When Saul the Pharisee was stopped in his tracks in the middle of an assignment to persecute Christians in Damascus, he learned in one moment something that can take some of us a lifetime to grasp. God doesn’t choose us according to race or colour or creed or any other marker with which we identify ourselves. God chooses us because we are his creation, human beings made in his image and precious to him for that fact alone, and he wants us to follow him. Suddenly aware that he had been walking in hatred for people who were actually the ones who had it right, that Jesus is Messiah and now everything was different, Saul was in need of solace. He was distraught at knowing what he had done and confused because everything he measured his worth by had just changed in an instant. He was blinded by the light of the Lord which had shone on him, yet he saw more clearly now than ever before. Deeply he knew that something miraculous had happened. The barriers of racial purity, of ritual uncleanness, of Jew versus Gentile had come down. No longer was his identity found in ethnicity, it was found in Jesus Christ who had made him his own that day. Saul received a visit from a Christian named Ananias who prayed for him, and he received the healing and the miracle of forgiveness through Jesus that he needed. With joy he went out straight away to tell people that he was wrong and Jesus really was Messiah. Saul finally understood that Jesus was the means of tearing down every barrier to God’s healing grace. He is the Root of Jesse who is to rule the Gentiles in hope. He is also the Jewish Messiah who is the hope of Israel. Of course, we know Saul became Paul the Apostle who wrote to the Romans many years later to help them understand this truth. Perhaps you are struggling to know who you are now after a significant life change – employed to retired, wife to widow, husband to divorcee, child to adult. Look again at what Jesus says about you through the scriptures. Your identity in Jesus never changes: saved, loved, forgiven, free, citizen of heaven, child of the Living God. If you need to find yourself today – look there.
Janice
This Week:
| SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Service, 10.30am | |
| MONDAY: | Prayer for the Parish, St Mark’s, 4.00pm |
| Contact: Janice | |
| TUESDAY: | Op Shop Committee Meeting, 3.30pm |
| 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, 1.30pm | |
| at Pilgrim Cafe | |
| FRIDAY: | Janice’s Day Off |
| SATURDAY: | Men’s BBQ Breakfast, St Mark’s, 8.30am |
| Carols at IGA, 10.00-11.30am | |
| NEXT SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Holy Communion, 10.30am | |
| Youth Group Christmas Breakup Beauty Party, 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:
Christmas Hampers…
Thank you to everyone who donated food or money, shopped, sorted, packed and wrapped the 24 hampers for Dromana families. Amazing!
“How great is the love that the father has lavished on us…. (1 Jn 3:1a)
Parish Council Nominations…
Please note there is a shortfall of 3 Councillors and 1 Warden. To ensure there is a quorum at each Council meeting we need these positions to be filled. Nomination forms can be obtained from Keith Thomas and nominations close on 16th December.
Men’s Group…
The men will finish the year with a BBQ breakfast on Saturday 13th December at 8.30am in the garden, followed by Carols at the IGA at 10 am onwards. RSVP for the BBQ is essential please by Sunday 7th to allow for shopping and set up. Please invite your friends and family.
(Gf sausages will be provided. BYO bread if required).
Sorrento Anglican Church Advent Carol Service…
John Rogers will be conducting the choir for the Sorrento Anglican Church’s Advent Carol Service which will be held at 6.30pm on Sunday 30th November. A number of our congregation will be singing in the choir. All welcome.
Invitation…
There is an Invitation for anyone who would like to bring some Christmas Joy to those in care to join with Janice at Calwell Manor for a Carol Service on Thursday 18th December at 10.30am.
Christmas At St Marks…
Sat 13th December 10am – 11.30am Carols at IGA
Sat 20th December 5pm BBQ, 6pm Family Christmas service
Wed 24th December 11pm Carols, 11.30pm Midnight Eucharist
Thurs 25th December 9.30am Christmas Celebration
This Week’s Prayer Focus
In our country and the world:
- 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 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 Holy Trinity Hastings and their Vicar, Rev’d Tim Anderson.
- 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 Jan T, Wallis family, Cheryl K, Jeff Carter and family, Karen, Mary, Jan K, Steve (not Parkinson) and family, 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, David.
