Happy New Year! Always for me as we begin a new year there is a sense of excitement along with that caution that comes with the recognition that I have no idea what this year will bring. After all, the Lord never promises us that nothing will ever go wrong, but he does promise that when that happens, we will not be alone because he will be right there with us. I often think of the visit of the magi to Mary and Joseph and the child Jesus. How astonishing it would be to have these people turn up at your home from a far away land and then have them worship your child and give him gifts. It’s not that Mary and Joseph didn’t know who they were raising, but nobody would expect this sort of a visit to their humble family home. The gifts are also mysterious and frightening. Gold makes sense, since Jesus is a king, but frankincense is a very expensive item which is used to make incense in the Temple and myrrh is a perfume used for preparing a body for burial. Weird gifts for a toddler. The frankincense was probably something that made sense since it’s for worship, but the myrrh? Luke tells us that when Jesus was brought to the Temple for his presentation, Simeon and Anna, the prophets who had waited for Messiah for decades, each filled in some of the story to come. Mary is said to have kept all their words in her heart, and those words would have flooded back at this moment, I expect. Simeon had held Jesus in his arms and pronounced a blessing over him and said he would be the cause of many to rise and to fall, but he also told Mary that a sword would pierce her own heart too. Myrrh. Mary could not have understood at this time that the sword would be cross shaped, but she would now be looking at the future with a little more trepidation. Yet throughout her life she made choices of faithfulness and trust in God, and after Jesus was raised from death Mary joined the apostles in proclaiming Jesus as Lord and Messiah. Perhaps you feel today that the world is gifting you myrrh. Look up. Our gracious God is with you in the midst of trouble. He who walks with us through the valley of shadow is all the light we need.
Janice
This Week:
| SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Service, 10.30am | |
| SUFM team McCrae will join us for the 10.30 service | |
| MONDAY: | Prayer for the Parish, St Mark’s, 4.00pm |
| Contact: Janice | |
| WEDNESDAY: | Holy Communion, 10.00am |
| Coptic Orthodox Church service, 10.00pm – 1.00am | |
| FRIDAY: | Janice’s Day Off |
| A Thanksgiving Service for the life of Julie van Twest will be held at Mt Eliza Anglican Church,105 Koetong Pde, At 2.00pm on Friday 9th January 2026. Light refreshments will be served at the conclusion of the service, providing an opportunity to gather and share memories of Julie. | |
| NEXT SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Holy Communion, 10.30am |
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:
SUFM McCrae Team…
We welcome the SUFM McCrae Team to our services today. They will join us at the end of the 8.45 service and stay for the 10.30 service. Please pray for our friends at SUFM (Scripture Union Family Ministries) McCrae and their Beach Mission.
Op Shop Summer Hours…
Our Op Shop reopens on Friday 2nd January after a well deserved break for our hardworking volunteers.
Hours throughout summer will be:
9am to 4pm Weds, Thurs, Friday.
9am to 3pm Saturday.
If you would like to join in this wonderful ministry to the Dromana community, please speak to Vicki Brown or Jen Watson
Australia Day Festival…
Australia Day celebration 08.30 to 1.30pm behind Information Centre. Craft activity only this year. Helpers needed for setup and dismantle of marquees. Setup on Sunday afternoon time TBC. Pack up Monday afternoon 1.45pm Helpers on the day for our craft activity Please let Cheryl or Graeme know if you can help.
January Sunday Evening Meals…
Our fellowship meals are an open invitation to anyone who would like to come and share a relaxed time together during January. BYO meal or something to share. Start time 6pm; homes of
Anne and Kevin Cranwell – 4th Jan
Graeme & Cheryl King – 18 Jan
Carol & Steve Parkinson – 25 Jan
(NB: no fish please due to severe allergy). Hosts needed for 4 and 11 January – see Anne or Kevin if you’d like to host.
This Week’s Prayer Focus
In our country and the world:
- 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 Sorrento with St Andrew’s Rye and their Vicar, Rev’d Stephen Dent.
- 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 TJ and family, Agnes, Rachel & family, Jan T, Cheryl K, Karen, Mary, Jan K, Steve (not Parkinson) and family, David, Belinda, Joan R, Robyn, Phillip, Nikki, Jason, Rhiannon, Richard, Pat, Lorna & Peter, Keith S, Harry, Jen, Mike, Chloe, Ted, Monica, Jessica, Audrey, Backy, Fred, Robert, David.
