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 week we think about pragma, a kind of love based on duty and longer-term interests. This song from Fiddler on the Roof (1964, words by Sheldon Harnick) is performed at the wedding of Tevye and Golde’s eldest daughter; the two parents sing of how they can’t believe their daughter has grown up, while Hodel and Perchik sing about whether there may be a wedding in the nearby future for them.
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
Organ Prom
This morning we have a special treat! Immediately following the service Two Men One Organ, an ensemble made up of our own Nicky Miller and Alexander Goodwin, will be giving a prom recital. Nicky of course needs no introduction, having been our organist and music assistant to Robert for 5 years; Alex, lately of St Saviour's Pimlico, will shortly be moving to the cathedral of Christchurch, New Zealand as Assistant Director of Music. The 30-minute programme will contain works by Handel, Bach, Peeters and others. Get a cup of tea or coffee or a glass of sherry, then get a good seat. The concert will finish in plenty of time so that you don’t miss your Sunday roast.
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 first Wednesday of the month – the next meeting is on 2nd October. For further information, speak to one of the clergy.
St John’s Annual Pub Quiz
Our annual quiz night returns on Thursday, 3rd October, at 7pm. Form a team of 6-8 or come on your own and join a team on the evening. Tickets are £20 and proceeds will go to the roof appeal to make this year’s loan repayments. Your ticket gets you entry to the quit as well as a succulent curry supper courtesy of Noor Jahan II. Sign up in the porch.
Harvest Sunday Family Eucharist
6th October 2019, 10am
Our annual giving of thanks for the fruit of the earth will take place on 6th October. Our theme this year will be Food Wastage. The older children will read the lessons and lead the intercessions and the younger children will be in church for longer than normal. As usual, we will be collecting dried foodstuffs for the West London Day Centre. More information will be available shortly.
Rainy Day Appeal
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.
St John’s Book Club
St John’s Book Club met this past week 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
St James & St John is a school with a proud history and an aspirational future. It provides both academic and personal development for every child, underpinned by Christian values. To quote Ofsted: "This is a good school. It is strongly supported by parents and carers. The strong provision for development of pupils' spiritual, moral, social and cultural qualities ensures that pupils are kind to new arrivals and respect one another's values. Progress in English and mathematics is good and this reflects the good teaching and curriculum." Please feel free to visit.
Stay and Play
A community playgroup meets weekly in St John’s on Thursday mornings from 10-11.30am. 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.
