Pew News for Sunday 17th May

St Catherine - St Christopher - St Laurence - St Mark - St Mary

THE PARISH OF ST LAURENCE-IN-THANET

Five Churches United in Christ

Pew News

17^th May, 2026

Sunday after Ascension

WELCOME to this CHURCH

Please be aware that the choice for communion is bread and wine or bread only, tincturing (dipping the bread) is no longer condoned by the Diocese.

At St Laurence - if you require a gluten-free wafer, please tell the sides-people at the door before the start of the service.

St LAURENCE 10:00 Communion & Healing Rev Catherine Tucker

BELL SUNDAY & The Bellringers

St CATHERINE 10:00 Communion Rev Brian Griffiths

St MARK 10:00 Service of the Word Helen Crittenden & Kevin Spain

18:30 Evening Worship Christine Martin

Thessalonians 4:13-18, Thessalonians 5:1-11

St MARY 10:00 Communion Rev Ken Cox & Sue Cox

St CHRISTOPHER None

READINGS FOR TODAY

Acts 1:6-14, Psalm 68:1-10 & 32-35, 1 Peter 4:12-14 & 5:6-11, John 17:1-11

COLLECT and POST COMMUNION PRAYER

Collect: O God, the King of Glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: we beseech you, leave us not comfortless but send your Holy Spirit to strengthen us and exalt us to the place where our Saviour Christ is gone before - who is alive and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit; one God, now and for ever. Amen

Post Communion: Eternal God, giver of love and power your Son Jesus Christ has sent us into all the world to preach the gospel of his kingdom: confirm us in this mission and help us to live the good news we proclaim. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

PEOPLE FOR PRAYER

Ann B, Don, Judy, Sophia, Daniel, Brenda, Prim, Graham, Katherine, Keith, Jonathan, Gill, Andrew, Nicky, Shirley, Dave S, Adam, Orla, Frederick, Val, David, Peter, Matt, Alistair, Roy, Gillian, Torben, Sheila, Maggie, Pete, Geoff, Doreen, Susan, Amanda, Ann, Lucy, Steve, Gail

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK

Heaven is not only a destination; it is a reality we help reveal here and now through kindness, justice, and compassion.

What’s on this Week

TUESDAY 19^th

10:30 – 11:30 Belleplates Contact Jan Austin St Mark

17:00 “Walk for your Soul” St Catherine

Walk from Manston to Woodchurch and back.

Bring and Share meal in church after. Contact Julia.

Please feel free to join us for just the meal if you wish.

18:30 – 19:30 Beginner’s bellringing practice St Laurence Tower

Contact Freda

19:00 Home Group – Bible Study Contact St Mark

19.30 – 21:00 Bellringing practice St Laurence Tower

WEDNESDAY 20^th

10:00 – 12:00 Churchyard Group St Laurence Churchyard

Contact Barbara Byne

10:00 – 12:00 Knit and Natter £1 contribution for refreshments St Mark Lounge

Contact Frances Barnes

14:00 Home Group – Crossroads Bible Study St Mark

Contact Norma Wright peterena12@outlook.com

THURSDAY 21^st

14:00 Thursday Fellowship St Mark Lounge

Belle Plates featuring Kim Brown on piano (open meeting)

Contact Angela

18:30 Midweek Communion St Christopher

Led by Rev Catherine, Reflection Dan Sutton

FRIDAY 22^nd

11:00 Prayer Meeting St Mark

17:00 note time Scrabble Club Rectory

19:00 Music Extravaganza St Catherine

“Crush” – see notices

£10. Contact Barbara

SATURDAY 23rd

12noon-16.00 May Fayre – Stalls, Refreshments, Games, Raffle St Christopher

Led by Inspiring Positive Futures, Little Ones Variety Events & The Parish

WORSHIP NEXT SUNDAY- 24^th May, Pentecost

Numbers 11:24-30, Psalm 104:26-36 & 37b, Acts 2:1-21, John 20:19-23

St LAURENCE 10:00 Communion Rev Catherine Tucker

12noon Baptism Rev Catherine Tucker

St CATHERINE 10:00 Communion Rev Brian Griffiths

St MARK 10:00 Communion Rev Phil Barnes

& Judith Andrews

18:30 No evening service

St MARY 10:00 Communion Rev Ken Cox & Sharon Cutler

St CHRISTOPHER None

ROYAL 18:00 Joint Pentecost Service Churches Together in Ramsgate

HARBOUR SCHOOL

Notices and Forthcoming Events

MUSIC EXTRAVAGANZA: St Catherine’s Music in May every Friday evening at 7pm

…continuing with:

22nd Crush (female vocal duo 1960s – 2000s music),

29th David Lamner (keyboard – playing hits from the musicals).

Tickets £10 each event or all 5 for £40. COUPLES GET 2ND TICKETS HALF PRICE if buying all events. Under 18s FREE. Contact Barbara Redman. Bank transfer preferred. *If you require a lift please contact Barbara Redman – we can arrange to pick up from St Laurence

ST CHRISTOPHER’S MAY FAYRE: Saturday 23^rd May – with Inspiring Positive Futures and Little Ones Variety Events. - all our churches are invited to run a stall. If interested contact Julie

CLOCK APPEAL: We are pleased to let you know we now have £46,805 towards the restoration works. There are several events coming up over the summer and beyond, please note the dates and come along to support us. Saturday 13^th June 3:00pm, an organ recital by Tim Attride. Tickets £5.00 from Freda. Saturday 11^th July as part of the Summer Event at St Laurence, at 6:30pm we will have a concert by the Coastal Choir and Chorale Le Renouveau. The weekend 24^th & 25^th October an Art and Craft Fair, anyone wishing to have a stall please contact Mick.

MONTHLY BIBLE STUDY, DISCUSSION & REFRESHMENTS AT THE RECTORY: Next date is Weds,17 June at 6.30pm. It is aimed at those new to faith and also for anyone wishing to deepen their understanding of the Bible (currently the book of Acts) and feel part of a supportive group. All are welcome from across the whole Parish. Contact Rev Catherine.

ST LAURENCE’S CHURCH & CHURCHYARD TOUR: dates continue on the first Saturday of each month: 6 June, 4 July and 8 Aug. Saturdays at 10am – gather at the church’s front door.

THANET FOOD BANK: May’s most wanted items are: tinned meals, tinned fish, baked beans, packet meals and tinned desserts, cereals, cereal bars,.

THURSDAY FELLOWSHIP for next few weeks: 28^th May Clive Nuttman “What have bats done for us?”, 4^th June Ladies’ own, 11^th June Lucy Gray “Journey of the Green Kitchen”, 18^th June Barbara’s Quiz - Contact Angela

ST CATHERINE’S “WALK for your SOUL”: Parish wide and beyond – for you and your friends and family. See flyers in your church.

Walk 4: Friday 26 June at 2pm-4pm+: Stroll & Natter around Minster finishing at The Bell pub

Walk 5: Sunday 19 July at 12noon-2.30pm: A Tale of Two Churches Starting and ending at St Laurence-in-Thanet Church Ramsgate. We walk to St Catherine’s for a break & buffet lunch…history and architecture all along the way.

Walk 6: Saturday 29 August 11am-4pm: It’s Bank Holiday! Walking As Pilgrimage Starting at St Augustine’s Cross we pilgrimage to Minster Abbey and return (return a choice of whether by foot or train) for refreshments at St Mary’s, Cliffsend.

ROCK SOLID 2 Junior Church: St Laurence runs a Sunday School for children aged 4yrs -11yrs - called Rock Solid 2. It runs monthly on the 2^nd Sunday, 14 June and so on. It is fun-packed. Led by Kelly, Marion, Marcia, Andrea and Barrie - these leaders are experienced with children with autism and ADHD. All children and parents are welcome. Arrive 9.50am at the actual church for 10am start, ends 11.30am. And children are welcome in church every week.

ST MARK’S SUMMER FAYRE: Outdoors & Indoors Saturday 6 June 11am-2pm – plant stall – please contribute your plants!

ARCHDEACON’S VISITATION SERVICE: Churchwardens Swear in! for Parochial Wardens, Churchwardens, PCC – 7pm Tues 9 June at Canterbury Cathedral.

ALTOGETHER SERVICE: at St Augustine’s Cross – 10am Sunday 28 June – there will be Junior Church provision so kids very welcome

ST LAURENCE SUMMER EVENT: OUTDOOR STRAWBERY TEA, CRAFT STALLS, INDOOR CONCERT WITH INVITED CHOIRS – SATURDAY 11 JULY starts 4.30PM – a fundraising event. For Clock Appeal & Church.

Remembrance & Change Service : Road Traffic Collisions - The Parish, Ramsgate Council and RoadToChange partnering to bring together this important service to our community which will include our local service member. St Laurence Church 2pm Saturday 1 August. for all faiths and none.

Sunday 9 August 10am St Laurence Patronal Service Revd Sharon Ireland guest preacher.

EASY FUNDRAISING: If you shop on line then you could earn % for church funds via https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/st-laurence-in-thanet-parish Partners in this scheme include: ARGOS, TESCO, JOHN LEWIS, EBAY, JUST EAT…

PARISH OFFICE

2 Newington Road, Ramsgate, CT11 0QT, 01843 592478

Please note that the office has volunteers manning it. Regularly, this is Steve on a Thursday morning and Barbara B on a Friday morning (9-11am). Here are some contacts:

Team Rector: Reverend Catherine Tucker rectorcatherine@stlaurenceparish-ramsgate.org.uk

Parochial Wardens: Sharon Cutler warden2@stlaurenceparish-ramsgate.org.uk

Kevin Spain kmschurchwarden@hotmail.com

PCC Secretary Malcolm Story pccsecretary@stlaurenceparish-ramsgate.org.uk

Parish Treasurer: Alison Willoughby-Browne treasurer@stlaurenceparish-ramsgate.org.uk

Baptism Clerk: Kelly Gooding baptisms@stlaurenceparish-ramsgate.org.uk

Wedding Clerk Alison Willoughby-Browne (temp) weddings@stlaurenceparish-ramsgate.org.uk

Safeguarding: Kevin Spain kmschurchwarden@hotmail.com

Anna Chaplain: Judith Andrews judithandrewsllm@outloook.com

Pew News: Julia Penn diamond-jules@hotmail.co.uk

St Mark’s Church General enquiries 07352 166932

If anyone feels able to take on the role of Wedding Clerk, Alison Willoughby-Browne would like to hear from you. Please contact her as above.