All Saints Margaret Street.

Dear Friend,

The Prologue of St. John’s Gospel is so associated with Christmas, being read at Mass on Christmas Day and at countless carol services, that it may come as a surprise to hear it again on a Sunday in February. 

When the Church of England adopted the Revised Common Lectionary it felt that it lacked emphasis on creation.  So our readings at the Eucharist and Evensong this Sunday reflect on the work of God in creation and on Christ’s role in its origins and final consummation.

It has dawned on most of us that we cannot take the environment in which we live for granted.  Christians have been accused by some of encouraging the reckless exploitation of the earth because in Genesis man is given dominion over the earth. There have certainly been those whose conviction that the end of the world is imminent meant that it did not matter how much fossil fuel we took out of the earth or how much carbon we pushed into the atmosphere. 

In fact, the Church has a much richer theology of creation: one which sees us entrusted by God with its care. Church leaders, including our own bishop, have repeatedly drawn attention to this.

The lethal smog which often enveloped London during the winter months is a thing of the past, banished by the clean air acts, but we are now learning that does not mean the air we breathe is pure. Today’s forms of pollution are no less real for being less visible. Researchers from King’s College tell us that Oxford Street, with its slow-moving convoys of buses and taxis and Marylebone Road with its endless roar of traffic, are two of the most heavily polluted stretches of road in London. Here we are between the two.

London smog was banished by an act of collective political will. As we hear that the population of our city has reached 8.6 million and is expected to go on rising to 10 million, we face challenges which can only be dealt with on a citywide scale.

But that does not mean there is no place for personal and small-scale action and responsibility.  As I am writing this, early on a Thursday morning, I can hear one of our residents, Martin, busy with his weekly chore of putting out the recycling bags for collection. We have become very disciplined about recycling paper, packaging, bottles and the like.

The readings at Mass all have a hymnic quality about them, and we will be singing hymns like St. Francis’s All creatures of our God and King and John Milton’s Let us with a gladsome mind  to celebrate the beauty and bounty of both creation and Creator. 

There are no easy and painless answers to these challenges but our hymns should stir us to action. As well as urging our political representatives to think in the long term, we all have a duty to think, pray and act responsibly in our use of energy and material things.   Something for our Lenten self-examination – soon to be upon us. 

Yours in Christ,

Fr.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. Fr. Bruce Barnett- Cowan, Jean Bray, Heather Brown, Lily Caplin, James Cary-Elwes, Kate Down, Cynthia Drury, Fr. Norman Greenfield, Tim Harding, Yvonne & Philip Harland, Elspeth Harley, Lewis Harvey, Myrtle Hughes, Sheila Kenyon, Peggy Leeman, Molly Leng, Joshua Levy, Christine Loffty, Hilary Morgan, Norman Newby, Malcolm Richards, Peter Royle, Jock Scott, Fr. Nicholas Stacey, Buzz Stokes, Robert Streit, Celia Swan, Ros Tagoe, Joy Wright and Mark Young.

For the recently departed: George Askey, Frank Hawkins (Priest), Mavis Mercer, Myra Shields, Linda Orme, Joshua Dorgu,  Frank Whitehill (Friend of All Saints, whose Funeral will take place at the Church on Thursday 19 February at 2.30pm), Peter Blake-Davies, Jane Wildash,  Marjorie Bowden and Ian Rainbow. 

Remember past priests, benefactors, friends, and all whose year’s mind occurs this week: Bernard Anslow, Armorel Griffiths (Friend of All Saints), Joan Adams, Pamela Brett (one time Friends’ Secretary), Hazel Otway, benefactor, Eileen Mann, Margaret Booker, Diana Juniper, Phyliis Woodcock, Winifred Bloomer, Charlotte Druitt, Helen Duck, Sister Barbara of All Saints, Charles Lethbridge, Nellie Chapman, Margaret McWilliam, Mary Dick, benefactor, John Knight (Priest) and Charles Forker. 

WORSHIP THIS WEEK

Sunday 8 February – SECOND SUNDAY BEFORE LENT
HIGH MASS, 11am
Preacher: Bishop Geoffrey Rowell will speak on the plight of Iraqi Christians
Missa Brevis – Leighton
Your gentleness, O God of grace – Paul Mealor  

Ten to One Talk Theme: The Prayers of the People – the bell will ring beforehand.

There is a Health & Safety Committee meeting in the Parish Room after Mass.

There is Sunday lunch service this week – John McWhinney and Paul Weston will be cooking. Tickets £5 from the Shop in the Parish Room (subject to availability).

CHORAL EVENSONG & BENEDICTION, 6pm
Preacher: The Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses
Service in E flat (No 2) – Wood
O thou, the central orb – Wood

WEEKDAY SERVICES – following the major electrical renewal works, Church is now open once again.  Some residual works including to the fire alarm will continue until the end of February. Weekday Daily Masses and Confessions will now take place in Church.

WORSHIP NEXT SUNDAY 
Sunday 15 February – SUNDAY NEXT BEFORE LENT 

HIGH MASS, 11am
Preacher: The Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses
Communion Service in F – Darke
Des Tages Weihe – Schubert  

Ten to One Talk Theme: The Peace – the bell will ring beforehand.

CHORAL EVENSONG & BENEDICTION, 6pm
Preacher: Father Michael Bowie
Service in G – Sumsion
Save us, O Lord – Bairstow

NEWS & NOTICES

LAST TICKETS AVAILABLE – ST CYPRIAN’S SINGERS SOIREE – St Cyprian’s is holding a soiree (including dinner) at Fr Gerald’s house on SATURDAY 7 FEBRUARY in aid of the Singers’ tour to New York in August. An intimate gathering, there are just a few last tickets left for £50 each. If you are interested in having a delightful evening this Saturday and fundraising for the Singers’ tour, please contact Julian Collings, E: jmcollings@gmail.com or T: 07748 655678.  

ALL SAINTS’ PARISH RETREAT 2015 – PLEASE NOTE – Just 8 places left!!
The Retreat will be at Ely again, from 13-15 March. The conductor will be Fr John Cullen. If you would like to attend, or to know more about it, please contact Martin Woolley on 07976 275383 or at m.g.woolley@btinternet.com. A careful note will be kept of the order in which firm reservations are received to assist with fair room allocation.

UK and FOREIGN STAMPS NEEDED
We are sometimes asked if anyone still collects stamps in aid of charity. Dr Yvonne Craig advises us that UK and foreign stamps can be sent to: Paul White, 5 Raasay Gardens, Newton Mearns, Glasgow G77 6TH. Paul is a member of the Christian NGO Release, which supports Canon Andrew White’s work in Bagdhad.

LENT at ALL SAINTS

LENT STUDY GROUP (from Friday 20 February)

The Study Group will meet on Fridays at 11am in the Vicarage. This year, at the Sunday Eucharist, the Church is reading St. Mark’s Gospel. So the publication of Rowan Williams’ book “Meeting God in Mark” is providential. The book is based on Holy Week talks given Archbishop Rowan in Canterbury Cathedral in 2010. It comes equipped with a daily reading scheme for Lent and questions for discussion. It is published by SPCK and costs £8.99.

If you wish to join the group – please let Dee Prior, Parish Administrator, know: T: 0207 636 1788 or E: astsmgtst@aol.com.

THE WAY OF THE CROSS – Fridays: at 7.05pm (after the Evening Mass) starting Friday 20 February, a weekly devotional service in Lent meditating on the events of Jesus’ Passion.

EVENSONG SERMONS during LENT (from Sunday 22 February) 
In the Common Worship Baptism service the “Commission” vies a summary of the Christian life. At Evensong on the Sundays of Lent, we will have a series of sermons based on tis to guide us in our corporate and individual self-examination. These will lead up to our corporate renewal of baptismal vows at Easter.

Lent 1 “Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in the prayers?”

Lent 2 “Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?”

Lent 3 “Will you proclaim by word and example the good news of God in Christ?”

Lent 4 “Will you seek and serve Christ in all people, loving your neighbour as yourself?”

Lent 5 (on Palm Sunday) “Will you acknowledge Christ’s authority over human society, by prayer for the world and its leaders, by defending the weak and seeking peace and justice?”

ALL SAINTS’ LENT APPEAL 
Our Lent Appeal 2015 will be shared equally three ways:

1. Bishop of London’s Appeal, which is concentrating on supporting Youth, Children and Family projects across the Diocese,
2. Us (formerly USPG) and their support of the church in Zimbabwe in working with those affected by HIV and AIDS and providing local clergy and lay leaders with skills and training to undertake the work, and
3. The Marylebone Project, where our money goes towards providing one of the emergency beds in the Homeless Women’s Centre.

For more information about the Bishop of London’s Appeal see: www.london.anglican.org/articles/the-lent-appeal-who-inspired-you/?utm_campaign=Ministry_Matters_Jan_2015&utm_medium=Email&utm_source=CM_londondiocesan.

ALL SAINTS’ DATES FOR YOUR DIARY IN FEBRUARY

TONIGHT – Friday 6 February, 6.30pm – CELL OF OUR LADY OF WALSINGHAM – LOW MASS WITH HYMNS. To be followed by an address by Father Kevin Morris, Vicar of St Michael’s Bedford Park: Beata Maria in Templo – reflections on the iconography of Mary in the Temple. All are welcome. The evening will conclude with Light refreshments. 

Friday 13 February – a Requiem Mass will be held at 6.30pm. Please enter the names of those whom you wish to be remembered in the blue folder at the back of Church.

Tuesday 17 February at 12 noon (NOTE REVISED START TIME) – THE GEOLOGY OF ALL SAINTS MARGARET STREET – There will be a short talk by Professor Gordon Walkden on and a tour of the Church to look at the marbles and stonework. Coffee will be provided, bring your own lunch. 

Professor Walkden,  Emeritus Professor of the University of Aberdeen – Geosciences and Geology, is currently researching the history of Devonshire marbles prior to a book he is bringing out which will be a cross disciplinary study of the geology, architecture, history, genealogy  and uses of Devonshire marble, the most important of our home-grown British marbles, yet now almost unheard-of.   He suggests that the interior of All Saints, Margaret St., has possibly Red Ogwell in the chancel screen and baptistery area and there are other English stones in the pavement and chancel colonnades.  The nave shafts seem to be Pink Peterhead.  He comments: William Butterfield was passionate about colour, in his own reserved sort of way, and rejoiced in the use of coloured natural materials in his buildings, especially British ornamental stones. Professor Walkden has researched several other Butterfield churches and their use of stone and brick and is interested to learn more about All Saints and share his thinking with others who are interested and knowledgeable about its history and architecture. If you would like to come along, please call Dee Prior, Parish Administrator, All Saints Margaret Street on 020 7636 1788 to give an idea of numbers.

Wednesday 18 February, 6.30pm – ASH WEDNESDAY High Mass and Imposition of Ashes. Preacher: The Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses. Missa ‘Emendemus in melius’ – Palestrina. Libera nos, salva nos 1 & 11 – Sheppard

Thursday 19 February, 2.30pm – the Funeral of Frank Whitehill.

Thursday 19 February, 7pm – There is a meeting of the Standing Committee of the All Saints PCC in the Vicarage after Evening Mass at 6.30pm.

EVENTS BEYOND ALL SAINTS 

Saturday 7 February – St Cyprian’s, Clarence Gate: Evensong & Benediction– PLEASE NOTE – THERE WILL NOT BE A SERVICE THIS MONTH.

Carl Bahoshy (who recently gave a fundraising Organ Recital at All Saints in aid of Irai Christians in Need) advises us that on Wednesday, 11 February 2015, at Westminster Cathedral (SW1P 1QW), the 5:30pm Mass will be followed at 6:30pm by a talk in Westminster Cathedral Hall by Archbishop Bashar Warda, Chaldean Archbishop of Erbil, Iraq, talking about how Christian refugees are coping after narrowly escaping IS (Islamic State) forces. Free entrance with a collection for ACN (Aid to the Church In Need-http://www.acnuk.org/events.php/370/crisis-hope-in-iraq) and ICIN (Iraqi Christians In Need- http://www.icin.org.uk). All are welcome. Please register your attendance via ACN’s website. Carl Bahoshy: T 07732 155 612.

POETRY TEA
Sunday 1 March 3pm, at Pamela’s.  All welcome.  Please bring Poetry or Prose on the subject of ‘Love’.  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.

ALL SAINTS RESTORATION PROJECT UPDATE 

EXCELLENT PROGRESS with work and fundraising but FURTHER DONATIONS NEEDED to reduce the reliance on loans

New wiring and lighting, essential CCTV security and fire detection systems cost £372,000. Church reopened for all daily weekday worship on Monday 2 February. Finishing works on the fire alarm and back of house areas continue to the end of the month. We now want to reduce our reliance on loans so any further gifts you can make will help us to do that.

HOW YOU CAN HELP………. please be as generous as you can, making cheques payable to: All Saints Church Restoration Appeal and sending them to:  The 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% at no cost to yourself. Thank you!

ALL SAINTS MISSION ACTIVITIES

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.

Seasonal Appeals – The grand total collected in 2014 was £3,463 (up significantly on 2013’s support of £2,790) to this Mission Project through the All Saints Festival and Lent Appeals. The Project (in acknowledging our support) said:
‘Such a wonderful amount to have raised, thank you so very much for your valued support’.

A further £3,000 raised in 2014 for Us (formerly USPG) was acknowledged to be a ‘very generous gift’ which will be used to feed communities and generate income to support AIDS orphans in child-headed families in Zimbabwe.

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. 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.

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.

* 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 AT ALL SAINTS (restored to Church since Monday 2 February)
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 CHORAL EVENSONG, SERMON and BENEDICTION, 6pm.

MONDAY – SATURDAY
Morning Prayer 7.30am
Low Mass – 8am, 1.10pm and 6.30pm
Evening Prayer 6pm
(Except Bank Holiday – 1.10pm Mass only)

Confessions
A priest is available for confessions/counsel Monday – Friday from 12.30-1pm and at 5.30pm Monday – Saturday, or by appointment.

www.allsaintsmargaretstreet.org.uk and e-mail: astsmgtst@aol.com.