All Saints Parish Newsletter
Dedication Festival – 5th October 2012
Dear Friends,
This coming Sunday we give thanks to God for that which is represented in the people, the fabric, the history, the present and the future of this holy temple which is All Saints Margaret Street. We give thanks for God’s presence with us and that we are a people called to share in one baptism, one faith, one Lord. When I am feeling particularly boastful of All Saints, I tell friends, that at Morning Prayer at this time of year, the sun rises on All Saints in the East and in the West! It is a peculiar thing in this building and reflects that as with most city churches like All Saints, we are surrounded by high-rise glass buildings of commerce and city life and though we pray to be illumined by God, sometimes we are unavoidably and surprisingly illumined by the world around us.
Though we might give great thanks to God for all that we believe and perceive within the holy temple, we must too give thanks for that which from “outside” helps to sustain that which is “inside”. This Sunday we give thanks for our Stewardship Campaign, (there is still time to return stewardship commitments today and over the coming weeks) mindful that it is the money that you have received and worked hard for “out there” which helps us sustain all the stuff of worship and prayer “in here”. We are deeply grateful to your commitment to this house of prayer. Formal thanks will be offered at Mass on Sunday.
However, as I write this email, the search for April Jones continues, the allegations about the life of a deceased celebrity occupy the press and Syria still disturbs and all these things and more contribute to the sad reality of a broken world. But it is to the Temple we bring these disturbances, and thank God that through his inspiring us in our journey of faith, we respond in prayer, money and time to keep this “temple” a place which can openly offer prayer and bring comfort. All Saints Margaret Street continues like all churches to be the place in the community where we can bring the uncomfortable and the disturbing things of life in prayer, humbly before God. But we must also give thanks. Fr. Alan reminded me last night of some good news. As we see the church rolling on, ever resourced by new vocations and the fulfilling of old vocations, we give thanks that an old member of the congregation of All Saints, (Pat Thompson’s Brother-in-Law) who worshipped here when he was an undergraduate in London is now Archbishop designate of Armagh, Primate of All-Ireland: Bishop Richard Clarke. We pray for him and give thanks for his vocation, ministry and friendship to many of you and pray God’s rich blessing upon him and his family in the coming months.
This Sunday we give thanks for the temple, but give thanks also for the world which gives us the resource in money and in intention for prayer, our part of which provides petition and thanksgiving. If the church in its membership didn’t reflect the world, if we weren’t just a little bit illuminated by the world, we would be lost, for we have one faith, one baptism, one Lord, a responsibility to represent the World to God and God to the world. Sunday’s Gospel is John 10: 22-29, you might want to read it in advance.
See you on Sunday or soon,
Fr. John
Please pray for Moe, Fr. David Jowitt OGS, Julia, Calum O’Connor, Daniel, Michael Harris, Sandra O’Brien, Linda Orme , Mary Barnet, Stephen Collingwood, Sian Evans, Jackie Ferriter, Joshua Levy, Audrey Patterson, Cecilia Shore, Michael Sullivan, Rachel Clayton, Heather Walker, Graham Hawkes, Richard Tann, Brian Sparkes, Ron Cayless, John Rogers, Mason Jacobson, Barbara Laws, Marguerite Crill, Ondina Brash, Anne Hamburger, David Day, Timothy Montgomery, Timothy Harding, Andrew Tillyard, Lise Cribbin, Finiola Robinson. The Recently Departed: Peter Vickers, Gwen Norman, Elvira Dibley, Sr. Jean Margaret ASSP, Maurice Keen, Marion Pidgeon, Sr. Elizabeth SSM, George Hurst, Mary Morrison, Nigel Bailey at the anniversary of their death: Sarah Venn, Mabel Winifred Moore, Pauline Rolph, Eric John Kay, Grace Miller, Emma Titley, Ann Armstrong, Gwendolen Clementson, Suzette Shores, Mark Carpenter-Garnier (Bishop), (Thomas) Guest Blofeld (Priest), Lilian Ditcham, David Heffer, Elizabeth Hoare
The Feast of St Edward the Confessor
12 – 14 October 2012
During Edwardtide, we celebrate the life of Edward the Confessor, King of England 1042–1066, the re-founder of Westminster Abbey. Canonised in 1161, to this day pilgrims come to pray at his shrine. Join us in this Feast to commemorate the life and work of St Edward, King and Confessor, in prayer and praise, sung by the Choir of Westminster Abbey.All are welcome to attend. Tickets are not required.
Principal Services
Friday 12 October: THE EVE OF TRANSLATION OF ST EDWARD THE CONFESSOR, KING, 1163, 1269
Saturday 13 October: National Pilgrimage to the Shrine of St Edward the Confessor
All day pilgrimage: visits to the Shrine of St Edward the Confessor, lectures, and children’s activities.
11.30 am Festival Eucharist
This Festival Eucharist celebrates St Edward’s life and holiness on the day of the national pilgrimage to his shrine. Preacher: The Very Reverend Robert Willis, Dean of Canterbury
3.00 pm Evensong and Procession
Evensong and Procession this evening marks the beginning of the Feast of Dedication of Westminster Abbey.
SONGS OF PRAISE at ST MARK’S HAMILTON TERRACE…
The forthcoming Songs of Praise recordings at St Mark’s, Hamilton Terrace. The dates are as follows:
10th October – choir rehearsal, 7.30 – 9.30 pm
23rd October – choir rehearsal, 7.30 – 9.30 pm
24th October – recording 1, 7.00 – 10.00 pm
25th October, recording 2, 7.00 – 10.30 pm
SATB singers who want to be in the combined choir must attend both rehearsals, and either one or both recordings. Members of the congregation (who will, of course, also sing) may attend either or both recordings, but do not need to be present at the rehearsals. Please note that applications must be received by post by 5th October by the BBC in Salford. Otherwise, the form (or even just the relevant information) can be e-mailed direct to Songs of Praise, but the closing date is still 5th October. The BBC’s contact details are on the ticket application.Please contact: Lindsey Hammond, Songs of Praise 1st Floor Dock House, MediaCityUK, Salford, M50 2LH or Email: songsofpraise@bbc.co.uk or phone 0161 335 8429 (indicate the number of choir tickets or congregational tickets that you require)
October 11th 7.00pm Mission Supper in the Parish Room. The work of USPG (name changing to United Society or Us ) in Zimbabwe. At the recent PCC meeting, it was agreed that the next USPG project to be supported by All Saints should be their work with local churches in Zimbabwe where HIV is a major contributor to severe poverty and where the aim of the work is to reduce HIV stigma and increase HIV prevention. Janette O’Neill from USPG will talk about the developing work of USPG focussing on Zimbabwe, and there will be time for discussion & questions. Refreshments will be served for which donations will be requested. Profits will go to USPG. Evening will finish about 8.30pm.
ANGLICAN CATHOLIC FUTURE
A series of evenings celebrating our Catholic inheritance in the Church of England . Wednesday October 17th ‘Our Lady’ – Speaker, The Revd Cally Hammond Dean of Gonville & Caius College, Cambridge 6:30pm Mass ALL SAINTS MARGARET STREET – ALL WELCOME for further details please contact All Saints Margaret Street.
CONFIRMATION – Saturday 3rd November 2012 5pm at St Paul’s Cathedral. Please see Fr. John or Fr. Alan for further information.
Sunday 4 Nov: Festival Sunday.
At High Mass: Dedication of framed photograph of Bishop Ambrose Weekes.
Wednesday 7 Nov: 6:30pm Mass of Thanksgiving for the life of Sr. Jean Margaret ASSP.
Saturday 24 Nov: 12 noon. Requiem Mass for Teresa Butler.
Penny Mordaunt MP, (Portsmouth North) and friend to All Saints Margaret Street is arranging for the Parish a Tour of Parliament on 16th November 2012. A maximum number of 60 people can attend, so please book your place with Fr. John Pritchard as soon as possible. johnapritchard@hotmail.co.uk The Tour Starts at 9:55am and will last 75mins. The Tours are free, but I am suggesting that we all make a £10 donation towards Phase IV – Restoration Appeal for All Saints Margaret Street. Please send Cheques to All Saints c/o Dennis Davis or Fr John Pritchard made payable to "All Saints PCC Restoration Appeal". Details of where to meet will follow. ONLY 7 Places left. Please book as soon as possible.