Worship for All. Communion first Sunday of each monthincluded with the online service.
Monday Tuesday Wednesday7.30pmLocal AA Group Meeting Thursday5.00pm2nd Hamilton Rainbows 6.15pm40th Ipswich Brownies7.00pm/2:30pm Church Meeting (5 meetings per Year) Friday
Services
10.45 am on Sundays Worship for All
at which you will find a warm welcome
Serviceslastabout55minutes.OurWorshipLeadersincludeMinisters, suchasourownIpswichandEastMinisterRevDavidReesandAdamEarle, plussomeexcellentlaypreachers,alsoincludingourowntwolay preachers,SaraPellsandPeterDawson.Weusealargescreentoproject elements of the service including the hymns.
Minister’s Letter
Our Communion Service is held on the first
Sunday in the Month
All age ‘Celebration Services’ are held with inputs from Rainbows, Brownies and Pre-School when circumstances permit.
The Journey ContinuesThisyearMarchbeginssomewayintotheseasonofLentandconcludeswiththefeast ofEasterDay.Lent,fromtheword“lengthen”remindsusoftheendingofWinterand thebeginningofSpring.ThejourneyofLentimpactsonusinvariouswaysaccording toourtraditionsandpracticesbutitisformanyatimeforreflectionandrenewalin readiness for the sorrows of Holy Week and the joys of Resurrection Sunday.AtarecentcommunityprayermeetinginLeistonweweredirectedtothewonderful passageofScripturefoundinColossians3:12-17.Thissumsupsomuchofwhatis importantfortheChristianfaithjourneyandgivesussomeveryusefulpointersfor ourreflectionduringtheLentenperiod.Pleasejoinmetodwellinthispassagefora few moments.12 As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves withcompassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.Fasting,intimespast,andstillinsometraditions,wasoftenaccompaniedbyachange ofattire.Clothingbecameanoutwardsignofinnerintentionasinrepentance humilityfolkdonnedtheclassic“sack-clothandashes”or,atleast,somethingalittle more plain or sombre. Paulinvitesustoconsiderourinnerclothing,thecharacteristicswhicharethen revealedinouroutwarddemeanourandbehaviour.Thelisthegivespaintsaclear pictureofa“Christ-like”individual,notweakbutstronginresponsetotheneedsof othersandourservicetowardGod.Thecharacteristicsmay,tosome,appearlessthan desirabletotheworldareverymuchthehighfashionoftheKingdomofGod.Lent canthenbeatimetorefreshour“innerwardrobe”andmaybeclearoutsomeofthe garments like selfishness or pride. 13 Bear with one another and, if anyone has a complaint against another, forgive each other; just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.ForgivenessisattheheartoftheGospel.ThroughGod’sgraceweareoffered forgivenessinChristaswerepent(turnrightaround)andcomebacktoGod.ForgivenessgetsamentionintheLord’sPrayerandweaskthatGodwill“forgiveus ourtrespasses”butthenchallengeourselvestobeforgivinginaprofoundway,“aswe forgivethosewhotrespassagainstus”.Inotherwords,weprayforforgivenessinas faraswearewillingtoforgivebothourselvesandothers.Thatisquiteasobering thought, which, in Matthew’s account, Jesus further emphasises. Forgivenessisnotjustforwhenpeoplesaytheyaresorrytous.Neithershoulditbe confusedwithjustice.Forgivenessislettinggoofthewrongdonetoussothatwecan befreetomoveon.Itdoesnotmeanthatthepersonweforgivewillnothavetodeal withtheconsequencesoftheiractionsorindeedthatjusticeisnotsecuredinGod’s greaterplan.Unforgivenesscanbeadamagingandpainfulthingthatcandeform liveswithbitterness.That’swhyGodtakesforgivenesssoseriouslyandsoshouldwe– another theme for Lent. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in the one body. And be thankful.Weoftenprayforpeaceaswelookataworldwheresomanyhavenopeaceandwere conflictsrage.ThepeaceofChristismorethanjustanendtofighting,morethan stillnessorsilence,itisbornoffaithandhopeinGod.Itacknowledgesthatwhilstthe worldistroubled,andthatourlivesarefarfromstillandrestful,atheartwehavethe assuranceofeternitywithGodthroughChrist,thatinhisplanallthingswillbejustly resolvedandthattroubleswillcease.Thisis,asPaulremindsus,morethanan aspiration, it is a calling. Let’s pray for peace as Lent proceeds.16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to God.God’swordinScriptureandbroughttolifefullyinChristJesusmustalwaysbeatthe heartofourfaithjourney.Thesedayswearedrawntosoundbitesandinspiring quotesbutweareencouragedheretoallowthewordtodwellinusrichly–morethan justalittlenibbleorvisittoourfavouritetextsbutaregularandhealthydietof scripture,throughBiblereading,studyandreflection.AsJesusstatedwhentempted inthedesert,“Onedoesnotlivebybreadalone,butbyeverywordthatcomesfrom themouthofGod.”Thisisthenourishmentthatsustainsusinfaith.Lentisagood timetoestablish,re-establishorincreasethehabitofengagingwithGod’sworddayby day. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.TraditionallyfolkhavegiventhingsupaspartoftheirLentenobservance.Manynow reflectnotonwedon’tdobutwhatwedo.Allouractionsandlivingshouldbein accordancewiththewillofGod.It’sachallenge,wearesogoodat“wanderingfrom thenarrowway”andourneedforconstantredirectionisreflectedinourweekly confessioninworship–aretuningtoGod’sway.Lentisalwaysatimefortakingstock and reviewing our motivation and actions.Let’s love life with Christ and continue to live Lent over the coming days.Rev Adam Earle
Room Hire
Belowarethemainroomsavailablefollowedbyaninteractiveguideonhiringspace atStJohn’s.TheBookingFormsbelowthepicturesofthespacesoffertwowaysto starttheprocessofBooking.Whatisdifferentbetweenthemethodscanbeseenin the interactive guide.The Main Hall Upstairs
This is used for Pre-school every weekday during term-time. Also by Brownies and Rainbows onThursdays. OtherthantheSanctuary,itisthelargestspaceinthebuilding and has kitchen facilities just off the hall.Room 1Thisisaregularyusedspace,includinguseasaPollingStation!Itiseasytomakeall sortsoffurniturearrangements.Itisalsostraightoffthemainlobbysomakesforeasy access.
Rooms 4 and 5Ausefulspace,withadivider,soitcanbe made cosy or more open.It isused as adouble room by the AAGroup on aWednesdayeveningregularlythroughout theyear.Thereisflexibilityinthesettingof the furniture.
The SanctuaryThe sanctuary is also very flexible in layout,butasthechairsaremore substantial,re-arrangementsrequiremuchmorework.Thereis a loop sound system and a projection screen. The organ console seen in the picture to the left is moveable. The organpipescanbeseenabovethecongregationseating area in the picture below.
Last, but not least, are the supporting areas.Therearetoiletsonbothfloorsincludingbabychanginganddisabled facilitiesonthegroundfloor.Thereisasmallliftinthe entrance lobby for people to get to and from the upper floor. Finally, each floorhas kitchen facilities. The pictures areofthedownstairskithen. Therearetoiletsonboth levels with a disabled facility on the ground floor.
Below is a brief guide to hiring a room in St John’s.
Initial Considerations When? Day? Time?How long needed for Booking Including : Setting Up, Clearing UpWhat Space Do You Really Need What Sized Space? How Many People? How Many Tables? How Many Chairs?Do You Need Kitchen Facilities?£ COST: Price on ApplicationPlease note that it will vary with the frequency of use and, in colder parts of the year, the heating requirements.
Car ParkingThis is really difficult so assume it isNOT AVAILABLEConditions of Booking SummaryNo Smoking, No Alcohol, No Exit Blocking You Must
Take all precautions on safetyHave Public Liability Insurance - See Conditions Document for Guidance on Public Liability Insurance requirements.Comply with all Laws On:•Health and Safety•Safe-Guarding of vulnerable adults and children•Food Hygiene•Entertainment Licences
•Disability•Equality•Clean and Tidy Up after the event with everything returned to its original place!
2 Download a form and complete it and return to:roombooking@stjohnsurcipswich.org.ukSimple and you can work on it when you have time and can check information.TheformisafillablePDFbutyoumay needtoprintitstillifyourPDFreaderis not able to cope with it.
St John’s URC IpswichOur Postal Address is:St John’s United Reformed Church 1 Cowper Street Ipswich Suffolk IP4 5JDUnited KingdomOffice Telephone (Answer Machine) 01473 724961Please use the adjacent contact form. Minister: Rev David Rees/Rev Adam Earle (Ipswich and East)or email: minister@stjohnsurcipswich.org.uk