Hearing the Service
St John’s has an Induction Loop System so if you have a hearing aid, please switch it to the ’T’ setting.
Anthems from Harvest to Advent
In our musical programme between Harvest and Advent, we mark the centenary of the 1914 Armistice with a series of anthems which explore various composers’ Requiems and specifically movements which use text from outside the traditional Requiem Mass.
John Rutter wrote his setting of Psalm 23, a common funeral text, in 1978, and later included it in his Requiem of 1985. Featuring an oboe soloist it is a beautiful, flowing piece expressing trust in God and hopes of dwelling in his house forever.
St John’s Late
St John’s Late returns for the autumn.
18th November, 8pm
Compline by Candlelight
This evening’s service is compline: night prayer with choir and flute, preceded by a soup & cheese supper at 7pm. A sung service stunning in its simplicity. The anthem is O Salutaris Hostis by Caplet.
25th November, 6,30pm
Jazz Mass
A celebration of the Feast of Christ the King with choir and double bass in the setting of a jazz club. The setting is Todd’s Jazz Missa Brevis and the anthem is Hogan’s arrangement of Ride on, King Jesus.
The Wednesday Club
21st November, 7.30pm
This is a new group meeting on the third Wednesday of the month in a local pub to discuss everyday ethics and how the things we think and do relate to our understanding of God and faith. This promises to be a lively and generous discussion, so do come and join us! To sign up or for further information, speak to Dan.
Stillness, Silence and Contemplation: a pre-Advent Quiet Day
24th November, approx. 11am -4pm
This day is designed to help those of us who strive not to be completely swamped and overwhelmed by pre-Christmas busyness and to keep an inner space for contemplating, during Advent, the great Christmas mystery of the Word made flesh. The leader is the Franciscan Séamus Cullen, an Irish Roman Catholic with 27 years’ experience as a Spiritual Director, who is trained as a presenter of Centring Prayer and Ignatian Spirituality. Séamus will begin and end with a period of silence, and give 2 or 3 talks on the practice of silent prayer and on ways of finding and deepening, through prayer, an awareness of God present and active in our everyday lives. The venue is one of the clergy houses close to the church. Timings are approximately 11am-4pm, with coffee/tea served on arrival and a ‘bring and share’ lunch break. A donation of £5 is suggested to help cover costs. More details from Margaret.
Advent 2018
The first Sunday of Advent is 2nd December this year. At the 10am service we welcome Joseph and Mary and bless them as they start their schlep around the parish. We also light the first candle of the Advent wreath.
Advent Carols, 2nd December, 6pm
This service always features some fantastic music and this year will be no different. The theme for this year’s service is Freedom and features Copeland’s Fanfare for the Common Man, Parry’s I Know My Soul, All I Ask of You from Phantom of the Opera, Defying Gravity from Wicked, Ye Sons of Freedom and To Him Your Grateful Notes from Handel’s Hercules and Rossini’s William Tell Overture. There will be mulled wine and homemade mince pies after.
Festival of St Nicholas, 9th December, 4pm
St John’s is celebrating the Festival of St Nicholas (aka Father Christmas) again this year. This seasonal all age service begins with the entrance of a boy bishop and ends with the arrival of Father Christmas and in between there will be storytelling and lots of children’s activities interspersed with all kinds of St Nicholas/Father Christmas music from the choir. After the service there will be a seasonal tea.
Nativity Play, 16th December, 10am
This year’s play is a closely guarded secret at the moment but we are assured it will relevant and not a whiff of fake news. Casting the roles will take place after church on Sunday 9th December. Speak to Dan or Becky for more information.
Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, 16th December 6pm
Our traditional carol service kicks off the countdown to Christmas. The choir will be accompanied by a multitude of musicians. The service will be followed by a fizz and panettone reception. This is one of the biggest musical treats of the year for all the family. Invite your friends and neighbours to join us for this festive community celebration.
Sponsor a Buttress
Goal: £50,000
Raised so far: £25,116
Last year we undertook some very essential repairs to the roof, gutters and parapets. If you look up on the north or south sides of the church, you’ll notice the beautiful new stonework. To fund the works, however, we had to borrow £200,000 from the Diocese of London and we are looking to raise £50,000 to pay this year’s commitment plus interest.
The ‘Sponsor a Buttress’ campaign is to raise funds to cover this year’s commitment. There are 40 buttresses consisting of three stones each. A stone costs £416, a buttress £1,250 (£333 and £1,000 respectively if Gift Aided). To sponsor a stone or buttress or for more information about Gift Aid, speak to Bryan Sollenberger.
More Bru’s News
Not only does Brutus have a new baby, he has a new parish: St Margaret’s, Putney. He will be installed as priest-in-charge on Tuesday, 20th November, at 7.30pm by The Right Reverend Dr Richard Cheetham, Bishop of Kingston. St Margaret’s is in Putney Park Lane, SW15 5HU.
Culture Vulture Ventures
Venture to Westminster Abbey: Friday 30th November
Our visit to the Galleries is at 1.30pm and we can stay on in the Abbey if we wish until closing time. Sung Evensong is at 5.00pm. Accessed via the staircase (108 steps) or lift, there are magnificent views down to the Abbey floor 16 metres below and out to Parliament Square and the Palace of Westminster. Over 300 objects from the Abbey’s collection are on display including the Litlyngton Missal, a magnificent Latin manuscript and one of the largest surviving English medieval manuscripts. Also an effigy of Henry VII’s head, modelled on his death mask, and the royal marriage licence for HRH Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton.
Meet outside The Abbey Bookshop at the west end of the Abbey at 12 noon. We then walk round to the Abbey Restaurant, The Cellarium, for lunch (self funded). Admission to Abbey and Galleries £15, payable to Margaret in advance (cheques preferred) to secure your place.
Venture to the Panto!! A festive treat for all the family, Saturday 5th January 2pm.
‘Oh yes he did!’ ‘Oh no he didn’t!’ Save the date as the young and the young at heart are sure to enjoy Dick Whittington at the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith www.lyric.co.uk (that’s the Lyric, main entrance on Lyric Square, not the Apollo by the big church) on Saturday January 5th at 2.00pm. Ticket details to follow. If family commitments allow, meet for a delicious lunch at 12.30pm at Byron’s, www.byronhamburgers.com, opposite the Lyric and to the right as you exit Hammersmith & City line tube station. Kid’s Menu £6.50, with both healthy and less healthy options, £6.50. Please speak to Margaret or Sam Tear to register your interest.
St John’s Big Gay Night Out
Friday 7th December - Mother Goose Cracks One Out!
This year’s pantomime follows years of sell out performances at Above the Stag theatre. You’ve not really been to a panto until you’ve been to Above the Stag. Tickets are £25. Meal before the show at Pico bar and grill (next door to the theatre) – pay as you go. For tickets, please contact Ian Smith (ipas@hotmail.co.uk) or leave your payment, together with your name, email address and phone number at the church office.
The Inheritance
Monday 14th January – Part 1; Wednesday 16th January – Part 2
This two part play by Anthony Lopez, moved from the young Vic to the West End as one of the plays of the season not to be missed. those interested places speak to Ian Smith.
“Seven hours of story telling that is just mesmerising, and not to be missed.”
- Steve Mason, Vicar
Mid-week Services
St John’s isn’t just a church for Sunday! There are services at 5.30pm Monday to Thursday. Monday’s service is a eucharist and there is a said evensong Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Services take place in the sanctuary and are open to all.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Unwanted Winter Coats Wanted
Chestertons is running its annual Calling London winter coat collection to help keep vulnerable Londoners warm. They are running the campaign until the end of November. We need coats of all sizes and for all age groups. Unwanted/unused coats can be dropped off at their office in Connaught Street. Please see the attached link and images for more information: http://www.chestertons.com/research-and-insight/insights/calling-london/.
Sankta Lucia Concert
Thursday 13 December 7pm
Carina Einarsson, familiar to many for participating in the community concerts each year with the Swedish Church Choir, is bringing her London Nordic Choir to St Johns for a special concert celebrating the traditional Sankta Lucia festival. Singers will be dressed in white gowns and carrying candles in the darkened church. This unique event was performed by them last year to enthusiastic audiences in York Minster and Liverpool Cathedral. Tickets can be obtained from www.eventbrite.co.uk £32 to include seasonal refreshments.
Children’s Community Choir
Thursdays, 4.10pm, St John’s Church
The Children’s Community Choir meets this Thursday afternoon. The choir is open for children 6 years old and above. Sessions are 30 minutes long and children will sing different genres of music. If you are interested in bringing your children along please let Robert know.
News from the School Gate
This week, we celebrated some of the computing work the classes have been completing this year. Students from Year 3 presented videos they created of photographs they took whilst on a local area visit. Year 4 students were using Scratch to create animations of underwater life and presented some of their animations where they had to use code to make each of their creatures move. Year 6 presented posters they made about search engines, whilst Year 5 presented artworks and maps they had created using particular editing and research skills after a unit about e-Safety. Next week is Anti-Bullying week where, across the school, we will be completing a variety of activities looking at the definition of bullying and the different forms it takes. Dates for your diary: PFA Christmas Market (7th Dec); Christmas Dinner & Christmas Jumper Day (18th Dec); Whole School Nativity Service at St John’s Hyde Park (21st Dec).
Stay and Play
A community playgroup meets weekly in St John’s on Thursday mornings from10-11.30am. Come and stay for a play, a sing-song and to share stories over a cup of coffee. All children and babies are welcome (newborn to 5 years). Suggested donation: £2.
