Coronavirus (covid19) - churches
adapted from Diocese of London guidelines, 12th March 2020
In the light of the government guidance around social distancing, the Archbishops of Canterbury and York have recommended that all public worship be suspended until further notice. There will therefore be no public worship at St John’s this Sunday. To access the live stream go to www.stjohns-hydepark.com on Sunday morning and you will find a link taking you to the livestream.
This means there will be no communion or other public service in the coming Sundays or during the week. We will be livestreaming an act of worship from the sanctuary at 10am on Sunday and this will be available online throughout the day.
St John’s, Hyde Park will remain open for private prayer and reflection. The clergy will be praying regularly for all who are sick, anxious or isolated as well as for our national leaders, medical staff and researchers, along with all those whose lives have been affected by this crisis. We will also have in our thoughts those members of our own congregation who are particularly at risk and are in isolation.
Everyone is welcome to visit the church but please immediately wash or sanitise your hands on entering the building and ensure that you maintain distance from other worshippers.
If, within the guidelines of social distancing, you would like to pray with a member of the clergy or to receive the blessed sacrament (Holy Communion) please call the office on 020 7262 1732 to arrange a convenient time.
Need help or just want to feel connected?
Call the office – we have a simple message: Ring! Ring! Ring! We hope to set up some virtual groups via WhatsApp and Zoom over the coming days but in the meantime, anyone who is shut in and needing help or just wanting to chat, please give us a ring and Steve, Bryan, Dan & Andre will do our best to help.
Spread the Love
At this time of increased anxiety for so many people and with much that is unknown, we want to reassure all the members of our community that they are members of the St John’s family and we encourage everyone to stay in touch with one another by telephone, social media, e-mail or text. Encourage one another, make each other laugh and be there to listen and help where needed, but let\s learn to be the body of Christ in a new way that enables us all to stick by the government guidelines for social distancing while we are unable to meet together.
Help Hogg Help the Vulnerable
Hogg & Son, our local chemists in Kendal Street, are looking for volunteers to distribute medications. If you can help, please contact them directly either at 37 Kendal Street or by phoning 020 7262 7169.
New Assistant Curate
We are delighted to announce that Georgina Elsey will be joining us in July. Due to the coronavirus outbreak, Georgina’s ordination has been postponed until September. The present plan is that Georgina will still become a member of team St John’s in July and move into Archery Close, but she will do so as a licensed lay reader. Georgina is training for ordination at Cranmer Hall, Durham and a flyer introducing Georgina is available in the porch.
Rainy Day Appeal
Raised: £38,136
Target: £40,000
Two years ago we undertook some very essential repairs to the roof, gutters and parapets. If you look up on the outside 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.
We are now 95.3% of the way to our goal of raising £40,000 to cover this year’s repayment commitment and interest. Thank you to everyone who has contributed so far. Please see Bryan Sollenberger if you can help us raise that last 5%!
A Big Gay Night Out
Dick Whittington (an adult Panto) December 2020! There’s nothing like planning ahead – and tickets for this year’s panto at Above the Stag are now on sale! If you are interested in coming to the Panto on Tuesday 8th December 2020, please contact Ian Smith [ipas@hotmail.co.uk] asap. Tickets, £28 a seat, sell fast (even this far ahead!).
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Stay and Play
The community playgroup which usually meets weekly in St John’s on Thursday mornings from 9.30-11.30am will not be meeting while public gatherings are discouraged by the government.
