Church of the Annunciation, Marble Arch, London

• Sunday 2 February 2020 at 10:30am
  Presentation of Christ in the Temple (Candlemas)

  Liturgy	Details
  Hymns:	156 Sing how the age-long promise of a Saviour (tune 404) 33 Of the Father's love begotten 157 Hail to the Lord who comes (if needed) 187 Virgin born, we bow before thee
  First Lesson:	Malachi 3. 1-5
  Gospel:	Luke 2. 22-40

  ---

  Role	People
  Clergy	Fr Jack Noble
  Sidesman	Muminur Choudhury
  Reader	Muminur Choudhury
  Server	Joshua Chua
  Refreshments
  Sunday School Session Leader	Julia Duhamel
  Sunday School 8+ Leader	Vladka Thwaites
  Sunday School Crafts Coordinator	Sherry Robbins
  Sunday School Music	Steve Phillips
  Children's Church Attendance	Gavin Monk
  Sunday School Tables Volunteer
  Clearing up

   Close
• Sunday 9 February 2020 at 10:30am
  Third Sunday before Lent

  Liturgy	Details
  Hymns:	433 O worship the King all glorious above 347 Come, gracious Spirit, heavenly Dove 464 Thou art the way: by thee alone 310 We hail thy Presence glorious
  First Lesson:	1 Corinthians 2. 1-12
  Gospel:	Matthew 5. 13-20

  ---

  Role	People
  Clergy
  Sidesman
  Reader
  Server
  Refreshments
  Sunday School Session Leader	Benjamin Bouchet-Le Bot
  Sunday School 8+ Leader
  Sunday School Crafts Coordinator	Sherry Robbins
  Sunday School Music	Steve Phillips
  Children's Church Attendance	Gavin Monk
  Sunday School Tables Volunteer
  Clearing up

   Close
• Sunday 16 February 2020 at 10:30am
  Second Sunday before Lent

  Liturgy	Details
  Hymns:	333 All my hope on God is founded 305 Soul of my Saviour, sanctify my breast 335 All praise to thee, for thou, O King divine 377 Immortal, invisible, God only wise (if needed)
  First Lesson:	Romans 8. 12-25
  Gospel:	Matthew 6. 25-34

  ---

  Role	People
  Clergy	Fr Jack Noble
  Sidesman
  Reader
  Server
  Refreshments
  Sunday School Session Leader	Lisa Shaforotsova
  Sunday School 8+ Leader
  Sunday School Crafts Coordinator	Sherry Robbins
  Sunday School Music	Steve Phillips
  Children's Church Attendance	Gavin Monk
  Sunday School Tables Volunteer
  Clearing up

   Close
• Sunday 23 February 2020 at 10:30am
  Sunday next before Lent

  Liturgy	Details
  Hymns:	440 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation 494 Christ is the world's true Light (tune 1) 285 For the beauty of the earth ((Tune 2)) 287 Glory, love, and praise, and honor
  First Lesson:	2 Peter 1. 16-21
  Gospel:	Matthew 17. 1-9

  ---

  Role	People
  Clergy
  Sidesman
  Reader
  Server
  Refreshments
  Sunday School Session Leader	Christina Botelho
  Sunday School 8+ Leader
  Sunday School Crafts Coordinator	Sherry Robbins
  Sunday School Music	Steve Phillips
  Children's Church Attendance	Gavin Monk
  Sunday School Tables Volunteer
  Clearing up

   Close

• Monday 27th January 2020

  Fr Gerald's 'Thank You' after his Last Sunday

  Yesterday evening I read through the many cards and greetings that I received in the morning. And I looked through the book of messages and photos that Vladka put together. I reflected on the things that people said and the speech that Steve made.
  
  I will always remember the mass, the lunch and the community gathered together. I was profoundly moved. Yeah, OK, I cried but the tears were both of sorrow and of joy.
  
  Sorrow, because I will miss you all and this part of London very much.
  
  To be a parish priest is to be a gardener. Gardeners rarely start from scratch. I didn’t. Just like plants, parishes and people are all different. Plants need care. Communities and people need prayer – prayer that is put into action to develop a ‘garden’ that has a particular style and beauty.
  
  The look of the show yesterday was amazing - with so many people, beautiful music and the church brimming with life.
  
  But more importantly, there was and is joy. As Steve said, it was a celebration of the last decade. It was lovely to see some of the people who have moved on but came back to be a part of yesterday.
  
  I’ve baptized many of the children and the photo album is full of christening photos. Some of the children I’ve also prepared for Confirmation.
  
  A previous bishop in this diocese said that his commission to his clergy boiled down to one thing: ‘Leave a parish in better shape than you found it’. I hope that I’ve done that.
  
  I’ve been a part of your lives through some crucial moments but as I tried to say in my sermon life is primarily about being rather than doing. Meaning comes from presence not presents.
  
  I didn’t take my decision to retire now lightly but as I thought about the future 12 months ago, I knew that coming up to 65 would be the time to find the space to work out what the coming years might look like.
  
  So, in a few weeks after I have cleared the vicarage I will set off on my travels. I was bowled over by the card that said that I will be receiving a large sum as a farewell gift. Thank you so much. I will use some of it to buy a new laptop.
  
  I just about held it together yesterday and I hope that St Thomas More’s words will be a comfort: ‘Thee pray for me and I’ll pray for thee that we might meet merrily in heaven.’ As some of you said - hopefully before, too!
  
  You are in safe hands. Steve and Helen are the Parish Representatives chosen by the Parochial Church Council to work with the Bishop in choosing a new parish priest. I have every confidence in them; and every confidence that you will make whoever comes very welcome.
  
  Thank you.
  
  Yours in Christ
  
  Fr Gerald
  geraldcharlesbeauchamp@gmail.com

   More  Less
• Friday 24th January 2020

  Fr Gerald's Weekly Email

  My Last Weekly Email

  It seems strange to be writing my last email to the congregation. It’s been a great way of keeping in touch and I’m grateful for the feedback over the years. It gets around a 50% opening rate which I’m told is pretty good going in marketing terms.

  This Sunday is my last as your parish priest and I look forward to seeing many of you at the mass and the lunch afterward. If you can’t be there on Sunday then I may see you around the neighbourhood over the next few weeks. I have some time to clear out the vicarage and plan to head off to the Baltic in April.

  I’m sure that I’ll be saying this a lot over the next few days and weeks but ‘thank you’ for the opportunity to serve at the Annunciation and develop its links with the neighbourhood. What an amazing part of London!

  All being well, a weekly email will continue. Jasmine Cullingford intends to send something out to at least let people know of forthcoming events and any news.

  I’m happy to stay in touch with people on a personal basis. From 1 February, if you would like to contact me please use geraldcharlesbeauchamp@gmail.com. Thank you.

  This Sunday (26 January)

  … is the Third Sunday in Epiphany.

  In the gospel we see Jesus beginning his ministry and drawing around him the likes of Andrew and Peter. They will be ‘fishers of men’.

  The Church has always had a mission but it’s about more than just getting people into church. Mission is communicating the ‘peace that passes all understanding’ (amidst all life’s storms) – God’s gift of himself.

  The older children will be staying upstairs this morning. We will also be joined by members of the Chaplaincy Among Deaf & Deaf Blind People and their chaplain, the Revd Catherine Carlyon.

  Logistics & Arrangements

  Because tables are being set up for the lunch in church before the mass please don’t bring buggies into the church itself. The baptistery will be open so put anything with wheels in there.

  After mass there will be speeches so remain seated during and after the voluntary. Lunch will follow. Do help with moving furniture if needs be. Thank you. I’m very grateful to Maria Kastani and Vladka Thwaites for masterminding all this.

  Lunch is being provided by Maroush. Many thanks to this great Edgware Road commercial institution for being so generous. The wine is being donated by the Marriott Marble Arch Hotel. Again, many thanks to the hotel.

  Chinese New Year

  In past years we’ve celebrated Chinese New Year over coffee after mass but with so much else going on I’m afraid that we won’t be able to do that this year.

  It would give me great pleasure however if people with Chinese heritage wore traditional costume – and anyone else for that matter. Let’s wear bright colours to give ourselves some cheer!

  I wish you all great happiness and prosperity.

  Introducing Rámond Mitchell

  On Sunday, I will be introducing Rámond Mitchell who is the new part-time Youth & Children’s Worker.

  Rámond is originally from the Bahamas and has studied and worked in the USA. He has a wealth of experience with young people so it will be fascinating to see what he can develop with the Sunday School, the older children and the youth outreach.

  Rámond will also be expanding the church’s social media presence and supporting the admin. Please make him very welcome. Thank you.

  I look forward to seeing you on Sunday.

  Yours in Christ

  Fr Gerald

  vicar.annunciationmarblearch@gmail.com

  http://www.annunciationmarblearch.org.uk

  Parish Office Manager: Jasmine Cullingford jasmine.annunciationmarblearch@gmail.com

  Booking the Church: bookings.annunciationmarblearch@gmail.com

   More  Less
• Friday 17th January 2020

  Fr Gerald's Weekly Email

  This Sunday (19 January)

  … is the Second Sunday in Epiphany. This is also the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity.

  Like most things, religion tends to be competitive. There are always new ideas and new movements. They spring up because we have a restless desire for love and truth in a world that’s always changing. Empires come and go.

  So, where and how can we find what is eternal and of enduring value?

  At its worst, religion provides easy answers. At its best, it enables us to find the right questions for ourselves and provides a light along the path.

  Jesus was born into a time and place where his tradition was trying to holds its own. It was up against the mystery religions of the Hellenistic world. Judaism was also generating all manner of teachers and would-be Messiahs. As we see in today’s gospel, some thought that John the Baptist was the Promised One. Yet John pointed away from himself towards his kinsman, Jesus.

  There’s nothing wrong with competition per se. Without it we’d have no sport or commerce. But competition in religion tends to produce whacky ideas, cults and self-serving charismatic leaders.

  Good religion requires a degree of humility – pointing away from itself to what is life-giving and simply ‘other’. When churches embrace humility, unity joins the party.

  I’m at St Cyprian’s Church this morning saying ‘good-bye’. So, I’m very grateful that the Revd Clare Dowding, Rector of St Paul’s Rossmore Road and Area Dean of Marylebone will be with you.

  There’s no 8+ Group so would the older children please make themselves useful and set a good example to the younger children? Thank you.

  Repairs

  The final piece of weak plaster has been removed and the organ has shed its plastic sheeting which is a relief all round. Many thanks to the diocese for paying for the plaster and to Daniel Spencer of Bishops (Oran Builders) for coming at short notice.

  Contractors came back this week however to put up more scaffolding. This time on the outside – at the east end. Over the next few weeks there will be people working on the north side of the church repairing downpipes and the like. Hopefully, this will cure the damp which is what has been making the plaster weaken inside.

  Tuesday Low Mass at 12.30pm

  There will be mass this Tuesday. It will be the last weekday mass until a new vicar is appointed.

  Next Sunday

  … will be my last Sunday at the Annunciation. After that I’ll be packing up so you may well see me around the area for a while. I’ll let you know when I’m finally heading off.

  My Personal Email Address

  I’m happy to stay in touch with people after I step down on a personal basis. From 1 February if you would to contact me please use geraldcharlesbeauchamp@gmail.com. Thank you.

  I look forward to seeing you on Sunday.

  Yours in Christ

  Fr Gerald

  vicar.annunciationmarblearch@gmail.com

  https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheAnnunciation

  http://www.annunciationmarblearch.org.uk

  Parish Office Manager: Jasmine Cullingford jasmine.annunciationmarblearch@gmail.com

  Booking the Church: bookings.annunciationmarblearch@gmail.com

   More  Less
• Friday 10th January 2020

  Fr Gerald's Weekly Email

  This Sunday (12 January)

  … is the Baptism of Christ in the Epiphany Season.

  For the second time Jesus is revealed as the Christ, the Anointed One, the Messiah – the Special One who makes us all special.

  It’s always appropriate to baptise a child during mass on this Sunday. And this Sunday we are indeed baptizing Noah Goldenberg.

  At baptism the priest says a lengthy prayer of blessing over the water in the font. Some ancient prayers reference Noah and the Flood. Sadly, ours doesn’t but what a great name for such a day!

  Please make Noah’s family and friends welcome.

  Thank You

  … to everyone who helped take down the Christmas decorations after mass last Sunday.

  A final ‘thank you’ to Home House. They not only donated the tree but also arranged for its collection on Tuesday. Really helpful!

  Plaster Repair

  This was completed this week. The problem was less serious than first thought so the builders and scaffolders came and went within three days. The plastic covering the organ should now come down this week.

  Tuesday Low Mass at 12.30pm

  There will be mass this Tuesday and next but not on 28 January.

  This Week

  Tuesday 14 January 2010, 7.30pm Parochial Church Council (PCC) meeting in church.

  Looking Ahead

  Churches Together in Westminster Annual Meeting at Hinde Street Methodist Church on Monday 20 January, 6.30pm followed by talk entitled ‘Modern Slavery & Human Trafficking’ given by Kevin Hyland OBE, former UK Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner.

  Sunday 26 January. My Farewell Sunday. Mass is followed by lunch. For more information please contact Maria Kastani. If you need her email address, please ask me for it. Thank you.

  Parish Profile

  This will inform the search for a new vicar so if you have anything that you think should be included please speak to Steve Phillips. If you would like to have his email address let me know. The final draft should be agreed at this PCC this Tuesday.

  My Personal Email Address

  I’m happy to stay in touch with people after I step down at the end of the month on a personal basis. From 1 February if you would to contact me please use geraldcharlesbeauchamp@gmail.com. Thank you.

  I look forward to seeing you on Sunday.

  Yours in Christ

  Fr Gerald

  vicar.annunciationmarblearch@gmail.com

  https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheAnnunciation

  http://www.annunciationmarblearch.org.uk

  Parish Office Manager: Jasmine Cullingford jasmine.annunciationmarblearch@gmail.com

  Booking the Church: bookings.annunciationmarblearch@gmail.com

   More  Less
• Friday 3rd January 2020

  Fr Gerald's Weekly Email

  Happy New Year

  I would like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year. I hope that you have had an enjoyable festive season. If you are still to travel back to London, may you do so safely.

  Taking a bit of time off after Christmas I went to see a movie that I thought was one of the best things that I’d seen for a long time. Amazing Grace is the film of Aretha Franklin’s recording of the album of gospel music of the same name in 1972. It was recorded over two days in a Baptist Church in Los Angeles with the church choir.

  The film wasn’t released at the time because of technical difficulties. Although it has some rough edges it has a raw power that I found deeply moving. If you like gospel music, this is one not to miss. Amazing Grace is the best ever selling gospel album of all time with over 2m copies sold.

  This Sunday

  … we keep as the Feast of the Epiphany. Strictly speaking, the feast is on 6 January, 12 days after Christmas but as getting people out to church again on a Monday night in January isn’t easy, it’s moved to the nearest Sunday.

  The word ‘epiphany’ means a ‘revelation’ or ‘manifestation’. Something unknown is revealed. Traditionally, the short Epiphany season in the Church’s year concentrates on three signal events in the early life of Christ: the visit by the Magi, his baptism and the first miracle – turning the water into wine at the wedding in Cana.

  Jesus is no mere man. The Magi’s gifts declare that he is the longed-for Messiah. Gold for a king; frankincense for a priest; myrrh for a prophet martyr. The baptism, with the voice from heaven shows, his solidarity with the people of Israel and Christ’s recapturing of their ancient mission. The wedding at Cana discloses the power of Jesus to enrich and intoxicate people’s lives (in a good way!).

  So, we set out on a new decade with another stretch of road ahead of us. Let’s keep following that star.

  After mass, Maria and Vladka are kindly heading up a team that will take down the Christmas decorations. Many hands make light work so if you can stay as well, please do. Thank you.

  This Week

  … the builders arrive on Tuesday to take down the final area of problem plaster at high level. All being well they will be finished by Friday (10 January) but nothing is certain. I’ll let you know in my next email how far things have progressed. We may need to play it by ear on Sunday 12th.

  If you are coming to see me about filling in a school form this week would you please come to the back door. The gate should be open but the door may be closed. If it is, then please ring the bell. If I don’t materialise then call the office number 020 7723 6434.

  Because of the building works there’s no mass on Tuesday.

  Children’s Choir

  At the end of last term, I had a conversation with Hampden Gurney School regarding the church children’s choir. The Annunciation’s use of the school for rehearsals was always a grace and favour relationship.

  The new Ofsted Inspection Framework now focuses on Humanities. To develop this side of school life a parent who is a professional singer has come forward to start an after school singing club. This will be on Tuesdays so the school hall will no longer be available to the church children’s choir.

  Having consulted parents, the Standing Committee and Miles D’Cruz, we decided that the church children’s choir wouldn’t restart in January after all and we will encourage the children who currently sing in the choir to join the school choir club.

  I’m very sorry that the church is winding up the children’s choir but it seems best all round. I have expressed the church’s deep appreciation to Miles for all that he’s done over the last couple of years.

  I hope that parents of Annunciation children especially will encourage the new singing group to continue to relate to the church. If concerts are planned then the church would make an excellent venue and it would be wonderful if the children could sing at mass sometimes and take part in Christmas services.

  Looking Ahead

  Tuesday 14 January 2010, 7.30pm Parochial Church Council meeting in church.

  Sunday 26 January. My Farewell Sunday. Mass is followed by lunch. For more information please contact Maria Kastani. If you need her email address, please ask me for it. Thank you.

  Parish Profile

  This will inform the search for a new vicar so if you have anything that you think should be included please speak to Steve Phillips. If you would like to have his email address let me know.

  Vicarage Contents

  On retirement I will be spending a few weeks clearing out the vicarage. I’ll be keeping the pictures and personal effects but selling most of the furniture and things like kitchen equipment. Please let me know if there’s anything that you may be interested in buying. Thank you.

  My Personal Email Address

  I’m happy to stay in touch with people after I step down at the end of the month on a personal basis. From 1 February if you would to contact me please use geraldcharlesbeauchamp@gmail.com. Thank you.

  I look forward to seeing you on Sunday.

  Yours in Christ

  Fr Gerald

  vicar.annunciationmarblearch@gmail.com

  https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheAnnunciation

  http://www.annunciationmarblearch.org.uk

  Parish Office Manager: Jasmine Cullingford jasmine.annunciationmarblearch@gmail.com Jasmine is away until 8 January. If you need anything before Wednesday please email Fr Gerald.

  Booking the Church: bookings.annunciationmarblearch@gmail.com

   More  Less

 Subscribe to our Weekly emails

• Tuesday 10th March 2020   at 7:30pm

  Parochial Church Council Meeting in Church

   More  Less
• Sunday 26th April 2020   at 12:00pm

  Parochial Church Council Meeting in Church

   More  Less
• Tuesday 28th April 2020   at 7:30pm

  Annual Parochial Church Meeting

   More  Less