Morning Anthem
This morning’s anthem is Healey Willan's setting of one of the traditional Advent Antiphons, O Radix Jesse; O Root of Jesse who standest for an ensign of the people, before whom kings shall keep their silence, to whom the nations shall offer their petitions; come and deliver us; wait not any longer. Healey Willan (1880-1968) was a prolific composer famous for his church music and wrote a new anthem for Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation - his friends had to club together to pay his fare from Toronto to London so he could hear his work performed in person. He self-identified as "English by birth, Canadian by adoption, Irish by extraction, Scotch by absorption”.
Advent 2024
Advent Carols
1st December, 6.00pm
Today is our first evening service of advent with St John’s choir and orchestra, exploring the theme of Heaven and Earth Collide: An Advent Odyssey. The service features music by Gjeilo, Montague, Naylor, Mendelssohn, Arnesen, Connors & Robbins, Miranda and Guilmant. Following the service, enjoy mince pies and mulled wine or spiced apple juice.
We are pleased to welcome to this service the choir of St John’s, Kensal Green, who will be taking part in this evening’s service, along with the vicar, the Reverend David Ackerman and the Reverend Paul Davies, Area Dean of Mission for the Two Cities.
Christingle
8th December, 4.00pm
A festive service for all the family that celebrates the light of Christ with the choir of St James and St John school. A wonderful way to mark the beginning of the Christmas season, with a warm, welcoming atmosphere and hot chocolate served afterwards.
Christmas Carols
22nd December, 6.00pm
A celebration of the Christmas story through carols, readings and music with a mix of both traditional and contemporary carols. Enjoy some fizzy wine and panettone after the service.
Christmas 2024
Parish Carolling
7pm Thursday 19th December
You are invited to join us for a jolly traditional Christmas evening as we walk around the parish to sing some carols with our choral scholars and collect money for the food bank at St Matthew’s, Bayswater. We meet at the church, then visit several pubs, giving them our best musical delights under Nick’s conducting and ending at The Victoria for a mince pie.
Christmas Eve
4.00pm – Crib Service
A unique service for all ages, telling the story of Joseph, Mary and the infant Jesus in the crib, join us as we begin the feast of birth of Christ.
11.30pm – Midnight Mass
Enjoy the first mass of Christmas in a candlelit church, singing Christmas carols led by the choir and orchestra. The setting will be Schubert’s Mass in G D167.
Christmas Day
10am – Family Festival Eucharist
Children are invited to come along dressed up in their fairy costumes and sparkly shoes or Christmas pyjamas and to bring their toys with them if they wish. Sing Christmas carols with the choir, accompanied by orchestra.
Christmas Flowers
Remember a loved one by making a donation to this year’s Christmas flowers. Complete the slip inside your order of service and leave it with Bryan Sollenberger. A list of those in whose memory donations are given will be displayed in the porch.
December Bible Book Club
Bible Book Club meets the first Wednesday of every month at 23 Archery Close at 7.30pm. December's Bible Book Club, on Wednesday 4th December, will be looking at the Prologue of John, the famous text that is read at Carol Services: In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God ... During the session we will be learning about the deep and rich meaning of this text and seeing how it resonates with the Christmas story. Please contact Alex directly if you wish to attend: alex@stjohns-hydepark.com.
Advent Course
Heaven and Earth Collide
The Advent Course will take place on Wednesdays, 11th and 18th December, at 7.30pm. In these two sessions we will be expanding on the theme of our Advent Carol Service, ‘Heaven and Earth Collide: An Advent Odyssey’. For further information and to book please contact: parishadmin@stjohns-hydepark.com. All events are free to attend.
COMMUNITY NOTICES
Book Club
Book Club selected as their next book The Blood of Others (Le Sang des Autres), a 1945 novel by the French existentialist Simone de Beauvoir that depicts the lives of several characters in Paris leading up to and during the Second World War. The novel explores themes of freedom and responsibility. Book Club meets on 13th January to discuss it. For further information on Book Club, please speak to Irwin Nazareth.
Refugee Drop-in Volunteers
Since May St John’s has been hosting a monthly Sunday drop-in centre for refugees run by the West London Synagogue. This provides families with a hot meal, a shopping voucher and a contribution towards their transport, as well as signposting for other practical help. The drop-in centre takes place on the third Sunday of the month and they are always open to volunteers to assist them. If you would like to join the volunteer crew, please speak to the Vicar.
