Pigeon holes, pigeon post

Before email, before Whatsapp, before whatever, communication relied on letters and cards and pigeon holes. At this time of year, there's a revival at the church pigeon holes with Christmas cards waiting to be picked up!

The pigeon holes can be found on the north wall, to the right of the font. Best to check above and below the initial that starts your surname, and above and below the initial that starts your Christian name (forename).

Hopefully this will avoid any disappointment

Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and God Bless!

MUSICIANS WANTED

Wanted: musicians for a new St. John's worship band! We are looking for enthusiasm and don't mind if you aren't perfect! We want to make a joyful noise to the Lord.

Do you play guitar, base guitar, drums, sing, or play any other instruments? All ages wanted. We are hoping to get the band to play once a month at church once ready.

Talk to Jaimee (revjaimeesummers@gmail.com) if interested.

Trinity School Prize-winners - Munch with Music - 4 December 2024

We were very lucky to have prize winning musicians from Trinity School, Croydon, perform for us a varied and intriguing programme:

O Magnum Misterium	Morten Lauridsen	Trumpet Ensemble
Impromptu in B minor	Samuel Coleridge-Taylor	Piano
Arabesque no 2	Claude Debussy	Piano
Portrait of a trumpet	Sammy Nestico	Trumpet and piano
Prelude op 32 no 12 in G sharp minor	Sergei Rachmaninoff	Piano
The man I love	George Gershwin	Piano
Red, White and Blues	Leonard Bernstein	Trumpet and piano
Estompes - Pagodes	Claude Debussy	Piano
Introduction and Tarantella	Pablo de Sarasota	Violin and piano

All performances were very well received and greatly appreciated. We wish all the performers well in their future careers (including the aspiring doctor).

A Merry and Peaceful Christmas to you

The Trail of the Christmas Bells

Back by popular demand...Caterham Valley for You free Christmas Trail returns, and it’s better than ever!

Mrs. Claus needs your help to track the explorers heading to the North Pole to meet Santa. Along the way, Santa’s lost his bells, and it’s up to you to find them in our shop windows.

Throw on your Christmas jumper, grab a map, count all the bells, and submit your guess online for a chance to win a prize!

That’s not all - @stjohnscaterham is kindly hosting a free end-of-trail Christmas party, packed with games, treats, music and fun. You might even spot Santa there and tell him you found his bells!

The trail launches Saturday 7th December, from 1pm to 4pm. Can’t make it? No worries—you can download the map from our website and complete the trail at your own pace until 29th December. Stay tuned for more details!

Christmas at St John's

St John's Christmas Services

Caterham School Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols
11 December 2024 at 7pm
St John's Church, Clareville Road

Forest Church - Carols under the Stars
14 December 2024 at 3pm
Caterham pre-prep car park

St John's School Carols
18 December 2024 at 5pm
St John's Church, Clareville Road

St John's Church Carol Service
19 December 2024 at 7:30pm
St John's Church, Clareville Road

Christingle
24 December 2024 at 4pm
St John's Church, Clareville Road

Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve
24 December 2024 at 11:30pm
St John's Church, Clareville Road

Holy Communion (BCP) on Christmas Day
25 December 2024 at 8am
St John's Church, Clareville Road

Christmas Day Parish Eucharist (THE CHOCOLATE NATIVITY!)
25 December 2024 at 10am
St John's Church, Clareville Road

Wishing you a Merry and Peaceful Christmas.

Hear Here - 5 December 2024

A free service for people with NHS hearing aids includes:

Basic maintenance - Battery supply - Cleaning and Re-tubing - Trouble-shooting - Advice

Please do come along if you need advice, support, maintenance or batteries for your NHS hearing aid, 9:30am to 11:30am.

St John's Church Hall
Clareville Rd
Caterham
CR3 6LA.

Contact us at hearherestjohnscaterham@gmail.com

Toys are us

St John's contribution to Caterham Corps Salvation Army's collection of toys and games for distribution to those who will best appreciate them.

Game of Chance 2024 - report

Flora and Jaimee at the Lolly Game in hurch Walk.

What chance did the other charities have (including our friends 3rd Caterham St John's Scouts) when our idea for fund raising had 'em licked.

Our pitch this year was right down the car park end, next to the Photo-Me machine, which was quite flashy. Flora and Jaimee demonstrated the fundamentals of the lolly game and were rewarded with ... lollies.

A very late winner took one of the teddies home, the other teddy seemed sad to me, having featured not only this year, but last as well. Maybe next year.

Big thanks to Julie who organised, and to all the volunteers who got lolly for lollies.

Game of Chance 2024

On Saturday 30th November, St. John’s Church will be joining other charities in Church Walk to run a Game of Chance, 11am to 4pm.

We will be doing the same as last year - lollies in a table. Everyone keeps their lolly, but if it has a coloured stick then they win a prize as well.

Later that day, the Christmas Lights will be switched on.

Munch with Music - December 2024

The next Munch with Music will be held in the church on 4th December 2024 featuring Music from Trinity School.

You are invited to bring your own ‘Munch’.

Admission is free, donations are welcome.

Coffee, tea and biscuits from 12:15pm, with the performance starting at 12:45pm and lasting about 45 minutes.

The following Munch will be on 5th February 2025, with Christopher Sayles on piano.

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