When Paul wrote to the Colossians he was writing to people he had never met in a place he had never been to. Colossae was somewhere he had wanted to go to, but it seems he never got there. He was writing so that they would be encouraged in their faith because he had ‘heard of their faith and their love for all the saints’. The source of this knowledge was a man named Epaphras who had been part of Paul’s team and seemed to have clear connection with Colossae. In our reading from Colossians today we read Paul’s prayer for these people he has not met but knows as brothers and sisters in Christ. Across the miles between where Paul sits imprisoned and Colossae the Holy Spirit bridges the gap with the words of Paul’s prayer conveyed in this letter and helps us, almost 2000 years later, to understand one of the great eternal truths of our faith. There is no distance between one Christian and another, no gap between each beating heart and the next which truly beats in faith in Jesus Christ, because we are all one in Jesus. Holy Spirit is God within each of us and we are one because of that great gift. It is beyond understanding in so many ways. How can each of us have the fullness of Holy Spirit to draw on yet be separated? Even so, we are one in that same Spirit, through faith in the one Son, Jesus, by the grace of the one Father God. These three are eternally one, and so by extension are we. So on this Sunday which is the Feast of Christ the King, we celebrate with Christians across the world the one true God. We also pray together for those who are suffering for this same faith. As these are suffering, so the body of Christ itself suffers. Their faith in adversity brings us strength. Our prayer for their deliverance from persecution gives them strength. This mystery is one which circles the globe and stretches into eternity and yet is truly present when we simply pray together. Join with me in Paul’s prayer: May we be filled with the knowledge of God’s will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that we may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as we bear fruit in every good work and as we grow in the knowledge of God. Amen.
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: | 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 | |
| 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) | |
| FRIDAY: | Janice’s Day Off |
| NEXT SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Service, 10.30am | |
| Installation of Archbishop Ric Thorpe, 4.00pm | |
| St Paul’s Cathedral – see notice below | |
| St Paul’s Cathedral will hold the Installation of The Right Revd Dr Ric Thorpe as Archbishop of Melbourne on Sunday 30 November at 4pm All are welcome to join in online: youtube.com/live/W957vtVI50Q | |
| Sorrento Anglican Church Advent Carol Service, 6.30pm |
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:
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.
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.
Christmas Hampers…
Once again we are wanting to make up Christmas Hampers for distribution to families in need through Dromana Primary School. Food items would be appreciated before the end of November. Anyone who would like to donate cash for us to purchase other items, please put it in an envelope marked “Christmas Hampers” & place it in the offering bag. Queries to Carol Parkinson or Cheryl King.
Front Garden Special Service…
On Tuesday 2nd December at 11am we will be holding a “Holding the Light” Service in the front garden. This is a service of remembrance for victims and survivors of family violence. It’s a very gentle service and aims to bring hope into the place of grief. Flyers are available and anyone can attend.
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 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 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.
