Weekly Email – Fourth Sunday of Lent
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Dear friends,
I write this week with the heartening and exciting news that we have more than fulfilled the aim we set ourselves at the beginning of the year of raising £15,000 of sponsorship to help supplement our music budget for the coming year.
I am very pleased and grateful to be able to reveal to you all that the total of the pledges we have received for this year is now £15,691. This is an extraordinary achievement and I want to express my sincere thanks to all who contributed in any way to this effort.
It is so heartening to see how much the musical programme which our parish offers is loved and appreciated. I know how sacrificial the giving has been from many people who have contributed to this appeal. It is a testimony to how important our parish’s musicians are in the liturgical life of our church and the way in which we seek to proclaim the love of God to the world through the beauty of the worship we offer.
I increasingly sense a more realistic and generous outlook on the part of many at All Saints’ about how much it costs to sustain a music programme as rich as ours and the degree to which regular fundraising for it needs to become part of our parish’s life.
It was agreed by our PCC last year, as part of our present five year Mission Action Plan, that we would embark on a substantial fund-raising campaign to enlarge the endowment of our Choir and Music Trust Fund. This should mean less of our PCC’s annual budget is used to fund music. At the moment, the Music Trust only covers around half the costs of the choir. If we increase the endowment in the Music Trust, it should be able gradually to provide more income and pay for a higher proportion of our music outgoings, releasing cash for other projects.
We are already in the process of planning what this music endowment appeal will look like. It will take the form of an initial year of fundraising, which will begin this autumn on All Saints’ Day 2025 and run to All Saints’ Day 2026. There will be a series of exciting events, concerts, lectures and other projects over that period of 12 months. Watch this space for further information which will emerge after Easter once we have the outline of the year organised and agreed.
It will require the combined efforts of our whole parish to achieve our goal of substantially adding to our music endowment through fundraising, donations, subscriptions, and legacies. I know, however, that we can rely on the generosity and kindness of all those who call All Saints’ their spiritual home as we seek to bolster the financial reserves available to fund our choir.
If we are able to achieve our fundraising goals, we will entrust to future generations and musical tradition which is secure, generously endowed, well resourced, and rooted in the highest quality of music making.
I ask you to hold this project in your prayers as we prepare to announce further details in a few months’ time. I give thanks with renewed gratitude for the donations we have received to support our music budget this year. Many thanks indeed!
Fr Peter
Full details of all our Holy Week liturgies can be found here.
Laetare thanks
We are very grateful to Simon Rainey, K.C., and to Dr Christiane Loidl-Rainey for kindly sponsoring the cost of music this Sunday. It is very generous indeed of them. They have also donated a case of champagne so we can have a Laetare Sunday drinks party in our courtyard after the High Mass. Many thanks indeed!
It was fascinating to be joined by friends from St Mary the Virgin, Times Square, New York City, last Saturday for our latest online Zoom Theology Seminar. Around 40 people participated in a discussion focussed on thinking about Anglo-Catholic identity in the light of the history of our two parishes, and some of the famous incumbents who have led them.
Electoral Roll 2025
2025 marks the renewal of our parish electoral roll. The old roll is wiped and a new one must be created. If you want to know more about why this is important and what the electoral roll is, you can watch Fr Peter’s sermon on the topic from last Sunday’s High Mass here.
You can enrol yourself in one of two ways. The first is to do it online by filling in the form here and submitting it electronically. This is the simplest, quickest and easiest way.
Alternatively, you can apply using a paper form that can be handed in on Sunday mornings or posted to the parish office. A copy of the paper form is enclosed as a pdf with this email and you are welcome to print it out.
It is vital that every single worshipper at All Saints’ returns a filled-in form, either online or in paper form.
In order to be included in the Electoral Roll of a Church of England parish, you have to fulfil certain simple criteria. These are laid out in detail in the online form. In essence, if you are baptized, consider yourself to be a member of the Church of England, and have worshipped regularly in person at All Saints’ for at least six months, you can be enrolled.
People who are formally members of other churches but who worship here can also be enrolled if they wish. You can also be a member of more than one Electoral Roll if you regularly worship at more than one church and fulfil the criteria.
If you have any questions about enrolment, please be in touch with Daniel Fielden, our parish’s Electoral Roll Officer, or with any of the clergy via our parish office (office@asms.uk).
Lent Appeal
You can contribute to our Lent appeal here. The proceeds of this year’s fundraising will be split between the work of the Homeless Shelter at the American Church on Tottenham Court Road and the Bishop of London’s Lent Appeal, which this year will support a number of climate justice projects in Mozambique and Angola. You can read more about the Bishop of London’s Lent Appeal here.
Stations of the Cross
During Lent, the Stations of the Cross will take place at 12.30 pm on Wednesdays after the noon Low Mass, and at 7.00 pm on Fridays after the evening Low Mass. The service takes around half an hour.
You can watch last Sunday’s High Mass for the Third Sunday of Lent here. The music includes McDowell’s Mass for St Mary Magdalen, and Wesley’s Cast me not away. The preacher was the Vicar.
Volunteers needed for Holy Week
Please be in touch with Fr Alan if you would like to volunteer to be a steward on Palm Sunday or to have your feet washed at the evening liturgy on Maundy Thursday.
Stewarding on Palm Sunday involves wearing a “hi vis” vest and helping to organise the procession from Oxford Market to church in such a way that the event is safe and secure for everyone involved. A full briefing is given beforehand.
Holy Hour
Do remember that there is a Holy Hour of silent prayer before the Blessed Sacrament every week on Wednesdays from 5.30 pm until the evening Low Mass at 6.30 pm. Lent is a good opportunity to make time for quiet time with the Lord, and the Holy Hour is a great way of taking time out to be in Christ’s eucharistic presence.
Last Tuesday was the feast of the Annunciation. You can watch the High Mass here. The music included Haydn’s Jugendmesse and L’Heritier’s Alma redemptoris Mater. The preacher was the Vicar.
Fidelium
A new network for young adults (18-35) who worship in parishes under the care of the Bishop of Fulham has recently been launched, called Fidelium. They will be meeting at All Saints’ in Easter Week to celebrate St George’s Day – Mass at 6.30 pm will be followed by drinks in a local pub. All our young adults are welcome to join them.
You can find out more about Fidelium here on Twitter and here on Instagram.
Yvonne Craig’s 100th birthday
A very happy birthday to Dr Yvonne Craig, who turns 100 on Monday. We offer her our prayers and congratulations. Many happy returns, Yvonne!
Forthcoming Preachers
Sunday 11th May 2025 – Easter 3
11.00 am High Mass
The Revd Steve Rice,
Rector, St Timothy’s Episcopal Parish, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA.
Sunday 18th May 2025 – Easter 5
11.00 am High Mass with Baptism and Confirmation
The Bishop of Fulham
Thursday 29th May 2025 – Ascension Day
6.30 pm High Mass
The Revd Dr David Houlding.
Thursday 19th June 2025 – Corpus Christi
6.30 pm High Mass with procession of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction
The Revd Grant Naylor,
Vicar, St Matthew’s, Carver Street, Sheffield.
Sunday 17th August 2025 – Assumptiontide Procession
6.00 pm Solemn Evensong with Procession of Our Lady and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament
The Revd Philip Corbett,
Vicar, St Silas’, Kentish Town, London.
Sunday 14th September 2025 – Holy Cross Day
11.00 am High Mass
The Revd Dr Michael Bowie,
Vicar, St Peter’s, Eastern Hill, Melbourne, Australia.
Sunday 21st September 2025 – Trinity 14
11.00 am High Mass
The Revd Thomas Crowley,
Rector, Christ Church, St Leonards-on-Sea.
Sunday 2nd November 2025 – All Saints’ Day
11.00 am High Mass
The Ven Luke Miller,
Archdeacon of London.
Monday 3rd November 2025 – All Souls’ Day
6.30 pm High Mass of Requiem
The Rt Revd Lyndsay Urwin, O.G.S.
Attendance last Sunday
For your Prayers
The Friends of All Saints’ Margaret Street:
30th – The Sisters of All Saints
31st – Friends of All Saints’ in need
1st – Carlos Remotti-Breton, Dr 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 – 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, The Rev’d Roger Turner, Dr Christine Vaughn Lillie
The sick:
David Craig, Tony Hawkins, Fr Harry Hodgetts, Elizabeth Lyon, Philip Payne, Fr John Rick, Ingrid Slaughter
The recently departed:
Mable Forde, June Rodd, Sister Nathalie Sharpe, Peter Strange, Priest, Valerie Snapes
The faithful departed:
30th – William Ingarfill, Mani Blake, Cecil Saltford-Beaman, Hilary Chadwick-Healey, John Hanvey
31st – Holbrook Gaskell, Charles Gage-Brown, John Rowe Pr, Robin Powis
1st – Alexander Burnett-Brown, Harold Gaunt, John Wallace
2nd – Sister Mary Estelle, Grace Trembath, John Gaskell Snr, Beryl Harding
3rd – Patrick Scott Pr, Elizabeth Usherwood
4th – Margaret Roche
5th – Christopher Ryan, Iolo Davies
Services this week
Saturday 29th March – Lent Feria
12pm Low Mass
6.00 pm Confessions
6.30 pm Vigil Mass of Sunday
Sunday 30th March – FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT (Laetare)
8.30 am Low Mass
11 am High Mass
5.15 pm Low Mass
6.00 pm Evensong and Benediction
Monday 1st April – Lent Feria
12 noon Low Mass
6.30 pm Low Mass
Tuesday 2nd April – Lent Feria
12 noon Low Mass
6.30 pm High Mass
Wednesday 3rd April – Lent Feria
12 noon Low Mass
12.30 pm Stations of the Cross
5.30 Holy Hour
6.30 pm Low Mass
Thursday 4th April – Lent Feria
12 noon Low Mass
6.30 pm Low Mass
Friday 5th April – Lent Feria
12 noon Low Mass
6.30 pm Low Mass
7.00 pm Stations of the Cross
Saturday 6th April – Lent Feria
12pm Low Mass
6.00 pm Confessions
6.30 pm Vigil Mass of Sunday
Sunday 7th April – FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT
8.30 am Low Mass
11 am High Mass
5.15 pm Low Mass
6.00 pm Evensong and Benediction