All Saints Margaret Street.

Dear Friends,

My predecessor at Christ Church S. Laurence once got into trouble with his Archbishop because he was quoted in Sydney Morning Herald as saying of his church ‘we aren’t sinners’. What he’d actually said was ‘we aren’t miserable sinners’, intending a corrective to an outdated Prayerbook culture which was predictably lost on the (probably Irish Roman Catholic) journalist.

It’s an interesting miscommunication. I suspect that the diocese was most upset because the offending quotation appeared in the newspaper’s popular Weekend magazine, beneath a photo of the priest and a young blond female server (in her robes) who was studying to be a doctor. This was not, on several levels, the image of Christ Church S. Laurence the diocese wanted shared in the popular consciousness of Sydneysiders. The journalist was careless or ignorant, or at worst wanted to make a little mischief (probably the former). The readers of this ephemera probably noticed little beyond the photo: the missing adjective would not have made much difference to the perceptions of most. But it was an important point, perhaps made in the wrong forum.

The worrying propensity of all traditions in Christianity to present as either world-denying miserabilists or comfortable latitudinarians does not aid the evangelisation of an often puzzled or indifferent world. If people are to be grabbed by something they expect it to be exciting and attractive, or at least more interesting than television. And they want it to engage with actual human needs rather than denying that they exist or wearily doubting whether anything matters.

‘Rejoice always, pray without ceasing…’ So begins this Sunday’s Epistle which gives Advent III its introit and traditional name, Gaudete Sunday. Christians are called to be joyful, and to pray (we note that prayer is supposed to be a joy, not a chore). We have been gathered into a glorious company of sinners made holy by the free gift of God: the Incarnation, which we are preparing to celebrate, is the embodied pledge of that gift, an intimate connection with us.

One medium of rejoicing is our liturgical worship, which should be neither miserable nor bland. We have some competence in that area at All Saints. But we are also, all of us, called to be noticeably joyful: not idiotically grinning, but deeply, truly joyful, so that others can see, in the words of Dominican Fr Timothy Radcliffe’s book title, ‘the point of being a Christian’.

Yours in Christ,

Fr Michael Bowie
Assistant Priest, All Saints Margaret Street

Please pray for those who have asked for our prayers: Rosemary Barratt, Asia Bibi. Heather Brown, Lily Caplin, Rosamond Clayton, Kate Down, Norman Greenfield (Priest), Tim Harding, Yvonne & Philip Harland, Elspeth Harley, Lewis Harvey, Sheila Kenyon, Molly Leng, Joshua Levy, Christine Loffty, Hilary Morgan, Norman Newby, Anne O’Connor, Linda Orme, Malcolm Richards, Peter Royle, Jock Scott, Nicholas Stacey (Priest), Celia Swan, Dilys Thomas, Joy Wright and Mark Young.

For the recently departed: Rachel Clayton, Charles Richardson (Priest), Susan Beauchamp, Phyllis Dorothy James., Monica Evans and Michael Freeman (Priest).  

Remember past priests, benefactors, friends, and all whose year’s mind occurs this week:
William Edward Lloyd (Priest), Robert Kirk, James Forsyth, Doris King, Leonard Beeken, Edwin Forsyth, Joan Gower, Philip Prain (former All Saints’ Treasurer and PCC Member), Lily King and Jack Monk.  

WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY and NEXT WEEK

Weekday Masses remain in the Parish Room. Due to high level working on the scaffolding in Church installing new wiring and light fittings, Church will be closed during the week again until Christmas. Thank you for your understanding and flexibility during this challenging period.

WORSHIP SUNDAY 14 DECEMBER – THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
HIGH MASS, 11am
Preacher: The Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses
Orgelsomomesse – Mozart
Rorate cæli desuper – Byrd

After High Mass there will be ‘The Shape of the Liturgy’ Ten to One Talk in Church. The topic is The Psalm. The bell will ring beforehand.

Tom Leeman is serving a traditional Christmas lunch this week. Tickets £5 from the Parish Shop in the Parish Room (subject to availability). This will be the last Sunday lunch of the year and they re-start in 2015 in mid-January. Thank you to all the generous volunteers who have prepared tasty food, cooked and cleaned up for the Sunday lunches this Autumn/early Winter.

CHORAL EVENSONG & BENEDICTION at 6pm
Preacher: Fr Michael Bowie
Service in G – Bairstow
This is the record of John – Gibbons

WORSHIP NEXT SUNDAY – 21 DECEMBER – FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

HIGH MASS and HOLY BAPTISM (Arabella Dorothy McNeil), 11am
Preacher: The Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses
Mass Movements – Mendelssohn
A spotless rose – Howells

After High Mass there will be ‘The Shape of the Liturgy’ Ten to One Talk in Church. The topic is The Gradual Hymn/Acclamation. The bell will ring beforehand.

CHORAL EVENSONG & BENEDICTION at 6pm
Preacher: Fr Julian Browning
The Short Service – Byrd
Ave Maria – Victoria

NOTICES

Warmest congratulations to Jennifer Snapes and Stephen Farr on the safe arrival on Monday 8 December 2014 of their son Jonathan Henry James Farr – only twelve days late (!) and weighing in at 8lb 4 oz. We look forwarding to meeting the newest All Saints’ Choir baby in due course.

CHURCH ARMY HOSTEL CHRISTMAS APPEAL – thank you to all of you who gave socks, blankets, bubble bath, soaps, scarves, perfume and chocolates.
A good number of gifts will be delivered to the Hostel on Monday 15 December.

CALLING ALL WOULD-BE CAROL SINGERS!
Thursday 18 December 2014, 6.30pm for 6.45 – 7.30pm – All Saints is carol singing in Oxford Street once again and we need cheerful singers to make a joyful & pleasant sound.
Please join us (meet in the Parish Office at 6.30pm) to sing and collect for two homeless charity projects in London – West London Day Centre and the Church Army Hostel for Homeless Women in Marylebone. Wrap warmly! Mulled wine and mince pies to thank you afterwards in the Vicarage. For further information, speak to Janet Drake and let her or the Parish Office know if you can come and be part of the merry band.

Please Note: All Saints’ Club Bar Prices go up on 1^st January 2015 for the first time since 2012. New Annual Membership cards are required from that time – price held at £3.

ALL SAINTS’ PARISH RETREAT 2015
The Retreat will be at Ely again, from 13-15 March. As already announced, the conductor will be Fr John Cullen. If you would like to attend, or to know more about it, please contact Martin Woolley on 07976 275383 or at m.g.woolley@btinternet.com. A careful note will be kept of the order in which firm reservations are received.

ALL SAINTS RESTORATION – GOOD PROGRESS but FURTHER DONATIONS NEEDED to complete works

New wiring and lighting cost £350,000. Essential CCTV security and fire detection systems cost £22,000. We are going ahead with these while scaffolding is in place, to minimise the cost. We want to reduce our reliance on loans for the total project so any further gifts will help us to do that.
HOW YOU CAN HELP………. please be as generous as you can as further donations will minimise the use of loans.
Cheques payable to: All Saints Church Restoration Appeal and send to:  The Parish Administrator, 7 Margaret Street, London W1W 8JG.
Please indicate where Gift Aid may be applied as it increases the value of your contribution by 25%. Thank you!

WORKS – With the arrival of the final specialist light fittings this week and the nave chandeliers by next week, we are quietly optimistic about having the high altar in use for Christmas although aisle scaffolding stays into the New Year. Allowing for a Christmas holiday break in the works, and if all specialist materials arrive on time, we anticipate everything being completed – including focusing – by the end of January 2015. We hope to be celebrating the newly lit All Saints at Candlemas.

WEEKDAY SERVICES – taking place in the Parish Room and Confessions heard in the Oratory (access via the Parish Office). Church will be open on Sunday throughout the project and at other times when safe to do so. 

ALL SAINTS EVENTS in DECEMBER:

Monday 15 December, 6pm – FESTIVAL OF NINE LESSONS & CAROLS. With the Choir of All Saints Margaret Street. Followed by Mince pies and Mulled Wine.

Thursday 18 December, meet at 6.30pm – CAROL SINGING IN THE PARISH – all welcome to join in – please meet in the Church Courtyard. Followed by mince pies and mulled wine in the Vicarage. Collecting for the Church Army Homeless Women’s Project.

Sunday 21 December, 11am HIGH MASS and HOLY BAPTISM (Arabella Dorothy McNeil).

Monday 22 December, 12.30pm – CAROL SERVICE and Blessing of the Christmas Tree. With a soloist from the Choir of All Saints Margaret Street. Followed by Mince pies and Mulled Wine.

Wednesday 24 December – CHRISTMAS EVE – MIDNIGHT MASS and BLESSING OF THE CRIB at 11pm. Music includes: Missa Sancti Nicolai – Haydn and O magnum mysterium – Poulenc.

Thursday 25 December – CHRISTMAS DAY Low Mass 9am and HIGH MASS at 11am Music includes: Spatzenmesse – Mozart and Tomorrow shall be my dancing day – English trad., arr. Willcocks

Sunday 28 December – FIRST SUNDAY OF CHRISTMAS HIGH MASS AT 11am.  NB. There is no Choral Evensong this Sunday.

ALL SAINTS’ DATES FOR YOUR DIARY IN JANUARY

Tuesday 6 January 2015 – THE EPIPHANY OF OUR LORD – High Mass, 6.30pm. Music: Missa Brevis in F – Mozart, Ab oriente venerunt Magi – Händl. Preacher: Very Revd Professor Dr Martyn Percy, Dean of Christ Church Oxford  

Saturday 10 January, 3.30pm – Evensong & Benediction of the Baptism of Christ with the Choir of Christ Church St Laurence, Sydney, Australia. Director of Music: Neil McEwan. Organist: Peter Jewkes.  

Sunday 11 January – Epiphany Carol Service, 6pm
A service of Readings and Music by candlelight for the Epiphany with the Choir of All Saints

Sunday 25 January, 7.15pm (after Benediction) ORGAN RECITAL – CHARLES ANDREWS (Associate Director of Music)
Programme:
By J. S. Bach (1685-1750):
Vom Himmel hoch, da komm’ ich her BWV 606
Mit Fried’ und Freud’ ich fahr’ dahin BWV 616
Herr Gott, nun schleuß den Himmel auf BWV 617
Vom Himmel hoch, da komm’ ich her BWV 700
Prelude and fugue in A minor BWV 543
In dulci jubilo BWV 608

By M. Dupré (1886-1971): Variations sur un Noël op. 20

Retiring collection to support the Choir and Music at All Saints (suggested donation £4). The All Saints Licensed Club/Bar below the Church will be open after this recital.

2015 Sunday Evening Organ Recital Dates for the Diary:
8 March 2015 – Charles Andrews
10 May – Roger Sayer (Organist & Director of Music, Temple Church) 
5 July – Nicholas Mannoukas (Dr John Birch Organ Scholar) 
13 September – Charles Andrews
22 November – Timothy Byram-Wigfield (Director of Music)
For more organ recitals, please visit www.organrecitals.com.

EVENTS BEYOND ALL SAINTS
 
TODAY – Friday 12 December, 6.45pm – ALL SAINTS’ CELL OF OUR LADY OF WALSINGHAM EVENT – In the octave of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception – an Ecumenical Visit to the Church of the Immaculate Conception, Farm Street, Mayfair.
All are invited and welcome to join the liturgy – Anglican Evensong led by Fr Michael Bowie with address by Fr Dominic Robinson SJ, Rosary, tour of the church, followed by light refreshments. You do not have to be a member of the Cell to attend but please advise Mrs Rosa Postance by email (rosa_postance @hotmail.com) if you are going to come to this event.

ALL SAINTS YEAR ROUND SUPPORT for HOMELESS PEOPLE
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.

Seasonal Appeals – With last monies in, the final tally allowed us to send a cheque for £3,273 (up significantly on last year’s support of £2,790) to this Mission Project and a further £3,000 to Us collected through the All Saints Festival and Lent Appeals. Thank you for your generosity in supporting these Appeals.

Year Round Support – we also support the Resettlement Project with non-perishable food and toiletries or household necessities like cutlery or bed linen/blankets. Please contribute to this effort, bringing donations to the Parish Office or leaving them in Church in the basket in the Baptistery.

Day-to-day Support – we respond to the needs of homeless people who visit the church, providing luncheon vouchers for the West London Day Centre for rough sleepers who apply to the office and allowing a few 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, please help us fund and support people in need through our Mission project.

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.

* If you know of others who would like to receive this correspondence 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.

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@hotmail.com.

DAILY SERVICES AT ALL SAINTS during Refurbishment until January 2015
(Church guaranteed open Sunday only from 7am to 7pm and at other times when safe to do so)
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 CHORAL EVENSONG, SERMON and BENEDICTION, 6pm.

MONDAY – SATURDAY in the Parish Room
Morning Prayer 7.30am
Low Mass – 8am, 1.10pm and 6.30pm
Evening Prayer 6pm
(Except Bank Holiday – 1.10pm Mass only)

Confessions
A priest is available for confessions/counsel Monday – Friday from 12.30-1pm and at 5.30pm Monday – Saturday, or by appointment. During the refurbishment works, confessions will be heard Monday – Friday in the Oratory at 7 Margaret Street. Please ring the bell
at the Vicarage or Parish Office doors for admittance. 

www.allsaintsmargaretstreet.org.uk and e-mail: astsmgtst@aol.com.