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.
RECREATING CHRISTMAS?“And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.” Luke 2:7Iremember,fromchildhood,theannualChristmasritualofpurchasing copiesoftheRadioandTVTimes.Eachmemberofthefamily,armedwitha pen,wouldworkthroughthebumpereditionsindicatingthingswewouldlike towatch.Therewasthenthechallengeofresolvingtheproblemsiftwo programmesclashed-wehadnowayofrecordingthingsoffairtowatch later.ChristmasTVwasarichdietoffamiliarandnewitems.Formethe“Two RonniesChristmasSpecial”,the“MorecambeandWiseChristmasSpecial” andtheWaltDisneyfilmclipscompilationwerehighonthelistofessential viewing.Sincethen,partofmyChristmasroutineisre-watchingonDVDor via“on-demand”services–suchtreasuresasDeliaSmith’sChristmas,various comedyspecialsand,ifIwanttoexperienceacombinationofhorrorand humorousdisbelief,“FannyCradock’sCooksforChristmas”.Shereallywas breathtakinglypatronisingandbossy.Thereisahankeringfortheviewing treasures of the past.ThisispartofsomethingthatIhavecaughtmyselfdoingeveryyearever sinceIpassedfromthemagicaldaysofchildhoodintothesoberingdaysof adulthood.EachyearIgetexcitedbytheprospectofChristmasandinvest considerabletimeand,probably,fartoomuchmoneyintryingtore-create thefeelingsofChristmasfrommyyouth.EachyearIclingtothehopethat, somehow,thisyearIwillsucceedinrecapturingthatsenseofwonderand anticipation.Whenthe“bigday”finallypassesthereisasensethatitwasn’t allthatIhadhoped.Noamountoftimeandmoneyinvestedinwhat Betjemanwiselyidentifiedas“fripperies”,willsomehowachievethe unachievable. Preachers,pastors,priestsandministershave,forcenturies,entreatedus nottobecomesoengagedwiththetrappingsandtrimmingsofthe celebrationthatwelosesightoftherealityofChristmas.Thiswefindinthe humblenatureofChrist’sbirthandtheexperienceofChristmasforthe majorityoftheworld’spopulationtoday.Forsomany,Christmasisa worryingandstressfultimewhentheexpectationsofothersandthosewe imposeonourselvespileonthepressureandstretchalreadylimited resourcestobreakingpoint.Formany,Christmaswillbringnorelieffromthe struggleandfearorconflict,warorabuseandthedaywillpassunnoticedor without any distinction.Thereisnothingwrongwithcelebration,ingatheringwithfriendsandfamily toshareaspecialtimeespeciallyinthedarkdaysofwinter,butitdoesus welltoapproachthesethingswithanhonestandrealisticperspective.Atthe heartofChristmasis,orshouldbe,theshocking,evenscandaloushumilityof thefirstChristmas–itwasnot,onthefaceorit,anextraordinaryday– businessasusual,struggleasusual,dangerasusualevenforthefamilyof Jesus.Hewasjustasvulnerableasanynewborn,justasneedyasanychild bornintoapoorfamily.Hewasbornintoanoccupiednationandearlyinlife joined the many refugees that continue to seek safety in other nations.But…thischild,thistiny,helpless,humblechild,isthesourceofallhope-an expressionofGod’sloveandcarebeyondourwildestimaginings-salvation andlifeforall.Truesatisfactionisnotfoundinrecreatingthepastor investinginthefleetingpleasuresoftheseason–truesatisfactionisfoundin Godalone,madeknownandavailabletousthroughChrist.Let’scelebrate ChristthisChristmasanddosowithaprayerfuleyetotherealityoftheworld and the hope that only Jesus Christ can bring.Revd Adam Earle
Room Hire
Belowarethemainroomsavailablefollowedbyaninteractiveguideonhiringspace atStJohn’s.TheBookingFormsbelowthepicturesofthespacesoffertwowaysto starttheprocessofBooking.Whatisdifferentbetweenthemethodscanbeseenin the interactive guide.The Main Hall
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•EqualityClean 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