Our APCM is this Sunday (5th May) immediately after the 9:30am service.

The proceedings take around 30 minutes and will be concluded with the Peace

The Family Eucharist will continue afterwards. The children’s activities will take place in the Parish Hall as usual and we would love to have your attendance at this very important meeting.

The Bishop of Barking, The Right Reverend Peter Hill visited St John’s on Easter morning and presided at both the choral Eucharist and the Family service. Part of the service for the children was held on the church field, in exceptional weather. Fortunately, none of the chocolate eggs melted in the Easter Egg Hunt. The whole day was a joyous occasion for all.

We are running a number of services over Eastertide. Please find all the details here.

Maundy Thursday, April 18th

8pm, Sung Eucharist of the Last Supper

In partnership with Saint Michael and All Angels, Loughton.

After the service a silent vigil of prayer will be kept throughout the night as we commemorate Jesus’s vigil in the Garden of Gethsemane before his arrest.

Good Friday, April 19th

10am, Good Friday Liturgy

A service centring on the Passion according to Saint John with a sermon, prayers for the world and then Holy Communion will be distributed from the sacrament reserved from the previous evening.

11:30am, Children’s Activities Morning

Held in the Church Hall.

2pm, An Hour at the Foot of the Cross

A space for reflection and devotion.

Holy Saturday, April 20th

8pm, Solemn Vigil & First Eucharist of the Resurrection

A short vigil of Bible readings and prayers in the Church Hall is followed by the blessing of the Easter fire and lighting of the Easter candle. A slow procession into the darkened church follows, symbolizing the rising to new life of the Jesus.

This is followed by a sung Easter Proclamation and the first Eucharist of Easter.

Easter Sunday, April 21st

8am, Holy Communion (BCP)

9:30am, Sung Eucharist of Easter Day

We will be joined by the Right Reverend Peter Hill, Bishop of Barking.

11:15am, Family Eucharist

With Easter fire and an Easter egg hunt. We will be joined by Bishop Peter.

Thank you for your generosity in supporting the 2018 Lent Appeal. We raised a record amount – in excess of £60 000 – which enabled us to purchase a Water Bowser for our brothers and sisters in Marsabit Diocese. This vehicle has already been purchased, and is now being used to bless the people of the north with the gift of water.

The 2019 Lent Appeal will support the work of our long-term friends at St Andrew’s College of Theology and Development in Kabare, located in the foothills of Mount Kenya. We want to partner them as they develop vocational courses for the people of their region, enabling them to fulfil their potential and flourish in the way God desires for them. There are a number of barriers in their way that prevent them from doing this at the moment. With your help, these will be broken down.

We will be collecting for the Bishop’s Lent appeal after our Sunday services.

Herbert Howells and the Tudors

The influence of Tallis and Byrd

Saturday 23rd March 2019 at 7.30pm

Music includes Howells’ early setting of the Mass in the Dorian mode; together with Take him, earth, for cherishing and Requiem I and II from Requiem.   

This will be contrasted with music by William Byrd (Ave verum Corpus & Quomodo cantabimus) and Thomas Tallis’ (If ye love me & Sanctus from Missa Puer natus est).

Tickets: £12 (£10 if purchased in advance – free for children & full-time students under 25)

For ticket sales, please visit: felicitas.org.uk

Our monthly charity for February is Haven House Children’s Hospice. We will be collecting donations for them after the morning services on Sunday.

Haven House Children’s Hospice supports families and cares for children and young people with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions across North and East London, West Essex and East Hertfordshire.

Haven House is a local charity and they have many fund-raising challenges throughout the year. Please take a look at their website if you are interested in getting involved.

On Ash Wednesday (6th March) we will be holding two services at St John with the Imposition of Ashes and Holy Communion to mark the beginning of the fast of Lent.

The services will be at the following times:

• 9:30am
• 8pm

We wish you a holy and blessed Lent.

On Shrove Tuesday (5th March) we will be having a pancake party in the hall from 4pm to 6.15pm.

This will involve savoury and sweet pancakes (so no need to cook a meal at home), activities and games for all ages, followed by a very short service to lead us into Lent.

All are welcome, but please sign up on the list at the back of church just to give us an idea of numbers… and if you’d like to bring a contribution we would be grateful for spreads and syrups for the sweet course!