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.
Anthems in Lent
Gospel is a music genre in Christian music. The creation, performance, significance and even the definition of gospel music varies according to culture and social context. It is composed and performed for many purposes, including aesthetic pleasure and religious or ceremonial purposes. The music usually has dominant vocals (often with strong use of harmony) with Christian lyrics. It can be traced to the early 17th century, with roots in the black oral tradition. Most of the churches relied on singing a cappella with hand clapping and foot stomping as rhythmic accompaniment.
Sunday evenings in Lent, 6.30pm
Reformation 500
2017 marks 500 years since Martin Luther nailed his 95 theses to the door of the church in Wittenberg, Germany, sparking the Protestant Reformation all around Europe. Our five-week series of evening services are designed to introduce people to the most significant figures in the Reformation era: their experience, their ideas, their faith and how they expressed it in different ways in a key historical time that will define the future of each of the European countries forever.
Sunday, 19th March
Zwingli and Bullinger: The Sausage Affaire
Taking it one step further (Switzerland): Why did Zwingli have such an animosity against Luther and how did that affect the Reformation?
Sunday, 26th March
Calvin and Bucer: Saved By Beheading
A more radical approach (France): Why did the city leaders need a Reformed Church? Did the reformers really establish a Reformation Inquisition that condemned people to death?
Sunday, 2nd April
Cranmer and Henry VIII: A Match Made In Heaven
The Reformation in England: Why was the Reformation in England so peculiar? Would there have been a Reformation in England had King Henry not needed a divorce?
Betty Recital Series
The next recital in our series sponsored by the Heritage Lottery Fund will be on Saturday, 25th March, at 5pm. We are especially pleased that Ian Tracey, Organist Titular at Liverpool Cathedral, will be playing Betty for this recital. Ian has an impressive CV and we are very privileged to have him at St John’s.
Lent Course – Hope after the Death of Liberalism?
Thinking the Future of a Post-Liberal Society
On Wednesday evenings in Lent we are again joining with St George’s, Hanover Square and the Grosvenor Chapel for an exciting series of talks and discussions. This year we explore how, with the rise of nationalism, the future may look in a post-liberal society. Join us on Wednesdays at the Grosvenor Chapel, starting with a simple supper at 7:00, followed by a presentation and discussion. Each evening concludes with Compline. NBThis week’s lecture takes place on Thursday evening.
St John’s is serving supper on 29th March. If you are willing to help, speak to Andre.
Thursday, 23rd March 2017
SOCIAL DIVISIONS WITHIN OUR
SOCIETY: ‘GENTILE OR JEW’?
Speaker: The Rt. Hon. Lord Paul Boateng PC
Wednesday, 29th March 2017
WALLS AND BRIDGES
Speaker: The Rt. Rev’d. Jonathan Clark, Bishop of Croydon
Morning Prayer Thursdays in Lent - 9.30am
After the school drop-off, come to St John’s for a moment of quiet, reflection and prayer. During Lent we will be having a simple said morning prayer on Thursdays mornings. Speak to Robin or Antonio if you would like to know more.
Annual Vestry and Parochial Church Meeting
Our APCM this year is on Sunday, 2nd April, immediately following the 10am service. This is the meeting where we receive the annual accounts and elect our churchwardens and members to the Parochial Church Council (PCC). This year we will be electing churchwardens and three members to the Parochial Church Council (PCC). We will also be electing representatives to the Deanery Synod. Nomination forms are available at the back of church. Completed forms can be given to the Vicar or to Bryan Sollenberger.
Our thanks to Neville David and Mary Langford, whose terms on PCC come to an end. . A very special thank you to Gaynor Scruton, who has served as churchwarden for the past three years and retires. The vitality of a parish like St John’s is dependent on people being willing to give of their time and skills in leadership of the parish. We are as a community grateful for all that they have brought and shared. Please think carefully about whether you might have skills you can share by standing for PCC.
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 last Tuesday of the month – the next meeting is on 28th March. For further information, speak to one of the clergy.
Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday falls this year on 9th April. We bless the palm crosses and hear the Passion Gospel in the morning. In the evening at 6.30pm we’ll have our annual Way of the Cross service based upon the ancient liturgy of the Stations of the Cross, using our very own rarely seen stations and with wonderful music, this year featuring Haydn’s Stabat Mater. This beautiful and poignant service is a very proper way to begin Holy Week.
HOLY WEEK & EASTER 2017
Maundy Thursday
A special sung mass commemorating the Last Supper with the washing of feet takes place on the Thursday night before Easter at 8pm. The mass setting will be Messe Solonnelle by Vierne and the anthem Duruflé’s Tantum Ergo. If you would be willing to have your feet washed at this service, please speak to one of the clergy.
Good Friday Children’s Workshop
A children’s activity morning is planned for Good Friday between 10am and 12 noon for children from 0-11. Further information is available on a flyer, along with registration forms, at the back of church. Coffee, biscuits and hot cross buns will be available and we will build the Easter Garden. Volunteers are needed to help with the activities and registration. A donation of £5 per child is requested (babies go free). If you can help, speak to Robin or Becky Stringer.
Good Friday Liturgy of the Day
Good Friday is one of the holiest days in the Christian year. This service of reflection and prayer, centred on the passion and death of our Lord, is led by our choral scholars and is based around Stainer’s Crucifixion. The service begins at 2.00 pm.
Mrs Mops’ Easter Special!
Andre is organising a special effort on Saturday morning, 15th April, to clean and to get the church ready for Easter. Please speak to him if you are happy to don your housecoat and report for duty for a morning of hard work and fun along with a mid-morning refreshment of the Vicar’s special hot milky brew. Come armed with your marigolds, Brasso and Pledge. Many hands make light work: please help if you can.
Dawn Vigil and First Mass of Easter
This service begins at 5am with a Vigil of readings as we await the dawn and the resurrection of our Lord. This colourful and dramatic service incorporates the Service of Light, Renewal of Baptism Vows and the First Mass of Easter. Well worth getting up for! The service is followed by breakfast and champagne. Remember to move your clocks forward one hour on Saturday night so you don’t miss it!
Easter Baptisms
There will be an opportunity for adults and children to be baptized as part of the Easter liturgy at 5am again this year. If you are interested in being baptized at this service, please speak to one of the clergy as soon as possible.
Easter Reception
Following the Festival Eucharist on Easter morning there will be a fizz reception with finger food. Please bring a plate of finger food to share and indicate what you will be able to bring on the sign up sheet in the porch or on one of the clipboards that will be circulating during coffee.
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.
Keeping It down to a Dull Roar!
We are delighted to have so many families with young children as members of our congregation, but you will have noticed that, since the re-ordering, the noise levels of children during the service and afterwards have increased due to the wide open spaces and acoustic of the building. Please help us to overcome this challenge.
St John’s is a whole family church. Children play such a significant role in our community life and we ask parents to remember that it is important to teach children that church time is a special time when we say our prayers. We want you to enjoy being part of our service as a whole family. If you have a small child who becomes restless or upset during the service, please do not feel embarrassed to take them either into the hall or outside to calm down. A member of staff or churchwarden is always at hand to help if you are unsure what to do.
Being in church, especially during communion, is a sacred time for many people. We ask parents to remember this and to keep an eye on their children at all times. Children should not run up and down the aisles and scooters are to be left in the porch in order that the people of all ages might enjoy the ambience of our beautiful building. Please encourage children to be quiet during the service and to see St John’s as a special place. Children should not enter the sanctuary area during coffee.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
St James and St John School
This is our school; a school with a proud history and an aspirational future. St. James & St. John School 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."
Under Five’s Playgroups
An international playgroup aimed at Russian speakers meets in St John’s on Wednesdays at 10am. Other playgroups meet on Wednesdays at 3.45pm and 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.
