This Sunday – 17th May

Posted bypaulworledgePosted inThis Sunday

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

(Acts 1:8)

This week, the sections of the email are:

  • Opening Reflection: Ascension Day
  • Key notices: Dare to Pray, Collection for Christian Aid, Are you called to serve on the PCC?, Tower and Crypt Tours
  • Coming Up: Life in Tudor Ramsgate, Men’s Group – Mini-Golf, Dunkirk Little Ships, Pentecost Service – Churches Together in Ramsgate, Annual Parochial Church Meeting
  • Wider Church: The Latest from ACTS
  • Interesting Blogs: What motivates us?, Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness
  • Prayer Requests
  • Weekly Calendar
  • Online Forms: Event application, Submit a notice, maintenance report, access Safeguarding training

Scroll on…

Opening Reflection

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

This Thursday was Ascension Day. It is the day when we remember that Jesus, after proving that he had bodily resurrected from the dead, went to the Father in heaven to take his place at God’s right hand to rule in power. So, we remember the power and authority of Jesus not just over the Kingdom of Israel, but the whole world.

His return to one place, his throne in heaven, meant that his power could operate in every place. From there he could send out the Holy Spirit on all Christians, so that His power would be operative through them, wherever they might be. Now his body is the church, spread throughout the globe, living and proclaiming the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection and inviting people to receive forgiveness of sins, a relationship with God and the hope of eternal life.

We can do that, even though people may challenge our right to invite people from different cultures to become Christians, because Jesus as the one sitting at the right hand of God, is ruler over all cultures and ethnicities. As he says, at the end of Matthew’s gospel, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:18-19a)

Finally, because Jesus is in heaven and ruling in power, we can have greater confidence to pray. This was the initial response of the disciples immediately after Jesus’ ascension as they awaited the coming of the Holy Spirit. It should be our first instinct too. Why not use this time to recommit to prayer in your life and with others.

Paul Worledge

Key Notices:

Dare to Pray, prayer meeting

Join us Saturday, 9:30am to 10:30am at St. George’s Church for our monthly dare to pray prayer meeting. This week the focus will be specifically on praying for our Annual Meetings and all those serving on our PCCs.

Collection for Christian Aid

Many of you will be aware that the past week has been Christian Aid week and will already be donating through their envelope scheme. However, since Christian Aid is one of the three charities we have agreed to support as a church, we will also make the loose collection at this Sunday’s service to go towards Christian Aid. So, any money you put in the collection or the card machine by the door this Sunday will be donated to Christian Aid.

Are you called to serve on 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 31st May, and nominations need to be made by then.

Tower and Crypt Tours at St. George’s

We are still looking for people to join a team of people who may be willing to help out with the tower and crypt tours on Saturdays in the summer at St. George’s church. This is a great way to show a warm welcome to the public and also raise funds for the church. If you are interested let Paul know.

Coming Up:

Life in Tudor Ramsgate – THIS SATURDAY

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.

Dunkirk Little Ships – Sunday 24th May

Next Sunday, St. George’s is hosting another parade service to celebrate the evacuation of the Allied forces from Dunkirk in May 1940. The service will take place at 11am. However, there will be a small short communion service in the chancel to celebrate Pentecost from 9:30-10:00am.

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:

The latest from ACTS

Check out the latest newsletter from ACTS by clicking here….

Interesting Blogs to Share:

What motivates us, recognition by others or God?

This brief article summarising a video reminds us that many of the key people in the Bible go unnamed. Yet, they are not insignificant in God’s plan or work. Read more…

Hunger and thirst for righteousness

In this brief article, the writer reflects on their experience of deep thirst when travelling in the Middle East and what this famous beatitude of Jesus really means. Read on…

Weekly Calendar

Sunday 17th– Seventh Sunday of Easter

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

Monday 18th

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

Tuesday 19th

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

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

Wednesday 20th

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

Men’s Group Mini Golf (Strokes in Margate) – 6:00pm

Thursday 21st

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

Saturday 23rd 

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

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

Sunday 24th – Pentecost

Short Holy Communion (St. George’s Church) 1 Cor. 12:3b-13 – 9:30am

Dunkirk Little Ships Service (St. George’s Church) – 11:00am-12:00pm

CTiR Pentecost Service (Royal Harbour Academy) – 6:00pm

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 praying,

Yours in Christ

Paul Worledge

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

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