But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead,
the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep.”
(1 Corinthians 15:20)
What we believe about death effects how we live our life. For starters, if you believe as a fundamental truth that the totality of life is contained in the short span of time we live on this earth, that death marks the end and that there is nothing beyond, then we will want our lives to be focussed on self-fulfilment, completing “bucket lists”, enjoyment and fearing death beyond all else.
In the face of the death of loved ones, such a clear-cut view of death is rarely expressed. Most people want to find comfort in some kind of otherworldly spiritual life beyond death. Such beliefs, however, rarely reflect on any consequences in death for our actions in life and offer little understanding or justification for what such a life beyond death might be like. As such these views have little impact on the way we live our lives.
Alternatively, the belief in reincarnation does at first glance seem to encourage living a good life now, in order to have a better next life. Yet it also encourages a sense of entitlement to present privileges and status. Thus, it promotes the despising of those less well off: they deserve their position in society, it is the result of their actions in a previous life.
The Christian belief in life beyond death is different. It is one we can have confidence in, because it is rooted in the historic event of Jesus’ actual resurrection. He is the first fruits of those who die, meaning that our life beyond death will be ultimately like his, a bodily physical resurrection, to a much better transformed life in close relationship with God. Yet, there is a consequence to how we live this life. God will judge the dead. It’s never too late to turn back to Him and receive his amazing grace and start living life for him now, but we do need to align ourselves with God in this life, if we want his blessings in the next.
Paul Worledge
This Week’s Sunday Service – 11am
Ifs and Buts (1 Corinthians 15:12-34)
Our children’s groups are back as normal this Sunday as we join together to continue to focus on and celebration the resurrection of Jesus from the dead in this Easter season. This week we come back to 1 Corinthians 15, a long section in Paul’s letter that reflects on the evidence for, the meaning of and the implications of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.
Beetle Drive and Games – This Friday
Friday 19th April, 7:00-9:00pm, St. George’s Church Hall
Tickets are £1, which includes snacks and a drink. They can be bought from Peter or Tonya.
St. George’s Day Celebration, Sunday 28th April
To mark St. George’s day this year, there will be a joint service at St. George’s on Sunday 28th April at 11am, followed by a St. George’s day parade (like last year).
Electoral Roll and Annual Meeting
St. Luke’s electoral roll, is a kind of membership list for the church that enables you to vote at our Annual Meeting (APCM). If you are not already on the electoral roll, have been attending St. Luke’s for six months or more, are baptised and over 16, then please fill in one of the electoral roll forms, available at the back of church and return to James Patterson by Thursday 25th April. The annual meeting will be on Sunday 12th May at 12:30pm after the normal Sunday Service.
Parenting for Teen’s Course
BRF have produced a course to help people with parenting teens. If you are interested in taking the course or even running a course, then please check out their website, then let Paul know if this is something you want to do.
Growing Faith Hub (Helping children and Young people grow in Faith)
The next training session for the Growing Faith Hub is at St Mary Bredin on Thursday 2nd May 12-2pm (lunch provided). This training is entitled ‘Your Church and Community’ and will focus on how best to engage as a church within your local community. If you would like to attend, please email Jen, including any dietary requirements and also let Paul know you are going.
Depression and Anxiety Self-Help Group
The group meets this Wednesday, 17 April, from 6-7.30pm in the Perry Room in St Luke’s Church Hall. Our theme will be Setting emotional boundaries. The group is open to anyone 18 and above who experiences depression and/or anxiety. All meetings are free.
Prayer for the Nations
Join us as we hear first-hand, to pray for worship, and celebrate the cultures, peoples and countries of the world every third Friday at 7:30 pm to 9pm (next one is Friday 19th) at 45 Northdown Rd, Cliftonville, Margate CT9 2RN. Ring the bell at the bookshop door. The prayer focus for April is Rwanda.
Links to Share:
Easter, just another spring festival?
This animated video from the Bible Project gives a powerful summary of the last days of Jesus as told in Luke 19-23. Watch 4 minute video.
Easter is for Atheists
In this 5 minute read, Graham Tomlin explores how the story of Jesus’s resurrection is often lumped in with other religious myths celebrated in spring. Yet, despite the similarities, the resurrection is also fundamentally distinctive. Read more…
How should we understand God’s ordering of violence in the Old Testament?
In this long video, there is a helpful discussion about one of the most difficult questions for us to answer as Christians: ‘How can a God of love order violence in the Old Testament?” Watch hour long video…
Finally, let’s continue to live out the implications of Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.
Yours in Christ
Paul Worledge
(Vicar, St. Luke’s Ramsgate)
Weekly Calendar
Sunday 14th April
Family Service (St. Luke’s Church), 1 Cor. 15:12-34, 11:00am-12:00pm
Monday 15th
Daily Prayer (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Study Group (Margate Road) – 7:15-9:30pm
Tuesday 16th
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 17th
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 18th
Daily Prayer (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Cafe4All (St. Luke’s Church), Coffee and Chat for all – 10:00-11:30am.
Friday 19th
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
Beetle Drive & Games (St. George’s Church Hall) – 7:00-9:00pm
Saturday 20th
Daily Prayer (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Sunday 21st
Creative Group Singing Practice (St Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:30pm
Family Service (St. Luke’s Church), 1 Cor. 15:35-49, 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. 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.
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.
St. Luke's Church Ramsgate 