All Saints Margaret Street.

Dear Friend,

The Epistle to the Hebrews is more a sermon than a letter. Its audience seems to have been a group of Jewish Christians facing persecution and wondering if they have made the right choice. Perhaps they should return to their ancestral faith. The writer has gone to great lengths to demonstrate the superiority of the new covenant established by Christ and his perfect self-offering over the old and its daily repeated sacrifices. 

This Sunday’s passage (10:11-25) pictures that superiority in the contrast between the priests who must stand day by day at their service, and Christ, who having offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, his work complete, sits down at the right hand of God.

Under the old covenant, the high priest alone could enter the Temple sanctuary.  Now, through Christ, the “great priest over the house of God,” the baptized are enabled, indeed encouraged, to enter God’s presence. 

For all that, we can feel in ourselves something of the Hebrews’ anxiety.  We too live in a culture in which Christian faith and life is not easy. Many forces collude to undermine our allegiance to Christ and our trust in him. Neither the Church nor ourselves seem to demonstrate the perfection for all time of those who are sanctified.  When we look at ourselves we know that we are often in two minds about our faith: yes we would like to be good Christians, but it all seems too hard.

So after celebrating the work of Christ and the access to God which it makes possible, how God, through the new covenant to which the Holy Spirit testifies, will put his laws into our hearts, will write them in our minds, Hebrews tells us what we are to do about it:

We are to “hold fast to the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who has promised is faithful.”  Word and sacrament, speak to us of God’s faithfulness. And so, the priests of the new covenant stand at their service every day to proclaim the gospel and celebrate the sacraments, not  to placate God, but so that the sanctification of those who have been washed with the pure water of baptism may be brought to full effect.

“And let us consider how to provoke one another to love and good deeds, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

We are to do something more than make some hesitant suggestion that such and such a course of action might be a good idea: we are actively to provoke one another, to challenge each other: to ask why we are not being more loving and generous. 

We are not to skip church. This is about something deeper than counting heads for the annual survey of church attendance.  It is about encouraging others by our presence. Simply being there can make a difference to the faith of others; an active presence in which we relate to those around us, even more so. It not only others who are encouraged, but ourselves. Hebrews expresses a profound spiritual and psychological insight: that idleness and inertia are depressing. Inactivity is disheartening; it saps our courage and undermines our hope. 

We are to encourage one another. It is easy, I know, because clergy are prone to do it when they get together, to slip into bemoaning the state of the world and the Church. Realism is better than a fantasy which pretends everything is wonderful, but it should not be the first and last, much less the only word we utter. Do our words and actions encourage or depress each other?

The worship we offer in the house of God celebrates what God has already done and teaches us to discern what God is doing now.  That is why we stand at the altar and in choir to offer the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving day by day.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Alan Moses
Prebendary Alan Moses
Vicar of All Saints Margaret Street
Area Dean of Westminster – St Marylebone

Please pray for those who have asked for our prayers: Asia Bibi, Margaret Bowie, John Bradshaw, Fr Allan Buick, Peter Burbidge, James Cary-Elwes, Ian Coull, Dennis Davis, Mark Dougly, Kate Down, David Fettke, Jonty Gordon, Gaby Grace, Lewis Harvey, Gwyneth Hopkins, Pat Hunt, Alice Jullien, Andrew Laird, Tom Leader, Christine Loffty, Sister Martha (SMNC Tanzania), Hilary Morgan, Joseph Musah, Miriam Nelson, Gordon Orme, David Pearce, Eileen Prior, Canon John Rees, Nick Russell, Jock Scott, Arthur Sellers, Stella Skinner, Rose Stephens, Judy Stewart, Buzz Stokes, Christine van Dyck, Jo Vincent, Canon Geoffrey White and Joy Wright.

For the recently departed: Sue Lloyd-Roberts, John Streeting (Priest), Marjorie Pass, Wayne Beresford, Jacqueline Lady Killearn, Simon MacGregor, Brian Johnson, Rosetta Heard, Prebendary John Gaskell (High Mass of Requiem at All Saints on Friday 27 November at 6.30pm), Kenneth Sheath, Ian Hunter, Joan Foster and Wrenne Atkinson.

Remember past priests, benefactors, friends, and all whose year’s mind occurs this week including: Frank George (Priest), Herbert Brackley, Janette Brierly, William Foster, Alfred Stephens, Elizabeth Marychurch, Jonathan Walker, Nadine Olivey (Friend of All Saints), Norman Caplin (All Saints’ Honorary Assistant Organist and composer), Clifford Doyle (Priest), Joan Roberts, Donald Page, Florence Searle, Helen Clayton (PCC Secretary & Churchwarden), Douglas Cudmore, Emma Stephens, Jack Harrington (former Chorister), Kingsley Stansfield and David Voy.

TOMORROW SATURDAY 14 NOVEMBER, 11.30am
Walsingham Devotion – Rosary followed by 12 noon Mass.

WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY 15 NOVEMBER – SECOND SUNDAY BEFORE ADVENT – HIGH MASS, 11am
Preacher: Father Michael Bowie
Messe en sol mineur, pour trois voix d’hommes – Lemmens
Never weather-beaten sail – Campion

There is Sunday Lunch service and Robin Clutterham and team are the chefs. Tickets are £5 on sale in the Parish Shop before and after Mass.

An Afternoon of Entertainment is on offer at 3pm – KEATS ANCIENT AND MODERN
Come and see a film in Church featuring one of our own congregation in the role of Fanny Brawne with poet John Keats and hear the life story of a modern day Dr John Keet. 
£10 a ticket (including glass of wine) in aid of the All Saints Church Restoration Appeal. Tickets from Sandra Wheen/Christine Levy/Pamela Botsford after Mass or on the door.

CHORAL EVENSONG & BENEDICTION, 6pm 
Preacher: The Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses 
Dyson in F 
O gladsome light – Darke 

WORSHIP NEXT SUNDAY 22 NOVEMBER –CHRIST THE KING 
HIGH MASS, 11am 
Preacher: The Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses 
Credo Messe, K 257 – Mozart 
Lift up ye heads, O ye gates

There is Sunday Lunch service and Geoffrey and Philip are the chefs. Tickets are £5 on sale in the Parish Shop before and after Mass.

CHORAL EVENSONG & BENEDICTION, 6pm
Preacher: Fr Michael Bowie
Murrill in E
Let all the world in e’vry corner sing (Antiphon) – Leighton

7.15pm (after Benediction) – ORGAN RECITAL – TIMOTHY BYRAM-WIGFIELD, Director of Music. Programme includes works by: Widor, Heiller, Ravel, Hollins and Howells. Free entry, retiring collection to support the Choir and Music at All Saints (suggested donation £4). The All Saints Licensed Club/Bar will be open after the recital..

PARISH NOTICES

CHURCH LIGHTING
The final stage of the electrical renewal and improved lighting for the Church will be completed w/c Monday 16 November. This will entail the use of a cherry picker to focus the lights and set the lighting states (taking advantage of the dark evenings at this time of year). Please take care during the week if visiting the Church which will remain open for usual hours and services with one exception. The Friday 20 November 8am Low Mass is cancelled, due to the need to remove the cherry picker before the weekend. This will be stored temporarily in the courtyard so that it can be used on Monday 23 November to repair a damaged high-level drain pipe above the Church porch, thus saving the cost of hiring a second piece of access equipment. Thank you for your understanding as we complete this last element of a complicated project. 

HIGH MASS OF REQUIEM for PREBENDARY JOHN GASKELL – this will take place on Friday 27 November at 6.30pm. Preacher: Fr Victor Stock.

CHURCH READERS – the Vicar is keen to have more of the younger members of the congregation on the list of readers. Martin Woolley (m.g.woolley@btinternet.com; 07976275383) will be delighted to have expressions of interest from anyone who feels he or she is accurately so described and, indeed, from anyone else who might like to read in Church. Allie Hunter, welcome to the team! Cheers, Martin

VOLUNTEERS – Have you a bit of spare time and some skills you would like to contribute at All Saints? Churchwarden Chris Self is always looking for potential volunteers and can offer ways to get involved and contribute your time in support of activities at Church. Occasional assistance as well as regular help is always useful. Contact him: chris_self@btconnect.com. Tel: 0207 723 2938.

REGULAR YOGA CLASSES run at All Saints in the Parish Room between 6 and 7pm (please note revised time) on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Drop in price £12 per class (£9 per class for committing to the term). If anyone is interested in having further details of these sessions, being run by a local qualified teacher, contact Dee Prior in the Parish Office on 020 7636 1788 or e: astsmgtst@aol.com. 

WALSINGHAM PARISH PILGRIMAGE 2016
All Saints’ thirteenth annual pilgrimage to the shrine at Walsingham will take place from Friday 15 to Monday 18 July 2016 after breakfast. Following the successful 2015 trial of extending the Pilgrimage time by staying on until Monday morning, we are repeating that formula next year. If you are interested (or would like to find out more) please speak to Jean Castledine at Church or contact Ross Buchanan on 020 7221 1312 or ross.r.buchanan@btinternet.com.

Because of the Shrine’s limited capacity and booking arrangements, those who would like to attend in 2016 will need to pay a non-refundable deposit of £10 to the Parish Administrator, Dee Prior, by the end of November 2015 to reserve a place on the Pilgrimage. A further £20 deposit will be required by Sunday 10 April 2016. Cash or cheques (made payable to All Saints PCC).

NOVEMBER ALL SAINTS’ EVENTS

Saturday 14 November, 11.30am
WALSINGHAM DEVOTION – ROSARY FOLLOWED BY 12 NOON MASS.

Sunday 15 November at 3Pm – KEATS ANCIENT AND MODERN – an afternoon of entertainment at All Saints – Come and see a film featuring one of our own congregation in the role of Fanny Brawne with the poet John Keats and hear the life story of a modern day Dr John Keet. £10 a ticket including a glass of wine – in aid of the All Saints Church Restoration Appeal. Tickets will be available from Sandra Wheen, Christine Levy and Pamela Botsford any Sunday after Mass. 

Sunday 22 November, 7.15pm (after Benediction)
ORGAN RECITAL – TIMOTHY BYRAM-WIGFIELD, Director of Music
Programme includes works by: Widor, Heiller, Ravel, Hollins and Howells. Free entry, retiring collection to support the Choir and Music at All Saints (suggested donation £4). The All Saints Licensed Club/Bar will be open afterwards.

Sunday 29 November 2015, 6pm
ALL SAINTS’ ADVENT SERVICE of READINGS and MUSIC by candlelight.
All welcome – please bring some friends.

DECEMBER ALL SAINTS’ EVENTS for your DIARIES 

CHRISTMAS POETRY TEA, Sunday 6 December 3pm, at Pamela’s. 
All welcome.  Please bring Poetry or Prose on the subject of ‘Home’.  To accept, or to request Pamela’s address, please speak to Pamela or Sandra in the courtyard or ring Sandra on 020 7637 8456 leaving your name and phone number.  Cost £6 in aid of the All Saints Restoration Appeal.

WALSINGHAM CELL VISIT – DECEMBER 2015 – TO NOTRE DAME DE FRANCE (French Church off Leicester Square) – the All Saints’ Cell of Walsingham plans a visit on Wednesday 9 December, 7pm to Evensong with a Talk on the history of the Church by Fr Kevin Mowbray followed by drinks. A fine modern ecclesiastical space with renowned Lady Chapel by Jean Cocteau and other historic and contemporary works of art, including a painting of Joan of Arc and a sculpture representing Our Lady of Mercy above the entrance welcoming visitors as they walk in from the street – Leicester Place. The sculptor was a famous French artist Georges-Laurent Saupique (1889-1961) who was head of the restoration work of Reims cathedral. All welcome.

CAROL SINGING IN THE PARISH, Thursday 17 December, 6.30pm – Assemble at All Saints (Parish Office – via the door to the right of the church courtyard). All are welcome to come along and sing. Collection for the West London Day Centre & the Church Army Hostel for Homeless Women in Marylebone.
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LUNCHTIME CAROL SERVICE, Friday 18 December, 12.30pm. Mince pies and mulled wine served afterwards. Do join us in a lunchbreak or before or after Christmas shopping!

FESTIVAL OF NINE LESSONS and CAROLS – Monday 21 December 2015, 6pm. Followed by mince pies and mulled wine. All welcome – please bring some friends

Please see the noticeboard in Church where other events may be advertised as space is limited in the Newsletter.

EVENTS ELSEWHERE IN NOVEMBER 

Thursday 19 November, 7pm – THE 2015 MARYLEBONE SERVICE, St Marylebone Parish Church, Marylebone Road, NW1 5LT. An interfaith gathering, celebrating the religious and cultural diversity of those who live in the village. Refreshments will be served in the Church hall afterwards. All welcome.

Friday 27 November 3 – 8pm & Saturday 28 November 10am – 4pm – CHURCH OF the ANNUNCIATION, MARBLE ARCH – ‘ALL THE FUN OF THE CHRISTMAS FAIR’ 2015. Last year (the first fair, run at St Cyprian’s) was a huge success, receiving lots of comments about how stylish it was – including from the Homes and Antiques Magazine and being voted in the top 10 UK Christmas markets by ‘I love Markets’. This year, with St Cyprian’s undergoing renovation, the event has transferred to the Annunciation, so everyone is invited to join them there to meet the best exhibitors of 2014 with a host of new ones. Live music, Christmas-themed demonstrations, refreshments and a candlelit evening gala with a glass of wine while browsing the goodies on sale. 

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 at All Saints for mission activities in 2014 was £6,463 through the All Saints Festival and Lent Appeals. £3,463 went to the Marylebone Project and a further £3,000 to Us (formerly USPG). 

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 – we made a substantial delivery to the Project in the first half of September and immediately fresh supplies came in and have continued to build since then. Thank you! Please continue to donate these so we can help more people in need as the cold weather begins.  

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 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/virtualtour – 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@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 – 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