God to Abraham: “I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

(Genesis 12:3)

This week, the sections of the email are:

There will not be an email next week.

• Opening reflection: God’s blessing
• Key notices: Safeguarding Officer, Life Groups
• Coming Up: Marjorie Woodward’s funeral, Prayer Breakfast, Men’s Group Bowling, Ash Wednesday Service, Thanet Churches Together Prayer Gathering, Confirmation Service
• Interesting Blogs: AI and the future
• Weekly Calendar
• Online Forms: Event application, Submit a notice, maintenance report, access Safeguarding training

Scroll on…

Opening Reflection

Over the last few weeks we have been going through the book of Numbers. The book starts with a lot of hope. Israel have been rescued from slavery in Egypt, have entered into a special covenant relationship with God at Mount Sinai, and set up the Tabernacle at the centre of their camp, a sign of God’s ongoing presence with them. So, they set out for the Promised Land.

Things don’t go to plan. The people lack faith in God and refuse to believe his promises. The result is that God condemns that whole generation to die in the wilderness over the following 40 years. What follows are a number of stories, where again and again God acts in judgement on the Israelites, because of their rebellion against him. They look like a nation under his curse, not his blessing.

But this is not the end of the story. God’s ultimate aim is always to bless. Yes, Israel have to learn the hard way to trust and obey God, but he will eventually bring the next generation into the land flowing with milk and honey.

Towards the end of the book, there is a long story about  Balaam, a mysterious figure who has the reputation as someone who can pronounce curses on others. Israel enemies hire him to curse Israel. But God has other ideas and (with the help of a talking donkey) makes Balaam bless Israel.

Despite Israel’s constant failures and God’s regular judgement, the story emphasises that God is committed to blessing Abraham’s descendants and through him the whole world. Like Israel in the wilderness we may find life tough at times, perhaps because we keep failing to live in God’s ways. Yet, we can know that God’s ultimate aim will always be to bless us and bring us into his ultimate promise of life, just as he brought Israel into the Promised Land.

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 Prayer Breakfast -This Saturday

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

Marjorie Woodward’s Funeral Service – This Tuesday

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.

Men’s Group Event – Bowling

Thursday 12^th February, 6:15pm, 10-Pin bowling at Bugsy’s in Margate. Lifts available from St. Luke’s at 5:45pm. Trophy for the highest scorer and food available at the venue. Cost £10, please let Bruce Stokes know as soon as possible if you would like to attend (07708, bruce.stokes@btinternet.com )

Ash Wednesday Service

Wednesday 18^th February, 11am at St. George’s Church. Join us for this simple and reflective service at the start of the season of Lent.

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:

AI and the Future

Watch this fascinating discussion between John Lennox and Glen Scrivener on the issues that AI raises. Watch the video (45 minutes)...

Weekly Calendar

Sunday 8^th February – 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

Monday 9^th

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

Tuesday 10^th          

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

Marjorie’s Funeral (St. George’s Church) – 1:00pm

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

Wednesday 11th     

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

Thursday 12^th

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

Confirmation Course (St Luke’s Vicarage) – 11:30am-1:00pm

Saturday 14^th           

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

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

Sunday 15^th – The Sunday next before Lent

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

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 trust in God’s ultimate blessing.

Yours in Christ

Paul Worledge

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