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.
Autumn Music Series: Aspects of Love
‘God is love’ but there are many types of love. This Autumn our music series explores how we experience and share the various aspects of love as defined by Platonic and Aristotelian thought. This morning’s anthem, You’re Beautiful by James Blunt, extols ludus – playful affection, flirting or teasing.
08/09 Philia Friendship, dependability and trust
15/09 Storge Familial love between parent and child
22/09 Pragma Practical love founded on reason or duty
29/09 Eros Sexual or passionate love
06/10 Agapé Sacrificial unselfish concern for others
13/10 Philautia Self-love whether healthy or unhealthy
20/10 Ludus Playful or undemanding love
27/10 Mania An obsessive or possessive love
Jenny Clark Memorial Concert
3rd November 2019, 11.30am
Our annual Jenny Clark Memorial Concert this year is on the 3rd November immediately following the 10am service. We are very pleased to have cellist Hannah Ashenden, one of our regular guest musicians, giving this year’s concert. This is always a very special event – make sure you can be here for it.
All Souls
4th November 2019, 7pm
On Monday, 4th November, we mark this special festival with a service at 7pm (note the earlier start this year) at which we remember those who are part of the church community but who have died. This year the choir are singing Faurés Requiem. During this service we remember those dear to us who have died - a list is available in the porch for you to add the names of those you would like to be remembered. As part of the liturgy, there will be opportunity for you to light a candle and place it on the altar in remembrance of your loved ones.
Bible Book Club
6th November, 7.30pm
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 first Wednesday of the month. For further information, speak to one of the clergy.
St John’s Late
St John’s Late returns for the autumn from 10th November.
10th November, 6pm
Jazz Mass
A joyous mass with choir and double bass in the setting of a jazz club. The setting is Chilcott’s Nidaros Jazz Mass Brevis and Tippett’s Deep River the anthem.
17th November, 7pm
Compline by Candlelight
Night prayer with choir and flute, preceded by a soup & cheese supper at 6pm. A sung service stunning in its simplicity. The anthem is Ave Dulcissima Maria by Lauridsen.
24th November, 6pm
Choral Evensong
A special Evensong marking the festival of Christ the King. The setting for the responses is by Byrd with the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis by Purcell in G Minor. The anthem will be O God the King of Glory also by Purcell.
SAVE THE DATE!!
Advent Carols
1st December, 6pm
Our service marking the beginning of Advent and preparation for Christmas is on the First Sunday of Advent. If you haven’t already, make sure you note this in your diaries. More information about the service is coming soon.
Rainy Day Appeal
Raised: £4,100
Target: £40,000
Two years ago we undertook some very essential repairs to the roof, gutters and parapets. If you look up on the north or south sides of the church, you’ll notice the beautiful new stonework. To fund the works, however, we had to borrow £200,000 from the Diocese of London.
The goal of our Rainy Day Appeal is to raise £40,000 to cover this year’s repayment commitment and interest. There are 160 metres of guttering, which works out at £250 per meter (£200 per metre if gift aided). To clear one or more metres or for more information about Gift Aid, speak to Bryan Sollenberger.
Culture Vultures Venture
The Musical ‘Hamilton’, Tuesday November 26th
We have tickets to the hit musical Hamilton, 7.30pm on Tuesday, November 26th at one of architect Frank Matcham’s theatre gems, the newly refurbished Victoria Palace, Victoria St, SW1E 5EA, www.victoriapalacetheatre.co.uk. This is a sung-and-rapped through American musical about the fascinating life of the forgotten American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton and his ascent out of poverty to power, against the backdrop of the American War of Independence. Beforehand, from 6.00 – 7.00pm, we are warmly invited by two members of our congregation to pre- performance drinks and snacks in their nearby home. Very generously they are not charging and so a donation to St John’s High Works Roof Appeal is included in the cost of the evening, which is £50 in total. For more details and to make payment, which will secure your place, speak to Margaret or any of the team. Cheques preferred made payable to Margaret Legg.
St John’s Book Club
St John’s Book Club met recently and had an enthusiastic evening discussing Rabbit, Run by John Updike. They are now reading The Ghost by Robert Harris and will be reviewing it on 30th October. For further information, please speak to Michael King.
Mid-week Services
St John’s isn’t just a church for Sunday! There are services at 5.30pm Monday to Thursday. Monday’s service is a eucharist and there is a said evensong Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Services take place in the sanctuary and are open to all.
Help Robin Get to Church
Robin Plummer lives just off the Harrow Road a short drive from St John’s 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. One of his carers would come along to help look after him. Coming to church is very special to Robin and helping him get here each week would be a real service to him.
Volunteer with a Cheer!
One of the great strengths of St John’s is the involvement of so many volunteers. Nowhere is this truer than at our Sunday services. We are profoundly grateful to everyone who takes part on the various rotas and in other ways as needed but we are always on the lookout for others who would like to be involved. If you would be willing to read a lesson, lead our prayers, carry the cross & candles, prepare and serve tea & coffee or help out in other ways, Dan and Andre would love to speak with you.
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.
Share a Smile with St John’s
Will you be shopping over the summer for something nice for your holiday or for a birthday or anniversary present? Or as we approach the dreaded c-word in December? Whatever you do, don’t go to Amazon.co.uk! Go instead to smile.amazon.co.uk and raise some money for St John’s. When you log in you can nominate St John’s, Hyde Park and then Amazon will donate .5% of the cost of your purchases to us. Feel good about getting some good deals and about supporting your parish church!
COMMUNITY EVENTS
School Gate Gossip
As a part of our Growth Mindset weeks, the students in KS1 and KS2 studied a different artist and the skill of creating a self-portrait. Using a variety of materials and considering artists such as Matisse, Kahlo and Da Vinci, the students looked at different methods to create a self- portrait, different techniques when drawing with different materials and different ways to represent the human face to different levels of accuracy. From collage to simple line drawings to the inclusion of text along, then investigating proportion, depth and shading, the skill development across the two weeks was impressive and all the children had a great time seeing their initial drawings turn into something of which they should all be proud.
Stay and Play
A community playgroup meets weekly in St John’s on Thursday mornings from 9.30-11.30am. Come and stay for a play, a sing-song and to share stories over a cup of coffee. All children and babies are welcome (newborn to 5 years). Suggested donation: £2.
