I bought an Advent calendar the other day. Not the chocolate kind, as nice as that would be, it’s one with daily flavours of a favourite cordial (no alcohol involved). I realised how excited I was the moment I paid for it. It’s been years since I’ve counted down the days to Christmas in this way. As children our parents always had an Advent routine. We made a home Advent Wreath with candles and a decorated egg carton. Every Sunday we read the stories of Jesus’ birth while lighting the candles and Mum and Dad talked about it with us. We were very young and it was a magical time which changed as we grew up, but I’ve never forgotten how impactful those Sundays reading the gospels together and remembering the story through the scriptures were. When we got to Christmas we were always excited for the presents, but I was also excited for the midnight service and white candle being lit. That moment held for me the power of God’s presence in my world in one little flame. I knew what darkness was at that age and I knew what light did to it, and it reminded me to hope. Do you have memories of Advent traditions in your homes? (We also had chocolate Advent calendars, but they never lasted until Christmas!) In church today we will light the first of 5 candles on our Advent wreath. Each candle symbolises part of the story of Christmas, and each is also a reminder that the light of Jesus Christ came into our world as a tiny baby and is still the power of God’s presence today through the Holy Spirit. In Advent we pause to look back and remember the first Christmas, and we look forward with joy and hope to the second coming of Jesus when he will bring in the new heaven and the new earth of Revelation 21. It’s a time to remember how seriously God the Father took our separation from him and how deliberate his choice was to send Jesus to bring peace by the blood of the Cross. It’s a time to remember that this was not something ‘out of the blue’ but a deliberately planned rescue of the human race foretold accurately for centuries beforehand. This Advent season read the scriptures again and let the light of Jesus Christ shine in your lives today.
Janice
This Week:
| SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Service, 10.30am | |
| Installation of Archbishop Ric Thorpe, 4.00pm | |
| 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 | |
| MONDAY: | Prayer for the Parish, St Mark’s, 4.00pm |
| Contact: Janice | |
| TUESDAY: | Holding the Light service |
| in the front garden of the church, 11.00am All welcome | |
| 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 Holy Communion, 10.30am | |
| Parish Council, 1.30pm | |
| Healing Service, 6.00pm | |
| Speaker: Revd Janice, Topic: To be advised |
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.
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).
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 Flinders with St Mark’s Balnarring, their Vicar Rev’d Keiron Jones and Deacon Rev’d Christine Barren.
- 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.
