“When the wise men saw the star, they were overjoyed.”

(Matthew 2:10)

Matthew’s gospel is often considered the most Jewish of the four gospels. Certainly, the book starts with a long genealogy of Jesus beginning with Abraham, the Father of the Jews, emphasising David, the most important king of the Jews and highlighting the exile to Babylon, the most traumatic moment in Jewish history. Then in the first two chapters, Matthew explicitly quotes four times from the Jewish scriptures.

Yet, these first two chapters also show that Jesus comes not just for the Jews, but to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). This is clear even in the genealogy, which mentions four women: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Uriah’s wife. All but the last of these were foreign women, whilst the last of these had been married to Uriah, also a foreigner, before David effectively stole her as his wife. Their inclusion in the genealogy shows that already, God is including people from all nations in his plan and as part of his people.

Then there are the Magi or Wise Men. Here are a group of foreigners, who come to worship Jesus as the newborn king. When they arrive in Jerusalem, the Jewish people are disturbed by the idea of a new king, who could potentially upset the status quo. King Herod the de facto ruler of the Jews does all he can to have the baby killed. The Jews are not happy about Jesus’ arrival, but the Magi are ‘overjoyed’ when they find Jesus. These foreigners worship him and present him with expensive gifts, demonstrating discipleship of Jesus before he has even grown up.

Matthew’s gospel does emphasise, Jesus’ Jewish credentials. His coming is rooted in the work of God through Israel, its kings and prophets. But it also presents us with a bigger more universal vision for the Kingdom of God. As we start a New Year, let’s pray that God extends our vision of who God may be calling to share with us and the Magi the joy of being a disciple of Christ.

Paul Worledge

This Week’s Sunday Service – 11am

Epiphany (Matthew 2:1-12)

This week we as it is Epiphany this week, we will be looking considering the Wise Men. The children and young people’s groups will be back after their Christmas break (although Pathfinders will not be starting until next Sunday (12^th January).

Christmas Decorations

After the service on Sunday, we are taking down the Christmas decorations. We will need a team of volunteers who can help to carefully pack away the decorations.  Many hands make light work. So, if you can help, please stay around after the service – we hope that it won’t take too long. 

Gather on Pause

Lucy & the team at YWAM Thanet (who run Gather) are taking a two-month sabbatical for January & February 2025. We have paused our two main projects, Gather (women’s ministry) & ESOL (English teaching), but hope to revive these later in the year. 

When we return in the spring, we will be able to set seek the way and the next steps as we move forward in 2025.

Volunteers to Listen and Pray after the Service

We are hoping to create a team of people that can offer a listening ear and prayer after church services for those who might find that helpful. If you have done something similar before or think this is something you could do with a little bit of training and are willing to explore doing this at St. Luke’s, then please fill in this short form. We hope then to arrange some training in the New Year.

Men’s Group – Bowling, Wednesday 22^nd January, 6:15pm

The Men’s group January event will be bowling at Bugsy’s in Margate. There will be lifts available from Ramsgate at 5:45pm. The cost is £10. If you have not already signed up to go and would like to, then please contact Bruce Stokes on 07708 682464, or bruce.stokes@btinternet.com.

The group plans to meet monthly. The February date is yet to be confirmed, but other dates planned are:

• Magic Night with Colin Hoult, Tuesday 20^th March
• Circular Walk to Pegwell Bay, Wednesday 10^th April

Local Church First Aid Course

As churches we are meant to have First Aiders at most of our meetings. Elim Oasis Church in Broadstairs are running a course on Saturday 8^th February. Taking part in the course will give you a qualified First Aid at Work certificate. Refreshments and lunch are included. If you are interested in taking part in First Aid training, then please see Paul by Sunday 12^th January.

It’s a Love Story, Concert 15^th February, 7:30pm

Love Story will be another gala fundraiser night at St George’s church, featuring Coastal Choir and guests with the St George’s Community Meal and Speak Up sharing the proceeds. Tickets £8 from Beth Paterson, Brenda Clarke or online through St. George’s website.

Links to Share:

A review of 2024 and possible Bible reading schemes for 2025:

Review of 2024 – Is Christianity in the West turning a corner?

In this thoughtful article, Graham Tomlin reviews the events of 2024 that suggest both a possible re-emergence of Christian faith in the West, but questions whether the church is in a state ready to capitalise on it. Read more.

Bible Reading Plans

Getting to grips with the Bible by reading themes, large chunks or the whole Bible can really help us connect with God and live for him. This page gives a selection of 30 different Bible Reading plans from the Bible Project. Why not try one out in the New Year? Find out more…

Finally, let’s pray we can increasingly share the joy of being a disciple of Christ in 2025.

Yours in Christ

Paul Worledge

(Vicar, St. Luke’s Ramsgate)

 

Weekly Calendar

Sunday 5^th – Second Sunday of Christmas

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

Family Service (St. Luke’s Church), Mt. 2:1-12 & Eph 3:1-12, 11:00am-12:00pm

Monday 6^th     

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

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

Tuesday 7^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 8^th

Study Group (Langdale Avenue) – 10:00-12:00 noon

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

Thursday 9^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 10^th

Play and Praise (St. Luke’s Church Hall) – 10:00-11:30am

Saturday 11^th

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

Sunday 12^th – Baptism of Christ

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

Family Service (St. Luke’s Church), Psalm 103, 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.