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.
Guest Preacher
A special welcome to our guest preacher this morning, the Reverend Roger Powell, Rector, Ridgeway, comprising Chisledon with Draycot Folliat, Ogbourne St Andrew and Ogbourne St George, Swindon. We have invited Reverend Powell to speak as part of the Diocese of London strategy to promote vocation among BME communities. He trained at Ripon College, Cuddesdon with the Vicar and is a personal friend.
The Bishop Is Coming
We are pleased to welcome the new Bishop of London, the Right Reverend and Right Honourable Sarah Mullally, to St John’s on Sunday morning, 30th September, when she will preach and preside at the 10am service. We will have a fizz and finger food reception so you have opportunity to meet Bishop Sarah after the service. A letter will be going out about this – keep a look out for it and mark this date in your diaries.
Harvest Sunday Family Eucharist
7th October 2018, 10am
Our annual giving of thanks for the fruit of the earth will take place on 7th October. As usual, we will be collecting dried foodstuffs for the West London Day Centre. More information will be available nearer the day.
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 25th September. For further information, speak to one of the clergy.
Remembrance Sunday
11th November 2018
Many of you will probably remember the impact of the ceramic poppy display at the Tower of London in November 2014. This year to mark the 100 year anniversary of the end of the Great War The Remembered Charity are launching 'There but not there'. The idea is that those who gave their lives are remembered by silhouettes or name plates on Remembrance Sunday. Our intention is that as many of St John's roll of remembrance (30) will be represented as possible and we invite congregation members to take part. A name block costs £10 or a torso sized perspex silhouette designed to sit on a chair costs £42. Each of these could be placed on a seat to be amongst us all for our service of remembrance and help ensure that each of them will not be forgotten.
Andrew Moxon will be co-ordinating a list of names from our roll of remembrance so please email him on andymox@hotmail.com if you would like any more details and to check what names are available. More information also available on www.therebutnotthere.org.uk.
Sponsor a Buttress
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.
In addition to events like the Dog Collar Dinner this week, we are launching a ‘Sponsor a Buttress’ campaign 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.
Horseman’s Sunday
Horseman’s Sunday has, for the past 50 years, taken place on the penultimate Sunday in September. We are sad that the stables have decided not to continue this community event.
Culture Vulture Ventures
A Misèrable Venture 18th September 2018
Thanks to Jonathan Hill, lead violinist in the show and one of our wonderful Sunday morning players, we have 12 halfprice tickets for Les Miserables on Tuesday 18th September at 7.30pm - £35 instead of £70! Another thank you to congregation member Jamie Poulton, for facilitating our pre-theatre supper booking at his renowned Soho restaurant Randall and Aubin, 14-16 Brewer Street, W1F 0SG www.randallandaubin.com. Full details to follow, but to secure your seat for Les Mis. please pay Margaret £35, cheques preferred.
Culture Vultures visit Colchester Friday 12th October
A late Autumn day trip to the historic Roman City of Colchester on Friday 12th October. Full itinerary nearer the time but may well include visits to the Roman Circus and Claudius Gateway, the city walls, the castle and Firstsite, the spectacular golden building which houses Colchester's new contemporary art space. Bring a packed lunch and then enjoy tea, perhaps at Tiptree Tea Rooms or Brutus’s top tea shop, Tymperleys. Travel by train from Liverpool St. Station. Please let Margaret know if you would like to join this Venture.
St John’s Book Club
St John’s Book Club next meets on 26th September, when they will be discussing Portnoy’s Complaint by Philip Roth. For further information, please speak to Michael King.
St John’s Big Gay Night Out
A new social activity for gay guys & girls and their friends.
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.
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.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
St James & 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." Please feel free to visit.
Under Five’s Playgroups
A community playgroup meets weekly in St John’s on Thursday mornings from10-11.30am. Suggested donation: £2.
