Palm Sunday
This morning we commemorate Palm Sunday. The 10am service begins on the forecourt with the Palm Sunday Gospel and the Blessing of Palm Crosses, and the Passion Gospel is read in place of the sermon. Please move outside at 9.50am.
This evening at 6.00pm we have our Way of the Cross service based upon the ancient liturgy of the Stations of the Cross. Using our very own rarely seen stations, there will be wonderful music from Schubert’s Stabat Mater, sung by our choir. This is a beautiful and poignant service and a very proper way to begin Holy Week.
Look up! Something’s Stirring!
As we begin to come out of the pandemic, we are grateful to those who have been steady in their financial support during the past two years, but now is the time for us to start thinking about rebuilding our music, taking on an organist, staffing and getting back to normal, so we need your help please. Your contributions are really valued and so, in the coming months, we plan to encourage members of the congregation to review their giving, or to give regularly if they don’t already do so, to help us fund our recovery.
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.
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.
PATIENCE. The anthem this Sunday is a mezzo solo, O Rest in the Lord from Mendelssohn’s Oratorio Elijah, which was written in 1846 and modelled on the style of Bach and Handel large choral works. It was written in English, premiered in Birmingham and was an immediate success.
Annual Vestry and Parochial Church Meetings
At our annual meetings held last Sunday, Damon Greeney and Gaynor Scruton were elected as churchwardens for the coming year and Banke Adeyemo and Ian Nelson were elected to the Parochial Church Council for three year terms. Our congratulations to them and we look forward to their contributions to the life and leadership of the parish during their respective terms. Please support them with your prayers.
Holy Week and Easter 2022
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, 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 Brevis Sancti Johannes de Deo by Haydn and the anthems are Ubi Caritas by Duruflé and Bruckner’s In Monte Oliveti. 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 Stainer’s The Crucifixion.
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 6am 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. Please sign up in the porch if you would like to stay for breakfast.
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.
Ukrainian Refugees
St John’s are taking an active interest in responding to the government’s call to support Ukrainian refugees. If you would like to help in whatever capacity, we are advising and organising those who can host and those who would like to support in other ways. Rev’d Georgina will be holding an intentional conversation for those who want to register their interest, without any obligation at this stage, to share information about what is involved and the ways the St John’s community can rally their support. Meet after this morning’s service, once you’ve got a coffee, around the front row.
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.
