2022
St
John’s Un
it
ed Reform
ed
C
hurc
h
1 Cowper Street, Ipswic
h IP4 5JD
Web Address: www.stjohnsurcipswich.org.uk
dvance
June
NEWSLETTER
FROM ST
JOHN’S
URC
Ministers:
Rev Dav
id
R
e
e
s & Filled Vacancy Jul
y
2022
Office:
E-mail:
Web:
Tel:01473 724961 (Currently not available)
secretary@stjohnsurcipswich.org.uk
www.stjohnsurcipswich.org.uk
God
i
n the Midd
le
On
a
day
trip
not
so
long
ago,
we
headed
towards
the
Broads.
We
stopped
off
in
a
li
ttle
village
in
that
indistinct
area
that
coul
d
have
been
either
Suffolk
or
Norfolk.
I’m
not
sure
if
the
village
was
on
the
map
–
we
just
happened
upon
it
after
missing
a
turn-off
and
deciding
to
take
the
next
turn
on
the
right
and
try
to
get
back
in
the
right
direction.
I
can’t
even
remember
the
name
of
the
place.
It
consisted
of
perhaps
a
dozen
houses,
a
really
nice
little
pub
(where
we
had
lunch)
and
a
rather
imposing church built in the 13th century.
The
church
was
a
l
ovely
building
with
the
sun
streaming
through
the
stained-glass
windows.
I
guess
it
could
easily
seat
120
i
n
the
body
of
the
church
plus
the
choir.
Th
ese
day
s
(ac
cording
to
the
information
handout)
it
only
has
a
service
once
a
month
or
so
wit
h
half
a
dozen
peopl
e
present.
But
back
in
the
Middl
e
Ages
it
was
full
on
Sundays
and
Holy
Days
with
the
mainly
farm
workers
(serfs/peasants?)
coming
in
from
the
surrounding
area,
and
the
gentry
slightly
separated.
Pews
were
introduced
in
the
15th
Century
and
the
gentry
always
had
their
own
(i.e.
they
paid
for
them
and
no
one
else
could
sit
there).
Even
on
other
days
of
the
week
there
was
a
daily
service
(perhaps
morning
and
evening?) with an attendance of 10-20 peop
le.
It
appears
that
while
t
he
chancel
(where
the
altar
is)
‘belonged
to
the
Lord’,
the
nave
and
the
tower
belonged
to
the
people
of
the
parish.
Manor
courts
were
often
held
in
the
nave,
and
tenants
came
there
to
pay
their
rent,
or
scot.
It
is likely that a free meal was given to those
who
paid
their
scot,
hence
our
term,
‘sc
ot
free’.
The
church
was
of
solid
c
onstruction
and
was
built
to
be
defended
i
n
times
o
f
t
roub
le
(i.e.
many
of
the
windows
only
wen
t
in
2
o
r
3
hundred
years
later
in
less
troubled
times).
School was held in the church porc
h.
The
church’s
role
went
far
beyond
religio
n;
i
t
was
the
centre
of
the
village
life
and
of
all
the
people.
The
building
was
multi-use
i
n
a
way
many
modern
people
would
find
strange
if
not objectionable.
Nowadays,
only
tourists
come
b
y
–
those
like
us
who
get
lost
and
those
with
a
guide
book
in
their
hand
–
‘Medieval
Churches
of
East
Anglia’
and
the
like.
Life
has
moved
on,
so
the
church
an
d
Christianity
has
turn
ou
t
to
be
peripheral
to
the
vast
majority.
I
t
has
beco
me
a
‘lifestyle
choice’
for
one’s
l
eisure
time.
As
tourists
we
might
go
into
an
ancient
building
and
light
a
candle
or
mumble
a
prayer
for
a
sick
loved
one,
but
for
the
vast
majority,
faith,
let
alone
church,
is
no
longer
a
t
the
cen
tre
of
our daily routine.
I
must
admit
a
grudging
admiration
for
the
people
of
the
Medieval
period.
Though
the
time
was
full
of
superstition,
it
was
also
full
of
faith.
People
expected
t
o
t
ake
time
to
pray
and
expected
other
to
be
praying
for
them.
People
expected
to
sing
and
others
to
sing
on
their
behalf.
Both
high
and
low,
wealthy
and
poor
would
attend
and
participate
i
n
t
he
d
aily
liturgy
of
worship
and
life.
They
would
have
found it hard to opt out, whereas most of us
3
find
it
hard
to
opt
in.
Today
faith
is
a
lifestyle
choice, then faith was life.
I
don’t
want
to
turn
the
clock
back
6
00
or
700
years.
Cold
buildings,
a
life
expectancy
of
45
or
so,
ignorance,
a
rigid
class
system,
and
dominating
clergy
are
among
som
e
of
the
things we can be thankful we no longer have.
But
I
wonder
if
in
the
progress
of
our
society,
from
the
medieval
through
the
reformation
and
enlightenment
up
to
today’s
post-
modern
society,
we
have
lost
the
knowledge
that
God
is
part
of
each
and
every
moment.
That
we
have
compartmentalized
our
lives
into
sacred
and
secular
and
feel
we
can
opt
into
God
from
‘real’
(i.e.
secular)
life
every
now
and
then
–
if
time
permits.
That
even
professing
and
active
Christians
find
a
slot
for
God
on
a
Sunday
only
2
or
3
times
a
month
and
not
allow
the
spirit
of
Christ
to
“dwell
in
your hearts through faith” (Eph 3:17).
In
our
society
it
isn’t
easy
in
each
mo
ment
of
our
day
to
acknowledge
the
presence
of
the
Lord,
but
I
wonder
if
we
are
even
half
successful,
our
lives,
our
friends
and
family,
our
churc
h,
and
our
society
will
never
b
e
the
same again.
David
Church Secretary’s Notes
First,
I
would
like
t
o
say
farewell
and
go
od
luck
to
Tony
and
Mary
as
they
m
ove
up
north
to
be
nearer
their
daughter.
Tony
and
Mary
have
played
an
important
part
in
the
li
fe
o
f
S
t
Johns
and
we
will
certainly
miss
them.
‘We
do
hope
we
can
keep
in
touch
and
you
will
pay
us
a
visit
if
you
happen
to
be
in
Ipswich
at
any
time. Thanks for aii you’ve done.’
The
Queen’s
Platinum
Jubilee
celebrations
take
place
at
the
start
of
June,
but
with
all
the
other
events
we
are
involved
in,
it
wasn’t
felt
that
that
we
could
organise
a
suitable
event
at
St
Johns.
There
will
be
plenty
of
coverage
on
TV and many street parties so I’m sure you
4
won’t miss out!
On
July
16th
the
Synod
Big
Day
out
is
being
held
at
the
Suffolk
Show
Ground.
It
would
be
good
to
have
a
large
representation
from
St
Johns
–
as
we
have
in
the
past.
Also
stewards
are
needed
for
the
car
parks,
stalls
and
to
help
guide
people
to
the
various
events.
Please
see
Mary
or
myself
if
you
can
volunteer. Hope to see you there.
Of
course
our
big
day
is
fast
approaching
–
July
24
th!
This
is
the
induction
and
ordination
service
for
our
new
minister,
Adam
Earle.
We
do
need
as
many
as
possible
to
help
out
on
that
day.
I
have
left
a
list
in
the
entrance
lobby
for
people
to
sign
up
for
the
various
tasks.
Please
add
your
name.
I
f
there
is
any
task,
however
small,
(or
big!),
that
you
would
like
to
do,
please
let
me
know.
This
service
will
b
e
live
streamed
from
St
Johns
–
hopefully
a
chance
to
test
out
our
new
aud
io
v
isual
equipment and the operators!
Adam
will
be
leading
the
ser
vice
at
Castle
Hill
the
week
before,
which
will
be
live
streamed
to St Johns.
Adrian
TREASURERS REPORT
You
are
thanked
for
Offerings
in
April
totalling
£2,021.39
and
for
donations
t
o
th
e
May
Communion Fund of £13.65 for Christian Aid.
We
made
a
claim
under
our
Insu
rance
Policy
for
Loss
of
Income
arising
fro
m
the
Covid
19
Pandemic.
We
are
pleased
to
be
able
to
report
that
we
have
now
been
able
to
negotiate
a
final
settlement
figure
of
£6,179.62
of
wh
ich
we
received
an
interim
payment
of
£3,800
last
year
and final payment now banked of £2,379.6
2.
This
does
greatly
help
our
finances.
As
alway
s,
grateful thanks for all your fin
ancial support.
Mary A and Richard W
might
also
look
at
1
KIngs
19:1-15a,
the
story
of
Elijah’s
enco
unter
with
God
on
Mount
Horeb.
Both
these
passages,
and
Psalms
42
and
43
which
are
also
lectionary
readings,
have
great
relevance
for
our
present
time.
So
this
will
not
be
an
hour
of
academ
ic
study
but
a
sharing
of
our
in
sights
and
understanding
as
we
relate
these
passages
to
our
present
experiences
of
the
world
today.
All
are
welcome
to
join,
to
listen
and
to
c
ontribute,
as
we
share
fellowship
together
and
encourage each other to grow in faith.
When
logging
on
th
e
meeting
ID
is
889
953
65
42.
If
y
ou
have
no
internet
you
can
use
your
phone
by
dialling
02034815240
or
01304601196
and
when
prompted
enter
the
number 88
9 953 6542
Elaine T
In
early
May
Link
to
Hope
reported
this:
In
May
Pastor
Ion
from
Borzieni
Moldova
had
the
bright
idea
of
a
trampoline
for
the
refugee
children
to
play
on.’
It
has
been
a
t
r
e
m
e
n
d
o
u
s
success
and
it
at
least
lets
the
children be
children
for
a
short
time
and
think
abou
t
something else.
Much
closer
to
h
ome
Hazel
H’
s
niece
Judith
and
husband
Michael
are
now
o
nly
5
weeks
away
from
a
Ukrainian
family
of
Gran
and
Grandad,
daughter
and
two
young
children
joining
them
in
their
h
ome
in
Shropshire.
The
family,
currently
in
Germ
any,
are
in
touch
and
are
very
excited
about
coming.
Despite
the
youngest
being
on
the
m
um’s
passport
the
visa
for
her
has
been
held
up.
Please
pray
for
the
safety
of
her
husband
who
has
been
conscripted.
Editor.
5
Te
a and Cuppa at Felixst
owe
The
weather
was
certainly
very
kind
to
us
when
we ventured to Felixstowe on the 18th May.
A
group
of
us
met
at
the
Pier
before
walking
northwards
towards
the
Spa.
Some
ventured
beyond
this
and
met
the
Willow
Family
in
the
lovely Spa Gardens.
After
our
walk
we
met
at
Felixstowe
URC
where
there
was
a
delicious
cuppa
and
cake
waiting
for
us.
Thanks
were
expressed
to
our
friends
at Felixstowe and it
would
be
great
if
another
such
visit
could
be
arranged some other time.
Christian Aid (CA) 2022
Thank
you
to
Brian
and
Lesley
for
allowing
us
to
use
their
Community
Coffee
m
orning
to
raise
funds
for
Christian
Aid.
There
was
a
lovely
atmosphere and
£170
raised.
Our
CA
envelopes
have
been
passed
to
David
and
Jane
Cook,
our
Christian
Aid
Treasurers,
wh
o
inform
me
£454.85
was
received
and,
as
£230
was
Gift Aided, a further
£57.50
can be claimed.
This
brings
our
total
to
£682.35.
Than
k You
to
all
who donated to this cause.
Val V
Aren’t St John’s a generous bunch !! Ed.
J
une Bi
ble
Study
Our
June
Bible
Study
will
be
held
on
Tuesday
morning
Ju
ne
14th
via
Zoo
m.
The
lectionary
Gospel
reading
for
the
following
Sunday
o
n
which
we
will
base
our
study
is
Luke
8:26-39,
the
story
of
Jesus healing the demon
-possessed man
. We
"Each day is a new beginning.
I know
that the only way to live my life is to
try to do what is right,
to take the
long view,
to give of my best in all
that the day brings,
and to put my
trust in God … I draw strength from
the message of hope in the Ch
ristian
gospel."
Her Majesty Quee
n Elizabeth II
in her C
hristmas br
oadcast, 2002.
6
Services
Date
St Joh
n’s
05/06/22
Sue Lidd
ell
Pen
tec
ost & Co
mm
union
12/06/22
Rev Joh
n Cook
19/06/22
Peter Dawso
n
26/06/22
Sara Pells
03/07/22
Rev David R
ees
Com
muni
on
Telepho
ne
sound onl
y ve
rsion
s of Servic
es
01473 938542 Opt
ion 1; or
go
t
o website
and
click on Sou
nd Servic
e
After Service Coffee Rota
Date
Name
05/06/22
Mary
A and Pauli
ne
12/06/22
Sh
eila
and
Andrew
19/06/22
Mol
lie and Ric
hard
26/06/22
Jill B and Je
nny
03/07/22
Gwen and Ji
ll L
10/07/22
Mar
garet N and Pauli
ne
Thought for the Day
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t in to
uch
an
d se
n
d co
ntributi
o
ns to Advance
pl
ease use the emai
l:
adva
nce@s
tjo
hnsurcipswi
ch.org.uk
Please not
e the deadl
in
e for the
Ju
ly Adva
nce is
25
th
Ju
n
e
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URC in the running of this event.