All Saints Parish Newsletter
Trinity XVII -28th September 2012
Dear Friends,
When I visited one of the priests in our deanery the other day, he expressed his appreciation of this weekly letter and he is not alone in doing so. Just as St. Paul was able to keep in touch with his churches by letter, so can we, and with much greater ease.
We have just been watching a video of a nephew who has had major surgery to straighten his legs so that he will be able to walk properly. On our phones, members of his family around the world have been able to watch him taking his first successful steps. He is one of the many people for whom, following the teaching of St. James in this Sunday’s Epistle (James 5.13-20), we pray daily here at All Saints.
But things which are used for good ends can also be abused for bad ones. I had been reading an article by the BBC’s Justin Webb in which he discusses the polarised and vitriolic nature of American politics. He attributes this in part to the effect of modern and almost instantaneous means of communication which have the effect of raising the temperature in an argument very quickly. He likened this to the way the invention of printing, which we would consider a blessing, also contributed to the rise of religious conflict by making the spread of ideas much more rapid. Anyone who has read some of the writings of the period knows that some of the language used of opponents descends to a verbal violence and kneejerk condemnation of the different which seems at odds with the recognition of the Spirit at work by both Jesus and Moses in this Sunday’s readings.
We have seen a terrible example of the effect of this kind of thing with the rapid dissemination of another video: a derogatory one about Islam apparently made by Coptic Christians. People have died as a result of this and in Peshawar a Church has been looted and destroyed by a mob.
There is a serious issue about the oppressed status of Christians in many Muslim societies, and about freedom of expression there, as we have been reminded by the publication of Salman Rushdie’s memoir of life after the fatwa against him. But this is not the way to address it.
In this Sunday’s Gospel Jesus speaks approvingly of outsiders who do good in his name. Speaking to his disciples, he is much harder on those who cause others to stumble. He tells them to cut off the hand or foot and pluck out the eye which causes us to stumble. This is deliberately exaggerated language to get his point across. But it is directed to his disciples not to outsiders. It is not a licence to kill. If your computer or your mobile phone causes you to stumble, throw it away; or at least pause and re-read what you have written before you send it.
This Sunday’s gospel concludes with Jesus saying: "Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another." One of the ways we have both that salt and peace is by that confession of sins, mutual prayer and singing of praise of which James speaks.
Yours in Christ,
Alan Moses
Please pray for Fr. David Jowitt OGS, Julia, Sharon Nicholson, 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.
The Recently Departed: Peter Vickers, Gwen Norman, Elvira Dibley, Sr. Jean Margaret ASSP, Maurice Keen, Marion Pidgeon, Sr. Elizabeth SSM, George Hurst, Mary Morrison
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)
STEWARDSHIP – Dear Friends, please can I remind you to return you Stewardship forms this coming week. Or if you require information on Stewardship, please be in touch with Dennis Davis in the Office, or Fr. Alan or Fr. John. If you are on the electoral roll of this parish, you will have received Stewardship information. Please consider how you support ASMS financially, as well as in prayer and in service and please could I encourage you to respond. Yours Fr. John
Poetry Tea Saturday 29th September 3:00pm at Pamela’s. You are invited to bring poems and prose on the general subject of ‘Summer celebrations and experiences’. If you would like to write something yourself how about ‘My Jubilee’ or ‘My Olympics’ . To accept, or to find out Pamela’s address, please speak to Pamela or Sandra or ring Sandra on 020 7637 8456 leaving your name and phone number. Cost £6 towards the All Saints Restoration Appeal.
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.
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.