“Moses answered the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today.”
(Exodus 14:13a)
Eighty-five years ago, in May 1940, things looked pretty hopeless. The Nazis had invaded France, the Netherlands and Belgium on 10th May and advanced with lightning speed. By 15th May, the French government already thought all was lost. By 19th May, the Germans had managed to cut off the British Expeditionary Force and some French Divisions in Northern Belgium and North Eastern France. An army of 100,000s was trapped between the approaching Nazi forces and the sea. Any hope of rescue looked futile.
A remarkably similar situation had occurred 1,000s of years earlier. The people of Israel had been freed from slavery in Egypt by Pharaoh, because God had sent a series if ten terrifying plagues against his country. But then as they came to the Red Sea, they discovered Pharaoh had changed his mind, called up his army and set off in pursuit of the Israelites. At this point they were trapped between an advancing army and the sea. Any hope of rescue looked futile.
The people panicked, but Moses, their leader calmly told them not ot be afraid, but to wait for the deliverance that God would bring. What followed was an amazing miracle. God dried up the sea, so the Israelites could cross and escape the Egyptian army.
In 1940, King George VI called on people to pray. In a national broadcast he instructed the people of the UK to turn back to God in a spirit of repentance and plead for Divine help. God did not dry up the sea, but he did make it possible for 330,000 troops to escape from Dunkirk and be brought across the sea to England. The practicalities involved an incredible feat of organisation, the courageous actions of many small boat owners and favourable weather conditions. But behind it all was the hand of God. So much so, that people called it, “the miracle of Dunkirk.”
Paul Worledge
Parade Service for Dunkirk Little Ships – This Sunday
This Sunday, our service will be at 11am and will be a parade service. We are expecting a lot of extra guests but do please come along and join in the commemoration of this significant event in the life of the town and nation. See website for more details.
APCM Report
At our Annual Church meeting (APCM) on Monday 24th May, the following were elected: As church warden: Mark Ogden, to the PCC: Janet Reid, Elaine Hartnell, Virginia Lowis and Sue Martin. Penny Williams and Joyce Thomas continue as our Deanery Synod representatives. That means we have one space for a church warden and two spaces for PCC members. Also, we are still looking for a new treasurer. If you are interested in any of these roles, then please have a chat with Mark or Paul.
Planned Giving Review
Last week we launched our annual ‘Planned Giving Review’. This will climax with a Gift Day on Pentecost Sunday, 8th June. We are asking people to consider how much they can give to financially support the church as well as how they might be able to offer practical support and help with Vision 2030.
If you haven’t already, please check the back of the church and take the envelope with your name on it. (We only send letters to those who have indicated they are happy to receive such letters. If there is not an envelope with your name on it and you would like one, then please take one of the nameless ones.)
Joint Pentecost Service, 8th June, 6pm
Churches Together in Ramsgate invite you to celebrate Pentecost. An evening of worship, prayer, teaching and fellowship. All welcome (including families, children and youth.
The event will take place at Royal Harbour Academy (CT12 6FA) on Sunday 8th June at 6pm.
VE Day 1945
A couple of weeks ago we commemorated the 80th anniversary of VE day. Margaret Bolton has dug up some old newspaper clippings about how the event was celebrated in Ramsgate. Amongst the various events reported on was the Thanksgiving service at St. George’s:
“’They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.’
“Verses from Isaiah in which this text, appropriate to the day, appears, were read at St. George’s church in Ramsgate, on VE-night, when the nave was filled for the special service of thanksgiving.
“People from many walks of life came to offer their humble thanksgiving to God for victory and deliverance from the vanquished enemy. In all the churches of the town similar services were held….”
Brian Belsey – Funeral
Brian Belsey who played a key leadership role at Christ Church for many years has sadly passed away. There will be a service of thanksgiving at Christ Church on Monday 19th May at 2pm.
Young Voices Questionnaire
If you are aged 11 to 24 or know someone who is, then do encourage them to fill out the Canterbury Diocese Youth Council questionnaire which focuses on mental health. These snapshot questionnaires are an opportunity to hear the voices of young people from across our diocese. It closes on 23 May.
Youthscape Launchpad Diocesan Event
6:30-9:00pm on Monday 2nd June at St. Laurence church in Ramsgate. Led by Bp Rose Hudson-Wilkin, with Jen Tobin the Diocesan Lead Officer for Children & Young People’s Work and Launchpad Youth Scape Representatives. This is an intergenerational event for young people 11 years old and upwards and those helping to lead young people’s work. See Tonya Curry if you are interested in going as part of a group from St. Luke’s.
Tower and Crypt Tours – Can you help?
Please contact Jemima on either 07971782477 or via email regenerationofficer@stgeorgechurchramsgate.uk if you are able to get involved with helping to host the tours.
They will be on during the summer to coincide with the Yard Sales and Heritage Open Days and we are also doing a couple of dates in May as well. The dates are Saturdays: 17th May, 24th May, 14th June, 12th July, 9th August, 13th September and 20th September.
Links to Share:
This week a focus on resources that you may want to use during the Thy Kingdom Come season between Ascension Day (29th May) and Pentecost (8th June)
A brand-new series of the Cheeky Pandas
To use with young children at home, with activity sheets for children. Find out more…
The digital detox devotional
For youth – encouraging them to put away their devices, be still before the Lord and deep dive into the Lord’s Prayer. Find our more…
An adult Digital Detox Devotional
And for adults, check out this digital detox, a devotional by the Archbishop of York on the Lord’s prayer. Find out more…
Finally, let’s keep fighting the good fight that God calls us to.
Yours in Christ
Paul Worledge
(Priest in Charge, St. George’s Ramsgate)
Weekly Calendar
Sunday 18th – Fifth Sunday of Easter
Parade Service – 11am Commemoration Operation Dynamo – Reading: Exodus 14:10-18
Monday 19th
Prayer Meeting (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Tuesday 20th
Prayer Meeting (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Study Group (Lyndhurst Road) – 2:30-4:00pm
Community Meal (St. George’s Hall) – 5:30-7:00pm
Wednesday 21st
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 22nd
Prayer Meeting (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Saturday 24th
Prayer Meeting (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Community Soup (St. George’s Church) – 12:00-2:00pm
Sunday 25th – Sixth Sunday of Easter
Eucharist – (St George’s, 9:30am), Reading: Joshua 1:1-9
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.e 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 