All Saints Margaret Street.

Dear Friend,
Walsingham Cell Visit to Notre Dame de France, Leicester Square, Wednesday 9 December, 7pm All welcome

We are delighted that we are again able to visit a local church dedicated to Our Lady near the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. This year we have been invited to sing Evensong in Notre Dame de France, on the edge of Leicester Square, a beautiful round church rebuilt by the Bishops of France after WWII bomb-damage where, among other artworks, the original sacrament chapel was decorated by Jean Cocteau with a striking image of Our Lady and her companions at the foot of the Cross.

Fr Kevin Mowbray SM will be our host, and the visit will begin at 7pm with Evensong of Our Lady (Ian Lyon of our choir has generously offered to come and lead the singing of plainsong psalms and canticles – he is missing a paid gig at Margaret Street to do this, so we are especially grateful to him).

This will be followed by a short tour of the church by Fr Kevin and refreshments (including wine – I have been most particular about that!). We expect the event to finish about 8.30pm (Notre Dame is open until 9pm every evening so we may have other visitors with us). 

The Marist Fathers run a refugee centre next door in Leicester Square (a very worthwhile project of ten years’ standing) and are working hard to combine their two rather distinct tasks: ministry to the French and Francophone communities of London, and ministry to the busy and challenging environment in and around Leicester Square. You can find out more from their website: ­www.ndfchurch.org/en/

Our visit is all the more timely because Notre Dame is celebrating its 150^th anniversary this weekend. Their Solemn Mass of thanksgiving celebrated by the Archbishop of Westminster is this Sunday morning, so we can’t be with them for that, but Fr Kevin and his community are delighted that our visit is part of the celebratory week.

Please join members of the Cell for this ecumenical event, and pray for this Marist community near All Saints.

Yours in Christ,

Fr Michael Bowie 

Please pray for those who have asked for our prayers: Asia Bibi, 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, Elizabeth Livingstone, Christine Loffty, Sister Martha (SMNC Tanzania), Miriam Nelson, Gordon Orme, Fr David Paton, David Pearce, Father Gerald Reddington, Canon John Rees, Nick Russell, Jock Scott, Stella Skinner and Helen, Rose Stephens, Judy Stewart, Buzz Stokes, Christine van Dyck, Jo Vincent, Janet White and Joy Wright.

For the recently departed: Ian Hunter, Joan Foster, Mah, Wrenne Atkinson, Margaret Bowie, Geoff Dell, Peter Thompson (whose Funeral takes place today Friday 4 December) and Sr Frances Claire SSM.

Remember past priests, benefactors, friends, and all whose year’s mind occurs this week including: William Gelson (former Churchwarden), Thomas Vauthan, Morgan Griffiths (Priest), John Slater, Frances Lloyd, Zena Monk, Maude Bull, Christine Bramma, Ines Baxter, Marian Borton, Hamish Gray, Natalie Byrnes, Daniel Thomas, Amelia Jones, Alice Trevor, Annie Jevons, Roscow Sheddon (Bishop), Margaret Butterworth, Guy Pritchard (Benefactor, Sidesman, PCC member), James Burling, Christopher Fairbairn, Richard Eyre (Priest) and Ian Stevens (Friend of All Saints).

WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY 6 DECEMBER – SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
This morning the Vicar is preaching at St Mary’s Bourne Street.
 
HIGH MASS, 11am
Preacher: Fr Michael Bowie
Mass in four parts – Byrd
Hosanna to the Son of David – Gibbons

There is Sunday Lunch service and Patrick Hartley and Rebecca Hirst are the chefs. Tickets are £5 on sale in the Parish Shop before and after Mass.

CHRISTMAS POETRY TEA- Sunday 6 December at 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.

CHORAL EVENSONG & BENEDICTION, 6pm
Preacher: Fr Julian Browning
Short Service – Weelkes
Ecce virgo concipiet – Byrd

WORSHIP NEXT SUNDAY 13 DECEMBER – THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT
HIGH MASS, 11am
Preacher: The Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses
Orgelsolomesse – Mozart
A Hymn to the Virgin – Britten 

CHORAL EVENSONG & BENEDICTION, 6pm
Preacher: Fr Michael Bowie
Howells Gloucester Service
It is high time – Bramma

PARISH CHRISTMAS LUNCH, Sunday 13 December
This is the final parish lunch of 2015. Tom Leman has kindly offered to provide a full Christmas lunch for the occasion. Tickets at a special price of £7, will include a glass of wine, and will be on sale in the Parish shop before and after Mass on the day (subject to availability).

CHURCH ARMY HOSTEL CHRISTMAS APPEAL

The Hostel for Homeless Women has asked for donations by Thursday 10 December (for delivery on Friday 11 December) of small practical and personal 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 (if no one is in the Parish Office) leave them for collection in the basket in the Baptistery. Thank you!

MINCE PIES

Donations of mince pies to help towards our hospitality at the various Church carol services would be appreciated.  Could any contributions of mince pies please be given to the Parish Office (please phone first to check someone will be in – T: 020 7 636 1788) during the week or give to Janet Drake/Chris Self by Sunday 13 December.

CALLING ALL WOULD-BE CAROL SINGERS!

Thursday 17 December 2015, 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 up warmly! Mulled wine and mince pies to thank you afterwards in the Vicarage. For further information, speak to Janet Drake and let her or the Parish Office know if you can come and be part of the merry band.

PARISH NOTICES

The December Parish Paper is available in Church and on the website. The front cover features a photograph of the cherry-picker in use in the nave to focus the last of the lights to complete the new lighting scheme for the Church – which was in time for Christ the King. The lighting settings are now as originally intended, providing the full benefit and flexibility from the considerable time and money invested.

DECEMBER ALL SAINTS’ EVENTS for your DIARIES 

WALSINGHAM CELL VISIT – DECEMBER 2015 – TO NOTRE DAME DE FRANCE (French Church off Leicester Square) – the All Saints Walsingham Cell 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.

Thursday 15 December 7pm – CHRISTMAS CHARITY CONCERT in aid of Worldwide Cancer Research – Season’s Greetings. Christmas Carol Concert with the All Saints Choir and special guest mezzo-soprano WCR charity ambassador Deborah Humble. Tickets £20 or £50 for a family ticket at worldwidecancerresearch.org/fundraising/event/carol-service. After the service you are invited to stay and enjoy mulled wine and mince pies with the trustees of and the scientists funded by WCR.

CAROL SINGING IN THE PARISH, Thursday 17 December, 6.30pm – Assemble at All Saints (Parish Office – via the door to the right of the church courtyard). All are welcome to come along and sing. Collection for the West London Day Centre & the Church Army Hostel for Homeless Women in Marylebone.
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LUNCHTIME CAROL SERVICE, Friday 18 December, 12.30pm. Mince pies and mulled wine served afterwards. Do join us in a lunchbreak or before or after Christmas shopping!

CANDLE-LIT FESTIVAL OF NINE LESSONS and CAROLS – Monday 21 December 2015, 6pm. Followed by mince pies and mulled wine. All welcome – please bring some friends

CHRISTMAS EVE Midnight Mass & Blessing of the Crib, Thursday 24 December 11pm. Preacher: The Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses. Missa Sancti Nicolai – Haydn

Friday 25 December 11am – CHRISTMAS DAY High Mass Preacher: Fr Michael Bowie. Spatzenmesse – Mozart.

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

EVENTS ELSEWHERE IN NOVEMBER 

Tuesday 8 December 2015, 10am – 4.30pm, St Margaret’s Church, Westminster Abbey – CHURCHES TOGETHER IN BRITAIN & IRELAND ADVENT VIGIL FOR REFUGEES
A range of distinguished speakers with interfaith and ecumenical interests, as well as from the continent, will give talks and meditations at this event arranged by the Churches Refugee Network. There will also be contributions from refugees themselves. There will be space for silent reflection, opportunities for discussion and associated activities.
10am – 12 noon: Re-member, re-member: exodus and exile
12 noon – 2pm: Blown by the winds: conflict, climate change and current pressure
2pm – 4pm: Consider yourselves at home
4pm – 4.30pm: Epilogue
All are invited afterwards (5pm) to attend evensong in the Abbey.

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 – 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 (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@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