All Saints Margaret Street.

Dear Friends,

That is how the Vicar begins his weekly messages and I shall follow his lead. I can confidently do that, though we may not yet know one another personally, because in Christian community we are in fact more than friends; we are related.

Unlike Fr Alan and Theresa I don’t have much in the way of family. I am an only child; it happens that this year is the 20^th anniversary of my father’s death, and the 10^th anniversary of my mother’s.
I have a small number of aunts, uncles and cousins in Sydney and Adelaide – a long way away. While in Berkhamsted, to my immense surprise, I discovered two cousins I didn’t know about in close proximity; perhaps even more extraordinarily, one is a priest whose parish was just 5 miles away and the other is married to the then Bishop of Hertford’s PA. But those discoveries about blood relatives were made within (and because of) the family of the Church, the character of which the Lord reveals in teaching us to call God our Father and calling us his brothers and sisters.
We can’t be his siblings without being related to each other.

Recognising one another as brothers and sisters is not always easy. We don’t necessarily want kinship with the person next to us in church, let alone on the tube or in the street. But then this Sunday’s gospel reminds us that recognising the Lord himself is not always easy either. There is, however, one place where we do recognise him, as did the disciples on the road to Emmaus: in the breaking of the bread, the Mass. If we recognise him there, as we must, we are also recognising kinship with our fellow-worshippers, and with the wider Church. We know from the Gospels that Jesus regarded allegiance to him as implying mutual support and allegiance among us. So our attendance at Mass and our reception of Holy Communion is not a private act of worship. It makes the Church, which is the family of God.

That happens every day here. I am delighted to be here and to be participating in that regular offering with you. Thank you to the very many who have already made me feel welcome. Forgive me if I haven’t got your name right yet. Pray for me as I do for you. And pray too, with me, that many more people will be drawn into fellowship with us in the joy of kinship with the risen Lord.

Yours in Christ,

Fr Michael Bowie

Assistant Priest

All Saints Margaret Street

Please pray for those who have asked for our prayers: Harry Allan, Alan Bishton, Susan Beauchamp, Jean Brackston, Rachel Clayton, Kate Down, Jean East, Ursula Edwards, Arthur Fearns, Canon David Garlick, Geoff, Yvonne & Philip Harland, Nicholas Harington, Lewis Harvey, Jill, Katherine Lee, Molly Leng, Joshua Levy, Christine Loffty, Santa Luca, Kerry Manuel, Jonathan Mani-Weoki, Megan and Chantal, Norman Newby, Andrew O’Connor, Peter Royle, Marilyn Stansfield, Dilys Thomas, Mary Thomas and Joy Wright.

For the recently departed: Shereka Marsh, Beryl Harding, Rosie Davis, John Mansfield, Michael Spencer, Lucas Drummond, Denise Inge, Antoinette Coote, Harry Woolhouse, Anne Maguire.

At the anniversary of their death (during the coming week): Cecil Meyer, Phyllis Matthews, Catherine Towers, Douglas Brough, Alfred Adams, Kathleen Wolfenden, Melinda Powell, John Norman, Odo Flunt, Norman Sandwith, William Faithful, Phyllis Mackenow, Dorothy Faithful, Florence Hope, Richard Masheder (Priest), Fred Bramma, Charles Cunnington, Marygold Snowden, Martin Cooper.

WORSHIP AT ALL SAINTS THIS SUNDAY – 4 MAY
Third Sunday of Easter
HIGH MASS 11am
Preacher: Fr Michael Bowie
Missa Solemnis in C, K 337—Mozart
O filii et filiae—Latin hymn, arr. Timothy Byram-Wigfield

CHORAL EVENSONG & BENEDICTION, 6pm
Preacher: Fr Julian Browning
The Second Service—Tomkins
Ecce vicit Leo—Philips 

EVENT THIS WEEKEND:

ALL SAINTS’ OLD CHORISTERS’ EVENSONG – Saturday 3 May – 4pm
Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis specially written for the occasion by Martin Bruce (Headmaster, Christ Church Cathedral School, Oxford). Anthem “Let all the World in every corner sing” by Louis Halsey. Organist: Harry Bramma, playing Bach’s three Easter Chorale Preludes from the Orgelbüchlein before the service and Bach’s Prelude in A minor BWV543 as the voluntary. Afternoon Tea is offered after the service in the Courtyard (if the weather is fine), with a chance to meet up and reminisce. All welcome – please come and support the former Choristers

EVENTS THIS WEEK:

EMMAUS EVENING, Organised by Anglican Catholic Future
Tuesday 6 May 2014, 7 pm (Mass 6.30 pm)
An evening exploring the call by the risen Lord to the disciples
on the road to Emmaus led by Fr Matthew Catterick, Vicar of St Saviour’s Pimlico

REQUIEM MASS FOR CHARLES FORKER
Saturday 10 May at 11am
Charles was for many years a Friend of All Saints and on his annual visits to London, a faithful worshipper here. Mass will be followed by refreshments. All welcome.

WORSHIP NEXT SUNDAY 11 MAY
Third Sunday of Easter
HIGH MASS and HOLY BAPTISM, 11am
Preacher: Prebendary Alan Moses

Missa Omnium Sanctorum – Caplin
My beloved spake – Hadley

CHORAL EVENSONG & BENEDICTION at 6pm
Preacher: Fr Michael Bowie
Service in G – Francis Jackson
Abendlied – Rheinberger

ORGAN RECITAL (following BENEDICTION)
Sunday 11 May at 7.15pm – TIMOTHY BYRAM-WIGFIELD, Director of Music
Programme includes: Overture: Die Zauberflöte by W.A.Mozart
Trois morceaux parisiennes: Verset (Fantaisie) by Alexandre Guilmant – ‘Naïades’, from Pièces de Fantaisie Book 4, Op 55, No. 4 by Louis Vierne – Valse-Musette by Francis Poulenc – Adagio espressivo (Sonata, 1938) by Sir William Harris and
Prelude and Fugue in B, Op 7, No 1 by Marcel Dupré.  Retiring collection to support the Choir and Music at All Saints (suggested donation £3.50).

SPECIAL EVENTS IN MAY

CHRISTIAN AID WEEK – 11 – 17 May 2014
Christian Aid Week 2014 will focus specifically on the work done by Christian Aid and its partners in tackling violence and building peace.

A PILGRIMAGE TO CANTERBURY,
Organised by Anglican Catholic Future, Saturday 17 May
10.30am Arrival and gather in the Crypt for Saturday Prayer

11am Welcome and Address on Pilgrimage by the Very Revd. Robert Willis, Dean of Canterbury

12noon Mass Preacher: Brother Stuart OSB, Abbot of Mucknell Abbey

1-2pm in the Jesus Chapel – both the Sacrament of Reconciliation and anointing and the laying on of hands for the sick will be available.

3.15pm Choral Evensong, followed by a visit to the Shrine of St. Thomas of Canterbury.

The day concludes at 4pm. There will be opportunities for small groups and individuals to visit different places in the cathedral associated with significant figures in Anglican history. For those travelling by train, the high speed train from St Pancras is recommended. New Cathedral Café for food.             Please register on the Anglican Catholic Future website or let Fr. Michael Bowie know that you would like to take part.

POETRY TEA – Friday 23 May 3pm at Pamela’s.  All welcome.  The subject will be “Hot and Cold”.  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 and leave a message with your name and phone number.  Please book early to avoid disappointment.  Cost £6 towards the All Saints Restoration Fund.

WALSINGHAM NATIONAL PILGRIMAGE – Bank Holiday Monday 26 May
All Saints is running a coach once again to the Walsingham National Pilgrimage – with a Concelebrated Mass in the Abbey Grounds, Sermon (Preacher: Mother Mary Luke CHC), Procession round the Village, and Benediction in the Shrine Gardens. This has always been a day to enjoy and a powerful witness to the Christian faith. The total cost will be about £20. Please speak to Ross Buchanan (Tel: 020 7221 1312) if you would like to know more or reserve a place on the coach.

ASCENSION DAY at ALL SAINTS – Thursday 29 May at 6.30pm – HIGH MASS
Preacher: Prebendary Alan Moses
Mass Setting: Missa ‘Ascendo ad Patrem – Palestrina
Ascendit Deus – Philips  

SPECIAL EVENTS IN JUNE at All Saints and Elsewhere

ALL SAINTS PARISH RETREAT – Friday 30 May to Sunday 1 June 2014
This year’s Retreat, conducted by Father Julian Browning, is now fully subscribed.

CHURCH OF THE ANNUNCIATION, Bryanston Street, nr. Marble Arch, London W1H 7AH
Saturday 7 June 2014 at 7pm – Music in Honour of Our Lady A Concert for the Centenary of
The Church of the Annunciation 1914 – 2014 to include SPEM IN ALIUM – THOMAS TALLIS
the famous 40-part motet. Together with plainchant and works by Lassus, Palestrina, Rachmaninov, Fizi and Gorecki. Performed jointly by ExColl, a choir of former Cambridge Choral Scholars & The Annunciation Singers under the direction of Christopher Saward and Simon Lovell-Jones. Please take your seat by 6.50pm. Tickets £20 to include a glass of wine. Available on the door or from www.excoll.org.uk. NB. ExColl is also singing at the celebration of the
Mass of Pentecost at The Annunciation on Sunday 8 June at 10.30am.

LENT APPEAL 2014
We are delighted to announce that the Lent Appeal 2014 (with associated Gift Aid) raised £2,150, up on the amount raised in 2013. Thank you to everyone who so generously contributed. If you still have a collection box, please return it to the Parish Office as soon as you can so that we can finalise the Appeal. 

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 £215,000 (86% of target), but still have a further £35,000 to find to match the budget figure. While we are approaching Trusts and other Grant-giving bodies for the short-fall, if there is anyone who has not yet contributed, please do so via the Parish Office (with Gift Aid wherever possible). Thank you to everyone who has already contributed donations large and small; we are extremely grateful. With such extraordinary support for this much needed restoration project, we are confident that we will reach that target in time to begin the works later this year. Preparations continue to advance each week, with the Butterfield designed lighting fittings now commissioned and in construction at the blacksmiths and the works’ contract tender ready to be issued.

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 (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
(Except bank holiday – 1.10pm Mass only)
Confessions from 12.30pm -1pm and 5.30pm
(No Confessions on bank holidays)
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 with Evening Prayer at 5.45pm.

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.