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
This evening’s service is Compline at 8pm, preceded by supper at 7pm. Please note the times and dates of services. There is not a service on every Sunday evening.
10th February, 8pm Compline
17th February, 6pm Evensong
24th February, 6pm Jazz Mass
3rd March No service
The Wednesday Club
27th February 2019, 7.30pm
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.
Prom Concert, 3rd March
On Sunday 3rd March, immediately after the 10am service, we will have a short Prom Concert of about 30 minutes, featuring Nicky Miller (organ & piano), Jonathan Hill (violin) and a smattering of our marvellous Choral Scholars, to mark the last Sunday before Lent. The full programme remains under wraps for now, but that Sunday is also the anniversary of the premiere of Bizet's Carmen, so there are treats in store. Save the date
Ash Wednesday, 6th March 2019, 12.00 noon & 8.00pm
We begin our Lenten observations on Ash Wednesday, which this year falls on 6th March. As usual there will be a said lunchtime service at 12.00 noon. In the evening there will be a sung Eucharist at 8.00pm, the setting Palestrina’s Missa Brevis, featuring Allegri’s Miserere and Walton’s Drop, Drop Slow Tears. If you still have your palm crosses from last year, bring them in and we will burn them to make this year’s ash.
Electoral Roll
The parish electoral roll is an indication of the life and vitality of St John’s. Inclusion on it is a part of your commitment to the church. Further, you must be on the electoral roll in order to participate in our annual meeting. Every six years we are required to dissolve the current roll and to compile a brand new one. As we last did this in 2013 we are compelled to compile a new roll this year and will be taking applications for entry onto the new roll until 20th March 2019. The roll will then be closed until after the annual meeting on 7th April. Application forms are available in the porch. Once completed, please return them to Bryan Sollenberger or send to the parish office.
Sponsor a Buttress
Goal: £50,000
Raised so far: £37,508
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
It’s that time of year again when all of the members of our St. James & St. John community stand on tip-toes, reach for and dust off the covers of our many poetry compilations to prepare for the annual St. James & St. John Poetry Week. With class finals taking place on Tuesday the 12th of February, each student will present a poem he or she has memorised to be given the chance to perform at the school final on Thursday the 14th of February here at St John’s. Parishioners are invited to come along to this. The St. James & St. John Children’s Fundraising Committee continues its Penny War to raise funds for new school equipment to be used during lunch times. Three of our Year 5 students have been selected to attend a series of Maths Mastery Workshops at the Royal Institution of Great Britain.
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.
