This Sunday we have the meeting of Mary and Elizabeth in focus. What a moment in history! The mother of John the Baptist meets with the mother of Jesus. We are not told the timing, but the angel Gabriel told Mary that Elizabeth was 6 months pregnant by the hand of the Lord when he announced that Mary would become pregnant by the Holy Spirit. We can therefore figure out that Mary was in early pregnancy and Elizabeth was over 6 months pregnant at their meeting. Mary stayed with Elizabeth for 3 months, and this makes sense because it was customary for female relatives to be there to assist with the birth and first days afterwards. Elizabeth is well aware that the child she carries is the one who is to prepare the way of the Messiah, because her husband, Zechariah, was told who this baby boy would be when Gabriel announced to him that Elizabeth would become pregnant, although she was older than usual and considered barren. With the infilling of the Holy Spirit, when John leaped in Elizabeth’s womb, she immediately blessed Mary and her child. We don’t find the specifics of this visit in the bible. We haven’t any information on how Elizabeth knew that Mary was pregnant with Jesus, except to reference to the Holy Spirit, but we do know that Gabriel deliberately told Mary about Elizabeth. Perhaps this was Mary’s signal to go to her relative’s place while she worked out what this pregnancy meant – and who better to do that with than someone also pregnant through miraculous means. At the very least, Elizabeth might be someone who could respond to Mary’s situation with faith rather than condemnation. What a relief it must have been to be greeted with Elizabeth’s blessing. No need to explain a pregnancy out of wedlock here. Mary’s response to Elizabeth is made up of praise to God, and prophetic words declaring that now God himself has turned the tables on the proud, the selfish rich, the powerful, and all who bring suffering to the downtrodden. She declares the promises of the Lord are being fulfilled, and hope has returned to Israel. A great picture of what having a Saviour does in our lives.e.
Janice
This Week:
| SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Service, 10.30am | |
| MONDAY: | Prayer Group, St Marks, 9.15am |
| Contact: Janice | |
| Bible Study Group, St Mark’s, 4.00pm (On Hold Till Advised) | |
| Contact Kevin (0438 234 457) | |
| TUESDAY: | Coptic Orthodox Church at St Mark’s, 8-12 noon |
| Carols – 11.00pm, Midnight Holy Communion Service – 11.30pm | |
| First Reading: Isaiah 9:2-7, Psalm: 96 | |
| Second Reading: Titus 2:11-14, Gospel: Luke 2:1-20 | |
| WEDNESDAY: | Celebration Holy Communion Service – 9.30am |
| First Reading: Isaiah 52:7-10, Psalm: 98 | |
| Second Reading: Hebrews 1:1-4, Gospel: John 1:1-14 | |
| THURSDAY: | Men’s Coffee & Chat, Blackthorn Café, 10.00am (On Hold Till Advised) |
| Contact Steve (0437 984 679), Keith T (0413 319 327) | |
| or Kevin (0493 234 457) | |
| FRIDAY: | Janice’s DAY OFF |
| NEXT SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am (Advent 1) |
| Family Service, 10.30am |
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:
Scripture Union Beach Mission…
We are supporting the Scripture Union Beach Mission which is on again this year at McCrae. There is a list of breakfast goods needed for the team which will be available on Sunday if anyone would care to support them again this year. We will only be able to add our donations until Christmas day. Please see Cheryl for more information
PHILHARMONIA COLOGNE CONCERT AT ST MARK’S…
Bookings are now open for the Philharmonia Cologne concert at St Mark’s on Wednesday 15th January 2025 at 7.00pm (Not 8.00pm). Tickets are only available through: www.trybooking.com?CXATM (not through the Information Centre). If you wish to book but have difficulty accessing the website, please see Janice.
Carpet and Chair Cleaning…
All St Mark’s carpets, chairs & sundries have now been steam cleaned!! A huge thank-you to all those who helped with moving/sorting chairs; Anne, Keith T, Roy & Bernice for preparatory dusting, vacuuming & cleaning; Graeme & Keith T for return of chairs & furniture; Steve & Carol for their generous donation for the ‘extra chairs’; Janice for oversight & encouragement. (Kevin)
Narthex Renovation…
The underbench boiler is installed and the dishwasher has been commissioned so all is operational now. We will complete the remaining items after Christmas/New Year. Thank you for your patience and encouragement. *Please note that our kitchen doors and drawers are soft-close, so please don’t force them shut. Thanks
Fellowship Meals in January…
If you would like to host a meal on 5 or 19 January, please contact Anne Cranwell. Everyone is welcome to come along each Sunday in January at 6pm with their own meal and drink.
This Week’s Prayer Focus
In our country and the world:
- For everyone suffering after the horrendous floods in Spain & Portugal.
- For all women in Afghanistan now banned from hearing each others voices.
- For those facing homelessness, hardship, anguish and despair amid rising costs.
- For all in Israel, Gaza, and Ukraine and Myanmar.
- For families affected by violence.
- 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 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 Sorrento & Rye and their Vicar Fr. Nicholas Wallace.
- 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 next 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 newly elected Parish Council.
- For Hope25. That the Good News of Jesus will be known in the community of Dromana.
- For Nikki, Jason, Bernadette & family, Annie, Noel and family, Joan R & family, Rhiannon, Richard, Sallie, Pat, Lorna & Peter, Keith S, Harry, Jen, Mike, Chloe, Ted, Monica, Jessica, Audrey, Backy, Fred, Robert, Jan.
