“Know therefore that the LORD your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commands.”
(Deuteronomy 7:9)
This week, the sections of the email are:
- Opening Reflection: Fruit of the Spirit: Faithful
- Key notices: Service Team Leaders Needed, Our new PCC
- Coming Up: Churches Together Prayer Breakfast, Men’s Group Croquet, Relationships Matter Course, Antonia – Mini-Opera, Midsummer Yard Sale and Open Day, Dare to Pray Meeting, Friends fo St. George’s Art Show
- Interesting Blogs: Safeguarding advice
- Weekly Calendar
- Online Forms: Event application, Submit a notice, maintenance report, Safeguarding
Scroll on…
Opening Reflection
One of the most important themes in the Bible is that God is faithful. The key moments in the Old Testament are when God makes his promises to Abraham and David. These are promises that God keeps over many generations and centuries and are ultimately fulfilled in Jesus, who is both the seed of Abraham who brings blessing to the nations and the Son of David who rules for ever.
We need to know that God is faithful, because it shows that he can be trusted. If we cannot be confident in that, then we won’t put our faith in him, and ultimately it is only through faith in God’s promises that we are saved.
It follows that if God is faithful, then we should be faithful. To become like God, to grow in the fruit of the Spirit will include becoming increasingly faithful in our dealings with others. Since God keeps his promises, we will want to keep our promises. Jesus puts it clearly in the Sermon on the Mount, when he says, “Simply let your `Yes’ be `Yes’, and your `No’, `No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.” (Matthew 5:37).
So, do people consider you to be faithful? Do you always do what you say and say what you do? Are you careful not to promise what you are not able to deliver? Are you careful to do what you have promised, even when it is going to cost you in some way? Will you stick at your marriage, even when it becomes hard, because you have promised to do so in your wedding vows?
If we as Christians show that we cannot be trusted, then who will believe that our God is faithful? Let’s pray that we are increasingly faithful in all our dealings.
Paul Worledge
Key Notices:
Service Team Leaders Needed
Are you interested in taking on a key role in opening up and setting up for our Sunday Services on a once-a-month basis? We are looking to create a team of 4 or 5 people to carry out this important role. Check out the role description.
New PCC:
The new PCC elected at last week’s APCM:
Church Wardens: Elaine Hartnell and Penny Williams
Deanery Synod Reps: Francina Beard and Mark Ogden
PCC Members: Maureen Claringbold, Sue Martin, Tom Martin, Janet Reid, Malcolm Searchfield, Joyce Thomas
Coming Up:
Churches Together Prayer Breakfast
This Saturday, 6th June, 9am-10am, Newington Free Church.
Men’s Group – Croquet
On Tuesday 23rd June, at 5:30 for 6pm, the men’s group are holding a Croquet Evening at the Croquet Club on the Ramsgate Royal Esplanade (near the boating pool). It is £10 each. Please let Bruce know asap if you would like to come (07708 682464, brucestikes@btinternet.com).
Relationships Matter Course
A seven-week course exploring the good, true and beautiful picture of relationships, sex and sexuality expressed in the Bible. Newington Free church are running this Evangelical Alliance course on Saturday evenings (Saturdays 13, 20, 27 June; 4, 11, 25 July; 1 August), 7-8pm.
Antonia – Mini-Opera
This One-Woman Mini-Opera about Marie Antoinette features Petra, the organist at St. George’s on the harpsichord. Tom Thumb Theatre, Margate, Friday 19th, 7:30pm. Find out more…
Midsummer Yard Sale and Open Day
10am-3pm, Saturday 20th June, St. George’s Church. Encourage people to come along! If you can help with a tower or crypt tour on the day, then please let Paul know asap.
Dare to Pray, Prayer Meeting
Due to clashes on 20th June, the Dare to Pray prayer meeting this month will be on Saturday 27th June, 9:30-10:30am at St. George’s Church
Friends of St. George’s Art Show
This will run from 10th to 19th July, 2-5pm, in St. George’s Church. If you want to enter a painting, drawings, prints or mixed media contact Elaine on e_hartnell@yahoo.com or Janet on 01843 852780.
Interesting Blogs to Share:
It’s not just policy, it’s personal
The latest guidance from the Church of England on what to do when a safeguarding concern arises. Find out more…
Barriers to Reporting Safeguarding
Reporting a safeguarding concern can feel complicated. This article names some of the most common reasons church officers hesitate, and why the Reporting Safeguarding Concerns and Allegations Code is there to support you through all of them. Read more….
Weekly Calendar
Sunday 7th June – First Sunday after Trinity
Eucharist (St. George’s Church) Matthew 5:31-37 – 9:30am
Monday 8th
Prayer Meeting (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Tuesday 9th
Prayer Meeting (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Community Meal (St. George’s Hall) – 5:30-7:00pm
Wednesday 10th
Community Soup (St. George’s Church) – 12:00-2:00pm
Thursday 11th
Prayer Meeting (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Saturday 13th
Prayer Meeting (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Community Soup (St. George’s Church) – 12:00-2:00pm
Sunday 14th – Second Sunday after Trinity
Eucharist (St. George’s Church) Galatians 6:1-10 – 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
Our website is now updated with the latest information about Safeguarding and links to the Diocesan form for reporting concerns and accessing training.
Training
If you volunteer in anyway at church the national authorities you should take at least the Basic Module in safeguarding training once every three years. If you hold a role connected with vulnerable adults or children and young people, then you will also need to take the Foundation Module. Once you have completed your training, please forward that certificate to James, our administrator, (office@churchramsgate.org) so that we can keep records of who has done the training.
Finally, let’s keep being faithful!
Yours in Christ
Paul Worledge
(Priest in Charge, St. George’s Ramsgate)
St. George's Church Ramsgate 