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Here is a link to a online copy of the: Quarterly Newsletter for the Ipswich and East Pastorate

Online YouTube Service Link

Sunday

10.45am

Worship for All.   Communion first Sunday of each month included with the online service.

Monday Tuesday Wednesday 7.30pm Local AA Group Meeting Thursday 5.00pm 2nd Hamilton Rainbows 6.15pm 40th Ipswich Brownies 7.00pm/2:30pm Church Meeting (5 meetings per Year) Friday

Minister’s Letter

All age ‘Celebration Services’ are held with inputs from Rainbows, Brownies and Pre-School when circumstances permit.

In our “Fruitfulness on the Frontline” learning sessions we have been reflecting on how we serve and work for God in every aspect of our lives. Some of us make use of social media online, things like Instagram and Facebook, so it makes sense that, from time to time, we can use this as a means to promote faith and encourage people to think. Recently this verse from Proverbs came up on a friend’s account and it resonated strongly, especially in the light of the many challenging situations which face the world today: “If you oppress poor people, you insult the God who made them; but kindness shown to the poor is an act of worship.” Proverbs 14:31 I am sure I have read it before but it seemed, as God’s Word often does, to have particular power and relevance in the here and now. It reminded me, too, of Nelson Mandela’s famous words, “A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones.” God’s care for and love for the poor, the marginalised and those facing injustice is no secret. We find passage after passage in scripture that highlights this care and concern and encourages each of us to take seriously the challenge. There are over 3000 verses which address the subject. Many Old Testament laws relate to how we should deal with one another and ensure that our dealings are caring and fair. Jesus, so often, engaged with those on the edge, the people that others had rejected, excluded or ignored – he was criticised for the same. At the outset of his ministry, he read from the scroll of Isaiah and declared, “‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’ (Luke 4:18-19), drawing the commitment of the old covenant to its fulfilment in the new. We don’t need to look far to see examples where people are oppressed or downtrodden due to financial circumstances, unfair law or outright violence, aggression and hateful rhetoric. As God’s people we cannot ignore this reality, we are called to be Christlike, transformed and empowered by the Holy Spirit, to stand for the weak and work to change the situation in any way we can. The problem is that as we look on and recognise the enormity of the challenge, we may step back in horror, overwhelmed by the way things are, and think we can do nothing or at least anything we could do would be so small, so insignificant, it would barely scratch the surface. It is true that we cannot help everyone but also that each of us can help someone. Together, we can make a bigger difference. If God’s people throughout the world were to stand in solidarity with the poor and the oppressed what a difference it would make. Let’s continue then to do those things that we can, through word and deed to proclaim and live the year of the Lord’s favour. Let us unite in prayer for the world, nation and community that God’s peace may reign, that love will prevail and forgiveness liberate. Let us pray also that whoever takes up the reins of government following the election on 4th July will truly hold the poor and those facing injustice to heart and work for the benefit of all. Revd Adam Earle

Below are the main rooms availab le followed by an interactive guide on hiring space at St John’s. The Booking Forms below the pictures of the spaces offer two ways to start the process of Booking. What is different between the methods can be seen in the interactive guide. The Main Hall Upstairs

This is used for Pre-school every weekday during term-time. Also by Brownies and Rainbows on Thursdays. Other than the Sanctuary, it is the largest space in the building and has kitchen fa ci lities just off the hall. Room 1 This is a regulary used space, including use as a Polling Station! It is easy to mak e all sorts of furnitur e arrangements. It is also straight off the main lobby so ma kes for easy access.

Rooms 4 and 5 A useful space, with a divider, so it can be made cosy or more open. It is used as a double room by the AA Group on a Wednesday evening regularly throughout the year. There is flexi bility in the setting of the furniture.

The Sanctuary The sanctuary is also very flexibl e in layout, but as the chairs are m ore substantial, re-arrangements r equire much more work. Ther e is a loop sound system and a projection screen. The organ console se en in the picture to the left is moveable. The organ pipes can be seen above the congregation seating ar ea in the picture below.

Last, but not least, are the supporting areas. There are toi lets on both floors including baby changing and disabled facilities on the gr ound floor. There is a small lift in the entrance lobby for people to get to and from the upper floor. Finally, each flo or has kit chen facilities. The pictures are of the downstairs kithen. There are toilets on both levels with a disabled facility on the ground floor.

2 Download a form and complete it and return to: roombooking@stjohnsurcipswich.org.uk Simple and you can work on it when you have time and can check information. The form is a fillable PDF but you may need to print it still if your PDF reader is not able to cope with it.

Download this Guide

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