“…[let us not give] up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but [let us encourage] one another – and all the more as you see the day approaching.”
(Hebrews 10:25)
This week, the sections of the email are:
- Opening Reflection: Individualism, community and church
- Key notices: Special Meeting, Safeguarding Sunday
- Coming Up: Jesus the evidence, St. George’s Christmas Tree Festival, Christmas Baroque
- Blogs to Share: From service to communion, The hidden benefits of board games
- Weekly Calendar
- Online Forms: Event application, Submit a notice, maintenance report, Safeguarding
Scroll on…
Opening Reflection
The other week, the Men’s Group watched, Monty Python’s the Life of Brian. One of my favourite scenes in the film is when Brian is addressing a large crowd from the balcony and he cries out, “You are all individuals!” They all respond in complete unison, “We are all individuals!” Then one solitary voice cries out, “I’m not!”
To me, this sums up a lot about our present culture. Our present herd mentality is to be totally focussed on the needs and rights of the individual above the community. Modern technology has encouraged this trend. In the 1960s, people started spending much more time at home and less time at clubs, pubs or churches, because of TV. More recently, smart phones and social media have grabbed our individual attention to such an extent that we spend less time with face-to-face relationships. The result is that clubs, pubs and churches are all struggling to continue. If we go out, we tend to prefer to go out as a consumer to a professionally organised event, rather than to meet with others in a community group.
Yet this is not the way we are called to be as Christians. We need to resist our modern culture of individualism and embrace community – especially the community of faith.
Christianity is personal. We each need to choose faith in Jesus and pursue a relationship with him, but alongside that Jesus calls us to love and care for others in the family of faith. The foundational way we do that is to meet with them. They need you to engage with them face to face and if you want to continue and grow in your faith, then you need them to engage with you face to face. So, let’s not give up meeting together as church.
Paul Worledge
Key Notices:
Special Meeting – This Wednesday 18th November, 7:30pm, St. Luke’s Church
With the creation of the new united parish of St. George, the Martyr and St. Luke’s Ramsgate, we need to have a Special Meeting. The primary aim of this meeting will be to elect members for the new PCC along with two church wardens for each church. If you were on the electoral roll for St. Luke’s or St. George’s before you will be automatically on the electoral roll for the new parish. Nomination forms to be PCC members or Church Wardens will be available at the back of each church.
We will also be reflecting on how well the 2030 vision is progressing and praying for the future.
Safeguarding Sunday
Do you know what to look out for when it comes to Safeguarding incidents? Do you know who our Parish Safeguarding Officer is? Have you undertaken training? You can find out how to access training and other details on Safeguarding on St. George’s Website: Safeguarding – St. George’s Church Ramsgate
Coming Up:
Jesus the evidence
An event at Newington Free Church, Sunday 15th November, 6:00-7:30pm.
Non-Chrisitan? Agnostic? Spiritually curious? Discover the wealth of historical and rational evidence for Jesus being the Son of God. Presented by Derek McIntyre.
St. George’s Christmas Tree Festival
This year is running 11th to 17th December and 19th to 20th December, 2-5pm. If you or your organisation would like to have a tree in the festival, then the cost is £26 payable by cash of cheque. Contact Elaine (07539 570566, saudiowl1@gmail.com) or Janet (07854 132677) if you are interested.
Christmas Baroque
Tickets are now on sale for this year’s Ramsgate Baroque Christmas Concert, taking place on Thursday 17 December at 7 pm at St George’s Church. Tickets cost £15 and are available through St. George’s website. If you would like to volunteer to help at the concert in exchange for a free ticket, then please let Paul know and he’ll pass on your details to Petra.
Blogs to Share
From Service to Communion
In this summary of a longer article, Jenny Sinclair explores the way we offer social care and encourages us to think more about building relationships rather than just offering support. Read more (5 mins.)
The hidden benefits of board games
Children can spend a lot of time these days playing digital games on their phones of games consoles. However, a less solitary and more positive activity is to play board games. This summary article explores the positive role board games can play in children’s development. Read more (5 mins)
Weekly Calendar
Sunday 15th November – Second Sunday before Advent
Eucharist (St. George’s Church) Hebrews 10:19-25 – 09:30am
Sunday School (St George’s, 10:30am)
Monday 16th
Prayer Meeting (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Tuesday 17th
Prayer Meeting (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Community Meal (St. George’s Hall) – 5:30-7:00pm
Wednesday 18th
Community Soup (St. George’s Church) – 12:00-2:00pm
Special Meeting (St. Luke’s Church) – 7:30pm
Thursday 19th
Prayer Meeting (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Saturday 21st
Dare to Pray (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:30am
Community Soup (St. George’s Church) – 12:00-2:00pm
Sunday 22nd – Christ the King
Eucharist (St. George’s Church) Matthew 4:12-22 – 09:30am
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.
They meet at the following times:
- Monday evening (two groups)
- Wednesday morning
- Wednesday afternoon
- Wednesday evening
- Thursday morning
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.
- Reporting Form. Use this to report any issues or incidents to do with maintenance, accidents, anti-social behaviour or safeguarding concerns.
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 keep meeting together,
Yours in Christ
Paul Worledge
(Priest in Charge, St. George’s Ramsgate)
