All Saints Margaret Street.

Dear Friend,

Luke’s dramatic account of the conversion of St. Paul, told three times for emphasis, has exercised such a fascination for the imagination of Western Christianity, especially among evangelicals, that other elements of his narrative of the expansion of the Church’s mission are rather overshadowed.

That includes the conversion of the Roman Centurion Cornelius and his household, Peter’s role in it and its acceptance by the leaders of the Church in Jerusalem.  Luke’s sense of its importance is indicated by the amount of space – a chapter and a half – which he devotes to what is a major milestone.

He sees it as the work of the Spirit, to which Peter and the others must respond. There is a real sense here that what is involved is not just the conversion of the Gentile Cornelius and his household, but equally the conversion of Peter, his companions and the leaders of the Church in Jerusalem to the recognition that the gospel and the Church’s mission was not confined to the Jewish people but embraced all people.

For those brought up with a deep sense of the national and religious identity, this was a major breakthrough.  If what you ate and who you ate it with were marks of that identity, then Peter’s vision and his eating and drinking with the household of Cornelius was nothing short of revolutionary.

This is not just a piece of ancient church history, but a lesson for us as we seek to understand our mission today.  Churches like ours have a strong sense of identity and tradition. In many ways this is a strength; we do not make it all up as we go along or pursue every novelty in the desperate hope of drawing people in. 

But it can also be a weakness. If it gives the impression that people must join us on our terms, then it is likely to inhibit mission.  It suggests that the Holy Spirit has to conform to our rules; not we to the Spirit’s prompting. 

If mission for Peter and his fellow Jewish Christians meant a conversion to openness to the outsider which would have been unimaginable before, what might it mean for us?  Who do we have to make space for, not simply in our building but in our hearts and minds?  Can we find the courage to do it?

Well, the example of Peter suggests that the courage is there to be had, if only we recognize it. 

I suspect the Church will be a more risky place to be if we do, but also much more interesting than one confined to “people like us.”

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Alan Moses

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

Please pray for those who have asked for our prayers: John Adams, Asia Bibi, John Bailey, Fr Allan Buick, Vivien Caplowe, James Cary-Elwes, Dennis Davis, Mark Dougly, Kate Down, David Fettke, David Foster, Ghislain Hamelin, Lewis Harvey, Valerie Hawkins, Gwyneth Hopkins, Julia Holland and family, Myrtle Hughes, Maria Keen, Julie Knight, Andrew Laird, Tom Leader, Miriam Nelson, Fr. Robert Norwood, Oliver Orr, David Pearce, Canon John Rees, Stella and Helen Skinner, Margaret Spencer, Rose Stephens, Madeleine Storer, Christine van Dyck, Robert Walmsley and Joy Wright.   

For the recently departed:  Darell Thompson-Schwab, Archimandrite Ephrem Lash, Clive Pearce (Priest), Betty Preston, Peter McCrory (Priest), David Jewkes, Barbara Potts, John Wilmington (Priest), Robert Middleton , Jock Scott, David Crawley, Sylvia Smith, James Winters (Priest), Debbie Peatman and Jonty Gordon. 

Remember past priests, benefactors, friends, and all whose year’s mind occurs this week including: Beatrice Atkins, Ada Brookes, Letitia Nettey, Ambrose Weekes (Bishop), Sarah Edmonds, Sister Elizabeth Noel (Society of All Saints), Leslie Clutterham, Dorothy Coles, Ze Renato, Denzil Freeth (Churchwarden of All Saints), Priscilla Black, Isabel Sturges-Jones, Lilian Raven, John Birch (former Organist and Director of Music All Saints), John Simpson (Bishop) and Beatrice Hudson.   

For full service information: www.allsaintsmargaretstreet.org.uk.

WORSHIP THIS WEEK:

LONDON MARATHON, Sunday 24 April 2016 – in previous years some people have found their journey to All Saints impacted by this major international event. Please allow extra time for your journey, checking the Marathon website for travel information.

SUNDAY 24 APRIL – FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
HIGH MASS, 11am
Preacher: The Vicar,
Prebendary Alan Moses
Missa ‘ad imitationem vinum bonum’ – Lassus
Christus resurgens – Lassus

Sunday Lunch is served – the chefs are Patrick Hartley and Rebecca Hirst and the menu their ever popular Roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, roast potatoes, parsnips, cauliflower cheese plus 2 more vegetables and pudding with coffee. Tickets £5 on sale in the Church Shop in the Parish Room before and after Mass (subject to availability).

CHORAL EVENSONG & BENEDICTION, 6pm
Preacher: Fr Julian Browning
Collegium Regale – Howells
Lasset uns den Herren preisen – Reger

The Annual General Meeting of All Saints’ Club – Sunday 24 April
The meeting will be held in the bar after Evensong and Benediction. All paid-up members are warmly invited to attend and the bar will open after the meeting.

WORSHIP NEXT WEEK:

SUNDAY 1 MAY – SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
HIGH MASS, 11am
Preacher: Fr Michael Bowie
Darke in E
Love bade me welcome – Vaughan Williams

CHORAL EVENSONG & BENEDICTION, 6pm
Preacher: The Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses
Canticles in B minor – Noble
Christus resurgens – de Monte

PARISH NOTICES

SUCCESS OF THE ALL SAINTS LENT APPEAL 2016
Working together, we have raised a splendid £7,255, which will be shared equally between three charities (this is up 86% on 2015, which was itself significantly up on the 2014 collection):

Bishop of London’s Lent Appeal for beleaguered Christian communities in Iraq and Syria:
OPEN DOORS, providing emergency food supplies & hygiene kits in Syria and
AID TO THE CHURCH IN NEED, for urgently needed housing, medicine & education in Iraq. Us (formerly USPG) – supporting the church in Zimbabwe working with those affected by HIV and AIDS; providing local clergy & lay leaders with skills & training for this vital work.
The Marylebone Project – providing an emergency bed in the Homeless Women’s Centre, NW1.

Thank you everyone for so generously contributing to make this year’s Appeal an especially big success.

Another Mission initiative that has happened recently, with the agreement of the PCC, All Saints has donated £1,000 to keep open the SOUP KITCHEN at the American International Church on Tottenham Court Road. This invaluable facility, which had launched an appeal as it found its limited resources very pressed with the increased numbers of homeless people in London, is within reasonable walking distance of All Saints, so that homeless visitors to the church can now be encouraged to get hot food there. 

ASCENSION DAY, Thursday 5 May –
PROCESSION & HIGH MASS at 6.30pm 
Preacher: The Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses 
Mass Setting: Spätzenmessen K220 – Mozart 
Anthem: Ascendo ad Patrem – Palestrina 

PARISH RETREAT, Friday 6 – Sunday 8 May 2016
There are still vacancies for the parish retreat, to be conducted by Fr Barry Orford at Bishop Woodford House in Ely. Further info from: Martin Woolley on 07976275383 or Email: m.g.woolley@btinternet.com.

HIGH MASS with BAPTISM (Alexander John Green)
Sunday 8 May 11am, with guest preacher Revd Canon Carl Turner, Rector of St Thomas’ Church, Fifth Avenue, New York. And an opportunity to hear Norman Caplin’s setting Missa Omnium Sanctorum, written especially for the All Saints’ Choir.

ORGAN RECITAL, Sunday 22 May, 7.15pm following Evensong & Benediction – David Graham, Director of Music, Farm Street.
Programme: Bach’s Prelude and Fugue in C minor (BWV 546), Vierne’s Clair de Lune (Pièces de Fantaisie Op 53) and Liszt’s Weinen, Klagen, Sorgen, Zagen (Variations on a theme of Bach). Free entry with retiring collection (donation of £5 suggested) to support the choir and music at All Saints. The All Saints Licensed Club/Bar will be open afterwards.

CORPUS CHRISTI, Thursday 26 May, 6.30pm,
High Mass with Street Procession of the Blessed Sacrament.
Guest Preacher: Revd. Kevin Scully, Rector, St Matthew’s Bethnal Green.
Missa Brevis in G – Mozart, Jesu dulcis memoria – Victoria
If anyone would like to assist with stewarding the procession or carrying the canopy, please get in touch with Cedric Stephens, Head Server or Dee Prior, Parish Administrator Tel: 020 7 636 1788.

WALSINGHAM NATIONAL PILGRIMAGE
All Saints will again be running a coach to the Walsingham National Pilgrimage on Monday 30 May. The coach will leave All Saints at 7.30am prompt. Mass at 12 noon in the Abbey Grounds; Preacher: Revd Andrew Mitcham, Vicar of Walsingham and Guardian of the Shrine. Cost will be approximately £20 for adults. Please get in touch with Ross Buchanan (Tel: 020 7221 1312) if you would like to book a seat or know more.

You are invited to a POETRY TEA PARTY on Saturday 4 June at 3pm, at Pamela’s.  All welcome.  Please bring Poetry and Prose relating to the subject of ‘Europe’.  To accept, or to ask for 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 towards the All Saints Restoration Appeal.

SERVICES & EVENTS FOR APRIL & MAY 2016 BEYOND ALL SAINTS

Saturday 23 April at 6pm, St Barnabas’, Pimlico
Eastertide Sequence, sung by the St Mary’s Singers. Music will be by Pitoni, Viadana, King John IV of Portugal, Byrd, Arcadelt, Wood, Stanford and Handel.

HUGH PRICE HUGHES LECTURES 2016
All lectures will be held at Hinde St Methodist Church at 7.30pm.  Admission is free & all are welcome! www.hindestreet.org.uk/hph

This series will invite you to reflect on how other ways of knowing and seeing – “faith” commitments for some – relate to their Christian faith. These alternative and complementary ways of knowing and seeing, sometimes portrayed negatively by people of faith, have the potential to deepen our understanding of our faith commitments and enable us to engage more constructively with the wider world.

Identity, Modernity and Faith 
10 May – Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, Journalist

Living as Christians in Multi-faith Britain and
the Importance of Religious Literacy
14 June – Michael Wakelin, Religion & Media Consultant

Churches Together in Westminster “Meet the Neighbours”
There are two “Meet the Neighbours” events happening in May. Westminster is blessed with a large number of churches of all shapes and sizes, but each church is unique. One of the aims of “Meet the Neighbours” visits is to give everyone the opportunity to both respect and be open to experiencing and learning a little more about the worship traditions and ministries of the host churches.

7pm, Thursday, 19 May 2016 at NOTRE DAME DE FRANCE, (The French Church)
5 Leicester Place, WC2H 7BX
This visit, which is to a Roman Catholic church, includes an act of worship, talk and refreshments. (For those wishing to attend beforehand at Notre Dame there is Evening Prayer at 5.45 pm, (R.C) Mass at 6pm, followed by silent Eucharistic Adoration 6.30-7pm. The “Meet the Neighbours” will start afterwards at 7pm.) All are most welcome to attend.

For further information see: http://ctiw.london/meet-the-neighbours-notre-dame-de-france-the-french-church-5-leicester-place-wc2h-7bx/

11 am on Wednesday, 1 June (PLEASE NOTE DATE CHANGE from 4 May) 2016. Our hosts will be THE ROYAL MILITARY CHAPEL, The Guards’ Chapel, Wellington Barracks, Birdcage Walk, SW1E 6HQ.  All welcome.
The visit includes: Weekday Holy Communion (Anglican) Celebrant: The Senior Chaplain (please advise if you need a gluten free wafer) followed by a talk about the Guards Chapel Silver and coffee. Please see: http://www.westendatwar.org.uk/page/guards_chapel_wellington_barracks?path=0p28p

This website, “West End at War”, also contains fascinating reports and photos of a number of familiar Westminster locations that suffered bomb damage in WW2. Members of the public are invited to submit their memories to the project, so perhaps someone from All Saints may have  something to contribute?

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. 

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. Please continue to donate these so we can help more people in need.   

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 just recently in 2016 donating £1,000 towards the Soup Kitchen at the American International Church in Tottenham Court Road) 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@gmail.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