Weekly Email – Advent 1
Jeremiah Stephenson, our Associate Director of Music writes:
Dear friends,
Fr Peter has kindly invited me to share some juicy details about my festive organ recital on 19th December, which I very much hope you will be able to attend.
Before that though, I would like to express my gratitude to everyone who has already supported the choir and music trust campaign and helped raise the astonishing figure shared in last Sunday’s sermon. It was a great pleasure to share some of the highlights of the choral repertoire in the All Saints’ Day concert which we might not otherwise perform, in particular the highly dramatic MacMillan “A Special Appeal”.
Looking (not that far!) ahead to December’s recital, I am excited to continue in the vein of sharing repertoire which might not normally come around in a liturgical setting.
The main dish will be the Variations sur un Noël by Dupré, infamous among organists for its extreme technical difficulties. This makes live performances a rarity, as well as the scale of the work disqualifying it from use as a voluntary. The Noël Variations were performed by Dame Gillian Weir at the rededication of the organ in 2002 and are perfect for showing off the full tonal palette and power of our cathedral-style instrument.
Alongside this ten-bird roast of a piece will sit a plethora of variations on seasonal themes, including D’Aquin’s Noëls and Margaretha de Jong’s variations on the Advent hymn Veni Redemptor Gentium.
I’m also hoping to lean into the festive spirit by encouraging some audience participation by way of taking suggestions for improvisation.
All in all, it should end up as a sort of roulade of Advent and Christmas favourites! I look forward to seeing you there.
Jeremiah Stephenson
You can book tickets online for Jeremiah’s concert here.
Christmas confessions
Priests will be available at the following times to hear confessions during Advent in preparation for Christmas:
Friday 12th Dec 2025: 5-6pm
Fr Paschal Worton & Fr Peter Anthony
Wednesday 17th Dec 2025: 5-6pm
Bishop Lindsay Urwin & Fr Alan Rimmer
Saturday 20th Dec 2025: 5-6pm
Fr Peter Anthony & Fr Alan Rimmer
Monday 22nd Dec 2025: 5-6pm
Fr Graeme Rowlands & Fr Alan Rimmer
Tuesday 23rd Dec 2025: 5-6pm
Fr David Houlding & Fr Peter Anthony
Wednesday 24th Dec 2025: 11am-12 noon
Fr Peter Anthony & Fr Alan Rimmer
A huge thank you to everyone who helped staff the C4WS homeless shelter on Wednesday evening. We cooked dinner and breakfast for 15 guests.
Mass cancellations this week
A reminder that the 6.30 Low Masses on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week are cancelled because of scheduled carol services.
Advent Carol Service – this Sunday!
Make a Donation to the Choir and Music Trust Fund
You can still make a donation to our Choir and Music Trust Fund here. There is no All Saints’ Festival Appeal this year. In its place, all parishioners and friends are being invited to make a special gift to our Music Trust to launch our year-long fundraising appeal
Parishioners of All Saints’ prepare beds for our homeless guests on Wednesday night at the Homeless Shelter at the American Church on Tottenham Court Road.
Carol services
We need volunteers to help with the Carol services that we host at the church for various schools, Oxbridge colleges, and professional societies. Please be in touch with Kate Hodgetts. Carol services will take place on 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 16, 18, and 19 December.
You can watch last Sunday’s High Mass for Christ the King here.
Immaculate Conception of the BVM
There will be a Low Mass with short homily and hymns at 6.30pm, followed by refreshments at Fr Alan’s, to celebrate this solemnity. All welcome!
Fr Alan acts as Chef de Cuisine on Wednesday night, preparing a hot meal for all our volunteers and guests, who shared the evening meal together.
Winter Night shelter volunteers
Please be in touch with Fr Alan if you are able to assist running the night shelter we help to staff on the Tottenham Court Road on January 7th/8th. The main shift is 6-9pm, and 7-9am for breakfast. Email: assistantpriest@asms.uk
We were very pleased and honoured that we were joined by Professor William Whyte at our last Zoom Theology seminar on Tuesday to speak about the theology of Christian architecture int he Nineteenth Century. Nearly 50 people joined us live in total from a range of different countries and continents.
Music sponsorship
The music for Sunday’s High Mass is supported by Jane Miles Elliston in memory of her mother, Anne Ayre, whose anniversary of death falls today.
Flowers
The flowers in front of Our Lady are given by Stephen Miller in loving memory of his Mother, Lovinia, whose anniversary falls at this time.
If you would like to make a donation for flowers or the courtyard garden, please contact Shawn directly or via the office.
Attendance last Sunday
For your prayers
The Friends of All Saints
30th – The Sisters of All Saints
31st – Friends of All Saints’ in need
1st – Carlos Remotti-Breton, Fr Steve Rice, John Rick, Fr Peter Roberts, Hilary Rodger
2nd – Greg Round, Jamie Rundle, Mary Sherred, James Shrimpton
3rd – Ingrid Slaughter, Naomi Slippe, Vaughan Snook, Harvey Solomon-Brady
4th – Jonathan Spelman, Richard and Louise Stallwood, Iain Stewart, Robert Stoltz, Madeleine Storer, Ian and Veronica Summers, Colin Symes, Ann Tacchi
5th – Sebastian Taite-Ellis, Michael Taylor, Kitty Thompson, Charles Thomson, Dr James Thomson, Jeremy Thorp, Jane Turner, Fr Roger Turner, Dr Christine Vaughn Lillie
6th – Christopher Walsh, Philip Wayne, Fr Benjamin Weitzmann, Fr. Mats Wendt, Michael Westcott
The sick
Jean Castledine, Simon Cottee, David Craig, Pat Hawkins, Fr Harry Hodgetts, Daniel Oliver, Fr Peter Roberts, James Rodger, Carol Simmons, Ingrid Slaughter, Juliet Windham
Anniversaries of death
29th – John Clough
30th – Walter Ward, Archibald Ward Pr, Emily West, Katherine O’Neil, Chris Gudgeon, Anne Ayre
1st – Sarah Eynstone, James Mason
2nd – David Prior
3rd – Margaret Rodger, Douglas Lawson, Kenneth Armstrong
4th – Pamela Freer, Robert Fletcher
5th – Mary Skelton, Mary Burton, Florence Duggan, Frances O’Neil
6th – William Gelson, Thomas Vaughan, Rita Mather
Services this week
Saturday 29 November – Feria
12pm Low Mass
6.00 pm Confessions
6.30 pm Vigil Mass of Sunday
Sunday 30 November – ADVENT SUNDAY
8.30 am Low Mass
11 am High Mass
5.15 pm Low Mass
6.00 pm Advent Carol Service
Monday 1 December – Advent Feria
12 noon Low Mass
6.30 pm Low Mass
Tuesday 2 December – Advent Feria
12 noon Low Mass
6.30 pm Low Mass
Wednesday 3 December – St Francis Xavier
12 noon Low Mass
Thursday 4 December – Advent Feria
12 noon Low Mass
Friday 5 December – Advent Feria
12 noon Low Mass
Saturday 6 December – St Nicholas
12pm Low Mass
6.00 pm Confessions
6.30 pm Vigil Mass of Sunday
Sunday 7 December – ADVENT II
8.30 am Low Mass
11 am High Mass
5.15 pm Low Mass
6.00 pm Evensong and Benediction