All Saints Parish Newsletter 30th January 2015
Dear Friend,
Authority is a difficult topic in our age, perhaps because we tend to confuse it with power.
In Christian perspective, Jesus is like Moses (hence our first reading on Sunday, from Deuteronomy, a conversation between Moses and the people of God). But his authority comes from a relationship with God granted to no other. Yet he does not provide conclusive answers to all questions. He tells parables and commands us to ‘go and do likewise’. We have to listen and engage with the teaching, not just receive it passively. And, as Moses did, we discover authority as we work out the implications of obedience for our own situation.
Much of the importance of the Christmas and epiphany celebrations (the three epiphanies – to the Magi, at the Baptism and at Cana, and supremely, John 1, ‘the Word was made flesh’) lies in understanding the source of Jesus’ authority. The implications of the Word of God being a person and not a book are still a struggle for many Christians (and between many Christians) and the default position, for safety’s sake, is always to an authority that is more like power: openly in the case of the papacy; more covertly in all other Christian churches, where quite often the manipulation of scripture is the means to power. Perhaps we always fear a lack of clear authority, but we are told repeatedly by Jesus not be afraid.
In Sunday’s Gospel we seem to have a clear picture of authoritative teaching – from the person who is the Word of God – immediately confirmed by authoritative action: an unclean spirit acknowledges who Jesus is and is cast out.
Christians who seek to demonstrate their faith by signs and wonders take texts like these as proof-texts. But look at what happens. We might anticipate that Jesus’ exorcism would prompt bystanders to rejoicing and celebration. Jesus brings gifts that we imagine ourselves receiving with outstretched arms, but nothing in this story indicates that he was so received. Instead, the story concludes:
At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.
And the word fame just means ‘report’ or even ‘rumour’. It signifies that the story gained currency, but not how it was received.
Some Christians believe that miraculous events, if witnessed first-hand, would produce unerring and unwavering faith. The Gospel writers know otherwise. They know that miracles demonstrate power, but power can come from a variety of sources, both good and evil. The Gospel writers know that understanding who Jesus is, and what his mission entails, involves far more than simply witnessing a miracle: learning who Jesus is and what he is about is the space and process in which we find his authority. As with every aspect of Jesus’ ministry, the miracles and the teaching raise as many questions as they provide answers. It is more difficult than reading the instructions from a manual because it is about relationship – the relation of mature children to a loving parent, which is where Jesus wants us to be.
Yours in Christ,
Fr Michael Bowie
Assistant Priest
All Saints Margaret Street
Please pray for those who have asked for our prayers: Asia Bibi. Fr. Bruce Barnett- Cowan, Jean Bray, Heather Brown, Lily Caplin, James Cary-Elwes, Kate Down, Cynthia Drury, Fr. Norman Greenfield, Tim Harding, Yvonne & Philip Harland, Elspeth Harley, Lewis Harvey, Myrtle Hughes, Sheila Kenyon, Peggy Leeman, Molly Leng, Joshua Levy, Christine Loffty, Hilary Morgan, Norman Newby, Malcolm Richards, Peter Royle, Jock Scott, Fr. Nicholas Stacey, Buzz Stokes, Robert Streit, Celia Swan, Ros Tagoe, Joy Wright and Mark Young.
For the recently departed: Maisie Orr, George Askey, Frank Hawkins (Priest), Mavis Mercer, Myra Shields, Linda Orme, Joshua Dorgu, Frank Whitehill (Friend of All Saints, whose Funeral will take place at the Church on Thursday 19 February at 2.30pm), Peter Blake-Davies, Jane Wildash and Marjorie Bowden.
Remember past priests, benefactors, friends, and all whose year’s mind occurs this week:
Sarah Hutchinson, John Rose, John Pollard, Florence White, Pamela Powis, Alfred Huhagiar, Sydney Barradell, Cecilia Gamble, Agnes Theobald, Vera Aspinall, Marjorie Hague (member of the All Saints’ PCC), Dorothy Collins, Philip Morrell, George Venn, Sarah Hudson, Iris Harrison, Norman Holden, Rond Pethers, Donald Scott, Beatrice Reed, Jane Twinch, Dorothy Dent and Grahame James.
WORSHIP THIS WEEK
SUNDAY 1 FEBRUARY – FOURTH SUNDAY OF EPIPHANY
HIGH MASS, 11am
Preacher: Father Julian Browning
Communion Service ‘Collegium Regale’—Howells
Videntes stellam – Poulenc
There is a Ten to One Talk – the bell will be rung beforehand. The theme is The Creed.
There is a meeting of the All Saints’ Servers after Mass in the Parish Office.
There is Sunday lunch service this week – Christine Auton will be cooking. Tickets £5 from the Shop in the Parish Room (subject to availability).
FESTAL EVENSONG & BENEDICTION, 6pm
First Evensong of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple (Candlemas)
Including the dedication of All Saints’ new lighting scheme
Preacher: The Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses
Service in G – Stanford
Hail, gladdening Light – Wood
In thanksgiving for the completion of the fourth phase of our Restoration Project – Renewal of Lighting and Electrics – we will be celebrating the completion of the project and expressing our gratitude to all those who contributed to its success. We hope as many people as possible will join us and take the opportunity to meet the Project Team (including the electricians) who worked on the Project. If you intend to come to this service, please let us know as Refreshments will be served after the service. RSVP – The Parish Administrator on 0207 636 1788 or Email: astsmgtst@aol.com.
WEEKDAY SERVICES – following the practical completion of the Electrical & Lighting Renewal Project, Church reopens for weekday worship on Monday 2 February. Daily Masses and Confessions will now take place in Church as usual.
MONDAY 2 FEBRUARY – THE PRESENTATION OF CHRIST IN THE TEMPLE (CANDLEMAS) – Candle Procession & High Mass at 6.30pm
Preacher: Fr Will Lamb, Vice-Principal, Westcott House
Missa super ‘Sancta Maria’ – Händl
When to the temple Mary went – Eccard
WORSHIP NEXT SUNDAY
Sunday 8 February – FOURTH SUNDAY OF EPIPHANY
HIGH MASS, 11am
Preacher: Bishop Geoffrey Rowell will speak on the plight of Iraqi Christians
Missa Brevis – Leighton
Your gentleness, O God of grace – Paul Mealor
Ten to One Talk Theme: The Prayers of the People – the bell will ring beforehand.
CHORAL EVENSONG & BENEDICTION, 6pm
Preacher: The Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses
Service in E flat (No 2) – Wood
O thou, the central orb – Wood
NEWS & NOTICES
‘EVERYONE COUNTS EXTRA’ (Diversity Audit for Congregations). We are asked by the Diocese of London to take part in this top-up to their Everyone Counts 2014 Survey. Everyone Counts Extra is an additional phase running throughout January for individuals to complete a short demographic survey to be used in the main Everyone Counts diversity audit survey for congregations. This allows anyone who wasn’t able to take part in October/November to join in and is intended to potentially boost overall figures for dioceses. This data will be used to complement the information already collected on behalf of the Archbishop’s Council.
Anyone from a congregation can simply go to: https://www.churchofengland.org/about-us/facts-stats/research-statistics/everyone-counts-2014.aspx and complete the short survey from there. Just eight questions – the work of a couple of minutes we promise!
ST CYPRIAN’S SINGERS SOIREE – St Cyprian’s is holding a soiree (including dinner) at Fr Gerald’s house on Saturday 7th February in aid of the Singers’ tour to New York in August.
An intimate gathering, there are some 10 tickets left for £50 each. If you are interested in having a delightful evening and fundraising for the Singers’ tour, please contact Julian Collings, E: jmcollings@gmail.com or T: 07748 655678.
ALL SAINTS’ LENT APPEAL
Our Lent Appeal 2015 will be shared equally three ways:
- Bishop of London’s Appeal, which is concentrating on supporting Youth, Children and Family projects across the Diocese,
- Us (formerly USPG) and their support of the church in Zimbabwe in working with those affected by HIV and AIDS and providing local clergy and lay leaders with skills and training to undertake the work, and
- The Marylebone Project, where our money goes towards providing one of the emergency beds in the Homeless Women’s Centre.
For more information about the Bishop of London’s Appeal see:
ALL SAINTS’ PARISH RETREAT 2015 – PLEASE NOTE – Just 8 places left!!
The Retreat will be at Ely again, from 13-15 March. The conductor will be Fr John Cullen. If you would like to attend, or to know more about it, please contact Martin Woolley on 07976 275383 or at m.g.woolley@btinternet.com. A careful note will be kept of the order in which firm reservations are received to assist with fair room allocation.
ALL SAINTS’ DATES FOR YOUR DIARY IN FEBRUARY
Friday 6 February, 6.30pm – CELL OF OUR LADY OF WALSINGHAM – LOW MASS WITH HYMNS. To be followed by an address by Father Kevin Morris, Vicar of St Michael’s Bedford Park: Beata Maria in Templo – reflections on the iconography of Mary in the Temple. All are welcome. The evening will conclude with Light refreshments.
Sunday 8 February – There will be a meeting of the Health & Safety Committee after Mass in the Parish Office.
Friday 13 February – a Requiem Mass will be held at 6.30pm. Please enter the names of those whom you wish to be remembered in the blue folder at the back of Church.
Tuesday 17 February at 12.30pm – THE GEOLOGY OF ALL SAINTS MARGARET STREET – There will be a short talk by Professor Gordon Walkden on and a tour of the Church to look at the marbles and stonework. Coffee will be provided, bring your own lunch.
Professor Walkden, Emeritus Professor of the University of Aberdeen – Geosciences and Geology, is currently researching the history of Devonshire marbles prior to a book he is bringing out which will be a cross disciplinary study of the geology, architecture, history, genealogy and uses of Devonshire marble, the most important of our home-grown British marbles, yet now almost unheard-of. He suggests that the interior of All Saints, Margaret St., has possibly Red Ogwell in the chancel screen and baptistery area and there are other English stones in the pavement and chancel colonnades. The nave shafts seem to be Pink Peterhead. He comments: William Butterfield was passionate about colour, in his own reserved sort of way, and rejoiced in the use of coloured natural materials in his buildings, especially British ornamental stones. Professor Walkden has researched several other Butterfield churches and their use of stone and brick and is interested to learn more about All Saints and share his thinking with others who are interested and knowledgeable about its history and architecture. If you would like to come along, please call Dee Prior, Parish Administrator, All Saints Margaret Street on 020 7636 1788 to give an idea of numbers.
Wednesday 18 February, 6.30pm – ASH WEDNESDAY High Mass and Imposition of Ashes. Preacher: The Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses. Missa ‘Emendemus in melius’ – Palestrina. Libera nos, salva nos 1 & 11 – Sheppard
Thursday 19 February, 2.30pm – the Funeral of Frank Whitehill.
Thursday 19 February, 7pm – There is a meeting of the Standing Committee of the All Saints PCC in the Vicarage after Evening Mass at 6.30pm.
LENT STUDY GROUP (from Friday 20 February)
The Study Group will meet on Fridays at 11am in the Vicarage starting on Friday 20 February.
This year, at the Sunday Eucharist, the Church is reading St. Mark’s Gospel. So the publication of Rowan Williams’ book “Meeting God in Mark” is providential. The book is based on Holy Week talks given Archbishop Rowan in Canterbury Cathedral in 2010. It comes equipped with a daily reading scheme for Lent and questions for discussion. It is published by SPCK and costs £8.99.
If you wish to join the group – please let Dee Prior, Parish Administrator, know: T: 0207 636 1788 or E: astsmgtst@aol.com.
THE WAY OF THE CROSS – Fridays: at 7.05pm (after the evening mass) starting Friday 20 February, a weekly devotional service in Lent meditating on the events of Jesus’ Passion.
EVENTS BEYOND ALL SAINTS
Saturday 7 February – St Cyprian’s, Clarence Gate: Evensong & Benediction– PLEASE NOTE – THERE WILL NOT BE A SERVICE THIS MONTH.
ALL SAINTS RESTORATION PROJECT UPDATE
EXCELLENT PROGRESS with work and fundraising but FURTHER DONATIONS NEEDED to reduce the reliance on loans
New wiring and lighting, essential CCTV security and fire detection systems cost £372,000.
We have almost completed these works in Church (except for minor adjustments to the lighting focusing) with some work still required ‘below stairs’. We now want to reduce our reliance on loans so any further gifts will help us to do that. We will be celebrating the newly lit All Saints at Candlemas and finishing off the back-of-house works in February.
HOW YOU CAN HELP………. please be as generous as you can, making cheques payable to: All Saints Church Restoration Appeal and sending them to:
The Parish Administrator, 7 Margaret Street, London W1W 8JG.
Please indicate where Gift Aid may be applied as it increases the value of your contribution by 25% at no cost to yourself. Thank you!
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.
Seasonal Appeals – The grand total collected in 2014 was £3,463 (up significantly on 2013’s support of £2,790) to this Mission Project through the All Saints Festival and Lent Appeals. The Project (in acknowledging our support) said:
‘Such a wonderful amount to have raised, thank you so very much for your valued support’.
A further £3,000 raised in 2014 for Us (formerly USPG) was acknowledged to be a ‘very generous gift’ which will be used to feed communities and generate income to support AIDS orphans in child-headed families in Zimbabwe.
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. Please contribute to this effort, bringing donations to the Parish Office or leaving them in Church in the basket in the Baptistery.
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 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 project.
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.
* If you know of others who would like to receive this correspondence 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.
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@hotmail.com.
DAILY SERVICES AT ALL SAINTS (restored to Church from Monday 2 February)
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 – SATURDAY
Morning Prayer 7.30am
Low Mass – 8am, 1.10pm and 6.30pm
Evening Prayer 6pm
(Except Bank Holiday – 1.10pm Mass only)
Confessions
A priest is available for confessions/counsel Monday – Friday from 12.30-1pm and at 5.30pm Monday – Saturday, or by appointment. During the refurbishment works, confessions will be heard Monday – Friday in the Oratory at 7 Margaret Street. Please ring the bell
at the Vicarage or Parish Office doors for admittance.
www.allsaintsmargaretstreet.org.uk and e-mail: astsmgtst@aol.com.