All Saints Parish Newsletter 7th September 2017
Dear Friends,
Last week, we were sitting in the gardens of the Places de Vosges near our hotel in Paris. People we enjoying late summer sunshine and children were playing happily under the watchful parental eyes. In one corner of the gardens was another group of watchers: a squad of armed soldiers being briefed for their stint of duty patrolling the streets; watching against the terror which has been visited on people just enjoying themselves in Paris and London, Barcelona and Manchester.
In the first reading at Mass on Sunday, we hear the prophet Ezekiel described as a “watchman” or “sentinel.” A watchman’s task was to stand guard over a city or town or house and warn the inhabitants of impending danger.
Ezekiel was to warn the people of Israel, not of an external threat but an internal one; one which arose from their disobedience to the law of God. His duty is to deliver the warning. As long as he does that, he will not be held responsible if his hearers fail to heed it.
In Anglican ordinals, both ancient and modern, the term “watchman” is linked with “messenger” and “steward,” as part of what we would now call the “job description” of the clergy,
A little while ago, when the Archbishop of Canterbury suggested that we needed to seek a national consensus on Brexit, a government MP advised him to stick to Church matters; in other words, to mind his own business. This response manages to combine a lack of political as well as theological understanding.
Unless and until reform of the House of Lords removes bishops from the upper chamber of Parliament, the whole life of the nation remains the business of the archbishop and the other “lords spiritual.”
Even if such a reform were to happen, the common good of the nation, for example the shape of its economy and how that affects the lives of our neighbours, which the Archbishop and others have just issued a report on, would still be the concern of the Church. In a country like France, where I am writing this at the end of my holiday, where the secularity of the state is deeply embedded in the constitution, the Church still does not view itself as concerned only with individual spiritual matters but with the common good.
There are Christian sects which withdraw from the world as far as possible and see its affairs as of no concern to them, but this is not the understanding of Catholic Christianity which is concerned with the transformation of the whole of God’s creation, not just the salvation of individual souls.
In my student days, I had a vacation job as a watchman. One of its challenges was staying awake when brain and body are both telling you to it was time sleep. Nowadays, we know how difficult it it is to maintain the vigilance necessary to guard against terrorist attacks. We have to be constantly reminded, at railway stations, at airports, on the underground, to be alert for suspicious behaviour or packages.
In Sunday’s Epistle, (Romans 13.8-14), Paul issues a wake-up call; one we usually associate with Advent but one we need to hear more often. We might use Cranmer’s great Advent Collect based on this passage at other times of the year, too:
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day,when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
We are called to be watchful in prayer: alert for the dangers the commandments warn us against; vigilant against that spiritual lethargy which time or habit or indulgence can bring; but also looking out for the possibilities of that active love of neighbour which Paul teaches us is the fulfillment of the law.
Yours in Christ,
Fr Alan Moses
Vicar, All Saints Margaret Street
THIS WEEK’S PRAYER DIARY
Those who are sick or distressed and who have asked for prayers:
Asia Bibi, Bill Rodger, Rosemary Oakeshott, Letizia Sormani, Roger Williams, Peter Chant, Pat Hawkins, Ruth Butler, Rose Smith, Fr Graham Francis, Maria Magdalena Gedmanaite, Faddy Hardo, Ken Hales, Ron Capon, Patricia Capon, Nancy Gardner, Katie Marko, Andrew Evans, Sarah Payne, Rodney Bickerstaffe, Ros Tagoe, Beverley Ward, Vivienne Dunne & Catherine Paciullo.
Those known to us recently departed:
Roger Davison Pr, Joan Cook, Barbara Anne Thrift, Mike Barrie, Neil McKay, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O’Connor and John Tees.
Remember past priests, benefactors, friends, and all whose year’s mind occurs this week:
Marion Richards, Elizabeth Barker, Winifred Harland, Anne Pedvin, Alan Yates, John Monk, Maurice Keen, James Shaw, Marion Pidgeon, Dom Bernard Clements (6th Vicar), Reginald Bickerton, Peggy Macmillan, Thomas Partidge, Augusta Kirby, Gwen Duckett, Richard Dinnis, Pr, Evelyn Hutt, Virginia Ambridge, Flora Subbiah
WORSHIP THIS WEEK:
10 September ~ 13th Sunday after Trinity
8am Low Mass
10.20am Morning Prayer
11am HIGH MASS with Choir & Sermon
Preacher: The Vicar
Setting: Missa Brevis – Kodaly
Offertory Motet: Ave Maria no.1 – Liszt
There is no Sunday Lunch service during the early September holiday period.
We look forward to welcoming both visitors and regular diners once again later in September/October.
5.15pm Low Mass
6pm EVENSONG & BENEDICTION with Sermon
Preacher: Fr Michael Bowie
Canticles: Canticles in C – Stanford
Anthem: Te lucis ante terminum – Balfour Gardiner
This Week’s Services
Monday 11 to Friday 15 September
7.30am Morning Prayer
8am Low Mass
12.30-1pm Confessions
1.10pm Low Mass
5.30pm Confessions
6pm Evening Prayer
6.30pm Low Mass
Saturday, 16 September
12 noon Low Mass
6pm Evening Prayer
6.30pm First Mass of Sunday
NEXT SUNDAY’S SERVICES
17 September ~ 14th Sunday after Trinity
8am Low Mass
10.20am Morning Prayer
11am HIGH MASS with Choir & Sermon
Preacher: The Vicar, Fr Alan Moses
Schubert Mass in G
Victoria Ave Maria à 8
5.15pm Low Mass
6pm EVENSONG & BENEDICTION with Sermon
Preacher: Fr Julian Browning
Watson Canticles in E
Bullock Give us the wings of faith
Full service information: www.allsaintsmargaretstreet.org.uk.
WEEKLY NOTICES and FUTURE EVENTS at ALL SAINTS
NEW 2017/18 ALL SAINTS CELL of OUR LADY OF WALSINGHAM PROGRAMME now available in Church and Cell event details on the All Saints’ website.
The JOHN LEWIS (SABEEMA) ARTS AND CRAFTS CLUB AUTUMN EXHIBITION will be shown at All Saints once again from Tuesday 12 until Sunday 24 September 12 – 6 daily in the Parish Room. Do come and visit – an early opportunity to purchase gifts (art, craft and jewellery) and cards for Christmas.
ALL SAINTS Saturday 16 September, 12 NOON MASS WITH HYMNS AND MUSIC is a Celebration Mass and Reunion for USPG Former Staff and Mission Personnel. All are welcome to join for coffee from 11am and for the Mass, but the lunch and afternoon events are for those taking part in USPG’s Reunion. Celebrant: Fr Alan Moses and Preacher: The Revd Canon Chris Chivers, USPG Chair of Trustees and Principal of Westcott House, Cambridge. Organist: Jeremiah Stephenson.
Revd Dr Simon Woodman from Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church has asked us to circulate the following invitation. If you have any questions, please contact him direct: T: 020 7240 0544
E: simonw@bloomsbury.org.uk.
Wednesday 20th September 6.30pm, Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church, 235 Shaftesbury Avenue, London WC2H 8EP – Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church is delighted to host the book-launch for a significant new volume on “Reclaiming the Common Good”. The book is a collection of essays which consider these themes. Beginning with an explanation of the history and meaning of the term ‘common good’, it explores how the sense of working for this ideal has been lost. Focussing, biblically, on issues such as welfare, austerity, migration, environment, peace and justice, it provides a compellingly fresh and insightful analysis on the state of the UK and the world today, and offers a realistic vision of how it could be better. This vision is rooted in the idea of a new heaven, a new earth, and a new Jerusalem, as suggested in the book of Revelation.
This will be an opportunity to meet and hear from contributors to the volume, and to engage with those who are at the forefront of the interface between church and society.
Tickets are free, but please register at: https://commongoodbook.eventbrite.co.uk/
Sunday 24 September, 7.15pm All Saints (after Benediction)
ORGAN RECITAL – Jeremiah Stephenson (Assistant Director of Music).
Programme includes Marcel Dupré: Cortège et Litanie op 19 no 2 and Prélude et ƒugue en sol mineur op 7 no 3; Maurice Duruflé Suite op 5 – Prélude, Sicilienne, Toccata.
Retiring collection. All Saints licensed Club/Bar open afterwards.
FUTURE EVENTS ELSEWHERE
Saturday 2 September, 3pm– St Cyprian’s Church Choral Evensong & Benediction (followed by tea). Officiant: Fr Michael Fuller.
Responses: Alyeward; Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis: Brewer in D and
Anthem: Geistliches lied; Brahms. Director of Music: Julian Collings leads the choir newly returned from its successful tour of venues in Boston, USA including the Victorian Gothic Church of the Advent.
Friday 8 September, 7.30pm – ST MARY’S, CABLE STREET PATRONAL FESTIVAL 2017 – Solemn Mass on the Feast of the Birth of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Preacher: the Dean of Westminster. Mass will be followed by a party in the church hall. All welcome.
Wednesday 13 September, 6.30pm
CTiW Reformation 500 event, St Martin-in-the-Fields – Bread for the World
St Martin-in-the-Fields is hosting a Churches Together in Westminster Reformation 500 event, with
St Anne’s Lutheran Church London and Revd Eliza Zikmane, focusing on Luther’s legacy to Christian Education through the Small Catechism, Bread for the World is a great way to find focus during a busy week. With music led by the Choral Scholars of St Martin’s, we share the Eucharist in church followed by a simple soup supper in 6 St Martin’s Place with the opportunity to reflect on and explore the bible together in small groups.
Friday 15 September, 7.30pm – PATRONAL FESTIVAL, St Cyprian’s Church, Glentworth Street, NW1 6AX. Celebrant: Fr Gerald Beauchamp, Preacher: Ven. Rosemary Lain-Priestly. Mass Setting: Kodaly Missa Brevis; Motet: Britten Jubilate in C. Refreshments to follow.
Saturday 30 September at 3pm – You are invited to a POETRY TEA AT PAMELA’S HOME. You can bring poetry or prose. The theme will be Gardens and Gardening. To attend please speak to Pamela or Sandra in the courtyard, or ring Sandra on 020 7637 8456 leaving your name & phone number. Charge £6. Proceeds to the All Saints’ Restoration Fund.
ALL SAINTS MISSION PROJECTS
Our year-round fundraising efforts go to support three charities:
The Church Army hostels and programmes in Marylebone empowering homeless women into independent living.
The USPG-led UMOJA, HIV Project in Zimbabwe, enabling people living with HIV and Aids to have positive lives, and
The Soup Kitchen (American International Church, Tottenham Court Road) feeding up to 80 vulnerable people daily in central London.
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 also need men’s outerwear of all varieties and rucksacks and duffle-bags to help our guests carry their belongings!’
The Soup Kitchen team (only part-time cover) asks: ‘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/
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 any pastoral assistance, please do not hesitate to contact:
The Parish Church of All Saints Margaret Street, London W1 W 8JG
Vicar: The Revd Prebendary Alan Moses
T: 07973 878040 E: alanmoses111@gmail.com (Day off: Saturday)
Assistant Priest: The Revd Dr Michael Bowie
T: 07581 180963 E: mnrbowie@gmail.com (Day off: Wednesday)
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.)
If you would like prayers offered, or amendments to the prayer list please contact:
Dee Prior, Parish Administrator (020 7636 1788). E: astsmgtst@aol.com
Or make use of the prayer request facility on the website at: www.allsaintsmargaretstreet.org.uk/prayer.
Safeguarding Officers: Chris Self (Vulnerable Adults) and: Janet Drake (Children)
allsaintsmargaretstreet.org.uk www.facebook.com/AllSaintsMargaretStreet