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.
Summertime Special Services
For our summer services, the musical setting will be familiar folk tunes for the Gloria and other sung parts of the service. This will be combined with a slightly shorter service in that there will be only one reading and no Psalm. We hope that this will be more accommodating of families that are in church while Kids’ Club is on holiday. Normal services resume on Sunday, 3rd September.
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 29th August. For further information, speak to one of the clergy.
Pippa Turner
Pippa’s Institution and Induction at St Philip’s, Earl’s Court Road will be on Wednesday, 6th September, at 7.30pm. The church is south of Earl’s Court, on Earl’s Court Road between Cromwell Road and High Street Kensington. If you would like to attend, you are kindly requested to rsvp to www.specr.org.
School Starter Sunday
It’s a bit early but so you can put this date in your diary before you go away, our Back to School Sunday is on 3rd September, when children starting reception classes this year receive a special St John’s pencil case and all children returning to school receive a blessing before resuming their studies.
Horseman’s Sunday
17th September 2017
September isn’t far off now and that means Horseman’s Sunday will soon be upon us. This year marks a milestone – it is the 50th Blessing of the Horses! We’re planning the event now and if you have any ideas for stalls or fund raisers, please speak to Antonio. This annual community event is perhaps the high point of the local calendar and St John’s is proud to be working with many different members of our community in preparation for this year’s festival. Once again the festival Eucharist will be followed by the Cavalcade of Horses gathering in the forecourt for the blessing. Community and fund raising stalls will be located on the forecourt and you can wander around with a glass of wine and listen to the jazz band.
Volunteers Needed
Can you help to sell raffle tickets and with stewarding? Are you willing to get involved in setting up before the service and, most importantly, to take part in the collection? We have the time it takes to sing a short hymn in order to take the collection giving people ample time to have gotten their pound coins out of their pockets so we need lots of people willing to help with the collection in order that nobody feels left out! Your Church Needs You! Please help.
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.
Draw of the Year
This year we are again offering our fabulous hamper as the top prize. You can help us make up this year’s St John’s hamper by donating suitable items such as a bottle of wine, fruit cake, jams, pickles, box of chocolates, Scottish shortbread, Christmas pudding! – you get the idea. Items for the hamper can be delivered to the office.
Cake Stall
Our famous Horseman’s Sunday Cake Stall will be taking place again. Grab the chance to show off your culinary skills and, if you are going to be busy in September, bake it now and freeze it for the big day!
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.
Culture Vulture Ventures
Wine and canapés in the Lord Mayor’s Parlour Monday 18th September 7-8.30pm
At Westminster City Council’s temporary headquarters, 5 The Strand, WC2N 5HR close to Charing Cross, the Lord Mayor of Westminster, Ian Adams, will open his 8th floor parlour to Culture Vultures. Ian will welcome us; his chaplain, the Reverend Steve Mason, will speak to us theologically about the office of Lord Mayor and we will view some of the Council’s silver and art collections. All this while we enjoy the stunning view over Trafalgar Square and enjoy the Lord Mayor’s hospitality. Please give Margaret £15 per head (cheques preferred), which will be donated to the Lord Mayor’s charitable fund.
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.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Lord Mayor’s Corner
Following a couple of weeks' holiday, I anticipate my duties as Lord Mayor picking up over the coming days. Last Friday Chris and I were guests of the Crown Estate to have a look at their sustainable rooftops in and around Regent Street and later today, 13th August, we are off to see the World Championships Race Walk on The Mall. Looking ahead to the coming week, highlights will include Sung Eucharist at Westminster Abbey to make the Feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary; seeing Yank! The Musical at Charing Cross Theatre; and a meeting with one of my charities for the year, The Social Mobility Foundation.
School Gate Gossip
Our school has recently 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
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.
Playgroups will resume in September after the summer holidays.
