Coronavirus (Covid-19)
Good news! In his latest announcement, the Prime Minister has advised that places of worship can reopen for prayer and private meditation! We have been putting together our risk assessments, policies and procedures this past week and the office will reopen on Monday. The church will also be open for private prayer and meditation from 9.30am to 2pm, Monday to Friday. When you come to church to pray, do make sure you observe the guidelines so that you and other worshippers can enter the church safely. If you plan to visit the parish office, do phone ahead to make an appointment.
At present, it is still not possible to hold public services (except for funerals with no more than 10 people attending), but we are very pleased that the church can take this first step back towards normality.
Each Sunday more people livestream with us and join us for coffee by zoom afterwards. It is amazing how we are technologically able to connect with one another through these difficult times. Please remember that the clergy and team continue to be around behind the scenes and are available to connect by telephone, Zoom, WhatsApp or text and are available to accompany you in prayer or for a chat. Just be in touch.
Please continue to remember in your prayers those who are affected by this pandemic - the sick and those in hospital, along with their families. We also remember those who are self-isolating who live alone, as well as our national leaders, and all hospital and care staff working in our hospitals and within our community – all doing their bit – as well as researchers looking to provide a cure or vaccine and those people volunteering in human trials. Finally, we remember before God all the 42,000 who have lost their lives during these recent weeks.
Sunday morning at St John’s
This morning’s service will be streamed from the sanctuary of St John’s at 10am. Go to https://www.facebook.com/stjohnsHP/videos/939385186489101/ livestream. You can also download an order of service on the Welcome page. Do take note that during the streaming of the service the demand can be high and the quality can vary, but you can still watch after the service has finished and the quality is often much better then.
You can also join us for coffee afterwards on zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82442409864?pwd=a0wwZWhOaW41Nk13MkJzRU1kYTZLQT09
Meeting ID: 824 4240 9864
Password: 594005
Dial in option: 020 3481 5240
You won’t be able to see our lovely faces but you can listen in on the conversation. And you don’t need to have a 3g or 4g phone to take part.
The clergy will also be live-streaming Evening Prayer (BCP) at 5:30 pm Monday through Friday this week. Orders of service will be available for download on our Welcome page.
If you would like to pray with a member of the clergy or to have a one-to-one conversation, please send an e-mail to parishadmin@stjohns-hydepark.com. We also invite you to visit our Prayer Requests page if you would like to request that the clergy, staff team and community of St John’s pray for you, a family member or a loved one.
A Big Thank You for Keeping Us Afloat
A huge thank you to so many who have shifted the Gift Aid donations they would normally put into the collection plate to electronic giving. We are hugely grateful. The response has been amazing but please keep it going if you are able.
The impact of covid-19 is being felt by all and it is understandable that some are feeling the effects more than others. During this time, the church is also feeling the effects. Although the building is closed there are still salaries and fixed costs we have to pay. At the same time, there are no collections on Sunday mornings and giving via the Gift Aid envelopes has gone as well – over £575 per Sunday in total. While car parking income is returning, it is not likely that there will be church rentals for some me months to come. If you normally put something in the collection plate on Sundays and are still able to contribute, please consider sending it by bank transfer. You can send your donations directly to our bank account. Our bank details are:
Name: PCC St Johns Hyde Park
Sort Code: 40-11-58
Account #: 80108251
As long as it comes through with your name in the detail, it will qualify for Gift Aid. You may even want to consider setting up a standing order every month or quarter. Alternatively, you can save up your donations and bring them along with you when St John’s reopens. If you would like more information about this, please contact Bryan Sollenberger at parishadmin@stjohns-hydepark.com.
During the Week
Weekday Evening Prayer
Join us for Evening Prayer (from the Book of Common Prayer) at 5:30 pm Tuesday through Friday (an order of service is available each day on our Welcome page). A Facebook account is not required to participate in our live-stream worship services.
Tuesday: Children's Music Workshop
Our maestro, Helen, has work commitments the next two weeks which sadly means that the Music Workshop will next take place on 7th July.
Tuesday: Quiz Night, 8pm
Calling the St John’s mind-hive! Much like your physical health we’re sure your grey matter is itching for an excuse to get some exercise too. So, let us help out with our popular Zoom Quiz Night hosted by the inimitable Damon Greeney. All you need to do is get yourself a drink, click below and share your general knowledge as you join the SJHP quiz team!
Join the SJHP Quiz Night!
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88531039378?pwd=UmRLNmlFSWQ4ZHRlR3ZLckphdHQ5QT09
Meeting ID: 885 3103 9378
Password: 096717
Or alternatively dial in on a telephone (landline or mobile):
+44 20 3481 5240
Wednesday: Vicar’s Coffee Morning, 11am
The vicar will be hosting his coffee morning again on Wednesday at 11am. Please bring your own coffee.
Join the Coffee Morning
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82989492174?pwd=V2h2d3N4c1ZJV0hWbWNuSXdkRVBHUT09
Meeting ID: 829 8949 2174
Password: 127960
Or alternatively dial in on a telephone (landline or mobile): +44 20 3481 5240
Wednesday: Wednesday Club Bible Study, 8pm
This week the Wednesday Club comes to you from the pub… well, not exactly from the pub but it will (could) involve a drink and it will involve some ethics, theology and, hopefully, you! This week we use Lectio Divina in our study.
John the Wednesday Club
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85258942288?pwd=NHN5SHFTeUJWRkhwMktubnRQcDRMZz09
Meeting ID: 852 5894 2288
Password: 406215
Or alternatively dial in on a telephone (landline or mobile):
+44 20 3481 5240
Need help or just want to feel connected?
Call the office – we have a simple message: Ring! Ring! Ring! We will continue to set up virtual groups via WhatsApp and Zoom over the coming days, but, in the meantime, anyone who is shut-in and needing help or just wanting to chat, please give us a ring and Steve, Dan, Bryan and Andre will do their best to help.
A Telephone Call Changes Everything
As restrictions continue to ease and we begin to see one another from a social distance, it is even more important that we remember that other members of our community continue to be isolating due to age and vulnerability. Please remember to stay in touch with members of the congregation for whom you have contact details. Please be daring and give someone you know a ring! Let’s spread the love and encourage one another through these difficult times, so building up the body of Christ.
New Assistant Curate
Georgina Elsey will be joining the staff team in early July and has now moved into Archery Close. If you tuned in to the livestream last Sunday morning, you will have seen a video from her on the day she moved in. Needless to say, we have prepared the house suitably and put a few bits and pieces in the fridge for her. If anyone would like to donate towards the costs of preparing and redecorating the house or the welcome basket, please send a donation to the parish office or make a bank transfer but do note what it is for. She will come on staff as a licensed lay worker and will be a full member of St John’s clergy team. She will perform many of the duties of an ordained deacon even though her ordination has been postponed until the end of September. If you have an imaginative way of how we welcome Georgina to our community the Vicar would love to speak with you.
Domestic Abuse
During these weeks of close proximity, the necessity to stay indoors with little opportunity to get some space can cause pressure and stress which we might normally handle quite comfortably. Relationships can get difficult at times for the best of us. Should you find things getting too much or out of hand and feel that you have been or may become a victim of abuse, help is available. Please ring 999 followed by 55. This will notify the police of the nature of your call. Don’t suffer in silence!
St John’s Book Club
The lockdown doesn’t mean you still can’t enjoy a good book and St John’s Book Club met via Zoom recently to discuss Olive Kitteridge. They chose The Rings of Saturn, by W G Sebald, as their next book and will discuss it on 13th July. For further information about the book club, drop a line to parishadmin@stjohns-hydepark.com.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Stay and Play
While the church is closed, the community playgroup is having a singalong with the curate on zoom at 11am on Thursday mornings.
Join the Singalong
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81740400190?pwd=bkUvKzJxbnNCeUlKcDd2ekJocldwdz09
Meeting ID: 817 4040 0190
Password: 828193
