One of my favourite songs is a fun song with a reggae beat that begins with the cry ‘o-i-o-i-o rejoice in the Lord!’. Straight from Philippians 4:4-7 these words invite us to find our joy in the Lord Jesus rather than anything in the world. But what is joy as the bible sees it? Firstly, it’s not just happiness. Happiness is a transitory state of feeling the emotions associated with good things and it is a great feeling, but joy in the bible is more than an emotion. Joy is a state of being in which there is a place for rejoicing in all circumstances, not just the good ones. We are told to rejoice in the Lord always, not just when we feel like it. Indeed, if true joy were just a transitory feeling, I doubt it would be something we are called to ‘always’. The joy that the scriptures speak of is a deeper thing. True joy is about being able to stand in the face of disaster and say, ‘I praise you Lord for you are with us in the midst of this disaster.’ This is a joy not rocked by the terrible things that can happen in the world, but solidly resting on the faithfulness of our God who loves us and is there to deliver us. To know the risen Christ is to know the Lord as mighty in resurrection power and merciful in forgiveness, who knows our weaknesses and has lived through our pain all the way to death – and beyond into life eternal. This is the God who heals the sick, who feeds the hungry, who gives sight to the blind and raises the dead. This is the God who sings over his people, as Zephaniah 3:17 says. To sing over someone is not just to sing with them, but to sing words of love, blessing and victory. It is the club song that is filled with the hopes and dreams of those who are in the team. It is the victory song that declares the defeat of the enemy. It is the gentle song of the mother as she cradles her newborn and sings melodies of love from a full heart in gratitude for this safely born child. This joy, this rejoicing we are called to, is in, through, of and about the Lord. It is a song of the heart which, if we listen as we meditate on all Jesus has done for us, we can hear with inner ears. Rejoice in the Lord, and again I say rejoice. Sing with your whole heart for Emmanuel is with us and he has promised to stay until the end of the age.
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: | Zoom Prayer Meeting, 1.30pm |
| Contact John (0421 426 156) | |
| Zoom Bible Study Group, 7.00pm | |
| Contact: Graeme (0490 664 843) | |
| WEDNESDAY: | Holy Communion, 10:00am |
| Bible Study Group St Mark’s,11.00am | |
| “Women of the Bible” Contact Kevin (0438 234 457) | |
| Cuppa, Craft & Chat Group. (On Hold Till Advised) | |
| Contact Robyn (0409 425 044) | |
| 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 |
| SATURDAY: | Harmony Singers’ Christmas Concert, 2:00pm |
| The Village Glen, Capel Sound | |
| 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.
Christmas outreach…
There will be a Christmas Carol Outreach at IGA, 10.00 – 12.00 Saturday 14th December.
Christmas hampers…
Graeme, Cheryl & Kevin delivered 10 hampers, 2 smaller hampers and a large box of chocolates to Dromana Primary School. They were very excited and very thankful for our gifts.
Narthex Renovation…
Narthex Renovation update: Our window and splashback glass should be done and the wardrobe storage in place by the time this pew sheet goes out. The underbench boiler will be able to be installed on Monday 16th and the dishwasher drainage sorted. Our carpets and chairs will be steam cleaned on Tuesday 17th. We still need to put doors on the wardrobe storage and fit out the kitchen with the things needed for everyday use like tea towel racks, but the major work is now done.
Diary Date…
Philharmonia Cologne that their concert at St Mark’s will be on Wednesday 15th January 2025. Advice on sale of tickets still to come.
Christmas Services…
Saturday 14th December – 5.30pm Sausage Sizzle followed at 6.00pm with a Family Christmas service
Tuesday 24th December – 11.00pm Carols
11.30pm Midnight Service with Bp Paul Barker
Wednesday 25th December – 9.30am Celebration Service (Services on 24th and 25th December will be Holy Communion)
Christmas Concert By Harmony Singers…
Saturday 21st December – 2:00pm r at The Village Glen, Capel Sound. $5 per person. Pay on day. Come & enjoy some lovely Christmas music.
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 All Saints Rosebud with St Katherine’s McCrae and their Vicar, Rev’d Lynda Crossley.
- 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 Bernadette & family, Annie, Noel and family, Joan R & family, Rhiannon, Richard, Sallie, Rev’d Janice, Pat, Lorna & Peter, Keith S, Harry, Jen, Mike, Chloe, Ted, Monica, Jessica, Audrey, Backy, Fred, Robert, Jan, David, Guy.
