"But just as he who called you is holy,

so be holy in all you do;"

(1 Peter 1:15)

Many things shape our lives. One of them is a desire to imitate our heroes, to become like those we look up to. 

At the start of his letter, Peter is keen to encourage his readers that as Christians they have much to celebrate and rejoice in - even if life may be a little tough for a while. In the next stage of his letter, though, he moves on to encourage them to live as Christians in a hostile world.

He does this by encouraging us to be like God. To live 'holy lives.' Peter is encouraging us to live lives with God-like characteristics: to love as God loves; to be kind as God is kind; to be faithful as God is faithful; to show compassion as God shows compassion and so on.

As we rejoice in what God has achieved for us let's also be keen to live as God wants us to live.

This week's email includes:

• Join in this Sunday - videos to contribute.
• Last Sunday 
• Weekly Focus: Summer Opportunities for Children and Young People
• Prayer Requests
• Notices in Brief
• Link of the Week: Lockdown is a king of Exile

Join in this Sunday: For this Sunday it would be good to use 1 Peter 1:16 as an opening response. So could you email / whatsapp etc. very short videos saying in response to "Be holy..."

"because God is holy!"

If you are inspired by the 'Life in Lockdown videos' and would like to contribute a similar video, then it would be great to have one or two for each service over the coming months.

The videos need to be about 1-2 minutes long and should answer questions like:

• How has Lockdown effected you?
• What are the challenges and the positives for you?
• How has God helped you during this time?

Please send videos by reply to this email, wetransfer.com or Whatsapp (07769 871520). 

Don't forget to join us on YouTube this Sunday (the video should be available from 6am on Sunday as normal). 

Last Sunday: If you missed Last Sunday's talk 'Hope in Exile' (1 Peter 1:1-12), then you can watch or listen here.

Our children and young people have lost out on a lot through the recent Covid-19 lockdown and crisis. Not only have many not been able to go to school, but also many of the church groups and activities that we run (e.g. Sunday Club and Fusion) have been cancelled. 

Plans are being put in place for schools to re-open for all children in September, but it is unclear to what extent we will be able to run church groups for children and young people at that time. So, please do pray about that!

In the meantime many of the summer camps, beach missions and Lark in the Park have all been cancelled this summer. However, many Christian organisations are arranging free events and activities for youngsters to engage with online.

CPAS normally run over 70 Venture holidays each summer for different age-groups. This summer, many of their Ventures will be running online events called Virtual Ventures - and if you're 8-18, they'd love to welcome you to one, or more of those! Each Virtual Venture will be a bit different but in every case you'll be able to connect with others, have some fun and explore Jesus further or for the first time. Bookings open soon, so do keep checking the above link.

Scripture Union are offering something similar with: SUmmer Online. So you can also check them out. 

These may be great opportunities for our youngsters to engage with these activities and learn something of Jesus and without the normal costs involved. Wouldn't it be great to hear back from our children in the autumn about all they've learnt about Jesus over the summer.

Be assured I will do my best to check that people are happy for the requests to be shared before including them. Please pray for:

• Fay Hatton having an operation on her wrist on 22nd July.
  
•  Debbie Smith who had an operation to remove a sarcoma from her stomach on Tuesday. Give thanks for a successful operation and pray for a good recovery and wisdom for the doctors on the need for any further treatment.
  
• Nathan. Give thanks that he is now clear of cancer cells. Pray for wisdom for the doctors as they consider possible treatment to stop the cancer recurring.
• Gordon Warren is still in the hospice. Give thanks that they are now controlling the pain and his daughter was able to visit on Wednesday. Pray for wisdom about returning home - that everything can be in place for Gordon so that he can be comfortable and regain strength at home. Keep praying for June as well!
• Pam Morecroft, who is in hospital recovering from a broken wrist.
• Joy Smithers in Westbrook House  to receive physiotherapy.

• Joy Ovenden and Shirley Crabb who are in a lot of pain with their hips.

• Gloria's daughter's friend, Barb, who has just been diagnosed with having pancreatic cancer. Please pray for peace and healing at this time.
• Mitch Styles that he will be relieved from his severe anxiety.
• Pauline Mackinney's sister having investigations on her heart.

• Community Pastors as they go out to offer care and support to people in and around the Ramsgate pubs and bars late on Saturday nights.

Prayer from Church of England for during Lockdown:

Lead us from death to life,
from falsehood to truth;
lead us from despair to hope,
from fear to trust;
lead us from hate to love,
from war to peace.
Let peace fill our heart,
our world, our universe
Amen

Financial Update: We are now half-way through the year and although we have lost some money, because of the building being closed and in particular the hall not being used, many people have continued to give regularly and faithfully. So, a big Thank You! 

Our present projection is that with no new one off gifts we will likely face a £20,000 deficit at the end of the year. We also need to raise money to either refurbish or replace our heating system. The PCC will decide on the way forward for this in the next couple of weeks, but we are grateful for a £1,000 donation towards this already.

If you would like more details or to donate online, then check out our donate webpage.

It's Your Move Books: Every year at the end of the summer term we gift each child in Year 6 at Newlands School an It's Your Move book to help them prepare for starting at Secondary School in September. We have done so again this year. Unfortunately I haven't been able to go in and hand them out in person this year, but the teachers are going to include them in their transition packs.

Connected Church. Over the last few years we have been supporting the Kale Heywitt church in Ethiopia as they set up self-help groups to enable people to move out of poverty. You can read about how they are helping people in Ethiopia to deal with Covid-19 here.

Zoom after the service: We're continuing with these Zoom meetings after the service on Sundays for those watching online and even for those who have been to the building! Do join us if you can at 11:30am onwards. Just click the button below:

Lockdown is a kind of Exile: The Revelation of the Lockdown

This is a deeper reflection on responding to Covid-19 as Christians in 2020 by Paul S. Williams, CEO of Bible Soricety. Some of his comments link closely with some of the thoughts of last week's sermon:

"Immigrant communities and exiles experience liminality as those who have not chosen it, whereas pilgrims – whom Turner was studying – experience liminality by choice. Lockdown is a kind of exile – a kind of enforced liminality. In this sense, it is a good metaphor for the larger situation of the Church in the world. Many of us experience the post-Christian convulsions in our society that I have described as an unwanted form of exile. We resent the changes and the newfound experience of cultural alienation that is now commonplace for Christians. Few of us enjoy social marginalisation. We may be tempted to withdraw into a Christian ghetto, or, instead, assimilate to mainstream societal culture in an attempt to fit in... This is what characterises Christian pilgrimage – perhaps best put in the language of the ancient Celtic missionaries – a voluntary exile for Christ."​

Don't forget to join us on YouTube this Sunday (Video should be available from 6am on Sunday).

Yours in Christ,

Paul.