Christmas Services at St John's 2023
You are very welcome to join us over Christmas at St John's in the Valley!
- 24th - 4pm Doughnut Christingle Service
- 24th - 11.30pm Midnight Mass
- 25th - 10am Informal Christmas Day Eucharist
Merry Christmas
News
The cattle are lowing
The cattle are lowing.
The baby it awaits.
Treemendous
You're on light duties' I was told, which I completely misinterpreted. Instead of putting my feet up, I was required to hang lights, affix baubles and generally liaise with the expert team obviously on loan from London's west end 
Actually what really happened was while the three pictured did the hard work, I stood around on 'media' duties, hung the lights wrong, moved the tree about six inches and attached about three baubles.
The result, however, speaks for itself and I hope you'll be visiting over the Christmas period to see for yourself!
Munch with Music - December 2023
The next Munch with Music will be held in the church on 6th December 2023 featuring Charlotte Jane Kennedy, soprano, and Frasier Hickland on the piano.
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 7th February 2024, with Chamber Music Ensembles from Caterham School.
Toy Service
We are, as a church, contributing to the collection of toys for local children and teens whose families can't afford to get them Christmas presents. Some are Ukrainian refugees.
The scheme is headed by Councillor Annette Evans, who will be coming to talk to us about it on 3rd December.
Christmas Market 2023
St John's is in Church Walk with a Game of Chance from 11am to 5pm, drop by and try your luck!
Red Riding Hood - 26 November 2023
Saltmine Theatre Company have been bringing professional, high quality productions of much loved Christmas shows to Caterham for many years. Re-written to reflect a Christian message and set of values, these have been very popular.
A re-telling of this classic show Red Riding Hood, by Saltmine Theatre Company, reflecting Christian values at 5pm Sunday, 26th November at Oasis Academy Couldson.
Tickets £10 adult, £5 concessions and £25 family (2 adults and 2 children). Suitable for all the family from aged 5 upwards. For more information and to book tickets please go to the production web site.
BARN DANCE with the Odd Sock Do Dum Band
The Barn Dance is in aid of Caterham Overseas Aid Trust (Registered Charity No. 283579).
Saturday 25th November 2023
7.30 -10.30pm.
Centenary Hall, Essendene Road, Caterham CR3 5PA
(Church of the Sacred Heart)
Cost £15
To include sausage (or vegetarian alternative) and chip supper and desserts.
Bar and raffle available.
For tickets and to confirm food order please contact CaterhamOverseasAidTrust@outlook.com
St John's Caterham Christmas Fair
In the Church Hall, Clareville Road, Caterham
Free entry
Stalls Include:
Refreshments
Lunches (from 12 noon)
Raffle
Gifts
Cakes
Cards
Books
Games and Toys
Make and Take
Dominic Felts and Pietro Lacopini - Munch with Music November 2023
Dominic and Pietro are alumni of Trinity Laban Conservatoire. We have extracts from their Love and Wonder recital in this video.
They created a rich ambience throughout their performance which was greatly appreciated by the audience. We were even treated to an encore (a first in my MwM experience), Ain't Misbehavin'.
I trust they will be able to revisit us in the future.
The full programme was:
Jonathan Dove - The Sailor Boy
Muriel Herbert - Loveliest of Trees
Muriel Herbert - Tewksbury Road
Franck - Nocturne
Schumann - Mondnacht
Finzi - It was a lover and his lass
Vaughan Williams - Silent Noon
Ravel - Chanson romanesque
Ibert - Chanson à Dulcinée
Britten - The Sally Gardens
Teresa del Riego - Homing
Rogers & Hammerstein - Some Enchanted Evening
My apologies for the video quality, a light balance issue is the cause.