“I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven
over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons
who do not need to repent.”
(Luke 15:7)
This week, the sections of the email are:
- Opening reflection: God’s Joy!
- This Sunday: Luke 14:15-24
- Key notices: The Bible Course, Ladies Tea Party, Myriad Taster Event, Charity Support
- Coming Up: Heritage Open Days, Dare to Pray, The Birth of St. George’s, Men’s Night, Male Voice Choir
- Interesting Blogs: Immigration, The Old Testament Prophets
- Prayer Requests
- Weekly Calendar
- Online Forms
Scroll on…
Opening Reflection
What makes you happy? What causes you real joy? When do you celebrate?
I have recently been reading a book about Artificial Intelligence and its recent developments. Interestingly, those developing Artificial Intelligence learnt a lot from human psychology, how we think and how our brains develop. Psychology has shown that what sparks feelings of happiness, is not being in a good situation, but discovering that your situation has improved.
This fits with the emotions of joy that Jesus describes in the parable of the lost sheep and lost coin. In the story of the lost coin, the woman who has ten silver coins loses one. She becomes £100’s poorer. So, she searches frantically for the coin and when she finds it her situation suddenly improves. She has suddenly regained £100s! Her joy is so great she throws a party.
Jesus applies this human psychological principle to God. God cares deeply about the condition of our souls and feels poorer when we, who are created in his image, go our own way and live life without reference to him. In a real sense we are lost to God.
But, when the situation changes, when people turn back to him and choose to live as belonging to him (the Bible calls this repentance), then Jesus says God is supremely happy. There is rejoicing in heaven.
If we love God, then we should want to make God happy. How do we do that? By encouraging others who are lost to God, to turn back to him.
Paul Worledge
Key Notices:
The Bible Course – Not too late to Join!
We have had a great start to the Bible Course with 26 on Monday and another 20 on Thursday lunchtime. If you missed the first week, it is not too late to join, and it is easy to catch up with videos you miss through the Bible Course hub. So do join us either on Monday nights, 7:30-9:00pm in St. Luke’s Hall or Thursday’s 11:30am-1pm in St. Luke’s church.
Ladies Afternoon Tea Party
The recent tea party organised by Claire Pay and hosted by Beth Patterson raised £181 for Breast Cancer Research. Thank you to everyone who attended and for the tea and cakes!
Myriad Taster Event
Part of our Vision 2030 is to create new worshipping communities. One way that could happen is through the support of Myriad, which trains small teams of lay people to start small new worshipping communities. If you are interested in finding more about this, then there will be an online taster event for Myriad in Canterbury on either Thursday 25th September or Tuesday 30th September from 7:30-8:30pm. Please see Paul if you are interested. Why not also sign up to help develop this part of our vision on the New Worshipping Communities workstream. Go to form.
Charity Support
At our last PCC meeting, we decided rather than paying from church funds into a few chosen charities, we would seek to promote the charities at special services through the year and encourage people to donate generously at those times.
In order to start this, we want people to suggest charities to support. We will choose three charities: one with an international focus, one with a national focus and one with a local focus. Ideally, the charities should be Christian. Please send suggestions for charities to support to Sue Martin in the next week, so that the PCC can consider which three to choose.
the summer to complete these courses and help us ensure we are a safe church for all?
Coming Up:
Heritage Open Days – Saturday 13th and 20th
St. George’s will be open on Saturday 13th and 20th for the Heritage Open Days for Tower and Crypt Tours, and also on 13th September as part of the Festival of Sound and with a Yard Sale.
Dare to Pray Prayer Meeting – Saturday 20th, 9:30-10:30am
“Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labour in vain!” Join us as we pray for the development of our vision. St. George’s Church.
The Birth of St. George’s – Saturday 4th October, 3pm
An illustrated talk by Margaret Bolton looking at how Ramsgate developed up to the Regency period and what prompted people to build a church. Why did they call it St George’s? Where did the money come from? Why was it designed to look as it did? Who worked on the project? How has it changed since?
Tickets are £5 on the door or in advance from the website. All proceeds to the St. George’s Restoration Fund. Fliers available at the back of church.
Men’s Night – Thursday 9th October
Sadly, due to weather the Petanque evening was cancelled. The next event is the Pool Challenge at the Frames Snooker Club on Thursday, 9 October.
Thanet Male Voice Choir – Saturday 11th October, 7:30pm
‘We Shall Overcome’ present Thanet Male Voice Choir in concert at St George’s Church. The proceeds will be shared between St George’s Church and East Kent Mencap. Tickets £9 + booking fee. Find out more…
Interesting Blogs to Share:
Immigration
Graham Tomlin explores how right and left use Christianity to bolster their arguments on immigration policy. The real solution, however, is to embrace Christianity… Read more…
The Old Testament Prophets – A message for Today
In this more academic article, Tony Watkins reveals how the Old Testament prophets are a powerful voice speaking to today’s world about finding human flourishing in God. Read more…
Weekly Calendar
Sunday 14th September – Thirteenth Sunday after Trinity
Eucharist – (St George’s, 9:30am), Reading: Luke 15.1-10
Sunday School (St George’s, 10:30am)
Monday 15th
Prayer Meeting (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
The Bible Course (St. Luke’s Hall) – 7:30-9:00pm
Tuesday 16th
Prayer Meeting (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Community Meal (St. George’s Hall) – 5:30-7:00pm
Wednesday 17th
Community Soup (St. George’s Church) – 12:00-2:00pm
Thursday 18th
Prayer Meeting (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
The Bible Course (St. Luke’s Church) – 11:30am-1:00pm
Saturday 20th
Dare to Pray Meeting (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:30am
Community Soup (St. George’s Church) – 12:00-2:00pm
Sunday 21st – Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity
Eucharist – (St George’s, 9:30am), Reading: Luke 16.1-13
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.
Finally, let’s dare to share our faith so that we can make God happy!
Yours in Christ
Paul Worledge
(Priest in Charge, St. George’s Ramsgate)
St. George's Church Ramsgate 