This is the main area of children's activity at St. John's, and is basically Sunday School, Junior church, or whatever you call young people at worship. Children meet in the parish hall (a.k.a. Community Centre) at the same time as the main 10.30 a.m. service. The session begins with a short act of formal worship, and continues with activity based teaching for various age groups. Sometimes this takes the form of preparation for Sunday Club input to Family Services, which is always at the instigation of Sunday Club itself. Children usually join the communion service towards the end, in time to receive communion.

Currently, there are a number of Sunday Club leaders, who take charge for a month at a time. This provides a variety of input, and avoids the perennial problem with children's ministry, of having leaders who never manage to find time for their own worship.

One month's teaching each year is about the significance of the eucharist, and acts as preparation for those children (which is most of them) who are communicants.

Every Thursday evening at 8.00 p.m. in the Rectory, a time of free-wheeling discussion around a book of the Bible. It provides an opportunity not just the read the Bible together, but to share intellectual and personal difficulties, and generally relax while doing something worthwhile... oh, and there's a little bit of prayer of course.

Irreverently called "Say one with Sarah", who leads it. It meets in church on the first and third Tuesday evening of the month, and provides a quiet oasis for busy lives. Not hugely attended, it none the less has become a fixed point in several people's month, and experiments with various ways of praying and meditating.

Traditionally, Lent is a period of reflection and self-examination. This makes it easy for many churches to put on extra bits of teaching, and we are no exception. In 2009 we looked at the the Bible, how it was written and how it is read. In previous years we have worked with other churches; explored the work of the Holy Spirit and examined the important of prayer.

Lots of fun, a fair bit of money raised, and a community event, the twice yearly fair is a sort of bring and buy with refreshment, the perennial raffle, and occasional entertainments. Stuff on sale ranges from books and bits of bric-a-brac which have become old friends over the years, to craft items produced by members of the congregation.

Some churches (and Christians) tend to sneer at social and fund-raising events. "They ain't really spiritual." We disagree. Of course there's no real substitute for regular planned giving (and we have that too), but they provide much more than financial income. "Fellowship" which is done for its own sake soon palls, but sharing a joint venture, and working together, is a strong source of meaningful fellowship.

On Saturday we open the church between 10am and 1pm for those who wish for quiet reflection.

We want to make better use of our church building as a resource for the whole community. One idea is to provide a venue for carers of pre-school children.

We have a warm and comfortable building, with refreshment facilities, a carpeted children's area and a selection of toys. There are a baby changing facility, rugs, cushions and bean-bags.

So if you want somewhere to go away from the house, an opportunity to meet for a chat or to compare notes with friends, why not drop into the church?

Someone will be on hand to provide drinks and a biscuit or two and to answer any questions - especially as to how you might like to see the event develop.