Children and Young Families
are very much part of our life here at St John’s. There is no Kids’ Club this morning but activities resume again on 8th January for Epiphany. We celebrate Epiphany with an all-age service, when Kids’ Club meets for a short while during the service on Epiphany for refreshments. Toilets and nappy changing facilities are available at the back of church and in the parish hall, which can be accessed through the door on the right hand side at the front of the church.
Season’s Greetings
The staff team, Stephen, Bryan, Georgina, Robert, Andrejs and Ben, and our Churchwardens, Damon and Gaynor, wish you and your families a joyous Christmas and a prosperous New Year. They especially wish to thank all those who have given so generously of their time and resources over the past year.
Our thanks to our Director of Music, Robert Greenhill, organist Ben Collyer, our choral scholars, guest singers and volunteers, along with all of our musicians for providing us with such wonderful and inspiring music throughout Advent and Christmas. The music team’s hard work in both planning and rehearsing is very much appreciated. The choir are on a well deserved break on 1st January. We use our Folk Tunes setting on that Sunday with organ and guest musician.
EPIPHANY
The arrival of the Magi, after their long journey following a star seeking Jesus, is one of the oldest festivals of the Christian Church. In the Eastern and Russian Orthodox Churches, this is the equivalent of Christmas. St John’s will celebrate Epiphany with a festival Eucharist on Sunday, 8th January 2023, at 10am. There will be a procession of the Magi and Presentation of Gifts before the crib as part of the service. Afterwards, there will be a reception of fizz and finger food. Members of the congregation are asked to bring a plate of finger food with them and, in order to help with numbers, please sign up on the form, indicating that they will be able to attend and what food they will be bringing with them.
Epiphany Carols
6 pm, 22nd January 2023
After our fantastic Advent and Christmas carol services, what next? Epiphany carols! Robert, Ben and the choir have prepared another special treat to conclude our seasonal celebrations marking the events of the Epiphany season. The service features music by Esenvalds, Richard Strauss, Menken, von Gluck, Smith and Hess and will be followed by fizz and galette des rois reception. A great way to beat the midwinter blues!
Church Flowers
Thank you to all those who have donated towards the cost of decorating the church for Christmas. Special thanks to Marshall Lawhon for sponsoring our Christmas trees again this year.
Services in Church between Christmas and New Year
There will be no midweek services until Tuesday, 3rd January 2023. There will only be a 10am service on 1st January.
Parish Office
The office will be closed for Christmas and will reopen as normal on Tuesday, 3rd January. A member of the clergy team will be in residence in case of pastoral need. Messages can be left on the office answering machine as they will be collected regularly.
Culture Vulture Ventures
St John’s Goes to the Panto!
Saturday, 7th January 2023
https://lyric.co.uk/shows/jack-and-the-beanstalk-2/
‘Oh yes he did!’ ‘Oh no he didn’t!’ The young and the young at heart are sure to enjoy Jack and the Beanstalk at the Lyric Theatre Hammersmith (that’s the Lyric, main entrance on Lyric Square, not the Apollo by the big church) on Saturday, January 7th at 6pm. Ticket prices range from £42 - £15. This is the very last performance of the run, so promises to be extra fun! If family commitments allow, meet for a delicious meal/snack from 4.30pm at Bill’s (10 Hammersmith Grove, London W6 7AP). Kid’s menu, two courses for £6.95. Please speak to Georgina to book your tickets before they’re all gone!
