“Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”

(Isaiah 43:18-19)

This week, the sections of the email are:

There will not be an email next week.

• Opening reflection: 2026 Verse of the Year
• This Sunday: Livestream link and details -this Sunday and next Sunday
• Key notices: 2025 Annual Report (Last Reminder)
• Coming Up: Churches Together in Ramsgate  United Service, Doug Mackinney’s Celeberation of Life service, Prayer Breakfast, Thanet Churches Together Prayer Gathering, Confirmation Service
• Interesting Blogs: New Things, our changing culture
• Prayer Requests
• Weekly Calendar
• Online Forms: Event application, Submit a notice, maintenance report, access Safeguarding training

Scroll on…

Opening Reflection

Last Saturday, ten of us met for our monthly Dare to Pray prayer meeting at St. George’s. As part of the meeting we had committed to discerning the verse for the year. Some people had sent in suggestions beforehand, which were shared with those there, but in the end we chose the verses above. They were brought to the meeting by two people independently of each other, one from St. Luke’s and one from St. George’s, which in itself suggested they may be God’s choice.

They also seem to capture something of our present situation. Across the country, there is talk of a “Quiet Revival”, which is particularly showing itself among younger men. It seems that God is indeed doing something new with those who are new to adulthood. As churches we need to be aware of that so that we can be more pro-active at welcoming them into our church families and communities and supporting them as they explore and start out in faith.

In addition, Vision 2030, which came out of our year of discernment is also seeking to do something new in our town. We are seeking to reduce the number of buildings we have and improve the ones we keep, so that we can be more focussed on people not buildings. Our deep prayer is that through the new structure of shared buildings and administration, resources can be focussed on developing new worshipping communities (or congregations) so that there will be significant growth in those finding salvation through Christ.

Please pray that God will indeed, be doing new things with and amongst us in 2026 and that we will have eyes to see it.

Paul Worledge

This Sunday – 25^th January

Grumbles about Leadership (Numbers 17:1-11)

Join us this Sunday as we continue our series on Israel travelling in the wilderness. There will be all the normal young people’s groups.

Next Sunday – 1^st February

Grumbles about Everything (Numbers 21:4-9)

Join us this Sunday as we continue our series on Israel travelling in the wilderness. There will be all the normal young people’s groups.

Key Notices:

2025 Annual Report (Last Reminder)

We have only had a few reports in so far. If you run any group or team in the church, then it would be great if you could submit a short report about what the group or team has been up to in 2025 to be included in our annual report. Please submit reports to me (preferably by email) by the end of January.

Coming Up:

Churches Together in Ramsgate United Service

Sun. 25^th Jan., 6pm, Royal Harbour School (Upper Site, entrance off the New Haine Road).

There will be activities for children organised by ACTS and a choir led by the St. Lawrence and Coastal Community choir director.

Anyone is welcome to join the choir. Just turn up at the venue at 4:30pm for a pre-service rehearsal. There’s no particular dress code and you don’t have to be a trained singer, just someone who enjoys singing.

Doug Mackinney – Celebration of Life Service

Fri. 6^th Feb, 2pm, Salvation Army

Everyone who remembers Doug Mackinney, who with Pauline was a member at St. Luke’s for many years is welcome to attend this service.

Churches Together in Ramsgate Prayer Breakfast

Sat. 7^th Feb, 9am, Centenary Hall, Hardres Street

Thanet Churches Together Prayer Gathering

Sunday 22^nd February, 6:30pm, St. Jame’s Church, Westgate, CT9 5JU

Confirmation Service

Sat. 28^th Feb., 5pm, St. Luke’s Church

Please come and support candidates from St. Luke’s, St. George’s and other local churches being confirmed and baptised at the end of February. Bishop Rose will be taking the service.

Interesting Blogs to Share:

New Things? Our Changing Culture

In this 5 minute read, Graham Tomlin surveys the seismic changes happening in our world and asks whether the church is up to the challenge? Read more…

 

Weekly Calendar

There will not be a new notice sheet on Sunday 1^st February.

Sunday 25^th January – The Third Sunday of Epiphany

Family Service (St. Luke’s Church) Numbers 17:1-11- 11:00am-12:00pm

CTiR United Service (Royal Harbour Academy, CT12 6FA) – from 6:00pm

Tuesday 27^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 29^th   

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

Friday 30^th  

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

Saturday 31^st  

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

Sunday 1^st February – The Fourth Sunday of Epiphany

Family Service (St. Luke’s Church) Numbers 21:4-9 – 11:00am-12:00pm

Tuesday 3^rd   

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 5^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 6^th   

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

Saturday 7^th

CTiR Prayer Breakfast (Centenary Hall, Hardres Street) – 9:00-10:00am

Sunday 8^th – The Second Sunday before Lent

Family Service (St. Luke’s Church) Numbers 22:21-41 – 11:00am-12:00pm

Confirmation Course (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 learn to really rely on God.

Yours in Christ

Paul Worledge

(Vicar, St. Luke’s Ramsgate)