Our Minister Rev David Rees (left), is joined by the
Rev Ernie Bossé (right) for the next nine months
to look after St John’s and 4 other Churches:
Castle Hill, Felixstowe, Saxmundham and also
Leiston LEP who joined Ipswich and East
Pastorate in September 2020 .
These churches and another 16 churches and
chapels are part of the
South Suffolk Area Partnership
July August Advance
This is the regular publication containing news of events and our church life.
You could help by sending content to advance@stjohnsurcipswich.org.uk
Also if you have both a printer and nearby members that a print a copy that would be their only means of
reading it. Ensuring you avoid any possible contamination in doing so by using disposable gloves for all stages
including posting it through the door.
Here is a version with pictures &
white cover for printing
Community Sharing on
Sundays of Virtual Service
Options during Covid-19
restrictions
Options Available
Sunday Worship
Rev David Rees
Rev Ernie Bossé
Direct from the URC
https://devotions.urc.org.uk/
Sound Versions of Services Weekly on 01473 938542 option 1
Services
Date
YouTube
St John’s
4/07/21
David (Comm)
Sara
(Comm)
11/07/21
Ernie
Ernie
18/07/21
Martin Camroux from
Castle Hill 11/7
Sue Liddell Live from
Castle Hill Starts 10:30
25/07/21
Sue Liddell from
Castle Hill 18/7
Adrian
1/08/21
David (Comm)
David (Comm)
8/08/21
David
15/08/21
Ernie
Sara
22/08/21
David
Liz Fox
29/08/21
Ernie
David
5/09/21
David (Comm)
Allison S
(Comm)
Covid -19 latest news:
We are currently
Open on Sundays
We are continuing to request
people wear face masks and
follow all the existing procedures
we have been operating.
We want anyone to feel
comfortatble and safe to attend.
To see requirements click here.
St John’s URC Ipswich Diary
Regular Events
Sunday 10.45am Worship for All. Communion first Sunday of each month included with the online service. Monday Tuesday 6.15pm 23rd Ipswich Brownies 7.00pm Improvisations Craft Group (1st Tues each month) 8.00pm Ipswich Folk Dance Club (1st, 3rd and 5th Tues) Wednesday 12.30pm Monthly Church Lunch Club, except July and August. 7.30pm Local AA Group Meeting Thursday 5.00pm 2nd Hamilton Rainbows 6.15pm 40th Ipswich Brownies 7.30pm Elders Meeting (usually 2nd Thurs) 7.30pm Church Meeting (5 meetings per year) Friday Saturday 10.30am Community Coffee for All (2nd Sat in the month)
Services resumed on 18 April
10.45 am on Sundays Worship for All
at which you will find a warm welcome
Services last about an half an hour initially. Our Worship Leaders include Ministers, such as our own Ipswich and East Ministers Rev David Rees and Rev Ernie Bossé plus some excellent lay preachers, including our own two lay preachers, Sara Pells and Peter Dawson. Whenever possible we use a screen to project elements of the service including the hymns.
Minister’s Letter
Specification of the Organ
The
1916
two
manual
and
pedal
tubular
pneumatic
organ
by
Bishop
from
the
previous
building
was
rebuilt
with
electric
action
by
W
&
A
Boggis
of
Diss
in
the
new
church.
It
is
placed
in
an
elevated
position
in
the
Worship
Area
and
is
controlled
from
a
detached,
moveable console.
Certain
specifications
changes
were
made
to
take
account
of
the
new
acoustic
conditions
and a few ranks were added.
The Pedal reed pipes (which had been prepared for) were installed in 1993.
July 2021
Not taking things for granted
The unlocking of the Covid restrictions has been delayed. Some are quiet upset about this, others are
relieved. At the time of writing, ‘freedom day’ is set for Monday 19th July, but we have discovered more
than once that Covid seems to have a mind of its own and any dates are only provisional, whatever the
government may confidently say. The disappointment felt around Christmas time as family gatherings had
to be cancelled and the seeing of loved ones postponed yet again, are a case in point.
We do hope that we can soon get back to worship and church life. So many people have said they miss
fellowship and singing. I also hope that when we finally experience ‘normal’ again, we are able to realise
what a blessing such things truly are. We so often take such things for granted.
One of the practices or Holy Habits that have encouraged Christians throughout the centuries is the
Examen, first formulated by Ignatius of Loyola in the 16th Century. It’s a way of reflecting on the day so
that we don’t take life for granted.
One version of the Examen goes like this:-
Towards the end of the day, set aside some time, regularly if possible. In stillness:
1. Become aware of God’s presence.
2. Review the day with gratitude.
3. Pay attention to your emotions.
4. Choose one feature of the day and pray from it.
5. Look toward tomorrow.
It is both simple and profound, though if I leave it too late, I am very likely to drop off to sleep!
If we practice this or similar Holy Habits, we discover an attitude of thankfulness and an awareness that
God is with us through each facet of our lives, even when life turns sour.
So as we wait the time when fellowship over a cuppa and singing out loud and together become normal
once more, could we also reflect on these events. There are God given possibilities in each and every
moment, and we can thank God that he continues to be with us in these times.
David
See the Covid Precautions Here
Opening for Individual Prayer and Online Service
and live Services
The
church
is
open
at
10:30
and
the
online
service
or
live
service
will
run
from
10:45
and
finish
before
we
close
the
church
again
for
the
necessary
cleaning
required
at
11:30.
Note
on
some
week’s
when
sharing
a
broadcast the service may start at 10:30 and entry is from 10:15.
•
The
idea
is
to
avoid
too
many
people
arriving
at
once.
You
must
stay
outside
St
John’s
until
called
forward
and stay two metres apart from others waiting to enter.
•
You must not enter the building if you have any of the symptoms of Covid 19 or feel unwell.
•
You
will
need
to
have
a
face-covering
on
at
all
times,
from
just
before
entering
the
church,
until
you
are
outside again.
•
There
will
be
a
one
way
system
to
ensure
social
distancing
of
two
metres
is
possible.
This
will
be
marked
by arrows.
•
You
will
enter
the
left
hand
doors
and
turn
left
to
enter
the
sanctuary
(there
will
be
hand
sanitiser
available).
•
As
required
by
Government
for
church
premises,
we
will
ask
you
to
sign
a
form
to
say
you
agree
to
our
keeping
your
details;
once
signed,
we
will
keep
that
whilst
we
are
operating
the
church
in
this
way.
We
will
then
take
your
details:
See
example
of
the
Form
below
which
says
we
will
only
keep
a
note
of
the
date
and
time
of
any
visit
for
21
days.
This
is
to
provide
the
necessary
details
for
NHS
Track
and
Trace,
and
whilst
not compulsory, the elders would urge you to provide this information.
•
A steward will direct you to a seat which will be socially distanced from others.
•
There
will
be
no
singing
possible
and
you
are
requested
not
to
engage
in
conversation
with
others
until
you have left and are outside the building.
•
You will leave the sanctuary via Room 1 as guided by a steward.
Despite all the above, we would really love to see you if you can visit safely.
If you wish to know more about a Risk Assessment please email the Church
Secretary
From the Elders of St John’s
Consent form for places of worship
To
support
the
NHS
Test
and
Trace
programme,
we
are
taking
contact
details
(name
and
telephone
number)
for
all
visitors, as well as recording times entering and leaving St John’s URC Ipswich. We do have a QR Code to scan.
In
line
with
guidance
issued
by
the
Department
for
Health
and
Social
Care,
we
will
keep
your
details
safely
and
in
compliance
with
GDPR
legislation.
We
will
keep
your
visit
details
for
21
days
before
securely
disposing
of
or
deleting
them.
We
will
only
share
your
details
with
NHS
Test
and
Trace,
if
asked,
if
it
is
needed
to
help
stop
the
spread
of
Coronavirus.
We
will
not
use
your
details
for
any
other
purposes
or
pass
them
on
to
anyone
else.
Thank
you
for
your
understanding.
If you agree to providing your information for this reason, please complete the following form:
Name
Tel. No
Signature
Date
Contact Details
St John’s URC Ipswich
Our Postal Address is: St John’s United Reformed Church 1 Cowper Street Ipswich Suffolk IP4 5JD United Kingdom Office Telephone (Answer Machine) 01473 724961 Please Note currently we are still working out how to hire out any rooms due to covid-19 restrictions. Please use the enquiry form. Minister: Rev David Rees (Ipswich and East) email: minister@stjohnsurcipswich.org.uk Church Secretary:Mr Adrian Cubitt email: Secretary@stjohnsurcipswich.org.uk Webmaster webmaster@stjohnsurcipswich.org.uk Website which is https for security www.stjohnsurcipswich.org.ukYou can use the form below for any enquiry
