All Saints Margaret Street.

Dear Friend,

ADVENT 3
John the Baptist was a homeless person who lived rough and looked unusual:

John the Baptizer appeared in the wildernesss … John was clothed with camel’s hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. Mark 1.4, 6

In Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus asks:

‘What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.’  Matthew 11.8

Come to think of it, Our Lord says of himself:

Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.’ Luke 9.58

And again on Sunday,

‘Blessed is anyone who takes no offence at me.’  

John the Baptist was beheaded to satisfy Herod’s wife; Jesus was crucified to appease various political and religious interests. Annoying people to the point at which they ‘take offence’ can have dangerous, even fatal consequences. We believe, of course, in deeper and more wide-reaching reasons, purposes, meaning and consequences to be identified in our Lord’s crucifixion. John was the forerunner of his Lord in death as in life, John who said ‘he must increase, but I must decrease.’ (John 3.30) But he seems, in Sunday’s Gospel, to have been wobbling a little, after his original certainty that ‘this is the Lamb of God’ (John 1.29):

When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing he sent word by his disciples and said to Jesus, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?’   Matthew 11.2-3

Jesus answers this question, not with ‘Yes, I am’, nor with ‘look at what I am doing’, but with ‘look at what is happening‘, meaning, ‘look at what God is doing’.

Jesus answered them, ‘Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offence at me.’  Matthew 11.4-6

Jesus is responding to the ancient equivalent of post-truth Twitter: John had obviously heard gossip which led him to doubt Jesus’ credentials, on the basis of a preconceived idea of Messianic behaviour; Jesus points to the works of God, rather than anything about himself, in reply.

So often, instead of being interested by people, we are offended that they are not as we want them to be.  Jesus would say that the people who killed John, and the people who killed him, were just like us on a bad day, taking offence at difference, angry that we cannot control the world and the people around us.

At this moment in Advent Jesus reminds us to look for the signs of God’s action in the world; he reminds us that they will not necessarily be according to our expectations or within our control; he also says to us, on behalf of all the weak and marginal in the world,

‘Blessed is anyone who takes no offence at me’.

Yours in Christ,

 Fr Michael Bowie
Assistant Priest 
All Saints Margaret Street

Please pray for those who have asked for our prayers:  Asia Bibi, Bishop Michael Perham, Anthony O’Connor, Iris Podmore, Paul Curno, Rosemary Harris, Udho Forward, Steven Lawrence and Hans Ashbourne.  

For the recently departed:   Eric Christiansen, Barbara Reynolds, Patrick Phelan (Priest), David Pearce, Pamela O’Brien, Maria Keen, Timothy Raphael (Priest), Jennifer Shillito, Stuart Pascall, Valerie Reddington, Horace Gibson, Cecil Everton, Sarah Eynstone (Priest) and Melissa Bruce-Jones. We also remember those who died in the early November Croydon tram derailment.

Remember past priests, benefactors, friends, and all whose year’s mind occurs this week including:

Annie Moran, Amelia Jones, Alice Trevor, Annie Jevons, Roscow Shedden (Priest), Margaret Butterworth, Guy Pritchard, James Burling, Chris Fairbairn, Richard Eyre (Priest), Ian Stevens, Mary Packer, David Vickery (Priest), John Turner, Lindsey Boynton, William Lloyd (Priest), Robert Kirk, James Forsyth, Doris King and Leonard Beeken.

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

WORSHIP THIS WEEK:

SATURDAY 10 DECEMBER, 11.30 AM – Rosary followed by Low Mass of Our Lady of Walsingham at All Saints.  

SUNDAY 11 DECEMBER, Advent 3 
HIGH MASS, 11am 
Preacher: Fr Julian Browning
Little Organ Mass – Haydn
Hymn to the Virgin – Britten

Once again, we are able to offer hot snacks after Mass, with coffee or tea. And we are delighted to report that the new hob and ovens were successfully installed in the Kitchen this week and Sunday lunch will once again be served on Sunday 11 December. Patrick Hartley and Rebecca Hirst are the chefs serving up roast beef, Yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes and a generous selection of vegetables with dessert and coffee to follow. Tickets £5 from the All Saints Shop before or after Mass (subject to availability).

EVENSONG & BENEDICTION, 6pm 
Preacher: Fr Michael Bowie 
Evening Service in C –Stanford 
This is the record of John – Gibbons

The December Parish Paper is now available in Church for £1 a copy.

MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE TO CHRISTMAS for a HOMELESS PERSON THIS YEAR

THE MARYLEBONE PROJECT CHRISTMAS APPEAL (deadline Sunday 11 December)
The Church Army-run Marylebone Project – providing 112 long and short term beds to homeless women and essential facilities and support to women who visit their rough sleepers’ drop-in at the Marylebone Centre – has asked for donations of practical items  that can be given as Christmas presents. They particularly need: Coats, belts, dressing gowns, blankets, sleeping bags, bubble bath, soap, shampoo, scarves & gloves, socks, make-up, perfume, chocolates, hairbrushes & combs, dress jewellery, books (including puzzle books). There is no need to wrap these items.

MINCE PIES FOR ALL SAINTS CAROL SERVICES 
Donations of mince pies would also be appreciated for hospitality at our forthcoming Carol Services. 

Please drop off donations for the Marylebone Project Christmas Appeal or of mince pies, to the Parish Office (Mon – Fri 9-1 and 2- 5) or give to Janet Drake or Chris Self on Sundays by Sunday 11 December.  Thank you!

WORSHIP NEXT WEEK:

Please note: as the Freud’s Carol Service takes place on TUESDAY 13 DECEMBER at 7pm, there will be no Evening Mass that day. Morning and Lunchtimes Masses take place as usual.

FRIDAY 16 DECEMBER 12.30PM 
LUNCHTIME CAROL SERVICE with an octet from the All Saints choir. 
Mince pies & mulled wine will be served afterwards.

SUNDAY 18 DECEMBER, Advent 4 
HIGH MASS, 11am
Preacher: Fr Michael Bowie
Missa Ave Maria – Palestrina 
Blessed be the Lord God of Israel (Short Service) – Gibbons

Hot snacks available after Mass and we hope also to be offering Sunday Lunch for £5 for the last time in 2016. More details to follow in next week’s E-Newsletter.

EVENSONG & BENEDICTION, 6pm 
Preacher: The Vicar, 
Prebendary Alan Moses
The Short Service – Byrd 
Canite tuba in Sion – Guerrero

THE ADVENT READING GROUP will meet on Friday mornings in Advent (2, 9, & 16* December). 11am at the Vicarage. We will be using Meeting God in Paul by Rowan Williams. It is published by SPCK in paperback and is also available as an e-book. The book is based on one of the series of Holy Week lectures Archbishop Rowan gave at Canterbury Cathedral.
*Please Note: Friday 16 December 12.30pm is the Lunchtime Carol Service with an octet from the All Saints Choir, so Advent Reading Group attenders may like to plan on coming to that service to complete their morning at All Saints.

THURSDAY 15 DECEMBER, 7.15pm at All Saints Church – A Talk on Exploring Technique and Colour related to OPUS ANGLICANUM: MASTERPIECES OF ENGLISH MEDIEVAL EMBROIDERY (currently showing at the Victoria & Albert Museum). Free entry to members of the All Saints’ congregation to this otherwise paid ticketed event. 

In 2017 Hand & Lock (neighbours of All Saints on Margaret Street) are celebrating 250 years of Embroidery and wanted to mark the occasion by sponsoring the V&A’s Opus Anglicanum: Masterpieces of English Medieval Embroidery exhibition. To compliment the exhibit Hand & Lock are running a series of special workshops and talks.

The second talk in the series explores the technical aspects of Opus Anglicanum and is delivered by Dr Susan Kay Williams and Liz Elvin, both experts in their fields. The evening will give attendees a fantastic and rare insight into the practice of embroidery from the middle-ages and which techniques and practices are still used today. Dr Susan Kay-Williams is the Chief Executive of the Royal School of Needlework and her particular research interest is in the history of dyes in textiles. Our second speaker Elizabeth Elvin is a former Principal of the Royal School of Needlework who since retiring has continued to teach embroidery skills in Cairo, Nairobi and herein the UK. Her talk focuses on the techniques and materials used in the Opus Anglicanum embroideries and details the fascinating history of the manufacture and procurement of the fine gold bullions used. She will explain the techniques employed in the pieces and how the techniques best complemented the precious materials to create the beautiful finish that we can still appreciate hundreds of years later.

CHRISTMAS SERVICES WITH THE ALL SAINTS CHOIR – a feast of beautiful and uplifting choral music, exquisite liturgy, and a chance to sing favourite Christmas carols, as we re-discover the story of a baby born two thousand years ago in a stable, marking the dawn of new light and new hope in our troubled world.

Friday 16 December 12.30pm
LUNCHTIME Carol Service – a short festive service to fit into a break from work – followed by Mince pies & mulled wine.       
    
Monday 19 December 6pm FESTIVAL of NINE LESSONS & CAROLS – a traditional service by candlelight – followed by Mince pies & mulled wine.  

Saturday 24 December 11pm
CHRISTMAS EVE Midnight Mass & Blessing of the Crib      
Missa Sancti Nicolai – Haydn

Sunday 25 December 11am
CHRISTMAS DAY High Mass
Missa Brevis, K194– Mozart

PARISH NOTICES & NEWS

ALL SAINTS BAR, DINING ROOM and KITCHEN OVEN/ HOB WORKS COMPLETE!

Following on from the successful refurbishment of the All Saints’ bar and dining rooms in recent weeks, we can now report that the new ovens and induction hob have been installed in the Kitchen this week and Sunday lunches are able to recommence for a short spell before Christmas. Tickets £5 from the All Saints Shop before or after Mass (subject to availability).

NEW ALL SAINTS GREETINGS CARDS SELLING WELL – Almost £2,000 worth of the beautiful new cards have now been sold in aid of All Saints, but we still have stocks of all images – so if you haven’t bought your Christmas cards yet, you know where to get them!  The images are: the traditional Tile Nativity Scene; a new and dramatically lit shot of Our Lady of Margaret Street and a new and beautifully coloured image of the Sanctuary. Cards can be bought from the Parish Shop on Sundays and from the Parish Office in packs of 6 cards (all one design in each pack) for £5.  Fridge magnets are also available of the image of the Sanctuary, which we hope will prove a popular small memento for visitors to the Church at £3 each (£4 with P&P). If you are with us this Sunday, they will be on sale in the courtyard after Mass. 

Saturday 10 December, 3pm – CHRISTMAS POETRY TEA at Pamela Botsford’s home – the theme for which is Seasonal. Tickets: £6 sold in aid of the All Saints’ Restoration Appeal. Please see Pamela or Sandra Allan in the courtyard to obtain further details.

ACTIVITIES ELSEWHERE BEYOND ALL SAINTS that may be of interest: 

** MISSION NEWS** Men’s clothing especially is badly 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. As you prepare for the winter season, but 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 MISSION ACTIVITIES:- 
The charities we had agreed to support through the Lent Appeal 2016 (and including applicable Gift Aid) received the following sums and will receive their Festival Appeal donations before Christmas:-  

Marylebone Project – £2,666.67 – emergency refuge and rehoming project for homeless women. 
USPG – £2,666.67 – work with those experiencing Aids and HIV in Zimbabwe.  
London Diocese Lent Appeal – £3,001.66– this year supporting Syrian and Iraqi refugees through charities Open Doors and Aid to the Church in Need.  The certificate of appreciation is on the Church noticeboard. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this great achievement – a significantly enhanced total collected through the Lent Appeal compared with recent years – of £8,335 (including some late funds generated by the Queen’s 90^th Birthday Raffle). To this sum must now be added the further £20k raised by the Vicar’s Pilgrimage of earlier this year.

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 £1,000 towards the Soup Kitchen at the American International Church in Tottenham Court Road this year. 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