“Moses answered the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today.”
(Exodus 14:13a)
Eighty-five years ago, in May 1940, things looked pretty hopeless. The Nazis had invaded France, the Netherlands and Belgium on 10th May and advanced with lightning speed. By 15th May, the French government already thought all was lost. By 19th May, the Germans had managed to cut off the British Expeditionary Force and some French Divisions in Northern Belgium and North Eastern France. An army of 100,000s was trapped between the approaching Nazi forces and the sea. Any hope of rescue looked futile.
A remarkably similar situation had occurred 1,000s of years earlier. The people of Israel had been freed from slavery in Egypt by Pharaoh, because God had sent a series if ten terrifying plagues against his country. But then as they came to the Red Sea, they discovered Pharaoh had changed his mind, called up his army and set off in pursuit of the Israelites. At this point they were trapped between an advancing army and the sea. Any hope of rescue looked futile.
The people panicked, but Moses, their leader calmly told them not ot be afraid, but to wait for the deliverance that God would bring. What followed was an amazing miracle. God dried up the sea, so the Israelites could cross and escape the Egyptian army.
In 1940, King George VI called on people to pray. In a national broadcast he instructed the people of the UK to turn back to God in a spirit of repentance and plead for Divine help. God did not dry up the sea, but he did make it possible for 330,000 troops to escape from Dunkirk and be brought across the sea to England. The practicalities involved an incredible feat of organisation, the courageous actions of many small boat owners and favourable weather conditions. But behind it all was the hand of God. So much so, that people called it, “the miracle of Dunkirk.”
Paul Worledge
This Sunday
The Great Escape (Exodus 14:10-18)
This week we look at the victory God gives to the Israelites, when they are trapped between the advancing Egyptian army and the Red Sea. All children’s groups are running as normal.
APCM and PCC membership
Our Annual Church meeting (APCM) will be on Thursday 22nd May at 7:30pm in the Church Hall. Now available in paper format at the back of church or on the website are: agenda, minutes from 2024 APCM, annual report for 2024, nomination forms for PCC members (3 spaces), Deanery Synod reps (2 or 3 spaces) and church wardens (2 spaces). Do consider standing for these positions or encouraging others to do so.
Planned Giving Review
Last week we launched our annual ‘Planned Giving Review’. This will climax with a Gift Day on Pentecost Sunday, 8th June. We are asking people to consider how much they can give to financially support the church as well as how they might be able to offer practical support and help with Vision 2030.
Please check the back of the church and take the envelope with your name on it, if you have not already done so. (If there is not an envelope with your name take one of the spare ones.)
Joint Pentecost Service, 8th June, 6pm
Churches Together in Ramsgate invite you to celebrate Pentecost. An evening of worship, prayer, teaching and fellowship. All welcome (including families, children and youth.
The event will take place at Royal Harbour Academy (CT12 6FA) on Sunday 8th June at 6pm.
Joy Brenchley – Funeral
You can watch Joy’s funeral on YouTube. Follow this link.
Brian Belsey – Funeral
Brian Belsey who played a key leadership role at Christ Church for many years has sadly passed away. There will be a service of thanksgiving at Christ Church on Monday 19th May at 2pm.
An Update about Youth Hangout and Youth Work
We’ve had a meeting to discuss on how to go forward with providing a safe place for the youth of our church and local community. We’ve considered what worked and what didn’t and feel the way forward is to change the day and time to an evening session. This will include Biblical teaching through activities and games, an easy meal to share together and a big game at the end.
In order to help this vision to take place we are asking if anyone with a passion to engage and explore helping with this initiative to speak to Tonya Curry, Tina Gilham, Paul Worledge or Beth Patterson as soon as possible. We are praying for at least 6 extra volunteers so a rota could be set in place.
Young Voices Questionnaire
If you are aged 11 to 24 or know someone who is, then do encourage them to fill out the Canterbury Diocese Youth Council questionnaire which focuses on mental health. These snapshot questionnaires are an opportunity to hear the voices of young people from across our diocese. It closes on 23 May.
Youthscape Launchpad Diocesan Event
6:30-9:00pm on Monday 2nd June at St. Laurence church in Ramsgate. Led by Bp Rose Hudson-Wilkin, with Jen Tobin the Diocesan Lead Officer for Children & Young People’s Work and Launchpad Youth Scape Representatives. This is an intergenerational event for young people 11 years old and upwards and those helping to lead young people’s work. See Tonya Curry if you are interested in going as part of a group from St. Luke’s.
New Ladies Group
We would love to start a “Share and Care” group where we can get to know each other better and support and encourage one another.
To get the ball rolling we would like to invite you to a coffee and cake morning at Hazel’s (15 St. Augustine’s Park, Ramsgate CT11 0DE) on Saturday 24th May at 10.30 till 12.00 so that we can throw some ideas around. All ladies welcome.
Please let one of us know if you can come (to help us gauge catering) and if you need a lift or if you cannot make it bur would like to be part of future events: Hazel Kenney (07887863176), Lesley Turner (07896634090), Brenda Clarke (07508174251).
Sponsorship Request
Cyra McWilliams, one of our newer members, is doing a walk 100 miles in May 2025 to raise money for Young Lives vs. Cancer. Click here to support her.
Links to Share:
This week a focus on resources that you may want to use during the Thy Kingdom Come season between Ascension Day (29th May) and Pentecost (8th June)
A brand-new series of the Cheeky Pandas
To use with young children at home, with activity sheets for children. Find out more…
The digital detox devotional
For youth – encouraging them to put away their devices, be still before the Lord and deep dive into the Lord’s Prayer. Find our more…
An adult Digital Detox Devotional
And for adults, check out this digital detox, a devotional by the Archbishop of York on the Lord’s prayer. Find out more…
Finally, let’s keep fighting the good fight that God calls us to.
Yours in Christ
Paul Worledge
(Vicar, St. Luke’s Ramsgate)
Weekly Calendar
Sunday 18th – Fifth Sunday of Easter
Family Service (St. Luke’s Church), Exodus 14:10-18, 11:00am-12:00pm
Monday 19th
Prayer Meeting (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Tuesday 20th
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 21st
Study Group (Langdale Avenue) – 10:00-12:00 noon
Study Group (South Eastern Road) – 7:30-9:30pm
Thursday 22nd
Prayer Meeting (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Cafe4All (St. Luke’s Church), Coffee and Chat for all – 10:00-11:30am
APCM (St Luke’s Church Hall) – 7:30-9:00pm
Friday 23rd
Play and Praise (St. Luke’s Church Hall) – 10:00-11:30am
Saturday 24th
Daily Prayer (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
New Ladies Group (St. Augustine’s Park) – 10:30am-12 noon
Sunday 25th – Sixth Sunday of Easter
Family Baptism Service (St. Luke’s Church), Joshua 1:1-9, 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 