This Sunday is the eve of Australia Day. After many years of controversy about the date the latest polls tell us that the majority of Australians now want to keep the date and get on with being proud to be Australians, facing the issues of colonisation together and acknowledging them while not allowing them to divide us. According to the polls our young people are not interested in being ashamed to be Australians. They want to be looking forward to the good we can do if we work together for healing and for unity as Australians together. Sometimes the Christian church does this, constantly feeling like we need to apologise for the wrongs done by misguided and sometimes cruel Christian leaders over the past 2000 years. Indeed, the abuse exists and requires us to work to bring healing and reconciliation where possible, but it does not define what a Christian is. In fact, it is the opposite to who we are. To truly live for Jesus we have to come to terms with the fact that the church is made up of human beings and is therefore vulnerable to the inclusion of people who own the title but are not true disciples of Jesus in their actions. Church hurt is real, but so is the healing power of the Holy Spirit, the gifts of the Spirit flowing through those who truly follow Jesus, the joy of knowing we are saved and are free from the things of which our hearts were once afraid. Christianity is based in this faith which understands sin for what it is but hopes and believes in the God who is faithful and has given us the way out of slavery to sin and into living for Jesus without fear. Looking back to our history also helps us to know this through study of the scriptures written by people who experienced Jesus and the early church at the time, and also the many secular writings of the time which refer to Jesus, the crucifixion, the resurrection and the rise of the Christian church across the Roman world. We are not without witnesses from within and without the church, so we know we are not believing in vain what Paul has written in 1 Corinthians 1:18 ‘The message of the Cross is foolishness to those who are perishing but to us who are being saved it is the power of God’.
Janice
This Week:
| SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Service, 10.30am | |
| MONDAY: | Australia Day Public Holiday |
| 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:
Christianity Explored…
for anyone who has questions and would like to explore Christian faith, we will be running this course led using videos by Rico Tice and using Mark’s Gospel. Begins Thursday 12th February at 7.30pm and runs weekly for 7 weeks. For information please speak to Janice or take a postcard available in the Narthex.
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 Sunday afternoon time TBA. Packup Monday afternoon1.45pm Helpers on the day for our craft activity Please let Cheryl or Graeme know if you can help.
Cheryl has her team for the Australia Day Festival. Parking will be difficult as there isn’t much room around the reserve. Team members are welcome to park at the Vicarage which is only one street away from our stand which is near the courthouse end.
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.
Vicar On Leave…
Janice will be on Annual Leave from 27th January to 9th February inclusive, returning to work on 10th February. Our Locum for the Sundays will be Rev’d Julia Boyd. To contact Rev’d Julia please call the Parish phone 0493 280 691.
This Week’s Prayer Focus
In our country and the world:
- For those who suffered loss in the Wye River flood.
- For the people of Venezuela and Iran.
- For all those who have suffered in the recent Victorian bushfires & Qld floods.
- 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 Mornington & Mount Martha Church, and their Vicar Rev’d Colleen Clayton
- 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 Jen, Brian Van Twest and family, Ian & Adam Rivett and family, TJ and
family, Jan T, Cheryl K, Karen, Mary, Jan K, 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.
