Joan’s Jottings – June

What beautiful weather we are having. I hope that you have been able to enjoy it. Adrian and I took a day trip to Beccles on Monday and went on a walk by the River Waveney and back across some fields. We saw a pair of nesting swans, some cows enjoying the water on the marshes, lots of beautiful wildflowers, and plenty of boats including a small rowing-boat sized steamboat. We had a chuckle when we read the plaque on this set of gates to a field:

A LAWYER WHO IS FOND OF HIS PORT
ONE LUNCHTIME DRANK MORE THAN HE OUGHT
WITH HIS SMART BLUE RANGE ROVER
HE KNOCKED THESE GATES OVER
AND EXPENSIVE REPLACEMENTS HE BOUGHT

My star word for this year is ‘contentment’ and I am finding that on our walks through the countryside, there is so much to appreciate and to give thanks to God for. Instead of thinking about what we do not have, let us rejoice in what we do have. As the apostle Paul said “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Here is June’s preaching plan (*=communion). Or download the plan for the whole circuit.

The June issue of our joint magazine for the three churches has been published. Read it here.

Bite Sized Church began this week.  Every Wednesday morning, a new 10-minute video is being released with a song, scripture, reflection and prayer. You can sit down at a time convenient to you and spend a few minutes with God. This is a new Ipswich Methodist Circuit initiative, and we need your help to tell and invite others to watch it. You can also ‘Like’ the Facebook page: @BiteSizedChurch and share the posts to help get the word out.  Bite Sized Church can be found here.

We have a joint special event coming up on Saturday 17^th July at 5 p.m. when we will have a joint BBQ for our three churches in the garden at the rear of Landseer Road Methodist Church. This will be a great opportunity to meet up socially and to see people that you have only met on Zoom. We hope by that date to be well into Stage 4 of the Government re-opening when there should be no limits on outdoor numbers. We will be serving meat & vegetarian burgers & sausages, salad and dessert; and the Felixstowe Worship Band will lead us in some (outside) singing. Tickets are available for a suggested donation of £5 each with any profit going to FIND.