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.
Music
It’s always a pleasure to welcome Jonathan Hill, our violinist at the morning’s service. We also extend a special welcome to Gareth Rubery, who has composed this morning’s voluntary, Whilst You Sleep, which will be played at the end of the service. Written especially for Jonathan, it’s a lovely piece for piano and violin, and this morning is it’s world premier. (Those of you who were at November’s Jenny Clark Memorial Concert may remember that Jonathan played a piece then written for him by Gareth.)
St John’s Late
Our Sunday evening services resume this evening at 6pm with a Choral Evensong. Please note the times and dates of services there is not a service on every Sunday evening.
3rd February No service
10th February, 8pm Compline
17th February, 6pm Evensong
24th February, 6pm Jazz Mass
3rd March No service
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 first Wednesday of the month – the next meeting is on 7th February at 7.30pm. For further information, speak to one of the clergy.
Sponsor a Buttress
Goal: £50,000
Raised so far: £33,758
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.
Culture Vultures Venture to The Cockpit Theatre
Friday, 1st February 2019
Come and hear soprano Helen May, current choral scholar, and tenor Kieran White, ex choral scholar, sing with the Ensemble Orquesta in a performance in Italian with English surtitles of Monteverdi’s ‘Coronation of Poppea’ on February 1st at The Cockpit Theatre, Gateforth St, Marylebone, NW8 8EH (thecockpit.org.uk). Meet for supper (self-paying) at 5.30pm at The Seashell, 49-51 Lisson Grove, NW1 6UH (seashellrestaurant.co.uk). This is one of London’s finest fish restaurants and just a short walk from the theatre. Tickets are £18.70. Please give Margaret payment (cheques preferred).
St John’s Book Club
St John’s Book Club met last week and agreed their next two evenings. On 27th March, they will have a poetry evening. The book club will next be reading Michael Ondaajte’s Warlight and will be discussing it on 8th May. If interested in either of these evenings, do speak to Michael King.
Lent Retreat: Mirfield 29th - 31st March 2019
The Benedictine Community of the Resurrection www.mirfield.org.uk regularly hold Retreats and Pilgrimage Weekends at their Monastery in Mirfield, West Yorkshire. These are guided by some of the brothers, who give three addresses, and there is plenty of time for quiet contemplation, walks in the beautiful grounds and the opportunity to attend the daily offices with the community and college in the lovely cathedral-like chapel.
The cost is £135, which includes all meals and accommodation in single rooms (£150 for an ensuite) + travel. The Centre is only minutes away from Junction 25 of the M62 and there are direct trains from Kings Cross. Mirfield is also a Theological College and it is ordinand Benji Tyler, a member of our congregation, who knows just how learned, holy and friendly are the Mirfield community. The Guestmaster has made a provisional reservation for us. Please have a word with Margaret or Benji for more details, a copy of the timetable and to register your interest.
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.
Save the Date!
Deacon Dan will be priested on Sunday, 30th June, at 4pm at St Mary’s, Stoke Newington. He will celebrate his first Communion the following Sunday, 7th July, at the 10am service after which we will have our annual barbecue!
COMMUNITY EVENTS
School Gate Gossip
This week, as a part of our daily Collective Worship schedule, Fr Dan spoke to our school community about the importance of trust and how this played an important part in the early years of Jesus’s life. With the assistance of some Year 5 and 6 students, some chairs and a deceptively tricky picture of a boat, he demonstrated how trust can be evident in all parts of our lives. Memorable experiences have continued this week for some of our classes with Year 1 celebrating personal histories during a teddy bear’s picnic with parents. Year 2 went hero hunting this week as they looked for evidence of the namesakes of our four houses – Mary Seacole, Sarah Siddons, Alexander Fleming and Isambard Brunel – whilst music was the focus of Year 4’s visit as they listened to one of our parents talk about the way the oboe makes sound and how it fits into an orchestra with the sounds it makes. On Wednesday of next week, Katie Tsan will be talking to Year 4 about her novel, ‘Sam Wu is NOT Afraid of Sharks’.
Stay and Play
A community playgroup meets weekly in St John’s on Thursday mornings from10-11.30am. Come and stay for a play, a sing-song and to share stories over a cup of coffee. All children and babies are welcome (newborn to 5 years). Suggested donation: £2.
