“God reveals deep and hidden things; he knows what lies in darkness,
and light dwells with him.”
(Daniel 2:22)
This week, some reflections on the Archbishop’s resignation both at the start and in the shared links later on. Also, news about the upcoming service, Saturday’s Quiz evening and a number of key upcoming events. There is also a link to the livestream about our proposed vision, associated document and a link to share your feedback on that. Finally, don’t forget the prayers and calendar at the end of the email.
This week came the shocking and sad news that Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury has quit. He resigned after criticism of his handling of abuse allegations against John Smyth, a lay leader of the Iwerne camp movement. In short, he did not ensure the allegations were pressed home, so that John Smyth was brought to justice sooner and further abuse prevented.
John Smyth’s abuse was first revealed to the leaders of the Iwerne camps in the early 1980s. Although, they recognised that what he was doing was both abhorrent and criminal, they made the terrible decision not to report it to the police. They allowed concern for reputation to override concern for justice and the protection of future abusees.
There is of course a need to handle any allegations of abuse in appropriate ways. Just because someone is accused, does not mean they are guilty. False accusation is a serious crime in its own right and we do not want to be guilty of spreading false rumours about individuals. Nevertheless, every allegation needs to be taken seriously and reported to safeguarding officers, so that it can be investigated sensitively, abusers stopped, and justice done.
We need to recognise, that our instinct is to cover up our own sin and to protect the reputation of our institution or movement. It will never be easy to accept that a predator has been allowed to infiltrate and abuse in our midst. Yet, unless we are prepared to allow such truths to surface and acknowledge that accusations against those we respect may be true, our safeguarding will fail.
God’s forgiveness is not a cover up of sin. Jesus paid the price for our sins, so we would not have to, but he did so with a public display of the full horror of human sin. We too need to allow the sin in our midst to be made public.
Paul Worledge
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised, then please do check out these links: Safe Spaces and the National Association for People Abused in Childhood. If you are aware of a Safeguarding concern that needs reporting, then go to the church webpage or straight to the Diocesan webpage.
This Week’s Sunday Service – 11am
This Sunday, we return to our series on Daniel. Faced with an impossible seeming challenge from the boss, Daniel turns to prayer. As a result, Daniel brings some powerful and challenging truths to the king. Join us for all the normal prayer, praise, Bible teaching and groups for children.
This Saturday: The Big Quiz Night, 7:30-9:30pm, St. Luke’s Hall
Tearfund’s The Big Quiz Night is back on Saturday 16th November, 7:30-9:30pm at St. Luke’s Hall. The money this quiz raises will support Tearfund’s Transforming Communities programme, helping local churches around the world lead their communities out of extreme poverty and into a sustainable future. Invite your friends, family and neighbours for some poverty-beating, community-building fun! Please come ready to make donations on the night. Snacks and drinks will be provided, but please feel free to bring your own too!
Vision 2030
If you weren’t able to come on Monday night and missed the livestream, you can still watch it here. You can find the Vision 2030 document here. We are asking people to give us feedback on the vision using this simple and short online form by the end of the year. Then we will review the Vision and agree how to move forward at our PCC meetings in January.
Christmas Tree Festival
St. George’s are once again putting on their Christmas Tree festival. We need a volunteer or volunteers from St. Luke’s to decorate a tree from our church. Please see Paul asap.
ACTS Prayer and Thanksgiving Event – 18th November
Join us for an evening of prayer, thanksgiving and updates about the work of ACTS (Active Christianity in Thanet Schools). As well as a time to meet our new workers, Abi and Charlotte, over a cuppa and a slice of cake!
Monday 18th November, St Philips Church, Palm Bay, CT9 3JJ, 7:00pm
Men’s Group – Chocolate Night
7:30pm Tuesday 19th November, Salvation Army, £5
Carl Whitewood will be welcoming us to the Salvation Army church in High Street to talk about chocolate. Before training as a Salvation Army officer, Carl spent nearly 30 years in the food industry; baking craft bread, processing fruits, making some of the UK’s best ice cream and assuring the quality of your favourite chocolate bars in 20 manufacturing plants across Europe. He continues to make his own ice cream and chocolate and to teach and talk about the art and science of these wonderful foods. During the chocolate demonstration you will learn about the history of chocolate, how chocolate came from its origins in South America into Europe and the many changes that led to the chocolate that we enjoy eating today. There will be lots of opportunities to taste and enjoy Theobroma cacao – The food of the gods. Please let Bruce know if you are going.
Basic Safeguarding Training, 23rd November
If you are involved as a volunteer at St. Luke’s, then you are encouraged to do the Basic Safeguarding training. This can be done online (and if you are working with children or vulnerable adults, you will need to do the online version, so that you can access the next level), but there is also an opportunity on Saturday 23rd November, 10:30-13:00 at St. Mark’s Ramsgate to attend a face-to-face training session led by Kevin Spain. You can access the online training by following this link.
Let There be Light, Sunday 24th November from 5pm
Next Sunday evening after the town light switch on, there will be a special event in St. George’s with light shows, refreshments and music (this year with more mainstream music). Please pick up a leaflet and come with friends. If anyone can lend us a ‘slow cooker’ or similar to heat mulled wine, then please let us know this weekend.
Christmas United Prayer Meeting, 1st December
Join together with Christians from all over Thanet as we come together for prayer in the lead up to Christmas. Sunday 1st December, 6:30pm-7:30pm, St. Philip’s Church, Northdown.
Christmas Unwrapped at St. Luke’s, 3rd December
In partnership with ACTS, we will be hosting Year 6 pupils from at least two schools on this date for a 90-minute session exploring the true meaning of Christmas. If you can help on the day with biscuit decorating, then please see Paul, asap.
Coastal Choir Concert, 6th December
Please come and support this evening of carols and Christmas music at St. Luke’s church 7:30pm on Friday 6th December. Tickets £7 all proceeds to Cheerful Sparrows Chairty. If anyone would be willing to help with refreshments and/or welcoming please see Brenda Clarke who will coordinate a team.
Links to Share:
Justin Welby Resignation – Diocesan Statement and Safeguarding links
This is the official Diocesan Statement about Justin Welby’s resignation. This includes links for those who made need support in the light of the Safeguarding comments being made. Read Statement.
Justin Welby Resignation – Reflections from an Evangelical
What should we learn from the Justin Welby resignation and the cover up of John Smyth’s abuse? In this video, Glen Scrivener speaking from a Conservative Evangelical perspective calls on us to focus on the actual reason Justin Welby resigned and to learn the lessons on safeguarding. His comments at the end of the video challenge particularly evangelicals on some of the attitudes that might lead to a cover up. Warning, this does include some graphic description of John Smyth’s abuse. Watch 30 mins.
Finally, let’s pray that we are willing to uncover sin and bring justice and safety.
Yours in Christ
Paul Worledge
(Vicar, St. Luke’s Ramsgate)
Weekly Calendar
Sunday 17th November – Second Sunday before Advent
Creative Group Singing Practice (St Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:30am
Family Service (St. Luke’s Church), Daniel 2:1-11,25-48, 11:00am-12:00pm
Monday 18th
Prayer Meeting (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Study Group (South Eastern Road) – 7:15-9:30pm
Tuesday 19th
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
Men’s Group – Chocolate Night (Salvation Army) – 7:30-9:00pm
Wednesday 20th
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 21st
Prayer Meeting (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Cafe4All (St. Luke’s Church), Coffee and Chat for all – 10:00-11:30am
Youth Hang Out (St. Luke’s Church) – 3:00-6:00pm
Friday 22nd
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 23rd
Prayer Meeting (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Sunday 24th – Christ the King
Creative Group Singing Practice (St Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:30am
Family Service (St. Luke’s Church), Daniel 3:13-30, 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.s, 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 