“Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.'”
(Matthew 18:3)
This week, the sections of the email are:
- Opening Reflection: Lost?
- Key notices: Life Groups, Safeguarding Survey, Ride and Stride, Union of St. Luke’s and St. George’s Parish and Benefices
- Coming Up: Vigil after stabbing, Churches Together Prayer Breakfast, Four Visions of Hope, Men’s Group, Tower and Crypt Tours, History of St. Luke’s Talk, More Events for St. Luke’s 150th
- Interesting Blogs: Why are we all so tired? What happens when you pretend to be a Christian
- Weekly Calendar
- Online Forms: Event application, Submit a notice, maintenance report, Safeguarding
Scroll on…
Opening Reflection
For most of the last twenty-five years we have spent a week of the summer in Dartmouth, staying with my mum. It is a beautiful place, and the nearby clifftop walks and little beach coves are always a delight to visit.
One year, when our oldest son, Ross was about ten years old, we visited Compass Cove, the most distant one from Dartmouth. Ross left the beach before ahead of us. Then he disappeared. He was lost in an area with clifftops falling away into a rocky sea and as you can imagine we were very worried. We split up tried the different paths back towards Dartmouth, but there was no sign of him. So, we kept searching frantically, feeling increasingly worried.
Eventually, he turned up, found and escorted safely to us by a friendly teacher. We were of course both relieved and joyful to have him back again.
Why were we so worried about losing him? Was it because of his great talents? His amazing achievements? Because he was better than other children? No, of course not. It was simply because we loved our son.
In Matthew 18, Jesus says, that to be part of the kingdom of heaven, you need to become like little children. We need to see that God loves us and cares for us not because of our talents, our achievements or because we are better than others, but because we are his children.
He then goes on to teach, that because God sees us in this way, we too need to be concerned for others, not because of their talents, achievements or because they are better than others, but because they are God’s children. If they are lost from God, we too should be searching for ways to bring them back to him, just as we would search for one of our children if they were lost.
Paul Worledge
Key Notices:
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.
They meet at the following times:
- Monday evening (two groups)
- Tuesday afternoon
- Wednesday morning
- Wednesday evening
- Thursday morning
We are also looking to restart the Youth Life Group in the next few weeks.
Safeguarding Survey
The Diocese are as keen for as many people as possible to complete the Safeguarding survey ahead of a Safeguarding Audit. If you have not already done so, then please got to the INEQE website. Responses must be in by Wednesday 9th September.
Ride and Stride
We are opening the church on Saturday 12th September to welcome people for Ride and Stride. If you can help welcome people into the church for an hour or more on that day, then please let Penny know.
Union of St. Luke’s and St. George’s Parish and Benefices
A draft scheme has been drawn up to unite our two parishes of St. Luke’s and St. George’s in Ramsgate. This will mean that both churches will be governed by one PCC and that any future vicar appointed will be appointed to look after both churches. Under the scheme both St. Luke’s and St. George’s will continue as parish churches of the new united parish. More information is available on the notice at the back of church and on the website.
Coming Up:
Vigil after Stabbing
The Mayor of Ramsgate has arranged to hold a vigil to remember Ashley Jones who lost his life following stabbings that happened in August. This will be Friday 4th September, 12pm in Ramsgate Town Centre.
Churches Together in Ramsgate Prayer Breakfast
Join Christians from churches across Ramsgate for breakfast and prayer, this Saturday 5th September, 9-10am at Ramsgate Salvation Army.
Four Visions of Hope
A course on the message of the major prophets by Robin Plant at Newington Free Church on Tuesdays 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th September, 7:30-9:00pm.
Men’s Group – Pool and Buffet at Frames
Join the men’s group for their annual pool and buffet event at Frames in Margate (220-228, Northdown Road, Margate, CT9 2RP). Lifts are available. The cost is £10. Please let Bruce know if you want to come (07708 682464, bruce.stokes@btinternet.com)
Tower and Crypt Tours at St. George’s
There are spaces available for the Tower and Crypt Tours at St. George’s on 12th and 19th September. Please book a free ticket through the St. George’s website. Any volunteers to help manage the tours would be welcome. Please let Paul or Jemima know asap.
History of St. Luke’s Talk
An illustrated talk to celebrate 150 years since the opening of St Luke’s church looking at how it came into being and some of the challenges of its early years. Saturday 3rd October, 3pm in the church. Admission £5. Find out more…
More events for St. Luke’s 150th:
A Baroque Recital (10th October, 3pm) and a social including a barn dance (17th October, evening). This will culminate with a joint special service on Sunday 18th October, which is St. Luke’s day. Please also do take time to submit some ‘anni-versary cards’. It would be great to reach 150 of these by October. See the latest 150th Newsletter for more details.
Interesting Blogs to Share:
Why are we all so tired?
In this 5 minute read, Graham Tomlin, explores the underlying attitudes and motives of our society that seem to be leading to so many of us feeling worn out. A thoughtful and thought-provoking article. Read more…
What happens when you pretend to be a Christian?
Watch Glen Scrivener interview the man who did a video blog about pretending to be a Christian. Watch video (15 minutes)
Weekly Calendar
Sunday 6th September – Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity
Eucharist (St. George’s Church) Matthew 18:10-20 – 9:30am
Last day of Friends Art Show (St. George’s Church) – 2:00-5:00pm
Monday 7th
Prayer Meeting (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Tuesday 8th
Prayer Meeting (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Community Meal (St. George’s Hall) – 5:30-7:00pm
Wednesday 9th
Community Soup (St. George’s Church) – 12:00-2:00pm
Thursday 10th
Prayer Meeting (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Men’s Group (Frames Snooker Club, Margate) – 7:00pm
Saturday 12th
Prayer Meeting (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Community Soup (St. George’s Church) – 12:00-2:00pm
Sunday 13th – Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity
Eucharist (St. George’s Church) Matthew 18:21-35 – 9:30am
Sunday School (St George’s, 10:30am)
Baptism in the sea (Ramsgate Main Sands) – 1:00pm
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
Our website is now updated with the latest information about Safeguarding and links to the Diocesan form for reporting concerns and accessing 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 look out for the lost.
Yours in Christ
Paul Worledge
(Vicar, St. Luke’s Ramsgate)
St. George's Church Ramsgate 