All Saints Margaret Street.

Friends,

As high summer begins to settle in and many of us prepare for holidays, family visits, or perhaps even an opportunity to assume a slower pace, we’re reminded in this Sunday’s gospel of the story of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38–42). In this familiar passage, Martha is busy with the demands of hospitality, while Mary sits at Jesus’ feet, listening. It’s a gentle but powerful invitation to reflect on our own balance between doing and being; between activity and stillness.

Both of course have important places in the Christian life – but perhaps Summer can be a time for us to be more intentional about the “better part” that Mary embraced: making space for rest, reflection, and time with God.

With our film night this coming Wednesday; our August Bible studies detailed below; parish walks; Wednesday Holy Hour or the continuing pattern of twice daily Masses, as well as the great witness of our Assumptiontide liturgies, I hope there’s plenty to feed us this summer, that our busy lives remain grounded in the peace of God.

Whether you’re traveling, staying at home, or continuing with work, I encourage you to find moments to sit, to listen, and to be present to Christ who is, as ever, generously in our midst.

with love,

Fr Alan

Assumptiontide at All Saints Margaret Street

As is our custom, the Parish will mark Our Lady’s Assumption on Friday, 15 August with a High Mass at 6.30pm, and a special procession with the image of Our Lady will be held on Sunday, 17 August at 6pm. We need volunteers to steward the procession in high-viz jackets and to pour drinks after Sunday’s service. Please be in touch with Kate Hodgetts and the Parish Office.

Flowers

The flowers are given by Rebecca Hirst, in memory of her mother, Val Hirst. If you would like to make a donation for flowers or the courtyard garden, please contact Shawn directly or via the office.

Film night

There will be a film night with refreshments for our younger adults at Fr Alan’s on 23 July after the evening Mass. The inaugural film will be Bruce Robinson’s 1987 black comedy Withnail & I, starring Richard E. Grant and Paul McGann.

August Bible Study

Our August Bible study will focus on St Luke’s Gospel this year. Sessions will take place on 13, 20 and 27 August after the evening Mass. You can sign up for all the sessions, or just those you are able to make, here.

For your prayers

The Friends of All Saints

20th – Paul Hannah, Jillian Hargreaves, Christopher Harlow-Jennings, Patrick Hartley, The Rev’d Canon Jeremy Haselock

21st – Eoghan Healy, Rebecca Hirst, Fr David Hobden, James and Gwendoline Holdcroft, The Rev’d Canon Graham Holcombe, Edwin Holmes, Rosy Holt, Bishop David Hope

22nd – Richard Hoskinson, Marissa Howard-McNatt, Fr David Hutt, Alfred Imhoff, David James, Andrew Jervis, Powell Johann, Stephen Jury, Malcolm Kemp

23rd – Alan Kimbrough, Brenda Koupis, Stanislav Kudryashov, Christopher Laws, Margaret Leggett

24th – Cornelius Logue, Frau Dr Christiane Loidl-Rainey, Nigel Lynn, Henry Macey, Bishop Michael Marshall, David Mason, Robert Mason, Graham Mather

25th – Judith Mather, The Ven Fr Stephen McClatchie, John McWhinney, Colin Menzies, Amanda Miller

26th – Thomas Moller, Michael Mortensen, Barry Moore, Deacon Christopher Morash, Grace Morgan, Dr John Morrell, Fr Stephen Morris, Inger Mosbery, Lachlan Moyle, Carol Mundell

The sick

Biddy Baxter, Holly Brindley, June Brindley, Jean Castledine, David Craig, Fr Michael Gudgeon, Sheelagh Gudgeon, Elizabeth Lyon, Fr Harry Hodgetts, Lionel Persey, James Rodger, Fr Jim Rosenthal, Ingrid Slaughter, Juliet Wyndham

Recently departed

Anne Brindley, Stephen Ferns Pr, Lynn Persey, Damien Martin, Vera Silberberg

Anniversaries of death

20th – Lucy Heales

22nd – Anne Finley

23rd – Edward Jones, Elizabeth Pressland, John Holden Pr, Jeffrey Tapley

24th – Ada Rivington, Peter Champion-Jones

25th – Edith Wallis, Muriel Williams, Enid Ingle

26th – Edward Reader Pr, David Sparrow Pr (Tenth Vicar of All Saints Margaret Street), Jean Neighbour, Teresa Butler

Church diary

Saturday 19 July – Feria
12pm Low Mass
6.00 pm Confessions
6.30 pm Vigil Mass of Sunday

Sunday 20 July – TRINITY V
8.30 am Low Mass
11 am High Mass
5.15 pm Low Mass
6.00 pm Solemn Evensong and Benediction

Monday 21 July – Feria
12 noon Low Mass
6.30 pm Low Mass

Tuesday 22 July – S. Mary Magdalen
12 noon Low Mass
6.30 pm Low Mass

Wednesday 23 July – S. Bridget of Sweden
12 noon Low Mass
5.30 Holy Hour
6.30 pm Low Mass

Thursday 24 July – Feria
12 noon Low Mass
6.30 pm Low Mass

Friday 25 July – S. James the Great
12 noon Low Mass
6.30 pm Low Mass

Saturday 26 July – Ss. Joachim and Anna
12pm Low Mass
6.00 pm Confessions
6.30 pm Vigil Mass of Sunday

Sunday 27 July – TRINITY VI
8.30 am Low Mass
11 am High Mass
5.15 pm Low Mass
6.00 pm Solemn Evensong and Benediction