All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

(Acts 2:4)

This week, we are looking together at The Story of the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11:1-9 and the events of Acts 2, where the Holy Spirit comes on the day of Pentecost. Both of these events demonstrate the great power of human unity and God’s response to it, but in very different ways.

In Genesis 11:1-9, the story of the Tower of Babel shows how humans were united, but united through pride and rebellion. They wanted to use their Unity to avoid the covenant God had with them for them to Be Fruitful and multiply and fill the earth (Gen 9:1). God responded by confusing their language and in that way God scattered them all over the world.

In contrast, Acts 2 describes how, on the festival of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit descended upon believers, uniting people from many nations and languages. The people speaking all different languages were able to hear each other speaking in their own native language and learn about all the wonderful things God had done. This Spirit-led unity did not erase or avoid diversity; instead, it celebrated it. Pentecost affirms that diversity is a divine blessing, and the Spirit enables genuine community where differences are celebrated rather than divided.

We are engaged in spiritual warfare, as Ephesians 6 reminds us, against forces seeking to sow division. The Spirit’s work at Pentecost restores true diversity, transforming fear and prejudice into harmony rooted in God’s love. This power enables us to stand firm in our faith, be guided by the Spirit, and build an authentic community where we can love ourselves, love God, and love each other.

Let’s embrace the Spirit’s call to unity. Not to be united in things that cause division or ‘othering’ but a unity of openness, diversity, love and faith centered on God. As we pray, worship, and serve together in our differences, we participate in God’s victory over division. Our unity testifies to the world that God’s kingdom is a diverse family, united in Christ’s love.

Beth Keenan

This Sunday

Unity: Babel and Pentecost (Genesis 11:1-9)

This week it is Pentecost, when we remember the coming of the Holy Spirit on the church for the first time and the preaching of the gospel in tongues people from all nations could understand. It is also our special gift day, and we encourage regular members to bring their response forms to the Planned Giving Review. The normal children’s groups will be running.

Key Notices:

Planned Giving Review and Vision 2030 – This Sunday!!

This Sunday during the last hymn, there will be a collection, during which we would encourage everyone to give in their response forms from the recent planned giving review letters. Even if you cannot increase your giving or start planned giving letting us know helps us to plan better. To start giving to St. Luke’s using the Parish Giving Scheme, click here.

In addition, if you are interested in helping out with one of the five workstreams, then please do fill in the online form or speak to Paul asap. To show interest in volunteering for one of the Vision 2030 workstreams use this form.

Please remember to act by this Sunday and bring your response slip to the service.

You can access an online version of the flier about the plans here.

Joint Pentecost Service, This Sunday – 8^th June, 5:30 for 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, who will have their own activities from ACTS).

The event will take place at Royal Harbour Academy (CT12 6FA) on Sunday 8^th June at 6pm. Please enter from the New Haine Road side and park in the car parks on the left. There will be refreshments available before the start of the service from 5:30pm.

If people can offer or would like a lift, please talk to Paul after the service.

 

Jean Hann’s Funeral

This will be on Monday 30^th June, 3pm at St. Luke’s, see below for further information.

Upcoming Events:

Orchestra for Everywhere – 15^th June, 7:30pm, St, George’s

An orchestra of professional musicians from around the world who have chosen to make Britain their home. They come from Syria, Iran, Hongkong, Palestine, Brazil, Africa, France and India, and some of them are refugees who had to leave their country. The orchestra plays music from their own cultures as well as new music that they have created and play together. Find out more and buy tickets…

 

Next Men’s group event – Lawn Bowls, 6:15pm, 18^th June

See one of the fliers at back of church for more details or speak to Trevor Kenney: 07792 828097; trevorkenney1@gmail.com

Women’s Share and Care:

A few dates for your diaries:

• 18th June at Tina Gilham’s “what are you reading”. Bring a book and enjoy each other’s company over a cuppa and a biscuit. 10.30 to 12.00
• 4th July at Beth Keenan’s. Fun and games , nibbles and drinks. Bring and share. Evening.
• 12th July at Beth Patterson’s. Pimms and food in the garden. 6.30 to 8.30. Bring and share food and a garden chair if you have one.

Beth’s Ordination as Priest, 28^th June, 2:30pm & 5pm

Beth will be being ordained as Priest at Canterbury Cathedral on Saturday 28^th June at 2:30pm. People are welcome to come to the Cathedral to support Beth.

After the service we will have a celebratory Bring & Share BBQ in the church field at St. Luke’s from 5pm. Please use the sign-up sheets at the back of church to indicate: a. whether you will be attending (meat for BBQ will be provided); b whether you will bring food to share; c. whether you can help with the setting up or running of the event.

Thanet Light Orchestra Concert, Sunday 29^th June, 3pm

More information and ticket sales from next week. This will be at St. Luke’s.

Jean Hann’s Funeral – St. Luke’s, Monday 30^th June, 3pm

This will follow a committal at Thanet Crematorium at 2pm, to which people are also welcome to attend. If you would like to help with…

• Decorating the church with flowers, see Eve Knight
• Singing as part of a singing group, see Fiona Worledge
• Refreshments after the service, see Pauline Emptage

Donations at the funeral will be split between RNLI and The Theatre Shed, a theatre group for children of all abilities based in Chesham, that her grandchildren were a part of.

Vicarage BBQs

We are planning to hold vicarage BBQs on 5^th and 26^th July, 5-8pm. We will give out invites to everyone to one of these in the next couple of weeks.

Opportunities to Serve:

Can you help with tours of St. George’s tower and crypt?

Tours of St. George’s crypt and tower are proving very popular. If you can help as part of a team with these tours, then please contact Jemima Brown: regenerationofficer@stgeorgechurchramsgate.uk . The planned tours coming up are 11am to 3:30pm on Saturdays 8^th June, 5^th and 12^th July, 9^th August and 13^th and 20^th September.

Volunteers for the Community Meal

Can you join a superb team of helpers on some or all Tuesday afternoons and evenings to help serve the Community Meal at St. George’s Church Hall to 30 to 50 guests? The meal runs between 5:30-7pm, but volunteers need to be available from 5pm and if possible to help cook or set up earlier on Tuesday afternoon. If you are interested, then please see Tonya and Brenda.

Links to Share:

How to solve the tragedy of Gaza?

In this article, Graham Tomlin revisits the horrors of what Israel is doing to to the Palestinians in Gaza and compares it to the actions of a Roman Emperor to the Jews in that region in the second century. What are the lessons to be learnt? Read more… (5 mins)

What shaped our Western Culture?

In this video, Glen Scrivener looks at an Atheist’s critique of historian Tom Holland’s claim that the Western mind has been profoundly shaped by Christianity. Much food for thought… Watch (1 hour 10 minutes)

Finally, let’s ask God to fill us afresh with his Spirit,

Yours in Christ

Paul Worledge

(Vicar, St. Luke’s Ramsgate)

Weekly Calendar

Sunday 8^th – Pentecost Sunday

Family Service (St. Luke’s Church), Genesis 11:1-9, 11:00am-12:00pm

Pentecost Joint Service (Royal Harbour Academy) – 6:00pm

Monday 9^th

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

Tuesday 10^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 11^th     

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

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

Thursday 12^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 13^th

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

Saturday 14^th     

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

Sunday 15^th – Trinity Sunday

Family Service (St. Luke’s Church), Romans 5:1-5, 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.