Dear friends,
Last week I wrote about how Jesus-followers are living between the times, between two ages. We are in a tension, caught still in the old age which is passing away but also in the new age coming
– the kingdom our Lord has launched through his life, death and resurrection. So, what happens when we die, and when does this kingdom finally come in its fulness?
When a believer dies, they go to heaven, to be with the Lord. Paul wrote that if he did die, he would be with Christ (Phil 1:21-26).
What a hope we have. How good is that?!
BUT heaven is not our ultimate destination! That is not our true destiny, because heaven is something like a ‘holding-place’. Believers who die will be there until the final resurrection at the end of history when Christ returns.
At the final resurrection God will re-make our physical bodies, ones which will never die or decay. (No need for titanium knees!)
Then we will live, in a state of everlasting time, in God's newly restored creation. Heaven and earth will be unified at last. When “the times reach their fulfillment” God will “bring unity to all
things in heaven and on earth under Christ.” (Ephesians 1:10) That is our true destiny. Even better than good.
Loving greetings in Christ, Peter Woods (Locum Minister)
This Week
| MONDAY 14TH: | Study, “The Chosen”, St Mark’s, 7.00pm |
| Contact Kevin or Anne (0438 234 457) | |
| TUESDAY 15TH: | “Zoom” Study Group, 7.00pm, |
| Contact Graeme (0490 664 843) | |
| WEDNESDAY 16TH: | Study Group, St Mark’s,11.00am, |
| Contact Keith (0419 551 082) | |
| Craft Group, St Mark’s, 12.30pm, | |
| Contact Keryn (0417 597 241) | |
| THURSDAY 17TH: | Women’s Bible Study, St Mark’s, 9.30am |
| Contact Fay (0401 404 280) | |
| “Coffee & Chat” for Men, | |
| Blackthorn Café, 10.00am | |
| Contact Ian (0423 116 152) | |
| FRIDAY 18TH: | Pilates Mat Class, St Mark’s, 9.00am |
| Contact Amanda A (0431 188 211) to register | |
| “Zoom Prayer” Meeting, 1.30pm | |
| Contact John R (0421 425 156) |
Parish Contact Details
| Monitored contact points | 0493 280 691 |
| stmarksdromana@gmail.com | |
| Parish Web Address | dromanaanglicanchurch.org.au |
| Facebook page | https://www.facebook.com/stmarksdromana |
| Pastoral Care Coordinators | Kevin and Anne Cranwell (0438 234 457 Kevin) |
Worship Times
| SUNDAY: | 8.45am | Holy Communion. |
| 10.30am | Family Worship with Children’s Ministry. | |
| (Holy Communion – 1st Sundays) | ||
| 5.00pm | Healing Service – 1st Sundays. | |
| (5th Sundays) 10.00am Combined Service. | ||
| WEDNESDAY: | 10.00am | Holy Communion. |
| Annual Meeting Sunday 20th November |
| 9.00am Combined Communion Service followed by morning tea |
| 11.00am St Mark’s Annual Meeting |
| Please note: Nomination forms for Parish Council positions must be lodged with Peter Woods by 11.00am Wednesday 16th November. |
Concert at St Mark’s Sunday 13th November
Harmony Singers and Peninsula Recorder Ensemble
2.00pm.
Entrance by donation. Refreshments afterwards.
Come along for an afternoon of delightful
music.
Christmas Fete: Saturday 26th November 10.00am to 1.00pm
How is your planning going? Let’s make the fete a huge success. It starts with you.
Please note:
On Fete day, all food items must be taken to the narthex first where you will be provided with your own personal number and a sticker on which to list all the ingredients
before attaching it to your produce item. Then take it to the stall ready for sale.
Christmas Hampers
Donated goods are needed to make up the Christmas Hampers for disadvantaged families at Dromana Primary School. Flyers available in the church narthex for an idea of what to donate and also the drop off times. Deadline for donations is Thursday 8th December.
Help wanted!
Please seriously consider putting your hand up to help out with morning tea for the 8.45am service, in particular on the first Sunday of the month. Usually, you will be needed just once a month. Speak to Beryl if you can offer your services.
Exciting news!
Keith and Jan Thomas, who will be joining us at St Mark’s in December after their move from Canberra, have donated to us their grand piano. The PC have gratefully accepted their very kind offer. The piano will probably be delivered during the week 14th – 18th November.
Readings for this week from the Lectionary
| Monday 14th | Revelation1:1-4, 2:1-5a | Ps 1 | Luke 18:35-43 |
| Tuesday 15th | Revelation 3:1-6, 14-22 | Ps 15 | Luke 19:1-10 |
| Wednesday 16th | Revelation 4:1-11 | Ps 150 | Luke 19:11-28 |
| Thursday 17th | Revelation 5:1-10 | Ps 149 | Luke 19:41-44 |
| Friday 18th | Revelation 10:8-11 | Ps 119:107-112 | Luke 19:45-48 |
| Saturday 19th | Revelation 11:4-12 | Ps 144:5-10 | Luke 20:27-40 Sunday 20th |
| Jeremiah 23:1-6 Song of Zechariah (APBA p.425) | |||
| Colossians 1:11-20 | Ps 46 | Luke 23:33-43 | |
Operation Christmas Child
You will be pleased to know, especially if you prepared boxes, that St Mark’s contributions to this appeal are on their way to:
Ukraine, Cambodia, Fiji, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.
This Week’s Prayer Focus
In our country and the world:
- For an end to the war in Ukraine and unrest in places all around the
- For those affected by natural disasters especially Victoria and New South Wales subject to severe flooding and parts of Africa suffering severe drought.
- For aid agencies such as “Save the Children” which work in places of dire
- For the state of Victoria as we prepare for an May all candidates behave with integrity.
In our community:
- For Graeme and Cheryl mentoring students at Eastbourne S.
- For teachers, doctors, nurses, paramedics, the Coast Guard, CFA and SES
- For local community outreach groups such as “Food for All”.
In our Diocese and beyond:
- For the ministry of Bishop Paul Barker in the Jumbunna Region and Archdeacon Helen Phillips in the Frankston Archdeaconry. For Archbishop Geoffrey Smith’s ministry as Primate of Australia. For Archbishop Philip Freier’s ministry in the Diocese of
- In our Deanery, we pray for the Parish of St John’s Flinders with St Mark’s Balnarring
and their vicar Rev Keiron Jones.
- For the work of CBM as they reach disabled people in impoverished places around the world.
In our Parish:
- For our leadership and ministry teams, especially the incumbency
- For Peter Woods as he leads us as locum, and for Jeanette as she supports
- For the finances of our
- For all the preparations that are necessary to make our Christmas Fete a
- For our Parish, its members and those we reach out to every
- For our Parish Annual Meeting on 20th November to be a time of reflection on what has been achieved in the last twelve months and a time to look forward and start planning for a future of fruitful service both within and outside of the
- For: Louise Frost; Tony & Heather Such; Robyn Rigby; Jenny & Arnold Sikma; Backy Cowie; Lorna Liddell; Bill Myers; Barb Higgs; Ellen Brindley; Keith & Edna South; Noel Meates; Bianca Wilson; Joe and Betty Madeley; Mon English; Carol Copp; Keryn & Ian Rivett; Adam Maddicks; Kate McGuiness; Beth Harper; Ben Schneider; Jenny Web; Rachel and Karl Hiehler; Malcolm Bird; Graeme King; Pat Moore; Jan Glass.
Contact for pew sheet: Joy Clayton (0412 739 137 or dindijoy@gmail.com).
