“And as for you, brothers and sisters, never tire of doing what is good.”

(2 Thessalonians 3:13)

This week, the sections of the email are:

• Opening reflection: Do not tire of doing good!
• This Sunday: Work Hard, 2 Thes. 3:6-13
• Key notices: Dare to Pray, Generous Giving Sunday, Volunteering availability, Planning for new Youth Club, Christmas Unwrapped, Carol Singing at Care Homes
• Coming Up: Advent Sunday, Meal and Magic Evening, Christmas Tree Festival, Christmas Baroque, Christmas Services at St. Luke’s
• From the Wider Church: United Prayer, Thanet Winter Shelter
• Interesting Blogs: Moving from casual to meaningful to spiritual conversations, two structures for Mission
• Prayer Requests
• Weekly Calendar
• Online Forms: Event application, Submit a notice, maintenance report, access Safeguarding training

Scroll on…

Opening Reflection

Are you tired of doing good? There are all kinds of reasons why people might answer, ‘Yes’ to that question.

One reason may be that someone is too tired. Life can be exhausting, whether through overwork, emotional strain or ill health and at times that can leave us utterly shattered. At such points we just do not have the energy to do anything extra, whether a good deed or not. We should not feel guilty, but remember that we are not God and we need to leave what we cannot do to Him. After all, ‘God grants sleep to those he loves.’ (Psalm 127:2)

However, other reasons may not be so positive. Some may feel weary of doing good, because they have worked hard to do good in the past, but have been left feeling unrecognised or even put upon. Such feelings, can lead to anger and bitterness manifesting in a refusal to help anymore. If this is the case, then we need to rediscover God’s grace to us, and learn to share that grace with others.

Others, may be afraid of overcommitment if they offer to help out. Perhaps they have done so before, only to be left with too much to do and little support.  There are no guarantees that this may not happen again, but rather than withdrawing altogether, we need to find courage to challenge the systems and attitudes that lead to such situations. Negatively, that can include questioning whether organisations are trying to do too much, whilst positively it may mean encouraging others to engage to spread the load.

Perhaps you can think of other reasons why people tire of doing good? Maybe there are other ways to help tackle these issues?

Paul Worledge

This Sunday (16^th November)

Work Hard, (2 Thes. 3:6-13)

Our service this Sunday is a Holy Communion with all the normal children’s groups running. It is also our Generous Giving Sunday, so please remember to bring your response form, if you had one by picking up an envelope. Our themes is ‘Work Hard’ and we will be looking at 2 Thessalonians 3:6-13.

Key Notices:

Dare to Pray – This Saturday, 9:30-10:30am

With the need for more funds at St. Luke’s, exciting plans to develop our youth work and move forward with the bigger Vision 2030, Christianity Explored running and Christmas coming up, there is lot that needs prayer! Come and join us for the key monthly prayer meeting. “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labour in vain!” (Psalm 127:1)

Generous Giving Sunday – Please collect your envelope!

In this Sunday’s service we are asking people to submit their responses for  ‘Generous Giving Sunday.’ If you need extra forms (such as a Standing Order form or World Mission form), then these are now available along with envelopes addressed to our treasurer at the back of church. There will be a collection at the end of the service for people to hand their forms in.

Volunteering Availability

If you are on one of our teams that serve on Sunday mornings, then it would be really helpful if you could fill in our online forms to let us know your availability. This makes it much easier for us to plan rotas for services.

The forms can be found at: https://stlukesramsgate.org/sunday-rotas/

There are now forms available for December to April 2026 and also for the extra Christmas services. If you cannot do this online, then please speak to Paul or James and we can fill in the online form on your behalf.

Planning for a new Youth Club

We are inviting families with Year 6 children or older to a lunch on Sunday 23^rd November to discuss plans for a new youth club to start in January. If you are in this category or would like to offer to be a leader, then please let Tonya or Paul know that you are coming to the lunch asap.

Christmas Unwrapped

We are hosting two schools on the morning of Wednesday 3^rd December. If you can help with biscuit decorating or other activities, then please see Paul.

Carol Singing at Care Homes

We are planning to go into a couple of local care homes to sing some Christmas Carols for the residents. If you can join us for these events, then please let Paul know:

• Keele House, 2:30pm on Wednesday 10^th December
• Ramsgate Care Centre, 2:30pm on Monday 15^th December

Coming Up:

Advent Sunday – 30^th November

There will be a joint service for St. Luke’s and St. George’s at St. Luke’s Church at 11am on Advent Sunday, 30^th November.

In the evening from 5pm at St. George’s Church, there will be Let there be Light event after the 4:30pm Ramsgate Light switch on. This is a free event with refreshments and entertainment (see fliers for more information). Last year we had over 500 attend. If you can offer to help steward then please let Paul know.

Meal and Magic Evening, Saturday 6^th December, 7:30pm

The Men’s group will be hosting this fantastic event at St. Luke’s Hall.

Christmas Tree Festival

This will be running from 12^th December at St. George’s. If anyone would like to decorate a Christmas Tree on behalf of St. Luke’s, then please let Paul know.

Christmas Baroque at St. George’s – 18^th December, 7pm

The Baroque Collective warmly invites you to the fifth annual Christmas Baroque Concert at St George’s on 18 December at 7pm. Tickets: £13 in advance, £15 on the door; free admission for children under 16. Find out more and buy tickets.

Christmas Services at St. Luke’s

Tree of Love Service (Formerly Remembrance Service) – Sat. 20^th, 6:30pm

Family Carol Service – Sun. 21^st, 11am

Crib Service – Christmas Eve, 24^th, 4pm

Traditional Carol Service – Christmas Eve, 24^th, 6:30pm

Christmas Day All Age and Holy Communion – Christmas Day, 11am

From the Wider Church:

United Prayer, This Sunday, 6:30pm, Birchington Baptist Church

Join Christians from all over Thanet for this united prayer meeting.

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  If you have trouble with the online portal, then you can ring Carl on 07900 49 73 26.

Interesting Blogs to Share:

Moving from Casual to Meaningful to Spiritual Conversations

This short article gives advice on how to build deeper relationships with people we know, that may then allow discussions on Spiritual topics. Lots of wise guidance and good questions to ask. Read more… (5 minutes)

Two structures needed for mission

This article explores the tension between organised and hierarchical structure and mission focussed structures. It shows how both have been important through church history to enable mission. Read more… (5 minutes)

Weekly Calendar

Sunday 16^th November – Second Sunday before Advent

Communion Service (St. Luke’s Church) 2 Thes. 3.6-13, 11:00am-12:00pm

Christianity Explored Youth (13-18s) (St Luke’s Vicarage) – 5:00-6:30pm

Monday 17^th  

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

Christianity Explored (St Luke’s Vicarage) – 7:30-9:00pm

Tuesday 18^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 20^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

Christianity Explored (St Luke’s Vicarage) – 11:30am-1:00pm

Friday 21^st   

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

Saturday 22^nd    

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

Sunday 23^rd – Christ the King

Family Service (St. Luke’s Church) Luke 23:33-43, 11:00am-12:00pm

Youthwork Consultation (St. Luke’s Hall) – 12:30-2:00pm

Christianity Explored Youth (13-18s) (St Luke’s Vicarage) – 5:00-6:30pm

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 remember that our redeemer lives!

Yours in Christ

Paul Worledge

(Vicar, St. Luke’s Ramsgate)