This year was the Silver Jubilee of Doors Open Day in Perth and Kinross, and St John’s was featured as one of only four buildings open this year which was also open for the first Doors Open Day in 1991. On Saturday over a hundred visitors came into the church, which was beautifully decorated for Harvest Thanksgiving. There were live musical performances during the day, as well as refreshments, children’s activities and a display of church activities.

On Sunday morning at our Sung Eucharist we gave thanks for all God’s good gifts. Our joyful thanksgiving spilled over into practical action as we offered donations of food and toiletries needed by the Perth and Kinross Foodbank and prayed for the refugee crisis.

Following the eucharist we all joined in a bring and share lunch in the Threshold.

More pictures of the weekend can be seen on our Facebook page.

Flowers at our patronal festival

We celebrated our Patronal Festival on 28th June 2015. Thanks to a lot of hard work the day before, the church was filled with white and golden flowers which enhanced our worship.

Several members of the congregation had joined the choir for a music workshop the previous weekend when they learned the anthem ‘Cantate Domino’ by Dave and Jean Perry. It was good to have additional voices singing with the choir, and we hope this will be repeated for special occasions in the future. The anthem was one that members of the choir had sung in Glasgow recently at the Triennial Festival held by the Royal School of Church Music.

An augmented choir for our patronal festival

After our morning Eucharist we enjoyed a bring and share lunch in the Threshold Centre next to the church. Thanks to all who brought food, prepared tables, served and helped clear up.

Lunch after our patronal festival

Our Patronal Festival marks the start of our summer season when there will be no services of Matins, Alive For Christ or Evensong. On the first Sunday of July and August there will be a Sung Eucharist at 10.30 am.

St John the Baptist and Christ, from our East Window

In common with two other churches of other denominations in Perth, our patron saint is St John the Baptist. We will celebrate our Patronal Festival on Sunday 28th June at 10.30 am with a Sung Eucharist, followed by a bring and share lunch.

On Saturday 20th June the congregation is invited to a musical workshop at 10.30 am, an opportunity to learn their part in the anthem we will all sing together at the Patronal Festival service.

Agnus Dei. the symbol of St John the Baptist, carved on our main altar

St John’s was packed with over 200 people on Thursday 30th October to celebrate the institution of Rev. Graham Taylor as our new rector by Bishop David Chillingworth in a joyous and inspirational service. The congregation of St John’s was joined by many members of Graham’s former congregation at St Mary’s, Carden Place, Aberdeen; a large body of clergy and lay readers from several dioceses; local clergy from other Christian churches; and representatives from the civic authorities, including Provost Liz Grant and other councillors.

David Rose, the Rector’s warden at St Mary’s, Carden Place, read the epistle and Rt Rev. Bruce Cameron read the Gospel. As a former rector of St John’s before his consecration as Bishop of Aberdeen and Orkney, as well as his recent time as Interim Pastor of St John’s, Bishop Bruce is well known to Graham and to both congregations. The sermon was preached by the Very Revd Gerald Stranraer-Mull, Dean Emeritus of the diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney.

Many people commented on the inspirational music during the service, which included Howard Goodall’s anthem ‘Love Divine’ after communion and the Toccata by Charles Marie Widor as a closing voluntary. Our thanks go to Alison Grant as director of music and Robin Miller as organist.

This was the first time many clergy from the diocese had seen inside the church since its redevelopment, and they were impressed by the spacious interior which was enhanced by some beautiful floral arrangements.

After his institution Graham recognised the input from so many members of the congregation and thanked everyone who had played any part in enabling the service to be such an overwhelmingly positive occasion.

The service was followed by refreshments at the Royal George Hotel in Perth, which provided an opportunity for guests to mingle and share in fellowship.

Elijah, son of Andrew Kingsley-Rowe and Dee Desouza, was baptised in the Alive for Christ service on Sunday 1 June 2014. His godparents are Emma DeSouza, Fraser Carmichael, Isabelle Beyers, Dawn Leckie, and Becky Nunn.

We welcome Elijah into the life of the church!

Elijah’s parents and godparents make their promises at Elijah’s baptism

Elijah at his baptism, with a proud grandad