This Easter- 2nd to 12th April 2026

Posted bypaulworledgePosted inThis SundayTags:, , , ,

“Go quickly and tell his disciples: “He has risen from the dead…”

(Matthew 28:7)

This week, the sections of the email are:

Please note this email covers two weeks, there will not be an email next week.

  • Opening Reflection: The Easter Story
  • This Easter: The Easter Services and next Sunday with Livestream links
  • Key notices: Electoral roll, @stlukesrtamsgate.org
  • Coming Up: Romp through the Old Testament, St. George’s Day Service and Parade, Life in Tudor Ramsgate
  • Interesting Blogs: Peace in times of war, Christians in the age of Hitler
  • Weekly Calendar
  • Online Forms: Event application, Submit a notice, maintenance report, access Safeguarding training

Scroll on…

Opening Reflection

The Easter Story is an emotional rollercoaster. It takes us from the depths of human cruelty and agony to the highs of the most incredible and hope-giving miracle.  At the political level, there is injustice perpetrated by those meant to promote God’s laws and enforce the Roman legal system. At the personal level there are statements promising great courage, followed by moments of utter cowardice.

At the centre of it all is Jesus. On show is both his humanity and his divinity. He is clear about his divine mission, preparing his followers for the traumas to come and interpreting the events beforehand through the means of a simple meal. As he approaches the climactic moment, he struggles in prayer between his human desire to flee all pain and suffering and the divine command to sacrifice himself for the human race. In the end he submits with the simple, but powerful words, “your will be done.”

After his arrest, he faces the unjust trial with great courage, not defending himself, but making his clearest claim to be the Messiah, just at the moment it would cause him the most harm. Beaten, ridiculed and crucified, he remains true to his calling and compassion, asking forgiveness for his executors, offering hope to one of those being executed with him and arranging support for his family. Then he dies, with a great cry of triumph: “It is finished!”

His great work of sacrifice, was complete, but Jesus was not finished. Incredibly, on the third day, God raised him from the dead. Jesus did what no-one had done before or since: He conquered death. In so doing he gives us hope that death need not be the end.

For many, this story is the most important moment in history. Why not join us this Easter and discover afresh what it means and why it matters so much?

                                                Paul Worledge

This Easter

Maundy Thursday – 2nd April (Tonight!)

  • Holy Communion (St. George’s 6:30pm) – remembering the very first meal in remembrance of Jesus’s death for us.

Good Friday – 3rd April (Tomorrow!)

  • The Easter Story (St. Luke’s, 10:30am) – an interactive telling of the events of Easter for families and small children. Like a ‘Crib Service’ but for Easter.
  • Churches Together Service (Ramsgate Salvation Army, 10:30am)
  • Churches Together – Good Friday witness (Town Centre, 12 noon)
  • Good Friday Meditation (St. George’s, 1:00-3:00pm) – reflecting on the Song of the Suffering Servant (Isaiah 53). Come for one or more 30 minute slots starting at 1pm, 1:30pm, 2pm, 2:30pm.

Easter Sunday – 5th April – Livestreamed               

The Second Sunday of Easter – 12th April – Livestreamed

Key Notices:

Electoral Roll – Please fill in a form if you are not yet on it!

The electoral roll is a list of church members who have the right to vote at our annual meeting. Last year we had to create a new roll, and many people would have joined the electoral roll then. If you did not join last year or have started coming more recently, then you can now join the new roll, if you are 16 or over, have been baptised and have either been attending for six months or live in the parish. Please pick up a form at the back of church and return to James or fill in the online form. Forms must be completed by 29th April. The Annual meeting is on Sunday 17th May after church.

@stlukesramsgate.org email

Emails used by staff and church officers using this email address are no longer working. We will now be using emails ending in @churchramsgate.org . This is both a cost saving measure and a way of showing we are working across more than one church.

Coming Up:

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.

St. George’s Day Service and Parade

On Sunday 19th April we will have a joint service at St. George’s church to celebrate St. George’s day at 11am. This will be for All Ages and will be followed by a Parade through town, which will this year include both a giant St. George and a giant dragon. After the parade, there will be lunch in St. George’s church, where the Pride in Place board will be launching the next phase of their engagement in working out how to spend the £20 million assigned to Ramsgate by the government. We hope as many as possible can join with some or all element on this day.

Life in Tudor Ramsgate

On Saturday 16th May, 3pm, Margaret Bolton will be giving a talk about Tudor Ramsgate. It will include insights into school life, the work of a housewife, the jobs people did, visits by important people and the experiences of family life. Tickets will be £5 with all proceeds going to the St. George’s Restoration fund.

Interesting Blogs to Share:

Peace in Times of War

In this reflection, Stuart Ford from the Bible Society s the hope of peace that comes through the resurrection of Jesus. Read more (5mins)...

Christians in the Age of Hitler

In this article, the writer reviews a book that argues that our culture has been formed in the anti-Nazi rhetoric of the post war world. Important as that is, it is not enough to sustain a lasting positive culture. Read more...

Two-Weekly Calendar

Sunday 5th April – Easter Sunday

Communion Service (St. Luke’s Church) Matt. 28:1-10 – 11:00am-12:00pm

Tuesday 7th       

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

Thursday 9th    

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

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

Saturday 11th 

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

Sunday 12th – Second Sunday of Easter

All Age Service (St. Luke’s Church) John 20:19-31 – 11:00am-12:00pm

Monday 13th     

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

Tuesday 14th       

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

Thursday 16th    

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

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

Saturday 18th 

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

Sunday 19th – Third Sunday of Easter

Joint Service (St. George’s Church) Acts 7:54-60 – 11:00am

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 keep on celebrating the amazing resurrection of Jesus.

Yours in Christ

Paul Worledge

(Vicar, St. Luke’s Ramsgate)

Leave a comment