“For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

(Matthew 6:14-15)

This week, the sections of the email are:

• Opening Reflection: Corollary
• This Sunday:  The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant (Matthew 18:21-35)
• Key notices: Harvest Sunday, Union of St. Luke’s and St. George’s Parishes, Grant Application for St. George’s Building
• Coming Up: Evangelical Alliance Speaker, Dare to Pray,  Eco Conference, History of St. Luke’s Talk, Baroque Recital, Kent Women’s Convention, Barn Dance
• Interesting Blogs: The Season of Creation, Water Connects
• Weekly Calendar
• Online Forms: Event application, Submit a notice, maintenance report, Safeguarding

Scroll on…

Opening Reflection

When I studied maths, there was a word used which is not often used in normal life. The word is ‘corollary.’ Something is a ‘corollary’ if it follows from something else that has already been proved. A mathematical example might be that once you have proved that the three angles of a triangle always add up to 180⁰ then a corollary is that in a right-angled triangle, the two other angles must add up to 90⁰. (A right-angle is 90⁰).

We live the Christian life as a corollary. Having understood what God has done for us in Jesus Christ, then the way we are meant to live follows on naturally.

We saw that in last week’s sermon. It is important to understand how much we matter to God. The parable of the lost sheep shows us how concerned God is not to lose us. Just as a shepherd goes to great lengths to recover a sheep that has wandered off, so God is concerned not to lose us, because each of us matter deeply to Him. The corollary for us as a church is that if each disciple matters deeply to God, then they should also matter deeply to us too. We like God should be seeking to bring back the wanderers.

This week’s parable also teaches a related corollary. The basic lesson is the same as the one taught in the Lord’s prayer. We have come to understand that God has forgiven us our sins, even though it cost him the death of his Son on the cross. The corollary of this is that we need to forgive those who sin against us – no matter how costly it feels.

Do you see how Christian living flows as a corollary from the good news about what God has done for us? Can you think of other specific examples?

Paul Worledge

This Sunday

The Parable of the Unmerciful Servant (Matthew 18:21-35)

This week we look at another of Jesus’ parables in Matthew’s gospels, that tackles the issue of forgiving others. Our children’s groups are back as normal, apart from Sparklers. However, the vestry will be set up for activities for pre-school children for children and parents to use during the service if they want to.

Key Notices:

Harvest Service – Sunday 27^th September

We will be having a financial collection this year for Tearfund’s Venezuella earthquake appeal. Please consider giving generously. Also, please bring non-perishable food to offer at the Harvest Service on 27^th September to support the local food bank at the Salvation Army.

Union of St. Luke’s and St. George’s Parish and Benefices

A draft scheme has been drawn up to unite our two parishes of St. Luke’s and St. George’s in Ramsgate. This will mean that both churches will be governed by one PCC and that any future vicar appointed will be appointed to look after both churches. Under the scheme both St. Luke’s and St. George’s will continue as parish churches of the new united parish. More information is available on the notice at the back of church and on the website.

Grant Application for St. George’s Building

We are currently waiting to hear back about a grant application for £1million to help restore and develop St. George’s building. This is from the Historic England Listed Places of Worship Renewal Fund. As part of the application, we prepared a short video to explain to the funders what we are hoping to do with the church. View the video. Please be praying that this bid will be successful! We should hear back in the next month or so.

Coming Up:

Dare to Pray

Our next Dare to Pray meeting is Saturday 19^th September, 9:30-10:30am at St. George’s Church.

Evangelical Alliance Speaker

This Saturday 12^th September, 6-8pm at the Corner, there is a talk on ‘Sexuality and the Gospel’ by Katherine from the Evangelical Alliance. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Eco Conference – Think Global Act Local

Join others from Ramsgate attending this event at Rochester Cathedral, Saturday 19^th September, 9:30am-1pm. Free Entry. Contact Penny Williams for more information – 07504 507944 or see their website.

History of St. Luke’s Talk – 150^th Event

An illustrated talk to celebrate 150 years since the opening of St Luke’s church looking at how it came into being and some of the challenges of its early years. Saturday 3rd October, 3pm in the church. Admission £5. Find our more…

Baroque Recital – 150^th Event

Petra Hajduchova will be giving a harpsichord recital at St. Luke’s at 3pm on Saturday 10^th October. This will be free, but donations will be welcome to be split between Petra and the church.

Kent Women’s Convention

This year’s speaker is Lizzy Smalllwood and the theme is ‘Sent – Make Jesus Known’. Saturday, 10^th October, 10am-4pm, St. Nicholas Church, Sevenoaks. A group will be travelling by train from Ramsgate. See Hazel Kenney 07887 863176 for more information or see their website.

Barn Dance – 150^th Event

Join us for hot food and dancing. St. Luke’s Hall, 7pm, Saturday 17^th October. Tickets are £5 and available from Trevor Kenney 07792 828097.

Interesting Blogs to Share:

The Season of Creation

We are in the second week of Season of Creation. This annual, ecumenical celebration kicked off on September 1 and runs through to October 4. It’s an event that Christians on six continents have commemorated for many years. This year’s theme is ‘Living Water’, with Ezekiel 47:9 and 12 as its key text. Read more…

 

Water Connects

Like much of the country, Ashburnham has been reminded of its dependence on rainfall for our most basic needs. Rain is something we may have taken for granted and, perhaps, even wished for less of. How times can change. At Ashburnham, water continues to play a really important part in the life of the centre. Read more…

Weekly Calendar

Sunday 13^th September – Fifteenth Sunday after Trinity

Family Service (St. Luke’s Church) Matthew 18:21-35 – 11:00am-12:00pm

Baptism in the sea (Ramsgate Main Sands) – 1:00pm

Monday 14^th           

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

Tuesday 15^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

Wednesday 16^th       

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

Thursday 17^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 18^th       

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

Saturday 19^th      

Dare to Pray (St. George’s Church) – 9:30-10:30am

Sunday 20^th – Sixteenth Sunday after Trinity

Family Service (St. Luke’s Church) Matthew 20:1-16 – 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.

They meet at the following times:

• Monday evening (two groups)
• Tuesday afternoon
• Wednesday morning
• Wednesday evening
• Thursday morning

We are also looking to restart the Youth Life Group in the next few weeks.

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.

Safeguarding

Our website is now updated with the latest information about Safeguarding and links to the Diocesan form for reporting concerns and accessing training.

Training

If you volunteer in anyway at church the national authorities you should take at least the Basic Module in safeguarding training once every three years. If you hold a role connected with vulnerable adults or children and young people, then you will also need to take the Foundation Module. Once you have completed your training, please forward that certificate to James, our administrator, (office@churchramsgate.org) so that we can keep records of who has done the training.

Finally, let’s consider the corollary of the gospel for our Christian living,

Yours in Christ

Paul Worledge

(Vicar, St. Luke’s Ramsgate)