CHRISTIAN AID WEEK - 13-19 May 2012

During Christian Aid Week, 15,000 churches across Britain and Ireland will organise events to raise funds. Christian Aid believes that poverty is an outrage against humanity. We are working towards a world where extreme poverty is ended, and this means helping people out of hunger. Nearly a billion people will go to bed hungry tonight.

As well as helping people out of hunger, Christian Aid is working to empower communities in the global North and the global South who are hungry for a different world, and hungry for change. Christian Aid believes that poverty is, at its heart, a lack of power. We work to empower poor communities to speak up for their rights, as well as to empower those who care deeply about the world to take action, and not be helpless to change it. 

Christian Aid Week is a huge moment of witness, when churches stand together and speak out for a different world. It’s a time when we speak out with a vision of a different world, and raise funds to give poor communities the tools they need to speak out for themselves.

St John's has two fundraising events during Christian Aid Week - May 8th at 8pm St John's Young Wives are hosting Bangers and Bettle Drive and there is a Parish Lunch on Sunday 13th May at 1200. If you are interested in attending please contact the Christian Aid Lead Ann Crocombe 020 8657 0651.

Thank you in advance for supporting Christian Aid Week

A BIT ABOUT US IF YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN BEFORE

ST JOHN THE DIVINE is surrounded by extensive woodland including a National Trust nature reserve and bird sanctuary.

The church is located on Upper Selsdon Road which is just off Addington Road on the junction with Selsdon Park Hotel, a 4-star hotel surrounded by 205 acres of parkland.

You will find the church slightly set back from the road and entrance to the car park is between the church and the newly renovated St John Community Hall. The 412 bus stops right outside, further parking can also be located in Sainsbury's carpark on the Addington Road.

Somewhere between ‘Rev’, ‘Father Ted’ and the ‘Vicar of Dibley’ our own bonne vivant Rector the Rev Ian Brothwood is supported by a team of honorary staff Rev Michael Skinner, Rev Stephen Wright and reader Mr Ron Last.

Mrs Sue Tilley and Mr Martyn Brown are churchwardens who have specific powers to enable them to keep the peace within the church and its grounds, apparently punishable by a custodial sentence – it’s okay they are very friendly.......

The sidespeople are the first people you would see as you enter the church, they are there to make sure everyone feels welcome, receives the correct service sheet, help people find a seat during a busy service and to offer any other assistance as needed.

After a service they will be around to answer any questions you may have, if you want to know more about anything to do with the church the sidespeople will be able to help, or put you in contact with the correct person.

Like many churches, the parishoners at St John's leans to an elderly population steeped in tales of the history of the church and full life stories.  As heirs of the future, the children are really important to the life of the church. Junior Church has restarted this year and has already proven to be very popular with the young folk.

Prayers are said by clergy officiating at services, by those attending services and visitors who come to St John’s who sit quietly and reflect, or light a candle in the Lady Chapel or leave a prayer card. The prayers of our visitor are offered each day during the service of Holy Communion.

St John's has a strong choral music tradition and the 'cathedral style' choir participates in over 150 services per year. The choir is led by Director of Music Dr Timothy Orchard who consistently aims for high standards as he conducts with passion, energy and an unparalleled mastery of music and the magical capability of levitating...

The choir is a voluntary group of about 25 mixed trebles, altos, tenors and basses covering a wide range of ages and musical talent.... The choir has a history of long-serving members and many of its adult members were trebles in their youth – including the choir director!

The choir split into Cantoris and Decani, with two head choristers leading each side. The choristers undertake Royal School of Church Music exams. All choristers currently have a variety of ribbons from light blue, dark blue, red, blue, pink and green. The Head Choristers have passed the highest award Bishop's Award, the purple ribbon.

The red robed choir sing at most Sunday services morning and evening , singing a variety of choral music from Arcadelt, Bruckner, Campian, Elgar, Farrant, Gibbons, Handel, Irving, Jordan, Lloyd, Mozart, Nixon, Ouseley, Purcell, Rees, Setchell, Tallis, Vann, Wesley....to name just a few composers which range from subtle chants to the bellowing bass.

Music is an essential part of our worship and the church boosts a wondrous pipe organ expertly played by our nimble fingered and truly outstanding organist Jonathan Musgrave, a Junior Fellow at the Royal College of Music.

The Parochial Church Council responsibility is to co-operate with the Rector in promoting the mission of the Church in its parish. The PCC is responsible for the financial affairs of the church and the care and maintenance of the church fabric and its contents, the names and photos of the PCC are in the church porch.

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