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 from Harvest to Advent
In our musical programme between Harvest and Advent, we mark the centenary of the 1914 Armistice with a series of anthems which explore various composers’ Requiems and specifically movements which use text from outside the traditional Requiem Mass.
Herbert Howells (1902-1983) was probably the greatest composer of Anglican church music, known for both anthems and many settings of the evening canticles. He composed his Requiem in the early 1930s, but it remained unpublished until 1980, shortly before his death. Parts of it were reworked for Howells' later masterwork, Hymnus Paradisi, which was intended as a memorial after the tragic death of his nine-year-old son Michael (the hymn tune to All My Hope on God Is Founded is also named for Michael Howells). This week’s anthem is the second movement of the Requiem, an unaccompanied setting of Psalm 23 which is commonly used at funerals.
The Lord is my shepherd: therefore can I lack nothing. He shall feed me in a green pasture: and lead me forth beside the waters of comfort. He shall convert my soul: and bring me forth in the paths of righteousness, for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: thy rod and thy staff comfort me. Thou shalt prepare a table before me against them that trouble me: thou hast anointed my head with oil and my cup shall be full. But thy loving-kindness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.
Jenny Clark Memorial Concert 2018
Our annual Jenny Clark Memorial Concert this year is on the 28th October after the 10am service. We are privileged to have our resident leader of the St John’s orchestra, Jonathan Hill, playing his violin and accompanied by our very own Nicky. The programme will include Oliver Davis’s violin concerto Lost featuring the first movement ‘Lost Lake’ that he recorded for Signum Records with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, which got to no.4 in the classical singles chart.
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. The next meeting is on 7th November. For further information, speak to Dan Warnke.
All Souls
On Tuesday, 6th November, we mark this special festival with a service at 8pm at which we remember those who are part of the church community but who have died. This year the choir are singing Mozart’s Requiem. During this service we remember those dear to us who have died - a list is available in the porch for you to add the names of those you would like to be remembered. As part of the liturgy, there will be opportunity for you to light a candle and place it on the altar in remembrance of your loved ones.
The Wednesday Club
21st November, 7.30pm
This is a new group 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.
Remembrance Sunday
11th November 2018
This year marks the centenary of the armistice ending the fighting of World War I. We will mark this at 10am with an Act of Remembrance during the 10am service.
Ceremony of Remembrance
At 6pm we will have a community Act of Remembrance both to mark the armistice centenary and to honour those from our parish and beyond who gave their lives for the sake of our freedom. The service features music by Britten, Fauré, Gooddall, Holst, Howells and Rutter, readings and a screening of a specially commissioned film.
Silent Film
At 8pm on Friday, 16th November, our series of silent film screenings continues with Robert Wiene's horror classic The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. Directed by Robert Wiene and starring Werner Krauss and Conrad Veidt, it has been called "the first true horror film" and "cinema's first cult film".
The story tells of an insane hypnotist who uses a somnambulist (sleep-walker) to commit murders and sets a script written by Hans Janowitz and Carl Mayer - two pacifists left distrustful of authority after their military experiences during World War One - which deals with themes of brutal and irrational authority, the contrast between insanity and sanity, and the duality of human nature.
Featuring live, improvised organ accompaniment by Nicholas Miller. Tickets £8 in advance online or from the Parish Office, or £10 on the door.
https://hydeparksilentscaligari.eventbrite.co.uk/
St John’s Late
St John’s Late returns for the autumn.
18th November, 8pm
Compline by Candlelight
Night prayer with choir and flute, preceded by a soup & cheese supper at 7pm. A sung service stunning in its simplicity. The anthem is O Salutaris Hostis by Caplet.
25th November, 6,30pm
Jazz Mass
A celebration of the Feast of Christ the King with choir and double bass in the setting of a jazz club. The setting is Todd’s Jazz Missa Brevis and the anthem is Hogan’s arrangement of Ride on, King Jesus.
Information on evening services in Advent and Christmas will soon follow.
Sponsor a Buttress
Goal: £50,000
Raised so far: £21,582
Last year 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 and we are looking to raise £50,000 to pay this year’s commitment plus interest.
The ‘Sponsor a Buttress’ campaign is to raise funds to cover this year’s commitment. 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.
St John’s Book Club
St John’s Book Club was unable to meet last month so will now meet on Monday, 29th October. You have a few extra weeks to read Portnoy’s Complaint by Philip Roth. For further information on the book group, please speak to Michael King.
St John’s Big Gay Night Out
Friday 7th December - Mother Goose Cracks One Out!
This year’s pantomime follows years of sell out performances at Above the Stag theatre. You’ve not really been to a panto until you’ve been to Above the Stag.
Tickets are £25. Meal before the show at Pico bar and grill (next door to the theatre) – pay as you go. For tickets, please contact Ian Smith (ipas@hotmail.co.uk) or leave your payment, together with your name, email address and phone number at the church office.
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.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Children’s Community Choir
Thursdays, 4.10pm, St John’s Church
The Children’s Community Choir starts up again this Thursday afternoon. The choir is open for children 6 years old and above. Sessions are 30 minutes long and children will sing different genres of music. If you are interested in bringing your children along please let Robert know.
School Gate Gossip
This year’s Harvest Service at St. John’s Hyde Park was a wonderful celebration of how we can all contribute to ensure the care of everyone in our community. An incredible donation of an altar-size amount of food was brought forward by the members of our school to donate to the West London Day Centre, a local homeless charity. Back at school, after-school clubs have proven to be a great way to have fun and continue learning beyond the end of the school day this half term, with all of the students participating in the variety of clubs having a whale of a time! Students were seen constructing all sorts of wonderful creations during this week’s gathering of the Construction and Coding Club, with some Year 4 students making their way through a particularly complicated process of building a fully functional robot. As a part of a new initiative in the teaching of mathematics, students in Years 1, 4 and 5 are partaking in a trial of a new mathematical scheme, which has seen them participate in some very interesting investigations of how number and place value actually work. Well done also to Year 6 who managed to raise £500 for the British Heart Foundation from their Skip-a-Thon! Dates for your diary: Only one week to go before the autumn holidays.
Under Five’s Playgroups
A community playgroup meets weekly in St John’s on Thursday mornings from10-11.30am. Suggested donation: £2.
