“Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” (Luke 19:38).
Easter Sunday is the climactic Sunday of the Christian message as we gather to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
St George’s Spring Parade
3rd Annual St George’s Spring Parade to be held on Sunday 27th April
After the success of last year’s parade, St George’s Church are working in partnership with Great British Carnival to bring another spectacular community parade and celebration to Ramsgate. In preparation for the festivities there will be free costume and prop making workshops on Wednesday afternoons from 5 til 7pm, at St George’s Church Hall, Broad St, Ramsgate, and all ages are welcome.
The parade will take place from 12 noon on Sunday 27th April after an 11am church service. The event will be followed by a free community lunch in St George’s Hall for parade participants.
Workshop dates and times
Final 2 Carnival club workshops in St George’s Hall – 16th and 23rd April
Preparation day in St George’s Church – 26th April
Parade Day – 27th April
Church Service 11am
Parade 12 noon
Lunch 1.30
Palm Sunday (Luke 19:28-40)
“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve.” (1 Corinthians 15:3-5)
Palm Sunday reminds us both of the claims to kingship that Jesus made about himself, claims that were embraced by many who had witnessed his miracles, but rejected by those in power as a threat to their position.
This Week’s Notices Easter 2025
(1 Corinthians 15:3-5)
This week’s notices are for the next two weeks from Palm Sunday through to 27th April, please see the calendar at the end for details of all the services in the next two weeks.
______________________________
For this year’s Easter publicity, I decided to include four sections: Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Unlike Christmas, which focuses on one key event, Easter is more of a narrative, a story with separate and key elements that all work together.
Palm Sunday reminds us both of the claims to kingship that Jesus made about himself, claims that were embraced by many who had witnessed his miracles, but rejected by those in power as a threat to their position. It reminds us of the context of the rest of the story and the choice we face.
Maundy Thursday takes us to the last supper, and the meal Jesus had with his disciples. This part of the story makes it clear, that Jesus’ death was his plan and had a purpose. It was God’s way of forgiving our sins and bringing us into relationship with him, a new covenant.
Good Friday brings home for us the reality and immensity of what Jesus did. It shows us the fullness of his obedience to God’s will, the immensity of his love for us and the seriousness of our sin and rebellion against God. Through faith in the cross, our sin, wickedness and evil are condemned, but we ourselves are set free from future condemnation by God.
Easter Sunday is the amazing climax of the story and vindication of Jesus. It show us that Jesus was who he claimed to be and that his death was for the purpose he described. Because of his resurrection, Jesus cannot be ignored, we all now need to decide whether to reject or accept him for ourselves.
Paul Worledge
Plans for Easter and on…
Please see the Calendar below for details of all services, times and locations. Also, check out the website…
The Easter Story – Good Friday, St. Luke’s 10:30am
This is ‘Crib Service’ meets ‘Easter’. Designed for young families, we go through the events of Palm Sunday through to Easter Sunday, with children building up a display of the whole story. A great event to bring grandchildren or friends along to.
Good Friday Meditation – St. George’s, 1-3pm
Over four 30-minute sessions, with hymns, a short talk and space to reflect and respond, we will be exploring some key passages in Paul as we consider why Jesus died:
1pm Justification – Romans 3:21-26
1:30pm Reconciliation – 2 Corinthians 5:16-21
2:00pm Victory – Colossians 2:13-15
2:30pm Unity – Ephesians 2:11-22
St. George’s Day – Joint Service & Parade – 27th April, 11am
The Sunday after Easter we will be having a Joint Service with St. George’s church at 11am, to celebrate St. George’s Day. This will be an All Age service, introducing our theme for the term, “Fight, the Good Fight.” It will be followed by the St. George’s day parade, when we will be handing out fliers to advertise both churches regular activities and upcoming events.
Electoral Roll – 16 so far
The electoral roll is the list of members of St. George’s parish who have the right to vote at our annual meeting. Every six years, the roll has to be renewed from scratch and 2025 is one of those years. So, if you consider yourself a member of St. George’s then please complete an electoral roll application, whether you were on the electoral roll before or not. To qualify to be on the electoral roll, you must be baptised, over 16 and either live in the parish of St. George’s or have attended St. George’s for six months or more. Forms available through the website or paper copies at the back of church. Please register by Easter Sunday.
Youth and Children’s Pastor
Thank you to everyone who helped out with the Youth and Children’s Pastor interview process and prayed for us. Unfortunately, although, both candidates had some good qualities, we decide than neither were a right fit for the role.
Treasurer Role
After many years of faithful service, Derek Tench is looking to step down as treasurer. This is an important role in the life of the church and involves various tasks: Bookkeeping, PAYE management for staff, reclaiming Gift Aid, Negotiating Utilities & Procurement and producing accounts for the annual report. If you think you might be able to take on some or all of these tasks, then please see Paul, Mark or Derek. Derek will of course offer training and support to whoever would like to take over.
Tower and Crypt Tours – Can you help?
Please contact Jemima on either 07971782477 or via email regenerationofficer@stgeorgechurchramsgate.uk if you are able to get involved with helping to host the tours.
They will be on during the summer to coincide with the Yard Sales and Heritage Open Days and we are also doing a couple of dates in May as well. The dates are Saturdays: 17th May, 24th May, 14th June, 12th July, 9th August, 13th September and 20th September.
Links to Share:
Should we ‘apply’ the Bible?
We often talk about the importance of “applying” the Bible to or lives, but it’s that the best way to think about what the point of reading the Bible is? In this article Wyatt Graham gives us a better way to understand the purpose of reading the Bible. Read more (10 mins)
Church Attendance is growing
According to this Bible Society report the number of people attending church monthly is increasing and especially among young men. Read more….
Finally, let’s celebrate the fantastic good news contained in the easter story.
Yours in Christ
Paul Worledge
(Priest in Charge, St. George’s Ramsgate)
Weekly Calendar
Sunday 13th April – Palm Sunday
Eucharist (St George’s, 9:30am) – Reading: Luke 19:28-40
Monday 14th
Prayer Meeting (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Tuesday 15th
Prayer Meeting (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Coffee Morning (St. George’s Hall) – 11:00am-12:00pm
Community Meal (St. George’s Hall) – 5:30-7:00pm
Wednesday 16th
Community Soup (St. George’s Church) – 12:00-2:00pm
Maundy Thursday 17th
Prayer Meeting (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Maundy Thursday Service (St. Luke’s Church) – 12noon
Maundy Thursday Service (St. George’s Church) – 6:30pm
Good Friday 18th
The Easter Story, an interactive telling of the events of Easter for families and small children (St. Luke’s) – 10:30am
Ramsgate Churches Together, Good Friday Witness (Town Centre) – 12noon
Good Friday Meditation (St. George’s, 1:00-3:00pm, 4×30 min. slots, join us for all or some of the slots)
Saturday 19th
Prayer Meeting (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Community Soup (St. George’s Church) – 12:00-2:00pm
Sunday 20th – Easter Sunday
Eucharist (St George’s, 9:30am) – Reading: Luke 24:1-12
Tuesday 22nd
Prayer Meeting (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Coffee Morning (St. George’s Hall) – 11:00am-12:00pm
Community Meal (St. George’s Hall) – 5:30-7:00pm
Wednesday 23rd
Community Soup (St. George’s Church) – 12:00-2:00pm
Thursday 24th
Prayer Meeting (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Saturday 26th
Prayer Meeting (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Community Soup (St. George’s Church) – 12:00-2:00pm
Sunday 27th – St. George’s Day celebration
JOINT All Age Service (St. George’s Church), 11:00am-12:00pm
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.
St. George’s Website
- What’s On – a page which lets you know what is happening this week and gives information about upcoming events.
- Notices – You can read the latest notices on this page.
- Sermons – Read a transcript of a recent sermon or watch the YouTube version recorded at St. Luke’s. There are now videos for all the sermons over the summer.
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@stlukesramsgate.org), so that we can keep records of who has done the training.ce the training is completed, you will be sent a certificate. Please forward that certificate to James (office@stlukesramsgate.org), so that we can keep records of who has done the training.
Jesus’ Anointing (John 12:1-8)
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and praise!” (Revelation 5:12)
This week, we are looking at the story of Jesus being anointed at Bethany (John 12:1-8). As Jesus reclines at a dinner held in honour of him, Mary anoints him with perfume worth the equivalent of a labourer’s annual salary. This is an extravagent and incredibly expensive act of devotion. For Mary, devotion to Jesus is what matters most. But what do we spend our money on? Do we spend money on our personal needs? Do we support the ministry of the church to promote worship of Christ? Or do we give to charities that care for the poor? For Christians all these things are important, all should feature in our budgeting. We need to pray for wisdom on what proportion of our wealth we give to each.
How we spend our money, expresses the longing of our hearts
ABBA, Money, Money, Money
“Ah-ha
All the things I could do
If I had a little money
It’s a rich man’s world”
But, what things would you do?
Apart from paying all the necessary taxes and bills, what do you do with your money? What does that say about your devotions, the longing of your heart?
If the answer is spend it on alcohol or drugs, then maybe they are the longing of our hearts. Or if most of it goes on luxurious holidays, perhaps it is travel that is our real devotion. Or if you invest everything into decorating your house, then perhaps having the perfect home is your top priority.
The way we spend our money says a lot about what truly matters to us.
At the heart of today’s reading is a question about what is appropriate to spend our money on. Mary anoints Jesus with really expensive perfume and Judas says, “What a waste! The perfume could have been sold and the money given to the poor.” Mary and Judas seem to have very different ideas about how money should be spent and their ideas show the longing of their hearts. On the one hand she spends a fortune on a lavish expression of devotion to Jesus, whilst on the other, Judas expresses a compassion for the poor.
Should we as Christians have the same attitude as Mary or as Judas? Should we be devoted more to Jesus or the poor? And how will that attitude show itself in our use of money today?
What is going on outside the house?
Before we dive into those questions, we need to go outside the house and see the bigger context of what is going on.
In John’s gospel, things are coming to a climax. The back story is that Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha in Bethany had died and been in the grave for four days, before Jesus turned up. But when Jesus did turn up the impossible happened. He commanded that the grave be open, then when they did, after a short prayer he commanded Lazarus, the dead man, to come out. And he did! Much to everyone’s astonishment and joy, the man they had buried only a few days before was alive again! As the story spread so Jesus’ popularity began to grow. More and more were believing in him.
At the same time, the authorities have become convinced that Jesus needs to die. They have put a warrant out for his arrest.
So, everything is coming to a climax. This is a critical moment. As Jesus arrives at Bethany, only two miles from Jerusalem, is he coming to die or coming to bring in the Kingdom of God.
If you believed he was coming as a new king, you would rally around Jesus as many did the next day when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, cheering him on. You would devote yourself to him and his cause.
If, however, you believed the game was up, that he was about to be arrested and snuffed out by the authorities, then you would want to distance yourself from him.
How would you have reacted in that situation?
Mary’s Devotion
What was happening outside the house is of course relevant to what was happening inside the house. The people of Bethany and especially Lazarus, Martha and Mary wanted to show their devotion to Jesus before things kicked off. They had done that by inviting him to a meal in honour of him.
This is not surprising. After all, Jesus had done the impossible for them, he had given them back the dead Lazarus. Wouldn’t you want to honour and show your devotion to anyone who could bring one of your loved ones back from the dead?
But, more than that this family, that were clearly particularly close to Jesus, had grasped that Jesus had power not just to bring one person back from the dead for a short time, but power over death itself. They had come to see that Jesus truly was the Son of God. What matters for them is not so much whether he can liberate them from the power of Rome, but the power of death. Indeed, can the threat of the authorities to kill Jesus really work against the one who has power over death. When Jesus defends Mary, he suggests the perfume is for his burial. Did Mary understand that Jesus’ death would not be the end of hopes of liberation, but the means of liberation from the power of the devil, sin and death?
How much of it Mary understood we cannot know, but I think from her experience with the raising of Lazarus and her understanding of who Jesus actually was, she knew better than most. Here was someone definitely worth her devotion, no matter what the authorities were going to do to him, she could trust that somehow Jesus would bring about the necessary revolution.
But the crisis is coming, time is running out, the Passover is only six days away.
So, Mary takes an enormously expensive amount of perfume, worth probably something like £20,000 in today’s money, and pours it on Jesus and specifically his feet. This is an amazing and powerful expression of devotion to Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God, the one with power over death. She holds nothing back, not her most costly perfume, not even her dignity as she wipes his feet with her hair.
And her act of devotion impacts the whole house. Perhaps in a lovely bit of eyewitness detail, John says, the whole house was filled with the smell of the perfume. Not surprising. But perhaps this detail also hints at something else. News of the beauty of her act of devotion will diffuse more widely.
In Mark’s version of this story Jesus says,
“Truly, I tell you wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told in memory of her.” (Mark 14:9)
- The impact and beauty of one person’s devotion will spread and draw others to the same level of devotion. When we show devotion to Jesus, then others will see and others will be drawn to value Jesus for themselves. We may struggle to find opportunities to talk about Jesus to our families and friends, but if they can see our devotion to him, that in itself will have a powerful impact. People are drawn to desire what other people desire. A powerful devotion will eventually draw others in as well.
Judas’ Priorities
What about Judas? Doesn’t he have a point with his comment. The perfume could have been sold and the money given to the poor. Isn’t this something Jesus would have wanted. After all, Jesus did not seek riches and wealth like the kings of his day, he did help the kind of people that the rich and powerful of his day would have nothing to do with. He even told one rich man to sell everything he had and give the money to the poor.
And Jesus does not dismiss Judas’s point completely. When he says, “You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” He shows us that there needs to be an ongoing generosity to the poor.
But again, the ‘You will not always have me,” seems to hint at the coming end of Jesus’ time on earth. He seems to be saying to Judas, yes the poor matter, but what matters at this moment of crisis, is whether you choose to be devoted to Jesus or run in fear because you think the authorities are closing in.
Judas had been one of the Twelve, one of Jesus’ closest group of followers. He had seem the miracles and the raising of Lazarus from the dead, yet he is too focussed on the powerful forces closing in on Jesus to destroy him.
Judas is about to switch sides. Mary may spend 300 silver coins worth of perfume to express her devotion to Jesus, but Judas will accept a tenth of that, 30 silver coins, to betray him and hand him over to the authorities that want him dead.
Judas may still express devotion to the poor, but he has lost his devotion to Jesus. Which is why he cannot understand or accept Mary’s act.
But did he even care about the poor? John says, actually Judas helped himself to the funds that were collected for the poor. The truth was that his lack of devotion to Jesus, went hand in hand with a devotion to money or wealth. The poor were an excuse to get more money, not the real concern of his heart.
Sadly the history of communism shows us that what is often expressed as a concern for the poor, can quickly turn into a grab for personal power and the associated wealth. The ideal of helping the poor is quickly overtaken by a greed for money and power.
In contrast, when the heart longs not for wealth or money, but is devoted to the one who gave up everything to die for us on the cross, then genuine concern for the poor soon follows.
Our Devotion and Priorities Today
I started by highlighting the contrast between Judas and Mary. It felt like the question was should we be devoted to Jesus or concerned for the poor. The reality is that it is not an either or question. Both are necessary. True concern for the poor arises from devotion to Jesus and the church at its best has demonstrated that through history.
So, what about us today?
Are you devoted to Jesus like Mary? Do you understand the gift of life for you and your loved ones that only he can bring? Will you express that devotion in visible ways in your life, so that others may become devoted to the one you are devoted to?
And does that devotion show in the way you spend your money? If not why not? The church exists to express devotion to Jesus and to encourage others to do the same, but it can only do so, when people give financially to support it. What percentage of your income do you give to the work of the church? Is that enough to show a real devotion to Jesus? It is easier than ever to set up regular giving to the church. Just of to the website and click on ‘Donate’ and you can set up regular giving to the church through that.
But are you also devoted to compassion for the poor? You may like Judas be keen to see other people give to help those in need, but do you give a significant amount yourself? How much do you give to charities like Christian Aid, Compassion or Tearfund that are working to help people out of poverty around the world? Does your budgeting really express your devotion in these areas.
I think all of us should be budgeting to give a significant proportion to the work of the church and the needs of the poor, but I know that for many where the bills are high and it is hard to make ends meet, this will be necessarily limited. But for those where that is not the case, I leave you with the words of Paul in 1 Timothy:
“Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”
(1 Timothy 6:17-19)
This Week’s Notices 6th April 2025
(Revelation 5:12)
“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and praise!” Revelation 5:12
Money is constantly in the news. Indeed, the business of government revolves around financial questions: What should be taxed? Should we spend our money on foreign aid or more defences? Should we raise taxes or cut benefits? These are the kinds of difficult choices that governments face. But they are also the kind of choices we face at a personal level. What we choose to do with our money says a lot about what and who we think is important in life.
This week, we are looking at the story of Jesus being anointed at Bethany (John 12:1-8). As Jesus reclines at a dinner held in honour of him, Mary anoints him with perfume worth the equivalent of a labourer’s annual salary. This is an extravagent and incredibly expensive act of devotion. For Mary, devotion to Jesus is what matters most.
Judas, however, complains that the perfume should have been sold and the money given to the poor. He has a point. In Mark 10, Jesus told the rich man to ‘sell everything and give to the poor.’ Judas seems to be expressing a devotion to caring for the poor. Surely, that’s a good use of money?
But Jesus defends Mary. She is seizing her last opportunity to express her devotion. Jesus will soon be gone, but the poor will remain, there will be time to spend money on them.
So, what do we spend our money on? Do we spend money on our personal needs? Do we support the ministry of the church to promote worship of Christ? Or do we give to charities that care for the poor? For Christians all these things are important, all should feature in our budgeting. We need to pray for wisdom on what proportion of our wealth we give to each.
Paul Worledge
Electoral Roll – Only 8 so far!!
The electoral roll is the list of members of St. George’s parish who have the right to vote at our annual meeting. Every six years, the roll has to be renewed from scratch and 2025 is one of those years. So, if you consider yourself a member of St. George’s then please complete an electoral roll application, whether you were on the electoral roll before or not. To qualify to be on the electoral roll, you must be baptised, over 16 and either live in the parish of St. George’s or have attended St. George’s for six months or more.
It’s quick and easy to fill in an online form: apply to be on the electoral roll. If you are not sure which parish you live in then you can check via this website.
Easter Services
Check out and share details of our Easter Services on the Website.
Churches Together Prayer Breakfast – Saturday 9-10am
Join members of churches from across Ramsgate for breakfast and prayer. This Saturday, we are at Newington Free Church.
Titanic Journey – 2-4pm, Sat. 5th April, St. George’s
Local historian, Bob Pryor presents, ‘My life with Titanic’. Tickets are £5 in advance and available onlineof £7 on the door.
St. Mark’s Spring Fare – Sat. 5th April, St. Mark’s
St. Mark’s are holding a Spring Fayre on Saturday 5th April, 10:30am-2:30pm. Admission is free. If you want to have a stall then please contact either Zena (07727 087313) or Helen (07974 123048). The cost for a stall is £10.
Men’s Group Evening Ramble – Thursday 10th April, 7pm
Meeting at 7pm at the West Cliff Boating Pool. 7:45pm return from Cliffsend Garage. A free event. Join us, there and back, or just one way. Transport can be offered for those living at a distance or only wishing to walk one way. For those who want to, we will aim to stop for a drink on the way back to the boating pool (cost not included). For more information contact Bruce Stokes, 07708 682464.
Treasurer Role
After many years of faithful service, Derek Tench is looking to step down as treasurer. This is an important role in the life of the church and involves various tasks: Bookkeeping, PAYE management for staff, reclaiming Gift Aid, Negotiating Utilities & Procurement and producing accounts for the annual report. If you think you might be able to take on some or all of these tasks, then please see Paul, Mark or Derek. Derek will of course offer training and support to whoever would like to take over.
Tower and Crypt Tours – Can you help?
Please contact Jemima on either 07971782477 or via email regenerationofficer@stgeorgechurchramsgate.uk if you are able to get involved with helping to host the tours.
They will be on during the summer to coincide with the Yard Sales and Heritage Open Days and we are also doing a couple of dates in May as well. The dates are Saturdays: 17th May, 24th May, 14th June, 12th July, 9th August, 13th September and 20th September.
St. George’s Day Parade
In preparation for the St. George’s Day parade on 27th April, GB Carnival are looking for donations of clean tin cans and plastic tubs. You can drop off your donations at the Carnival Club in St. George’s Hall 5-7pm every Wed. or at Community Soup in the church from 12 -2pm every Wed. and Sat.
Links to Share:
Larry Sanger’s Testimony
Larry Sanger is a co-founder of Wikipedia and Philosopher. He has recently come out as a Christian and this testimony explains his journey to faith. It is a very long testimony with a lot of deep thinking, but well worth a listen it read. Watch video (90 mins) or read.
Blaise Pascal and the Cultural Wars
There is a lot of talk these days about culture wars. I this article, Graham Tomlin points out that they are nothing new and looks to some wisdom from Blaise Pascal about how we should respond to them. Read more (10 mins).
Finally, let’s prayerfully consider how we use our money.
Yours in Christ
Paul Worledge
(Priest in Charge, St. George’s Ramsgate)
Weekly Calendar
Sunday 6th April – Fifth Sunday in Lent
Eucharist (St George’s, 9:30am) – Reading: John 12:1-8
Monday 7th
Prayer Meeting (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Craft Group (St. George’s Hall, Soup Kitchen) – 2:00-3:30pm
Study Group (South Eastern Road) – 7:15-9:30pm
Tuesday 8th
Prayer Meeting (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Coffee Morning (St. George’s Hall) – 11:00am-12:00pm
Study Group (Lyndhurst Road) – 2:30-4:00pm
Community Meal (St. George’s Hall) – 5:30-7:00pm
Wednesday 9th
Study Group (Langdale Avenue) – 10:00-12:00 noon
Community Soup (St. George’s Church) – 12:00-2:00pm
Study Group (South Eastern Road) – 7:30-9:30pm
Thursday 10th
Prayer Meeting (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Saturday 12th
Prayer Meeting (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Community Soup (St. George’s Church) – 12:00-2:00pm
Titanic Talk (St. George’s Church) – 2:00-4:00pm
Sunday 13th – Palm Sunday
Eucharist (St George’s, 9:30am) – Reading: Luke 19:28-40
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.
St. George’s Website
- What’s On – a page which lets you know what is happening this week and gives information about upcoming events.
- Notices – You can read the latest notices on this page.
- Sermons – Read a transcript of a recent sermon or watch the YouTube version recorded at St. Luke’s. There are now videos for all the sermons over the summer.
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@stlukesramsgate.org), so that we can keep records of who has done the training.
Easter 2025
Easter is the main season of celebration at the heart of the Christian faith. It’s not just about Easter Eggs or Easter Sunday itself. Rather it recalls the story of Jesus’ last days and great events such as his riding into Jerusalem on a donkey (Palm Sunday), his Last Supper with his friends (Maundy Thursday), his death on the cross (Good Friday) and his resurrection from the dead (Easter Sunday). Join us on any or all of these days and discover why this story still matters today.
This year’s Easter Services include:
Palm Sunday – 13th April
Holy Communion (9:30am), with Palm Crosses
Maundy Thursday – 17th April
Holy Communion (St. Luke’s 12noon or St. George’s 6:30pm)
Good Friday – 18th April
The Easter Story (St. Luke’s, 10:30am) – an interactive telling of the events of Easter for families and small children. This year includes augmented reality!
Churches Together Service (Ramsgate Salvation Army, 10:30am)
Churches Together – Good Friday witness (Town Centre, 12 noon)
Good Friday Meditation (St. George’s, 1:00-3:00pm, 4×30 min. slots, join us for all or some of the slots)
Easter Sunday – 20th April
Easter Eucharist (St. George’s, 9:30am) ending with Sunday School (from 10:30am)
Jesus’ Mother (John 19:25-27)
“When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.” (John 19:26-27)
The communities we surround ourselves with can be places where we can mother others and be mothered through being nurtured, cared for, guided and prayed for all through God’s love whoever we are and whatever our family roles. Let’s be praying that we can deeply understand God’s love for us today as we share that love with others.
This Week’s Notices 30th March 2025
(John 19:26-27)
We can trace the origins of Mothering Sunday to the 16th Century, when people returned to the church they were baptised in (their ‘Mother’ Church) on the fourth Sunday of Lent. As time went on, it became a day when servants of households and estates could return home to visit family members, and the day started to become more associated with family bonds as well as it’s religious roots. Whatever your experiences with Mothering Sunday, knowing the day is at its heart based on the values of community, reuniting with loved ones and remembering your connections with your ‘mother’ church are great and inspiring things to be reminded of.
The communities we surround ourselves with can be places where we can mother others and be mothered through being nurtured, cared for, guided and prayed for all through God’s love whoever we are and whatever our family roles. Let’s be praying that we can deeply understand God’s love for us today as we share that love with others.
Beth Keenan
Don’t forget the clocks go forward early Sunday morning – don’t be late for church! Also, Sunday School will be joining us at 10:30am.
Titanic Journey – 2-4pm, Sat. 5th April, St. George’s
Local historian, Bob Pryor presents, ‘My life with Titanic’. Tickets are £5 in advance and available onlineof £7 on the door.
St. Mark’s Spring Fare – Sat. 5th April, St. Mark’s
St. Mark’s are holding a Spring Fayre on Saturday 5th April, 10:30am-2:30pm. Admission is free. If you want to have a stall then please contact either Zena (07727 087313) or Helen (07974 123048). The cost for a stall is £10.
Men’s Group Evening Ramble – Thursday 10th April, 7pm
Meeting at 7pm at the West Cliff Boating Pool. 7:45pm return from Cliffsend Garage. A free event. Join us, there and back, or just one way. Transport can be offered for those living at a distance or only wishing to walk one way. For those who want to, we will aim to stop for a drink on the way back to the boating pool (cost not included). For more information contact Bruce Stokes, 07708 682464.
Electoral Roll
The electoral roll is the list of members of St. George’s parish who have the right to vote at our annual meeting. Every six years, the roll has to be renewed from scratch and 2025 is one of those years. So, if you consider yourself a member of St. George’s then please complete an electoral roll application, whether you were on the electoral roll before or not. To qualify to be on the electoral roll, you must be baptised, over 16 and either live in the parish of St. George’s or have attended St. George’s for six months or more.
It’s quick and easy to fill in an online form: apply to be on the electoral roll. If you are not sure which parish you live in then you can check via this website.
Treasurer Role
After many years of faithful service, Derek Tench is looking to step down as treasurer. This is an important role in the life of the church and involves various tasks: Bookkeeping, PAYE management for staff, reclaiming Gift Aid, Negotiating Utilities & Procurement and producing accounts for the annual report. If you think you might be able to take on some or all of these tasks, then please see Paul, Mark or Derek. Derek will of course offer training and support to whoever would like to take over.
Youth and Children’s Pastor
St. Luke’s is now advertising for a Youth and Children’s Pastor. You can check out the details on the website. The deadline for applications is on 31st March. Please pray that we can find a really good candidate for this important role. Find out more…
Tower and Crypt Tours – Can you help?
Please contact Jemima on either 07971782477 or via email regenerationofficer@stgeorgechurchramsgate.uk if you are able to get involved with helping to host the tours.
They will be on during the summer to coincide with the Yard Sales and Heritage Open Days and we are also doing a couple of dates in May as well. The dates are Saturdays: 17th May, 24th May, 14th June, 12th July, 9th August, 13th September and 20th September.
St. George’s Day Parade
In preparation for the St. George’s Day parade on 27th April, GB Carnival are looking for donations of clean tin cans and plastic tubs. You can drop off your donations at the Carnival Club in St. George’s Hall 5-7pm every Wed. or at Community Soup in the church from 12 -2pm every Wed. and Sat.
Links to Share:
Is Good Liturgy the new weapon in a world of Distraction
There is some evidence that traditional liturgy is becoming more attractive in our constantly distracted world. Read more… (10 mins)
Why are young evangelicals embracing more traditional churches?
This may be based on a more USA context, but it is an interesting read. Read more
Finally, let’s give thanks to God for our mum’s and learn to share the love!
Yours in Christ
Paul Worledge
(Priest in Charge, St. George’s Ramsgate)
Weekly Calendar
Sunday 30th – Mothering Sunday (Fourth in Lent)
Eucharist (St George’s, 9:30am) – Reading: John 19:25-27
Sunday School (St George’s, 10:30am)
Monday 31st
Prayer Meeting (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Craft Group (St. George’s Hall, Soup Kitchen) – 2:00-3:30pm
Study Group (South Eastern Road) – 7:15-9:30pm
Tuesday 1st April
Prayer Meeting (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Coffee Morning (St. George’s Hall) – 11:00am-12:00pm
Study Group (Lyndhurst Road) – 2:30-4:00pm
Community Meal (St. George’s Hall) – 5:30-7:00pm
Wednesday 2nd
Study Group (Langdale Avenue) – 10:00-12:00 noon
Community Soup (St. George’s Church) – 12:00-2:00pm
Study Group (South Eastern Road) – 7:30-9:30pm
Thursday 3rd
Prayer Meeting (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Saturday 5th
CTiR Prayer Breakfast (Newington Free Church) – 9:00-10:00am
Community Soup (St. George’s Church) – 12:00-2:00pm
Titanic Talk (St. George’s Church) – 2:00-4:00pm
Sunday 6th – Fifth Sunday in Lent
Eucharist (St George’s, 9:30am) – Reading: John 12:1-8
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.
St. George’s Website
- What’s On – a page which lets you know what is happening this week and gives information about upcoming events.
- Notices – You can read the latest notices on this page.
- Sermons – Read a transcript of a recent sermon or watch the YouTube version recorded at St. Luke’s. There are now videos for all the sermons over the summer.
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@stlukesramsgate.org), so that we can keep records of who has done the training.
Jesus’ Invitation (Isaiah 55)
“It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost from the spring of the water of life.” (Revelation 21:6)
In our verse above, Jesus makes clear that when we come to him and become part of his family, we receive freely from him the water of life. That is life in abundance, eternal life. This is God’s amazing grace. Will you accept the invitation?
St. George's Church Ramsgate 