”They trusted in him and defied the king’s command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.”

(Daniel 3:28b)

Sorry it’s late this week… but please do read our weekly email. In particular, there is a lot happening in the next couple of weeks in the lead up and preparation for Christmas, so do see if you can help!

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There are many things in life we need to resist, gossiping, malicious speaking, violence, losing our temper, taking people for granted, being hard hearted, the list could go on and on.

In our third Daniel sermon, we look at how three Jewish men, exiled in Babylon, dared to resist idolatry. Taken from their homes as youths, with their God honouring names changed to fit the Babylonian idols,  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had earned high-ranking positions of leadership within an alien city.

When they refused to worship to a golden statue, the King of Babylon was overtaken by a furious fit of rage, demanding that if they do not bow, they would be thrown into a fiery furnace. Yet, they knew the greatness of God. Rather than rationalising their worship of an idol to themselves, they remained faithful to the commandment.

The three act with respect and graciousness, not overcome with emotion, but overflowing with loyalty, peace and faithfulness to God. In stark contrast, the King had very little control over himself. His fit of rage led him to violence and so they were thrown into the blazing furnace, but God rescued them.

There will be many times that we will have to resist temptation, but just like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, let’s resist the temptation to think God is less than he is, let’s resist the temptation to rationalise why we can turn from him.  Let’s close the door on opportunities to deny our faith and walk forward faithfully towards our God, whatever the outcome, however hopeless or hopeful the circumstances may look. 

Beth Keenan

Sunday 1st December

This will be a joint all age service at St. Luke’s at 11am. There won’t be a service at St. George’s this Sunday, please join us at St. Luke’s.

Christmas Publicity

We would love to deliver as many leaflets as we can around St. Luke’s, St. George’s and Christ Church parishes. Please pick a road, indicate it on the map, take a bundle of fliers and deliver to the road asap.

Vision 2030

If you weren’t able to come on Monday night and missed the livestream, you can still watch it here. You can find the Vision 2030 document here. We are asking people to give us feedback on the vision using this simple and short online form by the end of the year. Then we will review the Vision and agree how to move forward at our PCC meetings in January.

Christmas Tree Festival

If you would like to enter a tree into the Christmas Tree Festival, then please collect a form from Janet Reid or off the church website and return it to her by Tuesday 26^th November.

Let There be Light, This Sunday 24^th November from 5pm

Next Sunday evening after the town light switch on, there will be a special event in St. George’s with light shows, refreshments and music (this year with more mainstream music). Please pick up a leaflet and come with friends. If anyone can lend us a ‘slow cooker’ or similar to heat mulled wine, then please let us know this weekend.

Christmas United Prayer Meeting, 1^st December

Join together with Christians from all over Thanet as we come together for prayer in the lead up to Christmas. Sunday 1^st December, 6:30pm-7:30pm, St. Philip’s Church, Northdown.

Coastal Choir Concert, 6^th December

Please come and support this evening of carols and Christmas music at St. Luke’s church 7:30pm on Friday 6^th December. Tickets £7 all proceeds to Cheerful Sparrows Chairty. If anyone would be willing to help with refreshments and/or welcoming please see Brenda Clarke who will coordinate a team.

Links to Share:

With MPs due to debate the Assisted Dying Bill this week, here are a couple of articles about the subject.

Warnings about Assisted Dying Bill

MPs won’t have sufficient time to scrutinise assisted suicide legislation before it’s debated in the Commons, CARE has warned. Read Statement.

Why am I so terrified of Euthanasia?

Ian Stackhouse reflects on why he is so concerned about the idea of Euthanasia becoming legal. Read more…

Finally, let’s pray that we are able to dare resist pressures towards idolatry in our society.

Yours in Christ

Paul Worledge

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

 Weekly Calendar

Sunday 24^th November – Christ the King

Eucharist (St George’s, 9:30am) – Reading: Daniel 3:13-30

Let There Be Light! (St George’s Church) – from 5pm

Monday 25th             

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 26^th           

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 27th         

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 28^th        

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

Saturday 30^th          

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

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

Sunday 1^st December – First Sunday of Advent

Eucharist (St George’s, 9:30am) – Reading: Daniel 7

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.