“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

(Romans 12:21)

This week, the sections of the email are:

• Opening Reflection: Goodness
• Key notices: Joining the PCC? Helping on Sundays, Silent Parade
• Coming Up: Ascension Day Service, Life in Tudor Ramsgate, Men’s Group – Mini-Golf, Pentecost Service – Churches Together in Ramsgate, Annual Parochial Church Meeting
• Interesting Blogs: Thy Kingdom Come resources, Staying Hidden in a World that overshares
• Weekly Calendar
• Online Forms: Event application, Submit a notice, maintenance report, access Safeguarding training

Scroll on…

Opening Reflection

The Christian message is that evil has been overcome by good. On the cross, Jesus defeated Satan and bore the the sin of the world whilst remaining perfectly obedient to God. Even though, he was treated unjustly and abused in the lead up to his brutal crucifixion, he did not retaliate, but bore it all to bring about our salvation. Jesus overcame evil with good.

Goodness is one of the characteristics that make up the fruit of the Spirit. As Christians we are growing increasingly in the likeness of God, and so, since God is good, we should also becoming increasingly good. Indeed, in Ephesisans 2:10, Paul tells us that “we are created in Christ Jesus to do good works.” Whilst Jesus himself says, “let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16). Our good works grow out of our relationship with God, but they also point others to the God to whom we belong.

Joseph, had every reason to be bad. He had been sold into slavery by his brothers and forced to serve as a slave in a foreign household in Egypt. All his hopes and dreams were torn away from him. Yet, Joseph responded by doing good. He served his new master as best he could and soon won his trust and respect. When his master’s wife tried to seduce him, he did the right thing and refused to sleep with her. After she falsely accused him of trying to rape her, life took another turn for the worse and he was thrown into jail. Yet he continued to live a good life and in a dramatic twist ended up becoming Prime Minister of Egypt and leading a plan that would save many, including his brothers from starvation.

At the end of his life, he summed up the story for his brothers: “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.” (Genesis 50:20)

Paul Worledge

Key Notices:

Joining the PCC?

Are you interested in helping our church flourish? Do you want us to be more effective at daring to share the gospel with the outside world and life with one another? Do you long to see a church that is growing rather than struggling? Do you want to help steer our church through the big changes in the coming years? None of this can happen, unless we dare to share the organisational load of running a church. We need people to join our Parochial Church Council, who are effectively the trustees of St. George’s, to work with the vicar in overseeing the work of the church. If you are interested, then please speak to Paul or another PCC member. Elections take place at the annual meeting on 31^st May, and nominations need to be made by then.

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 17 May. Extra opportunities to join in with your help!

Silent Parade

The Town Council is inviting people to take part in a unique and moving community event taking place at Ramsgate Royal Harbour on 23rd and/or 24th May, 8:30-9:30pm. The Silent Return, We Are Shadows procession is a respectful, non-verbal act of remembrance marking the return of soldiers to Ramsgate during Operation Dynamo in 1940. Participants will take part as “Shadows”, forming part of a silent procession that reflects the experiences of those who arrived here after Dunkirk.

No acting experience is required, only a willingness to take part in a calm, respectful and reflective activity. Young people aged 13–16 must be accompanied and supervised by a parent or responsible adult at all times during the event. Participants will be asked to wear dark or black clothing and remain silent throughout the procession.

Click Here if you would like to take part.

Coming Up:

Ascension Day Service – This Thursday

Join us for a special service on Thursday 14^th May at 11:30am in St. Luke’s, to celebrate the ascension of Jesus to his throne in heaven.

Life in Tudor Ramsgate – Next Saturday

On Saturday 16^th 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 20^th 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 24^th 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 31^st  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.

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

Sunday 10^th May – Sixth Sunday of Easter

Eucharist (St. George’s Church) Genesis 39:1-20a – 9:30am

Sunday School (St George’s, 10:30am)

Tuesday 12^th

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

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

Wednesday 13th

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

Thursday 14^th

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

Ascension Day Communion Service (St. Luke’s Church), 11:30-12:30am

Saturday 16^th

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

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

Life in Tudor Ramsgate Talk (St. George’s Church) – 3:00pm

Sunday 17^th– Seventh Sunday of Easter

Eucharist (St. George’s Church) Acts 1.6-14 – 9:30am

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 keep being good!

Yours in Christ

Paul Worledge

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