Mothering Sunday
This morning we celebrate Mothering Sunday, when we give thanks for the many ways our mums have cared for and influenced us. The theme for this year is the story of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1 and the part our community plays in the stories of our children. During the service our children will give flowers to every woman in the congregation while the choir sings.
ANTHEMS FOR LENT
The Fruit of the Spirit
If we live by the spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit - Galatians 5. 25. We are told by the Apostle Paul that if we ‘live by the Spirit’ our lives will produce a fruitful harvest that brings encouragement and life to those around us. During Lent we shall explore this theme in our music as we trace the various aspects of fasting and self-examination upon which we are called to reflect during this season.
GOODNESS. The anthem this Sunday, composed in 1975, is The Lord Is My Shepherd by Lennox Berkeley. The words are from psalm 23, verses 1-6. The piece is written for soprano solo, choir and organ. It was commissioned for the 900th anniversary of Chichester Cathedral.
Annual Vestry and Parochial Church Meeting
Our APCM this year is on Sunday, 3rd 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).
Rebuilding St John’s!
Don’t be a spectator – get involved!
Your church needs you - now is the time to get positive and to rekindle the spirit of St John’s. We cannot do this by the staff team alone and we encourage members of the congregation to get back involved … We need servers to help carry the cross and candles in the service, people willing to help with coffee and hospitality, as well as people to help Red Balloon in Kids’ Club. For Kids’ Club to be revived we need to have more than one group and so the Red Balloon leaders need your help. If you are not currently volunteering, take this opportunity to get involved on one of the rotas. Speak to Bryan or Andre this morning!
Lent Resources
For those wishing to engage with the spiritual themes of the season, we have put together a list of the resources available for Lent. Whether it’s a book, an app, a video series, podcasts, a set of challenges, daily email meditations, articles or an online retreat, there will be something for you to support you in your discipleship this Lent. Either pick up a leaflet at the back of church, speak to Rev’d Georgina or visit www.stjohns-hydepark.com/lent-2022.
Holy Week and Easter 2022
Easter Baptisms
Are you considering baptism? Easter is the perfect occasion and the dawn service at 6am 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 baptised as part of the Easter liturgy. If you are interested in being baptised at this service, please speak to one of the clergy as soon as possible.
Maundy Thursday, 14th April, 6pm
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 Cantate by Chilcott and the anthem Bruckner’s In Monte Oliveetti. 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, 15 April, 10am
We are having a family activities morning on Good Friday at 10am, with coffee, biscuits and hot cross buns. We will build the Easter Garden and hear the story of Jesus’ journey to the cross. Volunteers are needed to help with the activities - if you can help, speak to Luke/Lizzy or Rev’d Georgina.
Good Friday Liturgy of the Day, 15th 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 a musical setting of the passion story.
Easter Church Preparation, 16th April, 11am
Join us on Saturday to get the church ready for Easter! We meet at 11am to prepare the Easter fire and to have everything all ready to go for the dawn service on Sunday morning. Enjoy a mid-morning cup of the vicar’s best milky brew and maybe the last of this year’s harvest of hot cross buns!
Dawn Vigil and First Mass of Easter
This service begins at 6 am 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!
Easter Breakfast
The dawn service is followed by breakfast and champagne. We’re looking for someone to prepare and serve a simple breakfast. If you would like to provide sustenance for the early faithful, speak to the Vicar or Bryan Sollenberger.
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.
Living in Love and Faith
Final call for responses
In the autumn, we engaged with the Living in Love and Faith project of the national Church of England, discussing the issues of sexuality, relationships, identity and marriage. This process affects the future of being able to conduct same-sex weddings (currently prohibited) and clergy being able to be in same-sex marriages (currently prohibited). The closing date for submissions to be part of the feedback to the House of Bishops is 30th April. You can either write and submit your thoughts or record an audio submission; we want to make St John’s voices heard, so grab Rev’d Georgina over coffee or visit https://www.stjohns-hydepark.com/have-your-say for details.
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.
