Parish Paper 7, MARGARET STREET, LONDON W1W 8JG www.allsaintsmargaretstreet.co.uk FEBRUARY 2016 £1.00

VICAR’S LETTER As I write this I am preparing to take part in 48 hours of ‘Shared Conversations on Scripture, Mission and Human Sexuality’. I will be one of twenty people from the , who will be sharing with twenty from the . The purpose of these conversations, which arose out of the Pilling Report on this subject, is not to produce votes and resolutions on a vexed issue, but to encourage people with differing views to The organ pipes in the south choir aisle listen to each other. (Photo: Andrew Prior, January 2016)

‘Human sexuality’ is Church-speak for from a conservative-led government even homosexuality. During my adult life, and a few years earlier. especially in recent years, British society, and that of Europe, Australasia and North This does not mean that homophobia America, has seen a change in attitudes and discrimination has completely melted which is little short of revolutionary. There away, but there has been a sea-change in has been a growing understanding that attitudes. homosexuality is not a deliberately and perversely chosen lifestyle which can be Within the Church in our society, changed, but a part of someone’s nature. disquiet about this development has come The de-criminalization of homosexual largely from conservative-evangelicals acts, supported by Archbishop Michael who see the scriptures as they understand Ramsey in the House of Lords, began a them, as unambiguous on this issue. process of change which culminated in the Some have even encouraged the retention legislation, first for civil partnerships and of harsh colonial-era legislation in then for same-sex marriage; something former parts of the empire. In the wider which would have been unimaginable Communion, many churches in other

1 parts of the world continue to be opposed As our friend, Dr Andrew McGowan, to change. the Dean of Berkeley Divinity School at Yale, said in his blog: ‘Headlines are rarely Dispute over this issue within the the place to get a good grasp of a complex Anglican Communion came to a head in story.’ the meeting a few days ago of the Primates at Canterbury called by the Archbishop of With his permission, I reproduce some Canterbury. of what he wrote, as it helps bring some In the context of a meeting which clarity. He asked: seemed likely to lead to some form of ‘Who are the Primates? condemnation of the Episcopal Church in The Primates are bishops of the various the United States, which had changed its provinces — national or regional Churches discipline to permit same-sex marriage in — who have leadership rôles in their own church, and has consecrated openly gay settings, some with more authority than and partnered priests to the episcopate, others. They do not individually make an open letter signed by many leading decisions even for their provinces, but clergy, including the Dean of St Paul’s, of course speak with significant moral was addressed to the Archbishop asking authority for their members, and often act that the Church apologise for its own as spokespersons for their national bodies. discrimination against gay people. Together, the Primates meeting formally Media interest in the primates’ are seen as one of the ‘instruments’ of deliberations has been intense and there unity or communion for Anglicans — seems to have been some less than impartial along with the person of the Archbishop leaking from some quarters within of Canterbury, the Lambeth Conferences, them. Journalists are understandably not and the Anglican Consultative Council. always aware of the intricacies of Church They cannot however collectively make structures and the majority of Anglicans decisions except for themselves, although would struggle with an examination on the they may exercise a significant moral complex and overlapping institutions of authority for us all. This recent gathering our own Communion. was actually not a formal meeting of the Headlines appeared stating that the Primates, however. Episcopal Church had been excluded or What did the Primates do? suspended from the Anglican Communion; even that Episcopalians had been The Primates came together at the invitation excommunicated. There was no mention of the Archbishop of Canterbury to pray in the leaks of any apology. It was only together and to share various experiences. when the final communiqué was issued The website created to reflect the focus that this appeared. and tone of the meeting is encouraging in its breadth of concerns and its focus on People are still coming to terms with common prayer. The final communiqué is what all this means. There are questions also more than one-dimensional. about the authority of the Primates to act in this way. But before that came the statement about

2 The Episcopal Church [TEC]. First, it has of sensitivities ranging from same-sex to be said that the gathering of Primates marriage, to ordination of persons in same- has stretched the limits of any authority sex relationships, to women’s ordination. they have, in ‘requiring that for a period of three years The Episcopal Church no While we know little about the details longer represent us on ecumenical and of the meeting, given the posturing by interfaith bodies, should not be appointed GAFCON sources about walkouts and or elected to an internal standing more radical actions we should assume committee’. The Primates do not actually that this outcome reflects serious efforts have control over the membership of such by numerous Primates to fend off worse bodies, which typically relate to the more outcomes. It is a compromise, and should broadly-constituted Anglican Consultative be read with a grain of salt; its unanimity Council. covers a complexity of thought and purpose, even among the Primates. The While global Anglican leaders who Primates know TEC is part of the Anglican are not part of the Primates’ meeting Communion and want it to be. will not be pleased by the presumption involved in this statement, and there will What is the Anglican Communion? almost certainly be some fallout about What the media got wrong, and some it behind closed doors, nevertheless the Anglicans might not get right either, ‘is Primates’ views will be taken seriously, that none of the above has anything much and interpreted as though they had spoken to do with participation in or membership with proper authority (urging, calling of the Anglican Communion as such. on, etc) rather than with an apparent The Anglican Communion is not these prelatical lack of self-awareness. In other international bodies, but is constituted words, the Anglican Consultative Council by the set of relationships at all levels and national groups who actually make including local and bilateral ones.’ appointments to the committees referred to will almost certainly adhere to the He cites Fr Jesse Zink, an American principle that has been outlined. priest working in Cambridge, and who has written on his travels around the What is that principle, though? The Communion, reminding us that ‘the reality Primates’ statement goes on to say ‘while of the Communion may be constituted participating in the internal bodies of the as much by small-scale interaction Anglican Communion, [TEC] will not across geographical distance and cultural take part in decision-making on any issues boundaries. This is not merely a warm pertaining to doctrine or polity’. What this personal insight, but a quite fundamental makes clear is of course that TEC will be aspect of Anglican polity. The Primates taking part in all these internal bodies as did not seek to define the Communion previously — simply put, it will have voice any differently, but neither can they; it is but not vote. And in fact the distinction is one thing for them to get the polity of the not so different from present practice; in Instruments of Communion a bit wrong, a number of ecumenical conversations but they know enough not to think they TEC is already not taking part, because can define Anglicanism itself.’

3 What has all this got to do with us at All Saints? It impinges on us in more ways CHRISTMAS JUST PAST than one. Since we introduced a full Festival on We are a community with many links Nine Lessons and Carols with the choir with Anglicans around the world; not least on a weeknight some eight years ago, this in the United States. Neither we nor they service has grown steadily in popularity so should think those links have been severed that the church is now full for it. or our friends excommunicated. These It is difficult to tell if some of this growth relationships are more not less important has been at the expense of the shorter in times of disagreement. lunchtime carol service intended for those Secondly, it is hardly a secret that who work around us. However, rather our community at All Saints and many than running down the latter, we decided of those who look to us as a spiritual to increase the choral element which gave ‘home from home’, are gay. This is not the service a lift in atmosphere if not yet the place to explore the reasons why in numbers. We will see how this goes. Catholic Anglicanism seems to exercise The Nine Lessons and Carols collection such an attraction for gay people, but it was for the Foundation for Relief and is undoubtedly the case. In harsher times, Reconciliation in the Middle East and churches like ours were a ‘safe space’ for raised £900 (including Gift Aid). gay people. Like the rest of us, they do not We also hosted two carol services for have monochrome opinions on everything. outside bodies: one a local business, the Some are campaigners, others simply want other a charity. to get on with their lives quietly and not be a ‘cause’. Part of the pastoral experience I We have already had an inquiry from will take to the shared conversations is the another charity for 2016. The clergy, huge contribution which gay people have music staff, parish administrator, our made to the life and mission of the Church. Churchwarden Chris Self (as chair of the As I said in my General Synod election catering committee) and our head server address to the clergy of the diocese, it is Cedric Stephens, had a good discussion at important to have people in the councils a planning meeting this month about how of the Church for whom gay people are many such services we can manage without not just an ‘issue’ but friends and valued over-stretching our resources or disrupting colleagues in the Church’s mission. our regular schedule of worship too much. We don’t have anything like the numbers My original intention had been to write of these services as some churches: our something devotional about Lent. You can neighbours at St Marylebone had 20 last find information and my thoughts about year, but they don’t have anything like the the season elsewhere in this issue. number of weekday services we have. All With my prayers for a Holy Lent, Saints does not have a large staff, so we rely heavily on volunteers and the parish office Alan Moses which is already very busy at that time of year. We recognize, however, that this is an

4 important way of introducing people to All situation. We can have a large weekday Saints. We try to give them a taste of what congregation because people come on is distinctive about our worship. It was their way home from work. For many, it’s agreed that, with our present resources, we the spiritual equivalent of a night out in the could probably manage one or two more West End. At ‘St Suburbia’s-in-Commuter than our present number. Land’, it’s difficult to do anything on a weeknight before 8pm as most people are An enthusiastic band of carol singers out at work during the day. went out to sing carols in the Plaza Shopping Centre and Oxford Street. The The Bishop of St Edmundsbury and Plaza is increasingly like a ghost town, Ipswich was our ‘Wise Man from East but mild weather made a longer stint at Anglia’. Alas, he is one of those preachers the Oxford Street end of Market Place who do not use a full script, so we cannot more successful. Thanks to Ian Lyon who reproduce his sermon based on Auden’s acted as our choir master, to the Mission Christmas Oratorio. We will just have committee members who organized it, to to read the poem. Like a number of our Theresa Moses who hosted restorative visiting preachers, he said how good it refreshments in the Vicarage afterwards, was to find liturgy done with such care while the collection for the homeless and devotion: not always what bishops charities which we support was counted. and other itinerant preachers experience. This turned out to be a record £230. Perhaps invigorated by his release from Both Midnight Mass and High Mass of duty as an acting archdeacon at the turn of Christmas Day have had steadily better the year, the Vicar preached twice on New attendances in recent years; in spite of Years’ Day: at Mass in All Saints and then the absence of large numbers of our own at Evensong in St Paul’s Cathedral (to a people who leave London to go to their surprisingly large congregation of several families and the dearth of public transport hundred). which affects a congregation which has a large proportion of non-car-owners. We Meanwhile, Fr Michael was en route are grateful to the Vicar’s mother for her to Australia for holiday. On his marathon annual gift of a Christmas cake which is trip around that country, he has already distributed to the congregation after Mass preached in Perth and Newcastle on Christmas day; supplemented this year Cathedrals and will finish up with a by a splendid Italian Pannetone which was sermon at his old parish of Christ Church a gift from our friends at the Buddhist St Laurence in Sydney. Temple. Meanwhile, the current Rector, Fr Epiphany is one of those feasts which Daniel Dries, who had escaped with his we continue to keep on its ‘proper’ day. family from summer temperatures in As I explained in the weekly Parish email the 40s to the more bracing clime of a letter, this is not a criticism of parishes European winter, preached at High Mass which transfer them to the nearest Sunday, here on Sunday 17 January. We hope his but a reflection of what is possible in our sermon will appear in our next issue.

5 Our own more permanent lighting WELCOME TO OUR NEW installation has continued to attract very ARCHDEACONS positive comments as people see the interior as never before. We have had another The Two Cities Episcopal Area (the Cities session adjusting some of the computerized of London and Westminster) now has only settings and further adjustments will be one archdeaconry instead of two. It has possible as we come to understand all the an , the Venerable possibilities of the system for our particular and an Associate Archdeacon, liturgical and other needs. the Venerable Rosemary Lain-Priestley (who will work half-time and have a NEW POSTCARDS particular responsibility for the important area of Safeguarding). Fr Luke is also The new lighting means that we have been to chair the London Diocesan Board of able to get on with the work of producing Schools; another major piece of work. The new postcards and guides to All Saints. The new Archdeacons were welcomed to the first batch of four cards, from photos taken area at a service at St James’, Paddington, by Andrew Prior, has already appeared and on 14 January. Fr Luke is already booked proved popular. Further additions are in the to preach here in April and we will find a pipeline. We are grateful to Andrew for the date for Archdeacon Rosemary. time and effort he is putting into this labour of love. Modern printing technology makes WELCOME TO the production of these cards locally much A NEW BISHOP easier and less expensive than in the past. Sales bring us income and allow visitors to On the feast of the Baptism of Christ we take away images of the restored Church. welcomed Canon James Odico who is to be the new Bishop of Gambia. Philip Our Lighting Designer, Graham Sanneh, who is on placement with us Festenstein has been in during January to from the College of St Mellitus and is an take some photographs of the Church newly ordinand for the diocese, was acting as his lit to submit it for a competitive lighting local guide. scheme award. We will let you know how we fare and thus have a further source of LUMIERE — OUTSIDE new images of the restored interior. AND IN NEWS OF OLD FRIENDS For several evenings in mid-January, central London from King’s Cross to Westminster, It has been good to hear from Fr David saw a variety of light installations. A cloud Paton and Fr Gerald Reddington who of netting hovered over Oxford Circus are both now home from hospital. Fr changed in colour in response to people Reddington is recovering well from a stroke using their smart-phones. The west front and his walking is steadily improving. Fr of , with its statues Paton, having slipped on the altar steps at of modern martyrs, was lit in glorious All Saints and broken a shoulder, then fell fragmented colour. on his stairs at home in France and broke a

6 knee. Having had the knee replaced, he was and wit, and send very best wishes to them then sent on a residential course of physio- and their families. therapy, which sounds like the French health service’s equivalent of basic training The New Year has also seen the in the Foreign Legion; and just as grueling. completion of all the new appointments He hopes to be fit enough once again to be to the Choir, through rigorous auditions, with us for Holy Week and Easter. assignments and challenges. Please give a warm welcome to Felicity Hayward, CHOIR COMINGS Emily Owen, and Jen Clarke (sopranos), Abigail Gostick (Cantoris Alto), and John AND GOINGS Cuthbert (Cantoris Tenor). I’m delighted Tim Byram-Wigfield writes: that such excellent musicians have joined As regulars at All Saints will be aware, us, and hope to present a brief profile of turning tides in the lives of members of each in future issues of the Parish Paper. the Choir have meant a few departures in recent weeks, after many years of loyal THE ANNUNCIATION, service. Christmas Day saw Kate Ashby MARBLE ARCH and Mark Bushby both sing their last service as permanent members of the Choir. By the time you are reading this, Fr They have given loyal and expert service to Gerald Beauchamp will have been our musical tradition for a combined total Collated and Inducted as the Vicar of the of nearly thirty years. You will be glad to parish of the Annunciation. This change in know we will still see them in the stalls legal status comes in recognition of what from time to time, as deputy singers. We has been achieved in the parish under his look forward to welcoming them in the leadership. A report of the service will future and thank them for their expertise appear in next month’s issue.

CONFESSIONS AT THE BEGINNING OF LENT and ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICES Monday 8 February 12 – 1pm and 5 – 6pm Tuesday 9 February 12 – 1pm and 5 – 6pm

ASH WEDNESDAY – 10 February 2016 Low Mass with Ashing at 8am Confessions 12 – 1pm Low Mass with Ashing at 1.10pm Confessions 5 – 5.45pm 6.30pm HIGH MASS and Imposition of Ashes Preacher: Fr Michael Bowie Missa ‘Emendemus in melius’ — Palestrina Libera nos, salva nos — Sheppard

7 Opus Dei, the ‘Work of God’. Work is LENT AT ALL SAINTS something which requires dedication and In The Liturgy of Ash Wednesday, the discipline. Lent gives us all an opportunity priest says to the congregation: to re-examine our prayer life, to see what is lacking and remedy that lack. If we “Brothers and sisters in Christ, since find praying on our own difficult, it can early days Christians have observed with help to join more often in the worship of great devotion the time of our Lord’s the Church. All Saints with daily Morning passion and resurrection and prepared (7.30am) and Evening (6pm) Prayer for this by a season of penitence and and Masses at 8am, 1.10pm and 6.30pm fasting. provides ample opportunity to do that. By carefully observing these days, Christians take to heart the call to Fasting and Self-Denial — There has repentance and the assurance of been much talk this year of ‘alcohol-free forgiveness proclaimed in the Gospel, January’ and other attempts to counteract and so grow in faith and in the devotion the over-indulgence of the festive season. to our Lord. Much of this echoes the traditional Christian disciplines of fasting and I invite you, therefore, in the name of abstinence. Fasting reduces the amount of the Church, to the observance of a holy food and drink we consume; abstinence Lent; means giving up particular forms of food by self-examination and repentance; and drink, often meat and alcohol. It has to by prayer, fasting and self-denial; be said that substituting fish for meat hardly and by reading and meditating on seems a hardship when fresh rather than God’s holy word.” salted fish is readily available. We might think of extending fasting and abstinence I have added the emphasis to the different to other areas of consumption: time and elements of Lenten observance. money spent on watching television or on The Sacrament of Confession or other entertainments, for example. Reconciliation is available daily at All Lent provides us with an opportunity to Saints, both at the advertised times and by consider how we use the gifts and resources appointment with one of the clergy. They God has given us and to make changes are always happy to help people who are which the Holy Spirit might suggest to us unfamiliar with this means of grace to as part of our growth in discipleship. learn how it might be of help to them in their spiritual lives. The liturgy of the Mass Such self-denial can help us identify in a provides us with a reminder of the place of small way with those who go without food self-examination and repentance in the life and shelter in our world. It is linked with of the Christian. This is something we can almsgiving. The money we save by giving all build into our own prayer life. up things should be used for the benefit of others. You can find information about our Prayer — is both the work of the Spirit Lent Appeal in this issue and in church. who prays within us and our work. The Common Prayer of the Church is called The ’s Lent Appeal

8 this year comes directly from a resolution In I Am With You she explores the of the Diocesan Synod on persecuted scriptural portrayal of God’s presence Christians which came from our own among us as light in darkness. Readings Deanery Synod and the All Saints’ PCC, of Scripture are woven into a framework so we have a considerable moral duty to patterned on the seven monastic hours of support it generously. prayer and the seven days of creation. Reading and Meditating on God’s THE WAY OF THE CROSS Holy Word — As well as our normal The devotion of Stations of the Cross reading and preaching on scripture in the will take place after the Evening Mass at liturgy at All Saints, we are providing some 7.05pm on Fridays during Lent starting on opportunities for study. Friday 12 February. LENT FILM NIGHTS ALL SAINTS LENT APPEAL A series of films will be shown in church on 2016 Thursdays after the Evening Mass. Our Lenten almsgiving is directed to 18 February — Romero, the story of the support our Mission Projects and the martyred Archbishop of San Salvador. Bishop of London’s Lent Appeal 2016 25 February — Calvary, the personal and is made up of collections gathered at calvary of an Irish priest threatened by the services of Tenebrae and Good Friday death. along with the contents of individual Lent 3 March — The Gospel According to St boxes. The proceeds will be shared equally Matthew, Pier Paolo Pasolini’s masterpiece. between the following three charities: 10 March — Of Gods and Men, Xavier 1. Bishop of London’s Lent Appeal Beauvois’ film of the life and death of 2016 — Fundraising for two Trappist monks in Algeria amidst Islamist reputable charities active among the violence. beleaguered Christian communities LENT READING GROUP in Iraq and Syria: The Lent Reading Group will take place on Open Doors — providing emergency Fridays at 11am in the Vicarage beginning food supplies and hygiene kits to 10,000 on the Friday before Ash Wednesday — families every month in Syria and Friday 5 February. Aid to the Church in Need — We will be reading the Archbishop of focusing in Iraq on urgent needs for Canterbury’s Lent Book: I Am With You. housing, medicine and education This is written by the Revd Dr Kathryn to allow the Church to maintain its Greene-McCreight who is a chaplain at Christian presence and witness Jesus Yale University and is an assistant priest Christ. at the Christ Church, New Haven. She has also written Darkness is My Only 2. Us (formerly USPG) Companion: A Christian Response to Support for the church in Zimbabwe Mental Illness in which she reflects on her working with those affected by HIV own experience of being unwell. and AIDS and providing local clergy

9 and lay leaders with skills and training In 2015 we raised a total of £3,900 to undertake that work. (including applicable Gift Aid). Please give generously this year so we can try and 3. The Marylebone Project raise more than £4,000 in 2016. Where our money goes towards providing one of the emergency beds Cheques should be made payable to: in the Homeless Women’s Centre in Parochial Church All Saints. London NW1.

The Rt Revd & Rt Hon Richard Chartres, Bishop of London writes: Dear Beloved in Christ, PRAYERS ON THE MOVE Whatever our church tradition, we know that authentic prayer — listening deeply and responding obediently — takes time. Our busy city life will eat up all available hours and it is a good discipline to remind each other of the importance of prayer by having deliberate seasons of waiting upon God.

With this in mind, I am very happy to be a part of ‘Prayers on the Move’, a campaign during Lent by SPCK to encourage prayer as part of London’s daily life.

There will be many ways for us to be involved in this endeavour. The adverts on the Tube will provide an opportunity for Christians to talk to their friends about prayer. Parishes may wish to organise a related outreach event, hold a prayer vigil, walk or flashmob near their local Tube stations or distribute prayer leaflets.

Prayers on the Move will launch on 9 February and the adverts will be in trains for the last two weeks of February. Resources to support churches in engaging with the campaign will be available from www.prayersonthemove.com. With thanks for our partnership in the Gospel

SERMON PREACHED BY THE VICAR AT HIGH MASS, CHRISTMAS 2, 2016 Readings: Jeremiah 31: 7 - 14; Ephesians 1: 3 - 14; John 1: 10 - 18.

Yesterday, a front page newspaper story or part from the internet. ‘Plagiarism’, told us that universities now catch tens the unacknowledged copying of other of thousands of students cheating by people’s work, has become so common handing in essays which are not their own that academic institutions now employ work but have been downloaded in whole computer programmes to detect it.

10 This kind of thing has in fact been going summer at the moment (in fact he was on in pulpits for centuries. In both past and preaching in Perth Cathedral this morning) present, preachers could buy ready-made but the critic, essayist and poet, Clive sermons to read out to their flocks as if they James, published a book called Cultural were their own, or simply borrow other Amnesia. It was the product of 40 years people’s ideas. of voracious reading: a search for a humanism he sees as being at risk after a Clerical colleagues in the congregation century in which European civilization had this morning, enjoying a post-Christmas plummeted into war and genocide. The break, will testify that few if any of us can culture, learning and, above all, the science manage original thought every Sunday. which people had confidently expected Some of us struggle to manage it at all; would be a liberating force, had either let alone when we also have to produce a failed to prevent mass destruction or aided monthly letter for the Parish Paper and and abetted it. a weekly email, as well as sundry other occasional homilies and pieces of writing. His book is a one volume introduction to western culture of the last century, with A sermon is not an academic essay or articles on people I had heard of but never lecture — complete with footnotes — if read and others I had never even heard of. preachers had to stop at the end of every It’s the kind of thing you need to read if paragraph to announce references, they you want to win University Challenge. would lose your attention even more quickly than they sometimes do already. James is not just showing off that he has read, marked, learned and inwardly So, this preacher is quite happy to digested more books than anyone else. He is acknowledge that he recycles the ideas a humanist who sees the danger in western of others, wiser and holier than he. We culture’s forgetfulness of its own roots. He stand on the shoulders of others. This seeks to distinguish between a humanism Sunday, when we have been listening to concerned to enrich and widen the variety that grandest of all Gospel passages, the of the created world, and a destructive one prologue to John’s Gospel, is no exception. which seeks to narrow it. He sees learning Again, fellow clergy will probably agree and remembering as a necessary and vital that it is for your benefit that we do. antidote to the human hubris which thinks Another word for this is ‘tradition’, the it understands but doesn’t. handing on of what we have received. It is a good idea if preachers make the effort I was struck by his use of ‘amnesia’, to ‘read, mark, learn and inwardly digest’, because it seems to fit what much of our what they are trying to hand on. You can culture has done with Christianity. Clergy usually tell when they haven’t: it doesn’t sometimes lament, I have lamented, that sound like them speaking, when they are people no longer know bible stories, hymns reading out a Rowan Williams sermon. and prayers. English literature students at university now have to be taught something A few years ago, the Australian-born about the scriptures in order for them to be man-of-letters — not Fr Michael — who able to understand much of the literature is enjoying the sunshine of an Australian they are to study.

11 But there is a deeper amnesia at work in the material world, the flesh, was evil. our society — both accidental and willed — For Plato, there was a dramatic distinction down to both neglect and deliberate policy. between the physical and the spiritual We have not only forgotten or expunged worlds, ideal forms and actual bodies. from our collective memory, the bible According to him, what we perceive with stories and the Christian tradition they are our senses is an illusion, a distorted shadow part of — although that is bad enough — of reality. The purpose of philosophy and but we have forgotten their revolutionary religion is to enable us to escape from the significance for the world of our forebears. limitations of the world and the flesh. A reminder of this is to be found Plato’s view had considerable influence surprisingly in the columns of the New in the early Church, as it sought to engage York Times, in an article called The with the culture of the ancient world, Christmas Revolution. It was written by but that influence faded because it was Peter Wehner, (a senior fellow at the Ethics in tension with Christianity’s deepest and Public Policy Center, served in the teachings. So, for example, at the very last three Republican administrations and beginning of the book of Genesis, echoed is a contributing opinion writer. What, by the opening words of St John’s Gospel, I wonder, does he make of the present ‘In the beginning’, God declares creation Republican presidential hopefuls?) to be good — and Jesus, having entered the material world, as the Word made flesh, He begins with the familiar lament ratifies that judgment. that because ‘the Christmas story has been told so often for so long, it’s The incarnation testifies to the existence easy even for Christians to forget how of the physical, material world. Our life revolutionary Jesus’ birth was. The idea experiences are real, not shadows. The that God would become human and dwell incarnation affirms too the delight we take among us, in circumstances both humble in earthly beauty and our obligation to care and humiliating, shattered previous for God’s creation. This was a dramatic assumptions.’ overturning of ancient thought.

The birth of much of our humanistic The source of creation in the divine tradition springs not so much from the Logos, the Word, reason, wisdom, means classical culture of Greece and Rome, as that there is an order to it which can be many assume, but from this story of divine studied and understood; everything is enfleshment. not the random product of chaos. In spite of the Church’s problems with Galileo, For most Christians, the incarnation — Christianity and its positive understanding the belief that God, in the person of Jesus, of creation has been one of the great driving walked in our midst — is history’s hinge forces of scientific endeavour. point. The incarnation also reveals that the A major consequence of the incarnation divine principle governing the universe is was the rejection of the belief — common a radical commitment to the dignity and in the ancient world and expressed most worth of every person, since we are all clearly by the philosopher Plato — that created in the divine image.

12 Just as significant is that we have value segregation. Today Christians are taking because God values us. Human beings have the lead against human trafficking and on worth because we are valued by God, who behalf of unborn life and the dying. They took on flesh, entered our world, and shared maintain countless hospitals and hospices, our experiences — love, joy, compassion schools and orphanages around the world. and intimate friendships; anger, sorrow, suffering and tears. For Christians, God The modern world blithely assumes that is not distant or detached; the risen Christ compassion for the poor and marginalized still bears the marks of the cross. All of this is natural and universal. But actually we raised the value of human experience and think in this humanistic manner in large life. It laid the groundwork for the ideas of measure because of Christianity. What individual dignity and inalienable rights. Christianity did was to ‘transform our way of thinking about the poor and sick and Wehner cites the French philosopher and create an entirely different cultural given’. secular humanist Luc Ferry, who in his book A Brief History of Thought writes The incarnation enables those who that unlike the Greek understanding of hold and practice the Christian faith to humanity, ‘Christianity was to introduce the avoid turning God into an abstract set of notion that humanity was fundamentally principles. The Gospel stories we hear identical, that men were equal in dignity Sunday by Sunday, which in meditation — an unprecedented idea at the time, and form a vital part of our prayer life, show one to which our world owes its entire how Jesus interacted in this messy, democratic inheritance’. complicated, broken world, through actions that stunned the people of his time. Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount (blessed This teaches us compassion in ways that are the poor in spirit and the pure in heart, being a moral rule book never can. the meek and the merciful), his touching of lepers, and his association with outcasts ‘Rule books’, says Wehner, ‘however and sinners were fundamentally at odds worthy and well-intentioned, cannot shed with the way the Greek and Roman worlds tears or express love; human beings do. viewed life, where social status was Seeing how Jesus dealt with the religious everything. He then quotes the American authorities of his day (often harshly) and Orthodox lay theologian David Bentley the sinners and outcasts of his day (often Hart, in his book Atheist Delusions: The tenderly and respectfully) adds texture and Christian Revolution and its Fashionable subtlety to human relationships that we Enemies, which won the Michael Ramsey could never gain otherwise. prize a few years ago: ‘Christians have often fallen short of ‘Christianity placed charity at the what followers of Jesus are called to center of its spiritual life as no pagan cult be. We have seen this in the Crusades, ever had, and raised the care of widows, religious wars and bigotry; in opposition orphans, the sick, the imprisoned, and to science, in the way critical thought is the poor to the level of the highest of discouraged and in harsh judgmentalism. religious obligations.’ Christianity played To this day, many professing Christians a key, if belated rôle in ending slavery and embody the antithesis of grace.’

13 We Christians would do well to remind He saw the inestimable worth of human ourselves of the true meaning of the life, regardless of social status, wealth incarnation. We are part of a great drama and worldly achievements, intelligence that God has chosen to be a participant in, or national origin, gender or sexuality. So not in the rôle of a conquering king but as should we. If we do not remember this and a suffering servant, not with the intention remind others of it, who will? to condemn the world but to redeem it.

HUGH PRICE HUGHES LECTURES 2016

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. All lectures will be held at Hinde Street Methodist Church at 7.30pm. Admission is free and all are welcome! www.hindestreet.org.uk/hph-lectures.html When science exceeds faith, and vice-versa: reflections on belief by an evolutionary biologist 9 February — Dr Robert Asher Curator of Vertebrates in the University of Cambridge and Paleobiologist

Thinking globally, act locally 8 March — Polly March Head of Campaigns and Policy at Global Justice

12 April — Revd Ric Stott Artist and Methodist Pioneer minister

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 and Media Consultant

14 ANNUAL SMALL CHOIRS FESTIVAL 2016 Saturday 6 February, 2 — 6pm at All Saints Afternoon rehearsal at 2pm, will be followed by a Festival Service, 5 – 6pm (with Fr John Pritchard presiding), when the festival pieces will be sung within a framework of well-known hymns and readings. The Small Choirs Festivals are ecumenical in nature and, in previous years, church choirs from all the major denominations have been represented. One of the special features of the festivals is that participation is not restricted to small choirs only. Anyone who supports the ideals of the organisation is welcome to join in, whether from a large choir themselves or as a member of the All Saints’ congregation. So, if anyone from All Saints would like to be part of the Festival, just access the website (www.small-choirs.org.uk/feb2016), see what is being sung, and fill in the online form. Alternatively, ring Philip Norman, on 020 8519 6491 or mob: 07939 064 247 or e-mail: [email protected]. Even if you are not available to sing, do support the concluding festival from 5 — 6pm.

FOR YOUR DIARIES: ORGAN RECITALS 2016

These all take place on Sunday at 7.15pm following Benediction: 20 March, Palm Sunday — Laurence Long 22 May, Trinity Sunday — David Graham, Organist and Director of Music at The Jesuit Church of the Immaculate Conception, Farm Street, Mayfair 3 July — Timothy Byram-Wigfield 18 September — Charles Andrews 20 November, Christ the King — Charles Andrews

Entry is free, but we invite you to make a retiring donation (recommended £5) to support the Choir and Music at All Saints. The Licensed Club/Bar is open after each recital.

15 SERMON PREACHED BY FATHER BARRY ORFORD AT EVENSONG AND BENEDICTION, EPIPHANY 2, 2016

The second lesson this evening was from baptism, a body which has Christ as its the letter of St Paul to the Ephesians. Or was head. It’s this togetherness of the Christian it? I say that because I imagine that scholars community which Ephesians emphasises. are still debating whether Ephesians was Christians are not meant to be individuals, actually written by St Paul, or whether it each pursuing their private lives with God. was written by someone who lived at the Christian life is meant to be a shared task, same time as St Paul, thought in the same where we must support each other. way as St Paul, and called himself Paul. At this point you may be thinking, “Yes, Well, I mustn’t be flippant, because there it’s all very well describing the Church like are genuine questions about the origin that; but have you actually encountered of Ephesians; but they don’t matter this it? If you want to see a good bout of in- evening, so let’s call the writer Paul and fighting, go to a Church meeting.” look at what he says. It’s because of this truth — and it was as Although our reading was quite densely true of the first Christians as it is today — packed, there’s one thing which stands out that Paul makes a vital point. “Remember,” clearly, and that is that it’s about what the he says, “You’re not just a group of people Christian Church should be like — and not brought together by a shared interest. just in a high-flying, speculative way, but in You’ve actually been brought together by everyday, practical terms. the Holy Spirit. So in Church matters it can One problem we have when we read St never properly be a question of what you Paul talking about the Church is reminding as individuals want or don’t want. It must ourselves that he’s not speaking about a be about seeing where the Holy Spirit is building set apart for worship, with an leading you, and following that.” altar and chairs or pews, perhaps even a Our passage from Ephesians strikes home tower and a steeple. He’s dealing primarily with particular force after a week when with a community of people, people who we’ve been seeing disagreement and the meet together to worship the God who has prospect of major division in the Anglican revealed Himself in Christ. They might be Communion. It’s not been an edifying meeting in the equivalent of someone’s sight, and the result of all the discussion has living room at home. That was the situation not been a happy one, because despite the of the early Christians. positive-sounding rhetoric in the Statement In the Letter to the Ephesians, though, made by the bishops at the end of their there’s a bit of a shift. There, we see the meeting, it’s clear that it’s likely to mark picture emerging of the Church as not only a pause in hostilities. Worse still is simply a local gathering, but as a society the means by which this position has been preparing to carry the Good News of Jesus achieved. The isolating of the Episcopal throughout the world. Nonetheless, it’s Church in the United States for several years still a body of people bound together by was predictable. But is the humiliation and

16 betrayal of faithful homosexual Christians which counts is achieved by the Spirit of an acceptable price for achieving an illusion Christ working in us together. It is that of harmony in the Anglican Communion? awareness — and only that awareness — which can prevent individuals or groups I don’t want to pursue this in detail, but trying to enforce their wishes upon two things require notice. The first is that everyone else, whatever the damage to the there is a spirit at work in the Anglican greater body. Communion which reflects the spirit at work in the wider world — a spirit which This poses a question which needs to be is after conquest, wanting to separate true asked and answered by every member of believers (so-called) from false, and making the Church. “Am I, in the Church, a force sure that the supposedly false believers for harmony or for division?” Here, it does are forced out. This spirit operates on the come down to a matter of individuals, international level and on the local Church as Paul writes in Ephesians. He says that level as well. The other point is to ask how every member of the Church has some gift, far this is compatible with what Paul writes some quality, to bring to the Christian body in Ephesians. Let’s hear it again: to strengthen it and build it up. That way everyone is enriched. The divisive person “I… beg you to lead a life worthy of the weakens the entire Body. calling to which you have been called, with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, I’ve been speaking against the background forbearing one another in love, eager to of events in Canterbury last week, but maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond I could as well have spoken against the of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, background of the Week of Prayer for just as you were called to the one hope that Christian Unity which begins tomorrow. belongs to your call, one Lord, one faith, How many Christians in this country notice one baptism, one God and Father of us all, that it’s happening? And even among those who is above all and through all and in all.” who do, there often is another spirit at work, one which says, “Why bother with The Spirit there is the Spirit of Our Lord this? The whole notion of Christian unity is Jesus Christ, not the spirit of domination dead after the divisions which have grown and self-seeking. That’s not to say that the up between denominations in the past thirty Church should speak with a bland voice years.” And it’s easy to point to events on saying “we all agree about everything”. all sides which have frozen any desire for That’s not likely, as you may have noticed. greater Christian unity. Part of Christian maturity — and Paul stresses the importance of that maturity It’s often been said that the primary — is to recognize that different points of work of the devil is to cause dissension view can sometimes be invigorating and and division between members of the creative for our community. In this respect Church. That way the impact of the Gospel the Church is like a building which stands is weakened, energies are dissipated, solid because of tension. Buildings survive and the real enemies of Christian faith in because of the tensions between different society and the world are not confronted parts of their fabric. So in the Church, a and challenged, as the Archbishop of spurious unity is no unity. The only unity Canterbury has hinted.

17 However, another work of the devil is I once saw part of a sermon delivered to breed in us a spirit of despondency — by Archbishop Desmond Tutu in America. what used to be called the sin of Despair. He quoted the words of Jesus in St John’s And it is a sin, because this despondency in Gospel, “I, when I am lifted up from the Christians is actually saying that things are earth, will draw all people to myself”. (John so bad that even God can do nothing about 12: 32) It was a reference to the Crucifixion, them. Saying that is to ally ourselves with of course, and a reminder that trying to atheism. bring the love of God to others may lead you to great suffering. But the point of it, How different all this is from the Letter as the Archbishop said, was that this is the to the Ephesians. There, Paul calls us to sacrificial love of the God who wants to call “the work of ministry… building up the all people to himself — not just selected body of Christ, until we all attain to the and approved ones, but all. And, smiling unity of the faith and of the knowledge of broadly, Archbishop Desmond began a list the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of those whom God is calling — he referred of the stature of the fullness of Christ”. The to “men and women; black and white; gay task laid upon us is to “grow up in every and straight; intelligent — not so intelligent; way into Him who is the head, into Christ, beautiful — not so beautiful”. By this time from whom the whole body, joined and the congregation was laughing with him, knit together by every joint with which and he ended by repeating the words “I will it is supplied, when each part is working draw ALL people to myself”. And that final properly, makes bodily growth and up- “ALL” was a shout. builds itself in love”. It’s the calling of all Christians to serve Once again, the call is to be not half- that message, and to do so by working hearted and easily discouraged Christians, together, whatever the difficulties. To be but fully committed ones, dedicated in both truthful and loving is not easy, but that whatever way we can be to serving Christ is the example which our Lord Jesus Christ in His Church and praying to discover what sets before us. That Good News is greater Christ wants for His Church. than any one of us. Are we committed to That phrase about building up the Body living that Gospel together, not for our own of Christ in love goes to the heart of the ends but for the good of all God’s people? matter. It doesn’t mean some flabby, sentimental, mushy thing, but the kind 100 YEARS AGO of love which is tough enough to accept our fellow Christians so long as we are “All Saints’ Home has once more become all working together humbly for the a centre of the life and activities of the strengthening of Christ’s Body, the Church, community. Early in the autumn the and for the proclaiming of the Good News new Home was blessed, and later on the — a news which is good because it tells of Visitor, the Bishop of London, paid it an the presence of God with us and in all of us. official visit and gave his benediction to Punishing faithful Christians because they the re-established sisters. On this occasion are who they are and love those they love his Lordship was received at the entrance cannot be Good News. to the Home by the Reverend Mother and

18 the Community, and was conducted to the chapel, where, after prayers and an address SUNDAYS AND by the Bishop, a solemn Te Deum was sung, SOLEMNITIES Mr Vale and our choristers giving their assistance. Subsequently, the Community MUSIC AND READINGS entertained his Lordship, the priests who were their guests and the choristers to tea. TUESDAY 2 FEBRUARY PRESENTATION OF “It is a great happiness and help to us all to have a strong branch of the Community CHRIST IN THE TEMPLE established in the beautiful new Home (CANDLEMAS) and maintaining the traditional relation of our Church and the work. The Home PROCESSION AND HIGH is so designed as to be able to receive a MASS at 6.30pm considerable number of visitors and it is During the lighting of candles: hoped to hold frequent retreats for ladies Nunc Dimittis, 506 there. Between twenty and twenty-five can Processional Hymns: 33 (omit *), 157 be received at a time for this purpose. The Introit: Suscepimus first retreat, held by Fr Johnson SSJE, was Setting: Missa super Sancta Maria very well attended. The question has been — Händl asked whether these retreats are reserved Psalm: 24 for members of this congregation. That of Lessons: Malachi 3: 1 - 5 course is not the case; they are open to any Hebrews 2: 14 - end suitable applicant.” Hymn: 156 Gospel: Luke 2: 22 - 40 Lent this year begins very early. In 1916 Preacher: The Venerable it was very late. The Lent programme John Hawkins, would be announced in the March Parish Paper, but the Vicar wanted to give Creed: Credo II advance notice of some of the activities Offertory Motet: When to the temple including: Mary went — Eccard Hymns: 187, 295, 439 “… on Fridays after Evensong Fr Neville Voluntary: Toccata — Boëllmann Figgis CR will deliver six lectures on the philosophy of Nietzsche, the teacher about whom most of us talk so much and know ˜ SUNDAY 7 FEBRUARY so little. It is time we began to spread the SUNDAY NEXT news of these lectures among our friends.” BEFORE LENT Fascinating to hear that everyone at All Saints was talking about a German HIGH MASS at 11am philosopher; even if they had never read Entrance Hymn: 410 him. Introit: Illuxerunt Setting: Mass in G — Schubert

19 Psalm: 99 Lessons: Joel 2: 1 - 2, 12 - 17 Lessons: Exodus 34: 29 - end 2 Corinthians 5: 20b - 6: 10 2 Corinthians 3: 12 - 4: 2 Hymn: 60 Hymn: 177 Gospel: Matthew 6: 1 - 6, 16 - 21 Gospel: Luke 9: 28 - 36 Preacher: Fr Michael Bowie Preacher: The Vicar, Creed: Marbeck Prebendary Alan Moses At the Imposition: n ieiunio et fletu Creed: Schubert — Tallis Offertory Motet: Nunc Dimittis — Holst Offertory Motet: Libera nos, salva nos Hymns: 178, 308, 234 — Sheppard Voluntary: Prelude and Fugue in G Hymns: 70, 74, 445 BWV 541 — Bach ˜ SUNDAY 14 FEBRUARY CHORAL EVENSONG THE FIRST SUNDAY & BENEDICTION at 6pm Psalms: 89 OF LENT Lessons: Exodus 3: 1 - 6 HIGH MASS at 11am John 12: 27 - 36a Litany in Procession: Loosemore Office Hymn: 176 Introit: Invocabit me Canticles: Service in G — Howells Setting: Mass for five voices — Byrd Anthem: Bring us, O Lord God Psalm: 91: 1 - 2, 9 - end — Harris Lessons: Deuteronomy 26: 1 - 11 Preacher: Fr Julian Browning Romans 10: 8b - 13 Hymn: 487 (T 447; v 3 Descant Hymn: 67 — Caplin) Gospel: Luke 4: 1 - 13 O Salutaris: Bach (No 1) Preacher: The Vicar, Hymn: 389 Prebendary Alan Moses Tantum ergo: Bach (No 1) Creed: Byrd Voluntary: O Welt, ich muss dich lassen, Offertory Motet: Salvator mundi I Op 122 No 3 — Brahms — Tallis Hymns: 278, 292, 65 WEDNESDAY 10 FEBRUARY CHORAL EVENSONG & ASH WEDNESDAY BENEDICTION at 6pm Psalm: 119: 73 - 88 HIGH MASS at 6.30pm Lessons: Jonah ch. 3 Entrance Hymn: 507 Luke18: 9 - 14 Introit: Misereris Office Hymn:59 Setting: Missa ‘Emendemus in Canticles: The Short Service — Byrd melius’ — Palestrina Anthem: Salvator mundi II — Tallis Psalm: 51: 1 - 13 Preacher: Fr Michael Bowie Hymn: 294

20 O Salutaris: 84 ˜ SUNDAY 28 FEBRUARY Hymn: 66 Tantum ergo: 470 THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT ˜ SUNDAY 21 FEBRUARY HIGH MASS at 11am SECOND SUNDAY Entrance Hymn: 507 OF LENT Introit: Oculi mei Setting: Mass for three voices HIGH MASS at 11am — Lotti Entrance Hymn: 507 Psalm: 63: 1 - 9 Introit: Reminiscere Lessons: Isaiah 55: 1 - 9 Setting: Mass for Double Choir 1 Corinthians 10: 1 - 13 — Frank Martin Hymn: 362 Psalm: 27 Gospel: Luke 13: 1 - 9 Lessons: Genesis 15: 1 - 12, 17 - 18 Preacher: Fr Julian Browning Philippians 3: 17 - 4: 1 Creed: Credo II Hymn: 62 Offertory Motet: O Lord, in thy wrath Gospel: Luke 13: 31 - 35 — Gibbons Preacher: Fr Michael Bowie Hymns: 276, 277, 345 Creed: Credo IV Offertory Motet: Der Mensch lebt und CHORAL EVENSONG bestehet nur eine kleine Zeit & BENEDICTION at 6pm — Reger Psalms: 12; 13 Hymns: 72, 425, 148 (omit vv 2, Lessons: Genesis 28: 10 - 19a 3 and 4) John 1: 35 - end Office Hymn: 60 CHORAL EVENSONG & Canticles: The Short Service BENEDICTION at 6pm — Weelkes Psalm: 135 Anthem: Ne irascaris — Byrd Lessons: Jeremiah 22: 1 - 9, 13 - 17 Preacher: Fr Michael Bowie Luke 14: 27 - 33 Hymn: 392 Office Hymn: 60 O Salutaris: 493 Canticles: Service for Double Choir Hymn: 209 in G — Wood Tantum ergo: 470 Anthem: Dear Lord of life — Tomkins Preacher: The Vicar, Prebendary Alan Moses Hymn: 73 (i) O Salutaris: 94 Hymn: 70 (i) Information correct at the time of going Tantum ergo: 295 to press.

21 ALL SAINTS FOUNDATION The Foundation ’s Purpose is to assist the parish in the maintenance and restoration of our Grade 1 listed building. The trustees are able to expend both capital and income to this end. The Administrator of the Foundation is Damon Brash. He can be contacted through the Parish Office if you would like more information about making a donation or a bequest. The Foundation ’s Charity Number is: 273390.

CHOIR AND MUSIC TRUST The Trust ’s purpose is to support the music of All Saints. It makes grants to the PCC to assist with the costs of the choir. At the moment, these meet just over half of the music budget each year. The Trust ’s capital cannot be spent, only the income. The Administrator of the Trust is Geoffrey Woodcock. He can be contacted through the Parish Office if you would like further information about how to make a donation or bequest. The Choir and Music Trust ’s Charity Number is: 802994

FRIENDS OF ALL SAINTS The Friends of All Saints is a fellowship of people who have some connection with All Saints: former or occasional worshippers. It enables them to support our work through prayer and giving. The Friends are prayed for on a rota each day at Morning Prayer, and on the second Wednesday of the month the Friends ’ Candle burns in church and they are prayed for at Mass. Please contact Dee Prior in the Parish Office in relation to Friends ’ matters.

MISSION PROJECTS We support: The work of US (formerly USPG) with the Church in Zimbabwe among people affected by HIV-AIDS; The Church Army hostels and programmes for homeless women in Marylebone; The West London Day Centre for the homeless. Janet Drake chairs our Mission Committee and she can be contacted through the Parish Office.

22 KEEPING IN TOUCH Parish Officials Churchwardens: As well as the monthly Parish Paper, John Forde 020 7592 9855 you can keep in touch with life at All Chris Self 020 7723 2938 Saints through: PCC Secretary: John McWhinney The All Saints Website [email protected]. www.allsaintsmargaretstreet.org.uk Phone messages to the Parish Office Hon Treasurer: The Weekly Parish E-mail Patrick Hartley 020 7607 0060 This gives weekly news of events, Director of Music: people to pray for, and a short letter from the Vicar or Assistant Priest. You Timothy Byram-Wigfield can subscribe through the All Saints c/o 020 7636 1788 Associate Director of Music: website — see News and Events/Weekly Newsletter for directions about signing Charles Andrews c/o 020 7636 1788 up. Electoral Roll Officer: Catherine Burling c/o 020 7636 1788 The Weekly Notices included in ------the Sunday service booklet, which Service Times worshippers are encouraged to take away Sundays: with them. Low Mass at 6.30pm (Sat) ------8am and 5.15pm Vicar: Morning Prayer 10.20am Prebendary Alan Moses HIGH MASS and SERMON at 11am 020 7636 1788 CHORAL EVENSONG, SERMON and Mobile: 07973 878040 BENEDICTION at 6pm. Email: [email protected]. Monday to Friday: Morning Prayer at 7.30am Assistant Priest: Low Mass at 8am, 1.10pm and 6.30pm The Revd Dr Michael Bowie Confessions 12.30 - 1pm and 5.30pm 020 3632 4309 Evening Prayer at 6pm Email: [email protected]. (Except bank holidays — 12 noon Mass only) Honorary Assistant Priests: The Revd Gerald Beauchamp Saturdays: 020 7258 0724 Morning Prayer at 7.30am The Revd Julian Browning Low Mass at 12 noon and 6.30pm* 020 7286 6034 (* First Mass of Sunday) Confessions 5.30pm. Parish Administrator: Evening Prayer 6pm. Dee Prior 020 7636 1788 On major weekday feasts, High Mass is Email: [email protected] sung at 6.30pm

23 CALENDAR AND INTENTIONS FOR FEBRUARY 2016

1 Bridget, Abbess of Kildare, 525 The Church in Ireland 2 THE PRESENTATION OF CHRIST IN THE TEMPLE (CANDLEMAS) 3 Anskar, Abp of Hamburg, Missionary in Denmark and Sweden, 865 Porvoo Communion 4 Gilbert of Sempringham, 1189 Unity 5 Those in need 6 The Martyrs of Japan (The Accession of Queen Elizabeth II) The Queen 7 ✠ THE SUNDAY NEXT BEFORE LENT Our parish and people 8 Friends of All Saints 9 Preparation for Lent 10 ASH WEDNESDAY Renewal in Discipleship 11 Unity 12 Those in need 13 Lent Groups 14 ✠ THE FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT Our parish and people 15 Sigfrid, Bishop, Apostle of Sweden, 1045, Thomas Bray, Priest, 1730 SPCK and Us 16 General Synod 17 Janani Luwum, Abp of Uganda, Martyr, 1977 Ember Day Vocations 18 Unity 19 Ember Day Directors of Ordinands 20 Ember Day Theological Colleges 21 ✠ THE SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT Our parish and people 22 Local government 23 Polycarp, Bishop of Smyrna, Martyr, c 155 Persecuted Christians 24 Refugees 25 Unity 26 Those in need 27 George Herbert, Priest, Poet, 1633 Poets 28 ✠ THE THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT Our parish and people 29 The Media

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