“Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit…”
(Matthew 28:19)
We have been going through the Bible looking at moments when God revealed his plans to his people, so that they had a vision of the future that God was going to bring about. Each vision statement was relevant to particular people at particular times and although each had a lot to show us about what it means to be the people of God, they were not specifically meant for us.
They lived before Jesus, to whom the Old Testament ultimately points. He is the pre-eminent descendant of Abraham, through whom all nations are blessed. The rescue of Israel at the time of Moses from slavery in Egypt to a life in the promised land merely foreshadows, Jesus’ exodus through death, which brings us freedom from sin and the living hope of eternal life. Jesus was the Son of David, who would rule not just over Israel for a lifetime, but at God’s right hand eternally. It is the sacrificial blood of Jesus on the cross, that creates the New Covenant of inner transformation that Jeremiah looked forward to.
We now live after Jesus. So, the vision that Jesus gives to his followers, between his resurrection from the dead and his ascension into heaven, is a vision for God’s people until he returns. Matthew emphasises this vision, by making it Jesus’s last words in the gospel.
The key phrase in this vision statement is: ‘make disciples.’ The rest elaborates what that means. Disciples are to come from all nations and be given a new identity through baptism as those who belong to the God who is now known as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. They are to be taught to obey all that Jesus had taught and they are to know that Jesus will always be with them. Whatever our vision is to be, it must have making disciples at its heart.
Paul Worledge
Vacuum Cleaner – Needed!
We need a replacement vacuum cleaner for the St. George’s church hall. Does anyone have a spare device, not needed, which they could donate? Preferably a cylinder style one. Please contact Mark Ogden on 07896 111159.
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:
Mon 14th Arts, Entertainment, Media, (7:30-8:30pm)
St Luke’s Church, Ramsgate CT11 7JX
Tues 15th National & Local Government and Justice, (7:30-8:30pm)
Kairos Cafe, Cecil Sq, Margate CT9 1BD
Wed 16th Business & the Workplace, (7:30-8:30pm)
The Vale URC, Broadstairs CT10 1RB
Thu 17th Health & Social Care, (7:30-8:30pm)
The Meeting Room, Yoakley House, Margate CT9 4AH
Fri 18th Education, (7:30-8:30pm)
Elim Oasis Church, St Peter’s CT10 2TE
Sat 19th Family & Family of Nations, (4:30pm)
Multi-generational worship & a HUGE world map to pray on
The Corner, Whitehall Rd, CT12 6DF
Sun 20th Revival and Renewal
St Philip’s Church, Palm Bay CT9 3JJ
Find out more on this video about the events.
The Light Party, St. Luke’s, 4:30-6:00pm, 31st October
Our alternative to Halloween. A party event for all ages. This annual event is great fun and a good way to provide a positive alternative to the darkness that is the focus of Halloween celebrations. Do come and encourage both church and non-church friends to come.
If you would like to volunteer to help make this event possible, then please speak to Charlie or Tonya.
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…
What have we discerned?
As we come to the end of the Year of Discernment we want to share, Vision 2030, the plan we think God has for our churches over the coming five years. We will be making a presentation on Monday 11th November at 7:30pm at St. Luke’s church, members from both churches are encouraged to come and hear the plans. There will be opportunities for feedback in the meeting and in the weeks afterwards.
Links to Share:
This week some articles that deal with some of the struggles we face.
A Christian Response to Chronic Pain
The chances are that you know someone who lives with chronic pain, whether you are aware of it or not. Chronic pain is a specific type of suffering which is invisible, unpredictable and long-lasting. We discuss how this presents a particular set of challenges and hurdles to the sufferer, their loved ones and the wider church family, and we also share a personal example of living with chronic pain. Chronic pain demands a response; here we seek to bring biblical light to help people of faith who are seeking to respond well. Read more (an in depth article, but well worth the read if you suffer with chronic pain or want to know how to support those who do.)
Israel-Gaza war anniversary: why peacemakers need a touch of doubt
This article by Graham Tomlin aims at helping us understand the present Middle Eastern conflict from the point of view of Israeli’s and Palestinians and encourages us to think through what it means to ‘love our enemy.’ Read more…(7 min. read)
Assisted Suicide Bill
If you are concerned about the possible introduction of an assisted suicide law, then you may want to check out this message and way of contacting the MP about it. Find out more…
Finally, let’s pray that we can make more disciples.
Yours in Christ
Paul Worledge
(Priest in Charge, St. George’s Ramsgate)
Weekly Calendar
Sunday 13th – The Twentieth Sunday after Trinity
Eucharist (St George’s, 9:30am) – Reading: Matthew 28:16-20
Sunday School (St George’s, 10:30am)
Monday 14th
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 15th
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 16th
Study Group (Langdale Avenue) – 10:00-12:00 noon
Community Soup (St. George’s Church) – 12:00-2:00pm
Depression & Anxiety Self-Help Group (Perry Room) – 6:00-7:30pm
Study Group (South Eastern Road) – 7:30-9:30pm
Thursday 17th
Prayer Meeting (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
PCC Meeting (St. George’s Church) – 2:00-4:00pm
Youth Hang Out (St. Luke’s Church) – 3:00-6:00pm
Saturday 19th
Prayer Meeting (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Sunday 20th – The Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity
Eucharist (St George’s, 9:30am) – Reading: Revelation 22:1-5
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.aining.
St. George's Church Ramsgate 