All Saints Parish Newsletter 16th November 2016
Dear Friend,
CHRIST THE KING
On Wednesday of last week, having woken to the news that Donald Trump had won the American Presidential election, I was at a matinee of David Hare’s new play, The Red Barn. It is set a few days after Nixon’s inauguration in 1969 and includes some cocktail party conversation including the remark, ‘Anyone who wants the Presidency as much as that deserves it.’ A great surge of weary laughter filled the theatre. Later that day I heard some interviews with voters from swing states, including a father who had voted for Trump and a son who’d voted for Clinton. The father remarked, ‘remember, we haven’t just elected a king,’ the implication being that Trump will be constrained by the constitutional arrangements of the USA, the famous checks and balances.
To me (and constitutional experts are welcome to correct me), although his presidency is time-limited to four, or possibly eight, years, the other differences between him and a constitutional monarch quickly diminish on close examination. His position is surely far more monarchical, with that one absolute limitation of time, than that of our Queen (in saying that I am ignoring the surely unthinkable possibility of a constitutional change allowing him to go on as long as Mugabe). If I understand the comparison correctly, the American President has explicit powers spookily similar to the contested and incompletely defined ‘royal prerogative’ of our government.
Compare what we celebrate on Sunday. Christ’s ‘kingship’ might be thought purely ironic: the title is his by much crueller satire than any comedians have applied to Donald Trump. Yet the cross, and everything about Jesus’ life, teaching, death and resurrection, subverts the categories of power, ambition and wanting things, the grammar of ‘winning’ which underlies the rhetoric of the Apprentice President. And above all there is no time limit. Eternal life, Jesus’ gift to the penitent thief on the neighbouring cross, is not subject to constitutional interpretation or change. It is grace, a pure gift, ours if we simply respond to the invitation. That is the birthright of a kingdom worth inhabiting.
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Michael Bowie
Assistant Priest, All Saints Margaret Street
Please pray for those who have asked for our prayers: Asia Bibi, Bishop Michael Perham, Doris Saunders, Anthony O’Connor, Archbishop Barry Morgan, Iris Podmore, Paul Curno, Agnes Poitevin-Navarre, José de Oliveira, Nick Russell, James Cary-Elwes, Tim Harding, Patricia Capon, Michael Sullivan and Mary Thomas.
For the recently departed: John Lippiatt, John Hudson (Priest), Frank Owen, Bernardina Pontoglio, Dilys Thomas (former All Saints’ Honorary PCC Secretary for a great many years, who died on the Eve of All Saints and whose Funeral Requiem will take place on Tuesday 22 November at 3.30pm), Barbara Reynolds, Patrick Phelan (Priest), David Pearce and Pamela O’Brien. We also remember those who died last week in the Croydon tram derailment.
Remember past priests, benefactors, friends, and all whose year’s mind occurs this week including: Florence Searle, Helen Clayton (Churchwarden & PCC Secretary), Douglas Cudmore, Emma Stephens, John Harrington (AS Chorister), Kingsley Stansfield, David Voy, George Ebbs, Joyce Harvey, Winifred Brough, Mary Buchanan, Timothy Lawford, Josephine Fletcher, Robert Walker, Ailsa Critchley, Ann Swanton, Susan Beauchamp, Henry West, Gladys Howard, Alys Purdon, Agnes Mackay, Mabel Egerton, Marjorie Gilley, May Beeken, Philip Burrage, Thomas Tomlinson, Priscilla Sedgewick, John Clayton, Barbara Morrissey and Thomas Ellis.
For full service information: www.allsaintsmargaretstreet.org.uk.
WORSHIP THIS WEEK:
SUNDAY 20 NOVEMBER – CHRIST THE KING (Sunday next before Advent)
HIGH MASS, 11am
Preacher: Fr Michael Bowie
Credomesse – Mozart
Alleluia, I heard a voice – Weelkes
There is no Sunday lunch service today and until the new cookers can be fitted in the kitchen.
EVENSONG
& BENEDICTION, 6pm
Preacher: The Vicar,
Prebendary Alan Moses
The Second Service – Leighton
Hallelujah (Messiah) – Handel
Following Evensong & Benediction at 7.15pm:-
ORGAN RECITAL on the four-manual Harrison & Harrison (1910)
CHARLES ANDREWS – Associate Director of Music, All Saints
Programme:
Prelude & Fugue in F minor BWV534;
Gottes Sohn ist kommen BWV600 J. S. Bach (1685-1750)
Sonata no. 4 op. 98 – J. Rheinberger (1839-1901)
1. Tempo Moderato 2.Intermezzo 3. Fuga cromatica
Slumber Song – W. Lloyd Webber (1914-1982)
Choral no. 3 in A minor – C. Franck (1822-90)
Free entry with retiring collection to support the Choir and Music at All Saints (suggested donation £5). The All Saints Licensed Club/Bar below the Church will be open after this recital.
Please find more organ recitals at www.organrecitals.com.
FUNERAL MASS FOR DR DILYS THOMAS
All Saints – Tuesday 22 November, 3.30pm
WORSHIP NEXT WEEK:
SUNDAY 27 NOVEMBER – FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
HIGH MASS, 11am
Preacher: The Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses
Missa Iste Confessor – Palestrina
People, look East – anon
ADVENT SEQUENCE OF READINGS & MUSIC, 6pm
We hope that some new cooking facilities will have been installed at All Saints and hot food will once again be available after Mass, with coffee. We will update you about Sunday lunches as soon as we have the information.
Please note: as the Worldwide Cancer Research Carol Service takes place on THURSDAY 1 DECEMBER at 7pm, there will be no Evening Mass that day. Morning and Lunchtimes Masses take place as usual.
The ALL SAINTS FESTIVAL APPEAL 2016 which ran over the period of the Festival, collecting at each service and running a bottle raffle (which raised £406) and was drawn on Festival Sunday looks on first calculations immediately after Allsaintstide to have raised a splendid £7,250 (with applicable Gift Aid). Many thanks to everyone who contributed so generously. We are still happy to accept further donations should they be forthcoming:-
The Appeal is raising funds for THREE important causes:
The Marylebone Project (run in London NW1 by the Church Army) –‘empowers homeless women into independent living’. Our money supports the emergency bed unit, providing emergency accommodation for women escaping domestic violence, financial crisis, sexual exploitation and mental health issues.
THE SOUP KITCHEN (run by the American International Church in Tottenham Court Road) ‘helping the homeless in central London’, providing 17,000 meals a year, to some 400 people, with an average of 70 people being fed each day.
UMOJA HIV PROJECT, (run by USPG – the United Society Partners in the Gospel) working in the Anglican Diocese of Manicaland Zimbabwe. This project ‘enables people living with HIV and Aids to live positive lives’ by reducing stigma and boosting HIV prevention. The programme mobilizes the local community, in partnership with local churches and HIV services, raising awareness of the lack of care and support for these people and their families.
Please give generously – gift-aiding your donations wherever you can (so that your generosity is increased 25%). If you can’t visit All Saints, please send cheques payable to: Parochial Church All Saints in an envelope marked FESTIVAL APPEAL to: All Saints Church, 7 Margaret Street, London W1W 8JG.
PARISH NOTICES & NEWS
REQUIEM MASSES in November
Please print the name of anyone you would like to have remembered at the last of the November Requiem Masses in the black folder in the Baptistery: Monday 21 November 6.30pm Mass
NEW ALL SAINTS GREETINGS CARDS SELLING WELL – Over £1300 worth of the beautiful new cards have been sold in aid of All Saints in the first few weeks, with more stocks ordered.
The images are: the traditional Tile Nativity Scene; a new and dramatically lit shot of Our Lady of Margaret Street and a new and beautifully coloured image of the Sanctuary. Cards can be bought from the Parish Shop on Sundays and from the Parish Office in packs of 6 cards (all one design in each pack) for £5. Fridge magnets are also available of the image of the Sanctuary, which we hope will prove a popular small memento for visitors to the Church at £3 each (£4 with P&P). If you are with us this Sunday, they will be on sale in the courtyard after Mass.
NEXT PCC MEETING – the next meeting of the PCC is rescheduled from Monday 28 November to Tuesday 29 November at 7pm in the Parish Room and will only consider the matter of the Resolutions in place at All Saints.
CAROL SINGING 2016 – UPDATE
All Saints will NOT be carol singing around the parish this year as the Plaza shopping precinct, our main venue, is being reconstructed and the shops are closed. However, the following extract from the website of the London Churches Refugee Fund gives details of their carol singing at Oxford Circus so anyone wanting to sing to help raise money should contact the organiser. Friday 25th November, 3-8pm, Oxford Circus Underground. We are always under cover, down in the ticket hall. Best way to find our “pitch” is to go down the steps by Benetton at the south-western corner of Oxford Circus. Choose a shift: 3-4.30pm, 4.30-6pm, or (the heroes’ shift) 6-8pm. Bring an instrument to swell the volume. Wear sparkly clothes to draw people’s eyes. Come even if you can’t sing well, because we need people to shake buckets and give out leaflets as well. Contact Maggie at maggie.hindley@londoninterfaith.org.uk, 020 7372 1765. She is organising the rota and will be glad to hear from you.
SUPPORT FOR CHRISTIANS IN THE HOLY LAND
PILGRIMAGE OCT/NOV 2017
Bishop Stephen Platten will be leading a pilgrimage from the City Deaneries to the Holy Land in the autumn of 2017 not only visiting the Holy Places, but also meeting with the Christian community who face daily difficulties in living their faith. Travelling from 30 October to 6 November the cost of the pilgrimage is £1400 per person sharing a twin room. For more details or to book, please contact Pilgrimage People on 0800 6123423 or email: info@pilgrimagepeople.org or join us on Monday 28 November at 6pm for an information evening at St Michael’s Cornhill ECV3 9DS.
Thursday 8 December 2016 – Conception of Our Lady at St Mary’s Bourne Street – 7pm High Mass
You need not be a member of the Cell to join in this event. They are organised by the Cell members for all to join as they wish.
Saturday 10 December, 3pm – CHRISTMAS POETRY TEA at Pamela Botsford’s home – the theme for which is Seasonal. Tickets: £6 sold in aid of the All Saints’ Restoration Appeal. Please see Pamela or Sandra Allan in the courtyard to obtain further details.
** MISSION NEWS** Men’s clothing is badly needed by the Jesus Centre in Margaret Street and also by the Soup Kitchen at the American International Church, both of whom provide a daily range of services to homeless people. As you prepare for the winter season, if you have men’s clothes to give away, please bring to Church and leave at the Parish Office so we can continue to help support our neighbour’s efforts predominantly with homeless men.
The Soup Kitchen specifically calls for: men’s trousers (sizes 32-36) and men’s sturdy/athletic shoes (sizes 9-12 especially) and say ‘we are also beginning to need men’s outerwear of all varieties and we always need rucksacks and duffle-bags to help our guests carry their belongings!’
Miranda Suit, Director of the Soup Kitchen (part-time, usually in the office on Tuesdays and Thursdays) says: Please drop me a line if you are planning to drop things off here. As always, many thanks for your support. Soup Kitchen at the American International Church, 79a Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 4TD T: 020 7580 2791 www.amchurch.co.uk/soup-kitchen/
SERVICES & EVENTS FOR NOVEMBER BEYOND ALL SAINTS
Thursday 24th November – 9pm Compline at St Cyprian’s, Clarence Gate
ALL SAINTS MISSION ACTIVITIES:-
The charities we had agreed to support through the Lent Appeal 2016 (and including applicable Gift Aid) received the following sums:-
Marylebone Project – £2,666.67 – emergency refuge and rehoming project for homeless women.
USPG – £2,666.67 – work with those experiencing Aids and HIV in Zimbabwe.
London Diocese Lent Appeal – £3,001.66– this year supporting Syrian and Iraqi refugees through charities Open Doors and Aid to the Church in Need. The certificate of appreciation is on the Church noticeboard. Thank you to everyone who contributed to this great achievement – a significantly enhanced total collected through the Lent Appeal compared with recent years – of £8,335 (including some late funds generated by the Queen’s 90th Birthday Raffle). To this sum must now be added the further £20k raised by the Vicar’s Pilgrimage of earlier this year.
ONGOING SUPPORT for HOMELESS PEOPLE through:
MARYLEBONE PROJECT run by the CHURCH ARMY – A Day Centre, Residential and Transitional accommodation provider, re-settlement project and Educational and Training Unit for women. The Emergency Bed Unit – for which we have for some years helped to provide the funds for one of the 4 beds – offers a safe haven and refuge for women escaping domestic violence, financial crisis, sexual exploitation and mental health issues.
Year Round Support – we also support the Marylebone Resettlement Project with non-perishable food and toiletries or household necessities like cutlery or bed linen/blankets. Thank you to everyone who contributes food and household essentials via the basket in Church or handed in to the Parish Office. Please continue to donate these so we can help more people in need.
Day-to-day Support – we respond to the needs of homeless people who visit the church allowing them to sleep there in the daytime and signposting them to other agencies who can offer help and donating £1,000 towards the Soup Kitchen at the American International Church in Tottenham Court Road this year. We also allow individuals, who need a place to shelter or sleep during the day, to rest in the back of the church. We have created an information resource for Church Watchers, giving useful advice to homeless and vulnerable people seeking particular support or services. In the face of a rising tide of homelessness in London and as the cold weather starts to bite, please help us fund and support people in need through our Mission activities.
Want to help someone sleeping rough but don’t know how?
Call Streetlink on 0300 500 0914 and they will get a visit from the local Street Team who can put them in contact with the services they may need.
FURTHER COMMUNICATIONS OR ASSISTANCE FROM ALL SAINTS MARGARET STREET:-
* If you would like to encourage others to take an interest in All Saints/keep up with what is happening here, please forward this email on to them, or to people you would like to invite to services or tell them about our websitewww.allsaintsmargaretstreet.org.uk, which has a full colour 360 virtual tour for viewing the wonderfully restored interior of the Church – seewww.allsaintsmargaretstreet.org.uk/history/virtual tour – before a visit or if unable to travel.
* If you know of others (near or far) who would like to receive this regular update on what’s happening at All Saints please encourage them to sign up for the email on the All Saints website – see the tab News & Events> Weekly Newsletter.
* If you would like prayers offered at All Saints, please email the Parish Administrator Mrs Dee Prior at: astsmgtst@aol.com. Or make use of the prayer request facility on the website at: www.allsaintsmargaretstreet.org.uk/prayer.
* If you would like any pastoral assistance, please do not hesitate to contact:
The Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses: alanmoses111@gmail.com.
Or Assistant Priest Fr Michael Bowie: mnrbowie@gmail.com.
DAILY SERVICES AT ALL SAINTS
On major weekday feasts, High Mass is sung at 6.30pm
SUNDAYS in Church
Low Mass 6.30pm (Saturday), 8am and 5.15pm. Morning Prayer 10.20am
HIGH MASS and SERMON, 11am and
EVENSONG, SERMON and BENEDICTION, 6pm.
MONDAY – FRIDAY
Morning Prayer 7.30am
Low Mass – 8am, 1.10pm and 6.30pm
Evening Prayer 6pm
(Except Bank Holidays – 12 noon Mass only)
SATURDAY
Morning Prayer 7.30am
Low Mass – 12 noon and 6.30pm (First Mass of Sunday)
Evening Prayer 6pm
Confessions
A priest is available for confessions/counsel Monday – Friday from 12.30-1pm and at 5.30pm Monday – Saturday, or by appointment. (Special arrangements apply in Lent and for Holy Week.)
www.allsaintsmargaretstreet.org.uk and e-mail: astsmgtst@aol.com