....but with a real message. Click this link to see Eagle Brook Church's lock down musical - watch to the end as the last item is the best.
Dozens of people from churches across Ipswich have come together to sing a song about unity and hope. Members of 43 Christian church denominations from the town have recorded themselves singing along to the song The Blessing by Elevation Worship.
Performers who were involved in the project include members of Hope Church Ipswich, Rushmere Baptist Church, Trinity Praise Centre, Waterfront Churches and Holly Lodge Baptist Church, and our own Lucy Pakes among many more.
The project was organised by Rev. Amy Key and her husband Matt, of St Augustine’s Church in Ipswich, and aims to bring hope and comfort to the community during the Coronavirus lockdown. Matt, who previously worked in music production, said: “We were hugely inspired by The UK Blessing which quickly went viral. It has had more than three million views. There was lots of talk about churches working together and being there for their community, so we thought it would be wonderful to replicate it in Ipswich as a message of hope to our town’s residents".
You can listen to the Ipswich Blessing on YouTube here.
Hundreds of parishioners across East Anglia who regularly read out Scripture during Mass, were given the opportunity to be re-commissioned on Sunday January 26 in churches across the diocese. In our own church, readers, or as Fr Mathew referred to them in his homily "proclaimers", were commissioned at each of the three Masses, each at the Mass they usually attend. An article prepared for the next edition of the Diocesan newspaper, Catholic East Anglia, which includes pictures from our own church, has already been published and can be read by clicking the image left.
Do you wear hearing aids? Do you find it difficult to follow the services in church because you cannot hear clearly? Are you aware that there is an induction loop installed to assist hearing aid users?
To use the loop system, simply switch on the induction receiver in your aids, on older devices this is a manual switch which should be moved to the "T" or "MT" position, for newer digital devices switch to the induction receiver using the mode switch. Once enabled, you may need to adjust the volume setting to suit yourself, but will then find it much easier to hear what is going on! Please note the induction loop runs around the perimeter of the church so while there is a good signal throughout the church,the signal is stronger the nearer you sit to the outside wall.
If you have any questions or difficulties, please use the contact form to report them, or speak to Michael Long.
We are grateful to Matthew Thomas who has agreed to take on the role of parish secretary for Missio, the Catholic Church’s official charity for overseas mission. Mathew is taking over from Chris Codd who has filled this role for the past 6 years and we are very grateful to Chris for her work during that time. The Missio promoters in the parish have been contacted and advised of Mathew’s appointment. Will all promoters please check the letter rack in the narthex where they will find contact details for Mathew.
The family of the late Noel Andrews are making a donation of new altar ware to St Mary Magdalens church in memory of deceased members of the Andrews family.
The presentation will be made by family members at the 10:00 Mass on Sunday 23rd December, which will be said for the intention of deceased members of the Andrews family, and these items - two chalices, a ciborium and a paten - are being donated in memory of Ambrose, Noel, Doreen and Pamela Andrews.
Churches hold a lot of data about their worshippers, like Baptism, Confirmation, First Holy communion, marriage and death records. They also hold some financial data regarding standing orders and to satisfy Gift Aid requirements. Most importantly churches have their worshippers address and contact details. Diocesan guidance on the new GDPR regulations, which came into force in May, mean that parishioners need to explicitly authorise the church to allow the use of this data for contact purposes, and to define the manner of that contact. Forms are available in the narthex or can be downloaded here - if you have not completed a GDPR form, please do so this week and give it to Fr Paul.
We are in great need of additional recruits to our small team of Altar servers. Anybody can apply, male or female, young or old, although it is recommended (but not mandatory) that individuals should have made their first Holy Communion.
We would like to re-establish the St Mary Magdalens branch of the archconfraternity of the Guild of St Stephen, but will need a greater number to make this worth while. If there are any persons who would be interested in becoming an altar server, please make contact by email to [javascript protected email address], use the contact form on the church web site or speak to Fr Paul on his return. Our younger parishioners would be especially welcome – ongoing training will be provided over time to allow our altar servers to take increasingly more responsible roles in our services and provide them with a greater understanding of what they are doing so that they may serve with increasing reverence and prayerfulness.
Don't forget the parish has a Facebook page too. Click on the Facebook link at the bottom of each page of this web site. Follow us on Facebook to get latest news and updates pushed straight to you.
A dictionary definition of fair trade is “trade between companies in developed countries and producers in developing countries in which fair prices are paid to the producers”. In practice it is a lot more than that. Trading fairly means providing opportunities for the farming and working communities in the poorer nations of our world to help themselves. It allows them to have more control of their own futures, to enjoy decent working and living conditions and helps to sustain and protect the environment in which they live and work.
The Ipswich Fair Trade Shop is a not for profit organisation run by a team of mainly volunteers, working to promote the concept of fair trade and the sale of fair trade goods in Ipswich and the surrounding area. Born from caring individuals in the Ipswich Christian community, it has grown from humble beginnings in the late 1970s and today operates from premises in Upper Brook Street. With major supermarkets cutting back their support for fair trade, why don't you pay the shop a visit and help support fair trade in Ipswich? For more information visit the shop web site.
