Hearing the Service
John’s has an Induction Loop System so if you have a hearing aid, please switch it to the ’T’ setting.
Epiphany 2018
This morning we celebrate Epiphany - the arrival of the Magi, after their long journey following a star seeking Jesus. This is one of the oldest festivals of the Christian Church and, in the Eastern and Russian Orthodox Churches, is the equivalent of Christmas as it was in the Celtic Church until the mission of Augustine of Canterbury. There will be a procession of the Magi and Presentation of Gifts before the Crib as part of the service. Afterwards, there will be a reception of fizz and finger food. Please stay for a glass and share in the celebrations with us.
Epiphany Carols
14th January 2018, 6pm
After our fantastic Advent and Christmas carol services, what next? Epiphany carols! Robert, Nicky and the choir have prepared another special treat to conclude our seasonal celebrations marking the events of the Epiphany season. The service will be followed by fizz and seasonal delicacies. A great way to beat the post-Christmas blues!
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.
NB There is no session this week due to half term.
St John’s Book Club
SJBC met earlier this month and selected Hillbilly Elegy by J D Vance as their next book and will discuss it on 5th February 2018. After that, they will peruse The Bell by Iris Murdoch for a meeting in April. See Michael King for more information.
Silent Film
Following the rapturous reception of The Passion of Joan of Arc and Nosferatu, the next film to be shown will be The Hunchback of Notre Dame on Sunday evening, 21st January 2018, 6.30pm. Tickets are £8 in advance, £10 on the door.
St John’s Late
Our Sunday evening services resume on 28th January. Please note the times of services as they do fluctuate until the Lent series begins on 5th March.
28th January, 6.30pm Jazz mass
4th February, 8pm Compline (preceded by supper at 7pm)
12th February, 8pm Choral Evensong
CULTURE VULTURE VENTURES
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 Luce E Limone, 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 (tea/coffee extra) 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.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
LORD MAYOR’S CORNER
New Year’s Day was memorable for a number of reasons, not least as I hosted the annual London New Year’s Day Parade held in Westminster, involving over 8,000 performers including school bands from North America and themed floats from 16 London boroughs. The event attracted around 500,000 people lining the route along Piccadilly, Regent Street St James’s, Trafalgar Square and Whitehall. An early start for me included a live interview on BBC One Breakfast. I was pleased that Westminster’s float, based on this year’s parade theme of Showtime, won top prize. The following evening, I had a role in performing at a concert featuring some of the American marching bands held at Westminster Central Hall - with me “playing” a vacuum cleaner in a piece written by British composer Malcolm Arnold. Last week Chris and I also visited the Cardinal Hume Centre near Westminster Cathedral and attended Sung Eucharist on the Eve of Epiphany at Westminster Abbey. Tonight, 7 January, we are due to attend a press preview of The Crystal Egg Live at the Vaults Theatre
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.
