Our psalm this Sunday is Psalm 137. This psalm is written by those carried off into exile in Babylon after the fall of Jerusalem. The words are familiar because they have been used in modern songwriting. ‘By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yeah we wept as we remembered Zion’ sang Boney M in a hit song blared in discos and other dances in the late 1970’s. Did we understand what this was about? No, we just enjoyed the beat. Yet this is a psalm born from deep pain and unimaginable sorrow. When the Babylonians sacked Jerusalem and carried away those who had been in power and those strong enough to work as slaves, they also committed terrible atrocities. The old who were too frail to be slaves were either left to die or killed. The babies and young children were both too young to work and vulnerable to be brainwashed by their parents into hatred of their captors and raised to revolt against them, so children under 10 were also killed. This was standard practice for those taking over another country at that time in history. Today we cry out at such injustice – hopefully. Then, it was what was expected with the horror of captivity and war. Our psalm, therefore, is the cry of the hearts of parents who have had their children killed in front of them and their elders killed or left behind in their beds to die. The last line wishes on the Babylonians the same fate as these children have endured – that they too will see their children killed. What on earth is this doing in holy scripture?! It’s there because scripture is not made up, but the real experience, history, celebrations and heartache of real people who are calling out to their loving and faithful God in their pain or their victory. The psalms are truly the songs of God’s people, and they carry every emotion imaginable. They tell us that the human experience is not only understood by God, but he is beside us even in the worst of times. If you read psalms 136 to 139 through, one after the other, you will witness the truth of God’s faithfulness playing out in real lives. Psalms is a book of hope and endurance, of victory and defeat, of faith and doubt, written down so we can worship a real God in real life terms – even the hardest ones.
Janice
This Week:
| SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Service, 10.30am | |
| Parish Council, 1.30pm | |
| Healing Service, 6.00pm * Note time change for Summer | |
| Speaker: Graeme King – “Peace in Uncertain Times” | |
| MONDAY: | Air-conditioning installation in the church |
| 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 Service – 10.00am |
| Bible Study Group St Mark’s, 11.00am | |
| Contact: Janice | |
| Coffee & Chat for those living with cancer, Pilgrim Cafe, 1.30pm | |
| Fete Committee Meeting, 2.30pm | |
| Cuppa, Craft & Chat Group, St Mark’s,12.30pm | |
| Contact: Robyn (0409 425 044) | |
| THURSDAY: | Men’s Coffee & Chat, Blackthorn Café, 10.00am |
| Contact Steve (0437 984 679), Keith T (0413 319 327) | |
| Women’s Bible Study Group, St Mark’s, 9.30am | |
| Contact: Carol (0411 405 597) | |
| Hope Explored, St Mark’s, 7.30pm : Contact Janice | |
| FRIDAY: | JANICE ON ANNUAL LEAVE UNTIL 1st NOVEMBER |
| NEXT SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Service, 10.30am | |
| Pleasant Sunday Afternoon, 2.30pm at St Marks |
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:
Men’s Breakfast…
Sat. October 18th, 8.30-10 am Bacon & egg roll, coffee & conversation $7 (gf bacon BYO gluten free bread) Malcolm Glasscock will be speaking about his working life. PLEASE let Steve Parkinson know if you are coming. Next Men’s Breakfast 13th December. All men welcome.
New Vicar of Sorrento / Rye…
The new Vicar of Sorrento/Rye, Stephen Dent, will be commissioned on Thursday 30th September at 7.30pm at St Andrew’s Rye.
Parish Roll…
Please check the Parish Roll in the Narthex to ensure your name is recorded. If you are not on the Roll and wish to join the Parish please fill in a form which is available in the Narthex.
Memorial garden…
I am privileged to have been given the oversight and care of our Memorial Garden and to gather some helpers. The Garden now has some new young plants which we anticipate will grow and flourish. However they need nurturing with water, particularly during the summer months, and the room to grow without being overtaken by weeds! This is where I need help, so I am asking for volunteers, please. I would love to receive any/all offers of help! With many thanks in anticipation, Jan Glass, 0421047513
Operation Christmas Child…
Thank you to all who participated in Operation Christmas Child, and thanks to Edna for the carry-bags. There will be 44 happy children when they receive our boxes. Happy for anyone to fill 6 more to make up to 50 from St Mark’s – this Sunday only! See Anne.
Cleaning of Church building…
Dennis Williamson is organising the cleaning of the church building on 4 October from 8:30 am ‘til 12:30 pm. Please let Dennis know in advance if you plan to assist with the cleaning at dennisw@scenicspectrums.com.au or on 0418331322. A simple BBQ lunch is planned when we finish, either at the church or across the road at the beach. Dennis will organise a few sausages, rolls & salad. Otherwise people can BYO. All welcome.
Parish Roll…
Please check the Parish Roll in the Narthex to ensure your name is recorded. If you are not on the Roll and wish to join the Parish please fill in a form which is available in the Narthex.
Church Fete Saturday 22nd of November 10:00am – 2:30 pm…
Morning Teas, Luncheon, Cakes, Plants, Art Show, Jams, Books, Craft, BBQ. Kids crafts and face-painting. Would you like to be involved?? We could use lots of help. Please contact Janice or Cheryl if you would like to be involved. Does anyone have a 3 x 3 marquee we could borrow on the day?
Annual Meeting…
The Annual Meeting of St Mark’s will be held in the church on Sunday 16th November following a combined service starting at 10.00am. Contact Keith Thomas if you have any questions or an apology. Annual Reports need to be with Keith Thomas by 22nd October.
This Week’s Prayer Focus
In our country and the world:
- For all needing support following shooting of Police, and 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 Archbishop Philip Freier’s ministry in the Diocese of Melbourne.
- 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 George’s Red Hill and their Vicar, Rev’d Jennie Savage.
- 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 Karen, Mary, Jan K, Steve (not Parkinson) and family. Marlene, David, Belinda, Joan R, Lynda & Ian, Robyn, Phillip, Nikki, Jason, Rhiannon, Richard, Pat, Lorna & Peter, Keith S, Harry, Jen, Mike, Chloe, Ted, Monica, Jessica, Audrey, Backy, Fred, Robert, Jan, David.
