All Saints Margaret Street.

Dear Friends,

“Who will rid me of this troublesome priest?”  Henry II’s exasperated outburst about Thomas Becket which led to the Archbishop’s murder in his cathedral on the 29^th December, 1170.

As I was preparing my homily for the mass of St. Thomas, and this last Parish email letter of 2016, I thought these words might appeal to the president of South Africa, Jacob Zuma, whose response to church leaders’ criticism of corruption and inequality was to tell them to keep out of politics and stick to prayer. 

Archbishop Thabo Makgoba of Cape Town, responded firmly by saying in his Christmas sermon: 

“Recently, we were reminded by one seemingly entrenched in power in our own parts to stay out of politics and to confine ourselves to prayer. Can you believe it? A President of a democratic South Africa telling the Church to stay out of politics? You would be forgiven for thinking that you had climbed into a time machine and gone back 30 years into the past, when apartheid presidents said the same thing. I am very pleased that the bishops and their chapters in the three Western Cape dioceses – Cape Town, False Bay and Saldanha Bay – have rejected President Zuma’s comments and have told him very firmly (and I quote): ‘NO, Mr President, we will not refrain from engagement in the political terrain. Our people live there‎, work there, suffer, cry and struggle there. We live there too and cannot and will not stop commenting or acting on what we see and what, in our opinion, is unjust, corrupt and unacceptable to God’s high standards of sacrificial love.’

We in the Church live in and know communities which are afflicted by the darkness of pain, sorrow and despair. Our communities yearn for hope and the courage of leaders to stand up and speak truth to power. We hear the cries from those on the edges of our society. Mr President, we will ignore your call, made from the palaces of power where you and your fellow leaders live in comfort. We will lament and ask God, ‘Where are you, God, when your people are marginalised and excluded?”

The office of Archbishop of Canterbury is probably safer than in Becket’s time, but its occupants can still get into hot water with politicians.  The former leader of UKIP did not like Archbishop Justin’s Christmas sermon, in which he spoke of finding hope in a “different kind of world, one less predictable and certain, more awash with fear and division.” 

Mr. Farage tweeted to his followers that they should “ignore all negative messages” from Canterbury and enjoy themselves.  He did not say, “Who will rid me of this troublesome priest?” although he has accused the widowed husband of Jo Cox, the MP murdered by a neo-Nazi during the EU referendum campaign, of extremism.  

Politicians sometimes accuse Church leaders of not living in the real world. In a “post-truth” culture, we might wonder if it is not bishops who are pointing us to reality and some politicians who are avoiding it and promising “pie-in-the-sky.” 

I am sure that both Archbishops will stick to their prayers in the year to come.  But politicians should not expect a quiet life as a result. Contemplation is not an escape from reality but a deeper engagement with it.

With best wishes and prayers for a New Year of peace for all in 2017.

Yours in Christ,  

Fr. Alan Moses 
Prebendary Alan Moses
Vicar, All Saints Margaret Street
Area Dean of Westminster – St Marylebone

Please pray for Peter and Satomi, who were married on Wednesday 28 December at All Saints. We send our congratulations to the happy couple and wish them a very Happy New Year 2017 as husband and wife.

Please pray for those who have asked for our prayers:  Asia Bibi, Fr Bunme Fagemi, Bishop Michael Perham, Anthony O’Connor, Iris Podmore, Paul Curno, Rosemary Harris, Udho Forward, Steven Lawrence, Hans Ashbourne, Fr Jonathan Boardman, Carmen Emmanuel, Melanie Stimmler, Bill Rodger and Alix Bainbridge-Spring.  

For the recently departed:   Eric Christiansen, Cecil Everton, Sarah Eynstone (Priest), Melissa Bruce-Jones, Adrian Gill, Lascelles McPherson, Barbara (Bobby) Wilson, Sarah Bayon, Oswald Clark, and Alexander Chamberlain.  

Remember past priests, benefactors, friends, and all whose year’s mind occurs this week including: Ethel de Rougement, Trevor Burnett-Brown, Nicholas Luff (Assistant Director of Music), Hugh Glaisyer (Priest), Beardmore Compton (Priest, second Vicar of All Saints), Henry Howell, John Wylde (Priest), Joan Banyard, John Auton, Ernest Waggett, Timothy Shaw, Emily Finnis, Tom Ryder (Priest), Mary Park, Constance Tweed, Robert Routledge, Winifred Nash, Lilian Yorke, Fay Ireland, Hill Horley and Anthony Bullock.

For full service information: www.allsaintsmargaretstreet.org.uk. 

WORSHIP THIS WEEK: 

SUNDAY 1 JANUARY 2017 – The Naming and Circumcision of Jesus 
HIGH MASS, 11am 
Preacher: The Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses
Mass in G Minor – Rheinberger
Ave Maria, Op. 12 – Brahms 

There is no EVENSONG & BENEDICTION on 1 January.

WORSHIP NEXT WEEK 
Bank Holiday Monday 2 January 2017 – 12 noon Mass only. 

Tuesday 3 January onwards – weekdays as usual with:  
7.30am Morning Prayer
Masses at 8am, 1.10pm and 6.30pm
Evening Prayer at 6pm.
Confessions at 12.30 and 5.30pm.

FRIDAY 6 JANUARY – EPIPHANY PROCESSION & HIGH MASS, 6.30pm 
Preacher: Canon Nicholas Wheeler, Rector, Holy Trinity Sloane Square 
Spatzen Messe, K 220– Mozart 
The Three Kings – Cornelius, arr. Atkins  

SUNDAY 8 JANUARY
THE BAPTISM OF CHRIST, Epiphany 1 
HIGH MASS, 11am 
Preacher: The Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses 
Communion Service ‘for the King’s College, Cambridge – Howells 
O magnum mysterium – Victoria 

EPIPHANY CAROL SERVICE by candlelight, 6pm 
A selection of readings and music for the Epiphany 
with the Choir of All Saints

PARISH NOTICES & NEWS 
We are pleased to report that the old – now over-large – saucepans and baking trays from the Parish kitchen at All Saints were donated in mid December 2016 to the Church of St John the Evangelist Upper Norwood, where former All Saints’ Curate Fr John Pritchard is now the Vicar. They came in handy for a Community Christmas Day lunch for 35 people and were almost immediately in use once more for the Church’s Patronal Festival on 27 December. They are clearly going to be very useful there and have made room for the new smaller pans and trays for the new ovens and induction hob at All Saints.  

SATURDAY 14 JANUARY 11.30am Rosary and Walsingham Devotions, followed by 12 Noon Low Mass of Our Lady of Walsingham.

CHURCHES TOGETHER IN WESTMINSTER
AGM, Talk and Displays on Homelessness in the City of Westminster
Time & Date: 6.30 for 7pm – 9pm, Monday, 16 January 2017
Venue: Crown Court Church of Scotland, Russell Street, London WC2B 5EZ
Following the CTiW AGM, which is expected to be fairly brief, there will be a talk entitled Homelessness & Encounter on the subject of homelessness generally in the City of Westminster, and especially amongst young people. The speaker will be Colin Glover from The Connection St Martin-in-the-Field.

Refreshments will follow with the opportunity to browse displays by a number of leading organisations helping the homeless, including West London Mission and Westminster Churches Night Shelter (Methodist), Depaul Trust, The Passage and Home for Good (resettlement support) Scheme (RC), Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church (Baptist), and Borderline (supporting homeless Scots in London). Displays will also be open prior to the AGM, and there will be the opportunity to speak with representatives from the organisations.  All are welcome. Entrance is Free.

** MISSION NEWS** Men’s clothing especially is 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. 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 REGULAR MISSION PROJECTS:- 

Marylebone Project – emergency refuge and rehoming project for homeless women. 
USPG –work with those experiencing Aids and HIV in Zimbabwe.  

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 in 2016 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