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 commemorate 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.
This 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 Pergolesi’s Stabat Mater, sung by our choir and accompanied by a string quartet. This is a beautiful and poignant service and a very proper way to begin Holy Week.
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 March. For further information, speak to one of the clergy.
HOLY WEEK & EASTER 2018
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, 29th March, 8pm
A special sung mass commemorating the Last Supper with the washing of feet takes place on the Thursday night before Easter. The mass setting will be Missa Brevis by Kodàly and the anthem Casals’ O Vos Omnes. 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, 30th March, 10am
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, 30th March, 2pm
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 Jesus Christ, Superstar by Tim Rice and Andrew Lloyd Webber.
Mrs Mops’ Easter Special!, 31st March, 11am
Andre is organising a special effort on Saturday morning before Easter 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 Breakfast
A cooked breakfast is served in the hall following the dawn service. Please sign up in the porch if you plan to stay for this. Anyone wishing to volunteer to help with breakfast would be very warmly welcomed by the Vicar (who will be coming off his Lenten diet).
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.
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. There are still a few places available but make sure you speak to Claudia NOW to ensure you get one. Please send your name, mobile number and email to Claudiafinlay@btconnect.com.
Community Charity Concert
Thursday, 19th April, 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 will be available after Easter - £10 per adult, £5 concession. More information to come but Bernstein and theatre fans will be excited that selection of songs from West Side Story will feature.
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.
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
I have two whole months remaining in my role as Lord Mayor and the diary of events continues to keep Chris and me busy! Highlights from last week included attending an awards ceremony for local cadets - who provide such a valuable resource giving up their free time as army volunteers; hosting a visit to my parlour by the Lansdowne Arts Club to view the civic silver collection; laying commemorative wreaths in memory of Oliver Watson VC, a hero from the First World War, and in a separate ceremony in memory of those who lost their lives in the attack on Westminster Bridge and in Parliament one year ago; taking part in a reception for the National Day of Pakistan at the Pakistan Embassy; and enjoying the opening concert of this year’s London Handel Festival at St George’s Hanover Square.
On 25 March, Chris and I are at Westminster Abbey for Palm Sunday Eucharist. Later this coming week, I will attend a ceremony to mark the appointment 100 years ago of General Foch as Supreme Allied Commander; visit Victoria Library for a wellbeing event called ‘Rhythm for Life’; host a music event for our Triborough children’s music hub; and attend an anniversary party for Open Age in Queen’s Park. There are also several Easter-related services taking place, including a Holy Week concert, Eucharist on Maunday Thursday, a Good Friday Solemn Liturgy; Holy Saturday Vigil and First Eucharist of Easter; and Sung Eucharist for Easter Day - all taking place at Westminster Abbey.
St James & St John School Gate Gossip
The school has been filled with angel-like singing for the past weeks as our children have been very busy rehearsing a mix of songs from opera as well as well-known pop hits. The reason behind this hive of activity is a fantastic event which our children are now able to attend for the second time. Our school choir is going to perform at the Royal Albert Hall tomorrow along with over 2000 other children from various other school choirs and accompanied by celebrities from Strictly Come Dancing and other stars. There are still some tickets left to purchase (https://www.royalalberthall.com). The other key date for the coming week is the end of term service at St. John's on Wednesday. Last day of term is Thursday. Unbelievable and amazing that it's holidays again. Well deserved...obviously.
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.
