Welcome to St John’s Hyde Park
We want everyone worshipping at St John’s this morning to be as safe a place as possible so to minimise the risks of catching Covid-19, guidelines have been drafted. They are on display in the porch and on our website at https://tinyurl.com/y2v4jzgm. In compliance with government guidance, we are required to have an informal community behaviour agreement and the guidelines will constitute this In summary, please observe the following:
• If you are displaying any of the Covid-19 symptoms – high temperature, a cough or a change in your sense of taste & smell – please do not come into church but self-isolate and arrange for a test
• Please sanitise your hands when you enter the building.
• If you have not already given us your contact details electronically, please do so now. They will be held for 21 days and only used for track & trace purposes
• Please sit in a seating cluster appropriate for the size of your household
• At the collection, place your cash or Gift Aid envelope in the plate but please do not touch it
• When exchanging the peace, please remain within your household cluster and do not make any physical contact with anyone outside of your household
• At communion, please remain standing at your seat. Lower your face mask before having your hands sanitised; the clergy will then place a wafer in your hand. If you prefer to receive a blessing instead, cross your hands over your chest. After consuming the bread, refix your face mask
• At the end of the service, please remain in your seats until directed to leave the church by a member of staff. If socialising outside, remember that you can only do so with your own household or in a group of no more than six people – and then keeping 2 metres’ distance between each of you
London is now in Covid Tier 2, but the government information is that places of worship will remain open and St John’s is continuing to operate in a Covid-safe format. Remember that socialising after the service is only possible outside and only in groups of no more than six – and you must stay within that group. Please observe this and stay safe.
Children and Young Families
We are delighted to have so many families with young children as members of our congregation. At present, there is no Kids’ Club so children will stay with their households at all times throughout the service and afterwards when leaving the church. Please do bring along with you anything that your children may need during the service as we are unable to make pew bags, soft toys, books or any other items available.
Toilets with changing facilities are available near the entrance of the church but remember to wipe down all surfaces you have touched before going back into church. If for any reason your child becomes restless or upset during the service, please feel free to use the forecourt as a breakout space.
Each week there is a children’s story and activity on the children’s page on our website: https://www.stjohns-hydepark.com/children. Big children as well as smaller ones will find it interesting.
Keep Calm! Keep Alert! Keep Giving!
We continue to give thanks for the financial commitment of so many of you in making weekly or monthly contributions electronically or in the collection plate. Alternatively, you may feel it safer to make your donations electronically directly to our bank account. Our details are:
Name: PCC St Johns Hyde Park
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.
Tuesday: Quiz Night, 8pm
Our quiz maestro Damon Greeney returns with more tantalising teasers to test your intellectual elasticity (on Zoom).
Join the Quiz
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82511356513?pwd=L0tobG1Ua2lxVkQ3bGcvRkRxNG9FQT09
Wednesday Club
The Wednesday Club is a series of groups running every week on (you guessed it) a Wednesday during term time. We cycle between four areas of discipleship to encourage friendship and faith (via Zoom, 8-9pm). If you are interested or want to join in, please just email Dan (danwarnke@me.com) or follow the link below.
WED 1 - Bible study (based on the Gospel reading for the preceding Sunday)
WED 2 - Lectio Divina (reflective reading of scripture)
WED 3 - Pub theology (the convergence of everyday ethics and faith)
WED 4 - Ignation Prayer (exploring the question: How do we pray in difficult times?)
Join us on Wednesdays
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84326155018?pwd=RFhIUzMrM2xUY1pyYjRIK1ZySVUyUT09
Annual Vestry and Parochial Church Meeting
Our APCM this year is on Sunday, 25th October, 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). This year we will be electing churchwardens, three representatives to the Deanery Synod and two members to the Parochial Church Council (PCC). Nomination forms are available at the back of church. Completed forms can be given to Bryan Sollenberger. Our annual report and accounts for 2019 are now on display in the porch and are available to view on our website: https://www.stjohns-hydepark.com/news/2020/10/16/annual-report-amp-accounts-2019.
Our thanks to Sven Haase and Ian Nelson, whose terms on PCC come to an end. Sven has also served as Deputy Churchwarden for the past two years and Ian as treasurer during his term. In addition, Neville David completes his term as churchwarden and will be retiring. We are very grateful for their contributions to the parish over that time. The vitality of a parish like St John’s is dependent on people being willing to give of their time and skills in leadership of the parish. We are as a community grateful for all that they have brought and shared. Please think carefully about whether you might have skills you can share by standing for PCC.
North Paddington Food Bank
Last Christmas, we raised funds in support of North Paddington Food Bank. These were used to provide a pallet of food for them at the beginning of this year. Our fund raising was so successful that there was enough left to cover nearly half the cost of another pallet. As part of our Harvest celebrations we are aiming to raise the final £135 to provide another pallet of food for them and there will be a bucket collection after this morning’s service. Please give if you can.
Jenny Clark Memorial Concert
1st November 2020, 11.30am
Our annual Jenny Clark Memorial Concert this year is on the 1st November immediately following the 10am service. We are especially pleased to have soprano Galina Averina, former choral scholar here who has just performed the principle role in Fidelio at Garsington opera and on Radio 3, and pianist Maria Levandovskaya giving this year’s concert. The programme features a variety of well known arias and pieces by Rachmaninov. This is always a very special event – make sure you will be here for it.
All Souls
2nd November 2020, 7pm
On Monday, 2nd November, we mark this special festival with a service at 7pm at which we remember those who are part of the church community but who have died. The choir are singing Faurés Requiem and during this service we remember those dear to us who have died - a list is available in the porch for you to add the names of those you would like to be remembered.
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
St John’s Book Club reads a wide variety of books and discussions are robust and enthusiastic. They are currently reading The Offing, by Benjamin Myers and will meet via Zoom to discuss it on 26th October at 8pm. For further information about the book club, drop a line to parishadmin@stjohns-hydepark.com.
