“It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.
To him who is thirsty I will give to drink without cost
from the spring of the water of life.”
(Revelation 21:6)
Do you like things to be free? Most of us love finding a good bargain, and love the fact that the NHS is free at the point of need, but when offered something free of charge we are often suspicious. What’s the hidden catch? There’s no such thing as a free lunch? Is this just to hook me in? Is it too good to be true?
We live in a consumer society. Money is more than currency, we build up our identity by what we spend our money on – at least that is what the advertisers like us to think and believe. So, we expect life and relationships to be about an exchange. I’ll give you something, expecting something in return. You scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.
But real relationships are not about exchange, but love. Parents give freely to their children without expecting anything in return, simply because they are their children. Life in the family contrasts deeply with life in the market place.
So, how are we to relate to God? Is it to be a consumerist kind of relationship? Do we give to God in the hope of receiving something in return? No. Jesus says that to enter the kingdom of God we need to be like small children. We come to God as a small child comes to their father, freely receiving his good gifts to us.
In our verse above, Jesus makes clear that when we come to him and become part of his family, we receive freely from him the water of life. That is life in abundance, eternal life. This is God’s amazing grace. Will you accept the invitation?
Paul Worledge
Sunday Service, 23rd March, 11am
This Sunday we look at Isaiah 55, a passage that powerfully sums up how God relates to his people and the invitation that is offered to us all. Join us for praise, prayer and Bible teaching, with all the normal children’s groups. We also welcome the family and friends of Houston Bailey, who is being baptised this Sunday.
Electoral Roll – 52 signed up so far…
The electoral roll is the list of members of St. Luke’s parish who have the right to vote at our annual meeting. Every six years, the roll has to be renewed from scratch and 2025 is one of those years. So, if you consider yourself a member of St. Luke’s then please complete an electoral roll application, whether you were on the electoral roll before or not. To qualify to be on the electoral roll, you must be baptised, over 16 and either live in the parish of St. Luke’s or have attended St. Luke’s for six months or more. It’s quick and easy to fill in an online form: apply to be on the electoral roll. If you are not sure which parish you live in then you can check via this website.
Youth and Children’s Pastor
St. Luke’s is now advertising for a Youth and Children’s Pastor. You can check out the details on the website. The deadline for applications is on 31st March. Please pray that we can find a really good candidate for this important role. Find out more…
Have you a ‘listening ear’ or a ‘welcoming heart’?
We are looking to recruit volunteers to be trained to provide an offer of a listening ear and prayer after the church services. If you are interested, then please fill in this short online form.
In addition, we would like to create a team of mentors to support new people when they join St. Luke’s. If you are interested in this role, then please fill in this short online form.
Reports for our Annual report
If you run a small group in the church, it would be great to include a short report about what your group did during 2024. Please send Paul a paragraph or two by 31st March at the latest.
Tower and Crypt Tours – Can you help?
Please contact Jemima on either 07971782477 or via email regenerationofficer@stgeorgechurchramsgate.uk if you are able to get involved with helping to host the tours.
They will be on during the summer to coincide with the Yard Sales and Heritage Open Days and we are also doing a couple of dates in May as well. The dates are Saturdays: 17th May, 24th May, 14th June, 12th July, 9th August, 13th September and 20th September.
Revelation Strings Concert – 3pm, This Saturday, St. Luke’s
This orchestra is made up of experienced and young musicians and is in association with St. Lawrence College. It should be a lovely concert. £10 entry, but children are free.
Thanet United Prayer Event, This Sunday, 6:30-7:45pm
Join Christians from around Thanet at Holy Trinity Margate, as we come together to pray for Thanet, UK & the world.
Easter Cracked Wednesday 26th March
We will be welcoming two schools this Wednesday morning for Easter Cracked. The programme has changed slightly, so there is no making of ‘Easter nests’, but we could do with a few volunteers to offer refreshments and one or two to help the children explore an aspect of the Easter story.
Titanic Journey – 2-4pm, Sat. 5th April, St. George’s
Local historian, Bob Pryor presents, ‘My life with Titanic’. Tickets are £5 in advance and available onlineof £7 on the door.
St. George’s Day Parade
In preparation for the St. George’s Day parade on 27th April, GB Carnival are looking for donations of clean tin cans and plastic tubs. You can drop off your donations at the Carnival Club in St. George’s Hall 5-7pm every Wed. or at Community Soup in the church from 12 -2pm every Wed. and Sat.
Links to Share:
AI Deadbots
AI seems to be everywhere, but this article talks about using AI to mimic a person who has died. Graham Tomlin explains why this is concerning. Read more… (10 mins)
The hidden message in Meghan Markle’s new show
In her new show on Netflix, Meghan Markle uses language that sounds very religious. What is going on? Read more… (5 mins)
Finally, let’s rejoice in God’s free gift to us.
Yours in Christ
Paul Worledge
(Vicar, St. Luke’s Ramsgate)
Weekly Calendar
Sunday 23rd – Third Sunday in Lent
Family Service (St. Luke’s Church), Isaiah 55:1-9, 11:00am-12:00pm
Thanet United Prayer (Holy Trinity, Margate) – 6:30-7:45pm
Monday 24th
Prayer Meeting (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Study Group (South Eastern Road) – 7:15-9:30pm
Tuesday 25th
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 26th
Easter Cracked (St. Luke’s Church) – 10:00-11:30am
Study Group (Langdale Avenue) – 10:00-12:00 noon
Study Group (South Eastern Road) – 7:30-9:30pm
Thursday 27th
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 28th
Play and Praise (St. Luke’s Church Hall) – 10:00-11:30am
Saturday 29th
Prayer Meeting (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Sunday 30th – Mothering Sunday (Fourth Sunday in Lent)
Family Service (St. Luke’s Church), John 19:25-27, 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.
St. Luke's Church Ramsgate 