Join us Online: 

Livestream 18th July, 11am

also available on YouTube afterwards

(same link as above)

or at St. Luke's Church in Person at 11am.

Last Sunday 43 people attended in person.

If you plan to come to in-person church please register!

Booking is possible for 18th July.

We are hoping that it is no longer necessary for future weeks!

Register to attend

The Zoom chat on Sunday's is now at 10am!

Join to meet and chat with others before the Livestream.

Click this link to join the Zoom meeting.​

"In Christ, you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit." (Ephesians 2:11-22)

How are you feeling about church returning to normal? My guess is there will be a range of feelings. Some will be enthusiastic and excited, whilst others may be more reticent, uncertain and concerned. You may feel you are somewhere in between these extremes or experience both in equal measure!

Sadly, although many people are now fully vaccinated and restrictions are being lifted next week, the rising number of cases of Covid-19 leaves a sense of unease about what is the best course of action. We are also heading into the summer holiday period, when numbers at church are often lower and we have less activities happening. 

Indeed, I was hoping to give some clear guidance today on what was allowed in church from Sunday 25th July, but as yet no guidance has been issued. So, although we expect to be able to sing and serve refreshments I can't quite confirm that yet!

My guess is that over the summer there will be a gradual and hesitant return to more normal church as slowly more people feel confident to return and we are able to set things up step by step in a cautious way. I hope and pray that by the autumn we can all have a deeper confidence and enthusiasm about gathering with others to praise Christ at St. Luke's.

But why come at all? Ephesians reminds us that what draws us together is Christ. When we become a Christian, we draw near to Christ. It even says we are seated in the heavenly realms with him (Ephesians 2:6). But if I am drawn near to Christ and you are drawn near to Christ, then we are also drawn near to each other. We are united in him and built together as a community in which God dwells by his Spirit and brings him glory.

This is the big picture of what God is doing with the church. It is also why being able to meet together in person and focus together on Christ in praise, prayer and sharing his word is so important. 

As more and more of us gather together over the summer, let us pray that God will unite us afresh in Christ and build us to be the kind of community that truly reflects his glory to our hurting and uncertain world.

Join us this Sunday. We will be looking at Ephesians 2:11-22, United in Christ

Please read on...

• Prayer: The latest prayer requests. Weekday prayer meetings. 
• Care: Volunteers needed to help people access our services and sermons from home. Ride and Stride this September.
• Share: Interesting blogs: After the storm, making people happy, and or but.

Prayer Requests:

​​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...

• Caution and wisdom for all as legal restrictions are lifted, but the number of cases of Covid are rising.

• South Africa as they suffer serious riots. Particularly pray for safety for Dick and Caroline Seed working out there and for friends and family of Rosemary Ebelthite in Durban. Pray that the rioting will come to an end and the issues resolved peacefully.

• Year 6 Pupils of Newlands School who received It's Your Move booklets from St. Luke's this week to help them as they prepare to transition to Secondary School.

• A Youth BBQ being held at St. Luke's Vicarage this Sunday afternoon for those young people connected with the church.

• Jeannette (Claudia's sister), who has now completed her course of chemotherapy and waiting for scan results. Please pray that the cancer has gone.

• Rosemary Ebelthite's 16 year old grandson Eric in Auckland. Give thanks that he is improving and pray that this will continue.

• Flo Baldock - now back home, but on antibiotics for a stomach infection. Please pray for healing.

• Pauline Emptage waiting to hear from King's College Hospital about next steps for treating her back.

• Nathan Court for his continuing treatment.

• Katrina (Norah's daughter). Give thanks that the cancer has been removed and pray for a good recovery from the operation.

• Friends of Pam Morecroft who died recently. See below for details of a Thanksgiving Service for her at St. Luke's.

Please also continue to pray for: Jean Mayton, Shirley Crabb, Collette Judge, Barb (Gloria's daughter's friend), Jean Simmons, Rita Ryan and Joy Smithers.

Daily Prayer Meetings

It has been great to start meeting regularly to pray together at St. Luke's and St. George's. Each meeting lasts around 30 minutes. This week the meetings are:

Saturday, 9:30am - In St. George's Church

Monday, 9:30am - In St. Luke's Church

Tuesday, 9:30am - In St. George's Church

Thursday, 9:30am - In St. Luke's Church (to be confirmed)

The pattern of meetings may be paused or changed as we go into the summer holidays. I will confirm details in an email early next week.

During these daily prayer meetings, we will be following the Church of England set readings for morning prayer:

Fri. 16th: Psalm 144 - Ezekiel 13:1-16 - 2 Corinthians 9:6-end

Sat. 17th: Psalm 147 - Ezekiel 14:1-11 - 2 Corinthians 10

Mon. 19th: Psalm 1 - Ezekiel 14:12-end - 2 Corinthians 11:1-15

Tue. 20th: Psalm 5 - Ezekiel 18:1-20 - 2 Corinthians 11:16-end

Wed. 21st: Psalm 119:1-32 - Ezekiel 18:21-32 - 2 Corinthians 12

Thu. 22nd: Psalm 30 - Ezekiel 20:1-20 - 2 Corinthians 13

You could use these as a set of readings for yourself each day, even if you cannot join us.

Volunteers needed:

Throughout the lockdown we have found ways to ensure that people have access to our services in their homes. For those not able to access YouTube we have provided DVDs of the service. 

When we livestream the service, we also record it on to a hard disk. This recording is then edited slightly and burnt on to DVDs for distribution to a few housebound people. The sermon is also extracted from the recording and uploaded to YouTube and as a podcast.

At present I am doing this and it takes about an hour on a Sunday afternoon. If someone who has access to a good computer with a DVD burner and internet connection thinks this is a role they could do with a bit of training on an occasional or regular basis then please get in touch. In particular, I need someone to do it for Sunday 25th July as I am away.

Ride and Stride - 11th September

Ride and Stride is a sponsored cycle or walk that runs each year, where participants can cycle or walk to as many churches as possible. We need people to both sit in the church and welcome the riders and striders on that day as well as those who want to be sponsored to do it. Half of the sponsorship money raised goes to St. Luke's and half to 'Friends of Kent Churches'. If anyone is interested in coordinating this for St. Luke's, then please get in touch.

Last Week's Talk:

New Life (Ephesians 2:1-10) - Available Online

This week we see the big picture of the transformation that happens when we become a Christian. We are made alive! Paul describes the before and after of being a Christian, the move from a kind of zombie-life, to a new life in Christ.

St. Luke's Stories

Do remember to send in personal stories, poems etc. to share with others. Why not have a look at what is already there? 

Interesting Blogs

After the Storm

A reflection on what we can learn and take forward from the Pandemic.

Making People Happy​

Some fascinating psychological research...

And or but​

A plea to replace the word, 'but' with the word 'and' in our communication with others.

Finally, let's pray that Christ will build us in a community united for his glory.

Yours in Christ,

Paul Worledge 

Vicar, St. Luke's Ramsgate

www.stlukesramsgate.org​