After our usual morning services we met together from our different congregations for a wonderful bring and share lunch which once again set a happy and positive mood for our Annual Paochial Church Meeting. You can listen to or read John's 'State of the Nation' address here, and God's call to prayer and hope, and to resist at all costs the belief that 'this is as good as it gets' carried over into our business meetings. Nick Buckley and Steve O'Neill were re-elected as Wardens and a new PCC was elected, including five new members (you can see who's who here). Sidespeople were re-elected, and particular tribute was paid to our team of service managers for their hard work 'front of house' for services.

Financially there was good news (followed by even more on Monday morning, as we receivbed notification of some grant funding) and although not out of the woods we are more stable financially than we have been for a while, thanks both to increases in giving and significant cuts in expenditure.

Our 'Open Floor' feature saw questions and comments about our new Youth Group Interrobang (more here), the balance within our liturgy, our social programme, PCC size and sub-teams, and involvement from non-PCC members. We then went on to consider our reactions to the discussions being held with the Diocese about the formation of an East Folkestone Group Ministry. This is to be discussed further by the PCC, although John had sent an initial response following a discussion by the Staff Team. Finally John awarded the annual 'Quotes Prize' trophy.

Our new post-Pentecost teaching series at 10:45 will be on the subject of Perspective. One church leader, in asking the question 'What are the ingredients in Christian maturity?' came up with five different areas in which maturing disciples will be growing. It begins with knowledge - how well we know the Bible and the basic facts and doctrines of our faith. But the next step is what he calls 'Perspective', or learning to see things from God's point of view rather than our own, or that of the world around us which is constantly bombarding us with messages which tell us how to think and live. He then goes on to describe 'conviction' or what we might call passion, that which motivates us to choose to live God's way, practical 'skills' which will enable us to serve and minister, and finally 'character', the work of the Holy Spirit within us making us more and more like Jesus. Character has been described as 'who we are when no-one is looking', and it is the real goal of all Christian discipleship.

So we'll be asking what God's take might be on things like our world, me myself, work, family, possessions, and so on - things which we all have strong opinions on but which can easily be shaped by our culture and our experiences rather than by seeking God's opinion from his Word.

Meanwhile All Stars will be looking in the book of Acts to see 'How the early Church got going', and at 18:00 we'll be doing a very practical hands-on series on how exactly we learn to hear God speaking to us. Then before long the summer will be upon us, and we'll be looking at some incidents from the life of Daniel in the mornings, and spending some devotional time in the evenings with Psalm 23.

Check out DJ Steve Leach's final night worship set from Spring Harvest 2012 at Minehead.

Click here.

The boy done good!
DJ level = Boss!

Bishop Trevor has appointed Ben Jones as the next Curate of St John's, from next June. Ben is currently studying at Trinity College, Bristol, working on an MPhil on Humour in Church Life. He is due to be ordained next June, and will be coming to join the Staff Team here. Ben is a musician and for seven years led the worship band at St Mary Bredin in Canterbury. He is a trained teacher, and has taught at the Harvey Grammar School, and has also been involved in Youth Ministry.

Ben is married to Tors (short for Victoria). They are the pround parents of Evie (4) and Caleb (1). Tors expects to be fully involved in the life of the parish, and her passion is Youth Ministry.

This appointment is a tremendous vote of confidence in St John's by Bishop Trevor and the diocese, and a very exciting step forward in our life together. There was an instant and easy chemistry between the Staff Team and the Joneses, and we can't wait to be working with them. Please keep the family in your prayers. Ben will be ordained in the Cathedral at 11 am on Sat June 30th.