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.
Palm Sunday
This morning we mark Palm Sunday. The 10am service begins on the forecourt with the Palm Sunday Gospel and the Blessing of Palm Crosses, and the Passion Gospel is read in place of the sermon.
In the evening at 6.30pm we have our Way of the Cross service based upon the ancient liturgy of the Stations of the Cross. Using our very own rarely seen stations, there will be wonderful music from the Haydn’s Stabat Mater, sung by our choir. This is a beautiful and poignant service and a very proper way to begin Holy Week.
HOLY WEEK & EASTER 2017
Easter Flowers
Help us to decorate the church for Easter and remember loved ones at the same time by contributing to our Easter flowers. Fill in the slip in your order of service and give it to Andre Livins or Bryan Sollenberger after the service. A list of contributors and those commemorated will be posted in the porch at Easter.
Maundy Thursday
A special sung mass commemorating the Last Supper with the washing of feet takes place on the Thursday night before Easter at 8pm. The mass setting will be Messe Solonnelle by Vierne and the anthem Duruflé’s Tantum Ergo. If you would be willing to have your feet washed at this service, please speak to one of the clergy.
Good Friday Children’s Workshop
A children’s activity morning is planned for Good Friday between 10am and 12 noon for children from 0-11. Coffee, biscuits and hot cross buns will be available and we will build the Easter Garden. Volunteers are needed to help with the activities. A donation of £5 per child is requested (babies go free). If you can help, speak to Antonio or Becky Stringer.
Good Friday Liturgy of the Day
Good Friday is one of the holiest days in the Christian year. This service of reflection and prayer, centred on the passion and death of our Lord, is led by our choral scholars and is based around Stainer’s Crucifixion. The service begins at 2.00 pm.
Mrs Mops’ Easter Special!
Andre is organising a special effort on Saturday morning, 15th April, to clean and to get the church ready for Easter. Please speak to him if you are happy to don your housecoat and report for duty for a morning of hard work and fun along with a mid-morning refreshment of the Vicar’s special hot milky brew. Come armed with your marigolds, Brasso and Pledge. Many hands make light work: please help if you can.
Dawn Vigil and First Mass of Easter
This service begins at 5am with a Vigil of readings as we await the dawn and the resurrection of our Lord. This colourful and dramatic service incorporates the Service of Light, Renewal of Baptism Vows and the First Mass of Easter. Well worth getting up for! The service is followed by breakfast and champagne.
Easter Baptisms
There will be an opportunity for adults and children to be baptized as part of the Easter liturgy at 5am again this year. If you are interested in being baptized at this service, please speak to one of the clergy as soon as possible.
Easter Reception
Following the Festival Eucharist on Easter morning there will be a fizz reception with finger food. Please bring a plate of finger food to share and indicate what you will be able to bring on the sign up sheet in the porch or on one of the clipboards that will be circulating during coffee.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
A Night of Hollywood Galmour
in aid of Children Change Colombia
Fernando Montano, Royal Ballet Soloist and member of the congregation, is organising 'A Night of Hollywood Glamour' at the Hippodrome Cabaret Theatre in aid of Children Change Colombia, one of our charities for 2016, on Sunday May 21st at 7.00pm. Guest artists also performing on the night include: Carolyn Rose (former ballerina, Ballet of Monte Carlo), Axel Zischka (European/World Same Sex ballroom dancing champion), Thorsten Dreyer (international ballroom dancer) and Jonathan Hill (leading international violinist, Les Miserables and other West End musicals).
Tickets can be booked on eventbrite or by calling the Hippodrome on 020 7549 0225. (Stalls: £65 + £2.62 fee, Balcony: £35+£2.76 fee). For more information go to: http://www.childrenchangecolombia.org/news/114/35/Fernando-Montano-presents-Hollywood-Classics/d,event-detail.
St James and St John School
This is our school; a school with a proud history and an aspirational future. St. James & St. John School provides both academic and personal development for every child, underpinned by Christian values. To quote Ofsted: "This is a good school. It is strongly supported by parents and carers. The strong provision for development of pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural qualities ensures that pupils are kind to new arrivals and respect one another's values. Progress in English and mathematics is good and this reflects the good teaching and curriculum."
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 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.
