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.
Mothering Sunday and Farewell, Sally Hitchiner
This morning we celebrate Mothering Sunday, when we give thanks for all the ways our mums have cared for and influenced us. During the service our children will give flowers to every woman in the congregation while the choir sings Haydn’s With Verdure Clad (from Creation).
This morning we also say farewell to Sally Hitchiner. Sally is leaving to become Associate Vicar of St Martin-in-the-Fields. She has been associated with St John’s while she has been chaplain at Brunel University, taking part on the clergy rota on an occasional basis, and we have been delighted to have her sparkle and razzamatazz on a Sunday morning when she hasn’t been popping up to Manchester to be on the breakfast news. We will have a special farewell reception of gins & tonic and cupcakes - please do stay and wish Sally well.
Sunday evenings in Lent
If you have ever wondered why we do the things we do each Sunday, or what genuflecting means, or why we have candles and processions, sign the cross on chest – or any other gestures and symbols made during the Eucharistic prayers – then come and join us for a teaching Eucharist each Sunday evening throughout Lent. We will cover a different section of the service each week with plenty of opportunities to ask anything you’ve ever wanted to know, but been too afraid to ask! Last Sunday evening‘s service was very engaging with some rather interesting questions. If you didn’t make it, you can still come along this Sunday evening.
31st March
The Liturgy of the Sacrament (Part 2)
7th April
The Sending Out
Lent course
Sent in Lent: Exploring the Mission of God in our Lives
The last in this year’s Lent course exploring the dynamics of God’s calling and sending in our lives is this Wednesday evening at Grosvenor Chapel. Join us for a light supper at 7pm, followed by a short talk and lively discussion amongst friends both old and new. Across four sessions we shall discuss the ways in which we are loved and received by God and how this gives us the freedom to deal with the pressures we face with an imaginative and compassionate response. St John’s is serving supper this week - if you would like to help, please speak to Dan.
3rd April – To whom are we sent?
Isaiah 58.6-7; Luke 4.16-19
Annual Vestry and Parochial Church Meeting
Our APCM this year is on Sunday, 7th April, immediately following the 10am service. This is the meeting where we receive the annual report and accounts and elect our churchwardens and members to the Parochial Church Council (PCC). This year we will be electing churchwardens and two members to the Parochial Church Council (PCC). Nomination forms are available at the back of church. Completed forms can be given to Bryan Sollenberger.
Our thanks to Dmitrii Babak, Robyn Broaders and Jazz Mack Smith, whose terms on PCC come to an end. Dmitrii has also served as Deputy Churchwardens for the past two years and we are very grateful for his contributions to the parish over that time The vitality of a parish like St John’s is dependent on people being willing to give of their time and skills in leadership of the parish. We are as a community grateful for all that they have brought and shared. Please think carefully about whether you might have skills you can share by standing for PCC.
Easter Baptisms
Are you considering baptism? Easter is the perfect occasion and the dawn service at 5am on Easter Day is a great opportunity for it. This is a very special and unique service and there will be an opportunity for adults and children to be baptized as part of the Easter liturgy. If you are interested in being baptized at this service, please speak to one of the clergy as soon as possible.
Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday falls this year on 14th April. We bless the palm crosses and hear the Passion Gospel in the morning. In the evening at 6pm we’ll have our annual Way of the Cross service based upon the ancient liturgy of the Stations of the Cross, using our very own rarely seen stations and with wonderful music, this year featuring Poulenc’s Stabat Mater. This beautiful and poignant service is a very proper way to begin Holy Week.
HOLY WEEK & EASTER 2018
Easter Flowers
Help us to decorate the church for Easter and remember loved ones at the same time by contributing to our Easter flowers. Fill in the slip in your order of service and give it to Andre Livins or Bryan Sollenberger after the service. A list of contributors and those commemorated will be posted in the porch at Easter.
Maundy Thursday, 18th April, 8pm
A special sung mass commemorating the Last Supper with the washing of feet takes place on the Thursday night before Easter. The mass setting will be Missa Festiva by Peeters and the anthem Thomas Tallis’s Verily, Verily. If you would be willing to have your feet washed at this service, please speak to one of the clergy.
Good Friday Children’s Workshop, 19th April, 10am
A children’s activity morning is planned for Good Friday between 10am and 12 noon for children from 0-11. Coffee, biscuits and hot cross buns will be available and we will build the Easter Garden. Volunteers are needed to help with the activities. A donation of £5 per child is requested (babies go free). If you can help, speak to Dan or Becky Stringer.
Good Friday Liturgy of the Day, 19th April, 2pm
Good Friday is one of the holiest days in the Christian year. This service of reflection and prayer, centred on the passion and death of our Lord, is led by our choral scholars and is based around Passion Music by Will Todd.
Mrs Mops’ Easter Special!, 20th April, 11am
Andre is organising a special effort on Saturday morning before Easter to clean and to get the church ready for Easter. Please speak to him if you are happy to don your housecoat and report for duty for a morning of hard work and fun along with a mid-morning refreshment of the Vicar’s special hot milky brew. Come armed with your marigolds, Brasso and Pledge. Many hands make light work: please help if you can.
Dawn Vigil and First Mass of Easter
This service begins at 5am with a Vigil of readings as we await the dawn and the resurrection of our Lord. This colourful and dramatic service incorporates the Service of Light, Renewal of Baptism Vows and the First Mass of Easter. Well worth getting up for! The service is followed by breakfast and champagne.
Easter Breakfast
A cooked breakfast is served in the hall following the dawn service. Please sign up in the porch if you plan to stay for this. Anyone wishing to volunteer to help with breakfast would be very warmly welcomed by the Vicar (who will be coming off his Lenten diet).
Easter Reception
Following the Festival Eucharist on Easter morning there will be a fizz reception with finger food. Please bring a plate of finger food to share and indicate what you will be able to bring on the sign up sheet in the porch or on one of the clipboards that will be circulating during coffee.
Culture Vulture Ventures
Culture Vultures Venture to Marlborough House, Monday 29th April
Irene, who guided us so well when we ventured last year to Lambeth Palace, will take us round The Fine Rooms on the Ground Floor of Marlborough House. Totally accessible, even though it was completed in 1711, it is now used by the Commonwealth Secretariat, so we are advised there may be a last minute date change should the rooms be required for Commonwealth business. Afterwards we are very fortunate to have a luncheon booking in the dining room at the Royal Air Force Club, 128 Piccadilly, W1J 7PY, www.rafclub.org.uk, but places for that are limited, so first come first served! Tour only £8, tour and lunch £34, 3 courses inc VAT and service, drinks extra (lunch is now waiting list). Meet under the St James’ Palace clock at the bottom of St James’ St. at 10.45am. Payment to Margaret please - as always cheques preferred.
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 past week was one of the absolute highlights of the St James & St John school year. INTERNATIONAL WEEK! This year’s focus continent was on Asia and each class had been assigned a different Asian country to study. Students were encouraged to wear clothing in the form of national dress or an outfit representative of a country of importance to them. The PFA was also holding, once again, their epically successful food stall.
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.
