Harvest
This morning we celebrate Harvest with a family service and our theme this year is Bees.. The older children will read the lessons and lead the intercessions and the younger children will be in church for longer than normal. There will also be the traditional collection of tinned and dried foodstuffs, which this year will be donated to the West London Day Centre. A list of their particular needs has been circulated by e-mail earlier this week. This year, in keeping with our theme, there will be a bucket collection in aid of the British Beekeepers Association. The BBKA was set up in 1874 to promote and further the craft of beekeeping and to advance the education of the public in the importance of bees in the environment. It is the UK's leading organisation representing beekeepers. The BBKA promotes the importance of bees in the environment, provides support for beekeepers through education necessary to maintain healthy colonies of honey bees and encourages awareness of the craft of beekeeping. The work of the BBKA is especially important when you consider that one in every three mouthfuls of the food we eat is dependent on pollination at a time when a crisis is threatening the world's honey bees. Please give as generously as you can.
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.
St John’s Book Club
St John’s Book Club meets Monday, 2nd October, when they will be discussing Henry Fielding’s ‘The History of Tom Jones, A Foundling’. See Michael King for further information.
Licensing of Robin Sims-Williams
Robin will be licensed at All Saints’ on the 9th October at 7pm and member of St John’s congregation are very welcome to come along. Please sign up in the porch so that we can give All Saints’ an idea of numbers.
Silent Film - Nosferatu
13th October 2017, 7.30pm
The first vampire film created will be accompanied by our own Nicholas Miller as one of the last Lottery Funded Event celebrating Betty’s restoration. Tickets are £5 in advance (£7.50 on the door).
Children’s Community Choir
After an amazing performance of Oliver! in July the Children’s Community Choir is back on Thursdays at 4.10pm with Robert Greenhill, St John’s Music Director. The Children’s Community Choir is open for children 6 years old and above, sessions will be 30 minutes long and children will sing different genres of music. If you are interested in bringing your children along please let Robert, Robin or Antonio know.
Paddington Deanery Course in Christian Studies
This is a one year introductory course to explore Christian life and thought. The teaching takes place on Tuesday evenings in at St Matthew’s Church, Bayswater and includes among the tutors our own Helen Sims-Williams. If you would be interested in participating pick up a leaflet, speak to Helen or email paddington.course@london.anglican.org
LORD MAYOR’S CORNER
While we had to miss the main event last Sunday, Chris and I managed to visit a local family who had taken part in Horseman's Sunday through their involvement in Riding for the Disabled. We also enjoyed hosting St John's Culture Vultures in the Lord Mayor's Parlour last Monday to view the council's silver collection, which also includes pieces belonging to the Past Overseers' Society.
Today I am hosting a sponsored event for Ataxia UK along with my nephew, Adam. On Tuesday I will be present at the reopening of Westminster Council House on Marylebone Road, with HRH The Princess Royal in attendance. Other events this week include a Chinese charity dinner at the House of Commons; the Sheriffs' Admission Ceremony at the Guildhall; Eucharist for the Feast of St Michael and All Angels at Westminster Abbey; an NFL event on Regent Street; a summer reading challenge film screening at Leicester Square; and a performance of Five Guys Called Moe at the pop-up theatre at Marble Arch. And prior to taking part in Silver Sunday events on 1 October, I will be visiting several older people's homes across Westminster.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
School Gate Gossip
Before the summer, the school had a SIAMS (Statutory Inspection of Anglican and Methodist Schools). We are delighted that our status as a good school is confirmed. What the report says about our pupils, staff and parents confirms that we are doing the right things to ensure that the children in our care start their education with emphasis not only on academia but also on becoming caring, compassionate, respectful and thoughtful people. The Christian values which underpin our daily school life are recognized as being of great value to all our pupils from all faiths and none. We owe our thanks to the head teacher, all our staff and our clergy, not only for their work in implementing the RE curriculum and delivering good impacts but also in fostering an environment in which the children can grow in safety and confidence. You can download the report from the school’s homepage:
https://www.stjamesandstjohnschool.co.uk/.
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 which is also for early school years 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.
