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 Late
Our Sunday evening services skip a week and then resume next Sunday evening with Compline at 8pm, preceded by supper at 7pm. Please sign the sheet in the porch if you would like to come to for cheese and homemade soup. 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 6th February. For further information, speak to one of the clergy.
Sponsor a Buttress
Goal: £50,000
Raised so far: £34,258
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 met recently 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
St. James & St. John has shifted towards a whole class novel approach to the teaching of reading in all classes in Key Stage 2. Each student in these classes gets a copy of the class novel from which to read during reading lessons and they all have access to questions and discussion points to help develop understanding of the texts being read. So far, the feedback from the children has been incredibly positive and we continue to introduce new elements to this program. The St. James & St. John Candlemas Service will be held this year on Wednesday 6th February at 9:00am. The St. James & St. John Children’s Fundraising Committee will be running a penny war competition to help raise funds for the school. To enable the deepening understanding within all of the learning that takes place at St. James & St. John, the students have participated and will continue to do so in a variety of activities outside of the school grounds. In P.E., Years 5 and 6 have been attending cricket workshops at Lords Cricket Ground; in English, all classes have continued their visits to Paddington Children’s Library; Years 4 and 5 have continued their swimming sessions at Porchester Leisure Centre; Year 3 will be attending the Floating Classroom; some classes will be attending concerts at Wigmore Hall; and, continued visits to both churches have taken place during R.E. lessons. Visitors to the school have included, as previously stated, published authors and musicians to ensure the children remain engaged and excited about their learning.
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.
