All Saints Parish Newsletter 6th May 2016
Dear Friend,
Each year on the Sunday after Ascension the Gospel at the Eucharist Church comes from John Chapter 17; known as the “High Priestly Prayer.” Jesus having finished his teaching of the disciples at the Last Supper, now he turns to the Father in prayer.
John presents Jesus as the high priest: the structure of the high priestly prayer corresponds to the prayer on the Day of Atonement, in which the high priest, pronouncing the name of God, prays first for himself, then for the priests and finally for the whole people.
In the first section of the prayer, he speaks to the Father of the hour of his glorification, which is also the glorification of God. This glory is in culmination of the work which he had received from the Father: to make known the life which he and the Father share and which is offered through him to the world.
In the second, he prays for the disciples.
In the third part, (John 17: 20-26), which we hear this Sunday, he prays for all those who will believe through them: so he prays for us.
In the Gospel (Luke 24: 44-53), we are told that after the Ascension, the disciples “worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God.”
In the Acts of the Apostles (1: 1-14), Luke tells us of Christ before his Ascension instructing the disciples to wait in Jerusalem for the coming of the Holy Spirit. There they gather in the upper room and, “And all with one accord devoted themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.”
That nine day period between Ascension Day and Pentecost became the model for times of prayer for particular intentions called “Novenas.”
This year, under the title “Thy Kingdom Come,” the Archbishops have called us to a period of prayer for the evangelization of our country.
Here at All Saints we will be holding a Vigil of Prayer before the Blessed Sacrament on Thursday 12th May. It will begin with Mass at 6.30pm and end with Compline and Benediction at 9pm. There will also be prayers at our daily services.
Luke and John both see mission and prayer as linked:
“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth” (Acts 1: 8);
“I do not pray for these only, but also for those who believe in me through their word, that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be one in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (John. 17: 20-21).
Intercessory prayer is something to which each of us is called by virtue of our baptism which makes us members of the royal priesthood of the Church. Mission, making known the love of God revealed in Jesus Christ and drawing people into that love, is also part of our common calling.
There is a sense that here in London we do not have to go to the ends of the earth, for they come to us. Some of those who have come to our end of the earth have brought with them gifts of faith which have enriched the Church’s life and mission here; so as we gather in his temple this Ascensiontide, there is much to bless God for. There is also much to pray for as we wait in our “upper room” in expectation of the gifts of the Spirit for our mission.
Even after his resurrection, the disciples found it hard to think beyond the boundaries of the world and the faith they had known. We pray and sing, “Come, Holy Spirit,” but when the Spirit does come to us, we must expect to be sent, if not to the ends of the earth, at least beyond the security of our comfort zones.
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Alan Moses
Prebendary Alan Moses
Vicar All Saints Margaret Street
Area Dean of Westminster (Marylebone)
Please pray for those who have asked for our prayers: John Adams, Asia Bibi, John Bailey, Alixe Bainbridge-Spring, Fr Allan Buick, Vivien Caplowe, James Cary-Elwes, Dennis Davis, Mark Dougly, Kate Down, David Fettke, 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: Barbara Potts, John Wilmington (Priest), Robert Middleton , Jock Scott, David Crawley, Sylvia Smith, James Winters (Priest), Debbie Peatman, Jonty Gordon, Laura Bannerman, Sister Katherine Maryel SSB, Mary Collins, Peter Hirst and Jim Craddock.
Remember past priests, benefactors, friends, and all whose year’s mind occurs this week including: Florence Hope, Richard Masheder (Priest), Fred Bramma, Charles Cunnington, Marygold Snowden, Martin Cooper, Gertrude Thorpe, Barbara Watson, George Corbett, Norman Williams (Priest), Ellen Markey, John Finnie, Edith Cooke, Douglas Laing and Patrick Spencer (PCC member and Server).
For full service information: www.allsaintsmargaretstreet.org.uk.
WORSHIP THIS WEEK:
PARISH RETREAT, Friday 6 – Sunday 8 May 2016, conducted by Fr Barry Orford at Bishop Woodford House in Ely.
SUNDAY 8 MAY – SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
(Sunday after Ascension Day)
HIGH MASS with BAPTISM (Alexander John Green), 11am
Preacher: Revd. Canon Carl Turner, Rector of St Thomas’ Church, Fifth Avenue, New York
Missa Omnium Sanctorum – Caplin
Cœlos ascendit hodie – Stanford
There is no Sunday Lunch service.
CHORAL EVENSONG & BENEDICTION, 6pm
Preacher: The Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses
The Magdalen Service – Leighton
God is gone up – Finzi
THY KINGDOM COME – The Archbishops of Canterbury and York have called on the Church of England to take part in prayer for mission on the days between Ascension and Pentecost. As well as prayers at our daily services, we will have a Vigil of Prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, after the evening mass on Thursday 12 May. The Vigil will end at 9pm with Compline. Prayers and Readings for use during the Novena will be available in church.
WORSHIP NEXT WEEK:
WALSINGHAM CELL DEVOTIONS
11.30am, Saturday 14 May before 12 noon Mass.
SUNDAY 15 MAY –THE DAY OF PENTECOST (Whit Sunday)
HIGH MASS, 11am
Preacher: The Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses
Missa Christi – Leighton
Veni Sancte Spiritus – John Rutter
There is no Sunday Lunch service.
CHORAL EVENSONG & BENEDICTION, 6pm
Preacher: Fr Michael Bowie
Magnificat in A flat – Rubbra
The spirit of the Lord – Elgar
PARISH NOTICES
CHRISTIAN AID WEEK 15 – 21 May
As always, May brings Christian Aid Week and this year it runs from May 15th. The theme for this year is Bangladesh. Last year more than 20,000 churches worked hard to raise money and over £11m went to development work for the poor of the world. Please be generous in your support. There will be an envelope with the service sheet and they may be returned at any time to the church. Christian Aid is one of the country’s largest grant making charities and much respected in the UK and throughout the world. Please return envelopes by 29 May to enable the donations to be promptly passed on to the charity.
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: The 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: The 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.
SPONSOR THE VICAR ON PILGRIMAGE
Fr. Alan will begin his 1000 km walking pilgrimage from Seville to Santiago de Compostela on Tuesday 31 May. If you would like to sponsor him in support of the Diocese of London’s projects for persecuted Christians and for refugees from the conflicts in Iraq and Syria, sponsorship forms will be available in church and the parish office. You can also donate online through www.give.net, account number 20197723.
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 MAY 2016 BEYOND ALL SAINTS
St. CYPRIANS CHURCH, CLARENCE GATE, NW1 6AX
CHORAL EVENING PRAYER & BENEDICTION
Saturday 7 May at 3pm
Introit Bruckner ‘Locus Iste’
Responses Rose
Magnificat & Nunc Dimittis Howells in B minor
Anthem Finzi ‘God is gone up’
With the St. Cyprian’s Singers directed by: Julian Collings
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:
11 am on Wednesday, 1 June 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
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