This model of reading John in a year was conducted by St Andrew’s, Cherry Hinton. Professor David Ford is in their congregation, and for the last 25 years he has been reading, reflecting on and writing about the Gospel of John. This suggested pattern for reading John through the year has been developed in consultation with the vicar from St Andrew’s, the Rev'd Dr Karin voth Harman and David Ford himself. I am very grateful to them for sharing their resources.

Our objectives
To deepen our church’s engagement with and love of scripture, finding in it a source of life, “life in all its fullness”, through a year long project to read John’s Gospel together.

One of the abiding messages in John is a focus on unity, and Jesus’ prayer for unity for the people of God. This prayer for unity seeps through the Gospel. So does the focus on deep
interpersonal relationship between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Jesus prays that “they might be one as we are one”. In reading this Gospel together on Sundays, in our midweek prayer groups, and at other groups, we will be learning what it means to be unified in Christ.

John’s Gospel is also a wise and mature Gospel. It offers a deep meditation on the other 3 Gospels. It emerges from a learning community, the Johannine community, and is a gift for all communities which seek to learn and grow together in Christ.

John’s Gospel is for Christians who are seeking more and wanting more from God. David Ford calls it a Gospel of abundance. It is through John’s Gospel that we are fed abundantly and enabled to receive fullness beyond fullness.

The shape of engagement

1. Members of the ministry team (and anyone else who wishes to join us) will commit to reading the Gospel of John each day following the 90-day reading plan (see below). They will encourage others to join them in the commitment. They will reflect together on what they are learning from John when they meet.

2. The church will commit to a year-long engagement with the Gospel of John, beginning on Advent Sunday 2025. Our Sunday readings, sermons and study will be shaped by John. This will include children, young people and adults.

3. Reading of John will span out into our midweek groups, Monday, Supper, Tuesday Fellowship, Wed Communion, Thursday Prayers and Friday Communion. They will use a reading plan that is suitable for their contexts.

4. Ministry team will develop ways of sharing the reading of John with the school community, through worship club and assembly.

5. Ministry team will consider how to use material from John in the care home settings.

6. During Lent we will study David Ford’s Meeting God in John. For those already in small groups set up for study, they willbe encouraged to pledge to read this as well. New groups will form to read it together.

7. During Holy Week we will use John’s Gospel as the basis for our prayer and worship. This will include the Maundy Supper, Foot Washing, Passion and Resurrection Encounters.

8. The PCC will read portions of John’s Gospel together as part of their regular meetings; this will enable reflection and consideration of what the Gospel means for the life of St Paul’s.

9. Individuals and groups will pledge to pray for our year long study of John. We will pray that God may bless us through our engagement with the Gospel, and that we will grow in hope, faith and love.

Resources

• David Ford’s verylong book (The Gospel of John, a theological commentary) and much shorter book (Meeting God in John).
• Bible Month 4 week study guide on John.
• Lots of free copies of John’s Gospel will be made available across the church and centre.
• Invitation to different speakers and preachers to come and share with us about what they have learned from John.
• The possibility of creative responses to the Gospel – in music, word, art and more.
  

Home Group

A Home Group, studying the Book of John, will take place in Mondays at 8pm from January 2026. Contact the office@stpaulscambridge.org.uk to fine out more.