“There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him.”
(John 1:6-7)
This third Sunday of Advent is traditionally one where we remember John the Baptist as the modern prophet who came to testify about who Jesus was. John’s part in God’s story was to come and be a witness. He invited people to come and be ready to receive the truth about Jesus in their lives, and to believe in Him.
The modern worship song Light of the world talks about how Jesus stepped into the dark world to be its light – ‘Light of the world you stepped down into darkness’. Jesus came to bring awareness to the dark things of this world, to illuminate injustice, to convict us of sin that can destroy lives, and to shine on the path of living life in all its fullness, one that is full of compassion and care, one that comes from believing in him.
The song goes on to talk about how for our sake Jesus became poor – ‘all for loves sake became poor’. Jesus gave up his God-ness and came in the form of a baby. Not a baby from a royal palace but a baby in a poor family. There is evidence of this in the bible in terms of what sacrifices his family made at his dedication. Babies have no status, they have no control of their bodily functions, not only that, Jesus was born and laid where animals were – if you’ve been in stables, they aren’t often beautifully fragrant places, they stink. Jesus entered this world in poverty, because He loves us – you and me – the entire world.
Like John, witnessing to the Light, let us also be people (not just this season) who share the good news of Jesus who came in poverty, to bring transformation for all – the greatest gift given – let’s embrace this gift and pass it on.
Claire Coleman
Christmas Services
For a full list of our Christmas Services check out the website. Do consider sharing this page on social media as a way of helping to advertise our services. The Family Carol Service this Sunday, the Traditional Carol Service on Christmas Eve and the Christmas Day service will be live streamed. The Service of Remembrance and the Crib Service will not be live streamed. Live streamed services will be accessible from the website as well as our YouTube channel.
This Week’s Sunday Service – 11am
Join us for our Family Carol service, with carols, readings, a testimony and a children’s talk. All with refreshments and mince pies afterwards!!
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 17th December
Family Carol Service (St. Luke’s Church), Reading: John 1:6-8, 19-28,
11:00am-12:00pm
There is No Rose! – Baroque Concert (St George’s Church) – 7:00-9:00pm
Monday 18th
Daily Prayer (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Tuesday 19th
Daily Prayer (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Wednesday 20th
Depression & Anxiety Self-Help Group (Perry Room) – 6:00-7:30pm
Study Group (South Eastern Road) – 7:30-9:30pm
Thursday 21st
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 22nd
Creative Group Singing Practice (St Luke’s Church) – 4:30-6:00pm
Saturday 23rd
Daily Prayer (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Sunday 24th
Crib Service (St Luke’s Church) – 4:00-5:00pm
Traditional Carol Service (St. Luke’s Church) – 6:30-7:30pm
Monday 25th
Christmas Day All Age Communion (St. Luke’s Church) – 11:00am-12:00pm
Sunday 31st
Family Service (St. Luke’s Church), Reading: Luke 2:15-21,
11:00am-12:00pm
Please note that this is the last notice sheet until 2024! There are no Prayer Meetings or other meetings between Christmas and 2nd January, apart from the Sunday Services on Sunday 31st January. From 2nd January most normal meetings restart.
Tear Fund Christmas Appeal
Our collections during the Christmas Services will be going towards the Tear Fund Christmas appeal. Tear Fund is a Christian relief agency working through the local church to combat poverty around the world. Find out more…
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) – This Sunday
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).
Hope Explored – January 2024
As a follow up to our Christmas services we will be running a short three session course in January called, Hope Explored. This is a great opportunity for people interested in discovering how Christianity can offer hope, peace and purpose in our world. For regular group members it will also be a chance to try out a new evangelistic course that they might want to use with a friend or friends. To sign up, please use one of the cards or the online form. If you are not already in a small group and want to sign up for this course, then please fill in the online form to request an invitation in the New Year.
Christmas Fair – Thank You!
A big thank you to all who helped the Christmas Fair last Saturday be such a success. There were many visitors who do not normally come to church and we raised over £900 for St. Luke’s and St. George’s.
Depression and Anxiety Self-Help Group
The Depression & Anxiety Self-Help group meets on Wednesday 20 December from 6-7.30pm in the Perry Room in the church hall. Our theme will be Coping with Christmas. All welcome. For more details contact Pauline (p.emptage@sky.com) or David (07881 582800 or davidw.hawthorn@sky.com).
Planned Giving Reminder
If you have not yet responded to our letter about planned giving to St. Luke’s then please do as soon as possible. We have seen an increase in committed giving, but we still need significantly more to be able to plan a balanced budget for the church. Remember you can now set up planned giving using the Parish Giving Scheme.
Christmas Unwrapped – Thank You!
Thank you to the team who helped to welcome some very soggy children to Christmas Unwrapped on Tuesday. Apart from the torrential rain, it was a great success.
ACTS
Christmas Unwrapped was carried out in partnership with ACTS (Active Christianity in Thanet Schools). This is one of the local missions we support. Maggie from ACTS writes:
As another year draws to a close, ACTS reflects on all the thousands of children we have reached this year with the good news of the Gospel and particularly those children we have reached in this season of Advent and Christmas!
The start to the academic year in September has been busier than it has for some years with new schools connecting to ACTS as well as those that have reconnected. We give God thanks for these relationships and His blessing on them. We also give thanks for His provision for our work to continue and in looking back we remember His goodness to ACTS through the blessing of giving from all the individuals and churches that have given to ACTS in the past year. We want you to know that we are so grateful for what you have given. It has made a tremendous difference and has enabled us to reach even more of the children in Thanet’s Primary schools. We continue with all of this and pray for God’s guidance, wisdom and provision as we seek to find ways that we can take ACTS work into Secondary schools by continuing to work in partnership with local churches.
Please see the attached newsletter for more information.,
Links to Share:
The Earth-Shaking Consequence of Christmas
The radical uniqueness of the Christmas story can be easily lost in a culture over-familiar with carols, nativity scenes, and Christmas cards. The birth of Jesus is not, for Christians, merely the birth of the founder of their religion… read more.
Christmas with the Cheeky Pandas
The Cheeky Pandas have joined forces with the Church of England to create a fun, faith-based children’s video series for the Advent season!
Join us to explore the Nativity through crafts, sketches and jokes. With the help of CBeebies’ own Gemma Hunt, we bring you this wonderful resource to use in your churches, schools and homes!
Four episodes are now available on YouTube, along with a Christmas craft or activity based on the week’s theme. Why not use them with your children or grandchildren to help them understand the true meaning of Christmas.
Finally, let’s celebrate the birth of Jesus,
Yours in Christ
Paul Worledge
(Vicar, St. Luke’s Ramsgate)
St. Luke's Church Ramsgate 