“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.”

(1 Corinthians 12:7)

This week, the sections of the email are:

• Opening Reflection: Pentecost
• This Sunday: Livestream link
• Key notices: Our new PCC
• Coming Up: Pentecost Service – Churches Together in Ramsgate
• Opportunities to Serve: Deputy Wardens needed, New Church Gardening Group, Tower and Crypt Tours at St. George’s
• Interesting Blogs: When interruption becomes surrender, What makes anything right or wrong
• Weekly Calendar
• Online Forms: Event application, Submit a notice, maintenance report, access Safeguarding training

Scroll on…

Opening Reflection

“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.” (1 Corinthians 12:7)

This Sunday is Pentecost. It is the day we remember God sending his Holy Spirit onto the church. The events of the day itself were spectacular and memorable with the sound of a rushing wind, flames of fire settling on the disciple’s heads, the apostles praising God in different languages that visitors to Jerusalem could understand and, perhaps most amazingly, 3,000 people becoming Christians and being baptised!

The work of the Spirit is not ordinarily that spectacular, but it is aways important. It is not limited to those who speak up front in church services or to super-spiritual Christians. As our verse makes clear, it is given to each one of us that are truly Christians. If you have decided to follow Jesus and trust that he has achieved everything necessary to ensure the forgiveness of your sins, your status as a child of God and your place in God’s eternal home, then you have received the Holy Spirit in your life.

The Spirit is there to help us, assure us and comfort us, but it is also there to enable us to be a help for others. Our faith was never meant to be an individualistic faith between just me and God, it was always meant to be a faith to be lived in community. So, we are given ‘manifestations’ or ‘gifts’ of the Spirit to enable us to serve one another for the common good.

Each person’s service will be different, because the Spirit gifts us in all kinds of ways. For some it may enable them to take on official roles in the church, for others it may be just about how they informally encourage and support others around them. For some it may involve speaking God’s words to build  people up in the faith, whilst for others it will involve practical acts of service and care. All are essential and all are part of God’s plan to build his church. Let’s all pray for God’s Spirit to work more fully through us and among us.

Paul Worledge

This Sunday

True Christian Spirituality (1 Corinthians 12:1-11)

This Sunday as it is Pentecost we will be focusing on the work of the Spirit in Christians today. This will be a normal Service, and all the normal children’s groups will be running.

Key Notices:

Our New PCC

Thank you to everyone who attended our APCM last Sunday after the service.

The new PCC is now:

• Clergy: Paul Worledge, Beth Keenan
• Church Wardens: Andrew McMillan and Alison Hawthorn
• Deanery Synod reps.: Matthew Kenney, Lucy W.-B.
• PCC Members: Brenda Clarke, Willow Whybrow, Andrew Gilham, Ben Eldridge, Pauline Emptage, Tonya Curry, George Leonard, Mike Turner and David Perkins.
• To be co-opted: Nicky Galer, Kathy Macauley
• To be invited as an observer: James Patterson (Administrator)

Coming Up:

Pentecost Service – Churches Together in Ramsgate

Join other Christians from around Ramsgate for our next joint service on Sunday 24^th 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.

If you want a lift from St. Luke’s then let Paul know and we can give lifts from St. Luke’s from 5:30pm.

Opportunities to serve:

Deputy Wardens Needed

Can you help to care & share? Deputy Wardens required – mainly to help on a rota to open and close church and assisting Church Wardens by providing occasional cover. A great opportunity to serve and learn without feeling too responsible. Please speak to Andrew McMillan for more information.

New Church Gardening Group

Are you interested in helping our church gardens look more welcoming? Why not come along to be part of the new gardening group meeting on Wednesday Mornings 10.30am until 12 noon. See Peter Erlam for more information or just turn up. They have already made the entrance to the church look much better.

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.

Interesting Blogs to Share:

When interruption becomes surrender

In this reflective article, a nurse considers that come from the pressure of her intense job. Read more… (5 mins)

What makes anything right or wrong?

In this ten-minute video, Glen Scrivener, a Christian apologist debates with Stephen Woodford an Atheist about how we decide what is right or wrong. Watch the video

Weekly Calendar

Sunday 24^th May – Pentecost

Family Service (St. Luke’s Church) 1 Cor. 12:3b-13 – 11:00am-12:00pm

CTiR Pentecost Service (Royal Harbour Academy) – 6:00pm

Tuesday 26^th         

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

Wednesday 27^th

Gardening Group (St. Luke’s Church) – 10:30am-12:00pm

Thursday 28^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

Saturday 30^th       

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

Sunday 31^st – Trinity Sunday

Family Service (St. Luke’s Church) Matthew 28.16-20 – 11:00am-12:00pm

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 for greater works of the Spirit in our lives.

Yours in Christ

Paul Worledge

(Vicar, St. Luke’s Ramsgate)