Our calling…

Pentecost 21

Last week we looked at the vision for our diocese which Archbishop Ric has brought together, based on the responses to the Listening in Lent exercise, the feedback of clergy and others who are working in leadership in ministry across our diocese, and Archbishop Ric’s own vision informed by his considerable experience in ministry in the UK. ‘For the Harvest’ is a document with so much in it that it can’t be just skimmed over, yet it is very well presented and written so that it can be understood by all. The link for an electronic copy of this document is in this pew sheet. As I read 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, our epistle for this Sunday, the enthusiasm with which the Thessalonians received the gospel, and the way in which they then took it up and out into the region around them rings with the sort of enthusiasm our diocesan vision is hoping to foster in us. This was probably Paul’s first ever pastoral letter, his ministry to the Thessalonians being early in his journeys, and it is full of his love for these people and his encouragement to keep going. The Thessalonians had endured persecution very early on and were battling through anyway, determined to get the good news out to others. Paul had sent Timothy to check on them since they had such a rough start, but Timothy’s report told him that despite this the Christians of Thessalonica were strong in faith and following through in their discipleship, teaching new Christians how to follow Jesus and spreading the gospel far and wide. Paul was delighted and wrote to build them up and help them to keep going. His emphasis was on how to have healthy relationships and to serve one another humbly with love. Paul wanted them to be truly countercultural and holy in their way of life. He wanted them to recognise that their response to persecution needs always to be love, grace and generosity, and he wanted them to be motivated by hope in the coming kingdom of Jesus, which has already begun with his resurrection from death. This is our calling too, and I pray that we, like the Thessalonians might truly follow Jesus in holiness, love and future hope. May we also be workers for the harvest here.

Janice

This Week:

Regular Worship Times

Parish Contact Details

Reminder of upcoming events:

Notices:

For The Harvest

Here is the link for an electronic copy of ‘For the Harvest’, Archbishop Ric’s vision for our diocese for the next 10 years.

ADM_ForTheHarvest_Strategy2026_Digital.pdf

CMS Anna visit to St Marks

Our CMS link Missionary, Anna, is visiting St Mark’s on the weekend of Saturday 31st October and Sunday 1st November. Please plan to join Anna for an African Lunch on Saturday from 12.30pm. We will eat African food and hear from Anna about her work with Creation Care with A Rocha in Kenya. It is essential for catering purposes that you let us know you are coming. The food will be as far as possible gluten free but will contain garlic and onion. If this is a problem please come and bring your own lunch and share dessert and chai tea and hear of Anna’s adventures. There is no charge for lunch. There will be an opportunity to contribute financially towards Anna’s work. Contact Carol 0411 405596 or Steve 0437 984679 or sign sheet in the Narthex.

CMS Summer Conference

7th & 8th January at Crossway Baptist Church Early bird tickets are now available online https://my.cms.org.au/ Speak with Steve P. for more details.

This Week’s Prayer Focus

In our country and the world:

• For the people of Israel and Iran and Middle East countries.
• 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 Mornington & Mount Martha Church, and their Vicar Rev’d Colleen Clayton.
• Keiron, Vicar of Flinders/Balnarring.
• 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 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 the success of our building permit application.
• For our Parish, its people and those we reach out to every week.
• For the success of the new Beachside Youth program.
• 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.
• That the Good News of Jesus will be known in Dromana.
• For Janice & family, William, Kevin, Anne, Doris B, Ellen, Ted & Monica, Lorna, Louise, Jen, TJ and family, Karen, Mary, Jan K, David, Belinda, Robyn, Phillip, Nikki, Jason, Rhiannon, Richard, Pat, Keith S, Harry, Mike, Chloe, Jessica, Audrey, Backy, Fred, Robert.