Our Vision is to be a friendly, caring church, serving the local community and wider world through our faith in Jesus Christ.

March Advance The version here is available to be read online

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Here is a link to a online copy of the: Quarterly Newsletter for the Ipswich and East Pastorate

This is the regular publication containing news of events and our church life. You could help by sending content to advance@stjohnsurcipswich.org.uk

Revd Adam Earle and Revd David Rees Look after St John’s and 5 other URC Churches: Castle Hill, Felixstowe, Saxmundham, Leiston LEP and, most recently, Hadleigh They work closely together so if you need to contact a minister, either one of them would be willing to hear from you and offer help as necessary. David’s email: revdrees@gmail.com phone: 01473 402721 Adam’s email: revaje@outlook.com phone: 01473 411316

Link to Download Advance

Services at St John’ s These ar e at 10:45 normally

02 Mar

Sunday W orship & Communion Led by Re v David Rees

09 Mar Sunday W orship Led b y Keith Scarff

16 Mar

Sunday W orship

23 Mar

Sunday W orship Led b y Rev Lythan Nevard, Moderator

30 Mar

Sunday W orship Led by Peter Dawson

Led by Rev Liz Fox

06 April Sunday Worship & Communion Led by Allison Smith

Services

10.45 am on Sundays Worship for All

at which you will find a warm welcome

Services last about 55 minutes. Our Worship Leaders include Ministers, such as our own Ipswich and East Minister Rev David Rees and Adam Earle, plus some excellent lay preachers, also including our own two lay preachers, Sara Pells and Peter Dawson. We use a large screen to pr oject 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.

The Journey of Lent: More Than Just Giving Up Chocolate Lent is here again, starting on Ash Wednesday, this year on the 5th March. It’s that time of year when we’re all supposed to give something up—chocolate, crisps, wine, social media, or maybe even caffeine (if you’re braver than me!). But is that really the heart of Lent? Or is there something deeper? It seems to me that at its core, Lent is about reflection, renewal, and drawing closer to God. It’s a journey, not a punishment. It’s about making space—clearing away the clutter so we can focus on what really matters. Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness preparing for his ministry, and in some small way, we’re invited to do the same. “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me” (Psalm 51:10). A friend of mine once decided to give up negativity for Lent. Instead of cutting out a favourite food or soap opera, she challenged herself to stop complaining. Every time she caught herself moaning about the weather or grumbling about the traffic, or getting annoyed at her husband or children, she made a conscious effort to find something good instead. It wasn’t easy, in fact at times it was almost impossible, but by Easter, she said she felt lighter—freer, even. It had shifted her mindset in a way she hadn’t expected. So maybe this Lent, instead of (or alongside) giving something up, we could take something on. A daily act of kindness. More time in prayer. Writing letters or emails to people who need encouragement. Volunteering. Actually attend a Lent course this year! Checking in on a neighbour. Something that draws us closer to God and to one another. Ultimately, Lent isn’t about self-denial for the sake of it—it’s about transformation. It’s about stepping away from the noise and making room for grace. And if that means still having the odd square of chocolate while choosing to be more patient, more compassionate, or more prayerful, then I reckon God will be just fine with that. Whatever you decide this Lent, may it be a time of growth, peace, unexpected joy, and may it “… renew a right spirit within me.”

Revd David Rees

Room Hire

Below are the main rooms availab le followed by an interactive guide on hiring space at St John’s. The Booking Forms below the pictures of the spaces offer two ways to start the process of Booking. What is different between the methods can be seen in the interactive guide. The Main Hall Upstairs

This is used for Pre-school every weekday during term-time. Also by Brownies and Rainbows on Thursdays. Other than the Sanctuary, it is the largest space in the building and has kitchen fa ci lities just off the hall. Room 1 This is a regulary used space, including use as a Polling Station! It is easy to mak e all sorts of furnitur e arrangements. It is also straight off the main lobby so ma kes 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 flexi bility in the setting of the furniture.

The Sanctuary The sanctuary is also very flexibl e in layout, but as the chairs are m ore substantial, re-arrangements r equire much more work. Ther e is a loop sound system and a projection screen. The organ console se en in the picture to the left is moveable. The organ pipes can be seen above the congregation seating ar ea in the picture below.

Last, but not least, are the supporting areas. There are toi lets on both floors including baby changing and disabled facilities on the gr ound floor. There is a small lift in the entrance lobby for people to get to and from the upper floor. Finally, each flo or has kit chen facilities. The pictures are of the downstairs kithen. There are toilets on both levels with a disabled facility on the ground floor.

Below is a brief guide to hiring a room in St John’s.

Download Roombooking PDF

Booking Rooms at St John's URC Ipswich

Initial Considerations When? Day? Time? Looking at the Church Diary will give you an indication of any availabilty Click here . How long needed for Booking Including : Setting Up, Clearing Up What 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 Application Please note that it will vary with the frequency of use and, in colder parts of the year, the heating requirements.

Car Parking This is really difficult so assume it is NOT AVAILABLE Conditions of Booking Summary No Smoking, No Exit Blocking Restrictions on Alcohol You Must

Take all precautions on safety Have 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 • Equality • Clean and Tidy Up after the event with everything returned to its original place!

Complete Booking Enquiry Form There are 2 ways of doing this 1 Complete the enquiry Typeform on special page Click Here The simplest and most secure way

2 Download a form and complete it and return to: roombooking@stjohnsurcipswich.org.uk Simple and you can work on it when you have time and can check information. The form is a fillable PDF but you may need to print it still if your PDF reader is not able to cope with it.

Download this Guide

Conditions PDF