Our Gospel reading today begins at Matthew 2:13 with the account of Joseph and Mary’s flight into Egypt to protect Jesus. In the middle of the night Joseph is warned in a dream to pack up his family and get out quick. Herod is after the child and there is no time to lose. Immediately Joseph and Mary get up, pack what they can, and travel to Egypt where they are well outside Herod’s reach, and there they stay until it is safe to return. Meanwhile Herod is determined to kill the child that the wise men had told him would be King of the Jews. Herod was a cruel and jealous man with few moral scruples. How doesn’t know who the child is with and he doesn’t know how old he is. He only knows the town he is in. Using the timing of the star and the other clues from the wise men Herod determines that every male child below the age of 2 years in Bethlehem needs to die – just to make sure. With malice in his heart Herod the Great then sent his troops to Bethlehem to do his will. A horrible act. Matthew recalls the prophecy of Isaiah who hears Rachel weeping for her children. Rachel is the ancestor of David, and Bethlehem is her ancestral home. The prophecy is fulfilled with terrible accuracy. It is not that God sanctioned Herod’s actions, but that he told Isaiah that this would happen so that we would know that the Lord has indeed sent the Messiah. This evil action is Herod’s choice, not God’s choice. God simply warns the prophet that this will come. Rather than dwell on this terrible act of darkness, Matthew goes on to tell how Mary and Joseph waited until Herod died and then returned to Israel but went to Nazareth because Herod’s son was now in charge in Judea. In choosing Nazareth, once again the prophecy around Messiah is fulfilled. Matthew’s motivation in recording these events is to allow us, the readers, to understand that every part of Jesus’ life was a fulfilment of prophecy which was written hundreds of years before his birth. Matthew wants us to know that this really is the Messiah, and in helping us to understand this truth he also shows us the way to be certain in our faith that Jesus is the Light of the world. May you find light in your darkness this Christmas season through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Janice
This Week:
| SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Service, 10.30am | |
| 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 |
| SATURDAY: | BBQ at St Marks, 5.00pm |
| NEXT SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Holy Communion, 10.30am | |
| SUFM team McCrae will join us for the 10.30 service |
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:
Thank You…
A big thank you to all who have helped out in Christmas services, and to those who have looked after all the behind the scenes organising. Without a community effort we don’t get to do these wonderful celebrations so well. I am very grateful to be leading this beautiful church community. To God be all the glory. Janice
Parish Council Nominations…
Thank you for your prayers for Parish Council members to step forward. We do still need 2 more members. At this stage our current Parish Council will stand as is, and we will continue to pray for the Lord to raise up the leaders we need. If you find the call is coming to you please talk to Janice.
Coptic Church Services…
As we have done each year, we will again host the Coptic Church will be using our church on 31st December from 9pm to 1am. Our Wednesday service will go ahead as normal on 31st December.
SUFM Mccrae Beach Mission…
Please pray for our friends at SUFM (Scripture Union Family Ministries) McCrae as they begin their Beach Mission this Sunday. Thank you to all who have contributed food. It will be delivered to them after church today (28th December).
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
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 All Saints Rosebud with St Katherine’s McCrae and their Acting Vicar.
- 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 Agnes, Rachel & family, Jan T, Wallis family, Cheryl K, 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.
