“Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits.”
(Psalm 103:2)
This week we begin our series, “Spirituality for dark times.” Although, we are starting the series in January, when the days are still relatively short and the skies often gloomy, ‘dark times’ is meant to refer to times of difficulty or struggle that many of us are or may face. Certainly, a glance at the news suggests much to be depressed about: economic stagnation, crumbling public services, Los Angeles fires that point to the wider climate crisis, wars in Europe and the Middle East and an increasingly uncertain international order with the political rise of people like Donald Trump and Elon Musk.
In addition, many people may well have their own individual darkness. This could be due to personal circumstances causing grief, stress or anxiety or simply problems with one’s mental health. Either can feel very real.
So, how do we deal with these “dark times”? As Christians we have a distinctive perspective. We believe in a God who is both in charge of the universe in ways beyond our comprehension and yet incredibly is also totally committed to us at a deeply personal level. He is both transcendent and immanent. He created and loves the whole universe, but he also made and cares about me. And you. Jesus died for the sins of the whole world, but also for my sins. Nothing can separate us from his love.
We know all this as Christians, but how can we make those great truths become effectively planted in our hearts? What turns them from mere facts into spiritual preservation of the soul? How can belief about God, be turned into a living and sustaining relationship with Him? This is the role of Christian spirituality. For us spirituality is not just a set of practices to make us feel better, but a way of renewing and deepening our faith in the God of Jesus Christ, that reorients our souls from darkness to light.
Paul Worledge
Christmas Tree Festival
The Christmas Tree festival raised over £800. Thank you to all who worked so hard to helps set it up, man the church and clear away.
Thanks too to Maxine from Ramsgate Town Council, who arranged for the trees to be taken to a local farm. The goats eat the fresh needles, play with the trees and the trunk is then used to make fencing. Check out the website post for photos…
It’s a Love Story, Concert 15th February, 7:30pm
Love Story will be another gala fundraiser night at St George’s church, featuring Coastal Choir and guests with the St George’s Community Meal and Speak Up sharing the proceeds. Tickets £8 from Beth Paterson, Brenda Clarke or online through St. George’s website.
Happy New Year from Claire Coleman
I just wanted to send a new year message to properly thank you all for all the kind gifts, cards, wishes; for all those who were able to attend my licensing and those who have supported me in prayer. It’s been a whirlwind starting, moving and then advent and Christmas. I am so thankful to you all for the time I served in Ramsgate – thank you all for the part you played in my ministry.
Men’s Group – Bowling, Wednesday 22nd January, 6:15pm
The Men’s group January event will be bowling at Bugsy’s in Margate. There will be lifts available from Ramsgate at 5:45pm. The cost is £10. If you have not already signed up to go and would like to, then please contact Bruce Stokes on 07708 682464, or bruce.stokes@btinternet.com.
Local Church First Aid Course
As churches we are meant to have First Aiders at most of our meetings. Elim Oasis Church in Broadstairs are running a course on Saturday 8th February. Taking part in the course will give you a qualified First Aid at Work certificate. Refreshments and lunch are included. If you are interested in taking part in First Aid training, then please see Paul by Sunday 12th January. There are also Thanet District Council run courses available on 19th and 20th February. Please see Paul if you are interested in these instead.
Crowdfunder
St. George’s have produced a Crowdfunder to help keep the hall financially viable for community use after a challenging year. This is aimed at people in the wider community. If you are able to share the fundraiser on social media then please do so using this link.
Thanet Prayer Diary
The prayer diary for January and February can be downloaded using this link.
Any notices for the rest of January?
If you have any notices to share with the church for the next couple of weeks, then please submit them using this online form before next Thursday (16th January). Next week’s email and notice sheet will be the last for a few weeks because of staff sickness and holidays.
Links to Share:
Faith Sharing – What’s your style?
When we think about sharing our faith, maybe we only think of one way of doing it. This can be problematic if we are uncomfortable with that way. And yet, faith sharing can happen in a number of different ways. This helpful short article considers some of the tensions in the different attitudes have between the way they share their faith with others and also suggests six different faith sharing styles. Which best reflects the way you share your faith? Read more…
What do ‘experts’ recommend when it comes to finding happiness?
As we think about ‘spirituality for dark times’ it is worth asking what experts from the non-religious world recommend as the secret to happiness. This article summarises some of the top tips. Read more…
Finally, let’s pray we can increasingly share the joy of being a disciple of Christ in 2025.
Yours in Christ
Paul Worledge
(Priest in Charge, St. George’s Ramsgate)
Weekly Calendar
Sunday 12th – Baptism of Christ
Eucharist (St George’s, 9:30am) – Reading: Psalm 103
Sunday School (St George’s, 10:30am)
Monday 13th
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 14th
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 15th
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 16th
Prayer Meeting (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Saturday 18th
Prayer Meeting (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Community Soup (St. George’s Church) – 12:00-2:00pm
Sunday 19th – The Second Sunday of Epiphany
Eucharist (St George’s, 9:30am) – Reading: Psalm 143
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 