Harvest Sunday Family Eucharist
6th October 2019, 10am
This morning we celebrate Harvest with a family service. Our theme this year is food wastage. The older children will read the lessons and lead the intercessions and the younger children will be in church for longer than normal. We are having our traditional collection of tinned and dried foodstuffs, which this year will be donated to the Paddington Food Bank. A list of their particular needs has been circulated by e-mail earlier this week.
The North Paddington Foodbank (NPFB) was started in 2014 by a group of local professionals and residents who had directly experienced or provided support to those experiencing hardship in North Westminster and saw the need for an organisation to provide short-term support. Using financial and food donations from across the community, the food bank aims to provide at least 3 days worth of food to a household.
Autumn Music Series: Aspects of Love
‘God is love’ but there are many types of love. This Autumn our music series explores how we experience and share the various aspects of love as defined by Platonic and Aristotelian thought. This week we are thinking about agape, a Greco-Christian term for "the highest form of love, charity", which is completely universal and unconditional, transcending circumstance or emotion and expecting nothing in return. The text for Patrick Hadley's anthem comes from the Song of Solomon; My beloved spake and said unto me, arise, my love, my fair one, and come away; for lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth.
During the procession of harvest gifts, we also hear part of Bizet's Les Pecheurs de Perle, a work from the first act in which an unknown priestess has arrived; the fishermen ask her blessing upon their endeavours and offer her gifts.
08/09 Philia Friendship, dependability and trust
15/09 Storge Familial love between parent and child
22/09 Pragma Practical love founded on reason or duty
29/09 Eros Sexual or passionate love
06/10 Agapé Sacrificial unselfish concern for others
13/10 Philautia Self-love whether healthy or unhealthy
20/10 Ludus Playful or undemanding love
27/10 Mania An obsessive or possessive love
Wednesday Club
16th October, 7pm
This group typically meets on the third Wednesday of the month in The Duke of Kendal 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.
Rainy Day Appeal
Raised: £3,350
Target: £40,000
Two years ago 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.
The goal of our Rainy Day Appeal is to raise £40,000 to cover this year’s repayment commitment and interest. There are 160 metres of guttering, which works out at £250 per meter (£200 per metre if gift aided). To clear one or more metres or for more information about Gift Aid, speak to Bryan Sollenberger.
Culture Vulture Ventures
Victory Services Club Thursday 10th October
The Marble Arch Partnership have kindly given Culture Vultures an allocation of places for the free board game themed Silver Sunday event they are running on Thursday, 10th October, from 2-4pm at the Victory Services Club, Seymour St, London W2 2HF vsc.co.uk. The event is being run as part of the Silver Sunday campaign and there will be light refreshments, cake and entertainment from a local school choir. Please register your interest with Margaret or any of the team.
The Musical ‘Hamilton’, Tuesday November 26th
We have tickets to the hit musical Hamilton, 7.30pm on Tuesday, November 26th at one of architect Frank Matcham’s theatre gems, the newly refurbished Victoria Palace, Victoria St, SW1E 5EA, www.victoriapalacetheatre.co.uk. This is a sung-and-rapped through American musical about the fascinating life of the forgotten American Founding Father Alexander Hamilton and his ascent out of poverty to power, against the backdrop of the American War of Independence. Beforehand, from 6.00 – 7.00pm, we are warmly invited by two members of our congregation to pre- performance drinks and snacks in their nearby home. Very generously they are not charging and so a donation to St John’s High Works Roof Appeal is included in the cost of the evening, which is £50 in total. For more details and to make payment, which will secure your place, speak to Margaret or any of the team. Cheques preferred made payable to Margaret Legg.
St John’s Book Club
St John’s Book Club met recently and had an enthusiastic evening discussing Rabbit, Run by John Updike. They are now reading The Ghost by Robert Harris and will be reviewing it on 30th October. For further information, please speak to Michael King.
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.
Help Robin Get to Church
Robin Plummer lives just off the Harrow Road a short drive from St John’s and needs help getting to and from church. Would you be willing to help him? There is a rota and you would be expected to help Robin approximately one Sunday per month. One of his carers would come along to help look after him. Coming to church is very special to Robin and helping him get here each week would be a real service to him.
Volunteer with a Cheer!
One of the great strengths of St John’s is the involvement of so many volunteers. Nowhere is this truer than at our Sunday services. We are profoundly grateful to everyone who takes part on the various rotas and in other ways as needed but we are always on the lookout for others who would like to be involved. If you would be willing to read a lesson, lead our prayers, carry the cross & candles, prepare and serve tea & coffee or help out in other ways, Dan and Andre would love to speak with you.
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.
Share a Smile with St John’s
Will you be shopping over the summer for something nice for your holiday or for a birthday or anniversary present? Or as we approach the dreaded c-word in December? Whatever you do, don’t go to Amazon.co.uk! Go instead to smile.amazon.co.uk and raise some money for St John’s. When you log in you can nominate St John’s Hyde Park and then Amazon will donate .5% of the cost of your purchases to us. Feel good about getting some good deals and about supporting your parish church!
COMMUNITY EVENTS
St James & St John Church of England Primary School
St James & St John is a school with a proud history and an aspirational future. It 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.
Stay and Play
A community playgroup meets weekly in St John’s on Thursday mornings from 9.30-11.30am. 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.
