Dec 24, 2016 - Our Christmas services to share this Good News are already being organised and we would like to thank all
NEWSLETTER December 2016 & January 2017
eacons’ Snippets
As Christmas fast approaches and the adverts and papers get pushed through your door, and the T.V. tells you all about the things that you need to make Christmas special, isn't it good to know the real reason for celebrating - that God sent us His only son Jesus to bring Hope and Salvation.
Our Christmas services to share this Good News are already being organised and we would like to thank all those who have volunteered to do various tasks. We are still in need of someone to be the Musicians Organiser for Carols by the Pond on Saturday 24th of December; please could you prayerfully consider if that person is you.
There are other vacancies that need filling within our Church..... crèche also needs a Leader. Again we would ask that you pray for this important role within our church, and to seek God's guidance on it.
Peter Dearsley has been appointed as Administrator to help Jean.
Please keep in your prayers the Leadership team; we will be a team of six deacons instead of the required eight as only three of the nominated people agreed to stand for election; Myrna Welsh , Adrian Cross and Marg Dearsley who were elected to serve on the team. Jean Cutting was elected to serve as Church Secretary, Allan Tucker to serve as Treasurer and Vivienne Davis to serve as Assistant Treasurer/ Church Manager.
We have no date as yet for moving out for the building work, but as our loan has been approved we can now speak to the builders and hopefully get a date for sometime in January.
Please remember in your Prayers those in our fellowship who need a healing touch from our Lord.
May this Christmas be a time of enjoying your family, rejoicing the birth of the one who came to save, and with Jesus at the centre of all your celebrations. In his name the nations will put their hope. Matthew 12 v 21 Marg Dearsley
EVENING REFRESHMENTS Once a month refreshments, such as tea, coffee &, biscuits, are enjoyed by those a ending the evening service. If you feel you could serve in this way then please contact Hazel as soon as possible, as there are s ll a couple of slots s ll to be filled! Thank you!
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Flower Ministry Nov 27
V Dufour
distributed by
V Dufour
Dec 4
V Davis
distributed by
G Rivett
Dec 11
T Nunn
distributed by
T Nunn
Dec 18
Christmas Plant
Dec 25
Christmas Plant
News Jesus, the Light of the World, came at Christmas and so it seems appropriate to share a story from our Connected Church Partner in Uganda (PAG or Pentecostal Assemblies of God) which shows how God’s Word and Jesus’ teaching is transforming lives. Sam Okello lives with his wife Nancy and their two children in a small village in Uganda. Today they are happy and successful farmers but their journey to this point has been a hard one. When Sam was 13 his parents died suddenly, forcing him to drop out of school. He married Nancy at an early age and life was a constant struggle to grow enough food to survive. Saving money was never an option. Life began to change when they attended PAG’s Bible studies at their local church. The study on Elisha and the widow’s oil opened Sam’s eyes and helped him to look at life differently. He saw that he was not alone after all, that he and Nancy were a team. He began to see all the resources that God had given him – fertile land, chickens to raise and potential customers to sell them to.
Sam started a chicken trading business. He used the profits to start trading goats and then cows. He saved money to buy 4 bulls which can be used for ox ploughing. His family, who were very poor, now have a comfortable income from a strong business. But the transformation didn’t stop there. The Good Samaritan bible study taught Sam the importance of loving and building good relationships with his neighbours. Previously he had been so sanctimonious that he would only associate with PAG members. This then changed and he began getting to know his neighbours and started trading with them too. Today, Sam is looking forward to the future and is full of plans - to make bricks to build his family a permanent house, to buy a motorbike and a Church wedding for himself and Nancy. They were first married before they had committed their lives to Christ, now they would like to commit their marriage as well. “Surely God had intervened in my situation and I am now leading a prayerful life.” Sam Okello Praise God for the Power of His Word to change lives and give thanks for PAG Churches in Uganda bringing this Word to people who have very little. Praise God for the hope, dignity and well-being that is being brought and ask Him to continue to bless this family, - may they continue to grow in love for one another, for their neighbours and for God. With thanks for all your support for Tearfund and PAG. Val Dufour ~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Just a reminder that our all-age Gift Service takes place on the 4th December! Please bring your gifts on that date.
Birthday Corner We take this opportunity to offer our best wishes to the following members of the BMS Birthday Scheme who celebrate their birthday during the months of December and January……
December Terry Bennett 4th Sylvia Wicks 7th Joan Walker 24th January Shelia Kilbourn 1st Shirley Austin 3rd Louise Dufour 7th David Roberts 25th Why not see Peter or Sue Laycock and find out how you can help the BMS by giving a thank offering gift on your birthday! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Just a reminder - or advanced warning! - that Peter will be looking for contributions to the Annual Report at the end of December. Thank you.
The Ipswich Winter Night Shelter opens Thurs Dec 8th
Give thanks for the seven host Churches and pray good health and energy for their co-ordinators as they prepare buildings, volunteer rotas etc. A good number of people attended the volunteer training sessions – pray that they will be blessed by their experience of serving others. This year guests are being referred to the churches shelter by other agencies working with the homeless. Pray for good relationships with these agencies and for wisdom for Marlene Scriviner, IWNS Support Worker. Pray that our shelter will be full and that it will be a first step towards more permanent accommodation and other changes for our guests. 2016 has been a tough year for homeless and rough sleepers in Ipswich. Agencies report a big spike in deaths among this community. Ask God to bless the agencies in this town who work with this group of people, granting them energy, resources, wisdom and compassion. It is not too late to volunteer with the shelter. Go to www.iwns.org.uk and you can sign up online. There is another training session for volunteers on Wed 7th Dec 7pm at St James Church Landseer Rd. The churches shelter is not in need of bedding but if you have items you would like to donate the Chapman Centre in Black Horse Lane is willing to accept gifts of towels, small toiletries, new underwear (in small sizes), hats, gloves, scarves. Recently, I have been reading and reflecting on Jesus’ words in John 10 where he describes himself as the Good Shepherd who cares for His sheep so much that He is willing to die to save them. What makes a good shepherd good? – LOVE May God’s LOVE be over all our shelter. Val Dufour
CHURCH DIARY Where an entry is marked with an asterisk (*) it means that you should be able to find additional information about the event on another page in this newsletter, or on the Notice Board.
Sun 27
10.45am
Morning Worship with Communion led by Rev Heather Marsden
Mon 28
6.30pm 6.15pm
Evening worship led by Tony Burton FFaf
Tues 29 7.30pm Wed 30 10.00am December
Home Group meets in Lounge Home Group meets in Lounge
Thurs 1
12.30pm 7.00pm
Lunch Club Alpha course Week 10
Fri 2
6.30pm 7.45pm
Prayer Mee ng Band Prac ce
Sat 3
3.00pm
Youth Social and Sleepover
Sun 4
10.45am 1.00pm
All-Age Gi Service led by Dave Roberts Home Alone Lunch
6.30pm 6.15pm 7.30pm
Evening Worship led by Rev Heather Marsden FFaf Home Group Social Ac vity in Lounge
Wed 7
10.00am 2.00pm
Home Group meets in Lounge and A c Rag Tag Drop in
Thurs 8
12.30pm 7.00pm
Lunch Club Alpha Course Week 11
Fri 9
6.30pm
Prayer Mee ng
Sun 11
10.45am
Morning Worship with Communion led by Rev Heather Marsden Tea – everyone welcome Chris ngle Service
Mon 5 Tues 6
4.30pm 5.30pm
Mon 12
6.15pm
FFaf
Wed 14
2.00pm 7.30pm
Friendship Hour- Christmas Party Deacons’ Mee ng
Thurs 15 Fri 16
12.30pm 6.30pm
Lunch Club Christmas Party Prayer Mee ng
Sat 17
10.30am
MEETING POINT COFFEE MORNING
Sun 18
10.45am 5.30pm
Morning Worship led by Rev Heather Marsden Carols by Candlelight
Sat 24
6.00pm
VILLAGE CAROLS BY THE CHESTNUT POND followed by hot drinks and mince pies at RBC.
Sun 25
10.45am
Family Worship for CHRISTMAS DAY led by Rev Heather Marsden NO EVENING SERVICE
January 2017 Sun 1 10.45am
Morning Worship led by Tony Burton
Wed 4 Thur 5
2.00pm 12.30pm
NO EVENING SERVICE Rag Tag Drop In. Lunch Club
Sun 8
10.45am 6.30pm
Mon 9
6.15pm
Morning Worship led by Rev Heather Marsden Evening Worship with Communion led by Rev Heather Marsden FFaf
Wed 11
2.00pm 7.30pm
Friendship Hour-Games a ernoon Deacons’ Mee ng
Thurs 12
12.30pm
Lunch Club
Sun 15
10.45am
Morning Worship led by Rev Heather Marsden
6.30pm
Evening Worship
Mon 16
6.15pm
FFaf
Tues 17 Wed 18
7.30pm 10.30am
Home Group meets in Lounge? Home Group meets in Lounge and A c?
Thurs 19 Fri 20
12.30pm 6.30pm
Lunch Club Prayer Mee ng
Sun 22
10.45am
CHURCH ANNIVERSARY Worship with Communion led by Rev Nick Lear
Mon 23
6.15pm
Anniversary Tea in the a ernoon NO EVENING SERVICE Ffaf
Tues 24 Thurs 26
7.30pm 12.30pm
CHURCH MEMBERS’ MEETING Lunch Club
Fri 27 Sat 28
6.30pm 10.30am
Prayer Mee ng MEETING POINT COFFEE MORNING
Sun 29
10.45am
Morning Worship led by Rev Heather Marsden
Mon 30 Tues 31
6.30pm 6.15pm 7.30pm
Evening Worship FFaf Home Group meets in Lounge
7.30pm
Youth Leaders’ Mee ng at the Manse
N.B. The January Diary as detailed above assumes we are s ll in our own premises. If we move out during the month then a new Diary Page will be produced giving mes and venues for Church Services and the different midweek church ac vi es.
Friendship Hour. Our thanks go to Sylvia Wickes who let us watch her crea ng a beau ful flower arrangement which was then ‘drawn for’, and for helping us make a seasonal one each for ourselves. We also had a me of retail therapy with a clothes sale. Next month on Wednesday Dec 14th at 2.30pm will be our CHRISTMAS CELEBRATION a ernoon. The group have chosen to pay £2 for the tea which we will have at 3.45 pm. It would also be great to have you all at RBC ‘s Christmas services. Thank you for your company and washing –up throughout the year and we wish you all and your families a peaceful Christmas and a Happy New Year . 2017 We begin the year on Wednesday Jan 11th at the normal me of 2.30pm with a GAMES a ernoon. Please bring your own game suitable to be played on tables. On both a ernoons we are here at 1.30pm for those who need to arrive early, and for anyone who wants to chat or receive prayer for any personal concerns they may have. We are available a er the session also. Looking forward to our me together, Myrna Welsh and Pat Wright
Home Alone Lunch. The next one is planned for Sunday Dec 4th. (The change of usual Sunday is to accommodate Christmas Celebra ons at RBC). You will all be able to come to the Service and tea on Dec 11th. It is helpful if I know you are planning to stay for lunch and no offer will be refused with help with the washing – up but please don’t fight over it ! We are a self–funding group and the meal will cost £3 each, and is for those who are at the morning service and have to go home to eat alone and find it a bit lonely. Myrna Welsh
Val Dufour, a small team of others and myself con nue to support the Service Users and staff at The Rushmere Community Hub. We have again been invited to perform THE NATIVITY as part of their Christmas celebra ons. This is on Dec 7th and we would welcome some voices to help with the singing. We would also be delighted to take some cakes from RBC for them to sell at the CHRISTMAS FAYRE on DEC 3rd at 11-2.30pm. Please bring them to the HUB (where I will be from 9.30 onwards) or speak with me please. Thank you so much! Myrna Welsh
Rag-Tag Drop-In. Will be on December 7th and Jan 4th at 2 – 4. 30. It is not usually a planned me so just DROP IN. Tea and biscuits available - as is Foot Care (private and a fee), company and a chance to bring your own interests to share, teach or talk about. We have people playing and making cards and currently a new jigsaw to complete. We need you and your ideas! Home Group chez Myrna ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please speak to Cicely if your details (phone number, e-mail or postal address, etc) have changed over the past year.
MAF News to Share
S ll serving South Sudan Commi ed to the lifeline we established in 1950, MAF con nues its lifegiving ministry to a troubled and emba led na on In July 2016, violence once again erupted in South Sudan. The fragile peace accord between government and opposi on forces deteriorated to such an extent that most of MAF Interna onal’s personnel – including spouses and children – were evacuated to Kenya. Despite the recent unrest, we remain commi ed to mee ng the needs of our many partners. As the situa on stabilises, the team, temporarily based in Nairobi in Kenya, is beginning to return to Juba in South Sudan, where MAF has its base. Our smallest Cessna aircra , the three-seater C182 SMA, has now returned, ready to serve the many humanitarian and mission partners bringing much needed hope and encouragement to emba led communi es. An inspiring story Earlier this year Pilot Ma Eagar shared a par cularly heart-warming account of an MAF flight to Tonj where Chris an NGO Every Village is using radio to inspire people with the Gospel.
Every village Radio Programmes Director Andrew Brown and his wife Shayna flew with MAF to encourage the team and assist them with their important work. While they were there they visited a man called Abraham Agolong, whose inspiring story began some months earlier. Sacrifices and scapegoats When a woman gave birth to twins, her family arranged for the local Spear Masters to bless the children with sacrifices and a scapegoat. Andrew, who was also asked to give his blessing, took the opportunity to share the Gospel and Abraham, a 70-year-old Spear Master, listened intently, his heart s rred by what he was hearing. Later, having asked Andrew some ques ons, Abraham prayed for forgiveness and became a Chris an. Months later, when MAF’s flight enabled Andrew and Shayna to visit Every Village’s compound, they discovered that Abraham’s wife had thrown him out of the house. A er a life me of being feared and respected, he had lost everything and was now living under a tarpaulin. Blessing those he once cursed… Thankfully, Andrew’s colleagues helped Abraham build a small house and shared their food with him. Despite these trials, Abraham now wants to visit everyone he blessed as a Spear Master, share the Gospel and bless them in Jesus’ name. In the providence of God, he now has a marvellous chance to make Jesus known and to ask forgiveness from those he once cursed. MAF too has a great God-given opportunity to con nue suppor ng its partners, whether it’s from South Sudan, Kenya or Uganda. The organisa ons, which reach people suffering from hunger, conflict and homelessness, include Every Village, AIM Interna onal, CMA, Far Reaching Ministries, IMA World Health, Medair, Oxfam, Save the Children, Tearfund, WHO and World Vision.
For more informa on on MAF’s response to Hurricane Ma hew, please visit our website.
CHRISTMAS IS COMING!! The Christmas puddings are in the shops, Slade will soon be 'Wishing us a Merry Christmas' every time we set foot into the town stores and the lights will be twinkling on many houses as we drive home in the evening. Yes in the words of the song 'It's the most wonderful time of the year'. And so we come to that question that gets asked with such familiarity every year:- “What do you want for Christmas?” And the chances are high that we will end up with gifts that we don't really need but have been bought for us because…..well, just because. This year, can we suggest that you do something different and help Talitha Koum at the same time? Many women face uncertain days and an unhappy Christmas. For those with addictions this season of peace and goodwill is fraught for them with danger, insecurity and uncertainty. As you know we are at a very pivotal time at TK. Phase One of our building programme is due to be officially opened later this month and our prayer is that a Rehabilitation Manager will be in place in the New Year. But to open the Centre there are still items that need to be purchased and this is where you can help this Christmas and directly offer support to vulnerable women. As a one off this year, could you ask your family/friends to buy you a gift voucher for Debenhams to be used by TK to purchase homewares for the Hope Centre? Kitchen equipment, bedding, towels etc. are all items that are needed and if we have a number of vouchers then we can use those and direct other funds towards other needs. An idea has also come forward to have a small basket in each of the rooms containing a welcome pack of a toiletry bag and some nice toiletries that we could again get from our friends at Debenhams. So when you get asked the above question, can we suggest that you think about a gift voucher that you can donate to TK instead and partner with us further as we help women break free from addictions? Please send vouchers to TK, The Hope Centre, Wash Lane, Witnesham, Suffolk, IP6 9JE and we will send a thank you card, if requested. Thank you.
Just the Right Time God is never too early and never too late. He is above the limits of this world and lives in a timeless eternity, but He controls our times. He created the seasons, the days and years, the tides and the paths of the planets and our times are in His hands. Gods’ timing is perfect. Sometimes when we pray for something, we may think God is not listening, but His answer may be: ‘Yes’, ‘no’ or perhaps ‘wait’. Often we have to wait because it’s not the right time. God, in His wisdom, knows best, and when we look back we can often see the reason why. There are times when we have ‘divine appointments’, when unknown to us, the Lord has planned that we should meet someone at a time and place, where words would be exchanged and a direction or blessing given. Now the world would say this was a coincidence, but Christian believers know otherwise. Psalm 139 verse 16 says, ‘You saw me before I was born and scheduled each day of my life before I began to breathe’. God knew the exact time that His Son was to be incarnated into the world. There were hundreds of prophecies in the Scriptures foretelling His birth, death and resurrection. All these prophecies were fulfilled literally in God’s perfect time. But there’s a day when all of us can make the decision to accept Jesus Christ as our Saviour. On the first Christmas Day, when Jesus was born in Bethlehem, the angels sang ‘Glory to God in the Highest’. The day someone receives Jesus as Saviour, Scripture says the angels will be singing once again, ‘Glory to God’, over one sinner that has repented’ (Luke 15:7). Prayer: O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us we pray; cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels the great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Immanuel. (Phillips Brooks). Pam Smith
Talitha Koum Ten Years On In October, November and December 2006, five women went missing in Ipswich. Their bodies were found on the 2nd, 8th, 10th and 12th of December, all five murdered by Steve Wright. The streets of Ipswich were deserted and anyone who had daughters, as I have, feared for their wellbeing. All five women were addicted to drugs. Now help is at hand for women who are addicted to drugs or alcohol, giving our town a legacy of hope for women suffering from addictions. The Evening Star’s “Somebody’s Daughter Memorial Fund” campaign in 2006 gave a boost to a project started by local churches one year before. The charity’s purpose was to support any woman with any addiction through support groups and the building of a rehabilitation Centre to help women caught in addictions. Last week, days before the tenth anniversary of those dreadful events, the Hope Centre at Witnesham opened. Many of you will have been there at the opening. Now (at the time of writing before this opening event) I can only anticipate it with joy. It marks over ten years of insightful prayer to discern God’s wisdom through many challenges and set backs. Prayer and hard work by a dedicated team of two part-time workers and over 90 volunteers has brought us to this place. It has been a privilege for me to be part of this for a while and to witness God’s will being done in His wisest time scale. Soon the Hope Centre will be accepting women who will be helped to get their lives back on track, not just those who have walked streets to fund their habits but many, many other
women whose lives have been overtaken by addiction. Over the last two years we have also seen “Women Together” support groups operating in Ipswich with almost sixty women meeting together for mutual support and compassion, encouraging one another to break addictive behaviours, whether alcohol, other substances or behaviours. From January there will be three groups running and all the work there is held in the strictest confidence. Some of you will have been involved in this magnificent journey of faith and we give you thanks; others may want to know more and be willing to help. Details of where help is needed can be found on the website wwww.talithakoum.org.uk; at the time of writing, help painting the inside and outside of the buildings and some gardening and other work would be much appreciated. The formal completion ceremony is on 30th November. Thank you David Coley
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Our next newsletter is the February 2017 edition. The deadline for items for inclusion is
January 22nd.
(The publication date is January 29th)
SUFFOLK PRAYER LETTER
November 27th Advent Sunday We praise the Lord on this Advent Sunday for His great gi to us of His son Jesus Christ, whose coming we look forward to. December 4th Rushmere Bap st We give thanks and praise to God for;
Increased awareness of the Holy Spirit working in the Church fellowship leading to conversions, bap sms, healing and spiritual gi s;
The ministry of Heather our minister; All the children and young people who are part of the church, and the groups and ac vi es provided for them, including more regular Messy Church a ernoons than in previous years;
The Home Groups and the current Alpha Course.
Please pray for;
Phase 1 of the building programme due to start in January 2017 which will reconfigure the interior of the church and give us a unified worship space with sea ng for 238 people;
The people of the church that they will be held together as we have to move out of our building for 3 – 4 months while the building work takes place;
All the Christmas services and ac vi es.
December 11th Talitha Koum Talitha Koum is a residen al rehabilita on centre on the outskirts of Ipswich caring for women who are in the grip of addic ons. It was founded on firm prayer before and a er the infamous murders of five women ten years ago and a er a long haul of hope, faith and prayer it is nearly complete - and by the me of publica on may be ready to admit students. It takes its name from the Aramaic words that Jesus used when he raised Jairus’ daughter from the dead, words approximately meaning, Li le girl, get up! They give thanks: For the years of perseverance from commi ed people of faith who are seeing the vision become a reality.
For the Women Together groups mee ng the needs of more than 50 women in Ipswich as they support women suffering from addic ons.
For the leaders of Women Together who face constant a ack in the spiritual ba le ground they are in. For the calibre of support voluntarily given by more than 100 people to the Charity, enabling its work to progress.
For the imminent comple on of phase one of the Residen al Therapeu c Rehabilita on Centre being built in Witnesham. And ask for:
More prayer warriors to rise up and stand with TK in praying against the addic on ba le our society faces. Growing opportuni es for TK to share its work more broadly in our community. The resources and discernment necessary to commence more Women Together groups. That the Women Together taster sessions in Turning Point would meet a need. The resources, both financial and personnel, to see the Rehabilita on Centre serving the needs of women as quickly as possible.
December 18th Stoke Green Bap st Please pray for our Christmas outreach to our local community. The previous week we will have held our Christmas play for families and hosted over 200 children from local schools as part of our Christmas Experience. Please pray that they will take the Christmas story into their homes. We have a carol service on the 18th and a Christmas Eve midnight service. Please remember Stoke Green as we seek to capitalise on the many contacts we have with families. Christmas Day We give thanks to you Lord for the love which give to us by Your Son Jesus Christ who was crucified so He could take our punishment and we could be forgiven for all our sinful deeds, past, present and future, if we confess them to you and ask forgiveness. We celebrate Jesus’ birth in gladness and with reverence and pray that your beau ful most powerful Love will reach and change by confession and forgiveness, the darkest of hearts in this troubled World; and by so doing bring more to salva on. January 1st New Years Day 2017 As we start 2017 we praise God for His abundant goodness in the grace of our salva on and ask for wisdom in our dealings with others and pray for wisdom of the leaders of Na ons , so that peace will dwell on earth. Human kind faces uncertain challenges with wars, climate change and economic uncertainty. But our hope is certain and we thank God that He is the same yesterday, today and forever. We pray that we will be the salt of the earth, and by His grace bring His love, salva on and hope to our communi es, shining His light into darkness.
REGULAR ACTIVITIES Sunday at 10.45 am: Morning Service.
Wednesday (cont): at 2.30pm on the second Wednesday of each month.
Crèche for the very young. FoG: aged 3 to school year 2. Mustard Seeds: school years 3 - 6. The Tribe: school years 7 and above. Sunday at 6.30 pm: Evening Service.
Thursday: Luncheon Club at 12.30pm. Friday: Prayer Meeting at 6.30pm. Saturday: Meeting Point Coffee Morning on the fourth Saturday of each month, from 10.30 ‘til noon.
Monday: FFaF Children’s Club for school years 2-6 from 6.15 ‘til 7.30pm. Wednesday: Rag-Tag Drop-In at 2.00pm on the first Wednesday of each month. Senior Citizens’ Friendship Hour (cont))
In addition….. There are regular home-groups at different times on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays at a number of venues! You are sure to find one that fits your personal schedule!
Contacts Minister: Rev Heather Marsden Church telephone: (01473) 721455 Secretary: Jean Cutting, 28 Birchwood Drive, Ipswich IP5 1EB Telephone: (01473) 728284 E-mail:
[email protected] Editor: Peter Dearsley, 123 Kemball Street, Ipswich IP4 5DP Telephone: (01473) 423208 E-mail:
[email protected] Church web site: www.rushmerebaptist.org.uk/
