God’s divine power has given us everything we need for life.

(2 Peter 1:3a)

This verse from Peter’s second letter reassures us that by God’s power we have all we need for life. What does that mean? Because when we look at the needs in the world, when we think of organizations like Compassion who are seeking to release children from poverty in Jesus’s name, when we look at the lives of those in our community, we don’t see everyone having what they need for life. Maybe it even causes us to question God’s sovereignty and power. But maybe what it should cause us to question is the part we play in injustices and inequity, rather than distrusting God’s power. How are we living out his kingdom values?

In Mark’s gospel we have seen Jesus demonstrate his power over sickness and evil. In the miracle of the calming of the storm (Mark 4:35-41) we see Jesus demonstrate his power over nature. Nature that appears chaotic and unpredictable, true of life itself. The readers of Mark’s gospel would have been aware of the nature of the Sea of Galilee especially when high winds are present. Car parks on the western shore in modern day have danger signs warning of the conditions that can come about in high winds. The lake can go from dead calm to rough and dangerous very quickly.

The Jews were not known as a people of the sea. Yes, there were fisherman, but sea adventures were had by the neighbouring Phoenicians not the Jews. Tom Wright writes concerning the Jews: “the sea came to symbolize, for them, the dark power of evil, threatening to destroy God’s good creation, God’s people, God’s purposes.” In the miracle of the calming of the sea Jesus triumphs over the chaos and disorder, demonstrating the new kingdom he is to bring in – the image of which has been conveyed in the earlier parables.

As we are members of God’s kingdom our trust in his power is lived out in how we respond to injustices and chaos around us – will we be people of little faith or people who live it out?

                                                                                                                Claire Coleman 

This Week’s Sunday Service – 11am

Compassion (Matthew 9:35-38)

Join us at St. Luke’s as we welcome David Bird, who is joining us to speak about the work of Compassion. Sunday Club and Pathfinders will be a part of the whole service, but Sparklers (5 year olds and under) will be running as normal.

Thank You

Thank you to all who contributed to the welcome pack for Beth, Tom and Toby and for Charlie Harley and Amanda Ogden for organising and delivering it. It really helped them to feel very welcome to Ramsgate. See photos of welcome pack.

Hustings at St. Luke’s, 7:30pm Monday 24^th June

St. Luke’s will be holding a hustings of some of the local candidates to be MP in the lead up to the General Election, this Monday evening. Thank you to those who have already volunteered to help. It would be good to have a couple more – please see Paul.

Do please come and support the event and pray that it would be a good opportunity for people to be better informed in readiness for the election. For the latest details about the hustings, check out our website.

It is not too late to submit questions, but you must do so by Sunday. Either do this yourself online or if you cannot do that ask someone to help you submit a question online. Submit Questions.

Compassion – Visiting Speaker

This Sunday we welcome David Bird, who will be joining us to talk about the work of Compassion. Our Sunday Club support, John, a Compassion child in the Philippines, so it will be great for them to hear about the kind of support that he receives. The Sparklers group for children up to and including school reception age children will be running as normal, though.

Sunday School After Party – Sunday 14^th July until 1:30pm

For all children and parents attending our children’s groups. An event for parents to see what’s going on this past year in Sunday school. Also to let the children moving up meet their new teachers. Put the date in your diary!

Please let your Children’s group leaders know if you are planning to come.

Welcomers 30^th June

At present we have none of our normal welcome team are available to welcome people at the door on 30^th June. If you can volunteer to do this as a one off, then please let Paul or James know asap.

Links to Share:

This week some aids to engaging with the Bible. One for small children and another creative way for all ages.

Cheeky Pandas and Story Bible Videos

This new set of videos and resources for young children telling some of the stories about Jesus is now freely available online. Great for families. Watch the promo… (1 min)

Rooted Monthly Journal

The devotional journal from the Bible Society that helps make the Bible available to everyone, everywhere. Rooted takes you deep into the Bible, with reflections, activities, and questions. Your faith will strengthen and grow as you learn about Jesus. Find out more…

Finally, let’s keep trusting in the power of Jesus to bring calm from chaos.

Yours in Christ

Paul Worledge

(Vicar, St. Luke’s Ramsgate)

Weekly Calendar

Sunday 23^rd – The Fourth Sunday after Trinity

Creative Group Singing Practice (St Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:30am

Family Service (St. Luke’s Church), Matthew 9:35-38, 11:00am-12:00pm

Monday 24^th

Prayer Meeting (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am

General Election Hustings (St Luke’s Church) – 7:30-9:00pm

Tuesday 25^th

Prayer Meeting (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 26^th

Study Group (Langdale Avenue) – 10-12 noon

Study Group (South Eastern Road) – 7:30-9:30pm

Thursday 27^th

Prayer Meeting (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am

Cafe4All (St. Luke’s Church), Coffee and Chat for all – 10:00-11:30am

Friday 28^th

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 29^th

Prayer Meeting (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am

Beth’s Ordination (Canterbury Cathedral) – 10:30am

Sunday 30^th – The Fifth Sunday after Trinity

Creative Group Singing Practice (St Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:30am

Family Service (St. Luke’s Church), Mark 5:21-43, 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.