Read the latest issue and sign up for our weekly emails here.
Welcome to the Ipswich Circuit of the Methodist Church of Great Britain
News (Page 18)
The Mood of Christmas By Howard Thurman When the song of the angels is stilled, When the star in the sky is gone, When the kings and princes are home, When the Shepherds are back with their flock. The work of Christmas begins, To find the lost. To heal the broken. To feed the hungry.…
This week our 10 minute service reflects on Philippians 3:7-11.
In a Facebook post, a Christian writer, speaking of Anna’s reaction to seeing the baby Jesus, included this statement, “For that day that we all so long for is surely coming.” My immediate response was to question whether that statement was true for me. It is not that I do not want to go to…
(This thought was published first in April 2021) One of the things small children seem to love to do, is jump into puddles and make a splash. There is a funny video that I have seen of a little girl probably about 2 years old with her pretty pink wellies and she is splashing in…
Second Sunday of Christmas Year A 4th January 2026 Lectionary Readings: ; Psalm 147 v12-20; Ephesians 1 v3-14; John 1 v1-18. Gathered, blessed and sent. This week’s readings reflect on the promises of God. In the passage from Jeremiah, the Lord says; “Listen to me you nations nearby or across the sea. I scattered the…
One of the titles given to Mary by the early church is that of ‘theotokos’ which translates into English as ‘mother of God’ or ‘God bearer’. It’s a reminder to us of the seriousness of this task to which she was called. “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most…
One of my prized possessions when I was a child was my 1960s Corgi Austin A60 De Luxe Motor School Car. I think that I might have received it as a Christmas present when I was about seven or eight years old. My brother had an identical car, so I am guessing that they were…
I was sad when the top ten chart for Christmas 2025 was announced at the end of last week with Kylie’s song ‘Xmas’ at Number 1. Although a record breaking success for her, it was poignant that it was the one festive song in the top ten that replaced ’ Christ’ with an ‘X’. Not…
Joy to the World!, from Art in the Christian Tradition, a project of the Vanderbilt Divinity Library, Nashville, TN. https://diglib.library.vanderbilt.edu/act-imagelink.pl?RC=56347 [retrieved December 13, 2025]. Original source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/babasteve/31844535845/. It is a privilege to write today and to wish you all a joyful Christmas. A fortnight ago tomorrow I enjoyed a performance of Handel’s Messiah at The Royal Festival Hall.…