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.
Summer Term 2018 Anthems
This term’s offering of anthems during the Sunday morning service has two main themes running through it: on one hand we take a look at ‘God on Stage’, uncovering some of the ways religious themes and ideas have appeared in musical theatre shows over the years, either more or less overtly, and we also celebrate a range of major composers who celebrate important anniversaries in 2018.
This week's anthem is a setting of O Salutaris Hostia by Giaochino Rossini (1792-1868). Rossini is best known for his operas - The Barber of Seville, William Tell and others - but also composed various sacred works such as his moving Stabat Mater, performed here in St John's a few years ago on Palm Sunday. O Salutaris Hostia is a homophonic motet for unaccompanied choir published in 1857, setting 13th century words by Thomas Aquinas: O redeeming sacrificial victim, who openest the gate of heaven, the wars of the enemy beat us down: grant us strength, bring us help.
Sung Eucharist for Ascension, 10th May, 8pm
The Ascension, coming 40 days after Christ’s resurrection, is the culmination of Easter, the season in which we celebrate the stories of the risen Christ. This year Ascension falls on the 10th May and we will celebrate it with a choral eucharist at 8pm. The choir will sing Schubert’s Mass in C and Stanford’s Coelos Ascendit Hodie.
Whitsun Carols, 20th May 2018
A unique musical service at 6pm concluding our annual cycle of carol services which tell the events of the Christian year. At Whitsun Carols we commemorate the events from Easter to Pentecost, with readings and musical selections from the choir and guest musicians. A reception with the first of the summer Pimms will follow.
St John’s Big Pub Quiz
Our popular quiz night returns on Thursday, 7th June, in St John’s at 7pm. Tickets are £15 and include dinner and entry. They are available from the staff in the parish office. Invite some friends and form a team of 6 to 8 or come on your own and join a team. The quizmaster for the evening is from The Victoria.
Culture Vultures visit Lambeth Palace
On Friday June 8th at 10.30am we have a guided tour of the state rooms at Lambeth Palace, SE1 7JU, London residence for nearly 800 years of the Archbishops of Canterbury. We will have the chance to explore the rooms and chapel, watch a video and hear about the history of the Archbishops of Canterbury. The tour finishes at approximately 12 noon, when we adjourn to the acclaimed and adjoining Garden Museum café for lunch: www.gardenmuseum.org.uk. There is no set menu: we select from the ‘menu du jour’ and pay on an individual basis. Meet at the Palace entrance, Morton’s Tower, at 10.15am. This is the red brick Tudor gatehouse built in 1469 by Cardinal Morton and is visible from the road. Payment to Margaret (cheques preferred) of £13 for the tour, including £1 tip for our volunteer guide, to secure your place.
Ordination of Dan Warnke and Summer Barbecue
Dan Warnke, our next assistant curate, will be ordained deacon on Saturday, 30 June, at St Paul’s Cathedral at 3pm. Dan will officially join the staff team at St John’s on Sunday, 8th July. As part of the celebrations on that Sunday, we will be holding our annual summer barbecue following the 10am service.
St John’s Book Club
St John’s Book Club met recently and enjoyed a riveting discussion over Iris Murdoch’s The Bell. Their next read will be Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders and they will meet to discuss it on Monday, 2nd July. See Michael King for further information.
The Rood Screen
Those of you who have been waiting patiently for the promised staining of the screen so that the north end, which had to be specially made when the screen was moved to its present location, will match the older sections can now rejoice in the fulfilment of your faith! Just after Easter the conservator was on site: the north end was stained and the rest was freshened up so that it now looks almost new.
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
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 know.
LORD MAYOR’S CORNER
Last week Chris and I were guests of Pride’s Got Talent finals at Charing Cross Theatre. I was also guest speaker at the Foreign Office talking about diversity and inclusion, and I spoke at a ceremony to mark the 19th anniversary of the bombing of the Admiral Duncan pub in Soho. We attended the London Press Club Awards and the annual Tyburn Lecture at the convent near Marble Arch. On 6 May, I will be at St Martin in the Fields, where I am the guest speaker at their theology group.
This coming week Chris and I are at Westminster Abbey for Evensong sung by the Royal Copenhagen Choir, then for a service to commemorate the life of Florence Nightingale, as well as sung Eucharist for Ascension Day on Thursday. Later the same day, I am speaking at a diversity and inclusion event in the London Transport Museum organised by a Westminster-based engineering firm. I will also unveil a memorial to another local Victoria Cross hero from World War One. Something I’m particularly looking forward to is the Bathing of the Buddha Festival on Saturday. I am also hosting a number of thank you receptions to mark the end of my term as Lord Mayor on 16 May.
St James & St John School Gate Gossip
Get your quizzing muscles in shape for St John’s quiz night by supporting the St James and St John Quiz Night on Thursday, 17th May, at the Lancaster Hall Hotel, 35 Craven Terrace, opposite the school. The evening starts at 8pm. Tickets are £12 and include entrance, curry and a welcome glass of prosecco. Alternatively you can enter a team of up to 8 for £80! See Anna Haase for tickets and further information. There are a limited number of tickets so get yours while you still can!
Under Five’s Playgroups
An international playgroup aimed at Russian speakers meets in St John’s on Wednesdays at 10am. Another playgroup meets on 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.
