“This is the covenant that I will make with the people of Israel after that time,” declares the LORD. “I will put my law in their minds and write it on their hearts. I will be their God and they will be my people.”
(Jeremiah 31:33)
Lots in this week’s notices. Remember to scroll to the end for church calendar. Also, the shared blogs give a range of views on the effects of young people’s use of smart phones…
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The Bible is full of visions of the future that God gives to his people at different points in their history. These visions given by God, contain a certainty and commitment that is not possible for mere human beings. Our lifespans are finite, our power is limited, but God is eternal and unconstrained. He is also faithful. What God says about the future will come about – eventually.
The Bible often refers to God’s vision statements as ‘covenants.’ A covenant is promise plus relationship. It is commitment to a goal and loyalty to a person or people. God’s visions are covenants, because they commit God to fulfilling certain goals and remaining loyal to his people.
But what if God is loyal and the people are not? How can that relationship work? The Old Testament shows that this was a common problem.
So how does God deal with this dilemma? Firstly, there is a certain conditionality to the covenants. There is judgement when the people fail to live up to their side of the bargain. Jeremiah and the other prophets keep warning the people that this judgement is coming. Secondly, although God judges, he does not abandon the covenant. There is always hope, because God is faithful. Jeremiah and the other prophets also talk about hope beyond judgement.
But Jeremiah also tells us of a third response: ‘a new covenant’. God will transform hearts and minds, so that they will remain loyal to the covenant. How does God do that? Through Jesus. At the last supper, Jesus says, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood…” (1 Corinthians 10:25) This is a vision that goes beyond a hope of stronger nations, prosperity or better buildings. It is a vision for a transformed humanity, that can truly be God’s people.
Paul Worledge
Prayer Breakfast – Saturday 5th October, 9-10am
St. George’s will be hosting the churches together prayer breakfast at St. Luke’s Hall (St. George’s Hall is unavailable). Any volunteers to help are welcome (please see Paul), but please do also plan to come, meet up with others from local churches and pray!
Pie Factory Concert at St. George’s – Tomorrow!
Pie Factory Music and St George’s are teaming up for a gala fundraiser on Friday 4th October in St George’s Church. There will be a pay bar, with doors opening from 7.00pm. Tickets £10 available through the St. George’s website. Find out more…
Harvest Collection
Thank you to all those who contributed food to the Harvest collection and money to the Christian Aid Middle East appeal.
Youth Hangout – After School Club
Do encourage young people to come to our new after school club on Thursday afternoons. We have extended the time to be from 3-6pm, so children returning to Ramsgate a bit later in the evening can attend. More information and a parental consent form available on the website.
National Week of Prayer from 12th October
The National Week of Prayer runs from 12th to 20th October. YWAM are organising some local ‘Sphere of Influence’ prayer events including one for Arts, Entertainment and Media at St. Luke’s Church, 7:30-8:30pm on Monday 14th October. See Lucy or click here to find out more or here to watch a video about the events.
Questionnaire Response Analysis
Thank you to all those who filled in the online questionnaire during the summer. The full analysis is now available as a printed copy at the back of church and online. Please feel free to look at the printed copy, but don’t take it away! Read the online version…
Upcoming Baby Loss Support Service
On the 12th October at 11.30am, in Canterbury Cathedral, Mariposa Trust will be hosting one of their Saying Goodbye Services. This is for anyone who has either personally lost a baby at any stage of pregnancy, at birth, or in early years, or who has been affected by family members’ or friends’ loss. Whether the loss was recent or 80 years ago, everyone is welcome to attend.
Links to Share:
Some blogs about the ongoing debate around children and young people’s use of Smart Phones.
Smart Phones – a young person’s perspective
In this powerful article by a young person, the writer argues that smart phones have touched her of a normal childhood. Read more (5 minutes)
Parents against Smartphones
This article reports a growing movement of parents in the United Kingdom seeking to restrict the use of Smart phones untill the age of 16. Read more
Are we being anxious about anxiety
This article argues that the concerns about mobile phones and social media on our young people is over-hyped. Read more (6 mins).
More on what is causing anxiety among young people
In this article, Krish Kandiah considers the arguments around the causes of anxiety in the new generation. Read more…
Finally, let’s enter into God’s new covenant made available through Jesus.
Yours in Christ
Paul Worledge
(Priest in Charge, St. George’s Ramsgate)
Weekly Calendar
Sunday 6th – The Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity
Eucharist (St George’s, 9:30am) – Reading: Jeremiah 31:27-34
Monday 7th
Prayer Meeting (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Craft Group (St. George’s Hall, Soup Kitchen) – 2:00-3:30pm
Study Group (South Eastern Road) – 7:15-9:30pm
Tuesday 8th
Prayer Meeting (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Coffee Morning (St. George’s Hall) – 11:00am-12:00pm
Study Group (Lyndhurst Road) – 2:30-4:00pm
Community Meal (St. George’s Hall) – 5:30-7:00pm
Wednesday 9th
Study Group (Langdale Avenue) – 10:00-12:00 noon
Community Soup (St. George’s Church) – 12:00-2:00pm
Study Group (South Eastern Road) – 7:30-9:30pm
Thursday 10th
Prayer Meeting (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Saturday 12th
Prayer Meeting (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Open Church (St. George’s Church) – 11:00am-1:00pm
Sunday 13th – The Twentieth Sunday after Trinity
Eucharist (St George’s, 9:30am) – Reading: Matthew 28:16-20
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.
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.
Safeguarding Training
If you volunteer in anyway at church the national authorities are strongly encouraging you to take at least the Basic Module in safeguarding training once every three years.
If you have not completed the training in the last three years, then the module can be completed online and takes about ninety minutes. You can access the training by following this link. You will need to first register, to access the training. Once the training is completed, you will be sent a certificate. Please forward that certificate to James (office@stlukesramsgate.org), so that we can keep records of who has done the training.an keep records of who has done the training.
St. George's Church Ramsgate 