“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
(Acts 1:8)
This week, the sections of the email are:
- Opening Reflection: Ascension Day
- This Sunday: Livestream link
- Key notices: Annual Meeting, Dare to Pray, Tower and Crypt Tours at St. George’s
- Coming Up: Life in Tudor Ramsgate, New Church Gardening Group, Men’s Group – Mini-Golf, Pentecost Service – Churches Together in Ramsgate
- Wider Church: The Latest from ACTS
- Interesting Blogs: What motivates us?, Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness
- Weekly Calendar
- Online Forms: Event application, Submit a notice, maintenance report, access Safeguarding training
Scroll on…
Opening Reflection
This Thursday was Ascension Day. It is the day when we remember that Jesus, after proving that he had bodily resurrected from the dead, went to the Father in heaven to take his place at God’s right hand to rule in power. So, we remember the power and authority of Jesus not just over the Kingdom of Israel, but the whole world.
His return to one place, his throne in heaven, meant that his power could operate in every place. From there he could send out the Holy Spirit on all Christians, so that His power would be operative through them, wherever they might be. Now his body is the church, spread throughout the globe, living and proclaiming the good news of Jesus’ death and resurrection and inviting people to receive forgiveness of sins, a relationship with God and the hope of eternal life.
We can do that, even though people may challenge our right to invite people from different cultures to become Christians, because Jesus as the one sitting at the right hand of God, is ruler over all cultures and ethnicities. As he says, at the end of Matthew’s gospel, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations…” (Matthew 28:18-19a)
Finally, because Jesus is in heaven and ruling in power, we can have greater confidence to pray. This was the initial response of the disciples immediately after Jesus’ ascension as they awaited the coming of the Holy Spirit. It should be our first instinct too. Why not use this time to recommit to prayer in your life and with others.
Paul Worledge
This Sunday
This week we consider the Ascension of Jesus and its implications for our mission. This will be a Communion Service and all the normal children’s groups will be running. The Annual Meeting will take place after a short break for refreshments after the service.
Key Notices:
Annual Meeting, 12:30pm this Sunday
Today is our Annual Meeting after the service. We will have coffee and refreshments after the service, then start promptly at 12:30pm. The meeting should last 30 minutes to an hour. We will be sharing how our plans are developing and give plenty of space for people to ask questions on either the plans or the annual report. We have also had nominations for the following people to be elected to our Parochial Church Council:
- Church Wardens (2 spaces): Andrew McMillan and Alison Hawthorn
- Deanery Synod reps. (2 spaces): Matthew Kenney*, Lucy W.-B.*
- PCC Members (4 spaces): Brenda Clarke*, James Patterson, Willow Whybrow and someone else?
* These will be new to the PCC. The following PCC members are continuing without the need to be re-elected: Pauline Emptage, Tonya Curry, George Leonard, Mike Turner and David Perkins.
Dare to Pray, prayer meeting
Join us Saturday, 9:30am to 10:30am at St. George’s Church for our monthly dare to pray prayer meeting. This week the focus will be specifically on praying for our Annual Meetings and all those serving on our PCCs.
Tower and Crypt Tours at St. George’s
We are still looking for people to join a team of people who may be willing to help out with the tower and crypt tours on Saturdays in the summer at St. George’s church. This is a great way to show a warm welcome to the public and also raise funds for the church. If you are interested let Paul know.
Coming Up:
Life in Tudor Ramsgate – THIS SATURDAY!
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. Tickets available online, via the St. George’s website or on the door.
New Church Gardening Group
Are you interested in helping our church gardens look more welcoming? We are planning a new gardening group, on Wednesday Mornings 10.30am until 12 noon, starting on 20th May. See Peter Erlam for more information or just turn up.
Men’s Group – Mini-Golf
Wednesday 20th May, 6pm at Strokes in Margate. Trophy night for him with the lowest score! Early start, lifts to the course, snacks available. £7.50. Contact Bruce Stokes 07708 682464, bruce.stokes@btinternet.com.
Pentecost Services – Churches Together in Ramsgate
Join other Christians from around Ramsgate for our next joint service on Sunday 24th May, 6pm at the Royal Harbour Academy, Upper Site, off the New Haine Road. There will be praise, prayer and Bible teaching, along with activities for all ages.
Wider Church:
The latest from ACTS
Check out the latest newsletter from ACTS by clicking here….
Interesting Blogs to Share:
What motivates us, recognition by others or God?
This brief article summarising a video reminds us that many of the key people in the Bible go unnamed. Yet, they are not insignificant in God’s plan or work. Read more…
Hunger and thirst for righteousness
In this brief article, the writer reflects on their experience of deep thirst when travelling in the Middle East and what this famous beatitude of Jesus really means. Read on…
Weekly Calendar
Sunday 17th – Seventh Sunday of Easter
Communion Service (St. Luke’s Church) Acts 1.6-14 – 11:00am-12:00pm
APCM (St. Luke’s Church) – 12:30pm
Monday 18th
Prayer Meeting (St. Luke’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Tuesday 19th
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
Wednesday 20th
Men’s Group Mini Golf (Strokes in Margate) – 6:00pm
Thursday 21st
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 22nd
Play & Praise (St. Luke’s Church Hall) – 10:00-11:30am
Saturday 23rd
Prayer Meeting (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:00am
Sunday 24th – Pentecost
Family Service (St. Luke’s Church) 1 Cor. 12:3b-13 – 11:00am-12:00pm
CTiR Pentecost Service (Royal Harbour Academy) – 6:00pm
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 now more groups available! They meet at the following times:
- Monday evening (two groups)
- Tuesday afternoon
- Wednesday morning
- Wednesday evening
- Thursday morning
There is also a youth life group on a Sunday afternoon.
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 praying,
Yours in Christ
Paul Worledge
(Vicar, St. Luke’s Ramsgate)
St. Luke's Church Ramsgate 