Anthem Notes
This week, the communion anthem is by Claudio Monteverdi (1567-1643), the greatest composer of the Italian Renaissance. Equally groundbreaking in both sacred and secular composition, he was Master of the Music at St Mark’s, Venice for thirty years until his death. Today’s work comes from an anthology published towards the end of Monteverdi’s life, “Selva morale e spirituale”, literally Spiritual and Moral Forest, and is a vibrant setting of words from Psalm 117 which particularly shows off our sopranos and tenors.
Autumn Education Courses
Bible Book Club
Bible Book Club returns this September and is held on the first Wednesday of the month: 4th Sept, 2nd Oct, 6th Nov and 4th Dec at 7.30pm. The September meeting will be at Owen’s flat, 2nd/3rd floor maisonette, 12a Connaught Street.
Being Christian
On the 18th and 25th September at 7.30pm the Autumn Course takes place. Based on Rowan William’s book ‘Being Christian’, it promises to be a fascinating exploration into what it means to be a Christian. Meet this week at Owen’s flat, 2nd/3rd floor maisonette, 12a Connaught Street.
Advent Course
Heaven and Earth Collide
The Advent Course will take place on Wednesdays, 11th and 18th December, at 7.30pm. In these two sessions we will be expanding on the theme of our Advent Carol Service, ‘Heaven and Earth Collide: An Advent Odyssey’. For further information and to book please contact: parishadmin@stjohns-hydepark.com. All events are free to attend.
Lunchtime Proms, Autumn 2024
Each month we will hold a short lunchtime concert after church, roughly 11.30am-12.15pm. Grab a quick drink and take a seat for some wonderful music!
September 22nd
Meet the Choral Scholars: a varied recital of solo songs by our team of fabulous young singers. Works by Schumann, Weber, Gershwin and others.
October 27th
Dorian Demeny, classical guitarist. Dorian played fabulously for us one August Sunday, as some will remember.
10th November
Jenny Clark Memorial Concert
Works for choir, organ and piano.
Dog Collar Dinner 2024
The Dog Collar Dinner returns this year on 27th September. Tickets are £30/person and application forms for tickets are available from the table in the porch. Please also bring a bottle with you to contribute to the evening. The evening begins at 7pm; the itinerary is still in planning and will be announced nearer the time. Application forms for tickets are available from the table in the porch. Please indicate how many tickets you would like and how you will be making payment. As this is a fund raiser to pay for the balance of the new green set of vestments, there is also opportunity to make a donation on top.
Only the last few tickets remain so be sure to book a spot so that you do not miss out!
St John’s Quiz Evening
17th October, 7pm
This annual event returns on 17th October, when Chris Cochran, landlord of The Victoria, will once again have an array of questions to test your general knowledge. The evening starts at 7pm in church. Tickets cost £20 and are available from the parish office. Included in the ticket price is a supper of homemade cottage pie! Form a team of up to 8 or come on your own – it’s a great fun evening!
Book Club
Book Club met recently and discussed The Night Watch, by Sara Waters. They chose their next book – Hilary Mantel’s A Memoir of My Former Self. They will consider this book at their next meeting on 14th October. As well as a celebrated novelist, Hilary Mantel long contributed to newspapers and journals, unspooling stories form her life and illuminating the world as she found it. “Ink is a generative fluid,” she explains. “If you don’t mean your words to breed consequences, don’t write at all.” A Memoir of My Former Self consists of the finest of this writing over four decades.
