Ipswich Round

This is the online version of the circuit newsletter. The Ipswich Round is now issued each week via email – you can view the current edition by clicking here.

Past issues of the print version can be
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Lectionary Reflections – Sunday 23rd February 2025

Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time             Year C                  23rd  February 2025 Lectionary Readings: Genesis 43 v3-11,15;   Psalm 37 v1-11, 39-40;   1 Corinthians 15 v35-38, 42-50;   Luke 6 v27-38 Heavenly bodies. In this week’s passage from his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul is doing his best to answer the questions put to him about…

The Badly Behaved Bible

The Badly Behaved Bible : thinking again about the story of Scripture  by Nick PageHodder & Stoughton, 2020  £10  260 pagesISBN 978 1 473 686 212  Also available on Kindle Nick Page is a well known author with over 80 books to his credit. He has been called ‘God’s most dangerous writer’. The quotation from…

Lectionary Reflections – Sunday 16th February 2025

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time.                 Year C                         16th February 2025 Lectionary Readings: Jeremiah 17 v5-10; Psalm 1; 1 Corinthians 15 v12-20; Luke 6 v17-26. Finding the right way. The Psalmist suggests that the way to happiness is towards God and the way to ruin is away from God. (Psalm 1 v1,6). In today’s Old…

Lectionary Reflections – Sunday 9th February 2025

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time                   Year C                                     9th February 2025 Lectionary Readings: Isaiah 6 v1-8 (9-13); Psalm 138; 1 Corinthians 15 v1-11; Luke 5 v1-11. You (Lord) have made us what we are. The notion of God making us what we are is reflected in all today’s readings. Isaiah is commissioned by God to…

Lectionary Reflections – Sunday 2nd February 2025

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time                           Year C                         2nd February 2025 Lectionary Readings: Jeremiah 1 v4-10; Psalm 71 v1-6; 1 Corinthians 13 v1-13; Luke 4 21-30. The people of Nazareth turn against Jesus. Luke’s story of the people’s reaction to Jesus declaring that the prophecy of Isaiah had come true in him, (Luke 4 v16-20),…

Lectionary Reflections – Sunday 26th January 2025

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time                 Year C                                    26th  January 2025 Lectionary Readings: Nehemiah 8 v1-10; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 12 v12-31a;  Luke 4 v14-21. New Life. The Psalmist writes, “The Law of the Lord is perfect, it gives new life. His teachings last for ever and they give wisdom to ordinary people.” (Psalm 19…

Gypsy Smith : the forgotten evangelist 

Gypsy Smith : the forgotten evangelist  by Bill CurtisSeed Publishing Group (US), 2017  240 pages  £12ISBN 978 0 996 841 290 This is a study of Rodney Gypsy Smith (1860-1947) by an American Baptist pastor who earned a PhD doing this research. It bears all the necessarily pedantic hallmarks of academic research. If you are…

Lectionary Reflections – Sunday 19th January 2025

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time               Year C                                     19th January 2025 Lectionary Readings: Isaiah 62 v1-5; Psalm 36 v5-10; 1 Corinthians 12 v1-11; John 2 v1-11. The generosity of God. John wants his readers to be in no doubt that Jesus is the Son of God.  Three times in the first chapter, Jesus’ true identity…

Lectionary Reflections – Sunday 12th January 2025

First Sunday of Ordinary Time       Year C                                     12th January 2025 Lectionary Readings:   Isaiah 43 v1-7;    Psalm 29;    Acts 8 v14-17;    Luke 3 v15-17, 21-22. Symbols of God’s presence. In response to the crowd’s speculation that he might be ‘the Messiah’, John the Baptist said, “I am baptizing with water. But someone more powerful is…

Lectionary Reflections – Sunday 5th January 2025

Second Sunday of Christmas                                   Year C                        5th  January 2025 Lectionary readings:Jeremiah 31   v7-14               Israel will return to its own land.Psalm 147                               Sing and praise the Lord.Ephesians 1 v3-14                  Christ brings spiritual blessings.John 1 v1-18.                         The Word of life. The ‘Ultimate Blessing’. Jeremiah foretells of a time when God’s people will celebrate…