All Saints Margaret Street.

Dear Friends,

Sunday’s gospel is about church discipline. It is very unlikely that Jesus said exactly these words, at least in this way. They clearly address a situation from Matthew’s own Christian community a few years later. There was no ‘church’ at the time Jesus was speaking, just a loose group of followers. The only other time the word is used, two chapters earlier in Matthew, is when Peter (or Peter’s faith – you’ll have to listen to Sunday’s sermon if you want my take on that) is named as the foundation of something called ‘the church’.

So this Sunday’s gospel very clearly reflects a situation in the early days of Matthew’s Christian community, and it sounds, as one commentator writes, more like an Archdeacon talking than the Lord (I repeat that in the knowledge that our Archdeacon reads this e-letter and with appropriate apologies to him!). The teaching about how we are to discipline members of the community, heard in isolation, strikes a slightly jarring note. The following passage (which we won’t hear next Sunday because of Holy Cross Day) is about the need for generous forgiveness: this puts Sunday’s teaching about discipline in the context intended by Matthew and understood by him to reflect Jesus’ intention.

Meanwhile, however, we are also given an assurance of the Lord’s attentive presence when ‘two or three’ gather in his name (known to many of us from the so-called ‘prayer of St Chrysostom’ among the prayers at the end of the Book of Common Prayer offices). A young homeless woman who asked me to pray with her last week told me that she knew this as ‘the prayer of agreement’: she was asking me to pray with her because she had been taught that the prayer would have a different character (and be efficacious) if this condition were met. We might be uncomfortable with the slightly mechanistic theology underlying that assumption: if we are not careful it slides into the same territory as indulgences (with which most of us are probably uncomfortable!). But it does also express the truly Catholic (and therefore scriptural) teaching that we cannot be Christians on our own; that the Church is necessary to us and necessarily corporate. It is a check against our individual agendas and delusions: then sins which can just as easily pop up in prayer as anywhere else. That is very much the point of this whole gospel passage. The sometimes tiresome but always necessary business of living our lives in the faith in common with the family in which God has placed us is the vocation of each of us from our baptism. Learning how to be Christians with people we dislike and with whom we disagree is a matter of mature faith, and indeed of our own salvation!

Yours in Christ,

Father Michael Bowie, 
Assistant Priest
All Saints Margaret Street

Please pray for those who have asked for our prayers: Stephanie Aziz, Alan Bishton, Susan Beauchamp, Martin Bluhm, Lily Caplin, Rachel Clayton, Rosamond Clayton, Kate Down, Jean East, Yvonne & Philip Harland, Elspeth Harley, Lewis Harvey, Myrtle Hughes, Molly Leng, Joshua Levy, Christine Loffty, Jonathan Mani-Weoki, Lisa McCaulay and Baby Angel Maguire, Hilary Morgan, Norman Newby, Geraldine Newman, Aubrey O’Brien, Rosemary Orr, Maureen Pride, Malcolm Richards, Peter Royle, Jock Scott, Dilys Thomas, Mary Thomas and Joy Wright.

For the recently departed: Jean-Marie Charles-Roux (priest), Doreen Bamberger, Harry Allan, Piia Huhtanen and John Edwards.  

Remember past priests, benefactors, friends, and all whose year’s mind occurs this week: Edith Senior, Emily Maud Burling, Nell Titley, Annie Harrison, Marion Richards, Elizabeth Barker, Winifred Harland, Annie Peduin, Allan Yates (Friend & Benefactor of All Saints), John Monk (former Server), Maurice Keen, James Shaw/Lord Kilbrandon, Marion Pidgeon, William Dudley Bernard Clements, OSB (Sixth Vicar of All Saints 1934 – 1942).   
    

WORSHIP AT ALL SAINTS THIS SUNDAY 7 SEPTEMBER – TWELFTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY HIGH MASS at 11am
200^th Anniversary of the Birth of William Butterfield, architect of All Saints Church
Preacher: Father Michael Bowie
Missa Brevis in D – Mozart
A new song – James MacMillan

There is no Church Sunday lunch this week, but lunch service resumes on 21 September.

CHORAL EVENSONG & BENEDICTION at 6pm
Preacher: Prebendary Alan Moses
To mark the Bicentenary of William Butterfield, in a joint celebration with Keble College, Oxford, the choir of All Saints Margaret Street and that of Keble College join forces to sing:
Service in A – Stanford
Blessed City, heavenly Salem – Bairstow
Refreshments will be served after the Service. All welcome.                                                    

WORSHIP NEXT SUNDAY 14 SEPTEMBER – HOLY CROSS DAY HIGH MASS at 11am

Preacher: The Most Revd Roger Herft, Archbishop of Perth and Metropolitan of Western Australia
Missa ‘Crux fidelis’ – Vivanco
Adoramus te, Christe – Lassus 

There is a meeting of the All Saints Servers after Mass. 

CHORAL EVENSONG & BENEDICTION at 6pm
Preacher: Prebendary Alan Moses
Service for five voices – Weelkes
Ave verum corpus – Byrd

7.15pm – ALL SAINTS – ORGAN RECITAL (follows Evensong & Benediction) given by Charles Andrews, Associate Director of Music at All Saints. The programme includes works by Howells, Mendelssohn and Franck. Retiring collection to support the Choir and Music at All Saints (suggested donation £3.50). The All Saints Licensed Club/Bar below the Church will be open afterwards.

SPECIAL EVENTS in SEPTEMBER at ALL SAINTS & ELSEWHERE

Monday 8 September (Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary), 6.30pm – WALSINGHAM CELL TENTH ANNIVERSARY MASS WITH HYMNS – followed by refreshments. This service marks ten years since the All Saints’ Cell’s first ever event and will be an excellent opportunity for everyone to celebrate and give thanks for all its activity over the last decade.  

Saturday 13 September, 10 – 5pm – “LIFE ABUNDANT” Anglican Catholic Future Day takes place at Southwark Cathedral – Celebrating Catholic Witness in the Church of England. Main speakers: The Most Revd Roger Herft, Archbishop of Perth & Metropolitan, The Revd Dr Alison Milbank, Nottingham University & Priest Vicar at Southwell Minster, The Very Revd Jane Hedges, Dean of Norwich. All welcome. Cost of the day: £10. Full information about the programme, bookings and payment online at www.anglicancatholicfuture.org.

ST CYPRIAN’S FESTIVAL, Clarence Gate – Friday 12 – Monday 15 September:

Friday 12 September, 7.30pm THREE PARISHES ANNUAL QUIZ NIGHT, St Cyprian’s.
In order to manage the catering arrangements, it would be helpful if you could now start forming your teams (up to a maximum of SIX people). The charge is £10 per person, payable on the night, including refreshments.  Please let Chris Self know as soon as possible if you are intending to take part. Individuals who want to be slotted into a team on the night should also let him know beforehand. Email: chris_self@btinternet.com. Tel: 020 7723 2938.

Saturday 13 September at 7.30pm – St Cyprian’s – CONCERT given by the ST CYPRIAN’S SINGERS directed by Julian Collings – LUX AETERNA, Maurice Duruflé – Requiem. Plus works by Byrd, Tallis, Harris and Holst. Peter Jaekel – organ. Tickets £10, in aid of the St Cyprian’s Singers.

Monday 15 September, ST CYPRIAN’S DAY, Clarence Gate – 7pm Solemn High Mass. Preacher: Fr George Bush, Rector of St Mary-le-Bow.

ALL SAINTS EVENTS LATER in SEPTEMBER:

Tuesday 16 – Sunday 21 September from 12 – 6pm – JOHN LEWIS PARTNERSHIP ARTS & CRAFTS CLUB 2014 EXHIBITION in the All Saints’ Parish Room. The show features original paintings/works of art and assorted crafts – including silk scarves, jewellery, boxes and hand-made cards (with new All Saints’ designs). The majority of work is for sale and would make ideal gifts. Free admission.

Friday 19 September, 11am – READING GROUP (first meeting of three in 2014, meeting the third Friday of each month. The other two dates are Friday 17 October, Friday 21 November). The first text for the Group is: Marilynne Robinson’s novel Gilead, available in paperback from Virago at £7.99.

Friday 19 September, 6.30pm MONTHLY REQUIEM MASS – please print the names of anyone you would like to be remembered in the file to be found on the wooden lectern in the Baptistery at the back of Church.

Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 September – OPEN HOUSE LONDON 2014 – All Saints will take part in the capital’s largest annual festival of architecture and design once more, with John Forde offering talks at 2pm each day. Now in its  22nd year, this hugely successful event provides free and open access to more than 800 outstanding examples of historic and contemporary buildings, on-site projects and public spaces and remains the most powerful medium for engaging everyone in a better appreciation of their city. Please contact Chris Self if you can volunteer for a couple of hours on either day to welcome visitors. Email: chris_self@btinternet.com. Tel: 020 7723 2938.

Sunday 28 September – a new series of TEN TO ONE TALKS (running from Autumn 2014 to Spring 2015) entitled ‘The Shape of the Liturgy’ starts today in Church. The topic is the Gathering, Entrance Hymn and Chant.

Sunday 28 September, 7.15pm – All Saints is host to a charity fundraising ORGAN RECITAL after Evensong & Benediction – in aid of IRAQI CHRISTIANS IN NEED & THE MOSUL CRISIS APPEAL. The recital is given by CARL BAHOSHY (Organist at St. Elizabeth’s of Portugal RC Church, Richmond and born in the UK to Iraqi Christian parents). Charity retiring collection – please be generous (suggested donation £5- £10). Programme includes works by Bach, Messiaen, Vierne & Widor. Please support this hugely worthwhile and topical cause.

Saturday 4 October at 3pm at Pamela’s – POETRY TEA. Please bring your own choice of Poetry or Prose and maybe tell us why you made that choice.  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 leaving your name and phone number.  Cost £6 towards the All Saints Restoration Appeal.

EVENTS BEYOND ALL SAINTS:
EYES OF FAITH by Professor Jack Mahoney SJ – Christianity as viewed by five great theologians (Augustine of Hippo, Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther, John Calvin and Karl Rahner) A five week course on Mondays from 7 – 8.30pm from 22 September to 20 October 2014. MOUNT STREET JESUIT CENTRE, 114 Mount Street, London W1K 3AH.  Please book in advance via website: www.mountstreet.info or phone: 020 7495 1673.Professor Mahoney is a Jesuit priest and Emeritus Professor of Moral and Social Theology in the University of London, where he taught in several colleges for thirty years. These included Heythrop College, where he also served for a period as Principal. He is the author of several books and many articles, and has lectured widely at home and abroad, on theology and various branches of ethics.

CHURCHES TOGETHER IN WESTMINSTER “MEET THE NEIGHBOURS”
Hosted by The Annunciation, Marble Arch
Tuesday 30 September 7 – 9pm
The evening includes a welcome and talk by Fr Gerald Beauchamp (Priest in Charge) about the church’s history and architecture, including relics and statues, as well as the tradition behind its worship style. There will be an opportunity to look around the Church. Refreshments will be offered afterwards. Pevsner notes that to enter The Annunciation is to have stumbled upon: ‘a fragment of a major medieval church’. All are welcome to join this visit to a dramatic building in a fascinating and fast-changing part of London.

NOTICES

CANCER RESEARCH UK Collection at the Funeral Mass for Harry Allan 
We are pleased to advise that the value of the collection for this charity (with anticipated Gift Aid) was £1706. Thank you to everyone who contributed. 

ALL SAINTS RESTORATION APPEAL UPDATE

FUNDRAISING
Following the testing of the market the budget for the work has been revised to £350,000 with over £303,740 now given or firmly pledged and loan finance of £35,000 offered, some £11,260 is yet to be secured with any surplus reducing the PCC’s reliance on the two loans.

All Saints Foundation has made a grant of £120,000 together with a loan of £30,000. The All Saints Club has made a grant of £5,000 from bar and lunch profits with a loan of £5,000. We still await the result of applications to charitable trusts.

THE WORKS
The good news is that work is about to get underway! The cabling strip out will begin on 22 September. Church will be closed during weekdays for most of the period until 30 October to allow the use of cherry pickers and other access equipment. Weekday worship will take place in the Parish Room, with the Church open at the weekends. The main works on infra-structure cabling in the basement take place at the same time as the strip-out. Work in the church itself is planned from Tuesday 4 November – for completion before Christmas.

HOW YOU CAN HELP……….With some £11,260 to find – further donations are needed!
Cheques should be made payable to:
All Saints Church Restoration Appeal and be sent to:
Dee Prior, 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%. Thank you!

ALL SAINTS SUPPORT FOR HOMELESS PEOPLE – MARYLEBONE PROJECT –
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 provided the funds for one of the 4 beds – provides a safe haven and refuge for women escaping domestic violence, financial crisis, sexual exploitation and mental health issues.

Seasonal Appeals – Last year we donated £2,790 to this Mission Project, collected through the All Saints Festival and Lent Appeals. The PCC approved support of £3,000 for 2014.  

Year Round Support – we also support the Resettlement Project with non-perishable food and toiletries or household necessities like cutlery or bed linen/blankets. Please contribute to this effort, bringing donations to the Parish Office or leaving them in Church in the basket in the Baptistery.

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.

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 except on Bank Holidays, when it opens for the lunchtime Mass only)

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.