“But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.”

(Luke 15:32)

There will not be an email next week, so this week’s email covers this Sunday and next.

This week, the sections of the email are:

• Opening reflection: A Father’s Loss
• This Sunday: Luke 15:11-32 Next Sunday: Luke 18:1-8
• Key notices: Dare to Pray, Myriad – Planting New Worshipping Communities , Harvest Update
• Coming Up: Samaritan’s Purse Coffee Morning, Flamenco, Light Party, Christianity Explored
• From the Wider Church: Thanet Winter Shelter, Safe Families
• Interesting Blogs: Some blogs discussing the appointment of the new Archbishop of Canterbury
• Weekly Calendar – 9^th to 23^rd October (Two Weeks)
• Online Forms: Event application, Submit a notice, maintenance report, access Safeguarding training

Scroll on…

Opening Reflection

This week Madeleine McCann was in the news again. She disappeared at the age of 3, over 18 years ago. If she is still alive, she would now be 22 years old. If her parents saw her again, she would be an adult, not the toddler they lost.

This week, we heard about the trial of Julia Wandelt, who is accused of stalking Madeleine’s parents, and claiming to be Madeleine. Her parents do not believe she is their child, even though they hold out hope that she is still alive. Indeed, Kate McCann her mum, is quoted as saying, “I want Madeleine back and to call me mum.” The love of a parent for a child is powerful and strong.

Nonetheless, parents and adult children can often become estranged. For example, if you were a father, would you still want to have anything to do with a child that has shown you complete disrespect, threatened the family business and wasted everything you have given them on a lifestyle you disapprove of? That is one of the questions posed by the story Jesus tells in Luke 15.

In Jesus’ story, however, the father is a character that is meant to show us what God is like. Jesus teaches us to pray, ‘Our Father’ when we speak to God. This story shows us what Jesus means when he calls God, ‘Father’.

So, how does the father, that represents God respond, when the son who has treated him and his family so badly returns. Does he act to preserve his honour or out of love for his son? Jesus’ powerfully describes a father who not only welcomes but goes all out to celebrate his son’s return and reinstates him back in the family. This is what God does for us if we return to him. You may feel that you are too far gone for God, but God just wants you back and to call him, ‘Dad’.

Paul Worledge

This Sunday (12^th October)

Repentance and Resentment (Luke 15:11-32)

This week we continue our series on the stories Jesus told, with a look at one of the most famous parables of all, the Parable of the Prodigal Son. It is also a Holy Communion at St. Luke’s this week, with all the normal children’s groups running.

Next Sunday (19^th October)

Persistent Prayer (Luke 18:1-8)

Next Sunday we will be having a visiting preacher, Steve Coneys, looking at the parable of the Persistent Widow. It will be a normal service with all the normal children’s groups running.

Key Notices:

Dare to Pray, Saturday 18^th October, 9:30-10:30am

Join us to hear about and pray about the developing plans for our churches.

Myriad – Planting New Worshipping Communities

Last week we welcomed Shiela Porter to speak at our services about Myriad. A key part of our vision for 2030, Dare to Share, Dare to Grow, is to start new worshipping communities, small congregations aiming to reach and connect with those not already attending church. There are different ways we could do this, but one possibility is for ordinary church members to form small teams and develop their own worshipping community with people they know. Could this be you? If so, Myriad could help. Check out more about them on their website and their guide, Am I Called?If this is something for you, then do talk to Paul by the start of November.

Harvest Update

Thank you to all those who generously to our Harvest Appeal this year. We have had £1103.36 in donations for Mercy Ships, once we have claimed gift aid that will take it to £1304.20.

Coming Up:

Samaritan’s Purse Coffee Morning, This Saturday 11^th October

There will be a Coffee morning to promote and raise funds for the Samaritans Purse shoe box appeal. There will be coffee, tea and cake and books and gifts for sale. St Lukes Church Hall, 11th October at 10am – 12. All welcome.

Flamenco – St. George’s, Friday 17^th October, 7:30-9:00pm

Performing artists include Rebeca Ortega, an elegant and accomplished dancer based in Seville, maestro gutarrista Ramon Ruiz from Granada who trained in Seville, and Natalia Marin, renowned puro flamenco singer from Seville. Tickets, £20 on door or through EventBrite.

Light Party – Friday 31^st October, 4:30-6:00pm

Our alternative to Halloween. A party event for all ages. This annual event is great fun and a good way to provide a positive alternative to the darkness that is the focus of Halloween celebrations. Do come and encourage both church and non-church friends to come. Everyone welcome and all is free.

If you would like to volunteer with running an activity or providing food, then please speak to Tonya or sign one of the lists at the back of church.

Christianity Explored – Starting – November

We are planning to run a trial version of the soon to be published new Christianity Explored in November and early December. This course is for you:

• if you are interested in Christianity or new to faith
• are looking to be baptised or confirmed
• have questions about faith or want a refresher of the basics

Filling in this form will help us to plan at what time of the week it is best to run the course or courses. It expresses and interest not a commitment to attend.

From the Wider Church:

Thanet Winter Shelter

Some of you will remember that in 2016 the churches in Thanet under the leadership of Ramsgate Salvation Army provided a winter shelter for rough sleepers. This was eventually taken over by the council with government funding. However, there is now a need for the churches to step up again. On Monday 6^th October, a winter shelter for rough sleepers at St. Laurence Church Hall was started. Numbers attending are small at present, but expected to grow. Volunteers are urgently needed. If you want to offer some kind of support please go to the Volunteer Portal to sign up: https://portal.thanetsheltersupport.org 

Safe Families and Home for Good

You can read the latest from Safe Families and Home for Good here.

Interesting Blogs to Share:

The Archbishop Designate’s message for Canterbury Diocese

Watch the 1 minute video.

What to make of the new Archbishop of Canterbury

Michael Bird, who is an Australian Anglican, who often collaborates with NT Wright gives a helpful summary of the new Archbishop’s background and the challenges she faces. Read more (5 mins)

The challenges faced by the new Archbishop

Ian Paul writing from within the Church of England, who was not a fan of Justin Welby (it shows in the article) gives his take on the appointment of the new Archbishop. Read more (15 minutes)

The one thing the new Archbishop can offer the world

Graham Tomlin in reflecting on an argument between Madonna (the singer) and the Pope (the head of the Roman Catholic church), offers advice for the new Archbishop of Canterbury. Read more (5mins)

Weekly Calendar

Sunday 12^th October – Seventeenth Sunday after Trinity

Family Service (St. Luke’s Church), Luke 15:11-31, 11:00am-12:00pm

Monday 13^th

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

The Bible Course (St. Luke’s Hall) – 7:30-9:00pm

Tuesday 14^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

Thursday 16^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

The Bible Course (St. Luke’s Church) – 11:30am-1:00pm

Friday 17^th

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

Saturday 18^th

Dare to Pray (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:30am

Sunday 19^th – Eighteenth Sunday after Trinity

Family Service (St. Luke’s Church), Luke 18:1-8, 11:00am-12:00pm

Monday 20^th

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

The Bible Course (St. Luke’s Hall) – 7:30-9:00pm

Tuesday 21^st

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

Thursday 23^rd 

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

Cafe4All (St. Luke’s Church), Coffee and Chat for all – 10:00-11:30am

The Bible Course (St. Luke’s Church) – 11:30am-1:00pm

Saturday 25^th

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

Sunday 26^th – Nineteenth Sunday after Trinity

Family Service (St. Luke’s Church), Luke 18:9-14, 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@churchramsgate.org), so that we can keep records of who has done the training.

Finally, let’s rejoice that we have such a wonderfully gracious heavenly Father.

Yours in Christ

Paul Worledge

(Vicar, St. Luke’s Ramsgate)