Prom Concert
As part of Betty’s 160th birthday celebrations, this morning following the conclusion of the 10am service there will be a prom concert featuring one of our magnificent choral scholars, bass Ted Day. Ted will be singing a programme featuring Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Songs of Travel interspersed with pieces by Erich Wolfgang Korngold and Vincenzo Bellini accompanied on the piano by Jorn Quirijnen and on the organ by Nick Miller. The concert will last approximately 40 minutes. Please pick up a drink from the hospitality table and then get a good seat. This will be a lovely Lent treat!
Upcoming Carol Services
Carol Service for Lent
Sunday 16th March, 6pm
This seasonal service of music and readings explores the themes of Lent. Entitled From Dust towards Glory, this year’s service looks to assist us on our Lenten journeys with readings and music by Stephen Schwarz, Stephen Sondheim, Peter Stetsenko, G F Handel and Gustav Holst. The service will be followed by a reception with hot cross buns.
Passiontide Carols
Sunday 13th April, 6pm
Something new this year is a carol service for Holy Week! A special service on Palm Sunday evening where we recall the events leading up to Easter: the Last Supper, the betrayal of Judas in the Garden of Gethsemane and Jesus’ trial and crucifixion. This will replace our Stations of the Cross service.
Electoral Roll
The parish electoral roll is an indication of the life and vitality of St John’s. Inclusion on it is a part of your commitment to the church, entitles you to attend our annual meetings, to be married here and assists in enrolling your children into a Church of England school. Every six years we are required to dissolve the current roll and to compile a brand new one. As we last did this in 2019 we are required to compile a new roll this year and will be taking applications for entry onto the new roll until 18th March. The roll will then be closed until after the annual meeting on 6th April. Application forms are available in the porch. Once completed, please return them to Bryan Sollenberger or send to the parish office.
Betty’s Big Birthday
This year marks the 160th birthday of our marvellous Hill & Sons organ, “Betty”, and ten years since her trip to rehab for full restoration. We will be marking this milestone with a series of concerts and events through the course of 2025, including a series of free Prom Concerts entitled Betty&Friends, featuring various soloists and ensembles who will collaborate with Betty. The year will culminate in a party/celebrity organ recital (Betty’s Birthday Bash!) on Saturday 22nd November, given by Professor Dr Ian Tracey, one of the world’s finest recitalists and Titular Organist of Liverpool Cathedral. 2025 also happens to be Play the Organ Year, an outreach initiative led by the Royal College of Organists to raise the profile of the King of Instruments and encourage people to engage and have a go, so each recital will be followed by an opportunity for anyone interested to come to the organ, ask questions and try playing Betty, supported by our music team.
Concerts and Events in 2025 so far (more to follow!):
Betty&Friends 2: Sunday 9th March, 11.30am- 12.10pm
Ted Day, baritone & Jorn Quirijnen, pianist
Free Entry
Betty’s Birthday Bash! Saturday 22nd November, 5pm
Celebrity Recital: Professor Dr Ian Tracey, organist
Ticketed Entry: details to follow
Safeguarding and Photography at St John’s
Safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults is a priority at St John’s. A copy of the PCC’s Safeguarding Policy is available in the porch and on the parish website. Photographs of the church may be taken outside of services but please do not take any pictures during the service. When photographing the church, should you happen to capture people in your photographs, please delete them. Safeguarding concerns can be raised in the first instance with the church’s Safeguarding Officer, Mary Langford.
COMMUNITY NOTICES
Refugee Drop-in Volunteers
Since May St John’s has been hosting a monthly Sunday drop-in centre for refugees run by the West London Synagogue. This provides families with a hot meal, a shopping voucher and a contribution towards their transport, as well as signposting for other practical help. The drop-in centre normally takes place on the third Sunday of the month and they are always open to volunteers to assist them. If you would like to join the volunteer crew, please speak to the Vicar. The next drop-in centre is 23rd March at 12.30pm (not the third Sunday as normal).
Book Club
Book Club met recently and selected their next book: The Road Home, a 2007 wise and witty look at the migrant experience. They will meet to discuss this book on 10th March 2025. For more information, please speak to Irwin Nazareth.
