Join us Online: YouTube (from 6am Sunday)

We are not encouraging people to come to the church building at present, but for those who feel safe and would find it a support to come in person we will be open at 10:30am on Sunday:

If you plan to come please book to attend:

Register to attend​

Also, join us for a chat at 11:30am on Sunday: 

Click this link to join the Zoom meeting.

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.” (Colossians 3:16)

Over the last few weeks we have been considering the three main priorities for us as a church: Prayer, Care and Share. All three need to be a focus if we are to flourish and be effective as a church.

This week we focus on 'Share', by which we mean sharing God's word among us and with the wider world. The verse above reminds us of the many ways that we can encourage one another with God's word. It does involve some official teaching, whether through sermons, people leading Bible study groups or teaching children's groups. Yet we also share God's word through our music and talking to one another about what we have learnt in the Bible.

Of course we also want to share God's word with those who do not yet know Jesus. It is how we introduce people to him and we need to keep thinking creatively about how we do that. One of the good things to arise out of these difficult times is the growth and development of sharing God's word online. Do think how you might use social media to bring God's word to others.

Why do we want to share God's word? Because we know it is an incredible privilege and joy to hear what the Creator of the Universe wants to say to us. More importantly it makes us 'wise for salvation' (2 Timothy 3:15) by bringing us to faith in Jesus (e.g. John 20:31). Psalm 19, says that the word of God is more precious than gold and sweeter than honey. If we believe that to be true, then how can we keep it to ourselves?

Last Sunday's Announcement

If you watched the online service last Sunday, you will be aware that I announced three major developments:

1. Paul to become Priest-in Charge of St. George’s church as well as Vicar of St. Luke’s.
   

2. Claire Coleman to join us as a curate from July.
   

3. Funding for a Mission Development Post to drive forward the development of St. George’s buildings.

There will be a meeting tonight at 8pm (18th February) for those who want to ask questions about these developments. The meeting will be on Zoom: Click this link to join the Zoom meeting, but do feel free to contact me separately about any questions. We will also be sharing more information over the coming weeks. You can read more about Claire, our new curate, below.

Join us this Sunday as we focus on sharing God's Word. The reading is Acts 6:1-7. If you haven't yet taken the survey on Share at St. Luke's then please do so by Friday 10am:

Please read on...

• Introducing Claire Coleman who will be joining us as a curate in July.
  
• Prayer: Please encourage others by sending in an opener for our online service. Also, people to pray for.
• Care: Update on the Thanet Winter Shelter
• Share: A new video summing up the Gospel from Christianity Explored and a blog on the 5-side effects of Compassion.

Introducing Claire Coleman:

We are really looking forward to welcoming Claire Coleman as our curate in July. A curate is someone who joins a parish as a kind of 'apprentice vicar.' The main aim of their time is for them to be trained up to lead churches in the future by doing much of a minister's work under the guidance and supervision of an experienced vicar.

Claire has kindly agreed to tell us something about herself and her background:

"I grew up in Folkestone and was privileged to be raised by my Mum who had a very strong faith and a real and personal relationship with Jesus. Praying and reading the bible together was as normal a part of life as brushing my teeth.

There is not a time in my life when I do not remember knowing Jesus‘ love for me, although I did pray a prayer of commitment at a CPAS summer camp when I was 9 I know Jesus was in my life before that. My teenage years were tough, struggling with my self esteem, but my relationship with Jesus was a constant. I went away to University in London, training to be a Physiotherapist. The church I joined there was fundamental in my adult journey of faith. I was heavily involved in bible studies, international prayer groups and individual discipleship, and it was here that I first felt a call to overseas ministry.

After University I moved to Gillingham and worked at Medway Maritime hospital. It was in Medway that I developed more leadership skills at church and followed up on Gods call to overseas ministry. This led me to a three week mission trip with my church to Uganda, a three month discipleship training and evangelism mission in New Zealand with Operation Mobilisation and then two years serving in Central Asia.

I returned to the UK in 2012 for further training at All Nations Christian College. This was such a formational time. I loved every part of being in a Christian community and studying Gods word and his world. My plan had been to go back overseas but God had other plans. I ended up moving back to Folkestone and working for St. John’s church as in 2014 my Mum was diagnosed with terminal cancer and I moved home to care for her. God blessed us with four more years and during this time I rather surprisingly found myself discerning a call to ordained ministry.

I have thoroughly loved my training and I’m really excited about my ordination in the summer and joining you all in Ramsgate."

Contributions to this week's Opener

Last week we didn't have any contributions for the Opener we had planned, but we were blessed with pictures of snowmen! This week we already have some pictures of decorated pancakes and some videos of Pancake tossing, which we hope to show in the service at some point. We would love to have more of those by tomorrow morning please.

However, for our actual opener. we would also love to have some people giving a short response to the following question: "What does the Bible mean to you?" It would be great to have children as well as adults.

Please send contributions in as soon as possible (by 10am on Friday). You can send them by Whatsapp (07769 871520) or by WeTransfer.com to: [email protected].

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...

• The government to make wise decisions on the lifting of lockdown over the coming months.

• Flo Baldock having problems with her stomach.

• Evelyn (Audrey's sister) doing well after a few small strokes last week.

• Jeannette (Claudia's sister). The cancer has not spread and she starts Chemotherapy mid-March.

• Annie's mum now in a respite home in Dover, waiting for assessment for the next step.
• Nathan Court for his continuing treatment.
• Barb (Gloria's daughter's friend) has now completed her Chemotherapy and is feeling well, but waiting to hear about the next stage of her treatment.
• Those whose appointments or operations have been cancelled or postponed as a result of the increase in covid-cases.

Update on Thanet Winter Shelter

We opened our doors on November 23rd with much excitement and anticipation of what lay ahead. For the first time TWS was able to run from a single- premises meaning that guests no longer had to leave in the morning back on to the streets. Despite the impact that COVID-19 has had on the way we can operate, this has proven to be a wonderful opportunity to engage with the guests and provide a safe and warm environment 24 hours a day. 

Due to the dedication and sleepless nights of Jenny and commitment from all the cooking team we were delighted to receive five stars in our kitchen inspection from Thanet District Council. Meal uptake has increased as time has gone on and guests can have three meals a day and have access to a bounty of snacks and sweet treats.   

Through the efforts of the community we have raised almost £15k. This has been from individuals and groups and has included activities such as The Social Singing Choir who released a song for Christmas, Ramsgate Living Advent Calendar, Pie Music Factory young volunteers, Cliffs and Western Undercliff Regeneration who have all organized events to raise money for the shelter.  We have also received generous cash donations from the Rotary Club, Please Sir in Broadstairs, Thanet Childcare Cliftonville, Daughters of Jesus and Viatris to name a few. 

For anyone that would like to donate. This can either be done via The Salvation Army, 167 High Street, Ramsgate or our Just Giving page      https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/tws2020

Thanet Winter Shelter are currently looking for volunteer pairs to provide the reaching out service to those who are still sleeping rough. They are asking for a minimum of one evening a week commitment from 8pm to collect food and supplies from the shelter and safely delivering to people form a list that they receive from the RISE team. We kindly ask for volunteer pairs to already be in a social bubble and at least one person to hold a DBS certificate and to commit to safe working guidelines that they have in place. If you are interested please contact: Lauren Oates.​

Last Week's Talk:

Care (Acts 4:32-35) - Available Online

What is needed to make a church a caring church? Open handedness. That is a generosity that is willing to use your own resources for the good of others. That was the example of the early church as we will see in this talk

Interesting Blogs and Videos

New Video from Christianity Explored​

This new animated video gives a great summary of the Christian faith. Perhaps you could share it with friends and family?

The Side-Effects of Compassion​

We typically think of side-effects in the negative, as in the side-effects of drugs. But many of our positive behaviours also have side-effects. Here are 5 side-effects of compassion.

Finally, keep digging into God's word and sharing it with others.

Yours in Christ,

Paul Worledge 

Vicar, St. Luke's Ramsgate

www.stlukesramsgate.org​