Harvest Festivals have been a part of Christian life for many centuries. Bringing the first fruits of the produce from their lives, Christians have honoured the Lord who enabled them to have this food through bringing good weather and the harvest itself. The origins of this are, however, not in the New Testament, but in the Old Testament. In our Deuteronomy reading this Sunday we see Moses commanding the people to take the first fruits of the produce they harvest from the promised land once they have arrived there to the Tabernacle to be presented to the Lord as an offering of gratitude for their deliverance from Egypt and being able now to eat from the land they live in rather than surviving on manna and quail. Having brought all these offerings into the Tabernacle the people were to have a feast and celebrate the Lord’s goodness together. This festival became a permanent fixture on the Jewish calendar and remains so today as the feast of Sukkot or Tabernacles/Booths. It is celebrated in Autumn in the northern hemisphere around 29th September for 7 or 8 days. The booths or sukkah are a reminder of the life in the desert during the Exodus where the people lived in tents or dwellings which could be easily transported. Each family makes a sukkah in their garden or on their roof or balcony and lives there most of the week, sometimes sleeping there as well. At the end of the week is a feast in celebration of the goodness of God. The emphasis in this is giving thanks to God for his provision for us in giving food to eat, water to drink and everything else that God’s creation blesses us with. In this present day, we may see that there are things we miss out on because of the cost of living or our own circumstances. It’s easy to count our difficulties, especially when we open another bill in our inbox. Harvest festival turns our minds to our blessings. What do we have that is good today? The bible tells us that every good and perfect gift comes from God. Sometimes it’s a useful exercise to actually sit down and name 5 good things in your life, then praise God for each of them. During the pandemic I found this exercise very useful. Perhaps you’d like to try it.
Janice
This Week:
| SUNDAY: | HARVEST FESTIVAL |
| Holy Communion, 8.45am | |
| Family Service, 10.30am | |
| Sale of produce in front garden after Family Service weather permitting | |
| Byrdsong Evensong, Balnarring, 5.00pm | |
| MONDAY: | Prayer for the Parish, St Marks, 4.00pm Note: time change |
| Contact: Janice | |
| TUESDAY: | Hope25 Zoom Prayer and Share, 1.30pm |
| Contact: John R (0421 426 156) | |
| WEDNESDAY: | Holy Communion Service – 10.00am |
| Bible Study Group St Mark’s, 11.00am, | |
| Topic: “Proverbs” Contact: Janice | |
| Cuppa, Craft & Chat Group. St Mark’s, 12.30pm | |
| Contact Robyn (0409 425 044) | |
| THURSDAY: | Women’s Study Group, St Mark’s, 9.30am |
| Contact: Carol (0411 405 597) | |
| Men’s Coffee & Chat, Blackthorn Café, 10.00am | |
| Contact Steve (0437 984 679), Keith T (0413 319 327) | |
| FRIDAY: | Janice’s DAY OFF |
| NEXT SATURDAY: | Prayer and Worship meeting, 3.30pm |
| Daylight Saving ends 2am 6 April, Clocks back 1 hour | |
| NEXT SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Service, 10.30am | |
| Healing Service, 5.00pm, Note time | |
| ‘Jesus – Almighty God’ speaker: Rev’d Janice |
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 Cranwell (0438 234 457 Kevin) |
Notices:
Jesus for the Mornington Peninsula *…
Prayer Meeting at St Mark’s on Saturday 5th April Gather at 3.30pm for a Prayer Walk around the area 4.00pm Worship and Prayer in the church All are welcome.
* Sponsored by the Mornington Peninsula Pastor’s Network.
Alpha is starting soon!!…
Alpha will begin on 8th May at 6pm to no later than 8.30pm and run until 28th May.
We will share a home cooked meal and good conversation, then watch a short video together and discuss the subjects raised in a comfortable, non-threatening home situation. Have you been considering inviting a Neighbour, friend or family member? Have you attended Alpha before and still have questions? or maybe God is prompting you to bring a friend along this time. Please don’t miss this chance! Come and find out what it’s all about. Contact Steve or Carol Parkinson for more details. “
Men’s Breakfast…
The next Men’s Breakfast will be on 12th April from 8.30 – 10am approximately. Our new treasurer Nathan Kim will be joining us.
$7 for Bacon and (hopefully) egg or tomato roll, coffee/tea and conversation. (Please bring your own gluten free or other specific dietary foods).
RSVP by 7th April please – essential to avoid over catering – and to allow time for purchasing supplies. Steve Parkinson 0437984679 or slvparkinson@gmail.com
Look forward to seeing you and hearing from Nathan.
Holy Week and Easter 2025…
Palm/Passion Sunday 13th April
10.00am combined service in the Front Garden on Pt Nepean Rd Monday 14th and Tuesday 15th April
Holy Week meditation and prayers at 4.00pm Wednesday 16th April
10.00am Holy Communion
4.00pm Holy Week meditation and prayers Maundy Thursday 17th April
7.00pm ‘The Messiah’s Cup’ Holy Communion service Good Friday 18th April
9.00am Service of remembrance and prayer 11.00am Ecumenical Walk of Witness Holy Saturday 19th April
10.00am Hope25 outreach at the IGA – Music team and Hope25 team bringing Easter Hope to our community.
Easter Day Celebrations
6.30am Resurrection Communion on the Beach 10.00am Resurrection Communion at the Church
Byrdsong Evensong!!…
The next Byrdsong Evensong will be at Balnarring at 5.00pm on Sunday 30th March. Please contact John or Helen R for more information.
This Week’s Prayer Focus
In our country and the world:
- For those suffering as a result of violence and home invasions.
- For all affected by the worsening antisemitic attacks around Australia and the world.
- For those facing homelessness, hardship, anguish and despair amid rising costs.
- For families affected by violence.
- For all in Israel, Gaza, and Ukraine and Myanmar.
- For all women in Afghanistan now banned from hearing each others voices.
- 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:
- A prayer for the election of a new Archbishop for our diocese:
Eternal God, shepherd and guide, in your mercy give your Church in this diocese a shepherd after your own heart who will walk in your ways, and with loving care watch over your people. Give us a leader of vision and a teacher of your truth. So may your Church be built up and your name glorified; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. - 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 our Op Shop staff and all who visit each week.
- For all members of the Parish Council.
- For Hope25. That the Good News of Jesus will be known in the community of Dromana.
- For Nikki, Jason, Bernadette & family, Noel and family, Rhiannon, Richard,
Pat, Lorna & Peter, Keith S, Harry, Jen, Mike, Chloe, Ted, Monica, Jessica,
Audrey, Backy, Fred, Robert, Jan, David, Guy.
