“This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us

and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”

(1 John 4:10)

This week, the sections of the email are:

• Opening reflection: Mothering Sunday and Love
• Key notices: Mothering Sunday Services, The Great Ramsgate Spring Clean, Annual Parochial Church Meeting
• Coming Up: Kent’s ‘Speak theire Name” Memorial Quilt, Easter Cracked, Welcome Service for new Archbishop of Canterbury, Romp through the Old Testament
• Interesting Blogs: Story of a Church Plant, Participation and Church Planting
• Weekly Calendar
• Online Forms: Event application, Submit a notice, maintenance report, access Safeguarding training

Scroll on…

Opening Reflection

This weekend is Mothering Sunday, when we celebrate and give thanks for the love of our mothers. The relationship between a mother and her child is perhaps the strongest of all human bonds, forged as it is in nine months of pregnancy, the pain of childbirth itself and the intimate care of a newborn child. It is a relationship marked by a sacrificial gracious love.

A mother’s love is sacrificial, because the care of the child costs her personally. Not only is there a financial burden in bringing up a child, but it also requires a deep investment of emotion and time.

It is also gracious, because the love is given freely, without any expectation of payment in return. Parents give everything for their children, whilst, in their younger years at least, children offer no support or help to the running of the household. A child cannot earn its mother’s love, they receive it freely. That is grace.

Much of this mirrors God’s love for us. Out of love, he sent His Son to die for our sins and out of love he offers us the gift of forgiveness and eternal life freely. Although God is usually referred to as ‘Father’ and fathers do share in the love given to children by their mothers, there are times when God’s love is compared specifically to that of a mother. In Isaiah 49:15 and 66:13, God’s compassion and comfort for Israel is compared to that of a mother’s for her child, whilst in Matthew 23:37, Jesus compares himself with a mother hen, longing to gather her chicks under her wings.

So, let’s give thanks for our mothers and their love, whilst also remembering God’s love for us. As we do so, let’s learn to love others in the same way.

Paul Worledge

Key Notices:

Mothering Sunday, 15^th March

This Sunday is Mothering Sunday. There will be a short, said communion service in the chancel area from 9:30am followed by an all-age service to celebrate Mothering Sunday from 10am, during which daffodils will be distributed to the women in the church.

The Great Ramsgate Spring Clean

Check out the poster at the back of church or this link and join in with one of the 18 picks around Ramsgate to help clean up our town.

Annual Parochial Church Meeting

This is now set for Monday 11^th May at 7pm. At this meeting there will be chances to ask questions about our annual report and plans for the future as well as the election of members to the PCC, Deanery Synod and Church Warden roles. We really need to expand our team of people taking part in these roles as we develop our plans and ensure the smooth running of the church. So, please pray about whether you could serve the church in this way and play a part in shaping our future.

Coming Up:

Kent’s “Speak their name” Memorial Quilt

This quilt composes of 66 squares, remembering 66 lives lost to suicide. It is presently touring Kent and will be on display in St. George’s church from 18^th March to 1^st April, with a Connection Event on Saturday 21^st March from 2 to 4pm, where you can learn more about the quilt. Find out more…

Easter Cracked

St. Luke’s will be hosting 80 Year 6 pupils from St. Lawrence College and Newlands School on the morning of Tuesday 24^th March for this interactive workshop run by ACTS.If you can volunteer to help host and run the workshop (setting up from 9am and tidying up until about mid-day), then please let Paul know.

Welcome Service for new Archbishop of Canterbury

The service, led by the Bishop of Dover, will bring together individuals and church groups from across our county highlighting the rich and varied communities which we serve. This will be the main opportunity for the whole Diocese to formally welcome and show our support for our new Diocesan Bishop. Saturday 28^th March, 5:30-6:30pm. Canterbury Cathedral. Click here to book a free ticket.

Romp through the Old Testament

An interactive day of exploration, new insights and fun with Rev. Dr. Sue Woan. Free! (donations welcome) Bring your own lunch – drinks provided. Saturday 18th April, 9.30am – 3.00pm. Newington Free Church, St. John’s Avenue, Ramsgate. To book a place contact Robin Plant:

Interesting Blogs to Share:

Story of a Church Plant

In this article, Lois Tackie-Obie describes her experience of starting a new worshipping community called Well City Church in the church building of St. Michael’s in Stockwell. Read more…

Participation and Church Planting

In this article is an extract from the introduction to a new book on the theology of church planting. Read more…

Weekly Calendar

Sunday 15^th March – The Fourth Sunday of Lent

Mothering Sunday (St. George’s Church) 1 John 4:7-12

Said Communion Service, 9:30am

All Age Service, 10am

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

Monday 16^th   

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

Confirmation Follow Up (St Luke’s Vicarage) – 7:30-9:00pm

Tuesday 17^th            

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

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

Wednesday 18th       

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

Thursday 19^th

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

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

Saturday 21^st              

Dare to Pray (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:30am

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

Speak their Name Connection Event (St George’s Church) 2:00-4:00pm

Sunday 22^nd – The Fifth Sunday of Lent

Eucharist (St. George’s Church) Phil. 4:2-9 – 9:30am

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

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

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 keep giving thanks for the love of our mothers.

Yours in Christ

Paul Worledge

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