All Saints Margaret Street.

Dear Friends,
Advent Sunday brings a change of mood. One of the themes of the season is “Watch and Pray.” This Sunday’s gospel urges us to be alert at all times and pray for strength in the midst of difficult and threatening events. We are reminded of this call to prayerfulness by the singing of the Great Litany in procession before High Mass on Advent Sunday.

Litanies are an ancient form of prayer with a series of short petitions and a congregational response. The Kyrie at Mass is a vestige of such a litany. The Litany was the first part of the liturgy to be written in English; the first instalment of what would become “Common Prayer.” Cranmer took a familiar form and gave it a particular emphasis. Its petitions covered the range of English national life. Religion was not to be seen as a matter of personal comfort, fulfilment or salvation, but as something which would transform a whole society.

Ideas of Church and Nation have changed much since Cranmer’s day, but the widespread concern expressed after the Synod vote shows that many in England, including people who do not belong to the Church of England, or are not even Christians, still recognise the significance of the Church in its life. In consequence, Synod votes sometimes matter far beyond the confines of Church politics. We should not complain about that: to be ignored would be much worse.

The Synod’s vote has raised serious questions about the Church’s relationship with the State and the nation, and about the nature and effectiveness of synodical processes and membership. Concerns already aired about these have been given added urgency. Archbishop Rowan has said that the Church has a lot of explaining to do. It also has a lot of hard thinking to do if it is to restore its battered credibility.

Yours in Christ, Fr. Alan Moses

Our congratulations to Fr. John Pritchard, the originating genius behind this improvement in our communications, on his appointment as Priest-in-Charge of St. John’s, Upper Norwood in the Diocese of Southwark. He is to licensed by the Bishop of Southwark on Monday 11^th March. Please remember him in your prayers as he prepares for this new challenge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Marylebone Project (Church Army Hostel for Homeless Women) has requested small items they can wrap as Christmas presents. I hope we can help. If you have any please leave them in the parish office, or in the Baptistry, or give to Janet Drake, Frances O’Neill or Chris Self by 13 December.

"Starting in December we’ll be collecting small, practical items that can be given as a Christmas present to a homeless woman. Items don’t need to be wrapped (as our elves can do this for us).

The types of items that make especially useful gifts are socks, blankets, bubble bath, deodorant, shower gel, shampoo, scarves, warm hats, gloves, perfume, chocolates, notebook and pen, slippers (size 5 to 8), purses, hair brushes and diaries."