Dixit Dominus
From the beginning of September until Advent the choir, with various instruments, will be performing different settings of the first verse of Dixit Dominus, Psalm 110: The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. This psalm is the first psalm of Vespers (a sunset evening prayer service) on Sundays and major feast days.
Licensing of Robin Sims-Williams
Robin will be licensed at All Saints’ tomorrow, 9th October, at 7pm and members of St John’s congregation are very welcome to come along. Please sign up in the porch so that we can give All Saints’ an idea of numbers.
Silent Film - Nosferatu
13th October 2017, 7.30pm
The first vampire film created will be accompanied by our own Nicholas Miller as one of the last Lottery Funded Event celebrating Betty’s restoration. Tickets are £5 (£7.50 on the door).
Halloween
31st October, 5pm
On All Hallow's Eve we remind ourselves that our faith lets us laugh at the unnatural fears of the night! There'll be crafts and games, a church decked out in webs and spiders and this year we will have a Harry Potter themed workshop. Doors will close at 5.30pm to allow children enough time to finish their activities and crafts before the service of light. If you survive the service there'll be a suitable reception for adults and children. In order to succeed this service needs lots of volunteers. If you're able to help, please speak to Antonio or Becky. For a better time than trick or treating, come along for some frights and fun!
All Souls
On Thursday, 2nd November, at 8pm we mark this special festival at which we remember those who are part of the church community but who have died. This year the choir are singing Rutter’s Requiem. During this service we remember those who have been dear to us - a list is available in the porch for you to add the names of those you would like to be remembered. As part of the liturgy, there will be opportunity for you to light a candle and place it on the altar in remembrance of your loved ones.
St John’s Late
Returning in November, St John’s Late services offer a friendly but contemplative space for those who’ve missed the morning, want to try something different or need space for reflection.
Jazz Mass
12th November, 6.30pm
The atmosphere of a jazz club, great music and the beauty of the eucharist meet in this fantastic service with wine and nibbles available throughout. The setting is Leavitt’s Missa Festiva and the anthem is Wade in the Water by Hayes.
Compline
19th November, 8.00pm
preceded by a lightsupper at 7.00pm
This ancient monastic service, in a candlelit church, is stunning in its simplicity. The service is sung and the anthem is De Profundis, Pärt’s anthem for male voices. Sign up if you wish to join us for supper.
Evensong for Christ the King
26th November, 6.30pm
This service is the foundation of English tradition, a gem in the crown of the prayer book. The setting for the responses is by Smith with the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis by Purcell in G Minor. The anthem will be O Clap Your Hands by Gibbons.
Jenny Clark Concert
This year’s Jenny Clark Concert takes place on Sunday, 19th November, immediately following the 10am service. This year we are pleased that Julien van Mellaerts, one of last year’s choral scholars, will be performing at this year’s concert. Julien is the winner of numerous prizes, more recently the 2017 Wigmore Hall/Kohn Foundation International Song Competition and the 2017 Kathleen Ferrier Award and he will be accompanied by Gamal Khamis. The concert will last 35-40 minutes and is open to all.
Children’s Community Choir
After an amazing performance of Oliver! in July the Children’s Community Choir is back on Thursdays at 4.10pm with Robert Greenhill, St John’s Music Director. The Children’s Community Choir is open for children 6 years old and above, sessions will be 30 minutes long and children will sing different genres of music. If you are interested in bringing your children along please let Robert, Robin or Antonio know.
St John’s Book Club
St John’s Book Club had a very good meeting this past Monday. They chose for their next book Hiromi Kawakami’s ‘The Nakano Thrift Shop’ and will meet to discuss it on 4th December. See Michael King for further information.
LORD MAYOR’S CORNER
Older people in Westminster provided a focus for me last weekend, when I visited six care homes and took part in a number of Silver Sunday events, including a ballet class with English National Ballet, a drawing and music event hosted jointly by Wigmore Hall and the Wallace Collection, as well as ballroom dancing at St Anne’s Church, Soho. Wonderful to see so many older people from across Westminster enjoying themselves!
I hosted a reception to thank Westminster Council staff involved in providing support to people affected by the Grenfell Tower fire. A dinner with the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of London provided an opportunity to hear about their charity work in The City. I also visited 56 Dean Street sexual health clinic, which provides essential health services in the heart of Soho. Don’t forget you can follow me on Twitter @LM_Westminster.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
School Gate Gossip
Before the summer, the school had a SIAMS (Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools). We are delighted that our status as a good school is confirmed. What the report says about our pupils, staff and parents confirms that we are doing the right things to ensure that the children in our care start their education with emphasis not only on academia but also on becoming caring, compassionate, respectful and thoughtful people. The Christian values which underpin our daily school life are recognized as being of great value to all our pupils from all faiths and none. We owe our thanks to the head teacher, all our staff and our clergy, not only for their work in implementing the RE curriculum and delivering good impacts but also in fostering an environment in which the children can grow in safety and confidence. You can download the report from the school’s homepage: https://www.stjamesandstjohnschool.co.uk/
Under Five’s Playgroups
An international playgroup aimed at Russian speakers meets in St John’s on Wednesdays at 10am. Other playgroups meet on Wednesdays at 3.45pm which is also for early school years and Thursdays at 10am. Suggested donation for all groups: £2. Information about the playgroups can be found at www.HPPplaygroup.weebly.com and www.HPPrussian.weebly.com for the Russian speaking playgroup.
