“Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is not without honour except in his home town, among his relatives and in his own home.'”

(Mark 6:4)

As we approach the summer holidays there is a lot going on. Also, at the end two inspiring stories of people finding faith today. Check out this week’s packed email and don’t miss out! Remember prayers and weekly calendar are at the end of the email.

The patience of England football supporters was tested to the limit last weekend, with an early goal from the opposing team, an agonising wait until the 94th minute for the equaliser, and then until extra time for the goal that sent England through to the next round of this year’s Euros. In that 94th minute, there was truly no time like the present for England’s strikers, but up until then, it seemed, they hadn’t played with anything like that kind of urgency.

But then there are times in all our lives when, despite there being no time like the present, we struggle to act accordingly, for whatever reason. That’s human nature for you. Nothing much about it has changed in millennia. Back in the Gospel of Mark, chapter 6, Jesus’ disciples are sent out two by two to call people to repentance – and they are also given instructions for what to do if no-one listens. And no servant is greater than his master. Earlier in that chapter we read about the rejection Jesus experienced in his own hometown. ‘Maybe tomorrow will be the day of our salvation’, the people of Nazareth might as well have said. ‘Or maybe it was yesterday. But not today, Jesus. Not today.’

It turns out that procrastination until ‘tomorrow’ and nostalgia for ‘yesterday’ are both ways of avoiding the present moment, and the opportunities and the challenges it brings. In the end, England kicked a goal when they needed to, and then another one. Good for them! In living our lives before God, we would be wise to seek the Lord while he may be found, and to call on him while he is near.

                                                                                                                Colin Gale

This Week’s Sunday Service – 11am

No time like the present (Mark 6:1-13)

Join us as we look at the gospel of Mark and are inspired to put our faith in the present moment. All the normal songs of praise and activities for children.

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

Saturday 6th July we’re hosting the Churches Together in Ramsgate (CTiR) monthly prayer breakfast in St. Luke’s Hall from 9am to 10am. Do join us as we welcome members of churches from across Ramsgate.

Dick and Caroline Seed Visit – Sunday 14^th July

Next Sunday we will be welcoming Dick and Caroline Seed, who we support through the Church Mission Society. They will be speaking during the service and there will be an opportunity to hear more afterwards. Find out more about Dick and Caroline…

Summer Celebration Service – 21^st July, 6:30pm, St. Luke’s

This is an informal contemporary service where we will be using the year of discernment psalm to help us focus on Seeking God and dwelling in his presence. All welcome.

Can you help? – Summer Services

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.

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

Name for After School Club

We are hoping to launch an after-school club at St. Luke’s in September. But what do we call it? Suggestions to Tonya, please!

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.

Harvest Appeal

Each Harvest we hold an appeal where we financial support work overseas. In the past we have supported: IJM, Tearfund, Compassion, Mercy Ships. We want to invite members of the congregation to make suggestions for this year’s Harvest Appeal. The criteria for selecting organisations to support, is that they have a Christian foundation and work internationally. If you can give suggestions to Claire by the 14^th July, they will then be considered and this year’s appeal will be chosen from that list by some members of the PCC.

St. George’s Church Art Exhibition

The Annual St. George’s Art Exhibition in aid of the Church Restoration Appeal will taking place in the church from Tuesday 9th July – Sunday 21st July.

Open daily 11am – 4pm.  Over 150 Artworks for sale by local artists.

Links to Share:

This week, two posts about finding faith.

Being noticed, finding faith

In this story from CMS mission partners in Thailand, read about how Narin was noticed and ended up finding faith as a result. Read article. (5 minute read)

Ayaan Hirsi Ali

In this interview, Ayaan Hirsi Ali explains why she has moved from Islam to Atheism and now has become a Christian. A very powerful testimony that encourages us to see the blessings of being a Christian and the importance of its foundation for our society Watch Video (45 mins.)

Yours in Christ

Paul Worledge

(Vicar, St. Luke’s Ramsgate)

Weekly Calendar

Sunday 7^th July – 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

Monday 8^th

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

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

Tuesday 9^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 10^th  

Study Group (Langdale Avenue) – 10-12 noon

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

Thursday 11^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 12^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 13^th

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

Sunday 14^th – The Seventh Sunday after Trinity

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

Family Service (St. Luke’s Church), Mark 6:14-29, 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.