Pathfinders is the group that takes place during the morning service for Secondary School aged children. We start with a hot chocolate, with whipped cream and marshmallows… We enjoy some biscuits together whilst we read and discuss the Bible passage. We then turn our thoughts into art. Youth Group and Pathfinders recently went bowling in Oxford. It was great fun and everyone is keen for more trips out! Youth Group consists of school years 8-13. Read more
Coming to, growing in, and living out faith in Jesus is the foundation of our vision at St John’s for this next phase in our church’s life. Three inextricably interlinked aspects of faith – like walking a labyrinth. Labyrinths have aided Christian prayer for over 1800 years. I walked one on our Ascensiontide prayer day. Standing ready to step in reminds me of that first step of trust in Jesus – the Way into Life Read more
The Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM) was held on Saturday 16 June, beginning with refreshments and an opportunity to view reports from church groups and hall users. These reports are available online at https://www.groveparishchurch.org.uk/2026-apcm-documents. The meeting opened with the Annual Vestry Meeting. Minutes from 2025 were approved, and Colin Moulds and Sue Parnell were elected as churchwardens. Thanks were expressed to Nick Terrill, stepping down after six years, and to Colin for continuing in post. Read more
I like to think of myself as a bit of an eco-hippy at heart, and I had done the Big Plastic Count before in 2022 and 2024, so I thought: How bad could it be? Dear reader, it was a lot worse than I thought. Not only did I not hold steady compared to previous years – we got through 71 bits of plastic in 2024 – our family gets through more disposable plastic now than ever Read more
The disciples have been through a lot. They experienced the rollercoaster of the Easter season, from the trauma and tragedy of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, to the triumph of Easter Sunday and the empty tomb. Jesus has met with them, taught them, and cooked for them, and now he is about to return to the Father. I imagine that they had a lot of questions about what comes next, how will this all work out, and Read more
Spring is now firmly upon us with the bluebells and the wisteria starting to bud. Like the seasons, the second week of May appears and with it, Christian Aid Week, with the flurry of red bunting and envelopes. In Grove, we will be celebrating Christian Aid Week on Sunday 10 May, if you like to note these things in your diary. This year, Christian Aid Week is celebrating an organisation called ‘Beacon of Hope’ in Read more
Dear friends at St John’s Over the past few months, the ministry team and PCC have been working on developing a renewed vision for St John’s. As part of this process, we are inviting the whole church to join with us in prayer during the ten days of Ascensiontide. From Ascension Day (Thursday 14th May) until Pentecost (Sunday 24th May), the church celebrates that Jesus is alive and reigns in heaven, and we wait in expectation for the promised Holy Read more