“And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.”
(Mark 1:7)
Last week Paul challenged us in this season of Advent to commit to what will last. We want to be prepared for eternity, Jesus is going to come back and we want to encourage others to be prepared to meet with Him too.
In our passage this Sunday, Mark begins his account of the good news of Jesus with a reminder about Isaiah’s account of a messenger who was to prepare the way of the Lord. We are then introduced to John the Baptist who is calling his listeners to repentance and forgiveness of sins. And this was his message: “After me comes the one more powerful than I, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.”
We can look at the current state of the world and our own lives and feel hopeless, but that is not the story of advent. Advent is a time of hope. God’s plan to bring salvation and forgiveness, to bring hope to the hopeless was enacted through the birth of Jesus.
I’m reminded of a worship song by Noel Richards that I sang growing up: There’s power in the name of Jesus. It talks about the power of Jesus and how because of Jesus: demons will flee, captives are freed, God’s enemies shall be crushed, we are saved and given the ability to stand in faith.
Whatever our circumstances, Jesus has power! Are we prepared to trust in the power of Jesus? Do we try and figure out things in our own strength. Jesus gives forgiveness when we don’t always get it right. We can bring every concern, heartache, moment of rejoicing to Him. He has the power. Let’s not forget that.
Claire Coleman
This Saturday (9th) Christmas Fair
The Social Events team will be holding a Christmas Fair in St. Luke’s Church on Saturday 9th December from 10:30am to 2:30pm. Do come along, enjoy the fun and bring friends and family.
This Week’s Sunday Service – 11am
Join us for our Sunday service this week, with the last week before Christmas of our children’s groups and all the normal sung praises to God, prayers and Bible Teaching on John the Baptist.
St. Luke’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. You can also listen to the sermon through the podcast website castbox.
Weekly Calendar
Sunday 10th December
Family Service (St. Luke’s Church), Reading: Mark 1:1-8,
11:00am-12:00pm
Monday 11th
Daily Prayer (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Study Group (Margate Road) – 7:30-9:30pm
Tuesday 12th
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
Wednesday 13th
Study Group (South Eastern Road) – 7:30-9:30pm
Thursday 14th
Daily Prayer (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Cafe4All (St. Luke’s Church), Coffee and Chat for all, Cakes and Carols!
– 10:00-12:00am.
Time4All (St. Luke’s Church) – 12:00-15:00.
Friday 15th
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
Creative Group Singing Practice (St Luke’s Church) – 4:30-6:00pm
Saturday 16th
Daily Prayer (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Service of Remembrance (St Luke’s Church) – 6:30-7:30pm
Sunday 17th
Family Carol Service (St. Luke’s Church), Reading: John 1.6-8, 19-28,
11:00am-12:00pm
There is No Rose! – Concert (St George’s Church) – 7:00-9:00pm
Christmas Unwrapped – This Tuesday – Urgent
Once again, we are hosting four Year 6 groups from local schools for Christmas Unwrapped a 90-minute interactive exploration of the Christian message behind Christmas. If you can help out on the day in anyway on either the morning or afternoon or in helping to buy biscuits and decorating material, then please let Paul know as soon as possible.
Christmas Leaflet Distribution
We now have 5,000 leaflets detailing the Christmas Services across St. Luke’s, St. George’s and the Sailor’s church. The aim is to deliver as many as possible through front doors across the three parishes of St. Luke’s, St. George’s and Christ Church. If you can deliver some:
- Choose a road on one of the maps and check no-one else has yet chosen it.
- Cross it off on one of the maps, so no-one else chooses it.
- Pick up a pile of leaflets that you think will give you enough to deliver.
- Deliver to the road and return any spare leaflets next week.
Feel free to also take posters and leaflets to put up in visible spaces.
Christmas – Mince Pies
We love to offer Mince Pies at our Christmas services starting on 16th December. Please bring donations of mince pies in from next Sunday.
Carol Singing at Ramsgate Care Centre
If you would like to be part of a small ‘choir’ to sing Carols at the Ramsgate Care Centre on Monday 18th from 2:15-3:00pm, then please see Paul, the vicar.
There is No Rose! (Baroque Concert)
Petra and friends will be holding another Baroque concert in the beautiful setting of St. George’s at the end of the Christmas Tree Festival on Sunday 17th December at 7pm. Tickets £15 on the door, £12 online and £10 in church. Under 18s are free. Buy online now. (There appears to be a problem with online ticket sales at present, but we are working to resolve this).
Links to Share:
Christmas 3-2-1
A clever animated video, that uses words from Christmas Carols to explain the meaning of Christmas. Watch…
In the Bleak Mid-Winter
In a world of devastation, J.S. Averill shares honest feeling of hopelessness – yet is not overcome. Read more…
Finally, let’s look to Jesus for our hope.
Yours in Christ
Paul Worledge
(Vicar, St. Luke’s Ramsgate)
St. Luke's Church Ramsgate 