Network Suffolk

Generations are being brought together in Suffolk village communities in a show of unity throughout the coronavirus pandemic. Churches throughout the Diocese of St Edmundsbury & Ipswich are using creative approaches to reach members of their communities;  ranging from food parcels and prayer trees to live-streaming worship services. One community, part of the North Samford Benefice, has connected the youngest members of...

The Church in Ipswich will be celebrating Pentecost in a unique online event on Sunday 31st May, with Church Leaders from across the town collaborating in messages of hope. 'Empowered - Lord Bless Ipswich' will be live premiered on Sunday 31st May at 7pm https://networksuffolk.online.church/ Church Leaders have been working on the event for the past few weeks. It will include worship...

Anyone who has stopped to admire the spring blossom or enjoy the first signs of summer fast approaching, will understand how important nature has been for our happiness and health during lockdown. Christian conservation charity, A Rocha UK is committed to mobilising Christians and churches in the UK to care for the environment and have been offering ways to help...

Mgr Tony Rogers from Aldeburgh, who is completely isolated because of the pandemic, describes what the experience of lockdown can be like for a parish priest. In my parish newsletter, for the Church of Our Lady and St Peter in Aldeburgh, for the Third Sunday of Lent (March 15) I inserted a little reflection by Pope Francis about lockdown. It had...

Since its release, The UK Blessing music video has gone viral with approaching 3 million views on Youtube. The video was the brainchild of Tim Hughes, vicar of St. Luke's church, Gas Street, in the heart of Birmingham. Tim also leads 'Worship Central', an international worship training and resource centre. He is a singer/songwriter in his own right, with 'Here...

Roll up, roll up for Family First's Annual Quiz Night. It is to take place on Friday, 5 June at 7.30pm and this year it will be online, live-streamed from the Family First facebook page here https://www.facebook.com/familyfirstipswich/  You can take part as a team, couple or individual. Provide Family First with your team name and scores throughout the evening via the...

In this article Graeme Duncan reminds us that lockdown is nothing new. We have an account of lockdown taking place in the very first book of the bible. Many of us hadn't even come across the term 'lockdown' just a few short weeks ago, let alone have experience of it. But now it is in common usage and fully understood...

Resources to help churches of all denominations support the bereaved have been developed by a coalition of organisations under the banner of Loss and Hope. Loss and Hope was launched before lockdown on 5 March. However, as the coronavirus crisis has developed the need for the project’s resources has become even more pressing. It is a partnership of ataloss.org, Care for...

Earlier in the week, Revd Julian Pursehouse, the Chair of the East Anglian District of The Methodist Church in Britain, sent a message of support to his congregations. He wrote; " Sisters and Brothers in Christ, It continues to be a great blessing for me to communicate in this way and to remain connected to you the Methodist people across the...

St Christopher's, the new Rural Resourcing Church at  Red Lodge, has been serving Red Lodge and the surrounding villages since before lockdown; starting cafes to overcome isolation and grow community. Since Covid-19, it has been co-ordinating local deliveries of food and medicine with a team of volunteers – making over 100 deliveries a week. Its Sunday Breakfast Outreach has...