Parochial activities (in alphabetical order)

 

Badminton Club - Contact - Robert Corker tel. 210793
Meets in St. John's church Hall, Princes Road on Tuesday evenings (7.45pm - 9.30pm) September to April.

Bellringers - Contact - Frank Bloomfield tel. 286578
Service ringing - Sundays 915am to 9.45am for Parish Eucharist
Practice - Friday evenings 7pm - 9pm St. John's church has eight bells, tenor 7cwt, installed by John Taylor of Loughborough in 2003 in memory of the Browes family.

Bookstall
Our bookstall is located in St. John's church, where books and other items are available for purchase together with some free supplies of books, leaflets and other information.

3rd Felixstowe Brownie Pack - Contact - Penny Brinkley tel. 270853
St. Edmund's Brownie pack meets in St. Edmund's hall on Monday 6pm - 7.30pm every week except during school holidays. A programme of activities, games and craftwork for young girls aged 7 to 10 years.

4th Felixstowe Brownie Pack - Contact - Jenny Holland tel. 278061
St. John's Brownie pack meets in St. John's hall on Tuesday 6pm - 7.30pm every week except during school holidays. A programme of activities, games and craftwork for young girls aged 7 to 10 years.

Choir and organist (St. John's) -
Contact - Jeremy Prentice
The choir performs in the 9.45am and 6.30pm Sunday services and at major church festival services.
New choristers always welcomed.

Choir and organist (St. Edmund's) -
Contact - Philip Speirs tel. 273306
Some members of the Variations choir take part in our Sunday services twice each month and the full Variations choir come along at the major church festivals.

Churches Together in Felixstowe -
Contact - churchwardens
A network of local churches of all denominations. Representatives meet regularly to give mutual support, discuss matters of common interest, organise joint services and events and coordinate dates.

Cleaners - Contact - either of the Churchwardens
Keeping the churches and halls clean is a constant task. A combination of local contractors and volunteer helpers carry out the work. All offers of help will be appreciated.

Deanery synod - Contact - either of the churchwardens
The Colneys Deanery covers all C of E churches on the peninsular from Martlesham and Nacton to Felixstowe. Representatives from these churches meet 3 times a year to discuss common subjects of interest and co-ordinate activities and events. Our representatives are Gillian Berry, Richard Holland, and Sally Gough

Diocesan synod - Contact either of the Churchwardens
The Diocese of St. Edmundsbury and Ipswich covers all C of E churches in Suffolk. The cathedral is at Bury St. Edmunds and the home of the Bishop and the Diocesan offices in Ipswich. Meetings of representatives from all parts of the Diocese are held 3 times a year.

Flower arranging team - Contact - Josie Wakelin Tel: 01394 282601
Flower arrangements add colour and decoration in the church every week and especially at Christmas, Easter, Harvest and other major festivals. New team members to go onto our rota are welcome and some help and training can be arranged if required.

Freewill Offering Scheme - Contact - Susanne Barsby
Scheme members give regular sums of money to the church and are provided with special weekly envelopes to put into the collection plate. This helps us to budget and manage our income and expenses.

Gardening - Contact - either of the Churchwardens
Both churches are enhanced by their surrounding gardens, regularly maintained by a very small team of volunteers assisted by local contractors when necessary. If you enjoy gardening, are willing to help regularly or occasionally, or donate plants, bulbs and the like, please contact either of the Churchwardens.

Gift Aid - Contact Colin Colgan tel. 276795
If you help us, so will the Tax man! With no extra cost to yourself, your giving can be increased.  All it needs is your signature on a simple form.

Guild of the Servants of the Sanctuary (see also - Servers)
Contact John Sims tel. 01394 285054
An Association of Servers from many parishes to which our team of Servers are affiliated. Regular meetings of associate members held in different churches.

Hall (St. John's)
Currently being sold

Hall (St. Edmund's) - Contact Frank Atkinson tel. 286799
A very popular venue used by the church and the local community. Quite heavily booked but with some occasional or regular dates and times available. Kitchen and toilet facilities. Competitive prices.

Hospital chaplain
There is a service at Felixstowe Community Hospital each week on Sundays at 5pm.

Library - Contact - Mary Johnson
A small selection of religious and devotional books is available for loan. Situated in the room at the back of St. John's church choir vestry. Open before and after most services and by arrangement at other times.

Link scheme - Contact - Twig Shrub tel. 01394 282048
A network connecting church members together, so that no one gets forgotten or missed if they are unwell or haven't been seen in church or around the town for a little while.

Maintenance - Contact - either of the Churchwardens
Maintaining the church and hall buildings is a constant task. The churches are inspected every 5 years by an independent architect and his report is the basis for our programme of repairs and maintenance. A combination of local contractors and volunteer helpers carry out the works. All offers of help will be appreciated.

Magazine - Contact -Sheila Donald.  Tel 01394 278464
Our monthly Parish magazine contains interesting and informative articles - everything from the clergy's letter, reports on church activities, dates for your diaries and records of baptisms, weddings funerals and so on. Available from both churches or delivered to your home. Articles and new contributors always welcome.

Mothers Union Afternoon Group -
Contact - Sheila Richardson tel. 283610
Meets on the last Tuesday each month at 2pm in St. John's church hall. New members welcome.

Mothers Union Evening Group -
Contact - Sonia Worrall tel. 284769
Meets twice monthly on the second and last Tuesday of each month at 7.45pm in St. John's Church. New members welcome.

2nd Felixstowe (St. John's) Scout Group-
Contact - Richard Holland tel. 278061
The Scout Group was sponsored by the church, who provided the Group with meeting places and equipment storage facilities. Unfortunately the Group is temporarily suspended while we look for more adult helpers. All offers of help will be appreciated.

Seafarers Centre connection - Contact - Jack Thraves tel. 283510
The Mission to Seafarers Centre, based at the Port is supported in many different ways by this parish. For more information about how you might help, contact Jack Thraves or any of the clergy or churchwardens.

Servers - Contact - John Cardy
Our team of Servers (lay people - not clergy), help during Sunday and weekday services, e.g. carrying the crucifix, and setting out and clearing away afterwards. Volunteers are always welcome - full training is given and rotas arranged to suit you.

Sidesmen and women - Contact - either of the Churchwardens
Welcoming the congregation and visitors to services, handing out and collecting service books and taking up the collection are some of the ways that our team of Sidesmen and women help the Churchwardens. More volunteers to be added to our duty rota will be always welcome.

Social committee - Contact - Barbara Durance (Churchwarden)
The social life of the church is important to us - so we arrange social activities for friends and supporters to meet together outside church services. Some of the activities organized help raise money for the day to day expenses of running the church. Dates and times of meetings and events are published in our monthly magazine.

Spire floodlighting scheme - Contact - Pete Cornish (27 Orford Rd)
To celebrate or commemorate a special event or happening, complete a Floodlighting form available in church and enjoy the sight of the church spire and tower "Lit up" by you. Only £10 for a week.

St. Edmund's Ladies Group - Contact - Churchwardens
Meets second Wednesday of each month in the lounge at Mays Court, Garrison Lane. All ladies welcome for fellowship, friendship and help - you do not need to be a church member. We have a variety of speakers, some serious, others more entertaining. If you would like to meet people why not join us and make some new friends?

Sunday Club - Contact - Jenny Holland tel. 278061
Meets on Sundays in St. John's church 9.45am - 11am
A mix of activities and education for boys and girls aged 6 - 12.
Extra adult help, regularly or occasionally, is always welcome. Please contact Jenny or any of the clergy.

Web-site - Editor - Mary Baines
email: mary.baines@btopenworld.com

Weekly news-sheets - Contact - either clergy or churchwardens
Includes a calendar of services for the week, prayer lists, social event announcements, spire floodlighting sponsorship details and the like. Distributed free to all visitors to the churches.

Worship review group - Contact - The Revd. Canon David Lowe
A sub committee of the P.C.C. that reviews the words and music used in our services. This group includes representatives from the clergy, the choir and the congregation.