All Saints Parish Newsletter 6th September 2013
Dear Friends,
A visit to Bordeaux included, as you might expect, the opportunity to enjoy good food and wine, but also some superb architecture. The city has resisted the temptation of high rise buildings, so the spires of its great gothic churches and wonderful 18th century terraces lining the river, are not hemmed in or overshadowed by concrete and glass creations.
One modern building in the centre is the Palais de Justice, but it sits modestly in the cityscape. A sign outside says that it stands on the site of a fort built by the French king to punish the citizens for their loyalty to the English Crown, and that the architect selected to design it was an Englishman: Richard Rogers.
A strenuous piece of tourism was scaling the 231 steps of the Cathedral bell tower – set apart from the cathedral to protect it from the vibration of the bells. This was a lung-expanding exercise, but the effort was rewarded by the panoramic views of the city.
The cathedral has a display on royal visitors which includes Richard II, baptised there in the time of English rule, and the Queen being welcomed by the Cardinal Archbishop on her visit in 1995.
The cathedral and the great church of St. Michel with its own bell tower, are now UNESCO world heritage sites. As part of one of the French pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela, both are being extensively restored. Years ago, I changed trains in Bordeaux on my way to the Pyrenees to begin the Camino. Familiar brass shells in the city’s pavement guide pilgrims along the way.
The parish church near our hotel was more modern, 17th century, and had an interesting if chequered history. During the Revolution it had been turned first into a “Temple of Reason,” and then of “The Supreme Being.” Christianity had, not for the last time, had its day. It is now open, well-kept and dedicated to the worship of the one who is the “Supreme Being” and the source of all “Reason,” but not in the way those French rationalists understood those terms.
Close by is the monument to the Girondins, those moderate revolutionaries guillotined because they were too reasonable for the more rigorist. The German president has just visited Oradour, not far from where I am writing this, wiped out by the SS in 1944. Reminders, to those who see only the dark side of religion, that secular atheist ideologies have been much more deadly in their short history. The jihadist elements in Islam, wreaking indiscriminate havoc today, are much indebted to them for their ideology.
And holidays, even in the peace of the country garden where I am writing this before setting off for home, cannot shut the world out entirely. The horrors of Syria grow ever more appalling; so whatever our views on the complexities of the situation and wisdom of western intervention, we remember that our churches are not just places for tourism but for prayer, and join with Pope Francis in praying for peace in Syria this Saturday.
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Alan Moses
PRAYER DIARY
Please pray for those who have asked for our prayers: Harry Allan, Damon Brash, Peter Burbidge, Margaret Campbell, Rachel Clayton, Sheena Cruse, Rosie Davis, Denise Inge, Mason Jacobsen, Linda Jervis, Jill, Mary Johnstone, Katherine Lee, Joshua Levy, Christine Lofty, Miriam Morris, Rev. Andrew O’Connor, Marimar Perez Fabo, The Ven. Jim Rone, Celia Shore, Stephen Short, Ian Stevens, Kate Thomas, Andrew Tillyard, Melanie Toogood, David and Jo Vincent, Heather Walker, Pat Walker, Wendy Wall.
For the recently departed, RIP: Rotimi Roberts, Robert LLoyd (Priest), William Page (whose funeral was yesterday) and Pauline Dossor.
At the anniversary of their death (during the coming week): Annie Harrison, Marion Richards, Elizabeth Barker, Winifred Harland, Anne Peduin [Edwards], Allan Yates, John Monk (former Server), Maurice Keen, James Shaw, Lord Kilbrandon, Marion Pidgeon, William Clements (Sixth Vicar of All Saints 1934 – 1942), Reginald Bickerton, Peggy Macmillan, Thomas Partridge.
NOTICES AND NEWS
The Parish Office will be open 9 – 5, Monday to Friday from 9 September.
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Worship next Sunday – SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY |
FUTURE EVENTS AT ALL SAINTS, THE ANNUNCIATION AND ST CYPRIAN’S
Monday 9 September, 7pm – there is a meeting of the PCC in the Parish Room.
Wednesday 11 September, 1pm – St Cyprian’s Clarence Gate – Organ Recital by Julian Collings.
Friday 13 September, 7pm for 7.30pm – QUIZ NIGHT at St. Cyprian’s. This very popular event is staged again, with the opportunity for teams of up to 6 people each to take part. Charge £10 per person payable on the night (including refreshments). Contact: chris_self@btinternet.com please to let him know you have a team you want to participate.
Saturday 14 September, RIDE+STRIDE
Supported by The National Churches Trust
Ride+Stride is a sponsored bike ride or walk with people from all over the country walking/cycling between churches. Funds raised help preserve some of Britain’s 47,000 churches, chapels and meeting houses at risk of falling into serious disrepair. To help raise money for these wonderful buildings you will need to be sponsored by your friends and family. See Chris Self, Churchwarden, after High Mass for a Sponsorship form.
Sunday 15 September, 10.30am – St Cyprian’s Clarence Gate,
SAINT CYPRIAN’S DAY HIGH MASS with licencing of Fr Simon Stokes as Curate (SSM) by The Ven. Dr Bill Jacob, Archdeacon of Charing Cross (who will also preach). Mass setting: Ralph Vaughan Williams: Mass in G minor. Communion Motet: Benjamin Britten: ‘Jubilate in C’. Mass with be followed by a reception.
Sunday 15 September – Ten-to-One Talk Series: WHY DO YOU DO THAT? The Sign of the Cross. This is the first of twelve Ten-to-One Talks, to be given by the Vicar after High Mass courtyard refreshments from September-December. The bell will be rung to announce the start.
Tuesday 17 – Sunday 22 September, 12 – 6pm JOHN LEWIS & WAITROSE ARTS & CRAFTS CLUB EXHIBITION 2013, Parish Room. Entry is free. A variety of works will be on display and for sale: including jewellery, needlework, pottery and original watercolours and oil paintings. NB. Purchases may only be collected from Sunday 22 September after Evensong.
OPEN HOUSE LONDON – the capital’s greatest architectural showcase
Saturday 21 (10am-5pm) and Sunday 22 (1 – 5pm) September
Open House London celebrates all that is best about the capital’s buildings, places and neighbourhoods. Every September, it gives a unique opportunity to get out and under the skin of London’s amazing architecture, with over 700 buildings of all kinds opening their doors to everyone – all for free. All Saints is participating once again with talks on the history of the church given by Churchwarden John Forde – Saturday 11am and 3pm, Sunday at 2pm.
*** Over 600 people visit All Saints for Open House London 2012.We need lots of volunteers to welcome visitors in 2013. Please see Chris Self to put your name down on his rota of 2 hours slots (or more!). Thank you! ***
Sunday 22 September, after Evensong – the ALL SAINTS CLUB ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING will be held in the Bar.
Sunday 22 September – Ten-to-One Talk Series: WHY DO YOU DO THAT? Bowing and genuflecting. This is the second of twelve Ten-to-One Talks, to be given by the Vicar. The bell will be rung to announce the start.
Thursday 26 September, 7pm at the Annunciation Marble Arch, Bryanston Street, London W1H 7AH– IONA PILGRIMAGE MEETING – there is an exploratory meeting led by Fr Gerald Beauchamp for all those interested in going on the Iona pilgrimage planned for April 2015.
Sunday 29 September, 12.45pm – there will be an EVENTS COMMITTEE MEETING.
Sunday 29 September, 7.15pm (after Benediction)
ORGAN RECITAL – CHARLES ANDREWS, Associate Director of Music. Programme includes: Bach, Franck and Heiller. Retiring collection to support the Choir and Music at All Saints (suggested donation £3.50).
FUTURE EVENTS ELSEWHERE
Saturday 28 September, 7.30pm St John the Evangelist, Duncan Terrace N1 8AL – ORGAN RECITAL – PETER STEVENS of Westminster Cathedral will be appearing in the 50th Anniversary Organ Recital Series since the opening of the Walker Organ.
Tuesday 8 October 13.00, St Lawrence Jewry – Lunchtime organ recital – CHARLES ANDREWS, Associate Director of Music.
Monday 14 October 2013, starting 7pm – All Hallows by the Tower
BRITTEN AT 100: RECITAL AND SEMINAR SUPPER. Sion College celebrates Benjamin Britten’s centenary year with a recital and seminar supper on Britten at 100: “Britten and the Church” exploring Britten’s relationship with Christianity.
Thursday 24 October 13.05, Lunchtime organ recital at St John’s, Smith Square – TIM BYRAM-WIGFIELD, Director of Music All Saints. Tickets: £10. Programme includes: Handel, Beethoven, Liszt, Hollins and Widor. See SJSS website for full details.