This week – our 10 minute service reflects on Luke 2:8-12.
Welcome to the Ipswich Circuit of the Methodist Church of Great Britain
News (Page 41)
In the Northern hemisphere the seasons fit well into the churches calendar. As we descend into a time of limited daylight hours, dark mornings and evenings and cold conditions we remember in our churches the time of darkness that the Jews went through in the two centuries before Jesus’ birth. They came through a period…
I find it amazing that events spring to mind randomly. Such an occasion occurred recently as I listened to Graham Kendrick’s The Servant King. I was taken back to the time when I was working in an office when a new manager was appointed. He was the person whom many staff dreaded, and it didn’t take me…
As we approach the end of the year we look forward to another year, what will it bring? There are so many “bad” news stories in the media, it is tempting to say – “it can’t be worse than this year.” Hope, however gives us something to look forward to. “I hope for a white…
Second Sunday in Advent Year A 7thDecember 2025 Lectionary Readings: Isaiah 11 v1-10; Psalm 72 v1-7, 18-19; Romans 15 v4-13; Matthew 3 v1-12. Hope draws near. The Old Testament reading today is from Isaiah and records his prophecy about the origin and nature of the Messiah. “Like a branch that sprouts…
December 2025 Preaching Plan
Last month, we had our District ministers’ retreat at Sizewell Hall. It was a wonderful time of reflection, prayer, and fellowship. I really enjoyed the sessions and some of the creative reflection activities we did there. In one session, we were given two colours of wool and asked to make something from them. I know…
I was in the process of writing this reflection, on the subject of train travel, when I heard about the horrific stabbings on the train on Saturday November 1st. In recognition of that significant event, I will pray for the victims as I close. My love of train travel goes back to childhood. Once I…
This is a question I’ve overheard several times during this past week. Our Church tree arrived last weekend and was set up on Tuesday. Hopefully it will be decorated by some of the younger church members on Saturday, ready for Sunday. Every family has their own tradition as to when the tree goes up and…
Looking back just over a fortnight I am still thinking about something that happened, almost unnoticeable but significant. I prepared a short address for the Remembrance Sunday Service that included a reflection on the Latin words from which are derived the word ‘Armistice.’ On the Friday night I turned up at the Church to rehearse…