All Saints Margaret Street.

Dear friends,

As Lent begins it behoves all of us to consider how we are going to give of our resources and time in almsgiving and works of mercy. These disciplines are two of the most important ways in which we seek to return to the Lord and deepen our relationship with God and our neighbour.

Giving away money to a charitable cause prompts us to realise the truth that all our resources actually come from God and that we posses nothing that hasn’t been created by him and entrusted to us. So to give alms is to proclaim the Lord’s sovereignty over all of creation, and is an act of thanksgiving for what he has given us.

In addition to the obvious good that a donation does for a particular cause in practical terms, giving of our resources also prompts an emotional and spiritual change within the one who gives. It deepens our sense of empathy with those who are less fortunate than ourselves and prompts a growth in the virtues of charity and kindness within us. It opens our eyes to the power of self-giving love and connects us in solidarity with those around us.

I would like to commend two particular ideas to you this Lent as focusses for your giving.

The first is to encourage those of you who have not yet done so to join the new scheme for supporting our Music Trust with regular giving which we launched in November. Joining the “Music Patrons of All Saints’” this Lent would be a wonderful way to ensure the musical tradition of our parish continues to flourish. It is, if you like, a giving of the gift of sacred music at All Saints’ to present and future generations.

To join the Music Patrons of All Saints’, simply set up a regular gift of at least £10 a month to our Choir and Music Trust 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 U.S. account here, and receive the tax relief in U.S.

Once you have joined the Music Patrons, you will then receive a copy of the Parish Paper twice a year. There is also now an annual drinks party organised around the weekend of the All Saints’ Festival for the Patrons to thank them for their generosity.

We have seen a gradual and steady increase in the number of people who have subscribed as Music Patrons since November. We now have 25 Patrons, who, between them, contribute £667 each month to our Choir and Music Trust. This amounts to £8004 per year (a total of £10,005 with Gift Aid). It would be wonderful if more parishioners and supporters signed up for this scheme this Lent.

A second recommendation I would make as a focus for your giving is our annual Lent Appeal, which focusses our outward giving on the charity C4WS. This is the body that runs the homeless shelter we help staff at the American International Church on Tottenham Court Road.

You can read more about the wonderful work C4WS does here. They collaborate with local churches to provide winter shelters for the homeless. In addition, they undertake case work with their homeless guests to help get them out of homelessness and re-establish their lives. C4Ws is a wonderful local charity and I heartily encourage you to support it.

We will no longer be accepting cheques or cash for our Lent Appeal. Instead, you are invited to make a donation to C4WS through the following link here.

We are still looking for homeless shelter volunteers for the night of Wednesday 18th/Thursday 19th March, which will be the last shelter of the current winter season for which we are responsible. Be in touch with Fr Alan if you would like to volunteer.

Please ponder these two excellent ways of giving this Lent. It would be wonderful if we were able to increase the number of people giving regularly to support the work of our Choir and Music Trust. It would also be terrific to know that our parish is able to make a substantial donation to the work of C4WS.

Let us open our hearts to the promptings of God’s grace and respond to his love with generous hearts, giving of our resources for the good of others.

Fr Peter

Lenten liturgies

Do not forget that a series of extra liturgies are added to our weekly schedule in Lent to help us draw closer to the Lord and to contemplate his death and passion.

Stations of the Cross take place each Wednesday at 12.30 pm and each Friday at 7.00 pm.

In addition, please note that we have a Holy Hour of silent prayer in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament each Wednesday at 5.00 pm. This would make an excellent addition to your Lenten rule of life.

Fidelium Mid-week Lenten Retreat

Fidelium, a network for young adults in parishes under the care of the Bishop of Fulham, is organising a mid-week Lenten retreat at St Andrew’s Holborn on Wednesday 4th March from 6.30-9.00 pm. Please be in touch with Charlotte Choley-Kovacevic if you want to know more or would like to attend.

Night Shelter Volunteers

Many thanks indeed to all who have volunteered to staff the cold weather night shelter this season at the American International Church on Tottenham Court Road.

We are still looking for volunteers for the night of Wednesday 18th/Thursday 19th March, which will be the last shelter of the current winter season for which we are responsible. Please be in touch with Fr Alan if you would like to volunteer.

Fulham Lay Congress

The Bishop of Fulham is hosting a Lay Congress entitled ‘Ready with a Reason’ on 21st March 2026 at S. Alban’s, Holborn, from 10.00 am to 3.30 pm.

Bishop Linday Urwin OGS will be the keynote speaker, reflecting on sharing the Gospel with others. Please see the flyer attached for more details.

Attendance last week

For your prayers

The Friends of All Saints, Margaret Street

The sick

Jean Castledine, David Craig, Asuncion Gines, Fr Harry Hodgetts, Helen Hughes, Canon David Hutt, Daniel Oliver, Carol Simmons, Ingrid Slaughter, Juliet Windham.

Recently departed

Peter McInerney, Annabel Fearn

Anniversaries of death