Lent 2
In Lent our focus is on our relationship with our holy God and how to live in that relationship well. Our Romans reading today is pointing out that this relationship is God’s choice from the beginning of time, but it is our responsibility to decide to accept God’s choice and to live accordingly, not so God will choose us – that choice is already made. Jesus came to save us because God loves all of us (John 3:16 God so loved the world not just the good people) so our choice to respond to God’s infinite love and his sacrifice so that we can be free of sin and able to come closer to him is a response to God’s action, not a way to make him love us. It is a faith response. Abram (Abraham) learned that our God speaks and began to listen. God called him out of his home and away from everything he had ever known to go to a place he had no knowledge of which he had to learn to trust God to lead him to. Paul picks up on this relationship. Abram did what God asked because he believed what God said, not so that he could have a relationship with God. He already had one based. It was by faith that Abram left his home and by faith that he followed the Lord to Canaan. It was by faith that Abram became Abraham, renamed by God because God was working with Abraham as someone who he knew and loved, and who knew and loved God. Abraham became the father of nations by faith because he trusted God and chose to believe what God had said. That faith was reckoned to him as righteousness. In other words, God saved Abraham and made him his own in love by declaring that his faith justified him and made him a man with right standing before God. Abraham then obeyed what the Lord told him, believing God’s words, and they made a covenant which included the sign of circumcision, but was based, not in the action of Abraham but in his faith in God who loved him, called him and chose him. We are also called, loved and chosen. How is your relationship with God today? Spend some time and consider your response.
Janice
This Week:
| SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Service, 10.30am | |
| Healing Service, 6.00pm, Speaker: Rev’d Janice | |
| Topic: Forgiveness & Healing | |
| MONDAY: | Prayer for the Parish, St Mark’s, 4.00pm |
| Contact: Janice | |
| TUESDAY: | Working Bee – Vicarage, 9.30am – see Notices |
| 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) | |
| Funeral of Damiano Aru, St Mark’s, 11.00am | |
| Christianity Explored, St Mark’s, 7.30pm | |
| FRIDAY: | Janice’s Day Off |
| NEXT SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Holy Communion, 10.30am | |
| Youth Group, 4.00pm |
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…
A big Thank You to all who helped at the Vicarage working bee last Monday, and also to those who gave us tip voucher for disposal of the weeds.
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.
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 fires and floods.
- 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 Holy Trinity Hastings and their Vicar, Rev’d Tim Anderson.
- Keiron, Vicar of Flinders/Balnarring.
- 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, Yvonne and family, 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.
