Weekly Email – Advent 3
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Dear friends,
A hugely important part of the life of our parish is the connections we have with so many friends across North America. This fellowship is nurtured and encouraged by the American Friends of All Saints’, Margaret Street.
I write this week to remind our American friends of an important function which will be taking place in New York City at the House of the Redeemer on Friday 20th March at 6.00 pm.
There will be a drinks party from 6.30 pm to celebrate the contribution to our parish’s life made by the American Friends of All Saints’, Margaret Street. It will also be an opportunity for me to speak about our Music Fundraising Campaign and to introduce our new Music Patrons Scheme.
We hope this special occasion will be an opportunity for American Friends who live in or near New York to re-connect with All Saints’ and for us to thank our American benefactors for their support. Both Fr Alan and I will be present.
This drinks party will be proceeded by a Mass celebrated by me in the Chapel of the House of the Redeemer at 6.00 pm, giving thanks for the life of All Saints’, for any who wish to attend.
This visit will also offer an opportunity for us to renew contact with our sister parish in New York, St Mary the Virgin, Times Square. Fr Alan will be preaching at St Mary’s at the 11 am High Mass on Sunday 22nd March 2026 and I will be preaching at their High Mass for the Annunciation on Wednesday 25th March 2026. I am very grateful to the Rector, Fr Sammy Wood, for his kind invitation to us both to preach.
Since its launch last year the American Friends of All Saints’, Margaret Street, have contributed considerable funds to All Saints’, and have applied a significant role in contributing to our recent efforts to re-endow our Music Trust. We are so grateful to our US Friends for their exceptional generosity and sacrificial giving.
The American Friends allows American tax payers to donate funds to All Saints’ in dollars, and to receive the tax back in USA on their gift. If you live in the US and are not already a member, you can join the American Friends by setting up a regular donation of at least $10 a month here.
If you live anywhere near New York City, do put this event on Friday 20th March in your diaries and come and see us. It will be wonderful to see new friends and old. You can book a ticket for the event via Eventbrite here.
With my best wishes and many thanks to all our American friends, supporters and parishioners,
Fr Peter
Gaudete Sunday champagne
To celebrate the half way point through Advent, there will be a champagne reception in our parish courtyard after the High Mass for Advent 3 this Sunday. We are very grateful indeed to Simon Rainey for contributing the champagne – many thanks indeed, Simon, for you generosity!
You can book your tickets for Jeremiah’s Christmas Organ Concert here.
Carol services
A huge thank you goes to all those who helped with refreshments and welcome at the external carol services we have hosted in the past week week – St Peter’s College, Oxford, and Magdalen College, Oxford.
We still need volunteers to help with the carol services yet to come over the next week or so – Keble College, Oxford, and Freud’s Communications. Please be in touch with Kate Hodgetts. Carol services will take place on 16, 18, and 19 December. Let Kate know if you are able to help on any of those days.
Flowers
The flowers are given by Caroline Sibbald in memory of her brother, Fr David Paton, whose anniversary falls at this time.
Join the All Saints’ Music Patrons
Please consider taking out membership of our Music Patrons Scheme. This involves donating at least £10 a month to our Music and Choir Trust.
The Patrons Scheme continues to grow steadily. So far the number of Patrons has increased since we reported last to 19 people, contributing between them £630 per month. This equates to £7,560 per year (a total of £9,072 with Gift Aid).
To join the Music Patrons of All Saints’, simply set up a regular gift of at least £10 a month via this link. If you are an American tax payer, you can become a Music Patron by making a regular gift of at least $15 a month via our Chapel and York account here.
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
Attendance last Sunday
For your prayers
The Friends of All Saints Margaret Street
14th Karolyn Cooper, William Cooper Bailey, Peter Coulson, Steven Cox, Dr Yvonne Craig, Julie Cridland
15th – Dr Ryan Danker, Kirill Dashkovskiy, Keith Day, Christopher Davies, Peter Dennis
16th – Linda Edwards, Pamela Edwards, Jane Elliston, Dr Terrence Ellsworth, Richard Everton and Fr Philip Bevan, Carolyn Farrar, Dr Martin Faulkner
17th – Adrian Felaar, Elizabeth Ferguson, Dr Daniel Fielden, Janice Fielden, Julia Fielden, Nigel Fisher, Mark Fleming
18th – Stuart Fletcher, Christopher Forman, Matthew Foster, Antony Fox, Dr Ralph Donald Fram, Dr Jason Frost, Derrick French, Derek and Cecilia Gatherer, Dr Charlotte Gauthier, Dr Rebecca Gibbs and Samuel Wildy, Margaret Goddard, Paul Golding, John Goldsmith
19th – Genevieve Gomi, Ginger and Del Hall, Monica Joan Hall
20th – Paul Hannah, Jillian Hargreaves, Christopher Harlow-Jennings, Patrick Hartley, Fr Jeremy Haselock
The sick
Jean Castledine, David Craig, Edward Burns, Asuncion Ginés, Pat Hawkins, Fr Harry Hodgetts, Daniel Oliver, Verena Reisinger, James Rodger, Ingrid Slaughter, Juliet Windham
Anniversaries of death
14th – William Lloyd Pr, Robert Kirk, David Paton Pr
15th – James Forsyth, Doris King, Leonard Beeken
18th – Edwin Forsyth, Joan Gower, Philip Prain, Richard Vick
19th – Ena Knight
20th – Lily King, Jack Monk, Elaine Bullock
Recently departed
Peter Roberts Pr
Services
Saturday 13 December – St Lucy
12 pm Low Mass
6.00 pm Confessions
6.30 pm Vigil Mass of Sunday
Sunday 14 December – ADVENT II (GAUDETE)
8.30 am Low Mass
11 am High Mass
5.15 pm Low Mass
6.00 pm Evensong and Benediction
Monday 15 December – Advent Feria
12 noon Low Mass
6.30 pm Low Mass
Tuesday 16 December – Advent Feria
12 noon Low Mass
6.30 pm Keble College, Oxford Carol Service
Wednesday 17 December – O Sapientia
12 pm Low Mass
6.30 pm Low Mass
Thursday 18 December – O Adonai
12 pm Low Mass
6.00 pm Freud’s Communications Carol Service
Friday 19 December – O Radix Jesse
12 pm Low Mass
6.30 pm Low Mass
Saturday 20 December – O Clavis David
12 pm Low Mass
6.00 pm Confessions
6.30 pm Vigil Mass of Sunday
Sunday 21 December – ADVENT IV
8.30 am Low Mass
11 am High Mass
5.15 pm Low Mass
6.00 pm Nine Lessons and Carols