God of love…

In our readings today we have lists of blessings and woes where the Lord is clear that there are consequences to our actions and attitudes – some good, some not good. Each has its own context, and each, though it may not seem so when we first read them, is a reflection of God’s grace in the midst of our failings. Why the woes or curses when we know our God to be a God of love? Our Father God knows that to allow the children of God to just do whatever they want and to behave in whatever way they want will not bring them life, hope, joy, strength of character and a sense of self worth in the world. Without the ‘do nots’ there are no boundaries to keep us in this place of safety and health, so the boundaries are clearly given for our benefit, and the consequences of crossing them are marked out for our correction so that we may have the abundant life which is ours by faith in Jesus. The people of Jeremiah’s day had transgressed the boundaries even with many warnings to step back inside the will of the Lord. Though the love and grace of the Lord was in all the warnings, the consequences came to a head and could not be avoided. So God raised up Jeremiah the prophet to speak to his people and keep pleading with them to turn back even as they found themselves in the midst of their consequences. Later, from exile, they understood this as grace. Being connected into the Lord’s love gives the strength and assistance needed in times of trouble. Without that connection those that do not rely on the Lord have no place to find the water of life and the desert swallows them up when the drought comes. Note that both these scriptures are speaking to people of faith, calling them to stay faithful to the Lord because he is the source of their life. Equally they show how precarious is the life of those who have no root in the life giving waters of the Father. It is not a curse filled with hatred, but a warning filled with grace – when we walk away from the life the Lord gives we will reap the consequence of not having his help when we need it, so stay by the river! Where are your roots growing? Are you intentional in seeking to grow in Jesus? Are you seeking the heart of the Father?

Janice

This Week:

Regular Worship Times

Parish Contact Details

Notices:

Pancake Tuesday…

4 March , 5:30pm in the Dromana Uniting Church Hall

Everyone is invited to share some fun and fellowship based on food (pancakes)! It’s a night for all the family. Please RSVP as soon as possible: 0493 280 691 / contact@stmarksdromana.org.au Can you help by making pancake batter and/or cooking pancakes? Sign-up sheet for cooking is in the narthex. We’d love to hear from you! Many thanks, Anne and Kevin (Pastoral Care)

Wanted…

Small glass sauce or soft drink bottles for Ellen to make Tomato Sauce Please leave in Narthex or Op Shop.

Wanted…

Small glass sauce or soft drink bottles for Ellen to make Tomato Sauce Please leave in Narthex or Op Shop.

Alpha is coming!!…

8th May – 28th June Who will you bring?… Details to follow

Harvest Festival & Shrove Tuesday Celebrations…

Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Meal) – 4 March. Harvest Services – 30 March (usual service times).

This Week’s Prayer Focus

In our country and the world:

• For the people in WA’s northern coast as Severe Tropical Cyclone Zelia (category 4) approaches the coast.
• For everyone affected by the Queensland floods.
• For all affected by the worsening antisemitic attacks around Australia and the world.
• For all women in Afghanistan now banned from hearing each others voices.
• For those facing homelessness, hardship, anguish and despair amid rising costs.
• For all in Israel, Gaza, and Ukraine and Myanmar.
• For families affected by violence.
• For those affected by natural disasters in around the world.
• For King Charles III, the UK and the Commonwealth.
• For peace and unity in countries around the World.
• For aid agencies such as “Save the Children”, Oxfam, CARE, UNICEF, World Vision.

In our community:

• For teachers and students.
• For doctors, nurses, paramedics, Coast Guard, the CFA & SES.
• For local community outreach groups such as the Dromana Community House and “Food for All”.

In our Diocese and beyond:

• For Archbishop Geoffrey Smith’s ministry as Primate of Australia.
• For Archbishop Philip Freier’s ministry in the Diocese of Melbourne.
• For the ministry of Bishop Paul Barker in the Jumbunna Region and Archdeacon Rev’d Sam Bleby, in the Frankston Archdeanery.
• In our Deanery, we pray for the parish of Holy Trinity Hastings and their Vicar, Rev’d Tim Anderson.
• For the work of the Church Missionary Society and Wei-Han the Victorian Director.
• For Anna Radkovic our CMS Link Missionary in Watamu, Kenya.
• For Christian churches around the world to be free to worship and be witnesses of the love of God as shown through the coming of His Son.

In our Parish:

• For our leadership and ministry teams.
• For Rev’d Janice O’Gorman.
• For the finances of our Parish.
• For our Parish, its people and those we reach out to every week.
• For the success of the new Family and Children’s Ministry.
• For the Alpha program, the leaders and all who will attend.
• For the 9am at home prayer time for the Parish, Dromana & Mornington Peninsula.
• For our Op Shop staff and all who visit each week.
• For all members of the Parish Council.
• For Hope25. That the Good News of Jesus will be known in the community of Dromana.
• For Nikki, Jason, Bernadette & family, Noel and family, Rhiannon, Richard, Pat, Lorna & Peter, Keith S, Harry, Jen, Mike, Chloe, Ted, Monica, Jessica, Audrey, Backy, Fred, Robert, Jan, David, Guy.