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. The
December/January version can be
downloaded or read in PDF format by
clicking here.
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as they prevent the forms appearing
Sunday Service 10:45 15
th
Dec.
Worship for All
Led by Sara Pells
See the pictures: Pre-School Nativity,
All Age Carol Service and Lunch Club Christmas Lunch
Click Here
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
Services
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.
The Incarnation
"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." (John 1:14).
The incarnation is the theological term for the birth of Christ. It literally means "in the flesh." It is based
on the same Latin word from which we derive carnivorous, flesh eating. To incarnate means to put
something in fleshly form. It can also mean to give form and substance to an insubstantial quality.
Hence an extraordinarily giving person may be called the very incarnation of generosity. Their actions give
substance to that quality. Theologically the incarnation is the essence of God taking fleshly form in Jesus.
John said, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us."
The word John speaks of is more than the things God says. It is the very mind of God Almighty.
The character of God including God's love, righteousness and mercy.
The incarnation is a mystery that theologians and philosophers have pondered for many centuries. How is
it possible for the God of the entire universe to take fleshly form? Some argued that it was impossible.
God could give special guidance or possess someone in a special way like a prophet or holy person.
But God could not be limited in the way humans are. So, some said Jesus was really an angel or a
great prophet.
Consider the dilemma involved. How could an all knowing God live like a child having to learn how to eat
and walk. How could the one who constructed the foundations of the mountains and the seas have learn
to stack toy blocks. Could God experience fear and ignorance like a person. Could God have nappies changed
or be scolded by parents?
The Incarnation is a mystery. But it was not handed down to us as a theological discourse. It was given to us
in the form of a story. The most theological the Bible ever gets about the incarnation is the introduction
to John’s gospel. And that is merely an introduction to a story. The Bible doesn't try to work out the details
of how God did it. It merely tells the truth in story form.
The story is familiar. We have heard it over and over. Nothing changes yet each year we listen again.
We tell it and hear it until it becomes part of us.
David
This Week’s Service
Welcome to St John’s URC Cowper Street Ipswich
Sunday December 15
th
2019
3rd Sunday in Advent
Sunday Worship for All
Led By Sara Pells
Welcome and Notices
Introduction
Carol: RS 153 On Christmas night, all Christians sing.
Lighting of the Third Advent Candle
Carol: RS 144 It come Upon a Midnight Clear
Reading Isaiah Ch.9 v. 2-3, 6-7
Mary’s Cat Story
Carol: Should I be angry or should I be sad?
Reading Luke Ch. 1 v 26-38
Prayers
Carol: 145 RS O LittleTown of Bethlehem
Reading: Luke Ch 2 v 1- 7.
Carol: RS 147 Silent Night
Reading: Matthew Ch 2 v 1—12
Carol: In Bethlehem, with Jesus birth
Reading: John Ch. 1 v1-14.
Carol: RS 166 Come and Join the Celebrations
Prayer
Carol: 152 Ring a bell for Peace.
Blessing
Next Sunday
10:45 am Sunday Worship for All
Led By Peter Dawson
Room Hire
Below is an interactive guide to hiring a room
in St John’s.
The Main Hall
This is used for Pre-school every weekday during term-time. Also by Brownies and Rainbows on Tuesdays and Thursdays and by the Folk Dancing Group. Other than the Sanctuary, it is the largest space in the building and has kitchen facilities just off the hall.Room 1
This is a regulary used space, including use as a Polling Station! It is easy to make all sorts of furniture arrangements. It is also straight off the main lobby so makes 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 flexibility in the setting of the furniture .The Sanctuary
The sanctuary is also very flexible in layout, but as the chairs are more substantial, re-arrangements require much more work. There is a loop sound system and a projection screen. The organ console seen in the picture to the left is moveable. The organ pipes can be seen above the congregation seating area in the picture below.Last, but not least, are the supporting areas.
There are toilets on both floors including baby changing and disabled facilities on the ground floor. There is a small lift in the entrance lobby for people to get to and from the upper floor. Finally, each floor has kitchen facilities. The pictures are of the downstairs kithen. See the forms and conditions on the Forms Page
Please Turn off Ad Blockers if you wish to Book a Room
as they prevent the forms appearing
Below is an interactive Booking Enquiry Form - the simplest way to make an enquiry.
This is secure entry and the information you add is encrypted; and this still applies if you are out and
about and not on a secure WiFi setting.
Otherwise you can download a PDF form here. Print it, complete it and mail to St John’s or email it to:
roombooking@stjohnsurcipswich.org.uk
Note: This form is fillable if you have an appropriate PDF reader.
Please Turn off Ad Blockers if you wish to Book a Room
as they prevent the forms appearing
News
Pre-School Nativity and All- Age Carol Service Pictures A very full church witnessed a splendid Nativity event this first Advent week. This involved parents, children and staff from the Pre-School and church members. It was much enjoyed by all. Then there was the All Age Carol Service on Wednesday Evening with a very Special Visitor accompanied by the children shaking ‘Jingle Bells’ as well as singing it together with the grown-ups - loudly and fast! Then Mince Pies were eaten. 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.
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 2019/2020 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 2019/2020
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. (except July - see *** below) 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
23 February
Hintlesham/Burstall
4.5 miles
30 March
Holbrook/Stutton
5 miles
27 April
Bentley
6 miles
25 May
Campsea Ashe
5.75 miles
29 June
Elmsett/Offton
6 miles
27 July
Long Melford ***
***
31 August
Coastal
5 miles
28 September
Boxford
6 miles
26 October
Brantham
6 miles
30 November
Bramford
6 miles
28 December
Melton
25 January
2020
Newbourne
4.75 miles
*** Possible whole day - meet at church at 10.00.a.m.
Figure Eight walk of 4 and 5.5 miles, with picnic lunch in middle
Gallery
This is under
construction, so mainly
interest pictures for a
week or two. Just enjoy
them.
.
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