“There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.”

(Revelation 22:5)

We finish our series of Biblical Visions, with the last chapter of the Bible. It is the conclusion of Revelation, a book full of visions of the future.

Not that the visions of Revelation are quite as straightforward as some of the other vision statements we have been looking at. Rather, they describe visual pictures that are complex metaphors drawing on Old Testament imagery to describe the future.

The last couple of chapters are concerned with the ultimate future. What the world will be like in the time after Jesus’ returns and we are raised from the dead. They describe a future where the things that are wrong with our present world are ‘no more,’ whilst the things that are right with our present world are glorious and God is with his people in an intimate way.

We see all three of these elements in the verse above. Throughout the Bible, ‘night’ or ‘darkness’ is symbolic of the evil in our world, but in the new heaven and new earth, there is no night. Instead, all is light. Then as fully enlightened beings, we will be able to rule perfectly over God’s creation. Power no longer leads to corruption but is used for God’s good purposes. All of this is linked to God’s imminent presence with his people. His presence is their light.

This future vision gives us hope now. The evil in our world is temporary, but what is good has a future and our relationship with God will truly flourish. This is God’s vision for the future, but as well as giving us something to look forward to, it should inform our plans and what we invest in and work for now.

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 12^th October

The National Week of Prayer runs from 12th to 20th October. YWAM are organising some local ‘Sphere of Influence’ prayer events:

Fri 18^th                  Education, (7:30-8:30pm)

Elim Oasis Church, St Peter’s CT10 2TE

Sat 19^th                 Family & Family of Nations, (4:30pm)

Multi-generational worship & a HUGE world map to pray on

                The Corner, Whitehall Rd, CT12 6DF

Sun 20^th                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, 31^st 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.

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.

Men’s Group – Meeting this Week

The Men’s Group are going for a Pool and Buffet night at Frames in Margate, this Thursday 24th October, 7:30pm. Cost is £10 payable by 22nd October. Contact Bruce Stokes (07708682464 or bruce.stokes@btinternet.com), if you want to find out more or would like to go.

St. Mark’s Pre-Christmas Fayre

St. Mark’s Pre-Christmas Fayre will be taking place on Saturday 2nd November from 10:00am-12:30pm.

Coming Up: The Big Quiz

7:30-9:30pm, St. Luke’s Hall, 16th November. In aid of Tearfund.

Links to Share:

This week some articles on prayer.

Guide to Prayer Walking

This brief article gives a simple guide to prayer walking, a helpful activity as we think about how to reach and serve our local area. Read more…

Five prayer ideas for the home

This simple resource gives five creative prayer ideas for use by families in the home. See the resource

Finally, let’s give thanks for the hope of a new heaven and a new earth.

Yours in Christ

Paul Worledge

(Priest in Charge, St. George’s Ramsgate)

Weekly Calendar

Sunday 20^th – The Twenty-first Sunday after Trinity

Eucharist (St George’s, 9:30am) – Reading: Revelation 22:1-5

Monday 21st           

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 22^nd         

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 23rd        

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 24^th    

Prayer Meeting (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am

Youth Hang Out (St. Luke’s Church) – 3:00-6:00pm

Saturday 26^th       

Prayer Meeting (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am

Community Soup (St. George’s Church) – 12:00-2:00pm

Sunday 27^th – Bible Sunday

Eucharist (St George’s, 9:30am) – Reading: Isaiah 55:1-13

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.