“Honour your Father and your Mother as the LORD your God commanded you, so that you may live long and that it may go well with you in the land the LORD your God is giving you.”
(Deuteronomy 5:16)
There is increasing interest in the question of how to live a long and healthy life. Even Netflix has muscled in on this interest with a new show called, Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones. The idea of ‘Blue Zones’ comes from a study published in 2004 that identified Sardinia’s Nuoro Province as the place with the highest concentration of centenarians. Since then other ‘blue zones’ have been identified around the world, areas where there are an exceptionally high number of people living to over 100. What can we learn from the people in these areas? You’ll have to watch the Netflix show!
The Bible also gives advice. The Ten Commandments tell us how to live a long and happy life: honour your parents.
Why does honouring your parents bring about a long and healthy life? We respect and learn from those we honour. Our parents are the best people to learn from, because they have decades more life experience in the culture we live in, but also because they are the ones that care most about our well-being. In addition, if we help to create a community that honours and cares for its elders, then we will reap the benefits of being part of that community in our old age.
What is true of our earthly family, is also true of our Christian family. Paul often speaks of himself as ‘a father in Christ’ (1 Cor. 4:15) to those in the churches he founded and encourages older women to be good teachers and role models for younger women (Titus 2:3-5). This matters, because as Christians we do not just want to grow up to live a long and happy life, but to take hold of the eternal life given to us in Jesus Christ.
Paul Worledge
Coming Sunday’s Service – 11am
This week our Sunday Service includes the normal groups for children and hymns, songs, prayers and Bible teaching. The subject this week is the 5th Commandment, “Honour your parents!” We will be celebrating Holy Communion.
The Following Sunday’s Service (22nd) – 11am
This will be an All Age baptism service, looking at the Bible story of Esther.
Weekly Calendar
This week the email is for two weeks. The next email will be on 27th October.
Sunday 15th October
Creative Group Singing Practice (St Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:30am
Family Communion (St. Luke’s Church), Reading: Ephesians 6:1-4, 11:00am-12:00pm
Monday 16th
Daily Prayer (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Study Group (South Eastern Road) – 7:30-9:30pm
Tuesday 17th
Daily Prayer (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Christ Church Toddlers @ St Luke’s (St. Luke’s Church Hall) – 9:30-11:30am
Study Group (Lyndhurst Road) – 2:30-4:00pm
Wednesday 18th
Study Group (Langdale Avenue) – 10-12 noon
Depression & Anxiety Self-Help Group (Perry Room) – 6:00-7:30pm
Study Group (South Eastern Road) – 7:30-9:30pm
Thursday 19th
Daily Prayer (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Cafe4All (St. Luke’s Church), Coffee and Chat for all – 10:00-11:30am.
Time4All (St. Luke’s Church) – 11:30-15:00.
Friday 20th
Play and Praise (St. Luke’s Church Hall) – 10:00-11:30am
Gather, Women’s Drop-In (St. Luke’s Church) – 12:30-2:30pm
Saturday 21st
Daily Prayer (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Sunday 22nd
Creative Group Singing Practice (St Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:30am
Family Service (St. Luke’s Church), Reading: Mark 12:1-12, 11:00am-12:00pm
Monday 23rd
Daily Prayer (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Study Group (South Eastern Road) – 7:30-9:30pm
Tuesday 24th
Daily Prayer (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Wednesday 25th
Study Group (South Eastern Road) – 7:30-9:30pm
Thursday 26th
Daily Prayer (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Cafe4All (St. Luke’s Church), Coffee and Chat for all – 10:00-11:30am.
Time4All (St. Luke’s Church) – 11:30-15:00.
Friday 27th
Gather, Women’s Drop-In (St. Luke’s Church) – 12:30-2:30pm
Saturday 28th
Daily Prayer (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Sunday 29th (Note the clocks go back at 2am on this day!)
Creative Group Singing Practice (St Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:30am
Family Service (St. Luke’s Church), Reading: Esther 4:6-17, 11:00am-12:00pm
Flo Baldock’s Funeral
Sadly, Flo Baldock a longstanding member of St. Luke’s passed away on Monday evening. Her funeral will be at St. Luke’s at 11:00am on Monday 30th October. There will be a wake in the church hall afterwards.
Depression and Anxiety group
Ramsgate Depression & Anxiety Self-Help group meets this Wed, 18 October, at 6-7pm in the Perry Room in the church hall We will be discovering which personality types we have according to the Myers-Briggs personality test. There are leaflets about the group on the table at the back of churchFor more details about the group, contact Pauline (p.emptage@sky.com) or David (davidw.hawthorn1@sky.com).
Light Party – St. Luke’s Church, 31st October, 4:30-6:30pm
A great alternative to Halloween, for all ages. Food, fun and treats (no tricks). Fancy dress, please (but not scary). Children must be with an adult at the party. Please sign up on the sheet at the back of church, if you would like to come and on the separate sheet, if you can offer to bring some food to share on the night.
Prince of Egypt – the West End Musical
Prince of Egypt (PG) the spectacular Dreamworks West End musical about Moses is showing at Thanet (Westwood Cross) Vue cinema on: Thursday 19th October at 7pm and Sunday 22nd October at 2.30pm. Find out more.
Quiz Night in support of ACTS (Active Christianity in Thanet Schools)
This is a fundraising event at St. Philip’s Church, Saturday 4th November, 6:30pm for 7:30pm start. Bring your own food and snacks (wine and beer allowed). Come as a table of 8 or make a table on the night. Tickets £5 donation to ACTS. Book via email: acts.schoolswork@gmail.com. Payment on booking by BACS to ACTS or at the door.
Links to Share:
Israel and Hamas
This is a powerful, thoughtful and reflective initial response to the horrors occurring in Israel and the Gaza strip from a Christian writer, who has some personal connections. Read more.
The Transition to Fatherhood
The birth of a child is the birth of a father. The birth of the first child marks the transition to fatherhood in men’s lives. This is a developmental milestone, a new phase in adult life with unfamiliar tasks and responsibilities. The transition is more striking for most men who become fathers now than it was for their fathers and grandfathers. Read more…
Finally, let’s make sure we honour both our earthly and spiritual parents.
Yours in Christ
Paul Worledge
(Vicar, St. Luke’s Ramsgate)
St. Luke's Church Ramsgate 