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.
Heroes & Heroines in the Bible
Over 10 weeks after Easter, the anthems at the 10am morning services will be dedicated to Heroes & Heroines from the Bible. The series starts with Christ, the image of heroism to which all should aspire. The series then opens out to include the Virgin Mary, King David, the Queen of Sheba, Samson, Elijah, Noah, Esther and Moses. Slightly outside of the mould of ‘Hero’ though still extremely important to the narrative of scripture is Adam whose story is told in the musical, Children of Eden.
According to Genesis, the first book in the Bible, Adam and Eve were created in the image of God, the first humans in the Garden of Eden. However, after eating the forbidden fruit which gives knowledge of Good and Evil, they are thrown out of the garden into a world of death, pain and suffering. Children of Eden is a musical in two acts with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz in 1986. Act 1 tells the story of Adam and Eve. At the end of Act 1 Eve sings the song that the choir are performing today: Children of Eden. She prays that her children and grandchildren will regain the garden that was lost.
Whitsun Carols, 18th June 2017
This evening at 6pm is the last of our series of carol services marking the events of the Christian year. Whitsun Carols is a unique musical service commemorating the events from Easter to Pentecost, with readings and musical selections from the choir by Grieg, Bach, Hadley, Elgar and Puccini accompanied by our guest musicians. A reception with the first of the summer Pimms and mint & cucumber sandwiches will follow.
Community Charity Concert
Monday, 26th June, 7.30pm
The choral scholars of St John’s, Hyde Park will be joined by the singers from the Duke of Kendal for this annual community extravaganza. Tickets are now available - £10 per adult, £5 concession. More information to come but for all Abba fans the evening will finish with a selection of songs from Mamma Mia.
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 27th June. For further information, speak to one of the clergy.
St John’s Book Club
St John’s Book Club meets Monday, 3rd July, when they will be discussing Guy de Maupassant's 'Boule de Suif' and Somerset Maugham's ‘The Letter'. See Michael King for further information.
Oliver!
13th July, 7pm
St John's Choral scholars in collaboration with St James and St John CofE Primary School and St George's Hanover Square CofE Primary School and a combo orchestra will be performing Oliver! - St John's Director of Music, Robert Greenhill, is directing the performance while Nick Miller will be playing the recently refurbished pipe organ, Betty. Tickets (£5 per adult, children go free) are now available from the church office or online via a link on www.stjohns-hydepark.com/whats-on/oliver - this is part of the Lottery funded programme following the restoration of Betty, our organ. Music, lyrics and book by Lionel Bart. Produced for the Broadway stage by David Merrick and Donald Albery. By arrangement with MusicScope and Stage Musicals Limited of New York.
Sponsor a Window
As part of the works, we are delighted that we have been given permission to restore the clerestory windows and replace the frosted glass with clear glass, as would have been originally. The restoration of clear glass at this level should flood the ceiling with light and significant enhance the building in all seasons as the light changes.
The cost of replacing the glass and restoring these windows is likely to be in the region of £28,000. There are 14 windows so that is £2,000 per window. We would be delighted if people would like to sponsor a window! If you are a UK taxpayer, after Gift Aid it is only £1,600. If a full window is a bit much, then why not half a window, which would be £1,000 (or £800 with Gift Aid). If that is a bit of a stretch, we would be delighted if you could sponsor a quarter of a window (£400 plus Gift Aid) or just a pane or two for £100 or £200. Every donation helps!
Donations can be made either to the Vicar or Bryan Sollenberger at the parish office.
St John’s Annual Barbecue
Summer is almost here and are planning this year’s barbecue following the 10am service on 2nd July. As usual, St John’s provides the meat and desserts, you supply a salad and a donation: £5/adult, £2/ child. Please sign up after the service if you will be coming and indicate what kind of salad you will be bringing. Volunteers to help with setting up and barbecuing the meat are also needed – speak to Andre or to Bryan if you can help.
St John’s Family Camping Trip
14th – 16th July 2017
St John’s families are organising a camping trip in July again this year at Debden House. If you are interested in coming speak to Samantha Tear with some indication as to whether you are interested in coming for 1 or 2 nights. You can sign up by going to http://www.debdenhouse.com/campsite-epping-forest.html and booking a site near pitches 204 and 205.
Horseman’s Sunday
17th September 2017
This year we will be celebrating the 50th Horseman’s Sunday! In addition to the usual volunteers, this year we are looking for someone with particular PR skills to help us to publicise this milestone event. If you can help, please speak to Bryan Sollenberger after the service.
Culture Vulture Ventures
Culture Vultures Support our Choral Scholars at the Royal College of Music
25th June, 12 noon
On Sunday 25th June we meet at 12 noon in the Royal Albert Hall’s ground floor Café Bar (enter via Door 12) for a light lunch before walking over to the Royal College of Music for the Dress Rehearsal of two delightful French comic operas: Poulenc’s Les Mamelles de Tirésias and Chabrier’s Une Éducation Manquée. Choral Scholar Julien Van Mellaerts, who recently won the prestigious 2017 Ferrier prize, sings the main role in Poulenc’s farcical little opera bouffe: enter the topsy-turvy world of Tiresias who turns herself into a man, dresses her husband as a woman and heads off to conquer the world.
Meanwhile, set in 18th-century France, Chabrier’s Une Éducation Manquée finds Count Gontran and his new wife Helene unprepared for the particulars of their wedding night. Seeking advice from close relations, will they find the answers to their questions?
The rehearsal is performed free of charge but names are needed for admission: please let Margaret or Lesley Gray, who will be co-ordinating the Venture on the 25th, know you will be coming.
Culture Vultures Venture to Oxford
Tuesday, 25th July
The Reverend Sally Hitchiner, who has spent time as a student and chaplain at Oxford University, is arranging a day in the city for us. We will catch the 10.15am Oxford Tube from Marble Arch and return at either approx. 5pm or after attending a College Evensong – 6pm start. Day return is £18, £14 for over 60’s, under 15’s travel free. The plan is to explore Oxford’s literary landmarks and the itinerary will encompass Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Narnia, Harry Potter and Alice in Wonderland so the day is very suitable for children as well as adults. We'll also venture inside Christ Church College where the Harry Potter film was set and where CS Lewis and Lewis Carroll were dons and visit the pub where CS Lewis, JR Tolkien and their friend Hugo met each week to discuss their writing. Sally will arrange coffee and lunch stops and afternoon tea in the crypt library underneath the university church. Please give Margaret travel fare as appropriate if you would like to join this venture.
Celebrate!
Marking a special birthday? Celebrating an anniversary? Wanting to remember that special person? St John’s can help! To honour a loved one or to commemorate a special event, you can sponsor some music or flowers, have fizz & refreshments after the service - there are lots of possibilities. If you would like to observe a special occasion or honour someone special, speak to Bryan Sollenberger.
LORD MAYOR’S CORNER
While serving as Lord Mayor, Ian Adams will be helping to raise money for two local charities: Age UK Westminster, which is aiming to create 200 additional befriending opportunities, and the Social Mobility Foundation, which will support promising sixth-formers from poorer households in Westminster with work placements and applications to university. To kick-start his fund-raising, Ian will be hosting an exclusive Charity Gala Evening in association with Regent’s Park Open Air Theatre - a performance of Leonard Bernstein’s hit musical On The Town, the theatre’s biggest dance musical yet. It takes place on Monday, 19th June 2017, at 6.15pm and includes top-price tickets, pre-theatre champagne reception, a beautifully prepared selection of bowl food, interval dessert, plus unlimited drinks throughout the evening. All for just £95 per person. Tickets are selling fast, so please speak with Ian or Chris or email lordmayorsoffice@westminster.gov.uk to reserve your place.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
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
Information about the weekly community playgroups that meet at St John’s can be found at www.HPPplaygroup.weebly.com for the Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning groups and www.HPPrussian.weebly.com for the Russian speaking playgroup on Wednesday mornings.
While the scaffolding is in church, the Wednesday afternoon playgroup will not meet. The Wednesday and Thursday morning groups will meet at the church at 9.45am and go to Hyde Park, weather permitting.
