All Saints Margaret Street.

Dear Friend,

“A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”  Matthew 5. 14

One of the unexpected benefits of the systematic reading of scripture according to the Church’s lectionary is that it often presents us with passages which speak to our current situation; without our needing to “search the scriptures” for them. It is as if the scriptures come searching for us. Sunday’s Gospel passage from the Sermon on the Mount is a case in point.

John Winthrop, one of the Pilgrim Fathers, took that verse from the Gospel passage we will hear on Sunday, as his text for a shipboard sermon to his fellow-pilgrims en route for a new life in America.    Their new community, he said, would be “as a city set on a hill,” watched by the world. It should be an example of communal charity, affection, and unity to the world. If it failed to be so, “We shall be made a story and a by-word through the world of God’s judgement.”  

Winthrop’s sermon gave rise to the idea of American “exceptionalism,” the belief that the USA is God’s country, a “shining city on a hill.”   

Presidents have spoken of this. John F. Kennedy spoke of it in biblical language as a moral challenge to the American people:  “For of those to much is given, much is required.” 

Another president said of it:

“…in my mind it was a tall, proud city built on rocks stronger than oceans, wind-swept, God-blessed, and teeming with peoples of all kinds living in harmony and peace; a city with free ports that hummed with commerce and creativity.  And if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here.”

Many might be surprised to learn that those sentiments, and especially the last one, were uttered by Ronald Reagan. 

The United States has not always lived up to its ideals: the self-evident truth that all are created equal is still not fully realized for many of its citizens. One generation of immigrants has often been reluctant to accept the arrival of the following one. But we can hardly claim perfection for our own country. The truth is that the values which bind us together need to be constantly renewed and extended. 

As a parish, together with the Diocese of London, we have been much concerned with the fate of Christians and other victims of war and persecution in the Middle East. Last October I visited the Lebanon on behalf of the Diocese to visit projects we have been supporting. There I met Syrian refugees, both Christian and Muslim. Some saw no future for their families in their home country and longed to settle in Europe or North America.  This was particularly true of the Christians, so it was particularly shocking to hear that among those turned back from the United States after last Friday’s executive order by President Trump’s was a Syrian Christian family who had been given permission to settle in the US, only to have it revoked at the last moment. 

The legality or otherwise of all this is something for the American courts and people to sort out. However, to those of us who have friends and family in the United States, and who visit that country and hold it in affection and esteem, policies and actions which appeal to fear and prejudice, are deeply dismaying.  One of the countries in the world to which people could look, as “a city set on a hill,”  for freedom and the rule of law, seems on the brink of abandoning these in favour of the kind of authoritarian nationalism which wreaked such untold harm on our continent in the last century.  There is a challenge here for us, too, for similar voices are being heard on this side of the Atlantic. 

Like Donald Trump’s, Abraham Lincoln’s religious affiliation was rather vague, but just as he was an incomparably greater orator, he was also much better acquainted with scripture.  In his Second Inaugural Address, quoting our Lord’s words: “Woe unto the world because of offenses; for it must needs be that offenses come, but woe to that man by whom the offense cometh,” and the Psalmist:  “the judgements of the Lord are true and righteous altogether,” he spoke of the terrible Civil War as a divine punishment for the cruelty of slavery.   Four years’ earlier, on the brink of that war, he had looked forward to a time when division and enmity would be overcome by the “better angels of our nature.” 

Thankfully, there have been voices, not least from bishops on both sides of the Atlantic, offering a vision which speaks to those “better angels.”   Cardinal Blase Cupich, the Archbishop of Chicago said: “It is time to put aside fear and join together to recover who we are and what we represent to a world badly in need of hope and solidarity.”  He then quoted words of Pope Francis: “If we want security, let us give security; if we want life, let us give life; if we want opportunities, let us provide opportunities.” He continued: “Pope Francis issued these challenging words to Congress in 2015, and followed with a warning that should haunt us as we come to terms with the events of the weekend: ‘The yardstick we use for others will be the yardstick which time will use for us.’ “ 

We must all pray that the “better angels of our nature,” will triumph, not only in the United States but here, lest we become a “by-word through the world of God’s judgement.” 

Yours in Christ, 

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

Please pray for those who have asked for our prayers:  Asia Bibi, Paul Curno, Gwyneth Hopkins, Jeremy Thorp, Bishop Michael Perham, Andy Steenhoff, Roy Jenkins, Anthony O’Connor, Melanie Stimmler, Bill Rodger , Alix Bainbridge-Spring and Jenna Stanbrook.

For the recently departed:  Jill Saward, Udho Forward, Michael Ovey (Priest), Jean Sheppard, Yap Kim Kee, Joan Cooper, Stephen Lawrence, Brenda Wheeler, Hans Ashbourne, Richard Bude (Priest), Paula Sormani, Sr Annde Frances ASSSP (whose Funeral takes place on 23 February) and Myrtle Hughes. 

Remember past priests, benefactors, friends, and all whose year’s mind occurs this week including: Dorothy Collins, Philip Morrell, George Venn, Sarah Hudson, Iris Harrison, Norman Holden, Rona Pethers, Donald Scott, Beatrice Reed, Jane Finch, Dorothy Dent, Grahame James, Bernard Anslow, Armorel Griffiths, Robert Streit, Joan Adams, Pamela Brett, Hazel Otway (Benefactor), Eileen Mann, Margaret Booker, Diana Juniper, Phyllis Woodstock, Frank Walker (Priest) and Winifred Bloomer. 

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

WORSHIP THIS WEEK:

SUNDAY 5 FEBRUARY – Fourth Sunday before Lent

HIGH MASS, 11am
Preacher: Fr Barry Orford
Mass in G – Poulenc
Salve Regina – Poulenc         

Sunday Lunch is served – tickets £5 on sale from the All Saints Shop in the Parish Room before and again after Mass (subject to availability). The chef is Daniel Fielden and he is cooking beef stew with mashed potato and green beans, followed by dessert and coffee.    

EVENSONG & BENEDICTION, 6pm
Preacher: The Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses
Collegium Magdalenae Oxoniense – Leighton
Cantate Domino canticum novum à 5 – Hassler

WORSHIP NEXT WEEK
SATURDAY 11 FEBRUARY – 11.30am Walsingham Devotions & Noon Mass

SUNDAY 12 FEBRUARY – 3^rd Sunday before Lent

HIGH MASS, 11am
Preacher: The Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses
Missa super ‘Sancta Maria’ – Händl
O sacrum convivium – Messiaen

EVENSONG & BENEDICTION, 6pm
Preacher: Fr Barry Orford
Wood in E Flat No 2 
Christe qui lux es et dies – Whyte 

PARISH NOTICES & NEWS

Almost £400 was raised for General Church funds this last week – between the AGM for the OU Geological Association and the Handbag Sample Sale.  

‘THIS IS OUR FAITH’ Course – for those wishing to be prepared for adult Baptism and/or Confirmation/Reception into the Church of England. Names to the Vicar, please.

SMALL CHOIRS FESTIVAL at ALL SAINTS  –
THIS Saturday 4 February 2017,
Afternoon Rehearsal 2-4.30pm with 5pm Festival Service
The organist will be Gary Sieling (once Assistant Organist of Peterborough cathedral and now 50% organist and 50% HGV driver) with Fr. John Burniston (St James’, Islington) presiding.

Small Choirs International now has over 360 affiliated choirs from all continents except Antarctica, with 780 pieces of music available for free download with the permission of the copyright owners. The editors, arrangers and composers come from across the UK, USA, Europe, and the Antipodes.

The 2017 Festival repertoire consists of two familiar pieces arranged for SA Men, and some new pieces with flexible requirements. ALL singers who support the ideals of Small Choirs are invited to be part of the festival, whether they belong to a small choir or not and any All Saints’ congregation members who feel that they would like to be supportive are encouraged to sing. Even if you aren’t available to sing, do support the concluding Festival Service from 5-6pm. All welcome.

Further information is available at www.small-choirs.org.uk/feb2017 [with the repertoire to be sung] or from Philip Norman (07939 064 247) pkn@pnms.co.uk.  The Small Choirs website: small-choirs.org.uk.

POETRY TEA, Sunday 26 February 3pm at Pamela’s home.  Please bring “Your Favourite Poetry and Prose”.  If you would like to come to this event please speak to Pamela or Sandra in the courtyard, or ring Sandra on 020 7637 8456 leaving your name and phone number.  Charge £6 in aid of the All Saints’ Restoration Fund.

CONFESSIONS AT THE BEGINNING OF LENT and ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICES
Monday 27 February 12 – 1pm and 5 – 6pm

ASH WEDNESDAY, 1 MARCH
Low Mass with Ashing           at 8am 
Confessions                             12 – 1pm

Low Mass with Ashing           at 1.10pm
Confessions                             5 – 5.45pm 

HIGH MASS &
IMPOSITION OF ASHES 6.30pm
Preacher:  The Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses
Mass in Five Parts – Byrd 
Salvator mundi I – Tallis

LENT READING GROUP FRIDAY MORNINGS AND TUESDAY EVENINGS
Following the positive response at our occasional Friday morning reading group to Bishop Rowan Williams short books on Paul and Mark, we are going to use as our Lent book this year his Being Disciples. While not specifically designed as a Lent Book, it has a conveniently Lenten six chapters. They are entitled:

• Being Disciples
• Faith, Hope and Love
• Forgiveness
• Holiness
• Faith in Society
• Life in the Spirit. 

The reading group will meet in the Parish Room on Friday mornings, beginning on the 24 February at 11am. If there is sufficient interest from those who work during the day, there will also be a group on Tuesday evenings after Mass – on 28 February (with pancakes), 7 March, 14 March, 21 March, 28 March and 4 April. Please sign the list in church or contact the Parish Office to indicate your interest in either Friday mornings/Tuesday evenings. Sunday evening sermons in Lent will also be related to these themes.

THE WAY OF THE CROSS
The devotion of Stations of the Cross will take place after the Evening Mass at 7pm on Fridays during Lent starting on Friday 3 March.  

BEYOND ALL SAINTS and of interest…

Richard Chartres Fund for London Launch
To mark Bishop Richard’s retirement, the Diocese of London has launched this special fund to support work towards the 2020 Capital Vision goals in London, described by the Bishop as: ‘a city where we hold fast to that which is good; render to no one evil for evil but strengthen the fainthearted and afflicted, honouring everyone and rejoicing in the love of God and the energy of the Holy Spirit’.

To find out more about this new initiative, go to: www.london.anglican.org/rcf4l 

St Cyprian’s Church, Glentworth Street, London NW1 6AX
Saturday 4^th February at 3pm – CHORAL EVENSONG & BENEDICTION
Responses: Reading, Canticles: Dyson in F, Motet: O how lovely are they dwellings; Brahms. 
Refreshments served after Evensong – all welcome. 

HUGH PRICE LECTURES – “Speaking of God in Public”

All lectures at Hinde St Methodist Church, London W1. Admission free. All welcome.
Tuesday 14 February, 7.30pm – A Mills and Boon Deity for the 21^st Century – Revd Dr Peter Phillips
Tuesday 14 March, 7.30pm – God, Public Life and Privacy – Ruth Gledhill

** 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. Between our Lent and Festival Appeals, we raised £5,120 for them in 2016. 
USPG –work with those experiencing Aids and HIV in Zimbabwe.  
Between our Lent and Festival Appeals, we raised £5,120 for them in 2016. 

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 a total of £3,454 in 2016 (a one off £1,000 and part of our Festival Appeal collection) towards the Soup Kitchen at the American International Church in Tottenham Court Road. 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