All Saints Margaret Street.

Dear Friends,

Sunday’s gospel story, of Jesus walking on the water to save his friends from the storm is found in Mark and John as well as Matthew from whom we’re hearing this year. While the details vary a bit, there is one strikingly identical verse in all three versions: ‘It is I, do not be afraid’.

People are often surprised to learn that ‘do not be afraid’ is the most frequent commandment in the bible and that encouragement not to fear is intensified in Jesus’ teaching. Here we can see why. Our translations are a little misleading. In the Greek original Jesus actually says not ‘It is I’ (which nobody says anyway!); he says ‘I AM; do not be afraid’. Matthew spells out the meaning: those in the boat reply, ‘truly you are the Son of God’. ‘I AM’ is the translation of God’s sacred name, YAHWEH, and Jesus links the command to let go of fear to his own mediation of God’s presence. ‘I AM’ is the bible’s way of saying that God is the source and end of all that is; here Jesus identifies himself with that truth and his disciples acknowledge it.

Once after I’d spoken about this frequent biblical command, ‘do not be afraid’, someone challenged me afterwards. Fear is natural, she said; you cannot help being afraid when you meet a charging rhinoceros, indeed you would be insane if you weren’t. That is absolutely true: the disciples are no less than rational in being afraid at their encounter with the storm at sea, something all ancient people sensibly feared. But what Jesus says to them in this story is that our fears and anxieties are not all of the same order and they need perspective. St Paul wrote later that faith in Christ puts us in a place of ultimate safety that is more significant than anything else that can happen to us. Most of us find that sort of faith, the faith of the martyrs in every age, quite difficult. But we can, all of us, get our fears and anxieties into an important perspective if we accept that we are ultimately loved and accepted, that we are, in old-fashioned evangelical language, ‘saved’. As my father used to paraphrase that part of his own evangelical heritage, if we are members of the church, if we are ‘in Christ’, then the universe is a ‘safe place’ for us. We need, as Christians, to live every day mindful of that, conscious that our faith is not just what we acknowledge on Sunday, but that it makes a difference to the whole of life, because we are in relationship with the source of life.

If we don’t believe in that, and act on it, we are missing out on one of Jesus’ greatest gifts to us. It doesn’t mean that we should take stupid risks with our lives or others’ well-being. It does mean that if we trust God’s good purpose for us, then things which we are taught to fear, by our parents, by our peers, by our colleagues and competitors, are not the most important things in life. People fear amazing things: most of us are terrified of too many people knowing who we really are. The point is that God already knows that, and loves us anyway. Once we start acting on that assumption, and trying to be worthy of it, instead of feeling inadequate and guilty about everything, then we begin to unlock our better selves. Jesus came to set us free from whatever cripples us and limits us, and ultimately from death itself.

Yours in Christ,

Father Michael Bowie
Assistant Priest
All Saints Margaret Street

Please pray for those who have asked for our prayers: Harry Allan, Alan Bishton, Susan Beauchamp, Lily Caplin, Rachel Clayton, Rosamond Clayton, Kate Down, Jean East, Yvonne & Philip Harland, Elspeth Harley, Lewis Harvey, Myrtle Hughes, Katherine Lee, Molly Leng, Joshua Levy, Christine Loffty, Jonathan Mani-Weoki, Caroline Masterton-Smith, Hilary Morgan, Norman Newby, Geraldine Newman, Aubrey O’Brien, Pat Phillips, Maureen Pride, Malcolm Richards, Peter Royle, Dilys Thomas, Mary Thomas and Joy Wright.

For the recently departed: John Hughes (Priest), James Wheen, Louise Lancaster (priest), Ray Lancaster and Donald Arden (Bishop).

At the anniversary of their death (during the coming week): Sidney Jane Brown, Gay Carden, Leslie York, Andrew Heley, David Johnstone, Charles Oram, Marie-Olivier Mercy, David Welch, Marie O’Connor, Barbara Davis, Beatrice Taylor, Joan Pulham (a former All Saint’s Sacristan), Philip Merritt, Valerie Hargreaves-Smith, Thomas Straker, Winifred Colelea, Richard Fitzgerald, John Edmonds, Ivy Oram, William Rivington, Mildred Terry and David Tweed.

EVENTS THIS COMING WEEK

WORSHIP AT ALL SAINTS THIS SUNDAY 10 AUGUST – EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY HIGH MASS at 11am

Preacher: Prebendary Alan Moses
Communion Service in E – Darke 
Glorious in heaven – Whitlock

Flowers in church this week have been donated by Aiden and Ashley Hargreaves-Smith in ever-grateful remembrance of their beloved mother and grandmother, whose anniversaries fall at this time. If you would like to mark an anniversary or other event by donating flowers, contact Jean Castledine on 020 8858 3508.

There is no Church Sunday lunch this week and then for the rest of the summer. Lunches will resume in September.

CHORAL EVENSONG & BENEDICTION at 6pm
Preacher: Father Michael Bowie
The Short Service – Weelkes
Prevent us, O Lord – Byrd

THE ASSUMPTION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY – Friday 15 August, 6.30pm HIGH MASS at ALL SAINTS. Preacher: Father Michael Bowie. Mass setting: Missa ‘Assumpta est Maria’ – Palestrina. Anthem: Ave maris stella – Monteverdi.

WORSHIP NEXT SUNDAY – 17 AUGUST – NINTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY
HIGH MASS at 11am
Preacher: Father Michael Bowie
Missa Brevis – Gabrieli 
O sacrum convivium – Marenzio

Sunday 17 August – there will be a Mission Committee meeting after High Mass.

CHORAL EVENSONG & BENEDICTION at 6pm
Preacher: Father Neil Bunker
Service in E flat (No 2) – Wood
Verleih uns Frieden – Mendelssohn

SPECIAL EVENTS in AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER at ALL SAINTS & ELSEWHERE

Tuesday 19 August 6.30pm – ALL SAINTS – 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.

Sunday 24 August – there will be an Events Committee meeting after High Mass.  

Saturday 30 August at 4pm NAUTICAL POETRY TEA – All welcome.  Please bring poetry or prose on a Nautical Theme.  Please note different venue.  This tea will be held at Paul Weston & John McWhinney’s moorings in Wapping.  Cream tea (scones, cream & jam) will be served. To accept and to find out the address of the moorings please speak with Paul or John after Mass or email them at paul@hcmoorings.org.  A donation of £6 towards the Restoration Appeal would be appreciated.

Friday 12 September, 7.30pm THREE PARISHES ANNUAL QUIZ NIGHT, St Cyprian’s, Clarence Gate. 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.

Sunday 14 September, 7.15pm – ALL SAINTS – ORGAN RECITAL (follows Evensong & Benediction) given by Charles Andrews, Associate Director of Music at All Saints. 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.

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

Tuesday 16 – Sunday 21 September from 12 – 6pm – JOHN LEWIS PARTNERSHIP ARTS & CRAFTS CLUB 2014 EXHIBITION in the All Saints’ Parish Room. Free admission.

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.

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.

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 Entrance Hymn and Chant.

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

ALL SAINTS RESTORATION APPEAL UPDATE

THE APPEAL

Following the testing of the market the budget for the work has been revised to £350,000 with over £290,000 now given or firmly pledged and loan finance of £35,000 offered, some £25,000 is yet to be secured.

All Saints Foundation has made a grant of £120,000 together with a loan of £30,000. The All Saints Club has just 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.

Our congregation and friends have so far individually contributed £165,000. We still need to raise at least £25,000 with any surplus reducing the PCC’s reliance on the two loans.

THE WORKS

Preparations are quietly advancing for works to commence on site. The recreated Butterfield’s hanging coronae have been made by Will Jones, the blacksmith. These will go to the workshop of the specialist lighting supplier to be fitted with the actual lights and be wired up ready to be hung in the nave aisles.

Sophisticated lighting controls have been specified to limit the amount of cabling but fitting this unobtrusively is a great challenge and does not allow the shortest routes! Discussions continue with the preferred contractor who has been instructed to prepare detailed cable route drawings to allow this to be agreed and define more precisely these actual costs within the contract.

In addition to the completely new lighting with emergency backup in the church, absolutely essential work in the basement will be undertaken. The induction loop system for hearing aid users will be renewed. Subject to available funds a new CCTV system and automatic smoke detection in the church are high priorities.
Once the finer details of the installation have been resolved more definitive costs will be known.

In the meantime if you would like more details or have questions, please speak to John Forde, Churchwarden.

Other desirable works – including renewed courtyard lighting, a sound reinforcement system and comprehensive rewiring of the basement – will all need to be deferred.

We hope works will commence on site soon after the Bank Holiday. Much of the cabling works will be unseen in the crypt but regular weekday worship may have to take place in the Parish Room to allow the works to be expedited inside the church.

HOW YOU CAN HELP……….With some £25,000 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 and the Marylebone Project has now received this sum from All Saints and been most appreciative.

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.