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.
St John’s Late
St John’s Late has returned. 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.
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 H. Purcell in G Minor. The anthem will be O Clap Your Hands by O. 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. To allow participants to attend this year’s Advent Course, BBC will skip the next two sessions – the next meeting is on 30th January. 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 one week away. 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.
Mary and Joseph Are Looking for Somewhere to Stay!
Advent is drawing close! As part of our preparation for Christmas, every year Mary and Joseph travel to homes around the parish, together with a rucksack full of things to use and play with, stories to read, colour pictures and an entourage of animals that are passed on every morning to a different family. That day, the family has a great opportunity to talk about the Christmas story, play together and have a great time. And don’t forget to check your own pictures from previous years in the booklet provided and take some new ones this year! Mary and Joseph leave the church on Advent Sunday (3rd December) after the Eucharist and return to St. John’s for the Crib Service on Christmas Eve at 4 pm.
If you would like to host Mary and Joseph, please fill in your details in one of the forms at the back and return it to Becky or Antonio. Alternatively, you can fill in the online form here: https://goo.gl/forms/KrQwDg2qH0ZEC8Hi1
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 Ventures to the Panto!!
A festive treat for all the family, Saturday 6th January 2pm. ‘Oh yes he did!’ ‘Oh no he didn’t!’ The young and the young at heart are sure to enjoy Jack and the Beanstalk 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 6th at 2.00pm. Tickets are in the Upper Circle: Front Row £20 and just 4 rows behind £15 each. If family commitments allow, meet for 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. Payment, for tickets only, to Margaret, please. 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 www.postalmuseum.org 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 (drinks/tea coffee extra) at the nearby family run Sicilian restaurant, Luce e Limone, www.luceelimone.com 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
We returned from Oslo, and will be followed home by the Christmas tree which I helped to ‘cut down’ - destined for its switching on ceremony at Trafalgar Square on 7 December at 6pm. A highlight this past week was presiding at a ceremony in honour of local holders of the Victoria Cross. This added to a varied week - a concert in aid of the Musicians’ Benevolent Fund at St Paul’s Cathedral; hosting a reception for the winners of London in Bloom; attending the Westminster Synagogue Scrolls Service; and joining Den Norske Club 130th anniversay Christmas dinner. @LM_Westminster
COMMUNITY EVENTS
School Gate Gossip
Less than one month until Christmas! There is simply no chance you could not have noticed it if you’ve been to our school recently. We have been busy rehearsing for this year’s nativity play (“The Midwife Crisis”) and rumour has it that our headteacher Mr. Hewitt is negotiating to sell the rights to a Broadway company! We have also been designing Christmas cards and the best ones (chosen by a jury) will be sold at various Christmas markets over the coming month. A very warm welcome and congratulations to our newly elected parent governor Laure Boizard. This will further improve our school’s corporate governance. Dates for your diary: PFA Christmas market at our school Friday 8th December (helpers and a Santa still needed), German YMCA Christmas Market Saturday 9th December (performance of our school choir), whole school nativity service at St. John‘s 19th December.
Under Five’s Playgroups
There will be no playgroups meeting next week. They will all resume the following Wednesday 6th December. 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.
