St John’s United Reformed Church Ipswich

Welcome to our Website St John's is a friendly, welcoming Christian church offering worship for all and facilities for the local community. St John’s serves the area of East Ipswich but many members of our congregation come from outside this immediate area.

Our vision is for a friendly, caring church, serving the local community and the wider world, embracing all age groups and strengthening people in their faith in Jesus Christ and their love for other people.

Follow @stjohnsurcipswi

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

July 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 are 2 versions: 1 Full Colour & light download 2 Coloured Pictures & Cover for printing

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 Rev David Rees Rev Elaine Colechin West Suffolk Churches

William Glasse live for half an hour at 11 am (See Details Here)

Direct from the URC https://devotions.urc.org.uk/

Brian and Angie Latest

Sound File of this week’s Service (No Hymns)

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

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.

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.

Heading Towards a New Normal It seems that the announcements and pronouncements by various government ministers are coming thick and fast as we edge our way out of lockdown. It has been a long, and often trying, time of isolation and dislocation. Even if the loosening of the restrictions doesn’t lead to a spike in the ‘R rate’ and a second wave, life is still going to be different for quite a while. It will be good to get a much needed haircut or go out to a restaurant and finally have a birthday or anniversary celebration with friends or family. But of course, the hairdresser will be kitted out in PPE, and restaurant tables will need to be socially distanced and serving staff are supposed to avoid contact as much as possible, perhaps making it even harder to get the notice of a waiter. Long queues as we wait to get into shops, and hand sanitiser have become widespread. People are still supposed to work from home if they can, and avoid going out where possible. Many are fearful for their jobs or business, or under huge pressure to adapt. For those people deemed more at risk through underlying health issues or age, it can be very unsettling and worrying, even if the government pronounces a magic date when every can go out. At the end of day, we need to acknowledge that life has become more uncertain. Broadly speaking there seems to be two opposite reactions. One is a ‘what the hell, let’s get on with life’ response. The other is a more apprehensive and concerned approach, some wanting to continue to isolate, or at least, reduce contact with others and insecure situations. And the church, via the Elders meeting, is trying to tread a path that helps and supports each of the two segments in their Christian life, and also discerning how to connect with people in the community who have, perhaps for the first time, started wondering about the meaning and purpose of their life while in lockdown. The church is likely to open for personal prayer, leading to worship later. We will follow our own timetable rather the governments as we adapt to numerous guidelines, both government and URC, and recommendations. It will take time to open up safely. The elders are also aware that many who would normally volunteer in the church are presently reluctant to do so. It will be a difficult juggling act. The gospel reading from Matthew a few weeks ago (Mat 10:16,17) spoke of disciples as being sheep among wolves, and the need to be shrewd as snakes and innocent as doves, while all the time not to be afraid (10:26) as God care for us. So, we have numerous challenges as we come out of lockdown, and we must continue to support each other. But also, somewhere in the mix, to discern shrewdly the way forward to open up and also ways of encouraging new growth.

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 Brian and Angie Latest

Last Week’s Service by Rev David Rees Front Page for This Week’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 Leaders

Walk 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