I hope you have had time for relaxation over this long hot summer. Sabbath rest – the need for proper periods of stepping away from routine work whether creative, practical or dutiful – has been baked into Creation from the very start. Do we rest enough I wonder? I read recently that UK adults spend over 7 hours a day on screens of one form or another, even in the holidays. Screens of course can...
Read moreMany of you will have spotted two new furry friends around church lately, peeking into the church hall or St John’s rooms. Puck and Ariel are our new(ish) Vicarage cats and they have been busily exploring ever since they were allowed to go outside in the spring. Puck (tuxedo cat) and Ariel (with a mask over one eye) are brother and sister and they just had their first birthday in May. They do their best...
Read moreTurning left, my friend Simon checked the map, took a bearing, and we headed off the path, towards our campsite. “Keep your eye on that big boulder,” he said. It was right in front of us. We walked in a straight line. I looked up, and the boulder had moved! I corrected my path. Looked up. The boulder moved again. Humans cannot naturally walk in a straight line. We need something to help us stay...
Read more
Friends on Friday is primarily a Group for over 60’s, but when we advertise our Meetings, if a subject is of interest to anyone else, you are most welcome to join us as a ‘one off’ or more regularly. They are all Open Meetings, held in the Church Hall, Main Street, Grove. The 1st Friday of the month meeting has a varied social programme while on the 3rd Friday we hold an informal Holy Communion Read more
Saturday November 28th from 2 – 4 pm Free Entry!
What is it? Well, it has nothing to do with fairies or leprechauns! It is a local charity that we at St John’s Grove support as part of our local Mission. The charity helps families in need of extra support with items like nappies, toys, equipment and vouchers for household goods. Typical clients include Theresa* from Romania who has a new baby. She was given a buggy with carrycot. Also Mandy* whose husband left her Read more
This year marked the O’Neils’ fifth year at New Wine, and it has become a real highlight for our family. We currently camp with a group of friends from our previous church, but we’re hoping that our New Wine family will grow, as a number of families from St John’s have already shown interest in coming along in the future One of the things we love most about New Wine is how welcoming it is Read more
Last summer was the hottest I have ever known. It was a difficult one for farmers: arable crops were too dry, and some farmers were harvesting at night to try to gain the moisture levels required for sale. Many livestock farmers had to use their winter silage to feed their animals as the grass dried up in the fields. Some schools had days when they closed and many office workers found it impossible to work Read more
On Sunday 20 September members from all four churches in the Benefice gathered at St John’s hall for a simple celebration marking the 10th anniversary of Alec’s licensing in the Benefice. It was a joyful occasion with lots of laughter – and cake! Over the summer we had collected donations towards a collective gift, which we presented to Alec: a silver home communion set that will undoubtedly be treasured and used in his ministry for Read more
It seems an odd thing for St Johns Church to support, but read on and I think you will see why. The Morning Star Trust own and operate three yachts and take people to sea for anything up to 10 days. The people who come are expected to become fully involved. Yes it involves learning how to sail the vessel but it also includes preparing all the meals, cooking for a crew of 8 people, Read more