All Saints Parish Newsletter
Dedication Festival – 5th October 2012
Dear Friends,
This coming Sunday – at our Dedication Festival – we give thanks to God for all that All Saints Margaret Street represents – its people, beautiful fabric, history, the present and future of this holy temple. We give heartfelt thanks for God’s presence with us as 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! This peculiar phenomenon of our church building reflects the fact that, as with most other city churches, we are surrounded by the high-rise glass towers of commerce and bustling city life. Though we pray to be illumined by God, sometimes we are surprisingly and unavoidably illumined by the world around us. As we offer grateful thanks to God for all that we believe and perceive within this holy place, we must also give thanks for how the “outside” World helps sustain what we enjoy “inside” the church.
This Sunday we give thanks for our Stewardship Campaign mindful that it is the money that you have worked hard for “out there” which sustains the glorious worship and thoughtful prayer “in here”. We are deeply grateful for your past and on-going commitment to this house of prayer and formal thanksgiving for your generosity will be offered at Mass on Sunday. (There is still time to return stewardship commitments today and over the coming weeks if you haven’t had a chance yet!)
However, as I write this email, the desperate search for little April Jones continues in Wales, the unpleasant allegations about the life of a deceased celebrity occupy the press and Syria daily disturbs the nations. All these things and more contribute to the sad reality of a broken world. But we are blessed – it is to All Saints Margaret Street we can bring the uncomfortable and disturbing things of life, humbly thanking 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 in a bewildering world.
Last night Fr. Alan reminded me of some good news. As the Church rolls on through time, refreshed by both new vocations and fulfilling old vocations, we give thanks that Bishop Richard Clarke, a former member of the congregation of All Saints and 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. We pray for him, 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 our temple, but let’s give thanks also for the world around us which provides both financial resources and stimuli for prayer. The membership of our church reflects the diversity of the world, illuminating our petition and thanksgiving. We share one faith, one baptism, one Lord and 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.