Our readings today take us to a familiar place. The gospel reading is a favourite because it points to the beauty of the Lord’s words promising his disciples that he is preparing a place for them in his Father’s house and that he will come back and bring them to that house. That is a magnificent promise but it’s just the beginning. Jesus wants us to know that faith in him is the key to eternal life, and that it isn’t hard to find or difficult to access. To have a room in the Father’s house when we come to that moment is devastatingly simple, we have only to believe in Jesus as the way, the truth and the life. This is a life not grounded in the things of the world. To live this life to the full we must allow the same full relationship with the Father to grow in us as Jesus had on earth. In fact, we cannot live the full life Jesus came to give us without an active relationship with God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. How are you going at growing in this relationship at the moment? What steps do you take each day to connect with God in the community of the Trinity? What is prayer to you? A task? An opportunity to make sure God knows your needs? A conversation with a friend, a meeting with Jesus over a cuppa? Do you tell him all your news then wait to hear his? Or do you upload your list of requests and then go watch TV? Do you read the bible along with this community in Trinity and ask for insight, consciously inviting the presence of God as you read? There are many ways to deepen our relationship with Jesus, and therefore with the Father and Holy Spirit. If we will rearrange our time to give time to family and friends we love, should it be any different for our relationship with the Lord? Jesus is the only way to the Father and our relationship with him can grow only when we give it the time it deserves. Then we will find that our Father’s house is indeed our true home, for we are adopted members of his family through Jesus.
Janice
This Week
| SUNDAY: | Healing Service at 5pm |
| continues our series on forgiveness. | |
| Kevin Cranwell will speak on | |
| “How do I forgive as Jesus forgives me?” All welcome | |
| MONDAY: | Wardens meeting,10am |
| Study Group – “Truth and Freedom” | |
| St Mark’s, 7.00pm | |
| Contact Kevin or Anne (0438 234 857) | |
| TUESDAY: | Meeting of Worship Leaders and Music Teams (both services) |
| 10.30am Zoom Study Group 7.00pm | |
| Contact Graeme (0490 664 843) | |
| WEDNESDAY: | Holy Communion, 10.00am |
| Study Group | |
| St Mark’s,11.00am | |
| Contact Keith (0419 551 082) | |
| Common Threads Craft Group | |
| St Mark’s, 12.30pm | |
| Contact Robyn (0409 425 044) | |
| THURSDAY: | Women’s Bible Study, St Mark’s, 9.30am |
| Contact Fay (0401 404 280) | |
| Men’s Coffee & Chat Blackthorn Café | |
| 10.00am Contact Steve (0437 984 679) | |
| Zoom Prayer Meeting, 1.30pm | |
| FRIDAY: | JANICE’S DAY OFF |
| Friday Life Group – 4.00pm | |
| Contact Carol (0411 405 597) |
Worship Times
| SUNDAY: | 8.45am | Holy Communion. |
| 10.30am | Family Worship with Children’s Ministry. | |
| (Holy Communion – 1st Sundays) | ||
| 5.00pm | Healing Service – 1st Sundays. | |
| (5th Sundays) | 10.00am | Combined Service. |
| WEDNESDAY: | 10.00am | Holy Communion Service. |
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:
Worship Music “Donation” request
We are hoping to buy a Personal Monitor Speaker ($150) to improve worship by allowing the musicians and those singing with microphones to hear the sound that is coming out through the PA speakers. The better the musicians can hear the sound that is being produced the better the quality of the music and hence, the worship. Donations would be greatly appreciated.
Please place donations in an envelope marked “Speaker” and add it to the offerings.
St. Marks Op Shop
Would you be interested in helping out in the Op Shop once each month? We are open Wednesday – Saturday, and shifts are from 9am -12.30pm and 12.30 – 4pm on weekdays and 9am -12.30pm on Saturday mornings. Please contact Edna South 0428 551 082 if you would like to help out.
Save the date….
Men’s breakfast 20th May 8:30am – 10:00 am at the church. Enjoy an egg & bacon roll while getting to know each other. Cost $5. Can you speak for five minutes about your hobbies?
RSVP Steve 0437 984 679, with dietary requirements if applicable.
All welcome
Special Services 2023
| 18-Jun-23 | Evensong – All Saints, Rosebud |
| 20-Aug-23 | Evensong – St Mark’s, Balnarring |
| 22-Oct-23 | Evensong – St Mark’s, Dromana |
| 3-Dec-23 | St John’s, Sorrento – Lessons & Carols for Advent |
| 17-Dec-23 | St Mark’s, Dromana – Lessons & Carols for Christmas |
Can You Help?
We are looking for a volunteer to help with morning tea on the 2nd Sunday of the month after the 8.45 service. Please let Beryl know if you can help.
This Week’s Prayer Focus
In our country and the world:
- For King Charles III, the UK and the Commonwealth.
- For families affected by violence.
- For peace and unity in countries around the World.
- For those affected by natural disasters in 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 Archbishop Geoffrey Smith’s ministry as Primate of Australia
- For Archbishop Philip Freier’s ministry n the Diocese of Melbourne
- For the ministry of Bishop Paul Barker in the Jumbunna Region and for Archdeacon Helen Phillips in the Frankston Archdeaconry as she recovers from surgery, and for John as he supports Helen.
- In our Deanery, we pray for the Parish of Holy Trinity Hastings and their Vicar, Rev Tim Anderson.
- For the work of the Church Missionary Society and Wei-Han the Victorian Director.
- For Anna Radkovic our CMS Link Missionary as she spends time learning language and culture in Kenya while exploring long-term opportunities in discipleship ministry and conservation.
- 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 our Vicar.
- For the finances of our Parish.
- For our Parish, its people and those we reach out to every week.
