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All Saints Parish Paper 7, MARGARET STREET, LONDON W1W 8JG www.allsaintsmargaretstreet.org.uk March 2020 £1.00

The Assistant writes:

As we begin the holy season of and our preparation for the Great Week, we all make resolutions which, like New Year’s resolutions, don’t always survive the 40 days. ‘Giving (something) up for Lent’ is the default cliché: while it is salutary for us who have so much to give up a luxury such as alcohol or chocolate, or whatever it may be, that is mostly a token observance in the context of our plenty (frankly, even these things are hardly luxuries to us). Prayer and study are obviously good things to take on (suggestions below), but this is also the time to review our giving and our interactions with others. The traditional ‘ works of mercy’ are A Photograph by a Russian visitor a good place to start: to feed the hungry, to give drink to the thirsty, to clothe the Stations of the Cross which we offer at naked, to give shelter to travellers, to visit 7pm on the Fridays of the season. the sick, to visit the imprisoned, and to bury the dead. That list is intended literally At one end of the prayer-life spectrum, but also as a reminder of how to live the Lent is a good time to re-start or enhance Christian life: generously, mercifully and your participation in the Daily Office, humbly. the prayer of the Church, which exists in many forms (most of them now available If you need to re-focus you might find on your phone!). Praying the Office means one of the following suggestions helpful: you are praying with the whole Church It may seem obvious to say it, but adding and steeping yourself in scripture as well a weekday to your regular rule of life as praise, thanksgiving and intercession. would be the perfect place to begin. Also, At the other end of that prayer-life of course, there is the Lenten devotion of spectrum, I recommend a book called How

1 to sit with God: a Practical Guide to Silent rather than make a grand plan and find Prayer, by Jean-Marie Gueuellette OP ourselves discouraged when we fail. (2018), recently published in English. It I look forward to joining with you in the is, as it says on the cover, a very practical worship and personal recalibration of this resource which aims to demystify silent season. prayer: Fr Gueuellette shows that this Fr Michael form of prayer is not an elite activity, nor is it fundamentally difficult, once it is Clive Wright understood. A very different book, from our almost- It was with great sadness that I reported on neighbour, Fr Sam Wells of St Martin in the Candlemas morning that Clive had died Fields, is Walk humbly: Encouragements in the early hours of that day. I had been for Living, Working and Being. This able to anoint him the previous evening deceptively simple book, suggesting and seen him briefly a couple more times an almost behaviouralist approach to in the previous week. His loving family Christian living that is nonetheless deeply and his (and our) friend Pat Phillips were rooted in scripture and Christian tradition, with him more or less the whole time he will repay slow reading. was in hospital, which will have been a tremendous support to him. Fr Timothy Radcliffe OP has recently published Alive in God: A Christian Clive had been struggling physically for Imagination. This is a much longer but some time, though he had never stinted in extremely readable book in which Fr his care for (and daily visits to) his beloved Timothy argues that we show how wife Joy in her lengthy illness (her funeral everything we believe is an invitation was at All Saints just under two years ago). to live fully. He sees imagination as our His private suffering never compromised indispensible tool in understanding our his concern for the rest of his family or his Lord’s words, ‘I came that they may have thoughtful engagement with our parish, life and have it abundantly’. Abundant life is the horizon for which Lent ought to aim, and this book will be a stimulating companion. For those who would like to deepen their understanding of the Mass, I repeat my recent plug for The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass: A Search for an Acceptable Notion of Sacrifice, by Michael McGuckian SJ. The more we understand what we do in church, the better we will worship. Try to have a happy and productive Lent. If we want to make the best use of this annual opportunity it is best to approach it gently and take on one thing at a time, Clive and Joy on his 80th Birthday

2 among the many other associations of his full and productive life. Knowing Clive has been a highlight of my six years in this parish: we became good friends, meeting for lunch or dinner every couple of months as his family commitments allowed and setting the world and the Church (about both of which he held well-argued and strong views) to rights. A regular communicant on Thursday mornings in addition to his Sunday Mass attendance, he maintained friendships within and without the church his friendship as well as his priestly help with dedication and loyalty. Clive was over the past six years. Because he died interested in everything and well-read in in France, where he had lived for several many areas, to which he applied a restless years, the funeral had to happen and rigorous interrogative intelligence. He quickly and locally: his sister Caroline was well-travelled and a great devotee of tells me that the local Roman Catholic the arts (with a special love of Schubert, priest was kindness personified, making as many of you will know); a courteous, sure that Fr David received the last rites kind and gentle man, who cared deeply for and that his Requiem Mass honoured him his fellow men and women, his church and as a priest in the Church of God. his country. There will be a Solemn Requiem for His funeral is at All Saints on Monday 2 Fr David at All Saints on Saturday 28th March at 11am. We shall all miss him and March at 12 noon. we extend our deepest sympathy to Nick Fr Michael and Martin and the rest of his family. May he rest in peace and rise in glory. Ros Tagoe Fr Michael Many of you will remember Ros Tagoe Fr David Paton who died recently and who had been a regular worshipper at All Saints and a It was a shock to many of us to learn, last forceful encourager of others in their December, that Fr David Paton had died: he commitment to the parish. It was a great had (typically) not let many people know honour to offer her Funeral Requiem and how ill he was. His god-daughter Judith to meet many of her extended family, Mather had only spoken to him a few days especially her lifelong friend Professor earlier and we were hoping to see him Miranda Greenstreet, a distinguished again for his accustomed Christmas visit Ghanaian stateswoman and academic, (he celebrated Mass here in who is clearly also a great matriarch and Week last year). His was a very of the Church in Accra. Ros had a long and highly valued association with distinguished career in radiography and All Saints and I have greatly appreciated made a significant contribution to the care

3 of cancer patients in the NHS, a career that disciplined devotion to practising our informed by her faith. faith which we need to recover if we are to share it with conviction. I reproduce below the sermon from her Fr Michael Requiem: she would want to remind us of Ros Tagoe The words ‘a pillar of expectation was the Church’ are often instilled in her by applied to devout her Anglo-Catholic and committed upbringing in members of a Ghana and her parish community: Methodist school. Rosamonde was We not only admire one such all her life. her unflinching But her biography, devotion but should thoughtfully provided also be recalled to for you in the order the practise of that of service by her discipline ourselves if lifelong friends the we want the church to Greenstreets, and her flourish as she helped work tribute which it to do. you’ve just heard, reveals so much more: it Born on All Saints’ Day, there was shows that she conscientiously fulfilled her obviously only one place for Ros to anchor commitment to God while also working her worship once she came to London as a skilled professional in the medical all those decades ago. And once she was field, maintaining a significant position in here, as in everything she did, she gave her beloved family and enjoying her love her all and did her bit to bring others too. of travel and her well-developed sense of Her many godchildren are mentioned in style. A full life, as well as one offered to the biography. But here at All Saints we the Lord. remain in her special debt for bringing her We are used to hearing, and perhaps cousin Joseph here on her 60th birthday, even saying, that we ‘don’t have time’ in 1992. He has never left, recalling that for various activities, including church. as he approached the building with Ros Ros’s commitment here in such a busy and and heard the music of the All Saints fulfilled life shames all of us when we are Festival High Mass he felt he had come tempted that way: Cedric Stephens tells me home; shortly afterwards Cedric Stephens that her greeting to anyone who hadn’t been conspired with Ros to enroll Joe as a here the previous Sunday would always be server and here he is today assisting at her ‘Are you feeling better?’, the unspoken Requiem. As we just heard from St Paul, (or sometimes spoken) follow-up being ‘if ‘the life and death of each of us has its you weren’t at death’s door, why weren’t influence on others’: I am sure Ros left a you here?’ No doubt that disciplined similar mark for the good on many lives.

4 In her earlier years here, back in the music and drama no doubt contributed to 1970s, Ros took full part in the life of the her love of our form of worship, but our Institute of Christian Studies and involved tradition of faith and worship had been herself in the catering committee there. with her all her life, thanks to those Anglo- When it closed other things took its place. Catholic missionaries in Ghana decades Whenever she could contribute Ros did ago. Her faith informed and sustained her so, bringing all the skill, enthusiasm and work in a caring profession and in her largeness of heart and character evident in diligent application to improving the care her career to her life in the Church. Her of others. God wants that and she knew active involvement here as a worshipper it. He gave her a big heart and a strong continued as long as she was able to come personality to apply to her work as well as and she continued to receive her lived faith, and we thank him for that when she couldn’t be here. Her hope was today. indeed ‘full of immortality’. says to There’s a hymn we love at All Saints us in the today that if we receive which has traditionally been used here at this we will share in eternal life more than one festival of the church year with God: Ros knew that and we offer this including Dedication Festival, and All Mass with the prayer that she now joins in Saints Day itself. As Ros was, by birth, an the heavenly worship, and no doubt keeps All Saints baby it aptly says what she and the angels up to the mark. we believe, as we commend her to God and Ros loved to worship God. Her love of to the worship of the company of .

In our day of thanksgiving one psalm let us offer For the saints who before us have found their reward; When the shadow of death fell upon them, we sorrowed, But now we rejoice that they rest in the Lord.

In the morning of life, and at noon, and at even, He called them away from our worship below; But not till his love, at the font and the , Had girt them with grace for the way they should go.

These stones that have echoed their praises are holy, And dear is the ground where their feet have once trod; Yet here they confessed they were strangers and pilgrims, And still they were seeking the city of God.

Sing praise then, for all who here sought and here found him, Whose journey is ended, whose perils are past: They believed in the Light; and its glory is round them, Where the clouds of earth’s sorrow are lifted at last.

5 Sermon preached by Bill Scott in All Saints, MargareT Street on Candlemas 02.02.20

A light to lighten the Gentiles and to be the glory of thy people Israel. Jesus enters the temple and is described as lonely realism. Yet he was a man of real light and we light candles to celebrate and hope. For example, on one occasion, after enter into this Gospel event. giving a conference in which he laid out an To light a candle is an act of hope. historical vision of unity and peace for the world that paralleled the vision of scripture, I was speaking to an old South African he was challenged by some colleagues to lady the other day who told me that in the this effect: “That’s a wonderful, idealistic days of apartheid in South Africa, Christians vision of things, but suppose we blow there used to light candles and place them up the world with a nuclear bomb, what in windows as a sign to themselves and to happens to your vision then?” “That would others that they believed that some day this set things back some millions of years,” he injustice would end. A candle burning in a replied, “but this will still come to fruition, window was a sign of hope and a political not because I say so or because the facts statement. The government didn’t miss right now indicate that it will, but because the message. It passed a law making it God promised it and in the resurrection of illegal to place a lit candle in a window, the Jesus has shown that He is powerful enough offence being equal to owning a firearm, to deliver on that promise.” both considered equally dangerous. This eventually became a joke among the What we might well ask is hope? children: “Our government is afraid of lit First of all, it’s not wishful thinking. candles!” I can wish to win a lottery, but that wish, So we might well ask what we are up all by itself, contains no real power to to today lighting candles. I believe that make it happen. Second, hope is not just our faith in Jesus Christ who is light in natural optimism, an upbeat temperament the darkness is to be celebrated. Here we that always sees the bright side of things. celebrate our hope. Here we declare that An unwavering optimism about things Christ is the light of the world and that can sometimes even be helpful, but it’s no since his coming among us hope and joy basis for hope, like wishful thinking it lacks are ours despite the darkness and problems the power to make its own dream come of our life. true. Finally, hope is not simply shrewd observation and common sense, the talent There’s a story told about Teilhard de for sorting out the real from the fluff. Useful Chardin — the French idealist philosopher as this is, it’s still not hope. Why not? and Jesuit priest who trained as a paleontologist and geologist — that helps Because hope doesn’t base itself upon a illustrate this. Teilhard wasn’t much given shrewd assessment of the empirical facts, to wishful thinking or even to an optimistic but upon belief in a deeper set of realities: temperament, but tended rather towards a God’s existence, God’s power, God’s

6 goodness, and the promise that flows from kingdom of love and peace on this earth and that. is gracious, forgiving, and powerful enough Hope, as we can see from this, requires to do it. both faith and patience. It works like yeast, Liturgical life not like a microwave oven. Someone expressed this colourfully: “All politicians in the Church 2 are alike,” he says, “they hold a finger up and check which way the wind is blowing This is the second of a series of articles to and then make their decisions in that refresh our memory about how we live as Christian people nurtured in a Catholic direction. That will never change, even if discipline and tradition of worship. we change politicians. So we must change the wind! That’s hope’s task — to change It begins with some notes about the the wind!” liturgical ministries exercised at High Mass When we look at what has morally and then continues with Part 2 of the Mass, changed this world — from the great the Liturgy of the Word. religious traditions coming out of deserts, caves, and catacombs and helping morally The Ministers of High Mass leaven whole cultures to apartheid being overthrown in South Africa — we see that As the Mass is the Sacrifice of the new it has happened precisely when individuals Covenant, the Christian ministry requires a and groups lit candles and hoped long priesthood. The whole baptised community enough until the wind did change. is a ‘a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people’ (1 Peter 2: We light our candles with just that in 9), but the communion sacrifice (see last mind, accepting that changing the wind is a month) requires a specific priestly ministry long process, that the six o’clock news will to make the offering on behalf of the people. not always be positive, the stock markets This function reflects the priestly offering of will not always rise, the most sophisticated Christ himself who ‘ever lives to intercede defences in the world will not always for us with the Father’ (Hebrews 7: 25). protect us from terrorism, and secular liberal and conservative ideologies will not The word presbyter, ‘elder’, occurs often rid this planet of selfishness. in the . But from the earliest But we continue to light candles and hope (or ‘Apostolic’) Christian era, well before the scriptures were in their final form, the anyway, not on the basis of a worsening or terminology of the sacrificing priesthood improving six o’clock news, but because (Greek hiereus, Latin sacerdos) was applied the deepest reality of all is that God exists, to this ministerial order which shares with that the centre holds, that there’s ultimately the ministry of the all sacramental a gracious Lord who rules this universe, charisms except the gift of conferring the and this Lord is powerful enough to priesthood on others. rearrange the atoms of the planet and raise dead bodies to new life. We light candles of The ministry of priests is that of hope because God, who is more real than and mediating the offering of the whole anything else, has promised to establish a people of God (therefore of celebrating

7 Mass and conveying God’s absolution); this carry the ), two presiding ministry includes teaching and (who carry the processional candles which preaching. The priest is the Bishop’s deputy accompany the cross) and an MC (Master in the parish community and, united with a of Ceremonies), who prepares the books, college of fellow priests around the Bishop, vessels and , directs the servers represents the local Christian community in and assists the priest with the books. In a diocese. addition there may be up to six taperers or torchbearers, who kneel before the altar with Deacons are the first of the ‘major’ orders candles for the . of ministry. Those ordained as deacons trace , originally ordained ministers, their ministerial lineage to the first seven are now commissioned or admitted to deacons (whose ordination is mentioned in their ministry (like readers and eucharistic Acts 6), of whom Stephen, the first Martyr, ministers or assistants); the ministry is the best known. The ’s original of the is retained in the ceremonial primary function was to assist the Bishop. of High Mass. The rôle may be exercised by The passage in Acts has often led people a priest or a layperson (usually a layperson). to suppose that their principal ministry The subdeacon’s rôle is effectively that of a was service and social work, but recent senior , a link between the clerics research has shown that their rôle was both and the lay assistants at the altar. administrative, for the Bishop, and also liturgical, to act as a ‘bridge’ between the and Musicians Bishop (or priest, as representing the Bishop) Like altar servers and subdeacons, the choir and the people at Mass. For this reason the fulfils a rôle which was once inhabited by prayers of intercession and the censing of clergy or monks. In a Sung or High Mass the community, as well as the proclamation the various chants for each Sunday or of the Gospel, were traditionally assigned to Celebration (the ‘’: , , deacons. , communion chant) and the texts which are part of the Mass itself (the Deacons may be ‘permanent’ (remaining ‘Ordinary’: the , Gloria, / in this ministry) or ‘transitional’, meaning Benedictus, Agnus Dei) may be sung by the that they serve in this ministry before further clergy and congregation together, though ordination as priests. This progressive High Mass (and Evensong) usually draw reception of orders reflects the Ancient on the large repertoire of liturgical music, Roman cursus honorum, in which public which requires trained singers, who enhance offices could be held only in a strictly the liturgical offering. observed . This music may be sung unaccompanied Servers and Subdeacons or with instrumental accompaniment Altar servers are robed lay assistants to the (usually an organ) and the repertoire will clergy. In the simplest form of Mass only range from the ancient monastic chants one is usual, but for Sung Mass, High Mass (sometimes called Gregorian or plain chant), or Solemn Evensong a number of servers through polyphony and various classical may take part to enhance the ceremonial. styles, to modern compositions. At High Mass it is usual to have at least a thurifer (to provide ), a (to It is customary for the music of the

8 Mass also to include hymns sung by the The Gospel and Gospel Ceremonial congregation, which may be enhanced by The Gospel occupies a privileged position the choir with harmonies and descants. among scripture readings. The Gospel book In , and in the penitential season is carried in and honoured with of Lent, the music is plainer, with less incense; it is signed with the cross and kissed. accompaniment, reflecting the season. At This portion of scripture is also traditionally Evensong (and , if celebrated with read or sung by a deacon (or priest). A music) the choir will sing psalms, distinctive Gospel book, specially bound and and responses; it may also sing settings of carefully handled, may be used. The Gospel the two traditional hymns at Benediction. is the climax of the Liturgy of the Word. The were probably first composed for High Mass II: use in worship; they are privileged above The Liturgy of the Word other scripture by Christians because they Mass comprises four integrated actions: are the record of Jesus Christ. the introductory rites, the Liturgy of the Our worship is more than a weekly Word, the Liturgy of the Eucharist, and assembly of believers for prayer and the concluding rites. Within this structure fellowship. Liturgical worship, and the Mass the two most significant movements are in particular, is the core of . ‘The the Liturgies of Word and Sacrament, and Mass makes the Church’, as one modern within each of these there is a high point, theologian put it; our faith is brought to the Gospel and the Offering of the Eucharist, life and enacted by it. It is ‘the source and both of which welcome the Lord into the summit of the Christian life’. So these assembly. precious Gospel documents, the high point of the Liturgy of the Word, parallel to the The Liturgy of the Word locates our eucharistic offering itself, hold a unique worship within the history of salvation. On place in Christian life, and we should hear Sundays the Old Testament reading and them, listen as they are expounded, and seek psalm are linked to the reading from the to study them ourselves above all other texts. Gospel; to these a reading from the letters of the New Testament or Revelation is added The Sermon (on weekdays there is only one reading apart The sermon or is a vital part of the from the Gospel and it may be from Old or liturgy of the word on Sundays and feasts. In New Testament). some traditions a short homily is preached A ‘’, or table of biblical whenever scripture is read, signifying that references, determines which portions of the reading of scripture is part of a living scripture to read on every day of the year. tradition with which we engage at every Most Christian traditions throughout the Mass, not a fixed piece of past history. world read the same scriptural provision at Anglican tradition has usually reserved Mass on any given day. sermons for Sundays and principal Feasts. For Catholic Christians the Word of God The sermon usually focuses on the is a person, not a book: scripture readings are Gospel of the day and may seek to elucidate part of the Tradition which bears witness to all the readings. It may also engage with Jesus Christ, who is the Word made flesh. contemporary events, theology, spirituality,

9 ethics, and the practical living out of It is important for us to make this Christian faith, in a manner suggested by corporate proclamation of the Gospel the celebration or readings. together. The singing of the creed, like the It is not intended to be a lecture. Rather, singing of the Gospel, further expresses its the preacher aims, by prayer and study, importance in a High Mass: if the Gospel to engage with scripture or the day’s and the Eucharistic Prayer are sung, then celebration and to communicate directly a the creed should also be sung, ideally by living message for that occasion, which is everyone present, expressing a shared always in some sense a ‘one-off’. Texts and proclamation of the faith we are making recordings of sermons, while they may be incarnate in the liturgy. useful, are always secondary to the offering The Intercessions of a spoken communication on the day. The The intercessions or Prayers of the People sermon at Mass is also intended to lead us traditionally conclude the Liturgy of the forward in our journey through the liturgy Word. These prayers earth the particular towards our communion with Christ in celebration of Mass in an outward concern receiving the . for the needs of the Church and the world. The Creed Like the sermon they also relate to that Our response to Christ the Word of God day’s celebration. present among us in the reading of scripture The intercessions survive in their most at Sunday Mass is threefold: the sermon, ancient form in the Bidding Prayers on Good the creed, and the prayers of the faithful (or Friday (prayers for the Church, the clergy, intercessions). all Christians, our Jewish brothers and The word ‘creed’ comes from the first sisters, those who do not believe, for peace, word in the Latin translation, , ‘I and for all who suffer). These prayers bear believe’, which is how the older so-called witness to an early pattern of intercession Apostles’ Creed (used at Evensong) begins. in which we are asked (‘bidden’) to pray The ‘We believe’ form is original to the for a particular need, a silence follows in ‘Nicene’ Creed, the one we use at Mass. The which we form our own prayers, and then word ‘creed’ comes from the first word in a (see last month) sums up the the Latin translation of the Greek original: petition. Cranmer’s Prayer for the Church credo, ‘I believe’. This is how the older so- Militant was more like a lengthy collect, called Apostles’ Creed (used at Evensong) praying for various needs in order, read begins.The ‘Nicene’ Creed, which we use by the priest alone. Modern liturgy offers at Mass, originally began ‘We believe’, a pattern more like the biddings of Good but was altered to the singular in Latin, a Friday, usually covering the following five change which persists in the BCP version. subjects: Church, world, local Christian community, sick and suffering, dead. The creed is an agreed orthodox distillation of Christian truth, a proclamation The intercessions are introduced by of the whole Gospel in miniature, re-stating the celebrant ‘bidding’ us to pray, and the essential truths of our living encounter concluded with a single collect, which may with God in a form received from the living be said or sung by all. tradition of the Apostolic Church.

10 SERMON PREACHED by Fr Jack Noble at Evensong and Benediction on the 3rd SUNDAY Before Lent There are those moments when somebody we with Christ. Imagine what a Church like says something that shoots through you like that would be? a lance, and a phrase never leaves you. You And for myself, every day when in know what I mean. It’s, well, exactly the myriad ways I fail to live this out, and lapse opposite of the kind of waffle the poor folk back into the delusion of lust and fear and at St Marylebone Church and schools put ego and anger and bitterness and slander up with from me. (usually sometime before lunch), thank Anyway, a wise priest once said to me: God that at least some of the time Fr Eric ‘In the end, we have to decide if we are CR’s words help me to see those ways going to be life-givers or death-dealers’. for what they are: ‘In the end, we have to decide if we are going to be life-givers or It has never left me. death-dealers’. I wonder if the Early Church in Ephesus And which is it? was in interregnum, waiting on a visit from a be-sandaled archdeacon. There is an important coda to this… All those ways of being that have been Thanks be to God, in the face of our our ways, all those ways of being that we sinful messy humanity, we are not called to so easily slip back into; they are not our screw up all our power and bully ourselves future, they just aren’t, and they musn’t be. into becoming good. Ultimately, all that ego and greed and ab- It doesn’t work. use of one another are as the says We don’t become the people we are ‘deluded and corrupt’. Unfit for purpose, called to be by increasing self-scrutiny and broken. constriction. It is not so much ourselves Instead (as we are reminded every time that we have to look at, but Jesus. In heaven we pass through the door of church, past the we will be perfect not because we have font, and take the Water of from the scrubbed ourselves and unknotted all of stoop) we have been renewed — ‘marked our personality defects. We will be perfect with a seal for the day of redemption’ the because we will be full of God — we will epistle says. We have been forgiven and are see and know and need nothing but Him. called to live out that ‘grace’, ‘building up’, We begin this now. forgiving, with steadfastness in ‘kindness’ We as people, we as a church, are called and perseverance in ‘tender-hearted’-ness. to look at Jesus until we have no room in This we ‘learn’ from Christ, we are told, our vision, no room in our relationships but even more, we are to be ‘clothed’ in with God and self and each other, no room Christ. To be covered, drenched, pickled in in our lives and work and home, no room Jesus (we might say) until we cannot see for anything that is not the life that He is any of the ‘old’ self, because only the ‘new’ giving us. And all that which is less than one seeps from every pore, so clothed are Him, less than real, all that is (as St Paul

11 tells us) delusion and corruption: ab-use Preacher: Fr Michael Bowie of others in home and church and work, Creed: Credo II in business and on the internet and on our Motet: In ieiunio et fletu — Tallis streets, all that is unkind, or hard-hearted, Communion Hymn: 69 Lord, in this thy theft, anger, bitterness, malice, all that deals mercy’s day death and does not build up, will no longer Final Hymn: 64 Be thou my guardian be at home in us; its power gone — like and my guide scary shadows in a child’s bedroom when the light is switched on. Evensong & Benediction We won’t have slain the beast in some at 6pm bloody fight to the death, we will simply Psalm: 50 have spent our lives (and as we know it Lessons: Deuteronomy 6: 4 – 9, 16 – 25 does take a lifetime) putting on Christ until Luke 15: 1 – 10 we are, as I say, pickled in Jesus. And all Office Hymn: 60 O kind Creator, that is not Him, is exposed for what it is. In bow thine ear the reading of Scripture and times of silent Canticles: Byrd short prayer during the week, in a life nourished Anthem: Ne irascaris — Byrd by the grace of the , and, as Preacher: Fr Michael Bowie we have the gift this evening, time spent Hymn: 358 (ii) Father of heaven, looking on Him and He on us. To literally whose love profound fill our vision with Him, until we have O Salutaris: T 94 nothing else. Then we’ll have everything. Tantum ergo: T 393

Sundays & X SUNday 8 March Solemnities 2nd SUNDAY in LENT Music & Readings HIGH MASS at 11am Chant: Reminiscere miserationum tuarum X SUNday 1 March Entrance Hymn: 63 All ye who seek 1st SUNDAY in LENT a comfort sure Setting: Mass for double choir HIGH MASS at 11am — Martin Entrance Litany in Procession: Loosemore Readings: Genesis 12: 1 – 4a Entrance Chant: Invocabit me Romans 4: 1 – 5, 13 – 17 Setting: Western Wind Mass Psalm: 121 — Sheppard : 507 Hear us, O Lord, Readings: Genesis 2: 15 – 17, 3: 1 – 7 have mercy upon us Romans 5: 12 – 17 Gospel: John 3: 1 – 17 Psalm: 32 Preacher: Fr John Pritchard Gradual: 507 Hear us, O Lord, Creed: Merbecke have mercy upon us Offertory Motet: Meditabor — Rheinberger Gospel: Matthew 4: 1 – 11

12 Communion Hymn: 66 Forgive our sins Evensong & Benediction as we forgive at 6pm Final Hymn: 76 Take up thy cross Psalm: 40 the Saviour said (omit*) Lessons: Joshua 1: 1 – 9 Ephesians 6: 10 – 20 Evensong & Benediction Office Hymn: 60 O kind Creator, at 6pm bow thine ear Psalm: 135 Canticles: Canticles for 5 voices Lessons: Numbers 21: 4 – 9 — Weelkes Luke 14: 27 – 33 Anthem: In manus tuas — Tallis Office Hymn: 60 O kind Creator, Preacher: Fr Simon Cuff bow thine ear Hymn: 383 (ii) Jesu, lover of my soul Canticles: Gray in F minor O Salutaris: T 76 Anthem: O vos omnes — Cassals Tantum ergo: T 295 Preacher: Fr Peter McGeary Hymn: 439 (ii) Praise to the holiest X SUNday 22 March in the height th O Salutaris: T 493 4 SUNDAY in LENT Tantum ergo: T 202 (Laetare) HIGH MASS at 11am X SUNday 15 March Entrance Chant: Laetare, Ierusalem 3rd SUNDAY in LENT Entrance Hymn: 77 The God of love my Shepherd is HIGH MASS at 11am Setting: Mass in F K192 — Mozart Entrance Chant: Cum sanctificatus fuero Readings: 1 Samuel 16: 1 – 13 in vobis Ephesians 5: 8 – 14 Entrance Hymn: 74 O for a heart to praise Psalm: 23 my God Gradual: 386 O Jesu, King Setting: Mass for four voices — Byrd most wonderful Readings: Exodus 17: 1 – 7 Gospel: John 9: 1 – 41 Romans 5: 1 – 11 Preacher: Fr Michael Bowie Psalm: 95 Creed: Mozart Gradual: 507 Hear us, O Lord, Offertory Motet: Gott ist mein hirt have mercy upon us — Schubert Gospel: John 4: 5 – 42 Communion Hymn: 70 (i) Lord Jesus, Preacher: Fr Julian Browning think on me Creed: Byrd Final Hymn: 379 In the cross of Christ Offertory Motet: Misere mei — Byrd I glory Communion Hymn: 382 Jesu, grant me this Voluntary: Allegro from Trio Sonata in I pray G major BWV 630 iii — Bach Final Hymn: 73 (i) My God I love thee, not because

13 Evensong & Benediction X SUNday 29 March at 6pm 5th SUNDAY in LENT Psalm: 31 Lessons: Micah 7 (Passion Sunday) James 5 HIGH MASS at 11am Office Hymn: 60 O kind Creator, Entrance Chant: Iudica me, Deus bow thine ear Entrance Hymn: 94 We sing the praise Canticles: Noble in b minor of him who died Anthem: My soul there is a country Setting: Missa Pange Lingua — Parry — Josquin Preacher: Fr Julian Browning Readings: Ezekiel 37: 1 – 14 Hymn: 94 We sing the praise of him Romans 8: 6 – 11 who died Psalm: 130 O Salutaris: Byrd à 6 Gradual: 507 Hear us, O Lord, Tantum ergo: Tallis have mercy upon us Voluntary: Tranquilly (From ‘A Little Gospel: John 11: 1 – 45 Organ Book’) — Parry Preacher: Fr Michael Bowie Creed: Credo II Wednesday 25 March Offertory Motet: Annunciation Communion Hymn: 83 Glory be to Jesus of the Lord Final Hymn: 439 Praise to the holiest in the height HIGH MASS at 6.30pm Entrance Chant: Dominus ingrediens Evensong mundum & Benediction at 6pm Entrance Hymn: 188 (ii) Ye who own the Psalm: 30 faith of Jesus Lessons: Lamentations 3: 19 – 33 Setting: Jugendmesse — Haydn Matthew 20: 17 – 34 Readings: Isaiah 7: 10 – 14 Office Hymn: 79 The royal banners Hebrews 10: 4 – 10 forward go Psalm: 40: 6 – 12 Canticles: Magnificat — Guerrero Gradual: 185 Sing we of the blessed Nunc Dimittis — Viadana Mother Anthem: Miserere mei, Deus — Allegri Gospel: Luke 1: 26 – 38 Hymn: 84 It is a thing most wonderful Preacher: Fr Peter McGeary O Salutaris: Anerio Creed: Haydn Tantum ergo: Asola Offertory Motet: Ave Maria — Bruckner Communion Hymn: 187 Virgin born, we bow before thee Voluntary: Prelude, Fugue, and Chaconne in C BuxWV 137 — Buxtehude Information correct at the time of going to press

14 CALENDAR and INTENTIONS for MARCH 2020

1 X LENT 1 Parish and people 2 Feria The homeless 3 Feria Penitents 4 Feria Preachers 5 Feria Unity 6 Feria Those in need 7 Feria (BVM) Devotion to Our Lady 8 X LENT 2 Parish and people 9 Feria Generosity 10 Feria Assistant clergy 11 Feria Servers 12 Feria Unity 13 Feria Those in need 14 Feria (OLW Cell Mass) Walsingham pilgrims 15 X LENT 3 Parish and people 16 Feria Choir 17 S Patrick Irish Christians 18 Feria Servers 19 S JOSEPH Unity 20 Feria Those in need 21 Feria (monthly requiem) Faithful departed 22 X LENT 4 (Laetare) Parish and people 23 Feria Missionaries 24 Feria Healing ministries 25 THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE LORD Parish of the Annunciation 26 Feria Unity 27 Feria Those in need 28 Feria (BVM) Evangelists 29 X LENT 5 (Passion Sunday) Parish and people 30 Feria Mercy 31 Feria Faith in Jesus

15 HOLY WEEK 2020 We look forward to welcoming Bishop Rowan Williams as our Holy Week Preacher this year.

Bishop Rowan will be with us from Palm Sunday to Easter Day as follows: Palm Sunday 11am High Mass Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in Holy Week 6.30pm Mass Maundy Thursday 6.30pm High Mass 1pm Solemn Liturgy Holy Saturday 9pm Easter Vigil Easter Day 11am High Mass

Set and Printed by S Alban’s Church Litho Unit Birmingham B12 0XB