Lent 1
We begin the season of Lent on the mount of temptation with the Lord Jesus. There he faces three temptations from the devil designed to get him to give in to his humanity and either misuse his power for himself, force the Father’s hand rather than relying on the Father’s love through faith, or take the easy road to a throne by worshipping Satan. Jesus carefully chooses each time to refuse the temptation and then returns to gather his first disciples and begin the ministry he had come to do. This shows us the antidote. The first reading shows the poison. In Genesis we see that Adam was told clearly not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil or he would die. We then see Eve who is tempted through words spoken by a snake which twist the words of God and try to trick her. At first she refuses the invitation, but the snake then shows her the tree and convinces her to eat. What comes next is the bit we miss often. We presume that Eve was alone and so made this decision without her husband, but the scripture makes it clear that all along Adam was right there, and he ate of the fruit too. Adam’s silence is baffling. Why did he not speak up? He who had heard directly from the Lord the command not to eat. Not only was he silent but he accepted the fruit when offered it. The sin is not just in disobeying God and eating the fruit. The sin is also in his silence. He knew the truth but did not speak it. Adam fell for the voice that said, ‘have what you want, be like God, you won’t die, God won’t do that,’ just as Eve did. They chose to eat this fruit together and together they realised their mistake too late. Is it any wonder that Jesus did not allow the devil to get into a conversation with him? At the first sign of a suggested sin Jesus refuses the devil’s words with the word of God – ‘it is written’. At the second approach Jesus answers in the same way. At the third approach Jesus sends him away with the word of God and no recourse. There is a saying, ‘Don’t give the devil a seat at your table’. When you next hear those smooth words don’t allow the devil the time to keep speaking. Answer with The Word – In Jesus’ name be gone!
Janice
This Week:
| SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Service, 10.30am | |
| St Mark’s Youth Group, 4.00pm | |
| Games on the beach: gather at the church first. If the weather isn’t good we will activities at the church. | |
| MONDAY: | Working Bee – Vicarage, 9.30am – see Notices |
| 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, 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 | |
| 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, St Mark’s, 7.30pm | |
| FRIDAY: | Janice’s Day Off |
| SATURDAY: | Men’s Breakfast, St Mark’s, 8.30am |
| Contact: Steve (0437984679) | |
| NEXT SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Holy Communion, 10.30am | |
| Healing Service, 6.00pm Speaker: Rev’d Janice | |
| Topic: Forgiveness & Healing |
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:
Thank You…
Thank you to Parish Council members and others who contributed to the lunch between the 10.30 service and the 1.30pm confirmation service for John and Doris Beasy. Special thanks to Carol Parkinson for coordinating..
Dance-A-Thon: Saturday 28th March 10am to 12 pm…
Our first fundraiser for 2026, this is an opportunity to invite people from the wider community into our space (the carpark) for health and wellbeing and fun! $10 entry, and opt-in, opt-out. Spread the word, and be prepared to come and join in the fun! See Anne for details.
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.
Last Week To Join 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. This course began on Thursday 12th February at 7.30pm and will run weekly for 7 weeks. For information please speak to Janice or take a postcard available in the Narthex.
Tip Vouchers To Cover Working Bees…
If you have any spare tip vouchers could you please give them to Graeme this Sunday 22/2, to cover green waste from upcoming church and vicarage working bees.
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 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 the Christianity Explored seminars and those participating in them.
- That the Good News of Jesus will be known in Dromana.
- For Louise, Jen, 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.
