When I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven
(Nehemiah 1:4)
We look at the news and can be disheartened by the sorrow, conflict and difficulties around us. We hear of individuals’ struggles with health and well-being, even in the lives of those within our own family networks and church communities. We hear and see these things. There are times when all we can do is grieve for those situations around us. Are we motivated to grieve? Do we think about fasting and praying? Are we motivated to act? What would that action look like?
Nehemiah is an activist type person, he sees things happening with his people, he grieves and then he wants to act. We are introduced to him around 13 years after Ezra left to return to Jerusalem. He hears reports of how the community in Jerusalem are doing and is distraught that the walls -which symbolise safety, security and strength – are in ruins. His normal propensity for action is tempered by a period of grieving in fasting and prayer. Nehemiah realising that for any action to happen his priorities are with God who is the one who ultimately acts, facilitates and enables the remnant to rebuild a centre for God’s people again.
It is only after prayer and fasting that the opportunity for action comes. There is a need in our community and in our lives for God’s hope to be ever pervasive. We might be longing for action to happen as a church – to see lives blessed and transformed, but how we go about this needs to be powered by our God. Fasting and praying in grief and in discernment are not current disciplines for many of us – I’m not sure I have even had much teaching or practice myself. But maybe it is something we can explore as we put our priorities in God’s hands as we seek his way ahead, grieving for the difficulties in our world and seeking God’s hope.
Claire Coleman
St. George’s Website
- What’s On – a page which lets you know what is happening this week and gives information about upcoming events.
- Notices – You can read the latest notices on this page.
- Sermons – Read a transcript of a recent sermon or watch the YouTube version recorded at St. Luke’s. There are now videos for all the sermons over the summer.
Weekly Calendar
Sunday 21st January
Eucharist (St George’s, 9:30am) –Reading: Nehemiah 1
Monday 22nd
Daily Prayer (St Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Craft Group (St. George’s Hall, Soup Kitchen) – 2:00-3:30pm
Study Group (Margate Road) – 7:15-9:30pm
Tuesday 23rd
Daily Prayer (St George’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Coffee Morning (St. George’s Hall) – 11:00am-12:00pm
Community Meal (St. George’s Hall) – 5:30-7:00pm
Wednesday 24th
Study Group (Langdale Avenue) – 10:00-12:00 noon
Study Group (South Eastern Road) – 7:30-9:30pm
Thursday 25th
Daily Prayer (St Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Saturday 27th
Daily Prayer (St George’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Sunday 28th
Eucharist (St George’s, 9:30am) –Reading: Nehemiah 5
Prayer Requests
Be assured I will do my best to check that people are happy for the requests to be shared before including them. Please pray for…
- Derek Tench who recently had an angiogram. Pray for wisdom for the doctors in interpreting the results and deciding on the best treatment.
- Sue Martin for her continued recovery from her knee operation.
- Holly Archer, thanks for good progress so far and pray for continuing progress with the physiotherapy
- Betty Searchfield, for her diabetes to be under control.
- Kevin (Malcolm and Betty’s son-in-law), for healing of his heart.
- Brenda Harmes continuing her recovery.
Questions
We are making 2024 a year of Discernment for our churches, where we are seeking to find out where God wants to lead us in the coming years. As a first step in this process, we want to gather questions that we think we should be asking God. We are opening this up to the whole congregation and others. So, please pray and consider submitting a question via our online form. If you cannot use an online form, then please write it down and hand it to Paul or Claire.
Reading the Scriptures or Leading Prayers on Sunday
If anyone is interested in joining a rota to be someone who reads one of our Scripture readings or leads the prayers during our Sunday service, then Mark would love to speak to you!
Love is all you need – Community Meal Fundraising Concert
This concert at St. George’s church on Friday 9th February at 7:30pm is to raise money for the running of the Community Meal at St. George’s Hall on Tuesdays. Tickets are £8 in advance and now available online or £10 on the door.
Pancake Party
Fun and games on Tuesday 13th February, 4:00-6:00pm, St. Luke’s Church, organised by the St. Luke’s and St. George’s social committee. Please bring your own frying pan!
Online Forms
Under the ‘Contact’ tab on the website, there are now three forms that you can use to help us in managing the church:
- Events Application Form. Use this if you are organising a church event that needs a church room booked, advertising or ticketing.
- Submit a Notice. Use this if you want to ask us to include a prayer request or other notice in the church notice sheet or email.
- Maintenance Reporting Form.Use this to report any non-urgent issues with our buildings or grounds.
Links to Share:
Platform society
Our society is changing. This podcast looks at how a platform society is emerging as another form of individualism and affecting the culture of our society. It explores how significantly large digital platforms are connected to global corporations and helps us think how that impacts us as a society and as a church. Listen here to this 40 minute podcast.
A secret Disciple
What is it like to be a believer when it is too dangerous to let those closest to you know? Read this account of a woman who is a Muslim Background Believer. Read more…
Finally, let’s keep studying God’s word and explore different practices that can help us know him better and live as he calls us.
Yours in Christ
Claire Coleman
(Curate, St. Luke’s Ramsgate)
St. George's Church Ramsgate 