Young People at St. John’s

There is so much to celebrate this Easter as we reflect on the growing and vibrant work happening with young people here at St. John’s in Redhill.

We are delighted that we are now meeting in some form or other every week of the month. On the 1st, 3rd and 5th Sundays, our young people gather during the 10.30am service for dedicated group sessions. These mornings focus on the liturgy, readings and teaching themes of the day, helping our young people engage more deeply with worship and explore how Scripture speaks into their daily lives. Alongside this, we are not afraid to tackle wider “hot topics” — from modern-day slavery to environmental issues such as COP26 — thinking together about faith, justice and our Christian response to the world around us.

On the 2nd Sunday of each month, we meet in the evening for a more relaxed social session. Since the New Year we have enjoyed a games night and a quiz night, with plenty of laughter and healthy competition.

For our recent half-term trip, we enjoyed an evening of curling and shuffleboard at The Light — a great opportunity to build friendships and have fun together outside our usual setting.

Serving others is an important part of our life as a group. Each year, the young people

choose a charity to support, taking time to learn about its work and raise funds. Last

year, we were proud to raise £782.79 for WaterAid, supporting access to clean water

and sanitation worldwide. This year, the young people have chosen a more local cause:

Tadworth Court Children's Trust. We are supporting their vital work with children who

have life-limiting conditions and their families.

letter of thanks from WaterAid

One of the ways we fundraise — and serve our church family — is through our bake sale on the fourth Sunday of each month after the 10.30am service. As well as raising money, this has become a lovely time of hospitality, with refreshments served to the wider congregation.

Looking ahead, there are exciting plans in the pipeline. We are preparing to host a Harvest Quiz Night for the whole St. John’s community, and we are planning a pre- Christmas fair to further support our fundraising efforts. We are also in the early stages of organising a weekend residential pilgrimage to Canterbury Cathedral later this year.

We have been fortunate to receive a grant from the Diocese of Southwark to help

support the costs of this trip, for which we are extremely grateful. We hope this pilgrimage will be a meaningful opportunity for spiritual growth, reflection and shared

experience.

At the heart of everything we do is a simple vision: to provide a safe, welcoming space where young people can build strong relationships with one another, feel part of the St. John’s church family, and grow in their relationship with God.

There are indeed exciting things happening for young people at St. John’s — and all are welcome.

Youth Pilgrimage - Save the date!!

For Year 7+ and Year 6s joining in September 2026: A two day walk on the North Downs Way with an overnight stay at The Farmyard, Doddington and ending with Evensong at Canterbury Cathedral.

More details coming very soon...