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.
Rev Adam Earle and Rev David
Rees
Look after St John’s and 4 other
Churches: Castle Hill, Felixstowe,
Saxmundham
and Leiston LEP.
We
have
a
team
of
two
ministers
who
work
with
our
church.
We
share
our
ministe
rs
with
the
five
churches
in
the
Ipswich
and
East
URC
Pastorate.
Revds.
David
and
Adam
work
closely
together
so
if,
for
the
present,
you
need
to
contact
a
minister
either
of
them
would
be
willing
to
hear
from
yo
u
and offer help as necessary.
The contact details for our ministers ar
e:
Revd. David Rees Email:revdrees@gmail.com
Telephone: 01473 402721
Revd. Adam Earle Email:revaje@outlook.com
Telephone: 01473 411316
November 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
The version available here can be read online or
downloaded.
Here is a link to a downloadable copy or online viewable copy of the:
Quarterly Newsletter for the Ipswich and East Pastorate
St John’s URC Ipswich Diary
Regular Events at Present
Sunday
10.45am
Worship for All.
Communion first Sunday of each month
included with the online service.
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
7.30pm
Local AA Group Meeting
Thursday
5.00pm
2nd Hamilton Rainbows
6.15pm
40th Ipswich Brownies
7.00pm/2:30pm Church Meeting (5 meetings per Year)
Friday
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.
Revd David Rees
Autumnal Change
After the early part of autumn this year, when we often enjoyed unseasonable temperatures
into the early 20˚C, autumn actually arrived overnight in mid-October, literally. Instead of
overnight temperature of a mild 15˚C or so, the early morning was around 5˚C. As we
engaged in the British national pastime of talking about the weather, everyone I talked to said
they had turned on the heating, finally.
Autumn is a time of change in the weather, often dramatic change as storms, heavy rain and
gale force winds head in from the Atlantic, interspersed with cold, crisp and sunny days –
even if the wind is decidedly chilly.
This season of change highlights what we all know, though are often able to ignore, that life
moves on. Change sometimes takes place over a period of years - children and grandchildren
growing up, our strength or eyesight or hearing become less robust. And sometimes change
takes place almost overnight – an adverse diagnosis, the loss of a loved one, an accident that
alters our circumstances.
In the words of
1 Peter 1:21, “Through [Christ] you have come to trust in God, who raised
him from the dead and gave him glory, so that your faith and hope are set on God.”
In moments of uncertainty, our hope isn’t anchored in fleeting circumstances but in the
enduring promise of a risen Saviour. His resurrection illuminates the darkest corners of our
lives, reminding us that even in the shadow of despair, light finds a way to break through.
It’s a hope that goes beyond wishful thinking—it’s a confident expectation rooted in the
faithfulness of our God. The same God who breathed life into dry bones, who turned
mourning into dancing, and watches over us in the settled times and time of challenge.
Let’s be aware of the hope we carry, not just in church but into our homes, workplaces, and
communities. Our hope is a contagious force, capable of transforming the ordinary into the
extraordinary. In the face of challenges, we can be bearers of hope, spreading it like the
autumn rain in a world parched of the life-giving waters of encouragement. Whether it’s a
simple gesture, a comforting word, or a shared smile, let’s be conduits of the hope that
resides in us.
As we navigate the challenges and joys of life, may the hope we carry be evident in our words,
actions, and the way we love one another. Let’s be a community that radiates hope, inviting
others to experience the trans-formative power of a living hope in Christ.
Remember these words from
1 Peter 1:21: “your faith and hope are set on God.”
May this
truth anchor us in the storms, guide us in the mundane, and inspire us to live boldly with
unwavering hope.
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
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.
Booking Rooms at St John's URC Ipswich
Initial Considerations
When? Day? Time?
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 Alcohol,
No Exit Blocking
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.
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
Please use the adjacent contact
form. Minister: Rev David Rees/Rev
Adam Earle (Ipswich and East)
or email:
minister@stjohnsurcipswich.org.uk
Church Secretary: Sara Pells
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
