(Isaiah 43:18-19)

This week, the sections of the email are:

There will not be an email next week.

• Opening reflection: 2026 Verse of the Year
• Key notices: Safeguarding Officer, Life Groups
• Coming Up: Churches Together in Ramsgate  United Service, Marjorie Woodward’s funeral, Prayer Breakfast, Thanet Churches Together Prayer Gathering, Confirmation Service
• Interesting Blogs: New Things, our changing culture
• Weekly Calendar
• Online Forms: Event application, Submit a notice, maintenance report, access Safeguarding training

Scroll on…

Opening Reflection

Last Saturday, ten of us met for our monthly Dare to Pray prayer meeting at St. George’s. As part of the meeting we had committed to discerning the verse for the year. Some people had sent in suggestions beforehand, which were shared with those there, but in the end we chose the verses above. They were brought to the meeting by two people independently of each other, one from St. Luke’s and one from St. George’s, which in itself suggested they may be God’s choice.

They also seem to capture something of our present situation. Across the country, there is talk of a “Quiet Revival”, which is particularly showing itself among younger men. It seems that God is indeed doing something new with those who are new to adulthood. As churches we need to be aware of that so that we can be more pro-active at welcoming them into our church families and communities and supporting them as they explore and start out in faith.

In addition, Vision 2030, which came out of our year of discernment is also seeking to do something new in our town. We are seeking to reduce the number of buildings we have and improve the ones we keep, so that we can be more focussed on people not buildings. Our deep prayer is that through the new structure of shared buildings and administration, resources can be focussed on developing new worshipping communities (or congregations) so that there will be significant growth in those finding salvation through Christ.

Please pray that God will indeed, be doing new things with and amongst us in 2026 and that we will have eyes to see it.

Paul Worledge

Key Notices:

Parish Safeguarding Officer Role

Safeguarding in church is the responsibility of everyone. However, we need someone to champion and promote safeguarding in the church and to be a point of contact for any concerns raised. There is a lot of Diocesan training and support for this role. If you think you might be the person to take it on then please let Paul know and he can share more about what is involved.

Life Groups

Will you dare to share the Christian life with others? Life groups are a great way to meet together regularly with a small group of other Christians, for mutual support, to share in reading God’s word and to pray for one another.

Please see Paul if you are interested in joining one. There are groups at the following times:

• Monday evenings
  • Tuesday afternoons
  • Wednesday mornings
  • Wednesday evenings

Coming Up:

Churches Together in Ramsgate United Service

Sun. 25^th Jan., 6pm, Royal Harbour School (Upper Site, entrance off the New Haine Road).

There will be activities for children organised by ACTS and a choir led by the St. Lawrence and Coastal Community choir director.

Anyone is welcome to join the choir. Just turn up at the venue at 4:30pm for a pre-service rehearsal. There’s no particular dress code and you don’t have to be a trained singer, just someone who enjoys singing.

Marjorie Woodward’s Funeral Service

Tue. 10^th Feb, 1pm, St. George’s Church, 2pm Thanet Crematorium

For those who knew Marjorie Woodward, please join us for her funeral service.

Churches Together in Ramsgate Prayer Breakfast

Sat. 7^th Feb, 9am, Centenary Hall, Hardres Street

Thanet Churches Together Prayer Gathering

Sunday 22^nd February, 6:30pm, St. James’ Church, Westgate, CT9 5JU

Confirmation Service

Sat. 28^th Feb., 5pm, St. Luke’s Church

Please come and support candidates from St. Luke’s, St. George’s and other local churches being confirmed and baptised at the end of February. Bishop Rose will be taking the service.

Interesting Blogs to Share:

New Things? Our Changing Culture

In this 5 minute read, Graham Tomlin surveys the seismic changes happening in our world and asks whether the church is up to the challenge? Read more…

Weekly Calendar

There will not be a new notice sheet on Sunday 1^st February.

Sunday 25^th – The Third Sunday of Epiphany

Eucharist (St. George’s Church) Numbers 17:1-11 – 9:30am

CTiR United Service (Royal Harbour Academy, CT12 6FA) – from 6:00pm

Tuesday 27^th          

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

Community Meal (St. George’s Hall) – 5:30-7:00pm

Wednesday 28th     

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

Saturday 31^st          

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

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

Sunday 1^st February – The Fourth Sunday of Epiphany

Eucharist (St. George’s Church) Numbers 21:4-9 – 9:30am

Tuesday 3^rd           

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

Community Meal (St. George’s Hall) – 5:30-7:00pm

Wednesday 4th     

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

Thursday 5th           

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

Saturday 7^th         

CTiR Prayer Breakfast (Centenary Hall, Hardres Street) – 9:00-10:00am

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

Sunday 8^th – The Second Sunday before Lent

Eucharist (St. George’s Church) Numbers 22:21-41 – 9:30am

Sunday School (St George’s, 10:30am)

Confirmation Course (St Luke’s Vicarage) – 5:00-6:30pm

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.

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@churchramsgate.org), so that we can keep records of who has done the training.

Finally, let’s have a faith that truly relies on God.

Yours in Christ

Paul Worledge

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