Coronavirus (Covid-19)
We are delighted that you have chosen to worship with our community this morning. A special welcome to any who are joining us this morning for the first time.
We are pleased that many of the Covid restrictions have now been lifted. We know many are excited at this, but that others feel less so. While we hope there is a more relaxed feeling here at St John’s this morning, we hope that you will understand that we have chosen a gradual process of returning to normality in order that as many people feel comfortable.
We still need to take steps to minimise the risks due to the spread of the Covid-19 virus, so we are still worshiping with some degree of caution and have drafted a new risk assessment and guidelines for worship. These have been revised to reflect the latest guidance from the Church of England and are on display in the porch and on our website at https://www.stjohns-hydepark.com/covid19guidance.
If you are displaying any of the Covid-19 symptoms – high temperature, continuous cough or a change in your normal sense of taste & smell – please do not come into church but self-isolate and arrange for a test.
Sanitiser is available for those wishing to sanitise their hands on entering the building and will be available before taking communion. We are still keeping an attendance register if you would like to sign in for track and trace purposes and the NHS QR code is available for those who wish to scan it with the app.
At the collection, members of staff wearing face masks will circulate with collection plates. Place your cash or Gift Aid envelope in the plate but do not touch it.
When exchanging the peace, please do so only with others in your immediate vicinity but be respectful of those who may not wish to make physical contact.
For communion, please approach the step to the sanctuary via the central aisle. Sanitiser is available should you wish to sanitise your hands before receiving. Please keep a safe distance from those on either side. The clergy will bring the bread to you and place a wafer in your hand after touching the edge to the wine. If you prefer to receive a blessing instead, cross your hands over your chest. After receiving, please return to your seat via one of the side aisles.
At the end of the service, you are free to leave at your leisure. If you feel comfortable please joins us for a cup of tea or coffee.
Children and Young Families
We are delighted to have so many families with young children as members of our congregation. Kids’ Club meets this morning in the hall and the children leave the service after the Collect, rejoining the service just prior to communion. Toilets with changing facilities are available near the entrance of the church.
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.
Keep Calm! Keep Alert! Keep Giving!
In the midst of the uncertainties of Covid, we are very grateful for all who have been steady in their financial support during the last 18 months! Who would have thought, back in the spring of last year when we began to ponder the financial hit to St John’s of the first lockdown, that we would only be easing back into normality now. This obviously brings a renewed uncertainty for life at St John’s for a second year running and, while we make every effort to watch costs and look out for help where it might be available, we ask you to remember that again this year the carpark is not always full and we have been unable to raise money through letting the church and hall. Please continue to help us if you can by contributions either on Sunday mornings in the collection plate or, alternatively, directly to our bank account. Our details are:
Name: St John the Evangelist
Bank: HSBC
Sort Code: 40-11-58
Account #: 80108251
Donations given electronically still qualify for Gift Aid as your name will appear alongside your donation. If you have any questions about giving, please speak to Bryan Sollenberger.
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.
Anthems in Advent – Adam Lay y Bounden
On every Sunday morning in Advent the choir will be singing a different setting of the anthem Adam Lay y Bounden. The text is from the 15th century. Verse 1 is about the mediaeval thinkers’ belief that Adam was stuck in limbo until the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Verse 2 narrates the fall of humanity and verse 3 suggests the subsequent redemption of humanity by the birth of Christ. This morning’s anthem was written in 1956 by John Ireland and has a modal melancholic feeling.
Advent 2021
Charity Christmas Stall
During coffee our children will have a Christmas stall. Scented candles and soaps and reindeer food are among the items available to buy. Proceeds will go to towards purchasing a pallet of food for the North Paddington Food Bank.
Nativity Play, 19th December, 10am
This year, our Kids’ Club are the creative directors of the Nativity play. They have put together a brief of ideas, decided the location, the characters and the genre and come up with some extra-Biblical scenes! And the script is being put together with their close consultation and careful editing. On the morning of the 19th, everyone is welcome to join in. If you or your children would like to take a starring role, come along to a rehearsal in church at 10am on the 18th of December and email revgeorginaelsey@gmail dot com to let Georgina know you’re coming.
Pub Theology
7.30pm Wednesday 15th December
In our last discussion of the year, come along to The Monkey Puzzle to discuss The Virgin Birth - did it happen? Is it important? Is virginity just a made up concept, fabricated by the patriarchy? How does it affect how we live our lives today? Does it impact our principles of family or bodily autonomy or female authority? Should we even be talking about it post #MeToo and conversations about consent? Come argue your case to the curate and get your teeth into a classic but very relevant doctrine.
Christmas 2021
Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols, 19th December 6pm
Our traditional carol service kicks off the countdown to Christmas. This year the service is centred around Bob Chilcott’s On Christmas Night. The choir will be accompanied by a magnificence of musicians and the service will be followed by a fizz and panettone reception. This is one of the biggest musical treats of the year for all the family. Invite your friends and neighbours to join us for this festive community celebration.
Parish Carolling
6.30pm Wednesday 22nd December
This traditional Christmas event is back! We will be walking around the parish to sing some carols with our choral scholars and collecting money of the Paddington Food Bank. Meet at the church, then we will walk around to several pubs, give them our best musical delight under Robert’s conducting, end at the Victoria for a mince pie and then enjoy an after party generously hosted by the Eastons.
Christmas Eve
4.00pm - Crib Service
A unique service for children young and old where we bless a special Covid-safe crib for Joseph, Mary and the infant Jesus. The script for this year’s telling of the Christmas story will be provided by Red Balloon Foundation and will be dramatized by puppets operated by the Vicar, Georgina and Luke Lowrie of Red Balloon. The crib is being designed and created by Fernando Montaño, international dancer and previously a soloist with the Royal Ballet.
11.30pm – Midnight Mass
Enjoy the first mass of Christmas in a candlelit church, singing Christmas carols led by the choir and orchestra. The setting will be Mozart’s Coronation Mass K317.
Christmas Day
10am – Family Festival Eucharist
Children are invited to come along dressed up in their fairy costumes and sparkly shoes or Christmas pyjamas and to bring their toys with them if they wish. Sing Christmas carols with the choir, accompanied by orchestra.
Christmas Flowers
As part of our Christmas celebrations we will spruce up the church with greenery and flowers. Donations to help with the cost of the decorations are welcome and can be made in honour of loved ones, with a list of those remembered displayed in the porch over Christmas. Donations can be made electronically or can be left in the collection. Complete the slip inside your order of service and leave it with Bryan Sollenberger.
