All Saints Margaret Street.

Dear Friend,

On Sunday we celebrate All Saints Day. The Church’s belief in the Communion of Saints is not just about especially holy people but about the whole people of God and about our sharing in holiness, in holy things.

Holiness can have a rather antiseptic and joyless sound to it. To borrow an advertising slogan: “it kills 99% of all known germs.” It can mean an obsession with maintaining a separation from that which is, or seems to be, “unholy” or impure. It can be judgmental of those thought not to meet its standards.

Part of holiness is the struggle with God’s grace against the power of evil. It involves the examination of our own lives: How have we used God’s gifts? Holiness is much more than a safeguard against sin. It is something positive which we are to actively pursue and to grow in. It means a life which seeks to use those gifts to the full.

Last week when I was in Assisi, a group of us stood in the piazza outside the Church of St. Clare as the late afternoon sun blazed out from behind a cloud to light up the Umbrian landscape and recited together St. Francis’s Canticle of the Sun, from which Pope Francis has taken the title of his letter On care for our common home:  Laudato Si.

Francis of Assisi has been called Christianity’s most admired and least imitated saint. His embrace of ‘Lady Poverty’ is something even Franciscans struggle with. For most of us it would be impossible. But that does not mean that his life does not call us to a simplicity and generosity of life in which we might discover a joy not to be found in the blandishments of a consumer society.

There is in Francis, an embrace of humanity: both the humanity of Jesus in his devotion to the incarnation (expressed in the Christmas Crib he invented), and in the crucifixion whose marks he came to bear (expressed in the Way of the Cross which the Franciscans spread); in his deep devotion to the Christ present equally in the Blessed Sacrament and in the poor and outcast.

We glimpse something of the humanity of Christ in this Sunday’s Gospel. Mary weeps at the grave of Lazarus, her brother and Jesus’ friend. Seeing her distress, Jesus weeps too.    This is the Jesus who John usually shows us as in command of events. Here we see him ‘greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved.’

His tears spring from sympathy with Mary and Martha. Weeping with those who weep is part of a whole, a holy Christian life. In an age when much Christianity feels the need to be relentlessly positive, lamentation is all too easily forgotten. We express it in our commemoration of our beloved dead at All Souls.

There is, however, something more than empathy here.  Jesus is disturbed, even angry, at the death of Lazarus and its effect on those close to him.  That death represents all death and loss.

In the face of war in the Middle East and the plight of refugees, of poverty and deprivation in our own society, of scandals past and present in the Church, or individual cases of human degradation and misery we know of, or the mediocrity of our own discipleship, it is easy to despair, to think it’s all hopeless. The stone at the mouth of the grave cannot be moved because the stench of death and decay is too strong for us.

Yet Jesus does not just stand weeping with Mary at the grave.  He orders that the grave be opened. To Lazarus, he says, ‘Come out!’  To those standing by, ‘unbind him and let him go.’

The holiness of Jesus and of the Church and of Christians is a passionate conviction that death does not have the last word; that things can change and that we are called to play a part in bringing it about.

In the Apostles’ Creed we profess our faith in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting.  The holiness exemplified in those we call saints, is the work of the Spirit of the risen Lord in the lives of those called to be part of the communion of saints and to experience the resurrection not just in the future but now: and that is all of us.

It is because of this faith that Francis and his brothers, as thy travelled around calling people to a new life, “were always cheerful and full of songs.”

Have a cheerful and song-filled All Saintstide.

Yours in Christ,

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

Please pray for those who have asked for our prayers: Asia Bibi, Margaret Bowie, John Bradshaw, Fr Allan Buick, Peter Burbidge, James Cary-Elwes, Ian Coull, Dennis Davis, Mark Dougly, Kate Down, David Fettke, Jonty Gordon, Gaby Grace, Lewis Harvey, Gwyneth Hopkins, Pat Hunt, Alice Jullien, Andrew Laird, Tom Leader, Christine Loffty, Sister Martha (SMNC Tanzania), Hilary Morgan, Joseph Musah, Miriam Nelson, Gordon Orme, Fr David Paton, David Pearce, Eileen Prior, Canon John Rees, Nick Russell, Jock Scott, Baby Arthur Sellers, Stella Skinner, Rose Stephens, Judy Stewart, Buzz Stokes, Christine van Dyck, Jo Vincent, Sylvia Welby-Cooke and Joy Wright 

For the recently departed: Emma Walden, Christopher Tambling, Sue Lloyd Roberts, John Streeting (Priest) – Funeral Friday 30 October St Mary’s Axminster, Marjorie Pass, Wayne Beresford, Jacqueline Lady Killearn (whose Funeral Requiem Mass took place at All Saints at 11am on Tuesday 27 October), Simon MacGregor, Brian Johnson, Rosetta Heard and Prebendary John Gaskell.

Remember past priests, benefactors, friends, and all whose year’s mind occurs this week including: Br Bernard Dawson, Jane Pollard, Cecil Mead (Server), Carol Searles (Secretary Assistant), Janet Reid, Harold Wilson (Priest), Gilbert Pickering, Jack Fallon, Rosemary Crawley, Helen St Aubyn, Curtis Berk (Friend, benefactor and former member of the All Saints’ PCC), Daphne Gordon, Terence Duggan, Glyn Thomas, Rosemary Crome (former Chorister), Philip Gould (Baron Gould of Brookwood), Ray Bell and Constance Peters.

ALL SAINTS FESTIVAL 2015

Saturday 31 October, 5pm 
EVE OF ALL SAINTS – LITANY OF THE SAINTS, 
FESTAL EVENSONG & BENEDICTION 5pm
Preacher: The Revd Kevin Morris, Vicar of St Michael’s Bedford Park
Canticles: Stanford in A 
O quam gloriosum – Moore 

WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY 1 NOVEMBER –
ALL SAINTS DAY, FESTIVAL SUNDAY
PROCESSION & HIGH MASS, 11am 
Preacher: Canon Christopher Chivers,
Principal Westcott House
Mass Setting: Grosse Orgelmesse – Haydn 
 Lo! round the throne – Ley

Festival Sunday Lunch (two courses of Roast Mutton and Fruit Crumble plus coffee) is served –Martin Woolley is the chef. Tickets: £5 available (subject to availability) from the Parish shop in the Parish Room before and after Mass

SOLEMN EVENSONG, TE DEUM & SOLEMN BENEDICTION, 6pm 
Preacher: The Venerable Jonathan Smith,
Archdeacon of St Alban’s 
Canticles: St Pancras Service – Philip Moore 
All wisdom cometh from the Lord – Moore

MONDAY 2 NOVEMBER – ALL SOULS’ DAY
HIGH MASS OF REQUIEM 6.30pm 
Preacher: The Right Revd Stephen Cottrell,
Bishop of Chelmsford
Mass Setting:  Requiem – Fauré
Offertoire – Fauré

ALL SAINTS FESTIVAL APPEAL 2015 is to be
split between two important causes: 
All Saints’ mission the Marylebone Project (run by the Church Army) – empowering homeless women into independent living. Our money contributes to the emergency bed unit, providing emergency accommodation for women escaping domestic violence, financial crisis, sexual exploitation and mental health issues. 

The Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East 
This small UK based charity works in northern Iraq, Jordan, Israel and Palestine, providing food, medical relief and accommodation to refugees in the camps and to the internally displaced in Iraq who have been made homeless by Isis. We have chosen this charity because they: ‘try very strongly to ensure that the donations we receive go directly towards our work in the Middle East and to minimise the cost of administration by working with trusted partners who have local knowledge and will ensure donations are used well’.

Further information about the work of both charities is displayed in the baptistery at the back of the church. Please give generously – gift-aiding your donations wherever you can (so that your generosity is increased 25%).

If you can’t visit All Saints at Festival time, please send cheques payable to: Parochial Church All Saints in an envelope marked FESTIVAL APPEAL to: 
Dee Prior, Parish Administrator, All Saints Church,
7 Margaret Street, London W1W 8JG.

PARISH NOTICES

ALL SOULS’ DAY – Monday 2 November 6.30pm
HIGH MASS OF REQUIEM
Please print the name of anyone you would like to have remembered at this Mass in the black folder in the Baptistery.

PENNY BOX COLLECTION – thank you to everyone who collected their small change in support of the All Saints Foundation. You donated a total of: £156.30. Thank you! 

REGULAR YOGA CLASSES run at All Saints in the Parish Room between 6 and 7pm (please note revised time) on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Drop in price £12 per class (£9 per class for committing to the term). If anyone is interested in having further details of these sessions, being run by a local qualified teacher, contact Dee Prior in the Parish Office on 020 7636 1788 or e: astsmgtst@aol.com. 

TICKETS ON SALE NOW for KEATS ANCIENT AND MODERN – an afternoon of entertainment at All Saints – Sunday 15 November at 3pm. Come and see a film featuring one of our own congregation in the role of Fanny Brawne with the poet John Keats and hear the life story of a modern day Dr John Keet. £10 a ticket including a glass of wine – in aid of the All Saints Church Restoration Appeal. Tickets will be available from Sandra Wheen, Christine Levy and Pamela Botsford any Sunday after Mass.

WALSINGHAM PARISH PILGRIMAGE 2016
All Saints’ thirteenth annual pilgrimage to the shrine at Walsingham will take place from Friday 15 to Monday 18 July 2016 after breakfast. Following the successful 2015 trial of extending the Pilgrimage time by staying on until Monday morning, we are repeating that formula next year. If you are interested (or would like to find out more) please speak to Jean Castledine at Church or contact Ross Buchanan on 020 7221 1312 or ross.r.buchanan@btinternet.com.

Because of the Shrine’s limited capacity and booking arrangements, those who would like to attend in 2016 will need to pay a non-refundable deposit of £10 to the Parish Administrator, Dee Prior, by the end of November 2015 to reserve a place on the Pilgrimage. A further £20 deposit will be required by Sunday 10 April 2016. Cash or cheques (made payable to All Saints PCC).

DECEMBER ALL SAINTS’ EVENTS for your DIARIES 

CHRISTMAS POETRY TEA,
Sunday 6 December 3pm, at Pamela’s. 
All welcome.  Please bring Poetry or Prose on the subject of ‘Home’.  To accept, or to request 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 in aid of the All Saints Restoration Appeal.

WALSINGHAM CELL VISIT – DECEMBER 2015 – TO NOTRE DAME DE FRANCE (French Church off Leicester Square) – the All Saints’ Cell of Walsingham plans a visit on Wednesday 9 December, 7pm to Evensong with a Talk on the history of the Church by Fr Kevin Mowbray followed by drinks. A fine modern ecclesiastical space with renowned Lady Chapel by Jean Cocteau and other historic and contemporary works of art, including a painting of Joan of Arc and a sculpture representing Our Lady of Mercy above the entrance welcoming visitors as they walk in from the street – Leicester Place. The sculptor was a famous French artist Georges-Laurent Saupique (1889-1961) who was head of the restoration work of Reims cathedral. All welcome.

ALL SAINTS’ ADVENT SERVICE of
READINGS and MUSIC by candlelight
Sunday 29 November 2015, 6pm

FESTIVAL OF NINE LESSONS and CAROLS
Monday 21 December 2015, 6pm

Both services feature the Choir of All Saints. All welcome – please bring some friends. 

Please see the noticeboard in Church where other events may be advertised as space is limited in the Newsletter.

EVENTS ELSEWHERE IN NOVEMBER 

DEVONSHIRE MARBLE AT ALL SAINTS 
Some readers may remember a visit, tour of church and talk at All Saints earlier this year -given by Geology Professor Gordon Walkden and attended by about twenty people, including representatives from English Heritage. This came about during the period when Professor Walkden was writing a new book on the subject, which is now published. He writes: 
‘I would particularly like to draw your congregation’s attention to the November launch event of my book at the Lloyd’s Register building on Fenchurch Street. This is on Friday 6 November at 3pm. Lloyd’s has one of the finest Devonshire Marble interiors in the country and this is a rare chance to see it.  If anyone is interested in attending the formal lecture they can apply for a ticket by email as follows: Booking essential at Barbara.Jones@lr.org; place ‘Marbles Talk’ in subject box.

Thank you for your assistance with my Devonshire marbles project.  The broad details are as follows: Devonshire marbles: Their geology, history and uses (2 vols), 500pp.by Gordon Walkden, published by the Geologists’ Association, Autumn 2015. £12.’ 

Thursday 19 November, 7pm – THE 2015 MARYLEBONE SERVICE, St Marylebone Parish Church, Marylebone Road, NW1 5LT. An interfaith gathering, celebrating the religious and cultural diversity of those who live in the village. Refreshments will be served in the Church hall afterwards. All welcome.

Friday 27 November 3 – 8pm & Saturday 28 November 10am – 4pm – CHURCH OF the ANNUNCIATION, MARBLE ARCH – ‘ALL THE FUN OF THE CHRISTMAS FAIR’ 2015. Last year (the first fair, run at St Cyprian’s) was a huge success, receiving lots of comments about how stylish it was – including from the Homes and Antiques Magazine and being voted in the top 10 UK Christmas markets by ‘I love Markets’. This year, with St Cyprian’s undergoing renovation, the event has transferred to the Annunciation, so everyone is invited to join them there to meet the best exhibitors of 2014 with a host of new ones. Live music, Christmas-themed demonstrations, refreshments and a candlelit evening gala with a glass of wine while browsing the goodies on sale. 

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 at All Saints for mission activities in 2014 was £6,463 through the All Saints Festival and Lent Appeals. £3,463 went to the Marylebone Project and a further £3,000 to Us (formerly USPG). 

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 – we made a substantial delivery to the Project in the first half of September and immediately fresh supplies came in and have continued to build since then. Thank you! Please continue to donate these so we can help more people in need as the cold weather begins.  

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 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 who would like to receive this correspondence please forward this email to them or encourage them to sign up for the email themselves 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@hotmail.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