“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
(Colossians 3:12)
This week, the sections of the email are:
- Opening Reflection: Kindness
- Key notices: Electoral roll, Help on Sundays,
- Coming Up: Life in Tudor Ramsgate, Annual Parochial Church Meeting, Men’s Group – Mini-Golf, Pentecost Service – Churches Together in Ramsgate
- Wider Church: Thanet Prayer Diary
- Interesting Blogs: The Quiet Revival – One Year on, Gospel Hospitality
- Prayer Requests
- Weekly Calendar
- Online Forms: Event application, Submit a notice, maintenance report, access Safeguarding training
Scroll on…
Opening Reflection
We are looking at the fruit of the Spirit, the set of qualities that we should expect to be growing in as Christians as our character is formed to be more like the character of God. This week we are considering kindness. Kindness is about helping and caring for others in a generous way.
Princess Diana, who herself was known for showing kindness, was reported as saying, “Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.” There is truth in this. Kindness often begets kindness, whereas unkindness spawns more unkindness. As Christians, however, we are not motivated to show kindness in the hope that it will rebound on us, but because God, our Father has already shown kindness to us.
God’s kindness to us is closely linked to his grace (Ephesians 2:6-7) and to his work through Jesus to bring about our salvation (Titus 3:3-7). It is no surprise then, that it forms one of the key qualities that makes up the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23a) and should be expected from God’s chosen people (Colossians 3:12). Indeed, Christian love is often expressed through acts of kindness (1 Corinthians 13:4).
Kindness does also make a difference to the world. Blaise Pascal said, “Kind words do not cost much. Yet they accomplish much.” Kindness works in our most intimate relationships, but also with strangers. Showing kindness to your spouse is one of the best ways to improve your marriage, whilst a kind welcome to a stranger opens the possibility of a lasting and fruitful friendship. Let’s pray for more kindness.
Paul Worledge
Key Notices:
Electoral Roll: Please fill in a form if you aren’t yet on it!
The electoral roll is a list of church members who have the right to vote at our annual meeting. Last year we had to create a new roll, and many people would have joined the electoral roll then. If you did not join last year or have started coming more recently, then you can now join the new roll, if you are 16 or over, have been baptised and have either been attending for six months or live in the parish. Please pick up a form at the back of church and return to Mark or fill in the online form. Forms must be completed by THIS SUNDAY. The Annual meeting is on Sunday 31st May after church.
Helping on Sundays
Making everyone feel welcome on Sundays and ensuring things run smoothly is an important task – as well as a privilege. Ahead of the Annual Meeting on 31 May, let’s renew and expand the list of : those who set out books and greet worshippers; those who read aloud, those who lead intercessions; those who open up and set up the church. Simple written guidance is available for each of these, and you’d be part of a team. Please consider being one of them and speak to Paul Worledge or Mark Ogden if interested.
Mark and Amanda will be AWAY on Sunday 3 May and Sunday 17 May. Extra opportunities to join in with your help!
Coming Up:
Life in Tudor Ramsgate
On Saturday 16th May, 3pm, Margaret Bolton will be giving a talk about Tudor Ramsgate. It will include insights into school life, the work of a housewife, the jobs people did, visits by important people and the experiences of family life. Tickets will be £5 with all proceeds going to the St. George’s Restoration fund. Tickets available online, via the St. George’s website or on the door.
Men’s Group – Mini-Golf
Wednesday 20th May, 6pm at Strokes in Margate. Trophy night for him with the lowest score! Early start, lifts to the course, snacks available. £7.50. Contact Bruce Stokes 07708 682464, bruce.stokes@btinternet.com.
Pentecost Services – Churches Together in Ramsgate
Join other Christians from around Ramsgate for our next joint service on Sunday 24th May, 6pm at the Royal Harbour Academy, Upper Site, off the New Haine Road. There will be praise, prayer and Bible teaching, along with activities for all ages.
Annual Parochial Church Meeting (APCM)
The Annual meeting is on Sunday 31st May after church. There will be elections for two Churchwardens, two Deanery Synod reps and six PCC members. Please consider standing or encouraging others to stand.
Wider Church
Thanet Prayer Diary
You can find the latest Thanet Prayer Diary for May and June at the back of church or download here.
Interesting Blogs to Share:
The Quiet Revival One Year On
As you may be aware the original Quiet Revival report published a year ago, has recently been discredited, with the YouGov research being shown to be faulty. However, Bible Society have now published a new report, which collates a lot of evidence to show that there is a change in the Spiritual climate in our country and especially among younger people, where there is a greater openness than before to the Christian faith. Read the report… (Long Read)
Gospel Hospitality
Keeping with the theme of kindness, this post talks about using hospitality to build relationships which may enable the sharing of the good news. 6 minute read
Weekly Calendar
Saturday 2nd May
Prayer Breakfast, St. Laurence Church, 9-10am
Sunday 3rd May – Fifth Sunday of Easter
Eucharist (St. George’s Church) Ruth 2 – 9:30am
Tuesday 5th
Prayer Meeting (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Community Meal (St. George’s Hall) – 5:30-7:00pm
Wednesday 6th
Community Soup (St. George’s Church) – 12:00-2:00pm
Thursday 7th
Prayer Meeting (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Saturday 9th
Prayer Meeting (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Community Soup (St. George’s Church) – 12:00-2:00pm
Sunday 10th – Sixth Sunday of Easter
Eucharist (St. George’s Church) Genesis 39:1-20a – 9:30am
Sunday School (St George’s, 10:30am)
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 now more groups available! They meet at the following times:
- Monday evening (two groups)
- Tuesday afternoon
- Wednesday morning
- Wednesday evening
- Thursday morning
There is also a youth life group on a Sunday afternoon.
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 show real kindness as we go about our day to day life.
Yours in Christ
Paul Worledge
(Priest in Charge, St. George’s Ramsgate)
St. George's Church Ramsgate 