHRISTMAS EVE Midnight Mass &
Blessing of the Crib
Missa Sancti Nicolai – Haydn
Sunday 25 December 11am
CHRISTMAS DAY High Mass
Missa Brevis, K194– Mozart
PARISH NOTICES & NEWS
ALL SAINTS BAR and DINING ROOM REFURBISHMENTS
Many thanks to Marcus Reddington , Stuart Holden and Allie Hunter for all their hard work during last week. The team put in a lot of hours to complete the refurbishment of the bar between two Sundays of the bar being in operation. If you haven’t yet seen the transformation of that space – looking much lighter and brighter – then please make a visit and have a pre-Christmas drink. New All Saints Club membership cards for 2017 will also be available from Grenfell Prince.
Over the last few weeks the Dining Room has also been repainted with paint left over from the donation by Wates the builders on Wells Street project – so that this area could be refreshed for the cost of labour only.
NEW KITCHEN OVENS and INDUCTION HOB
And now we can also report that the new ovens are due to be installed in the Kitchen next week and hope that Sunday lunch will once again be served on Sunday 11 December. Patrick Hartley and Rebecca Hirst are the chefs planning to serve up roast beef, Yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes and a generous selection of vegetable with dessert and coffee to follow. Tickets £5 from the All Saints Shop before or after Mass (subject to availability and the satisfactory completion of the cooker installation!).
PARISH ROOM TEA & COFFEE POINT RENEWED and new Parish Room events for 2017
This small facility outside the Parish Room adjacent to the Church (which supports the service of refreshments on Sunday after Mass) has had a makeover in the last week and now looks more worthy of its other role in support of the Parish Room. Several new regular bookings for that space get underway in the New Year, with the Open University Geological Society bringing its AGM and monthly lectures to us from the Natural History Museum. Members of the All Saints’ congregation will be invited to attend these evening talks free of charge if they would like to do so.
Open Age are bringing to us a programme of hour-long over 50s exercise classes (formerly held at the Jesus Army Centre in Margaret Street) on Mondays at 11.45am and 1pm starting on Monday 9 January 2017. For more information about the work of Open Age, please see: http://www.openage.org.uk. These will run throughout the year breaking for holiday periods and relocating to the Dining Room for the annual John Lewis Exhibition in the Parish Room each September.
NEW ALL SAINTS GREETINGS CARDS SELLING WELL – Over £1800 worth of the beautiful new cards have been sold in aid of All Saints in the first two months, and new stocks of the Nativity image have now been delivered. The images are: the traditional Tile Nativity Scene; a new and dramatically lit shot of Our Lady of Margaret Street and a new and beautifully coloured image of the Sanctuary. Cards can be bought from the Parish Shop on Sundays and from the Parish Office in packs of 6 cards (all one design in each pack) for £5. Fridge magnets are also available of the image of the Sanctuary, which we hope will prove a popular small memento for visitors to the Church at £3 each (£4 with P&P). If you are with us this Sunday, they will be on sale in the courtyard after Mass.
Saturday 10 December, 3pm – CHRISTMAS POETRY TEA at Pamela Botsford’s home – the theme for which is Seasonal. Tickets: £6 sold in aid of the All Saints’ Restoration Appeal. Please see Pamela or Sandra Allan in the courtyard to obtain further details.
ACTIVITIES ELSEWHERE BEYOND ALL SAINTS that may be of interest:
SUPPORT FOR CHRISTIANS IN THE HOLY LAND – PILGRIMAGE OCT/NOV 2017
Bishop Stephen Platten will be leading a pilgrimage from the City Deaneries to the Holy Land in the autumn of 2017 not only visiting the Holy Places, but also meeting with the Christian community who face daily difficulties in living their faith. Travelling from 30 October to 6 November the cost of the pilgrimage is £1400 per person sharing a twin room. For more details or to book, please contact Pilgrimage People on 0800 6123423 or email: info@pilgrimagepeople.org or join us on Monday 28 November at 6pm for an information evening at St Michael’s Cornhill ECV3 9DS.
** MISSION NEWS** Men’s clothing especially is badly 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. As you prepare for the winter season, but 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 are also beginning to need men’s outerwear of all varieties and we always need rucksacks and duffle-bags to help our guests carry their belongings!’
Miranda Suit, Director of the Soup Kitchen (part-time, usually in the office on Tuesdays and Thursdays) says: 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/
ALL SAINTS MISSION ACTIVITIES:-
The charities we had agreed to support through the Lent Appeal 2016 (and including applicable Gift Aid) received the following sums:-
Marylebone Project – £2,666.67 – emergency refuge and rehoming project for homeless women.
USPG – £2,666.67 – work with those experiencing Aids and HIV in Zimbabwe.
London Diocese Lent Appeal – £3,001.66– this year supporting Syrian and Iraqi refugees through charities Open Doors and Aid to the Church in Need. The certificate of appreciation is on the Church noticeboard. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this great achievement – a significantly enhanced total collected through the Lent Appeal compared with recent years – of £8,335 (including some late funds generated by the Queen’s 90th Birthday Raffle). To this sum must now be added the further £20k raised by the Vicar’s Pilgrimage of earlier this year.
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.
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 everyone who contributes food and household essentials via the basket in Church or handed in to the Parish Office. 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 allowing them to sleep there in the daytime and signposting them to other agencies who can offer help and donating £1,000 towards the Soup Kitchen at the American International Church in Tottenham Court Road this year. We also allow 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 and as the cold weather starts to bite, please help us fund and support people in need through our Mission activities.
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 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 Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses: alanmoses111@gmail.com.
Or Assistant Priest Fr Michael Bowie: mnrbowie@gmail.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
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 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