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.
Jenny Clark Concert
This year’s Jenny Clark Concert takes place this morning immediately following the 10am service. A special welcome to this year\s guest soloist, Julien van Mellaerts, one of last year’s choral scholars, who 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. There will be time after the service to get a glass of champagne before the start of the concert, which will last 35-40 minutes and is open to all. The concert will last 35-40 minutes and is open to all.
St John’s Late
St John’s Late returns before Advent. These services offer a friendly but contemplative space for those who’ve missed the morning, want to try something different or need space for reflection.
Compline
19th November, 8.00pm
preceded by a light supper 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.
Bible Book Club
Bible book club meets once a month to read and to discuss the gospel reading for the coming Sunday and concludes with Compline. Meetings take place on the last Tuesday of the month – the next meeting is on 28th November. For further information, speak to one of the clergy.
St John’s Book Club
St John’s Book Club 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.
ADVENT 2017
Advent Course 2017
The Reformation’s Battleground:
Paul’s Letter to the Romans Re-Visited… and Re-Fought?
Mondays, 27 November and 4, 11, 18 December
7:30pm at Archery Close
31st October 2017 marks the 500th Anniversary of Martin Luther nailing the 95 Theses to the door of All Saints Church in Wittenberg and the symbolical beginning of the Reformation. Two weeks ago, some Anglican groups declared the need to "Re-Reform" the Communion or breakaway from it, arguing that true Biblical teachings on women’s leadership and human sexuality have been abandoned.
Interestingly, Paul’s letter to the Roman’s, which was the main biblical battleground between Protestants and Catholics during the Reformation, addresses head-on both women’s leadership and human sexuality, including homosexuality. But, what does it really say? We will try to find out through together through constructive and honest discussion. Evenings start at 7:30 pm and finish with said Compline.
Monday 27th November
Introduction and Romans 1-4
Why did Paul write this Letter? How can we make sense of God’s wrath? Why is the Old Testament a “gift” for Paul?
Monday 4th December
Adam vs Christ: Romans 5-8
Was Adam a real person as Christ was? Free from the Law… of the Old Testament only? African theological perspectives.
Monday 11th December
The People of God: Romans 9-11
What happens to those who don’t believe? How does belonging and behaving relate to each other in this letter?
Monday 18th December
On Human Behaviour: Romans 12-16
Is there such thing as “Pauline Ethics”? If we are saved by faith, is there a place for a moral code of conduct?
Advent Carols 2017
Advent Sunday is on 3rd December this year. At 10am we welcome Joseph and Mary before their pilgrimage around the parish. Our Advent carol service is at 6pm that evening. This service always features some fantastic music and this year will be no different, with Handel’s O Thou That Tellest (from Messiah), Wade in the Water by Hayes and Jenkins’ Agnus Dei. There will also be selections from Vangelis, Rodgers & Hammerstein and John Williams. There will be mulled wine and homemade mince pies after.
Festival of St Nicholas
St John’s is celebrating the Festival of St Nicholas (aka Father Christmas) again this year next Sunday, 10th December, at 4pm. 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.
Sunday, 17th December
Nativity Play
This year’s play has been carefully crafted by Mike Roskell and will be a world premier exclusive at the 10am service. There are a couple of dates to keep in mind. Antonio will be casting the roles after church on Sunday 10th December and the dress rehearsal will be in church on Saturday 16th December at 10:30 am. Speak to Antonio or Becky for more information.
Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
Our traditional carol service takes place Sunday, 17th December, at 6pm. The choir will be accompanied by a multitude of musicians. This year’s service includes music by Ravel, Leavitt and Saint-Saëns. 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.
Children’s Community Choir
Thursdays, 4.10pm
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 or Antonio know.
CULTURE VULTURE VENTURES
Culture Vultures Go Viral: The Alexander Fleming Laboratory Museum
Ever pass by the Blue Plaque to Alexander Fleming on the wall of St Mary’s Hospital and wonder just how he discovered penicillin in 1928? CVV offer you a chance to find out! Meet at the junction of Norfolk Place and Praed St, by the wrought iron gates of St Mary’s Hospital and the blue plaque at 11.45am on Monday November 20th and we will proceed to the Museum. Health Warning: 61 stairs and no lift! With the help of a guided tour by archivist Kevin Brown, displays and an in-situ reconstruction of his laboratory, we will uncover the remarkable story of how a chance discovery became a life-saving drug which revolutionised medicine. After that, we adjourn to the aptly named It's All Greek to Me’, 101 Praed Street, London W2 1NT, a new family run restaurant. Moussaka and Greek salad highly recommended! £20 all in. Payment to Margaret, cheques preferred.
Culture Vultures Venture: The Postal Museum
A New Year treat on Tuesday January 16th when we visit the very popular, recently opened Postal Museum at Phoenix Place, Mount Pleasant, WC1X ODA. Our self-guided visit includes tickets to ride on one of London’s hidden gems: the underground mail train route and surprising stories from what is in fact the first social network! Before our visit we enjoy a 2 course set lunch at the nearby Sicilian restaurant, drinks/tea coffee extra, 91-93 Grays Inn Road WC1X 8TX. Our exhibition visit is not timed, but our train departs at 2.35pm, so we will meet at the restaurant at 12.15pm to give us plenty of time to enjoy lunch. Nearest tubes Chancery Lane and Farringdon. Total cost £36 but places are limited. Payment to Margaret Legg (cheques preferred) to secure your place.
Culture Vultures go to the Opera
10th March 2018
Former Choral Scholar (2015-16) soprano Soraya Mafi has landed the role of Tytania in English National Opera’s production by Robert Carson of Benjamin Britten’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’, based on Shakespeare’s popular comedy. Britten’s opera follows the consequences of a falling-out between the fairy-king Oberon and his queen, Tytania. Mistaken identities, confused lovers and alarming transformations are the result! We have tickets in the front of the Upper Circle at the London Coliseum, St Martin’s Lane, WC2N 4ES for the 7.30pm performance on Saturday 10th March 2018 and will enjoy a 3 course supper beforehand and during the interval (drinks, tea/coffee extra). Meet in the Coliseum’s American Bar Restaurant at 5.30pm. Tickets all in £70. Payment to Margaret will secure your place. Cheques preferred.
LORD MAYOR’S CORNER
Chris and I are currently away in Norway, where on Monday we will be joined by Steve to watch as I help to ‘cut down’ the Christmas tree with the Mayor of Oslo. Later on Monday we are guests of the British Ambassador for an official dinner in Oslo to mark the close relationship between Britain and Norway since the Second World War. (The tree arrives in time to be erected in Trafalgar Square for its official launch on Thursday 7 December at 6pm.) Last week, Chris and I attended the annual banquet at Guildhall in the City as guest of the new Lord Mayor of London. I hosted the Westminster Senior Citizens’ Forum AGM, and attended Westminster Citizens’ Advice Bureau Service AGM. I was present for the switching on of Christmas lights at Marylebone High Street and Regent Street. We were also guests at a concert at Wigmore Hall featuring renown violinist Joshua Bell. @LM_Westminster
COMMUNITY EVENTS
School Gate Gossip
We just finished anti-bullying week. It is a regular and also a key part of our yearly curriculum which fits in nicely with our school values (Trust, Fellowship, Forgiveness, Joy, Reverence and Perseverance). Last year we all voted for these new school values and gave our ideas about the vision for the school. Year 6 and Year 5 are going to introduce the values to the whole school community as part of a church service launch event that they are planning for the start of the Spring term (date tbc). With xmas approaching quickly, we are now busy with casting roles for various nativity plays which we will then rehearse until the big event. Dates for your diary: PFA Christmas Market on Friday 8th December for which we are still casting the role of Santa Claus (aka Father Christmas). Please ask a member of the school, governors, parents or clergy how and where you can apply for that important role, and also how else you can support this key event for our school.
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.
