When I heard these words, I sat down and wept and mourned for days, fasting and praying before the God of heaven
(Nehemiah 1:4)
We look at the news and can be disheartened by the sorrow, conflict and difficulties around us. We hear of individuals’ struggles with health and well-being, even in the lives of those within our own family networks and church communities. We hear and see these things. There are times when all we can do is grieve for those situations around us. Are we motivated to grieve? Do we think about fasting and praying? Are we motivated to act? What would that action look like?
Nehemiah is an activist type person, he sees things happening with his people, he grieves and then he wants to act. We are introduced to him around 13 years after Ezra left to return to Jerusalem. He hears reports of how the community in Jerusalem are doing and is distraught that the walls -which symbolise safety, security and strength – are in ruins. His normal propensity for action is tempered by a period of grieving in fasting and prayer. Nehemiah realising that for any action to happen his priorities are with God who is the one who ultimately acts, facilitates and enables the remnant to rebuild a centre for God’s people again.
It is only after prayer and fasting that the opportunity for action comes. There is a need in our community and in our lives for God’s hope to be ever pervasive. We might be longing for action to happen as a church – to see lives blessed and transformed, but how we go about this needs to be powered by our God. Fasting and praying in grief and in discernment are not current disciplines for many of us – I’m not sure I have even had much teaching or practice myself. But maybe it is something we can explore as we put our priorities in God’s hands as we seek his way ahead, grieving for the difficulties in our world and seeking God’s hope.
Claire Coleman
This Week’s Sunday Service – 11am
This Sunday, we will be sharing Holy Communion together. Claire continues her series on Ezra-Nehemiah, as we think about the role of Praying and Fasting (Nehemiah 1) in our lives, and our normal children’s groups will be running.
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 21st
Family Communion Service (St. Luke’s Church), Reading: Nehemiah 1,
11:00am-12:00pm
Monday 22nd
Daily Prayer (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Study Group (South Eastern Road) – 7:15-9:30pm
Tuesday 23rd
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 24th
Study Group (Langdale Avenue) – 10-12 noon
Study Group (South Eastern Road) – 7:30-9:30pm
Thursday 25th
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 26th
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 27th
Daily Prayer (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Sunday 28th
Family Service (St. Luke’s Church), Reading: Nehemiah 5,
11:00am-12:00pm
Prayer Requests
- Gloria Tipler: give thanks that the operation has gone well and pray for a good recovery.
- Caroline Perkins in hospital with an infection.
- Peter Ovenden and family after the death of his mum, Joy.
- Andrew McMillan waiting to see a Cardiologist.
- Venna Styles, for improved mental health
- Audrey Tucker struggling with dehydration and lymphedema.
- Those in need of God’s ongoing healing: Kelly Costello, Wendy Fuller, Emily Gardiner-Harley and Lorraine (Julie’s friend).
- Those undergoing cancer treatment: Kelly (Caroline’s sister-in-law), Michelle (Terry de Vere’s wife) and Collette Judge.
Please also continue to pray for Rosa, Mitch Styles, Jean Hann, Shirley Crabb, Joy Smithers, Pauline Emptage, Karen (Gloria’s daughter in law)
What should we be asking God?
We are making 2024 a year of Discernment for our churches, where we are seeking to find out where God wants to lead us in the coming years. As a first step in this process, we want to gather questions that we think we should be asking God. We are opening this up to the whole congregation and others. So, please pray and consider submitting a question via our online form. If you cannot use an online form, then please write it down and hand it to Paul, Claire or James.
Ventures for Young People
If you know of any young people looking for a fantastic holiday, where they can also make friends with Christians from around the country and learn more about the Christian faith, then we would recommend CPAS Ventures: https://www.ventures.org.uk/schoolventures/churches or see the brochures at the back of church.
Love is all you need – Community Meal Fundraising Concert
This concert at St. George’s church on Friday 9th February at 7:30pm is to raise money for the running of the Community Meal at St. George’s Hall on Tuesdays. Tickets are £8 in advance and now available online or £10 on the door.
Pancake Party
Pancaked, fun and games on Tuesday 13th February, 4:00-6:00pm, St. Luke’s Church, organised by the St. Luke’s and St. George’s social committee. Please bring your own frying pan!
Vacancy: Hoverers
We are looking for more people who can offer to be on a rota to hover the church after the Sunday Service. Interested? Please let Paul or one of the church wardens know.
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.
Links to Share:
Platform society
Our society is changing. This podcast looks at how a platform society is emerging as another form of individualism and affecting the culture of our society. It explores how significantly large digital platforms are connected to global corporations and helps us think how that impacts us as a society and as a church. Listen here to this 40 minute podcast.
A secret Disciple
What is it like to be a believer when it is too dangerous to let those closest to you know? Read this account of a woman who is a Muslim Background Believer. Read more…
Finally, let’s keep studying God’s word and explore different practices that can help us know him better and live as he calls us.
Yours in Christ
Claire Coleman
(Curate, St. Luke’s Ramsgate)
St. Luke's Church Ramsgate 