Getting Involved – Music, Teaching, Serving, Preaching, Vocations

Use your gifts and start finding out who God is calling you to be.

It’s your Chapel and we want you to get involved.  There are all sorts of opportunities from behind-the-scenes flower-arranging and helping with the sound system to leading a music group or preaching your first sermon.  We have a great track record for people really deepening their faith at St John’s and each year have said farewell to people going off to be trained for ordination (in a variety of church traditions) or else with a real sense of how God can use the gifts and talents he has given them.

Although the main chapel choir is elected in advance as part of the admissions procedure, there are a host of musical opportunities.  Instrumentalists of all standards are welcome to be part of the 8.30am worship band co-ordinated by Michael Atkins – whether you want to play every week or once a term, there’s a place for you.  Singers can join the new Compline Singers led by Frank DiTraglia who do high-standard anthems, learned quickly, for our weekly night-time service of Compline; or else there is the St John’s Singers, led by the Senior Organ Student, John Challenger, which learns its music more slowly over the course of a term and leads two eucharists and takes part in the College Term Concert.

Small group leaders can help with Bible Study, the Grad Reading Group or our Lent Term discipleship course which in 2010 ran a very successful Student Alpha group.

Creative talents can be put to good use in designing special services or prayer activities, particularly for the Sunday 8.30am College Communion but also our pilgrimages and trips.  The Walworth Weekend in December even allows those with some craft or games experience to really make a difference running a children’s party in a deprived part of London.

A team of flower arrangers is organised by the Accommodation Secretary, Suzanne Stratton, and keep the Chapel looking great; while Stephen the Chapel Clerk is always looking for those with some technical know-how who can help with the sound-system.  Students also take responsibility for Chapel sports and the key role of Toast-Master at Chapel Breakfast.

Sophie Morgan leads our team of servers who help with the Sunday 10.30am Sung Eucharist and special Festal Evensongs a few times a term.  No experience needed and a great way to get to know people.

At the end of each Lent Term, Chapel Wardens are appointed to serve for a year as ambassadors around college and help plan events and together with the Chapel Treasurer they decide which charities we will support each year.

Any or all of which can really make a difference to your time at St John’s and also earn you an invite to the annual Chaplain’s Thank You Dinner.  And if you’ve got any new ideas, we’d love to hear them.