It is amazing what can be achieved in a short space of time. On the first day back at school after the half term holiday, St Paul’s school received that dreaded phone call from Ofsted giving us just 48hrs notice of an inspection. It was indeed ‘all hands to the deck’. Letters and parent questionnaires had to be sent out, all children’s books had to be marked and checked. Data on the children’s performances across the curriculum had to be printed off and on the head teacher’s desk ready for the inspectors. An assembly was called and the children were told about ‘our very special visitors’ School was open for 2 nights until 10pm, allowing all staff to prepare.  

The inspectors arrived for their 2 day inspection at 7.45am on the Wednesday morning to a staffroom full of teachers trying not to look too stressed! The inspectors were given a tour of the school by pupils in Year 6. All staff were observed teaching over the 2 days, curriculum co-ordinators, children and parents were interviewed by the inspectors. It was very stressful, however very worthwhile as the school achieved ‘Outstanding’ the top grade. St Paul’s is the first school in the borough to achieve this under the new Ofsted framework, so we are all feeling very proud. As a church school we are also inspected by the London Diocesan Board for Schools (LDBS). This inspection takes place within 6 weeks of an Ofsted inspection and covers RE and Collective Worship. So please keep the school in your prayers on Thursday 19^th April.

Fr Stephen’s arrival will be a joyous, stress free occasion for everyone atSt John’sand I am sure we will give him an ‘Outstanding’ welcome!

With best wishes to all at St John’s.

Kathy Lawrence

No doubt we will all get to know “Our Leader” very well in times to come, but for the moment our common knowledge of him is probably restricted to knowing he has been Vicar of St James Enfield Highway for the last eight years, and was ordained in the Diocese of Southwark. 

To many of us the worlds beyond the Great Cambridge Roadand South of the River Thames are relatively unknown territories and no doubt the reverse is also true. However, we are all human beings wherever we live or from wherever we originate and none of us are strangers from outer space! Nevertheless we will be experiencing changes at St Johnswith fresh ideas, new ways of doing things and new guidance.

Many dislike change and feel uncomfortable with it, preferring to keep to established habits and practices rather than embrace a new order. Others are eager to throw away old institutions and behaviour patterns. Well, we all have a little time to examine our own preferences and decide how we want accept change.  Gladly or grudgingly? I wonder into which category you will fall?

 Roger Gardner.

Main Hall  19m x 10m (excluding stage).  Various seating plans can be accommodated e.g theatre, cabaret, rectangle.  Capacity (up to 200 people) is limited by seating arrangements.

Stage (main hall) 8.5m x 4.5m

Small Hall 11m x 8.5m Various seating plans can be accommodated e.g theatre, cabaret, rectangle. Capacity is limited by seating layout.

Committee Room 10m x 4.5m Suitable for small group meetings or as dressing rooms when hiring the main hall and stage. Capacity 20 people (boardroom layout). There are serving hatches from the kitchen.

Kitchen 5m x 2.5m

For full details, please contact the Hall’s Manager on 020 8804 7721

7.30 for 8.00pm start

Nibbles + Licenced Bar + raffle

Tables of 8 at £8.00 per person

To order tickets, phone  020 8886 6260  or 020 8882 1433

or e-mail  parishoffice.stjohnspg@london.anglican.org

In the November magazine Roger wrote about change and Fr John’s departure. By the time you read this we will have finished interviewing for a new vicar and we will be looking forward to a new era in the life of St John’s. Your support and prayers have been invaluable during the interregnum period and I know you will continue to support and pray for our new incumbent as we prepare for their arrival.

Christmas is always a busy time, but how lovely it was to see our church full of people at all of our services and our parish centre full after Nine Lessons and Carols. Thank you to everyone who made this possible

Personally, I would like to thank everyone who supported ‘Crisis’ through our Christmas card scheme. We raised over £200 which I believe is a record. I spent 6 nights working at the Rough Sleepers Centre in East London. We looked after 389 guests this year, 100 more than in 2010. Overall 3200 homeless people were catered for in Crisis’ 9 centres. This was a 7% increase on last year.

Many of you have already commented on the display boards that I have re-vamped at the back of church. We hope to use these to display photographs, work from the Sunday school children and notices about parish activities. The PCC are continually looking at ways to improve communication within the parish. So please take time to see what’s there over the next few months.

2012 will see us welcome our 11th vicar to St John the Evangelist. Please keep them and our parish family in your thoughts and prayers. 

With best wishes to all at St John’s. 

Kathy Lawrence

LIFE’S QUESTIONS 

28 February        WHY?         Questions about the meaning and purpose of life.

6 March                WHO?         Questions about identity and belonging. 

13 March             WHICH?    Questions about the choice and the circumstances of life

20th March       WHEN?       Questions about the “now” but “not yet of God’s kingdom

 27 March         HOW?            Questions about  salvation, atonement and forgiveness                    

              at

WINCHMORE HILL METHODIST CHURCH
in Green Lanes opposite Barrowell Green

at 8 pm 

followed by refreshments

Do you read your bible on your mobile phone?

You don’t have to own a mobile phone or a computer, or even know what they do.

All are welcome