202
5
St
John’s
United
Reformed
Church
1 Cowper
Street, Ipswich IP4 5JD
Web
Address:
www.stjohnsurcipswich.org.uk
dvanc
e
January
Photo by Adrian C
Rev Adam Earle
A
note from Va
l
Minister’s Letter
2
Looking to the Future
“…do
not
fear,
for
I
am
with
you,
do
not
be afraid, for I am your God;
I
will
strengthen
you,
I
will
help
you,
I
will
uphold
you
with
my
victorious
right
hand.”
Isaiah 41:10 (NRSVA)
Happy
New
Year! I
hope
that
the
Christmas
and
New
Year
celebrations
went
well
and
that
you
all
had
the
time
to
soak
in
some
of
the
joy.
I
wonder
though
how
you
are
getting
on
with
your
plans
for
next
Christmas
(2025)?
It
may
seem
like
an
odd
question
but
if
you’re
anything
like
me
you
might
be
looking
for
bargains
in
the
January
sales
such
as
discounted
Christmas
cards,
decorations
and
even
potential
gifts
in
readiness
for
the
festive season in December.
We
humans
have
a
tendency,
especially
at
transition
points
such
as
the
start
of
the
new
year,
to
focus
our
attention
on
the
past
and
the
future.
We
may
look
back
over
the
last
year
with
a
sense
of
delight
found
in
special
moments,
a
sense
of
disappointment
or
sorrow
at
things
that
have
troubled
us,
a
sense
of
sadness
over
people
to
whom
we
have
had
to
bid
a
fond
farewell
or
a
sense
of
relief
that
some
difficult
times
are
past.
We
may
look
forward
to
the
future
with
anticipation
of
awaited
celebrations
or
milestones,
a
sense
of
hope
that
things
will
get
better,
a
sense
of
dread
at
what
the
year
might
bring
or
even
a
sense
of
weariness
at
the
prospect
of
the
challenges
and
work
in
which we must persevere.
Whatever
we
may
reminisce
over
or
whatever
plans
we
may
make
for
tomorrow
we
are
creatures
that
live
in
the
present,
now
is
the
only
moment
in
which
we
exist.
Our
God
is
the
great
“I
am”
a
God
of
this
moment,
ever
present
and
ever
loving
us
through
all
that
any
moment
may
bring,
unchanging
and
certain.
The
challenge
is
to
remember
that
we
cannot
change
the
past
and
must
not
let
fears
for
the
future
dampen
our
faith
and
hope
in
God. Through
Christ
we
are
forgiven
the
failings
of
the
past
and
equipped
for
the
future by the power of the Holy Spirit.
We
can
trust
God
fully
for
today,
for
every
day
and
rest
securely
on
His
promises.
This
is
what
God
has
in
store
and
promises
to
all
who
love
him:
‘See,
the
home of
God
is
among
mortals.
He
will
dwell
with
them;
they
will
be
his
peoples,
and
God
himself
will
be
with
them;
4
he
will
wipe
every
tear
from
their
eyes.
Death
will
be
no
more;
mourning
and
crying
and
pain
will
be
no
more,
for
the
first
things
have
passed
away.’
(Revelation
21:3-4)
This
promise
was
made
long
ago,
will
be
fully
realised
in
the
future
but
is
being
unfolded
in
the
here
and
now
as
we
walk
on, in faith, with our God.
As
we
venture
into
the
New
Year,
I’d
just
like
to
reflect
on
some
of
the
activities
we
enjoyed
leading
up to Christmas.
Pre-school
held
a
Nativity
Play
and
Christmas
Fair
and
the
40
th
Brownies
celebrated
their
55
th
birthday.
Together
with
the
combined
choir,
we
sang
our
hearts
out
at
various
Advent
and
Carol
concerts
and
we
enjoyed
food
and
fellowship
at
the
Advent
Lunch,
and
at
the
monthly
community
coffee
morning.
We
also
donated
gifts
to
LINK
TO
HOPE
and
LIGHTHOUSE,
charities
helping
children
and
families
in
need
both
in
this
country
and
abroad.
A
big THANK YOU to all who helped in any way.
Alex, Jackie and Andrew W
who provided our delicious Advent Lunch.
At
the
end
of
November,
we
were
informed
Pauline
Salmon
passed away in The Lodge, Copdock.
Pauline
was
a
member
of
St
John’s
for
many
years
and a member of the choir and Springtime.
3
May
I
wish
you
all
a
very
Happy
New
Year.
Please
spare
a
thought
and
prayer
for
those
who
cannot
attend
as
they
would
like
–
Roger
C,
Penny
C,
Kathleen
H,
Hazel
H,
Jean
L,
Molly
and
Russell
M,
Doug and Maggie N, Sue P and Raymond S.
Communion Offering
January
and
February
–
You
will
have
the
opportunity
to
support
URC
Myanmar.
The
URC
has
a
long
and
rich
history
with
the
Presbyterian
Church
of
Myanmar
(PCM)
(until
1989,
Burma).
It
was
established
in
1956
and
constituted
in
1962,
making
it
10
years
older
than
the
United
Reformed
Church.
There
are
currently
245
congregations
and
around
33,000
members,
many
in
remote
parts
of
the
country,
which
borders
Bangladesh,
India,
China,
Laos
and
Thailand.
The
country
–
and
subsequently
the
Church
–
face
many
challenges,
particularly
since
the
military
coup
in
February
2021
and
Cyclone
Mocha in May 2023.
This
ties
in
with
a
fundraising
campaign
from
the
URC’s Global and Intercultural Ministries.
Thank You
Val
Thanks
Audrey
W
wishes
to
thank
all
her
friends
at
St
John’s
for
the
good
wishes,
gifts
and
cards
received
on
the
occasion
of
her
recent
90th
birthday.
They
all
went
with
me
in
my
suitcase
to
Madrid,
where
I
spent
a
very
enjoyable
three
weeks,
which
included
two
parties
and
a
theatre
trip to see ‘The lion King’ in Spanish!
You
are
thanked
for
Offerings
in
November
of
£1,679
and
further
donations
to
the
Communion
Fund
in
December
of
£24.10
to
support
Selig
Suffolk,
the
local
Homeless
Support
charity.
Many
thanks as always for your financial support.
Best wishes to you all for 2025.
A-M-A-Z-I-N-G !
As
the
latest
Brownies
make
their
Promise,
Gwen
does
the
honours
and
welcomes
them
to
the
Guiding
family
at
St.
Johns.
Gwen
has
had
an
amazing
journey
of
service
spanning
58
years
during
which
she
has
been
Brown
Owl
of
the
23rd
Ipswich
Brownies,
Tawny
Owl
of
the
40th
Ipswich
Brownies
and
Unit
helper
of
the
2nd
Hamilton
Rainbows.
I
cannot
even
begin
to
contemplate
how
many
Brownies
and
Rainbows
have
been
through
her
care.
She
has
nurtured
each
of
them
giving
encouragement,
building
their
characters
and
providing
them
with
opportunities
they
may
not
have
had
otherwise.
All
done
through
her
conscientious
commitment
and
calm,
quiet
approach.
On
behalf
of
St
John’s
URC,
we
thank
you
Gwen
for
your
unstinting
act
of
service
and
wish
you
well
as
you
continue
your
Guiding
journey
with
Gippeswic Trefoil Guild (Guiding
for Adults).
Val
TREASURERS REPORT
Mary A and Richar
d W
St John’s Christmas Card
This
has
been
well
received
and
especially
so
by
people
who
are
unable
to
join
with
us
in
church.
They
had
pleasure
in
recalling
people’s
full
names
and
even
rang
up
to
check
they
were
remembered
correctly.
The
surplus
to
church
funds
is
about £50 so far.
John B
Lesley and Brian
4
Ser
vice
s at St
John’
s
The
se are
at 10:
45 nor
mall
y
05
Jan
Sunda
y Wors
hip
Led by Peter Dawson
12 Jan Sunday Worship and C
ommunion
and Induction of Elders
19 Jan
Sunday
Worship
Led by Nigel Crisp
26 Jan
Su
nda
y Wo
rsh
ip
Led
by
Rev David Rees
To get in touch and send contributions to
Adv
ance
please use the email:
advan
ce@stjoh
nsurcips
wich.or
g.uk
Please
note the deadline for the
February Adva
nce is 24th January
Pause
for Thought
“When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us!” Quoted by Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922), inventor and scientist; original source uncertain.
F
lo
w
er
Ro
t
a
5 Jan
12 Jan
Sheila and Jill B
19 Jan
Pauline and Jill L
26 Jan
Greta
and Hazel
2 Feb
Jill B and Margaret B
After Service Coffee Rota
Date
Coffee Rota Names
January Diary Dates
Thursday Forum at Christ Church
Tacket Street Thursday Lunchtime 1:10-1:50
Led by Rev
A
da
m E
ar
le
•
Wednesday 8
th
– 10.30 am Pastoral meeting
•
Thursday 9
th
– 7.00 pm Elders
Saturday 11
th
– 10.30 am
Community Coffee morning
Sunday 12
th
– 10.25 am Pause for Prayer >>>>>
•
Saturday 25
th
– 7.30 pm ‘Crown Him’ event at
Burlington Road Baptist Church marking
end of week of prayer.
Tuesday 28
th
– 2.00 pm
Building Group meeting
Jan 9
th
Ipswich is a Heritage Harbour
Cathy Shelbourne, Ipswich Maritime Trust
Jan 16
th
Leading a Hospital Trust
Nick Hulme, CEO, East Suffolk and North-east
Essex NHS Hospital Trust (ESNEFT)
Jan 23
rd
RABI: helping the Farming Community
for 165 years
Lucy Bellefontain, Regional Manager
Jan 30
th
All About Ipswich; the Work of
Ipswich Central
Melanie Willis, Communications Manager
Feb 6
th
A Coastal Adventure in Pictures and
Clues
Ian van der Ende, photographer
05 Jan
Jean H
12
Jan
Lesley C
19 Jan M
ollie H
26 Jan
Pauline & Gwen
02 Feb
Jenny C
09 Feb
Mary A
Bible C
ourse at Felixsto
we URC
13
t
h
January
– 10:3
0 –
Jesus & Gospels
27 January - 10:30 - Acts & the Church
Online via Zoom 19:30 to 21:00
Meeting ID
511 4914646
02 Feb
Sunday Worship and C
ommunion
Led by Rev Adam Earle
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