Our Minister Rev David Rees,
who also looks after 3 other
Churches: Castle Hill,
Felixstowe and
Saxmundham. These
churches and another 17
churches and chapels are
part of the
South Suffolk Area
Partnership
Advance
This is the regular publication containing news of events and our church life. Updated May Edition Here
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 are 3 versions: 1 Booklet Colour full 8 Page
2 Coloured Pictures & Cover no page 8 3 Greyscale Pictures no page 8
Covid-19 precautions:
For the foreseeable future
St John’s URC Ipswich
will not be holding church services.
More Here
Community Sharing on Sundays of Virtual Service
Options during Covid-19 restrictions
Options Available
Sunday Worship
and Communion
Rev David Rees 33 Minute Service
Rev Elaine Colechin
West Suffolk Churches
Direct from the URC https://devotions.urc.org.uk/
Covid-19 precautions: 04/04/2020
We very much regret to say, that due the current covid-19 crisis and following the recommended approach from Government that: For the foreseeable future St John’s URC Ipswich will not be holding church services. With Blessings from the Minister and Elders of St John’s Letter from William Glasse Dear all, This is not official in any way but a personal invitation to as many as are interested to join me via phone (including landline) smartphone or computer, in my study at home for a few thoughts, Bible Readings and prayers each Sunday morning at 11:00 am during the period of our forced absence from Church. There are many online resources available from the URC and Methodist Churches and elsewhere and all will be excellent. What I am offering is something for those who want to hear a familiar voice and (where technology permits) see a familiar face. Please pass this to as many people as you think may like it within our churches. If you like to listen, please Join the meeting just before 11 – I will open it from 10:55 but say nothing until my clock strikes at 11:00 – it will end at about 11:30 or before. In order to access this there are three ways: 1) Find me on Facebook and follow the event link there that I will set up shortly – I am William Glasse – happy accept new friends 2) Click the following link which will open your internet browser – you can continue to join the meeting there (you do not have to download the Teams app unless you want to) Join Microsoft Teams Meeting 3) Dial the following number on a phone: 020 3443 6294 - When asked for the conference ID use your keypad to type 878 173 346 # You will be asked to record your name – but no need unless you want to – and then type # again I hope you find this helpful if you decide to join. Join the meeting just before 11 – I will open it from 10:55 but say nothing until my clock strikes at 11:00 – it will end at about 11:30 or before. Wishing you every blessing, William.
St John’s URC Ipswich Diary
Regular Events
Sunday 10.45am Worship for All. Communion first Sunday of each month. 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) 1.00pm Ramble Group (last Sat each month) Click here to view the Ramblers Page
All Services Cancelled for Now
In normal times
10.45 am on Sundays
Worship for All
at which you will find a warm welcome
Services last about an hour followed by coffee/tea and a chat. Our Worship Leaders include Ministers, such as our own Ipswich and East Minister Rev David Rees, and 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. There is also a printed Order of Service.
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.
Easter thoughts
I am well aware that the topic of the death and resurrection of Jesus which we celebrate especially around Easter is the one of
those topics that shows the real and ever increasing gap between Christians and the rest of society.
For Christians, the crucifixion and resurrection are the pivotal events that define what and who we are. For the rest of society,
whether secular, atheist, or adherent to another religion, the ‘Easter event’ (the death and resurrection) at best leaves them
indifferent or bemused, at worse totally baffled or hostile.
Easter is the one event that truly separates Christianity from other philosophies and religions.
If Jesus was just a wise teacher (and he was) there are plenty of other good teachers and philosophers to listen to, discuss or
follow. Some of them are better teachers and some worse, and we could happily spend our time comparing the pithy saying of
the better ones. We could compare the wisdom of The Buddha, Mohammed and Jesus and we would be better people for it.
If Jesus was just a good man (and he was) there are plenty of biographies of inspiring lives available that we could read and films
that we could watch. From humble people to the greats of history and faith, discovering what qualities these men and women
possessed can be inspirational and motivational.
If Jesus was just a radical, challenging the status quo (and he was) we could look at him as well as other radicals and even
revolutionaries and discover many of the areas of human society that contain oppression and disintegration. We could analyse
and try to transform society into a more just and caring civilization.
These are all good and they are facets of Jesus as revealed in the bible. But it is Easter that puts Jesus in a category of his own.
It’s not that Jesus died, or even the method of his death, that is unusual. All people die, and there have been ten of thousands of
crucifixions and other inhumane methods of executions. What separates Jesus’ death from every one of the wise teachers, good
people and radicals is that his death was transformed by his resurrection a few days later. The resurrection shows that Jesus
was exceptional in the true sense of the word; that he was both human and God.
We have a profound choice as we remember and celebrate this Easter. Are we remembering just a good man, wise teacher and
uncomfortable gadfly? Or is it a more profound event?
Do we remember the Man who is God,
and the God who lived and died for us,
and is with us still?
David
Welcome to St John’s URC Cowper Street Ipswich
Welcome and Notices
We very much regret to say, that due the current covid-19 crisis and following the
recommended approach from Government that:
For the foreseeable future St John’s URC Ipswich
will not be holding church services.
Rev David Rees is currently providing a weekly
Online Service
With Blessings from the Minister and Elders of St John’s
News
The Next Ten Years (TNTY) This positive exercise is to create a plan for the future. We recognise that we need to think about how we manage all the day-day things amongt us so that we can still be a vibrant church; and continue to help those around us. This is just the first step - illuminating what is done - but leaves open the ‘who’ - including the ‘who’ outside of St John’s currently - whoever that might be. The video below is to help us start thinking what part we could contribute to in what has to done week by week. It reminds us of all the many things that have to happen.Help further: here is a PDF of the activities described
in the video so that you can think about them quietly.
Just click here to download it.
Even being able to do part of some of them, or just
do them once in a while will be of help.
Gallery
This is under
construction, so mainly
interest pictures for a
week or two. Just enjoy
them.
.
Ramble Group
Introduction The St John's Rambling Group was formed in 1996 as an activity of the church. They walk on the last Saturday every month. The group welcomes friends from other churches and those simply interested in walking in enjoyable company. Walk Programme 2020/2021 is shown below. Ramblers meet in the church car park, ready to leave at 1.00pm unless indicated differently in the programme. For further information about the St John's United Reformed Church Ramblers, e-mail the leaders at Ramble LeadersWalk Programme 2020/21
Monthly Walks Meet at the church at Cowper St. on last Saturday of the month so we are ready to leave the church at 1.00 p.m. The mileages given above are approximate and might change once the walk has been tried out. Usually, it will be possible for a shorter walk to be taken.
Date
Location
Approx. Mileage
29 February
Capel St. Mary/Wenhams
5.5 miles
28 March
Shelland/Haughley
6 miles
25 April
Colchester/West Bergholt
7.5 miles
30 May
Tangham
6 miles
27 June
Kersey/Semer
5.5 miles
25 July
Debenham/Ashfield
6.2 miles
29 August
Coastal
5 miles
26 September
Hythe/Rowhedge
5 miles
31 October
Combs Ford/Badley
5.5 miles
28 November
Grundisburgh
4.25 miles
2 January
2021
Felixstowe
5 miles
30 January
Claydon
4.75 miles
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 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.uk
You can use the form below for any enquiry