2024
St
John’s
United Reformed
Churc
h
1 Cowper
Street, Ipswich IP4 5JD
Web
Address:
www.stjohnsurcipswich.org.uk
dvance
June
NEWSLETTER FROM ST JOHN’S URC
Ministers: Rev Adam Earle and Rev David Rees Office:
E-mail:
Web:
Tel:01473
724961
secretary@stjohnsurcipswich.org.uk
www.stjohnsurcipswich.org.uk
2
Minister’s Letter
‘The
wind
blows
where
it
choo
ses,
and
you
hear
the
sound
o
f
it,
but
you
do
not
kno
w
where
it
comes
from
or
where
i
t
goes.
So
it
is
with
everyone
who
is
born
of
the
Spi
rit.’
John 3:8
Recently
David
and
I
were
blessed
to
take
part
in
the
Eastern
and
Thames
North
Synods’
Spring
School.
As
part
of
one
of
the
sessions
we
were
asked
to
c
onsider
some
things
that
mig
ht
cause
us
and
our
church
families
to
be
c
oncerned
as
we
look
to
the
future
and
continue
to
discern
God’s
will.
In
typical
minis
ter
style
th
ose
present
managed
t
o
come
up
with
a
list
of
words
beginning
with
the
letter
C
(a
habit
of
a
lifetime
forged
in
preparing
sermon
s).
One
which
stood
out
was
“Control”
or
rather
the
fear of losin
g control.
I
was
reminded
of
an
illustrat
ion
I
once
saw
of
how
the
Holy
Spirit
w
orks.
We
were
watching
a
video
as
part
of
a
Bible
Study
group.
The
presenter
sat
at
a
desk,
by
a
window,
as
he
spoke.
The
desk
was
neatly
arranged
with
papers
stacked
and
ordered
in
an
elegant
manner.
As
he
spoke
o
f
t
he
working
of
t
he
Holy
Spirit,
he
opened
the
window.
The
wind
whipped
in
and
sent
the
piles
o
f
paper
in
all
directions.
As
Jesus
explained
in
his
conversatio
n
with
Nicodemus
(John
3),
th
e
Spirit
moves
freely
as
God
wills
and
t
hose
who
embrace
t
he
Spirit
will
likewise
follo
w
wherever
we
are
led.
When
we
let
the
Holy
Spirit
lead
and
g
uide
us
in
our
lives
and
mission,
things
will
look
very
di
ff
erent
–
our
expectation
s
and
the
familiar,
comfo
rting
norms
that
we
have
established
may,
or
indeed
w
ill,
be
challenged and rearranged.
Since
the
pandemic
and
lock-down
period
there
is
a
real
sense
that
rath
er
than
returning
to
the
old
patterns
and
ways,
God
has
new
things,
new
ways,
in
min
d
for
us
to
be
church.
We
can
be
reluctant
to
embrace
such
chang
e
especially
where
it
seems
to
undermine
the
familiar
and
we
want
to
take
control,
holding
on
to
what
we
know
rather
than
letting
God
rule
in
our
lives
and
church
families – we fear losin
g control.
Richard
Rohr,
a
Franciscan
friar
and
ecumenical
teacher
said
this,
“The
opposit
e
of
faith
is
no
t
doubt;
the
opposite
of
faith
i
s
control.”
It’s
a
challenging
lesson
to
grasp.
The
challenge
of
God’s
will,
the
challenge
of
God’s
free
and
transforming
Spiri
t
is
to
let
go
and
let
God,
where
ver
that
may
take
us.
Let
us
choose
faith
over
control
and
learn
to
live
fully
under
God’s
sovereign
will,
allowing
the
Spirit
t
o
work
God’s
purposes
in
us
and
through us.
Revd Adam Earle
A note from Val
It was good to see Sara back in chu
rch
and to
learn she
is progressing well. She has
asked
me to THANK YOU
for the many messa
ges she
has received.
CHRISTIAN
AID
(CA)
–
Thank
you
to
th
ose
who
supported
the
COFFEE
MORNING
where
we
raised
over
£200.00.
As
well
as
raising
t
he
money,
there
was
a
lovely
‘buzz’
in
the
room,
and
my
t
hanks
to
Brian
and
Lesley,
Gwen,
Jill
and
Mary.
In
the
afternoon,
a
fund-raising
Drive
was
h
eld
at
the
Bowls
Club
who
gave
us
half
of
their
proceeds
–
Thank
You
for
supporting
CA
in
this
way
each
year
.
The
money
we
have
so
far
raised,
together
with
the
gift
envelopes,
will
now
3
be
passed
to
David
Coo
k,
our
CA
Treasurer,
and
I’ll report back to you in July with our total.
TEA WITH FELIXSTOWE URC
Monday afternoon, 3rd June at 2.00 pm.
We look forward
to an enjoyable after
noon with
our friends from Felixstowe. Don’t f
org
et your
sun hats!
Treasurer’s Report
You
are
thanked
for
O
ff
erings
in
April
of
£1,801
and
donations
in
May
for
Christian
Aid
of
£33.
Don
ations
to
the
cost
of
new
hedging
of
£329
have
totalled
£348
-
many
t
hanks
for
your support.
We
have
now
received
our
Insurer
s
con
fi
rmation
that
we
can
proceed
wit
h
the
rebuilding
work
to
the
Church,
following
impact
damage
and
builders
have
been
appointed.
Work
should
be
commencing
soon..
AND Many congratulations to Natalie and
all her team at the Pre-school for the goo
d
news that they have been graded as
GOOD,
following the recent Of
sted inspection.
WELL DONE! (Hear! Hear! Editor)
As always we are very grateful for all yo
ur
continued financia
l support.
Mary A & Richa
rd W
There
is
a
copy
of
a
letter
from
Synod
M&M
Advocate: Alan Glifton in Room 1
Your
gift
of
£19,0
80
to
the
Ministry
and
Mission
Fund
in
2023
has
helped
the
United
Reformed
Church
in
its
work
for
the
Kingdom
by
paying
ministers’
stipends,
funding
training
and
supporting
mission
initiati
ves
that
seek
to
find
new
ways
to
serve
others,
worship
God
and
grow
disciples.
Your
financia
l
gifts
have
made all of this possible.
Thank
you
…
you,
your
gifts
and
your
generosity are greatly appreciated.
4
FRUITFULNESS ON THE FRONTLINE
Online via Castle Hill’s
Zoom
(ID: 889 953 6542)
@ 7:00 PM
St John’s
In Person
@ 2:00 PM
Wed 05
th
June
Wed 19
th
June
Wed 03
rd
July
Thur 6
th
June
Thur 20
th
June
Thur 4
th
July
Pastoral Meeting Wednesday 3rd July. 10.30am
SSAP Gathering at Hadleigh 7
t
h
July 4.00 pm
led by our Moder
ator, Lythan Nevard
followed by a bring and share tea.
NE Ipswich Services at 6.30 pm
2nd June - St Michael's Church. Taize Service
7
th
July – All Saints, Lile Bealings
4
th
August – St Andrew’s, R
ushmere
Services at St John’s
These are at 10:45 normally
2
June
Sunday Worship and Communion
Led by Rev Adam Earle
9
June
Sunday Worship Hybrid Service
Led by Andrew Walker
(Prepared by Rev Adam Earle)
16
June
Sunday Worship
Led by Rev David Rees
23
June
Sunday Worship
Led by Allison Smith
30
June
Sunday Worship
Led by Rev John Cook
After Service Coffee Rota
Date
Coffee Rota Names
02 June
Mary A and Pauline
09 June
Margaret B and Jill
B
16 June
Lesley and Brian
23 June
Maureen and Jenny
30 June
Sheila and Jill B
To get in touch and send contributions to
Advance please use the email:
advance@stjohnsurcipswich.org.uk
Please note the deadline for the
July
Advance is 22nd June
Pause for Thought
“When the whole world is silent,
even one voice
becomes powerful”.
“I don't want to be remembered as the girl
who was shot.
I want to be remembered as the girl
who stood up”.
Malala Yousafzai (born 12 July 1997), Pakistani female
educat
ion
activist and the
2014 Nobel Pea
ce Prize laureate.
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