“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,”
(1 Peter 1:3)
This week, the sections of the email are:
- Opening Reflection: Hope
- Key notices: Baptism in the sea, Carnival, help for end of art show, Diocesan Safeguarding Survey
- Coming Up: Dare to Pray, Vicarage BBQs, Men’s Group BBQ, Sailors’ Church Services
- Interesting Blogs: Helping Children and teenagers build a relationship with God, Creation Care, Community of Character
- Weekly Calendar
- Online Forms: Event application, Submit a notice, maintenance report, Safeguarding
Scroll on…
Opening Reflection
Hope may not be a popular word this week. The hopes of all those who had dared to dream that the English men’s football team might reach the World Cup final for the first time in sixty years – and possibly even win it – were dashed. A sustained Argentinian onslaught brought two late goals to turn an English lead into a crushing defeat. Perhaps it is better not to hope at all?
Yet, Christian hope is different. The World Cup is a struggle between teams of very talented players to see which is the best. In our human struggles, no matter how good we are, we will always come up against someone better. Victory can never be guaranteed. Even Lionel Messi will have to retire from football at some point.
Christian hope, however, is not founded on human strength or ability but on God’s power. The book of Joshua recounts the Israelite invasion of the Promised Land. Was this just a match between two human teams? Could victory be guaranteed? Rahab, the Canaanite, was already convinced Israel would win. In Canaanite mythology, the god who controlled the waters, was the supreme god. She had already heard of the crossing of the Red Sea and concluded that the LORD their God was with them (Joshua 2:9-10). But God did it again. He dried up the river Jordan, so that Israel could cross into Canaan. This gave Israel a confident hope. It confirmed to Rahab that her decision to side with the Israelites was the right one.
As Christians, we look not to the promised land, but to eternal life. Not to victory over others, but death. How can we have a confident hope? We look to Jesus, who crossed from death into resurrected life. We trust not in human power, but in the God who has power over the waters and over death.
Paul Worledge
Key Notices:
Baptism in the sea
We are planning on having an adult baptism in the sea after the service on Sunday 13th September. If you are an adult new to faith and have not been baptised (or christened) as an adult or child and would like to consider being baptised on this date in the sea, then please talk to Paul, asap.
Help for the end of the Art Show
Sunday afternoon is the last afternoon for the art show. If you are able to help man the church and tidy up, then please see Elaine.
Carnival
St. George’s tower is going to be in the Ramsgate Carnival on Sunday 26th July again. We are looking for a team of at least four people to help pull the model of the lantern tower. The parade sets off early afternoon. If you are able and willing to help, then please let Paul know this Sunday.
Diocesan Safeguarding Survey
As you may be aware INEQE Safeguarding Group have been commissioned to conduct Independent Safeguarding Audits of the Church of England to make sure dioceses and cathedrals are doing all they can to create environments where everyone feels safe, valued and respected. As part of the audit process for Canterbury, INEQE hope to engage with parishioners and members of the parish community through an online survey which will act as a mechanism through which individuals can comment on any matters relevant to the Audit’s focus. The survey is both anonymous (we are not seeking to identify you) and confidential (you will not be identified). We would therefore ask you to be open and honest with your responses. The survey results are received directly by INEQE’s Audit Team and not by the Church of England. The survey is now live and will close at 11.30 pm on Wednesday 2nd of September 2026. Access the Survey.
Coming Up:
Dare to Pray
A reminder that we are meeting to pray for our vision going forward this Saturday, 9:30-10:30am at St. George’s church.
Vicarage BBQs
These will take place on Saturdays 18th and 25th July, 5-8pm. Invitations and sign-up sheets are now available at the back of the church. If you can’t make the date that you have been allocated, then please feel free to sign up for the other date. If you haven’t signed up for 18th, but want to come then, please email by the end of Friday.
Men’s Group BBQ
£10. A chance to relax together over some excellent BBQ food. 6:30pm, Wednesday 22nd July. See fliers for more information or contact Bruce on 07708 682464.
Sailors’ Church Services
Each Sunday in August, refreshments from 5:30pm, service starts at 6pm. Join us for some lovely services in Ramsgate harbour’s Sailor’s Church. This year the theme will be: ‘Wisdom.’
Interesting Blogs to Share:
Helping Children and teenagers build a relationship with God This is a really helpful resource. Not so much five activities to do with your children, but five ways to relate to them, so that you can best help and encourage them to grow in faith. Read more…
Creation Care
Watch this two minute video from the Church of England about the importance of Creation Care for Christians. Watch Video.
Community of Character
A quote in a book that Mark came across:
“We must reassert the social significance of the church as a distinct society with an integrity peculiar to itself… Christians rediscover that their most important social task is nothing less than to be a community capable of hearing the story of God they find in scripture and living in a manner that is faithful to that story…. I contend that the only reason for being Christian… is because Christian convictions are true; and the only reason for participation in the church is that it is the community that pledges to form its life by that truth.”
(Stanley Hauerwas, Community of Character).
Weekly Calendar
Sunday 19th July – Seventh Sunday after Trinity
Eucharist (St. George’s Church) Joshua 3:14-4:18 – 9:30am
Last day of Friends Art Show (St. George’s Church) – 2:00-5:00pm
Monday 20th
Prayer Meeting (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Tuesday 21st
Prayer Meeting (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Community Meal (St. George’s Hall) – 5:30-7:00pm
Wednesday 22nd
Community Soup (St. George’s Church) – 12:00-2:00pm
Thursday 23rd
Prayer Meeting (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Saturday 25th
Prayer Meeting (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Community Soup (St. George’s Church) – 12:00-2:00pm
Vicarage BBQ (St Luke’s Vicarage Garden) – 5:00-8:00pm
Sunday 26th – Eighth Sunday after Trinity
Eucharist (St. George’s Church) Joshua 5:13-6:23 – 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 be confident in hope.
Yours in Christ
Paul Worledge
(Priest in Charge, St. George’s Ramsgate)
St. George's Church Ramsgate 