“Blessed are the peacemakers,

because they will be called children of God.”

(Matthew 5:9)

This week, the sections of the email are:

• Opening Reflection: Peace
• This Sunday: Livestream Link and service information
• Key notices: Easter Services, Gift from Councillors, St. Luke’s 150^th Newsletter
• Coming Up: Kent’s ‘Speak their Name” Memorial Quilt, Easter Cracked, Welcome Service for new Archbishop of Canterbury, Romp through the Old Testament
• Wider Church: ACTS newsletter, TearFund Middle East Appeal
• Interesting Blogs: What is the Bible?, Raising Kids who can handle the digital winds
• Weekly Calendar
• Online Forms: Event application, Submit a notice, maintenance report, access Safeguarding training

Scroll on…

Opening Reflection

It is often said these days that if you want to improve your mental health, then stop looking at the news. Certainly, there is a lot in the news at the moment to promote anxiety. The war in Iran and the recent meningitis outbreak are just the two most recent examples to get us worried. How can we find inner peace in a world of war and sickness?

In Philippians, Paul tells us that rather than being anxious, we should pray. When we do that, we will find, ‘the peace of God, which passes all understanding.’ (Philippians 4:7). Why does this work? Peter tells us: “Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7) At the heart of the Christian faith is the belief in a God, who is both all powerful and eternal, but who also cares for us on a personal level. A God who, as Paul writes elsewhere, “in all things works for the good of those who love him.” (Romans 8:28). When we know that God is there for us, then we can be confident that whatever problems or crisis we face, God will bring us through in the end. So, we can have the peace of God.

Interestingly, though, when Paul writes about ‘the peace of God’, he does so in the context of urging Christians in the Philippian church to stop arguing (4:2-3). In other words, Paul recognises that it is easier to find peace with each other, when we have first grasped the peace of God in our lives. Indeed, relationship breakdowns and even wars often arise out of contexts of deep anxiety.

To be a peacemaker, is to follow Christ’s example. He came to die for us, so that we could have peace with God. But also to be a peacemaker requires us to be free from anxiety, to not just have peace with God, but also the peace of God in our lives. Out of that God given peace we are equipped to work for peace.

Paul Worledge

This Sunday – 22^nd March

Peace (Philippians 4:2-9)

This Sunday we will be looking at ‘Peace’ as the third characteristic of the fruit of the Spirit. The children’s groups will be running as normal.

Key Notices:

Easter Services

Here is a list of the upcoming Easter Services at St. Luke’s and St. George’s:

• Maundy Thursday (2^nd April) Holy Communion, 6:30pm at St. George’s
• Good Friday (3^rd April)
  • The Easter Story (for families), 10:30am, St. Luke’s
  • Churches Together Service, 10:30am, Hardres Street United Ch.
  • Open Air Witness, 12noon, Town Centre (outside Timpsons)
  • Meditation, 1:00-3:00pm, four half-hour meditations on Isaiah 53
• Easter Sunday (5^th April), All Age Communion, 11am St. Luke’s

Gift from the Eastcliffe Ward councillors

We are grateful to the Eastcliffe Ward councillors for gifting £500 each to St. Luke’s and St. George’s for our work in supporting the community and £200 to the work of Community Pastors.

St. Luke’s 150^th Newsletter

The second version of this newsletter is now available at the back of church. Do take a copy!

Coming Up:

Kent’s “Speak their name” Memorial Quilt

This quilt composes of 66 squares, remembering 66 lives lost to suicide. It is presently touring Kent and will be on display in St. George’s church from 18^th March to 1^st April, with a Connection Event on Saturday 21^st March from 2 to 4pm, where you can learn more about the quilt. Find out more…

Easter Cracked

St. Luke’s will be hosting 80 Year 6 pupils from St. Lawrence College and Newlands School on the morning of Tuesday 24^th March for this interactive workshop run by ACTS.If you can volunteer to help host and run the workshop (setting up from 9am and tidying up until about mid-day), then please let Paul know.

Welcome Service for new Archbishop of Canterbury

The service, led by the Bishop of Dover, will bring together individuals and church groups from across our county highlighting the rich and varied communities which we serve. This will be the main opportunity for the whole Diocese to formally welcome and show our support for our new Diocesan Bishop. Saturday 28^th March, 5:30-6:30pm. Canterbury Cathedral. Click here to book a free ticket.

Romp through the Old Testament

An interactive day of exploration, new insights and fun with Rev. Dr. Sue Woan. Free! (donations welcome) Bring your own lunch – drinks provided. Saturday 18th April, 9.30am – 3.00pm. Newington Free Church, St. John’s Avenue, Ramsgate. To book a place contact Robin Plant: robin.plant@protonmail.com.

Wider Church

ACTS – March Update

The latest copy of the Active Christianity in Thanet Schools newsletter is now available at the back of church or can be read here.

Tear Fund’s Middle East Appeal

Imagine leaving your home in the middle of the night, with no time to pack, and nowhere safe to go. This is the terrifying reality for millions of people across the Middle East, as the escalating conflict forces them to flee. Find our more…

Interesting Blogs to Share:

What is the Bible?

This is the first in the latest series of videos from the Bible Project on how to read the Bible. In 5 minutes, it gives a great summary of what the Bible is? Watch…

Raising kids who can handle the digital winds

In this 4 minute read, Anna Hawken shares some thoughts about how best to help our children prepare for a digital world. Read more…

Weekly Calendar

Sunday 22^nd March – The Fifth Sunday of Lent

Communion Service (St. Luke’s Church) Phil. 4:2-9 – 11:00am-12:00pm

Confirmation Follow Up (St Luke’s Vicarage) – 5:00-6:30pm

Monday 23^rd      

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

Confirmation Follow Up (St Luke’s Vicarage) – 7:30-9:00pm

Tuesday 24^th     

Easter Cracked (St Luke’s Church) – 9:00am-12:00pm

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 26^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

Confirmation Follow Up (St Luke’s Vicarage) – 11:30am-1:00pm

Friday 27^th  

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

Saturday 28^th       

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

Sunday 29^th – Palm Sunday (Clocks go forward)

Family Service (St. Luke’s Church) Matthew 21:1-11 – 11:00am-12:00pm

Confirmation Follow Up (St Luke’s Vicarage) – 5:00-6:30pm

Life Groups

Will you dare to share the Christian life with others? Life groups are a great way to meet together regularly with a small group of other Christians, for mutual support, to share in reading God’s word and to pray for one another.

Please see Paul if you are interested in joining one. There are groups at the following times:

• Monday evenings
• Tuesday afternoons
• Wednesday mornings
• Wednesday evenings

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 trust in God’s peace and be peacemakers ourselves,

Yours in Christ

Paul Worledge

(Vicar, St. Luke’s Ramsgate)