Pentecost…

Over the Easter season we have been exploring how the early Christians learned to listen to the voice of God through the Holy Spirit. We have seen how the Spirit helped them to discern between good and evil, fake and real, truth and lies, and how they learned to rely on the Lord Jesus through Holy Spirit’s power. We now come to the great Feast of Pentecost when we celebrate the day that Holy Spirit was sent from the Father and the Son to us so that we would be enabled to walk with God continually. Throughout the centuries this day has been celebrated, but sometimes it has been treated as an optional extra against Christmas and Easter. Yet this is as much a part of the Lord’s redemption plan for all creation as the incarnation and the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. To say that being given the indwelling Holy Spirit of God is just about the birthday of the church or about God’s ‘helper’ sent to assist us in our Christian lives is to understate what this is. This is the day that the church came into being, in that it is the day that the disciples of Jesus became the leaders of his church, anointed for the task by the Lord. It is the first day that they experienced God within and that they began to exhibit the fruit of what that means in the gifts they were given, and certainly the Holy Spirit is described as a helper, advocate and guide for us. These words assist us to understand the Spirit’s role, but this gift is the real presence of the Living God come to dwell in those who believe in Jesus as Lord. This is the power of the resurrection given that we might be resurrected on the last day. This is the mind of Christ poured into us, and the love of the Father covering us. This is the wisdom of God available to us and the ability to come day after day and receive everything needed from the hand of the Lord of the universe. This is a miracle worth celebrating with all our hearts because the ongoing work of Jesus is now ours. Now the same power by which he did his work on earth is in us so we can do greater works than he did. It’s pretty awesome stuff and it should rightly bring us to our knees in wonder and to our feet in praise. Glory to God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Janice

This Week:

Regular Worship Times

Parish Contact Details

Notices:

Looking for a place to server…

We have opportunities at our Op Shop for volunteers. Training is provided and you will be assisted to obtain your Police Check and Level 1 Training Certificate if you don’t already have them. The Op Shop is at the heart of our ministry to the Dromana community, and we hope to grow this ministry, but we do need helpers to do that. Shifts can be as little as 4 hours once per month. Talk to Vicki Brown if you’d like to know more.

Team leader wanted…

A Team Leader is wanted to coordinate working bees for cleaning the inside of our lovely church every few months. Perhaps you are not up for the cleaning but are happy to lead a team who can, or maybe cleaning is your secret power. Either way, if this is you, please talk to Janice or one of the Wardens – Kevin, Mike or Jan Glass. Thanks.

Prayer & Worship Night…

We have another Prayer & Worship Night happening with the Peninsula Pastor’s Network Team. You are welcome to come and go as you feel led during the evening. The later time is to accommodate requests from surrounding churches.

6.30pm to 9pm on Saturday 14th June

Expressions Of Interest Wanted…

The Victorian Council of Churches Emergency Ministries (VCCEM) are in need of more volunteers. VCCEM provide psychological first aid to those impacted by disaster or other significant community trauma. Training has online reading to prepare and then a face to face component which usually happens in Port Melbourne. Janice is a VCCEM volunteer and has offered our church so that training can happen on the Peninsula so this is your opportunity! We hope to run late in August on Saturday 23rd or 30th and need numbers to confirm a date so that our trainers can be here. Janice can answer any questions you have. Or you can express your interest by calling 03 7037 6010.

Men’s Breakfast…

The next Men’s Breakfast is Saturday 21st June, 8.30-10.30am. Roy Lindsay is our speaker. Come and listen to his tales of growing up on a farm in Ireland.
$7 for egg & bacon roll, coffee/tea & excellent company! (BYO gluten free bread).

RSVP to Steve Parkinson 0437984679 by Tuesday 17 June please.

For your diary: The next breakfast is August 16th. Graeme King to speak.

This Week’s Prayer Focus

In our country and the world:

• For all suffering loss and grief resulting from the NSW floods.
• For families suffering as a result of violence and home invasions.
• For all affected by the worsening antisemitic attacks around Australia and the world.
• For those facing homelessness, hardship, anguish and despair amid rising costs.
• For all in Israel, Gaza, and Ukraine and Myanmar.
• For all women in Afghanistan now banned from hearing each other’s voices.
• 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:

• A prayer for the election of a new Archbishop for our diocese:
  Eternal God, shepherd and guide, in your mercy give your Church in this diocese a shepherd after your own heart who will walk in your ways, and with loving care watch over your people. Give us a leader of vision and a teacher of your truth. So may your Church be built up and your name glorified; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
• 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 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 our Op Shop staff and all who visit each week.
• For all members of the Parish Council.
• For Hope25. That the Good News of Jesus will be known in the community of Dromana.
• For Lynda & Ian, family of Betty Holter (Joy Clayton’s mother), family of Bill Uhe, Robyn, Ellen, Phillip, Nikki, Jason, Bernadette & family, Noel and family, Rhiannon, Richard, Pat, Lorna & Peter, Keith S, Harry, Jen, Mike, Chloe, Ted, Monica, Jessica, Audrey, Backy, Fred, Robert, Jan, David, Guy.