United Reformed Church
Stowmarket
United Reformed Church
Stowmarket
June 2025
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I expect many of you have at some time moved house.
Well we have just moved from a house to a flat. Quite a change! And yes, as everybody says, it seems that moving house is one of the most stressful things we do during our lifetime – upheaval, boxes, waiting, ‘losing’ things, ‘finding’ things, more boxes. Finally it’s time to move. Hurray! We find ourselves in a ‘new’ place, new neighbours, furniture in new places –
all together somewhere different and an exciting NEW START.
Aren’t people lucky that they can have a NEW START from time to time? We get our-selves into all sorts of muddles and struggles as we go through life but we can alwaysfind our way to a NEW START if we try.
The ‘boxes’ in our way are moveable. If we look in the Bible we can find many stories where a NEW START showed the way forward – from Noah and Abraham in the Old Testament to Jesus’ healing miracles and his parables in the New Testament. All great stories of people getting a NEWSTART in life culminating in Jesus’ death and resurrection – a real NEW START!
There are many more and they all make good bedtime reading.
One of my favourites is the story of Zacchaeus (Luke 19:1 – 10) who regularly charges his customers too much - but on meeting Jesus he changes his ways and returns all the money he has falsely taken.
A NEW START for everyone.I wonder what NEW STARTS we will each have this year and how we will make the most of them.
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Mary Durrant Stowmarket URC Elder3
July / August 2025
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Mark 6:31
“Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, ‘Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
As we enter July school holidays draw near and the full holiday season begins. In today’s fast-moving world, we can be bombarded with expectations and the impact of modern society.
There is the constant ding of the mobile with messages (can’t understand why we don’t talk to people these days and have an extended chat rather than a bitty to and fro message!) as well as the plethora of emails needing an urgent response. So even us retired folk need a break.
For some it is a holiday to enjoy the sun.
For others it may be a trip to explore some new environment.
For yet others a quiet weekend retreat or perhaps a time alone in the garden will suffice.We may think that we can keep on going and that we don’t need a break, but the reality is that we all need time out.
As we journey through the year, it's important to remember the value of rest and rejuvenation.
Taking a holiday is not just a break from our daily routines, but a divine opportunity to reconnect with God, our loved ones, and ourselves.The Bible speaks volumes about the importance of rest.
In Genesis, God rested on the seventh day after creating the heavens and the earth. This act of rest was not out of necessity, but as an example for us to follow. Jesus also took time to retreat, reflect and pray.
A holiday can help with family and friendship bonding – Shared experiences and adventures create lasting memories that foster a sense of unity and love.
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Holidays give a chance to step away from our busy lives and spend quality time with God. Whether it's through prayer, meditation, or simply enjoying the beauty of His creation, these moments can deepen our faith and bring us closer to Him.
And holidays can help with our well-being. Rest is essential for our physical, emotional, and mental health. Taking a break helps reduce stress, improve mood, and increase overall well-being.
May your holidays be filled with rest, joy, and God's blessing.
Anne Scarff (Stowmarket Elder)