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.
Morning Music by Monteverdi
This Sunday's anthem and voluntaries are all by the great Italian composer Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643), who directed the music at St Mark's Basilica, Venice, for the last thirty years of his life. The anthem is his setting of Cantate Domino (O Sing unto the Lord a New Song) with words from Psalm 96, and the music before and after the service is incidental music from his opera Orfeo, which was premiered on 24th February 1607.
St John’s Late
This evening’s service is a jazz mass at 6pm. The setting is our favourite Little Jazz Mass by Chilcott. Please note the times and dates of services there is not a service on every Sunday evening. There will be no service next Sunday, 3rd March, and then our teaching series on the Eucharist begins on 10th March.
The Wednesday Club
27th February 2019, 7.30pm
This is a new group typically meeting on the third Wednesday of the month in a local pub to discuss everyday ethics and how the things we think and do relate to our understanding of God and faith. This promises to be a lively and generous discussion, so do come and join us! To sign up or for further information, speak to Dan.
Prom Concert, 3rd March
On Sunday 3rd March, immediately after the 10am service, we will have a short Prom Concert of about 30 minutes, featuring Nicky Miller (organ & piano), Jonathan Hill (violin) and a smattering of our marvellous Choral Scholars, to mark the last Sunday before Lent. The full programme remains under wraps for now, but that Sunday is also the anniversary of the premiere of Bizet's Carmen, so there are treats in store.
Ash Wednesday, 6th March 2019, 12.00 noon & 8.00pm
We begin our Lenten observations on Ash Wednesday, which this year falls on 6th March. As usual there will be a said lunchtime service at 12.00 noon. In the evening there will be a sung Eucharist at 8.00pm, the setting Palestrina’s Missa Brevis, featuring Allegri’s Miserere and Walton’s Drop, Drop Slow Tears. If you still have your palm crosses from last year, bring them in and we will burn them to make this year’s ash.
Congratulations, Sally Hitchiner!
We are pleased that Sally has been appointed Associate Vicar at St Martins-in-the-Fields! Her last Sunday here will be 31st March, Mothering Sunday. Sally has been associated with St John’s while she has been chaplain at Brunel University, taking part on the clergy rota on an occasional basis, and we have been delighted that she has brought a bit of sparkle and razzamatazz to St John’s with her ministry here and on television. We are very pleased for her but will be sad to see her go. Make sure you come along on 31st March to wish Sally and Fiona well.
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 normally take place on the first Wednesday of the month but as there will be our usual Lent course at Grosvenor Chapel during Lent on Wednesday evenings the next meeting will take place on 1st May. For further information, speak to one of the clergy.
Electoral Roll
The parish electoral roll is an indication of the life and vitality of St John’s. Inclusion on it is a part of your commitment to the church. Further, you must be on the electoral roll in order to participate in our annual meeting. Every six years we are required to dissolve the current roll and to compile a brand new one. As we last did this in 2013 we are compelled to compile a new roll this year and will be taking applications for entry onto the new roll until 20th March 2019. The roll will then be closed until after the annual meeting on 7th April. Application forms are available in the porch. Once completed, please return them to Bryan Sollenberger or send to the parish office.
Sponsor a Buttress
Goal: £50,000
Raised so far: £41,258
Roll up! Roll up! We’ve now had sponsorship of 33 buttresses and only seven remain! A huge thank you to everyone who has supported our appeal. To date, 24 individuals or households have made donations, along with everyone who came to the quiz night last June or who purchased a ticket for the Dog Collar Dinner.
The ‘Sponsor a Buttress’ campaign is raising funds to cover this year’s commitment to repaying the loan from the Diocese of London towards last year’s roof works. There are 40 buttresses consisting of three stones each. A stone costs £416, a buttress £1,250 (£333 and £1,000 respectively if Gift Aided). To sponsor a stone or buttress or for more information about Gift Aid, speak to Bryan Sollenberger.
Culture Vulture Ventures
Culture Vultures Venture to The Royal Academy of Music, Friday 15th March
Come and hear our choral scholar, Robert Forrest (tenor), in the role of the hero Vaudemont, in Tchaikovsky’s opera Iolanta, at his 2.00pm Dress Rehearsal on Friday 15th March at The Royal Academy, Marylebone Rd. NW1 5HT, https://www.ram.ac.uk. It’s a double bill: we’ll also hear Ravel’s L’Enfant et Les Sortileges. We meet at 12 noon for a 2 course lunch (drinks extra) £18 inc. VAT and service charge at Ishtar, a popular Turkish restaurant, 10 Crawford St. W1U 6AZ, Ishtarrestaurant.com. Please pay Margaret by 10th March (cheques preferred).
Culture Vultures Venture to Marlborough House, Monday 29th April
Irene, who guided us so well when we ventured last year to Lambeth Palace, will take us round The Fine Rooms on the Ground Floor of Marlborough House. Totally accessible, even though it was completed in 1711, it is now used by the Commonwealth Secretariat, so we are advised there may be a last minute date change should the rooms be required for Commonwealth business. Afterwards we are very fortunate to have a luncheon booking in the dining room at the Royal Air Force Club, 128 Piccadilly, W1J 7PY, www.rafclub.org.uk, but places for that are limited, so first come first served! Tour only £8, tour and lunch £34, 3 courses inc VAT and service, drinks extra. Meet under the St James’ Palace clock at the bottom of St James’ St. at 10.45am. Payment to Margaret please - as always cheques preferred.
Lent Retreat: Mirfield 29th - 31st March 2019
The Benedictine Community of the Resurrection www.mirfield.org.uk regularly hold Retreats and Pilgrimage Weekends at their Monastery in Mirfield, West Yorkshire. These are guided by some of the brothers, who give three addresses, and there is plenty of time for quiet contemplation, walks in the beautiful grounds and the opportunity to attend the daily offices with the community and college in the lovely cathedral-like chapel.
The cost is £135, which includes all meals and accommodation in single rooms (£150 for an ensuite) + travel. The Centre is only minutes away from Junction 25 of the M62 and there are direct trains from Kings Cross. Mirfield is also a Theological College and it is ordinand Benji Tyler, a member of our congregation, who knows just how learned, holy and friendly are the Mirfield community. The Guestmaster has made a provisional reservation for us. Please have a word with Margaret or Benji for more details, a copy of the timetable and to register your interest.
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.
Save the Date!
Deacon Dan will be priested on Sunday, 30th June, at 4pm at St Mary’s, Stoke Newington. He will celebrate his first Communion the following Sunday, 7th July, at the 10am service after which we will have our annual barbecue!
COMMUNITY EVENTS
School Gate Gossip
With the half term holiday this past week, there is no gossip but do look out next week to see what the children have been up to on their return.
Stay and Play
A community playgroup meets weekly in St John’s on Thursday mornings from10-11.30am. 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.
