Pew News for Sunday 3rd 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

3^rd May, 2026

5^th Sunday of Easter

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 Rev Catherine Tucker

& Baptisms of Joey, Esme & Amiyah

St CATHERINE 10:00 Service of the Word Judith Andrews

St MARK 10:00 Service of the Word Kevin Spain

& Frances Barnes

18:30 Evening Communion Service Rev Phil Barnes

Ezekiel 37:1-14 & Christine Martin

St MARY 10:00 Communion Rev Ken Cox

St CHRISTOPHER None

READINGS FOR TODAY

Acts 7:55-60, Psalm 31:1-5 & 15-16, 1 Peter 2:2-10, John 14:1-14

COLLECT and POST COMMUNION PRAYER

Collect: Almighty God, who, through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ, have overcome death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: grant that, as by your grace going before us, you put into our minds good desires, so by your continual help we may bring them to good effect. Through Jesus Christ our Risen Lord, 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, whose Son Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life: grant us to walk in his way, to rejoice in his truth and to share his Risen life – who is alive and reigns, now and for ever. Amen

PEOPLE FOR PRAYER

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

“Faith is not about knowing all the answers but trusting in the One who does."

- Rick Warren

What’s on this Week

TUESDAY 5^th

10:00 “Footprints” bereavement support group St Laurence

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

11:00 Communion Chartwell House

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 6^th

10:00 – 12:00 Churchyard Group Contact Barbara Byne St Laurence Churchyard

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

16:00 School Governors’ meeting St Laurence Juniors

16:00 SLT meeting St Laurence

19:00 for 19:30 Spirituality Hour Led & Reflection by RevCatherine St Laurence Becket Chapel

THURSDAY 7^th

14:00 Thursday Fellowship St Mark Lounge

Frances Barnes speaking. Contact Angela

FRIDAY 8^th

11:00 VE Day Service Spitfire & Hurricane Museum -

11:00 Prayer Meeting St Mark

17:00 note time Scrabble Club Rectory

19:00 Music Extravaganza St Catherine

Kellet Gut Shantymen – see notices

£10. Contact Barbara

SATURDAY 9^th

10:00 Open Church St Laurence

10.00 Music Session St Mark

WORSHIP NEXT SUNDAY- 10^th May, Easter 6

Acts 17:22-31, Psalm 66 7-18 1 Peter 3:13-22, John 14:15-21

St LAURENCE 10:00 Communion & Rock Solid Rev Catherine Tucker

12:00 Baptism Baby Clements Marcia, Kelly, Andrea

St CATHERINE 10:00 Service of the Word Amanda Madgwick

& Rev Brian Griffiths

18.30 Rogation Service Revs Ken & Catherine

St MARK 10:00 Communion Rev Phil Barnes

& Helen Crittenden

18:30 Evening Communion Service Christine Martin

Zechariah 8:1-13, Zechariah 8:14-23

St MARY 10:00 Service of the Word Kevin Spain & Rev Ken Cox

St CHRISTOPHER None

Notices and Forthcoming Events

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

…continuing with:

8th Kellet Gut Shantymen (nautical sing-along),

15th Thanet Jubilee Singers (gospel and uplifting songs),

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 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.

MONTHLY BIBLE STUDY, DISCUSSION & REFRESHMENTS AT THE RECTORY: Next date is Weds 13 May 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.

THANET FOOD BANK: April’s most wanted items are: tinned meals, tinned soup and tinned desserts, cereals, cereal bars, packet meals.

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, 10 May, 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.

THURSDAY FELLOWSHIP for next few weeks:14^th May Sue and Ken Cox talk & Belleplates, 21^st May Kim Brown playing piano, 28^th May Clive Nuttman talking about bats - 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 3: Tuesday 19 May at 5pm-7pm+: Walking and Nature. The walk will be in & around Manston itself and then out to Woodchurch returning to St Catherine’s Church Manston for buffet.

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.

BELL SUNDAY: Sunday 17 May at 10am service at St Laurence – the service will be based on the book ‘A Sculpture That Sings’ by David Ward and Orlando Gough and there will be a chance to try out the bells too.

ST CHRISTOPHER’S SUMMER 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

ST CHRISTOPHER’S EQUINE FAYRE: Saturday 30^th May – organised by Judith Andrews

ST MARK’S SUMMER FAYRE: Saturday 6 June 11am-2pm

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

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.