Children and Young Families during this morning’s service
Children are very much part of our life here at St John’s. They are welcome to stay with their parents in church or are invited to take part in a number of activities. Kids’ Club congregates in the parish hall after the Collect. They will rejoin their parents in time to receive communion or a blessing and, towards the end of the service, will process with the Vicar to bless the Easter Garden. Toilets and nappy changing facilities are available in the parish hall, which can be accessed through the door on the right hand side at the front of the church. There are pew bags available with soft toys for children to play with if you would prefer your child to stay in church. They, along with a welcome leaflet containing information on all the facilities we offer young children, are available from a member of the welcome team. After the service, there will be an Easter egg hunt in the gardens alongside of church.
Festival Eucharist
This morning our choir will be accompanied by strings, winds, trumpet and tympani. After the service, while the children enjoy their Easter egg hunt, the adults are invited to enjoy a glass of fizz. Our Easter reception will be held at the back of church and we invite you to celebrate the festival with us. Donations of £1 for a glass of fizz will be gratefully received in the pot on the refreshments table.
St John’s Choir
Our thanks to Robert Greenhill, Nick Miller, our volunteer choir members, our choral scholars and visiting musicians for providing us with such excellent music this morning and throughout Lent. Robert and the choir deserve a well earned rest and will be away nest Sunday. During the choir’s break, we shall use our folk tunes mass setting. The choir will return on Sunday, 15th April.
Big Thank You’s
A big thank you to Simone Malavolta and Andrew Loft, who organised and prepared our breakfast after celebrating the dawn of Easter morning at the early service. Thank you also to all who have helped with catering for this morning’s reception and with the children’s activities this morning and on Good Friday.
A final but equally big thank you to all who contributed to our Easter flowers so that we can have the church suitable decorated for our celebrations this morning and to all who turned up yesterday morning to prepare the church for today’s services.
Services This Coming Week
There will be no Sunday evening nor evening mid-week services this week. There will also be no 8am service next Sunday, 8th April. Evening services will resume on Monday, 9th April.
Office Closure
The parish office will be closed on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. It will reopen at 9.00am on Thursday. The answerphone will be checked during this period so please leave a message if an urgent matter comes up.
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 THIS MORNING to ensure you get one. Please send your name, mobile number and email to Claudiafinlay@btconnect.com.
St John’s Book Club
St John’s Book Club next meets on Monday, 16th April, when they will be discussing The Bell by Iris Murdoch. See Michael King for further information.
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 and the Swedish church choir 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 are now running. 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 on the day and support those who are being confirmed.
Annual Meeting Elections
Congratulations to Neville David and Ian Smith, who were elected churchwardens for the coming year at our annual meeting. Congratulations also to Esme Daley, David Hughes and Samantha Tear, who were elected onto the PCC.
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. The choir will next meet on 19th April.
LORD MAYOR’S CORNER
Holy Week has meant attending a significant number of events at Westminster Abbey, including a performance of Bach’s St Matthew Passion, Maundy Thursday Sung Eucharist, Good Friday Procession of Witness, Good Friday Solemn Liturgy and First Eucharist of Easter. I also attended a number of music-related events last week, including a concert given by pupils and parents from Westminster School at the Barbican, a community percussion workshop at Victoria Library and a triborough music hub promotion.
On 1 April, Chris and I shall be attending a centenary celebration service at St Clement Danes Church to mark the formation of the RAF. Later this coming week, we shall be guests of the London Handel Festival for a performance at St George’s Hanover Square; we will also attend a special service at Westminster Abbey marking the 50th anniversary of the death of Dr Martin Luther King Jr. Next Sunday, 8 April, I take part in the annual Whittington Walk, with other London mayors, from the Whittington Hospital in north London to Mansion House in the City. Later that evening, we are guests at the annual Olivier Awards at the Royal Albert Hall.
St James & St John School Gate Gossip
Our children are now enjoying their Easter Break and will kick-off the Summer term on April 16th. There was one spectacular highlight in their last week before the holidays as our school choir was performing at the Royal Albert Hall along with over 2000 other children from various other school choirs and accompanied by celebrities from Strictly Come Dancing and other stars. It was a fantastic and unforgettable evening and we were especially thrilled to be performing in the presence of HRH The Duke of Kent. Traditionally, we closed the term with an end of school service, here at St. John's this past Wednesday.
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.
NB Playgroups will not meet after Easter until 18th April.
