To give you another view of what St John's is like we thought these extracts from the 2006 report to the Annual Parochial Church Meeting by our Vicar, Jonathan Smith might be useful:
.... Continued .... As to commodification or marketing. Well, if there has been a growth area in the past twenty years in church life then it is surely in the area of marketing. Of course, the gospel must be presented in an attractive and welcoming way, and that is done far more by how you are than what you say, but if the Decade of Evangelism taught us anything it is that there are no quick fixes and there is no substitute for disinterested love and by that I do not mean love that isn’t bothered but love which has no other motive than being an expression of Christ’s love. Over the past few years the congregation of St John’s has grown quite sizeably and this has been noted in the Diocese. Sometimes people ask me what is the secret, or even worse, what is the formula ? I invariably reply "just by trying to get out of God’s way and not hindering the work of the Spirit too much".
I deliberately open my Vicar’s Report with a theological overview because the excellent Annual Reports in front of us speak eloquently of the mission and ministry in which they engage and repetition from me would be quite superfluous. Each year I endeavour to highlight an aspect of our work at St John’s and this year I focus on two. First the Welcomers. Almost every Sunday now brings new faces to the congregation. For many, perhaps unsure of coming to church, it can be a hugely daunting experience crossing the portal for the first time. No-one should underestimate the courage this takes. The ministry of the Welcomers is so terribly important. One has heard horror stories about places where first time visitors are ignored or told 'you can't sit there'. Sometimes, from my vantage point, I see parents with young children arriving after the service has begun and the obvious warmth and friendliness of the Churchwardens and Deputy Churchwardens is not only lovely in itself but extremely evangelistic too. Secondly I want to say how proud I am that St John’s hosts the monthly Faith and Light afternoons for adults with learning difficulties.
Ecumenism is rightly now seen as an integral part of the church’s life and not a bolt on extra. This past year has seen us continue our relationship with Southdown Methodist Church and we wish the Minister, Godspeed as he moves to Redbourn and becomes Circuit Superintendent. His successor at Southdown will be no stranger to us and I shall look forward to working closely with her. In particular we had an excellent joint Lent Course this year, put together looking at the I am Sayings of Jesus in St John’s Gospel. There was worship, teaching and discussion. The participants found this to be a great blessing but again we were not overburdened by numbers. There is always a clamour for "good teaching", well my friends there was some. Lent led into Holy Week and Easter and this year we were enormously privileged to have with us Brother Colin Wilfred SSF. He led us superbly and many people were drawn closer to the heart of God by his ministry. For my part especially, it was wonderful to receive ministry from a person of evident holiness and insight.
I was asked recently by one of the group of 2nd Year young Assistant Curates in the Diocese, whose Continuing Ministerial Training I have the somewhat invigorating challenge and privilege of supervising, what is the "House Style" of St John’s? ( I tell you, it’s a different world these days ). I could find no better answer than "relaxed and reverent" Confident in our own tradition, we look to the future in faith. I’m pleased to report that later this year we shall be having more Group Work to aid the task of nurturing discipleship and on Saturday 4 November, please make a note of the date, we shall be holding a Spirituality Morning. An exciting venture to help us discover and explore the riches of the Christian spiritual tradition. I remain convinced that the best work of the gospel is done, often unspectacularly, by meeting people, sometimes at a turning point of their lives and ministering the love and joy of the Risen Christ. It is a task and responsibility for every baptised person to share. Further in the future, our thoughts are turning to the centenary of the Dedication of St John's which we shall celebrate in 2008 and already some exciting plans are being laid by the Planning Group. Much more of that next year.