All Saints Margaret Street.

Dear Friends,

A couple of weeks ago, Cliff Richard, the Peter Pan of British pop music, leapt up on our television screen saying, “It’s Christmas.”

“No it is not” I responded, “It’s not even Advent.”

Had I joined the ranks of “grumpy old men?’  Or was I just being one of those anglo-Catholics who believe in salvation by liturgical correctness? 

What Cliff, the “born again” Christian, meant of course was not the Church’s festival of our Saviour’s birth but the consumerist one which has been in full swing on Oxford Street for weeks now. He is hoping to sell copies of his latest album. That season has its own calendar of shopping days to Christmas: the last chance to shop for presents is nearer to us than when we first thought about it – to paraphrase St. Paul in this Sunday’s epistle.

The Church has to struggle to keep Advent as more than an anticipation of Christmas these days, but it is important that we do so.  Advent reminds us that we are a people who look not just back into history but forward in hope to God’s future. 

Economists and politicians will be watching during “Christmastime” for the signs of hope, of increased consumer spending, which they hope will signal a recovering economy. But what if this is based on yet more of the debt which was one of the causes of the mess we have got ourselves into?  If the last few years have taught us anything, surely it should be that the biblical injunction to “watch,” to be on the alert, is as vital to the well-being of society as a whole, as it is to the spiritual health of the Church and the believers. Complacency leads only to trouble. It is always time for us to wake out of sleep.

We are a people called to watch and pray, to be alert for the signs of God’s coming among us: in his judgement on the injustices of our world; in the countless comings of Christ in the humility and obscurity in the daily events of our lives; in his word and sacraments, the means of that grace for which we pray in the Advent Collect; in the final coming to judge the world.

Advent will go by soon enough, but if we are to celebrate Christmas as the birth of the Saviour of the world, rather than just an outburst of nostalgia and sentiment to cheer us in the dark days of winter, then we need to take the first season and its message of judgement and hope seriously.

We need to use this time to watch and pray.  The Prayer Book rule of saying that collect every day in Advent is as good a starting point as any.

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness and put on us the armour of light, now in the time of this mortal life, in which your Son Jesus Christ came to us in great humility; that on the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who is alive and reigns with  you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Alan Moses

PRAYER DIARY:
Please pray for those who have asked for our prayers: Harry Allan, Peter Burbidge, Margaret Campbell, Loretta Cappelluti, Rachel Clayton, Rosie Davis, Arthur Fearns, Charles Forker, Pamela Freer, Denise Inge, Mason Jacobsen, Rachel Jackson-Stevens, Jill, Katherine Lee, Christine Loffty, Joshua Levy, Marimar Perez Fabo, Celia Shore, Stephen Short, Kate Thomas, Andrew Tillyard, Jo Vincent, Paolla Vincentin, Heather Walker, Wendy Wall, Fr Stephen Williams.

For the recently departed: John Tavener and Raymond Chapman (Priest).

At the anniversary of their death (during the coming week): Douglas Lawson, Kenneth Armstrong, Mary Skelton, Mary Burton (2011), William Gelson, Morgan Griffiths (Priest), John Slater, Frances Lloyd, Zena Monk.

WORSHIP AT ALL SAINTS THIS SUNDAY:

THE FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT 1 DECEMBER 2013:

Procession and HIGH MASS 11am
Preacher: The Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses
Litany in Procession: Tallis, Mass Setting: Missa Euge bone – Tye; Kryie ‘Le Roy’ – Taverner. Anthem:  People, look East – traditional besançon carol

Advent Service of Readings and Music 6pm

TEACHING THE FAITH AT ALL SAINTS – Ten-to-One Sunday Talk Series by the Vicar: WHY DO YOU DO THAT? –Advent. The bell is rung at the start.

EVENTS THIS COMING WEEK AT ALL SAINTS
Thursday 5 December, 7pm – ANGLICAN CATHOLIC FUTURE event – The coming of God – AN INTRODUCTION TO ADVENT, a Talk by Fr Anders Bergquist, Vicar of St John’s Wood. The talk is followed by light refreshments. All welcome.

NEXT SUNDAY – 8 DECEMBER 2013 – SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Music and Preachers:
HIGH MASS 11am
Preacher: The Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses
Mass Setting: Missa Brevis – Palestrina 
Hosanna to the Son of David – Gibbons

CHORAL EVENSONG 6pm
Preacher: Fr Julian Browning
The Short Service – Gibbons
Vigilate – Byrd

NOTICES & NEWS
LAST WEEK’S Collection in aid of the Christian Aid Disasters Emergency Committee Philippines Typhoon Haiyan Appeal. Thank you to everyone who gave so generously to the retiring collection at the end of High Mass last Sunday. The amount collected was £1,094.

CALLING ALL WOULD-BE CAROL SINGERS!
Thursday 19 December 2013, 6.30pm for 6.45 – 7.30pm
All Saints is carol singing in Oxford Street once again and we need cheerful singers to make a joyful & pleasant sound. Please join us (meet in the Parish Office at 6.30pm) to sing and collect for two homeless charity projects in London – West London Day Centre and the Church Army Hostel for Homeless Women in Marylebone. Wrap warmly! Mulled wine to thank you afterwards in the Vicarage.  For further information, please speak to Janet Drake and let her or the Parish Office know if you can come and be part of the merry band.

CHURCH ARMY HOSTEL CHRISTMAS APPEAL
The Hostel for Homeless Women has asked for donations by Friday 13 December of small practical items that can be given as presents. They particularly need: Socks, blankets, bubble bath, soaps, scarves, perfume and chocolates. These items do not need to be wrapped. Please drop off your donations in the Parish Office (Mon – Fri 9 – 5), give to Janet Drake or Chris Self on Sundays or leave them in the basket in the Baptistery. Thank you!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO HELP!
Friday 20 December 2013, 12.30pm LUNCHTIME CAROL SERVICE
For about ten days before 20 December to distribute publicity leaflets about this service around the Parish, and then on the day itself to assist with refreshments (serving Mulled Wine and Mince Pies). Please contact Janet Drake (Tel: 020 7278 9930) if you are able to volunteer some time.
Donations for the mince pies and wine gratefully received!

ALL SAINTS RESTORATION APPEAL – Church Lighting & Electrical Renewal Update on Fundraising – we have already raised £139,596 (with anticipated Gift Aid), towards our total of £250,000.

The balance we still need to fund-raise for is £110,404

Thank you to everyone who has contributed so generously; we are most grateful.

If you have still to contribute, please make cheques payable to: All Saints Margaret Street PCC Restoration Account and send to Restoration Appeal, All Saints Church Parish Office, 7 Margaret Street, London W1W 8JG. 

If you are a UK tax payer and have signed/will sign a Gift Aid declaration with us, your donation to the Appeal is increased by 25%.  Please indicate that you wish your donation to be Gift Aided and ensure we have your full name (with initial/s), address and postcode. If you are unsure if you have signed a Gift Aid declaration form, please pick one up from the table in church, complete the details and return with your donation to: Mrs Dee Prior, Parish Administrator.

Future Events at All Saints, the Annunciation and St Cyprian’s

OPEN NOW until Sat 21 December – CARD AID SHOP in the Parish Room, opening: Mon – Sat 11 – 3 (closed Sun). Card Aid shops offer an unrivalled range of cards, with the assurance that ALL profits from cards sold are going to charity. Award winning Peace Oil available here at All Saints.

Saturday 7 December 3pm – CHRISTMAS POETRY TEA at Pamela’s.  All welcome. Please bring ‘Seasonal’ poems or prose – stretch your imagination!  To accept, please speak to Pamela/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 for Lighting and Electrical Renewal. 

Sunday 8 December, TEACHING THE FAITH AT ALL SAINTS – Ten-to-One Talk Series by the Vicar: WHY DO YOU DO THAT? –Advent Wreath. The bell will ring to announce the start of the talk.

Tuesday 10 December, 6.45pm – MEETING OF THE ALL SAINTS CHOIR AND MUSIC TRUST and 7.30pm – THE FOUNDATION, in the Vicarage.

Sunday 15 December, TEACHING THE FAITH AT ALL SAINTS – Ten-to-One Talk Series by the Vicar: WHY DO YOU DO THAT? – Music & Readings. The bell will ring to announce the start of the talk.

Thursday 19 December 2013, 6.30pm CAROL SINGING IN OXFORD STREET – please join us (meet in the Parish Office) to come out and sing and collect for the Church Army Hostel Emergency Bed supported by All Saints Margaret Street. For further information, speak to Janet Drake.

Sunday 22 December, TEACHING THE FAITH AT ALL SAINTS – Ten-to-One Talk Series by the Vicar: WHY DO YOU DO THAT? –Christmas: Carols and the Crib. The bell will ring to announce the start of the talk.

ADVENT & CHRISTMAS SERVICES All welcome – please bring some friends!

Monday 16 December 2013, 6pm – FESTIVAL OF NINE LESSONS and CAROLS featuring the full Choir of All Saints. Followed by mince pies and mulled wine.

Friday 20 December 2013, 12.30pm – LUNCHTIME CAROL SERVICE
Mince pies and mulled wine served afterwards – join us and take a restorative break from work!

Tuesday 24 December, 11pm – MIDNIGHT MASS AND BLESSING OF THE CRIB

Wednesday 25 December, 11am – CHRISTMAS DAY HIGH MASS

Sunday 29 December, 11am – FIRST SUNDAY OF CHRISTMAS

If you would like to encourage others to receive this weekly email, please forward this email on to them, or people you would like to invite to services. If you know of others who would like to receive this correspondence, or for whom you would like prayers offered at All Saints, please ask them to email the Parish Administrator Mrs Dee Prior at: astsmgtst@aol.com.

If you would like any pastoral assistance, please do not hesitate to contact the Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses: alanmoses111@gmail.com.