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 reflect on eros, which means passionate or sexual love (from which the English word erotic is derived). Tavener's mystical Ikon of Eros focuses on God's divine and passionate love and longing for us, and ours for him, which St John Climacus calls "an abyss of light, a fountain of fire. The more it flows, the more burning the thirst for it becomes...that is why Eros is an everlasting progression."
The violin solo portrays Divine Eros itself, and the chorus sing key words in Greek, meaning Transfigured, Divine Love, Ecstasy and Alleluia (the unending song of the angels).
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
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 2nd October. For further information, speak to one of the clergy.
St John’s Annual Pub Quiz
Our annual quiz night returns on Thursday, 3rd October, at 7pm. Form a team of 6-8 or come on your own and join a team on the evening. Tickets are £20 and proceeds will go to the roof appeal to make this year’s loan repayments. Your ticket gets you entry to the quit as well as a succulent curry supper courtesy of Noor Jahan II. Sign up in the porch.
Harvest Sunday Family Eucharist
6th October 2019, 10am
Our annual giving of thanks for the fruit of the earth will take place on 6th October. Our theme this year will be 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. As usual, we will be collecting dried foodstuffs for the West London Day Centre. More information will be available shortly.
Rainy Day Appeal
Raised: £1,350
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 Vultures Venture
The 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 14:00-16:00pm 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 this past week 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 for something nice for your next holiday or for a birthday 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.
