This Sunday is the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. For some this seems a little weird. Jesus was baptised in the Jordan by John the Baptist and the Holy Spirit came down and a voice from heaven said ‘this is my beloved Son in whom I’m pleased’. Seems like a good moment, but how does this affect our understanding of Jesus and our faith? Firstly, this is the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. From this moment he goes out to the desert to fast and pray and put the devil in his place before returning and calling his first disciples. It is a pivotal moment in his ministry and in John’s ministry too. From this moment onwards John the Baptist begins to say of Jesus, ‘He must increase and I must decrease’. John’s time as the one who prepared the way for Messiah and last Old Testament Prophet is ending. Messiah is here and the new is renewing the old from this moment forward, fulfilling the prophecies and moving unflinchingly to the Cross. Why did Jesus need baptism if he was the Son of God? Because it is an essential part of his human journey as Son of Man. To fully identify with humanity Jesus submits to a baptism of repentance which fulfills the law and brings him into righteousness as a human being. From this moment, Jesus, who is fully God and fully man, is also fully identified with us in our sin. The path to his obedient suffering at the Cross begins with the humility to accept cleansing from sin which he does not need on behalf of humanity which he has come to save. This is why John questions Jesus. He knows the Messiah doesn’t need to be forgiven for anything. Jesus simply says it is necessary to fulfill all righteousness – in other words this is not about Jesus, it’s about us. We celebrate this event, not because it was spectacular but because it was ordinary and not because it was some sort of essential cleansing before Jesus could receive the Holy Spirit – he already had that. We celebrate because this event was the moment that Jesus fully accepted and humbled himself to share in our sin. It makes the Cross possible and in response the Father makes sure that those present know that this humble man is the beloved Son of God.
Janice
This Week:
| SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Service, 10.30am | |
| MONDAY: | Building Committee, 1.30pm |
| Prayer for the Parish, St Mark’s, 4.00pm | |
| Contact: Janice | |
| WEDNESDAY: | Holy Communion, 10.00am |
| Bible Study resumes, St Mark’s, 11.00am | |
| FRIDAY: | Janice’s Day Off |
| NEXT SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Holy Communion, 10.30am |
Regular Worship Times
| SUNDAY: | 8.45am | Holy Communion |
| 10.30am | Family Worship with Children’s Ministry | |
| (Holy Communion – 1st Sundays) | ||
| 6.00pm | Healing Service – 1st Sundays | |
| WEDNESDAY: | 10.00am | Holy Communion |
Parish Contact Details
| Monitored contact points | 0493 280 691 |
| contact@stmarksdromana.org.au | |
| Parish Web Addresses | www.stmarksdromana.org.au |
| Facebook page | https://www.facebook.com/stmarksdromana |
| Pastoral Care Coordinators | Kevin and Anne (0438 234 457 Kevin) |
Notices:
Chamber Philharmonia Cologne…
The Chamber Philharmonia Cologne will be visiting us again on Thursday, 5th February 2026 at 7.30 pm There is a poster with
details up in the narthex. To book please use the QR code on the poster or https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1506183
Tickets are $50 each.
Op Shop Summer Hours…
Our Op Shop reopens on Friday 2nd January after a well deserved break for our hardworking volunteers.
Hours throughout summer will be:
9am to 4pm Weds, Thurs, Friday.
9am to 3pm Saturday.
If you would like to join in this wonderful ministry to the Dromana community, please speak to Vicki Brown or Jen Watson
Australia Day Festival…
Australia Day celebration 08.30 to 1.30pm behind Information Centre. Craft activity only this year.
Helpers needed for setup and dismantle of marquees. Setup on Sunday afternoon time TBC. Pack up Monday afternoon 1.45pm
Helpers on the day for our craft activity Please let Cheryl or Graeme know if you can help.
January Sunday Evening Meals…
Our fellowship meals are an open invitation to anyone who would like to come and share a relaxed time together during January. BYO meal or something to share. Start time 6pm; homes of
Jan and Keith Thomas – 11 Jan
Graeme & Cheryl King – 18 Jan
Carol & Steve Parkinson – 25 Jan
(NB: no fish please due to severe allergy).
This Week’s Prayer Focus
In our country and the world:
- For the people of Venezuela.
- For the victims and those who are mourning after the Bondi terrorist attack.
- For all needing support following home invasions and all other violent attacks.
- For Government action to address the out of control protests in Melbourne.
- For the Government plans to address the rise of antisemitism in Australia.
- For families suffering as a result of violence and home invasions.
- For those facing homelessness, hardship, anguish and despair amid rising costs.
- For all in Israel, Gaza, and Ukraine and Myanmar.
- 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 Melbourne Archbishop-elect Right Reverend Dr Richard (Ric) Thorpe as he prepares to move from London to Melbourne.
- For Archbishop Geoffrey Smith’s ministry as Primate of Australia.
- 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 St John’s Flinders with St Mark’s Balnarring, their Vicar Rev’d Keiron Jones and Deacon Rev’d Christine Barren.
- 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 all members of the Parish Council.
- For Hope25. That the Good News of Jesus will be known in Dromana.
- For Brian Van Twest and family, Ian & Adam Rivett and family, TJ and family, Jan T, Cheryl K, Karen, Mary, Jan K, Steve (not Parkinson) and family, David, Belinda, Joan R, Robyn, Phillip, Nikki, Jason, Rhiannon, Richard, Pat, Lorna & Peter, Keith S, Harry, Jen, Mike, Chloe, Ted, Monica, Jessica, Audrey, Backy, Fred, Robert, David.
