Pentecost is a significant day which is often underplayed. Christmas and Easter are times of great celebration and are dear to many but Pentecost is sometimes like any other Sunday. Yet this day is arguably as important as the other great festivals because it is about the coming of the third person of the Trinity, Holy Spirit, to the disciples of Jesus. This is momentous, but what does it mean for us? If we look at the experience of those in the Old Testament, we see that the people chosen for a task were often empowered by the Holy Spirit for that task. This is the power behind the great leaders and prophets – Elijah, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Moses, David, Solomon, to name a few. Yet the gift was temporary and may only have been given for a day. At Pentecost the disciples were given the gift of God himself in the third person of the Trinity, Holy Spirit, to dwell within them for the rest of their lives, to empower them to do the work of the Lord Jesus in the world. To witness to him so that the harvest of people who the Father’s heart longs to have as people of God could be completed, and the people of God, once saved, would have unity and life through that same Spirit. We celebrate this because, just as he gave Holy Spirit to the disciples at the first Pentecost, so God the Father also gives us the indwelling Holy Spirit through faith in Jesus Christ. Through this gift we have eternal life, power to live for the Lord, spiritual gifts to enable us to do the things Jesus has called us to do and the fullness of God’s ability to love one another in unity. Worth a bit more fanfare than an ‘ordinary’ Sunday celebration don’t you think? This Pentecost Sunday take a little time to meditate on this precious gift to you of the indwelling Holy Spirit. What is your experience of Holy Spirit’s work in your life? If you’re not sure if you’ve had that experience, have a chat with me.
Janice
This Week
| TODAY: | Pentecost Sunday |
| Combined Service, 10.00am | |
| followed by bring & share lunch – Wear red! | |
| MONDAY: | Study Group – “Truth and Freedom” |
| St Mark’s, 7.00pm | |
| Contact Kevin or Anne (0438 234 857) | |
| TUESDAY: | Online Study Group, 7.00pm |
| Contact Graeme (0490 664 843) | |
| WEDNESDAY: | Holy Communion, 10.00am |
| Study Group | |
| St Mark’s,11.00am | |
| Contact Keith (0419 551 082) | |
| Craft Group St Mark’s, 12.30pm | |
| Contact Robyn (0409 425 044) | |
| THURSDAY: | Women’s Bible Study, St Mark’s, 9.30am |
| Contact Fay (0401 404 280) | |
| Men’s Coffee & Chat Blackthorn Café, 10.00am | |
| Contact Steve (0437 984 679) | |
| Zoom Prayer Meeting, 1.30pm | |
| Contact John (0421426156) | |
| FRIDAY: | JANICE’S DAY OFF |
| Guild, St Mark’s, 1.30pm | |
| SATURDAY: | Family BBQ – St Mark’s |
| NEXT SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Service, 10.30am | |
| Healing Service, 5.00pm | |
| Theme: Aspects of Forgiveness |
Worship Times
| SUNDAY: | 8.45am | Holy Communion. |
| 10.30am | Family Worship with Children’s Ministry. | |
| (Holy Communion – 1st Sundays) | ||
| 5.00pm | Healing Service – 1st Sundays. | |
| (5th Sundays) | 10.00am | Combined Service. |
| WEDNESDAY: | 10.00am | Holy Communion Service. |
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:
Combined Service – Pentecost Sunday
We will be having a combined service on Sunday 28th May at 10am for Pentecost Sunday with a bring and share lunch to follow.
Wear Red!
Childrens Ministry Family BBQ
Our Family & Children’s Ministry is officially kicking off
with a Family BBQ at the church at 12.30pm on Saturday 3rd June
St Mark’s Day Festival & Consecration Of New Windows
Archbishop Philip Freier will visit St Mark’s on Sunday 10th September to consecrate the stained glass windows. The weekend will take the form of a Patronal Festival for St Mark (whose official day was 25th April) and to celebrate our 130th Anniversary. There will be a Fete on Saturday 9th September, with visitors invited to view the windows and to attend the combined service the next day. Proceeds from the fete will be used to boost the Missions Fund for the support of Anna Radkovic our CMS link Missionary in Kenya. There is plenty of time to make preserves, plant cuttings, and work on craft projects to make the fete successful. There will be no Christmas Fete this year. Let’s make this weekend a great witness to our Lord and showcase our beautiful church. If you would like to work on craft projects in a group, the Common Threads Craft Group meet on Wednesdays at 12.30pm during term time. Contact Carol for more information (0411 405 597).
St Mark’s Op Shop
Volunteers still needed. Can you help once a month?
Please contact Edna South 0428 551 082 if you are able to help.
Special Services 2023
| 18-Jun-23 | Evensong – All Saints, Rosebud |
| 20-Aug-23 | Evensong – St Mark’s, Balnarring |
| 22-Oct-23 | Evensong – St Mark’s, Dromana |
| 3-Dec-23 | St John’s, Sorrento – Lessons & Carols for Advent |
| 17-Dec-23 | St Mark’s, Dromana – Lessons & Carols for Christmas |
This Week’s Prayer Focus
In our country and the world:
- For this Week of Prayer for Reconciliation.
- For those facing hardship and anguish amid rising costs.
- 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 for Archdeacon Helen Phillips in the Frankston Archdeaconry as she recovers from surgery, and for John as he supports Helen.
- In our Deanery, we pray for the Parish of St George’s Red Hill and their Vicar Rev’d Fiona Goy.
- For the work of the Church Missionary Society and Wei-Han the Victorian Director.
- For Anna Radkovic our CMS Link Missionary as she spends time learning language and culture in Kenya while exploring long-term opportunities in discipleship ministry and conservation.
- 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 our Vicar.
- For the finances of our Parish.
- For our Parish, its people and those we reach out to every week.
- For: Madeley family, Harper Family.
