Going through the motions…

I’m not very good at fasting. I really love chocolate and all the other nice things in this world and my ability to resist them can be rather low. As we enter this season of Lent we are intentionally preparing to walk through Holy Week with Jesus and spend time appreciating what he has done for us at the cross and what the resurrection really means. As part of this preparation, we are asked to follow the spiritual disciplines which assist us in walking with the Lord, especially prayer, bible reading and study, fasting, giving, worship, and acts of service. Of course, we do these anyway but it’s more that this is a season to check in with ourselves and the Holy Spirit and seek to make sure we are still following Jesus with our whole hearts, not just ‘going through the motions’. In our readings today Jesus is tempted by Satan. This 40 day period begins his ministry and is a time for him to focus in on his own priorities as the Son of God on earth. He had a mission to fulfill and the devil knew that. There in the wilderness he is tempted with easy food, easy gain and easy worship. No need for the cross if you give in to all that. But Jesus knew exactly what he was facing and would not budge. He answered Satan’s deceptive offers with the scriptures and the authority he carried as God incarnate. What humanity had failed to do in Eden and in the wilderness with Moses, and on many occasions since, Jesus did on our behalf – refuse temptation and remain without sin. For our sake Jesus stuck with his mission all the way to the end. We are his treasure in so many ways, precious enough to shed his blood for us in the most cruel death possible at the time. In Revelation 2, the Holy Spirit calls the Ephesian to return to the love they had at first for the Lord Jesus, and to act in accordance with that love. Lent is a season for us to do just this – to return to our first love for Jesus and resolve to serve him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. In Romans Paul reminds us that we are saved, not by our own efforts, but by grace through faith in Jesus. This Lent check your heart. How are you living out your love for Jesus each day? Would the Holy Spirit call you to return to your first love?

Janice

This Week:

Regular Worship Times

Parish Contact Details

Notices:

Thank You…

A big thank you to the team that made our Pancake Night possible. We had almost 50 people who all had a main course and dessert. A quiz and some puzzles were also part of the evening. Thank you Pastoral Care team for arranging the event and for running it. Thank you to all who contributed food, served and cleaned up.

Alpha is coming!!…

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

Harvest Festival Celebrations…

30 March – 8.45 & 10.30am, On the day, could you bring some seasonal fruit or vegetables (home-grown or bought)? Do you know a farmer who might loan bales of hay? Could you contribute with posters, bunting, autumn wreaths, etc – unleash your artistic talents and have some fun! We have a few cut-and-paste decorations – see Anne. Please bring your decorations to church by Sunday 16 March.

This Week’s Prayer Focus

In our country and the world:

• For the people in Qld south coast & Northern NSW as they recover from TC Alfred.
• For all affected by the worsening antisemitic attacks around Australia and the world.
• For those facing homelessness, hardship, anguish and despair amid rising costs.
• For families affected by violence.
• For all in Israel, Gaza, and Ukraine and Myanmar.
• For all women in Afghanistan now banned from hearing each others voices.
• 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:

• A prayer for the election of a new Archbishop for our diocese:
  Eternal God, shepherd and guide, in your mercy give your Church in this diocese a shepherd after your own heart who will walk in your ways, and with loving care watch over your people. Give us a leader of vision and a teacher of your truth. So may your Church be built up and your name glorified; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
• 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 All Saints Rosebud with St Katherine’s McCrae and their Vicar, Rev’d Lynda Crossley.
• 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.