All Saints Parish Newsletter
Last Sunday after Trinity – 26th October 2012
Dear Friends,
We have a busy week ahead of us at All Saints with our Festival celebrations. There will be glorious moments as well as more poignant ones as we remember departed loved ones on All Souls Day. We hope that if you cannot be with us in the flesh, you will be in the Spirit and remembering us, and our preachers in your prayers.
Before the Festival, we have an ordinary Sunday. Fr. John will be back from his holiday. Fr. Julian will be at St. Augustine’s, Kilburn and I will be in Oxford to preach in two places with which All Saints has links: In the morning, St. Mary Magdalene’s Church for their Dedication Festival; In the evening at Keble College. Amid the Cotswold stone of Oxford, Keble’s brick is unmistakeably Butterfield: All Saints on a grand scale.
At Morning Prayer today we heard Timothy being urged to “attend to the public reading of scripture, to preaching, to teaching.” (1 Timothy 4. 13) That seems a good prelude to Sunday’s activities and to the Collect: “Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: help us so to hear them, to read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them that, through patience, and the comfort of your holy word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the hope of everlasting life which you have given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ.”
The academic institution in which the clergy of All Saints preach most often is the Annunciation’s parish school: Hampden Gurney. At the weekly school mass, sermons often involve a dialogue between priest and children. I might ask them about the gospel which has been read. Who were the characters? What were they doing? How does it tie up with life at home or in school? Sometimes the answers come thick and fast; at others some coaxing is needed.
I wonder what would happen if I were to try this approach with the students on Sunday evening. Would they think that they had come to a tutorial when they were expecting a lecture?
In Sunday’s Gospel, (Mark 10.46-52) Jesus asks blind Bartimaeus, “What do you want me to do for you?” If we were a group of students reading through Mark’s Gospel with our tutor, then we might be asked, “When have you heard Jesus ask this question before?” And if we have been paying attention and have good memories, if we have read, marked, learned and inwardly digested, then we would respond, “last week.”
Jesus put the same question to James and John in last Sunday’s Gospel when they came to ask for the best places in the kingdom. Mark contrasts their self-centred misunderstanding of Jesus and his kingdom, with the faith of Bartimaeus. Trusting in Jesus, he asks for physical sight and is given spiritual vision as well. The one who had been stuck forever by the roadside of life now follows Jesus on “the way” that leads to Jerusalem and to the cross. This story concludes a long section in which Jesus has been teaching his slow-witted disciples about the self-giving nature of his own life and ministry which is to the pattern of theirs, and of ours, as his disciples.
Yours in Christ, Fr. Alan Moses
Please pray for Christopher Ryan, 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: Christopher Rawll, George Hurst, Mary Morrison, Nigel Bailey at the anniversary of their death: Gwendoline Freeman, Joseph Harding, Dorothy Gartside, William Lloyd Webber, Phyllis Richards, Sr, Dorothy Hilda ASSP, Tharu Tharakan, John Todd, Edith Ross, Frank Leeman, Br. Bernard Dawson, Jane Pollard, Cecil Mead, Carol Searles, Janet Reid, Harold Wilson, Gilbert Pickering.
Dr. Christopher Rawll
Christopher was for many years a devoted servant of All Saints and of the Church in London. Here at All Saints, he was at various times, server, sub-deacon, churchwarden, archivist. In the diocese he served on Bishop’s Council, was lay chair of the Deanery Synod and Warden of Readers.
He died peacefully on18th October. His funeral will take place on Monday 29th October at Mortlake Crematorium. There will be requiem mass for him here at All Saints on Saturday 1st December.
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 at All Saints
ANGLICAN CATHOLIC FUTURE: “The Christian Pilgrimage” St. Matthew’s, Westminster
Thursday 8th November 7pm – Led by Prebendary Alan Moses and the Revd. Nicola Stanley , Vicar of All Hallows Twickenham
One o’clock talks on the Church Building:
On Sunday’s at 1pm for 10mins there will be a series of talks given by Fr. Alan and Fr. John.
11th November – The Baptistry. 18th November – The Nave. 25th November – The Pulpit. 2nd December – The Jesse Window. 9th December – The North Wall, The Old Testament. 16th December – The North Wall – The Nativity. Please come along prior to lunch for 10 minutes and hear an historical and theological perspective on our church building.
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 6 Places left. Please book as soon as possible.
VOCATIONS DAY Saturday 17th November – ST. MATTHEW’S WESTMINSTER 10.30AM-4PM
“CATHOLIC EVANGELISM”
A day for men and women considering ordination. Led by Fr. Tim Sledge Vicar of Romsey Abbey.
If you are interested, please contact the Vicar or email office@stmw.org
Saturday 24 Nov: 12 noon. Requiem Mass for Teresa Butler at All Saints
ADVENT COURSE 2012
There will be two courses running at All Saints Margaret Street this year.
DAYTIME ADVENT COURSE – Fr. Alan will lead a four week day-time course meeting at 11am on Thursday’s 29th November, 6th, 13th & 20th December at the Vicarage. This will be book based on Rowan William’s latest book, “The Lion’s World – A journey into the heart of Narnia.
EVENING ADVENT COURSE Fr. John will lead a four-week evening course, meeting at 7:00pm on Wednesday’s 28th November, 5th, 12th & 19th December at No.6 Margaret Street. This course will look at The Patriarchs, The Prophets, St John the Baptist and Our Lady each one will be explored through one of the following: Opera, Film (popcorn will be provided), prose and poetry.
Please indicate to Fr. Alan and Fr. John if you wish to attend.