“Jesus told the synagogue ruler, “Don’t be afraid; just believe.””

(Mark 5:36)

What are you more excited about, England in the Euros or the General Election? For many both are proving a turn off. England’s lacklustre performance has not inspired faith that they can do well in the knockout stages of the competition and for many the politicians have also failed to inspire despite the many TV debates. Perhaps both are failing to inspire because their campaigns are based more on fear than faith.

For the England team there are positives and negatives. Positively, they have managed to avoid losing any games and only conceded one goal in three matches. Negatively, they have only won one game and scored two goals! Is England’s uninspiring performance down to a fear of losing? Do they lack faith that they can really achieve?

When it comes to the political campaigns, the emphasis seems to be on stoking up fear rather than inspiring faith. Both Labour and Conservatives warn against the dangers of allowing the other to gain power tell us not to vote for smaller parties, because to do so may allow the other party to win. There seems to me to be a lot less energy and effort to promote a faith that they can offer us a better future.

Both fear and faith can be strong motivators, but they create very different emotions. Fear creates an atmosphere of gloom and despair. Faith produces hope and excitement.

Jesus did tell us to fear hell and the temptations of the devil, but there was a stronger emphasis on faith. He inspired people to trust him, offering a vision of the Kingdom of God, marked by compassion, healing and even victory over death. Surely, his is a message and a performance that can truly inspire?

                                                                                                                Paul Worledge

This Week’s Sunday Service – 11am

Faith and Fear (Mark 5:21-43)

Join us as we look at the gospel of Mark and are inspired to put our faith in Jesus and be released from our fears. All the normal songs of praise and activities for children. Also, meet our new curate, Beth.

Sparklers this Sunday

Unfortunately, we do not have the leaders to run, Sparklers, our group for 0 to school Reception age today. However, parents are welcome to take children across to Sunday Club, who will make sure the younger ones are included in activities.

Wendy Fuller

Wendy Fuller is now recovering from surgery on 24th June and is hoping to return home this weekend. When she is discharged, we want to be able to provide a hot meal for her for the fortnight following her return home. We have set up a meal train account. If you click on this link and sign-up that would be really wonderful.

Hustings

Thank you to the team of people who helped to welcome people and set up for the hustings on Monday night. We had around 140 people in attendance and another 40 watching online. You can still watch the hustings on St. Luke’s YouTube channel.Find out more…

Prayer Breakfast – St. Luke’s Saturday 6^th July

Saturday 6th July we’re hosting the Churches Together in Ramsgate (CTiR) monthly prayer breakfast in St. Luke’s Hall. It would be great if we could have some volunteers to help with set-up, washing up etc. I’d also encourage you to attend, they are great opportunities to join together with brothers and sisters in prayer.

Can you help?

During the school holidays our children’s groups take a well-deserved break. During the services we plan to show DVDs during part of the service for children to go out and watch. We need at least one person who has been safer recruited by St. Luke’s and one parent to sign up for each week.

Summer Fair

There is a new date for the St. Luke’s and St. George’s Summer Fair. It will now be on Saturday 31^st August, from 1pm to 4pm. See flier for details.

Ordination Service – Livestream

Please pray for Beth being ordained as Deacon at Canterbury Cathedral tomorrow (Saturday 29^th June, at 10:30am). The order of service can be found here. You can watch a livestream of the service. Watch livestream.

Follow up to David Bird’s talk about Compassion

It was great to have David Bird from Compassion with us last Sunday. One suggestion was that people could choose to sponsor a child as a group (a study group or prayer triplet). If you are interested in sponsoring a Compassion child, then check out their website. He also encouraged us to find out more about the places where the sponsored children live and especially what it is like for Christians in those places. He mentioned two organisations that have a particular focus on supporting and praying for persecuted Christians around the world: Barnabas Aidand Open Doors. Click the links to find out more.

Thanet Prayer Diary – July

Copies of this are available at the back of church or can be downloaded here.

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.

Links to Share:

A couple of election related posts.

Bible Society Prayer for the Election

Check out this great prayer for people with a Christian heart to be elected. Read the prayer…

Ultra Processed Politics?

Do the parties’ manifestos and political leaders fail to inspire or enthuse? Where might we find real hope and transformation? Read more

Finally, let’s come to Jesus with faith and be inspired for a life of love and hope.

Yours in Christ

Paul Worledge

(Vicar, St. Luke’s Ramsgate)

Weekly Calendar

Sunday 30^th June – 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

Monday 1^st July

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

Study Group (South Eastern Road) – 7:15-9:30pm

Tuesday 2^nd

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 3^rd

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 4^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 5^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 6^th

Churches Together Prayer Breakfast (St. Luke’s Hall) – 9:00-10:00am

Sunday 7^th – The Sixth Sunday after Trinity

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

Family Service (St. Luke’s Church), Mark 6:1-13, 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.