All Saints Margaret Street.

Dear Friend,

Refreshment Sunday

Next Sunday, the fourth in Lent, was originally set apart as Refreshment Sunday, the day on which people took a breather from the fasting of Lent. It is said that our modern Anglican festival of Mothering Sunday came about as a result of apprentices being given a holiday on this Sunday in Lent to visit their mothers.

There is no evidence in the gospels for Jesus as a supporter of what many modern Christians call ‘family values’: we might recall how the priorities in his own relationship with his mother are depicted, as at Luke 8.19-21:

Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.” But he said to them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”

or 11.27-28:

While he was saying this, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts that nursed you!” But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it!”

St Luke appears to suggest that Mary’s obedience, not her familial relationship to the Messiah, is the sign of Christian life (just as Peter’s faith entitles him to be called the rock on which he church is built, not his closeness to Jesus).  And also that in this obedience (and faith) there will be suffering and even inner conflict (think of Simeon’s prophecy at Candlemas) as we are called to override our natural loyalties and inclinations in order to make progress in the Christian life. Since Mary is given us as a type of Christian life, we are all to expect this inner conflict and judgment.

Perhaps it is in the word ‘priorities’ that the key lies. Jesus taught that we should seek first the kingdom of God – that is the priority of God as ruler of our lives. The key commandments, he said, were love of God and of each other (as ourselves), in that order.  The assumption is always that we shall order our lives aright if we look first to God. Loving family relationships will mirror the love of God the Holy Trinity, but they are not to be blindly preferred, bad or good, to all other allegiances, nor is this automatic: they must be worked at. Like everything else in our lives, they are to be regularly examined and reviewed. Relationships with parents are to be honoured because they help us to understand our relationship with God, who gives us life. If that is true then our mothers have a unique role to play in reflecting the work of God in our lives and we thank them for that on Sunday. They have all experienced those inner conflicts which are pictured for us today in Mary as they let go of the children they have nurtured. Mothering or Refreshment Sunday, rather than idealizing their struggles on our behalf, encourages us to acknowledge with gratitude the life they give us and celebrate with them our allegiance to God who makes families possible: ‘God, from whom every family in heaven and earth takes its name.’

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Michael Bowie
Assistant Priest
All Saints Margaret Street

Please pray for those who have asked for our prayers: Asia Bibi. Fr. Bruce Barnett- Cowan, Jean Bray, James Cary-Elwes, Cynthia Drury, Tim Harding, Yvonne & Philip Harland, Elspeth Harley, Lewis Harvey, Myrtle Hughes, Maxwell Hutchinson, Sheila Kenyon, Molly Leng, Joshua Levy, Christine Loffty, Hilary Morgan, Norman Newby, Malcolm Richards, Jock Scott, Fr. Nicholas Stacey, Buzz Stokes, Celia Swan, Joy Wright, Marc Young and Mary.

For the recently departed: Robert Streit (whose Funeral took place at All Saints at 2.15pm on Thursday 5 March), Pamela Paul, Baby Eden (and parents Andrew and Gemma), Angela Thompson, Tom Devonshire-Jones (Priest and former Vicar of St Mark’s, Regent’s Park), John Martin and Norman Greenfield (Priest).  

Remember past priests, benefactors, friends, and all whose year’s mind occurs this week: Sydney Heales, Vera Martin, Peggy Shepherd, James Robertson (Priest), Donald Faithfull (sometime Bursar & Sub-Deacon), Hester Russell, Edward Aubert, Frank Coomber, Evangeline de Fonseka, Jessie Thwaites, Edward Mann, Joan Mackintosh (Friend of All Saints), Christine Tagoe, Mary Steward, Hugh Wiley, Emily Pattison and Margaret Baker.

WORSHIP THIS WEEK

SUNDAY 15 MARCH – FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT (Mothering Sunday)
HIGH MASS, 11am
Preacher: The Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses 

Mass in G – Schubert
Ave Virgo sanctissima – Guerrero

Ten to One Talk Theme: the Institution Narrative. The bell will ring beforehand.

ALL SAINTS’ PARISH RETREAT 2015 to Ely takes place this weekend, conducted by
Fr John Cullen, so there is NO Sunday Lunch service on 15 March.

CHORAL EVENSONG & BENEDICTION, 6pm
Preacher: The Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses
The Short Service – Ayleward
Versa est in luctum – Lobo

WORSHIP THIS WEEK

SUNDAY 22 MARCH – FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT (Passiontide begins)

HIGH MASS, 11am

Preacher: Fr Michael Bowie
Mass for five voices – Byrd
Remember not, Lord, our offences – Purcell

Ten to One Talk Theme: the Anamnesis & Acclamation. The bell will ring beforehand.

Sunday Lunch is being prepared by Robin Clutterham and Team. Tickets £5 from the Parish Shop in the Parish Room before and after Mass (subject to availability). 

A SEQUENCE OF PASSIONTIDE MUSIC & READINGS at 6pm followed by BENEDICTION – with the Choir of All Saints Margaret Street.

LENT at ALL SAINTS

LENT STUDY GROUP underway – The Study Group meets on Fridays at 11am in the Vicarage. This year, at the Sunday Eucharist, the Church is reading St. Mark’s Gospel. So the publication of Rowan Williams’ book “Meeting God in Mark” is providential. The book is based on Holy Week talks given Archbishop Rowan in Canterbury Cathedral in 2010.  

THE WAY OF THE CROSS – Fridays: at 7.05pm (after the Evening Mass), a weekly devotional service in Lent meditating on the events of Jesus’ Passion.

EVENSONG SERMONS during LENT 

In the Common Worship Baptism service the “Commission” gives a summary of the Christian life. At Evensong on the Sundays of Lent, we will have a series of sermons based on this to guide us in our corporate and individual self-examination. These will lead up to our corporate renewal of baptismal vows at Easter.

Lent 1 “Will you continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread and in the prayers?”

Lent 2 “Will you persevere in resisting evil, and, whenever you fall into sin, repent and return to the Lord?”

Lent 3 “Will you proclaim by word and example the good news of God in Christ?”

Lent 4 “Will you seek and serve Christ in all people, loving your neighbour as yourself?”

Lent 5 (preached on Palm Sunday) “Will you acknowledge Christ’s authority over human society, by prayer for the world and its leaders, by defending the weak and seeking peace and justice?”

ALL SAINTS’ LENT APPEAL
Our Lent Appeal 2015 will be shared equally three ways:

1. Bishop of London’s Appeal, which is concentrating on supporting Youth, Children and Family projects across the Diocese,
2. Us (formerly USPG) and their support of the church in Zimbabwe in working with those affected by HIV and AIDS and providing local clergy and lay leaders with skills and training to undertake the work, and
3. The Marylebone Project, where our money goes towards providing one of the emergency beds in the Homeless Women’s Centre.

HOLY WEEK AND EASTER 2015 – THE DRAMA OF THE PASSION

Preacher: Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses

PALM SUNDAY, 29 MARCH 

10.45am          Liturgy of Palms in Market Place, W1
                       Procession to Church & HIGH MASS          

6pm                Choral Evensong & Benediction

MONDAY, TUESDAY, WEDNESDAY

6.30pm            Low Mass with Homily

WEDNESDAY, 1 APRIL 

7.30pm            TENEBRAE for Maundy Thursday         

MAUNDY THURSDAY, 2 APRIL

6.30pm            HIGH MASS of the Lord’s Supper

GOOD FRIDAY, 3 APRIL

12 noon           The Preaching of the Passion               

1 – 3pm          The Solemn Liturgy of the Passion             

6.30pm            Stations of the Cross

HOLY SATURDAY, 4 APRIL

12 noon           Liturgy of the Day

9pm                HIGH MASS of the Easter Vigil

EASTER DAY, SUNDAY 5 APRIL

11am              Procession, Blessing of the Easter Garden
                      & HIGH MASS
                      Preacher: Fr Michael Bowie, Assistant Priest  

6pm     Festal Evensong, Te Deum and Benediction
            Preacher: The Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses

ALL SAINTS’ DATES FOR YOUR DIARY IN MARCH

Sunday 22 March, 6pm – PASSIONTIDE MUSIC, READINGS & BENEDICTION

Monday 23 March, 6.45pm and 7.30pm – Meetings of the All Saints Choir & Music Trust and the Foundation in the Vicarage.

Sunday 29 March – PALM SUNDAY – Liturgy of Palms in Market Place, Procession to Church and HIGH MASS at 10.45am
PLEASE NOTE – BRITISH SUMMER TIME STARTS – CLOCKS CHANGE FORWARD BY ONE HOUR.
*** Stewards are needed for the Palm Sunday Procession – Cedric Stephens, Senior Server will be organising arrangements as usual. Please would anyone willing to volunteer to assist in this way telephone or email the Parish Office (020 7636 1788 or astsmgtst@aol.com) to indicate their interest.

EVENTS BEYOND ALL SAINTS

Wednesday 25 March, 7pm – FEAST OF TITLE, The Annunciation Marble Arch – HIGH MASS & PROCESSION, Preacher: Fr Paul Thomas, Vicar of St James Sussex Gardens. Drinks reception after mass. All welcome.

Monday 30 March 2015, 6.30pm, St Cyprian’s Clarence Gate – Francis Holland School presents a
Charity Choral Concert in aid of St Cyprian’s Church. Music by Handel, Haydn, Parry & Rutter including Handel’s Zadok the Priest. Tickets £10/Under 18s Free. For tickets please contact Mrs Gurini (sue.gurini@fhs-nw1.org.uk)

NOTICES

Imperial College London staff have asked us to promote awareness of a special event:

COME AND HAVE YOUR SAY ON THE POTENTIAL OF A REVOLUTIONARY TEST FOR CANCER THROUGH BREATH.
When and where: Tuesday 17 March 2015 12.30 – 5pm (lunch and refreshments provided), UCL Institute of Education Room 804, 20 Bedford Way, London WC1H 0AL.

Currently, any exploration of symptoms indicating a possible oesophago-gastric cancer has to be done through an uncomfortable endoscopy in hospital. This new test being developed potentially offers a quick and easy evaluation of a patient’s risk of having the cancer. This innovative event aims to engage with the public to allow them to input into research and help develop a novel diagnostic test device. Clinicians want to share their research and gain feedback, based on observing simulated scenarios using actors and clinicians and short presentations. No prior knowledge needed. If you would like to help Imperial College with your opinion of this new test, please RSVP to: j.huddy@imperial.ac.uk.

REVISION OF THE ALL SAINTS’ ELECTORAL ROLL
The Electoral Roll has to be revised before the Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) on 19 April 2015. Inclusion on the Roll is the qualification to attend, participate and vote at the Meeting, or to be nominated for office. The Roll will be closed for revision between Tuesday 24 March and Friday 3 April. No further entries may be made to the Roll between 23 March and the close of the APCM. Would members of the Roll please check their entries on the copy of the Roll available in the Parish Office? Alterations should be notified to me, c/o the Parish Office. Anyone else who wishes to be included on the Roll, and who fulfils the qualifications, is welcome to apply. Competed forms (to be found on the table in Church) should be returned via the Parish Office.

Catherine T Burling,
Electoral Roll Officer

ALL SAINTS RESTORATION PROJECT UPDATE 
EXCELLENT PROGRESS with work and fundraising but FURTHER DONATIONS NEEDED to reduce the reliance on loans

New wiring and lighting, essential CCTV security and fire detection systems cost £372,000. Finishing works on the fire alarm and back of house areas continue to mid-March. As the project reaches its conclusion, we want to reduce our reliance on loans. This is down to loans of approx. £22,000 so any further gifts will reduce this still further.

HOW YOU CAN HELP………. please be as generous as you can, making cheques payable to: All Saints Church Restoration Appeal and sending them 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% at no cost to yourself. Thank you!

ALL SAINTS MISSION ACTIVITIES

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.

Seasonal Appeals – The grand total collected in 2014 was £3,463 (up significantly on 2013’s support of £2,790) to this Mission Project through the All Saints Festival and Lent Appeals. The Project (in acknowledging our support) said: ‘Such a wonderful amount to have raised, thank you so very much for your valued support’.

A further £3,000 raised in 2014 for Us (formerly USPG) was acknowledged to be a ‘very generous gift’ which will be used to feed communities and generate income to support AIDS orphans in child-headed families in Zimbabwe.

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. 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
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
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.

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