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.
Sunday Evenings in Lent
Jesus: the Living Water
In this series of Lenten evening services, we explore how Jesus brings life in many different ways to many different people, using his encounters with water as illustrations. With our own lives as our templates we reflect, through music, worship, prayer and water-focussed practical interludes, on the times when we have been healed and reshaped and have felt we have no control. Ultimately, we focus on Jesus himself as the source of new life within us, through the cleansing and empowerment that he gives us through his death and resurrection.
Lent Course 2018
Faith and the Arts
For centuries, different art forms have been used as channels to capture faith. The beauty found in these artistic expressions goes beyond the religious motif, to something deeper within the artist and the beholder. In four weeks, we will explore different forms of art: Sculpture, Music, Dance and Visual Arts. We will share a conversation with artists on how they perceive and express faith, and us as spectators, how we perceive beauty and faith through art.
This is our yearly Lent Course shared between St John's, St George's, Hanover Square and the Grosvenor Chapel. It will be held on Wednesdays at the Garden Room in the Grosvenor Chapel, 24 S Audley St, Mayfair, London W1K 2PA. Most days starting at 7pm (*), we begin by sharing soup and supper (see below for details).
St John’s is providing supper on 7th March – is you can help serve, please speak to Antonio.
Wednesday, 28th February: Dance
Avatara Ayuso: Choreographer, Ballerina and Dancer
Wednesday, 7th March, 6.30pm: Music
Sir James MacMillan: Composer
*This evening’s session will be preceded by Sung Vespers at 6.30pm using music
composed by Sir James.
Wednesday, 14th March: Sculpture
Professor Alexander Stoddart: the Queen’s Sculptor in Ordinary in Scotland
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 February. For further information, speak to one of the clergy.
Annual Vestry and Parochial Church Meeting
This year’s annual meetings take place on 18th March immediately after the 10am service. The first step in preparation for these meetings is to revise the Electoral Roll. Accordingly, the Roll will be open until 1st March. Having your name entered on the Electoral Roll is an indication of your involvement in the life of the parish and entitles you to attend and take part in the annual meeting. It is also something that Church of England schools ask about when applying for a place. Forms are available from the table in the porch or from Bryan Sollenberger.
Mothering Sunday
On 11th March we celebrate Mothering Sunday. The theme for this year is ‘Women Opening Doors’. During the service our children will give flowers to every woman in the congregation while the choir sings Wonder Woman.
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 considering being confirmed on 22nd April but have not yet been baptised, this is the perfect time for it – it is a traditional for those wishing to be confirmed to be baptised at Easter. If you are interested in being baptized at this service, please speak to one of the clergy as soon as possible.
Easter Breakfast
As part of our Easter morning celebrations, we break our Lenten fasts with a cooked breakfast following the dawn service. Anyone wishing to volunteer to organise the Easter breakfast would be very warmly welcomed by the Vicar.
Heart Start Training
Claudia Finlay has organised this course, run by London Ambulance, for members of St. John’s Church on Tuesday, 3rd April. 18.30 – 20.30 at 220 Waterloo Road, London SE1. The course is available for 15 people only and is free, but you need to register. Please send your name, mobile number and email to Claudiafinlay@btconnect.com.
Confirmation
On Sunday, 22nd April, the acting Bishop of London will be presiding at a service of Confirmation. Courses preparing children and adults for Confirmation will be run in Lent. If you would like to be confirmed or if you would like to explore the possibility of being confirmed, please talk with one of the clergy. Do come along and support those who are being confirmed.
Help Robin Get to Church
Robin Plummer lives in Great Western Road and needs help getting to and from church. Would you be willing to help him? There is a rota and you would be expected to help Robin approximately one Sunday per month. Robin is particularly fond of riding in fast cars although he is also very happy to walk to church.
CULTURE VULTURE VENTURES
Culture Vultures Venture to the Royal College of Music
Midsummer Night’s Dream, Saturday March 3rd
Come and hear some of our choral scholars sing at the dress rehearsal for the Royal College’s Midsummer Night’s Dream by Benjamin Britten is at 1.00pm on Saturday 3rd March. Stephen Mills is Snout, Harry Thatcher Demetrius (shadow), Beth Moxon Hermia (shadow) and Catriona Hewitson Tytania. There is no charge but names must be submitted beforehand, so please let Margaret know if you are coming. We meet at 12 noon for a light lunch in the ground level Café-Bar at the Royal Albert Hall, Door 12, before walking over to the Royal College of Music for the performance.
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
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.
LORD MAYOR’S CORNER
Another varied and fascinating week of appointments this past week, including attending an exhibition of German fashion at the German Ambassador’s Residence, part of London Fashion Week; a Hong Kong reception at Banqueting House to mark Chinese New Year; a tour of social housing provided by Soho Housing Association; a reception in honour of the National Day of the State of Kuwait; and a courtesy visit to the High Commissioner of Australia.
Last Friday I visited Handel House Museum on the birthday of the great composer who lived in Westminster for most of his adult life before hosting a Gala Concert later that day at Wigmore Hall, with a programme based around the Seven Ages of Man. Truly wonderful! On Sunday 25th February, I shall attend the Westminster Bangladeshi Association International Mother Language Day event in Pimlico before attending another Chinese New Year celebration event - this time a dinner in Gerrard Street hosted by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce.
St James & St John School Gate Gossip
Well rested after a week of holidays, our children are straight back to a flurry of activities. Our year threes continue to learn about predators before getting a first-hand experience at the London Zoo next week. Across the school and across classes we discuss and choose our favourite characters for World Book Day, which is always lots of fun, especially as teachers join in and also dress up. Finally, the PFA has kicked off the social calendar with a great pub evening last Thursday and is already starting to make preparations and collect ideas for this year’s Mother’s Day Tea Party which has become a staple event.
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.
