“[The LORD] will judge between many peoples and will settle disputes for strong nations far and wide. They will beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.”
(Micah 4:3)
It’s Remembrance Sunday this week, so please remember there is no service at 9:30am, but a special civic service at 11am after the Parade through town (setting off at 10:40am), last post and laying of wreaths at the memorial in front of the church.
John Lennon wrote the famous song, Imagine.It is a beautiful song, which invokes a sense of hope for a better future.
Indeed, one of the lines echo the verse above: “Imagine all the people, living life in peace.” That is certainly the vision of Micah when he says that one day the nations will “beat their swords into ploughshares and their spears into pruning hooks.” If Rachel Reeves could scrap Defence spending, then she would have £57.1 billion to spend on the NHS and Education without having to raise taxes!
How might this happen? This is where Lennon’s vision breaks down. He imagines a world without any nations or possessions, nothing to die for and no need for greed or hunger. But how would such a world work? How can we create one, ‘brotherhood of man’ without oppression and bloodshed? Certainly, no-one has come any closer to achieving that since John Lennon wrote the lyrics and wars and conflicts continue along with hunger and greed.
When you look at the reality of humanity and history, it is hard to see how people can ever achieve lasting peace. There is no hope. Yet, in contradiction to Lennon’s vision of a world without religion, Micah portrays a hope rooted in the God of the Bible. It is only by his actions that wars will one day cease, that peace will come.
As Christians, we have that great hope, but we are also called to live it now. After all, it was Jesus, the Prince of Peace who said, “Blessed are the peacemakers.”
Paul Worledge
What have we discerned? – This Monday
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. If you cannot make it on the night you can watch via this livestream.
Next Saturday: The Big Quiz Night
Tearfund’s The Big Quiz Night is back on Saturday 16th November, 7:30-9:30pm at St. Luke’s Hall. The money this quiz raises will support Tearfund’s Transforming Communities programme, helping local churches around the world lead their communities out of extreme poverty and into a sustainable future. Invite your friends, family and neighbours for some poverty-beating, community-building fun! Please come ready to make donations on the night. Snacks and drinks will be provided.
Men’s Group – Chocolate Night
7:30pm Tuesday 19th November, Salvation Army, £5
Carl Whitewood will be welcoming us to the Salvation Army church in High Street to talk about chocolate. Before training as a Salvation Army officer, Carl spent nearly 30 years in the food industry; baking craft bread, processing fruits, making some of the UK’s best ice cream and assuring the quality of your favourite chocolate bars in 20 manufacturing plants across Europe. He continues to make his own ice cream and chocolate and to teach and talk about the art and science of these wonderful foods. During the chocolate demonstration you will learn about the history of chocolate, how chocolate came from its origins in South America into Europe and the many changes that led to the chocolate that we enjoy eating today. There will be lots of opportunities to taste and enjoy Theobroma cacao – The food of the gods. Please let Bruce know if you are going.
Christmas United Prayer Meeting
Join together with Christians from all over Thanet as we come together for prayer in the lead up to Christmas. Sunday 1st December, 6:30pm-7:30pm, St. Philip’s Church, Northdown.
Basic Safeguarding Training
If you are involved as a volunteer at St. Luke’s, then you are encouraged to do the Basic Safeguarding training. This can be done online (and if you are working with children or vulnerable adults, you will need to do the online version, so that you can access the next level), but there is also an opportunity on Saturday 23rd November, 10:30-13:00 at St. Mark’s Ramsgate to attend a face-to-face training session led by Kevin Spain. You can access the online training by following this link.
Let there be Light!
On Sunday 24th November, there will be the ‘Let there be light!’ event at St. George’s after the town’s Christmas Light switch on, starting at about 5pm.
Thanet Prayer Diary – November and December
You can download the Thanet Prayer Diary for November and December here.Alternatively pick one up from the back of church.
ACTS Prayer and Thanksgiving Event – 18th November
Join us for an evening of prayer, thanksgiving and updates about the work of ACTS (Active Christianity in Thanet Schools). As well as a time to meet our new workers, Abi and Charlotte, over a cuppa and a slice of cake!
Monday 18th November, St Philips Church, Palm Bay, CT9 3JJ, 7:00pm
Links to Share:
Looking out for exploitation at the local car wash
Sadly, modern slavery exists in most local communities. Read this article to see how you might help to tackle it. Read more…
Now Halloween is over, a question: Should Christians watch horror?
This video is a discussion about whether it is appropriate for Christians to watch horror programmes or films. Do they “keep God on the agenda” or do they just leave us disturbed? Watch the video (40 mins.)
Finally, let’s pray that we can be peacemakers.
Yours in Christ
(Priest in Charge, St. George’s Ramsgate)
Weekly Calendar
Sunday 10th – Remembrance Sunday
Eucharist (St George’s, 9:30am) – Reading: Micah 4:1-4; Joel 3:9-17
Sunday School (St George’s, 10:30am)
Monday 11th
Prayer Meeting (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Craft Group (St. George’s Hall, Soup Kitchen) – 2:00-3:30pm
What have we discerned? (St. Luke’s Church) – 7:30-9:00pm
Tuesday 12th
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 13th
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 14th
Prayer Meeting (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Youth Hang Out (St. Luke’s Church) – 3:00-6:00pm
Saturday 16th
Prayer Meeting (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Community Soup (St. George’s Church) – 12:00-2:00pm
The Big Quiz! (St. Luke’s Church Hall) – 7:30-9:30pm
Sunday 17th – Second Sunday before Advent
Eucharist (St George’s, 9:30am) – Reading: Daniel 2:1-11,25-48
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.
St. George's Church Ramsgate 