The Corinthians were an interesting bunch. A mixture of people of Jewish and gentile backgrounds, the one having understood and now embraced Messiah but also getting used to that change, and the other having come out of paganism and the practices of the Greek philosophers who put great emphasis on the mind and the wisdom found in our inner thinking which helped describe their world. These people were doing what the ancient world had taught them to do – to think their way through what Christianity meant to them. Paul came with signs and wonders and the demonstration of the power of God which witnessed to the supernatural presence of our God in Jesus Christ, not as a philosophy, but as a real presence, not as a prophecy and a hope but the tangible and present Risen Saviour. This was necessary for these people to really understand that he was not just peddling the latest philosophical understandings, or the teachings of a wise man who called himself Son of Man. Paul introduced the Corinthians to the Holy Spirit working through faith in Jesus Christ and it knocked their philosophical socks off. In the witness of the Holy Spirit to his message of the gospel of Jesus Christ, Paul was given God’s key to break through to the hardened hearts of the people of Corinth and also set them on fire in such a way as to mean they wanted what he had – so they listened and believed. Only then could Paul begin to teach them ‘God’s wisdom, secret and hidden, which God decreed before the ages for our glory’ 1Cor2:7. Christian maturity comes with being able to enter into the truth of God’s wisdom deeply in faith. It is difficult to hear and understand the depth when you have only seen the surface. Paul’s invitation to go deeper, learn more, invite Holy Spirit to lead you further into the heart of God and to cultivate the mind of Christ which we have through the Holy Spirit within, is a great invitation for us too.
Janice
This Week:
| SUNDAY: | Locum for all services Rev’d Julia Boyd |
| Holy Communion, 8.45am | |
| Family Service, 10.30am | |
| MONDAY: | Prayer for the Parish, St Mark’s, 4.00pm |
| Contact: Janice | |
| TUESDAY: | Zoom Bible Study, 7.00pm |
| Contact: Graeme (0490 664 843) | |
| WEDNESDAY: | Holy Communion, 10.00am |
| Bible Study resumes, St Mark’s, 11.00am | |
| Cuppa,Craft & Chat Group, St Mark’s,12.30pm | |
| Contact: Robyn (0409 425 044) | |
| Coffee & Chat for those living with cancer, 1.30pm | |
| Wardens’ meeting, 3.00pm | |
| THURSDAY: | Men’s Coffee & Chat, Blackthorn Cafe, 10.00am |
| Contact: Steve (0437984679) Keith T (0413 319 327) | |
| Women’s Bible Study Group, St Mark’s, 9.30am | |
| Contact: Carol (0411 405 597) | |
| Christianity Explored begins, St Mark’s, 7.30pm | |
| FRIDAY: | Janice’s Day Off |
| NEXT SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Holy Communion, 10.30am | |
| Parish Council Meeting, 1.30pm |
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:
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.
Thank you…
Thank you to all who assisted with the Chamber Orchestra evening.
Upcoming Dates…
Shrove Tuesday – 17th February, 4pm gathering at a venue to be finalised – shared meal and pancakes.
Ash Wednesday services – 18th February 10am and 7pm Holy Communion with imposition of ashes.
Good Friday – 3rd April.
Easter Sunday – 5th April.
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.
Men’s Breakfast…
The first breakfast of the year will be on Saturday 21st February at 8.30 am. $6.00 will provide you with egg and bacon roll, coffee and excellent company. Our speaker will be John Beasey. RSVP essential to Steve Parkinson by 18th February. (Confirming your attendance guarantees you are catered for, and keeps Carol happy as she shops for the food!) BYO gluten free bread. Future breakfast dates for your diary: April 18th, June 20th, August 15th, October 17th, December 12th (TBC).
Youth Group…
St Mark’s Youth Group resumes at 4pm on Sunday 22nd February with games on the beach (if the weather is good) meet at the church and dress appropriately.
Exclusive Offer Ends Soon…
For fellowship and exercise come along to the following working bees:- Monday 23rd February 0930 to 1330 – Vicarage Tuesday 3rd March 0930 to 1330 or when finished – Church hedges, yukka’s and gardens For your exercise please bring weeders, kneelers, secateurs, loppers, and yourselves. Please let Graeme King know if you can attend either or both. As they say “many hands make light work”
This Week’s Prayer Focus
In our country and the world:
- For those who suffered loss in the Wye River flood, and now the Victorian fires.
- For the people of Venezuela and Iran.
- 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 All Saints Rosebud with St Katherine’s McCrae and their Acting Vicar.
- 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, Cheryl K, Karen, Mary, Jan K, David, Belinda, Joan R, Robyn, Phillip, Nikki, Jason, Rhiannon, Richard, Pat, Lorna & Peter, Keith S, Harry, Mike, Chloe, Ted, Monica, Jessica, Audrey, Backy, Fred, Robert, David
