Easter Day
What is resurrection for us? From this earthly side we understand that between death in faith and resurrection there is an unknown length of time until the end when Jesus returns, but Jesus lives outside time now, so the sense of long passages of time is not so where our loved ones are. The Bible tells us that some are given the privilege of knowing that time is passing. These are white-robed martyrs of Revelation 6:9-11, but even they are not fully aware of time in our sense of it. They are given rest as they wait for the coming of Jesus again and the ensuing final judgment of all the earth. Resurrection places us in the new Jerusalem of Revelation 21:1-7. It allows us to know that we have life in Jesus now which will not be taken from us, even by physical death, and that we have our place in eternity secured. This is not just a comfort but also a call to arms, for to have such treasure and not to share it is to fall short of the command to love one another as Jesus has loved us. What could be more loving than to introduce another to the risen Jesus? This is what a witness does, and what the women who discovered the empty tomb did. Meeting the risen Lord on their way back to see the disciples, they passed on the most amazing news possible. Jesus who they watched die only 3 days ago, is alive! Oh what a wonderful moment in time for them, and us. Imagine with me your most loved relative or friend walking into your lounge room, alive, completely healed, able to eat and drink with you but also able to translate to another place without the need for transport or an unlocked door. Imagine speaking with them again, laughing and being able to hold them again. Imagine it. Now recognise that this is real. Real in that they won’t walk in on us, but we will walk in on them. Alive and free to laugh and hug and feast on our favourite things together again. Free to worship the Lord who has saved us, and never to be separated by death again. Doesn’t that sound wonderful? What is even better is the moment we realise that we have this already. It will come to us either when we pass through death ourselves or when Jesus returns but it is ours now. Our future is certain. We are people of the resurrection and we serve a living Saviour, Jesus Christ. Hallelujah! Christ is risen, he is risen indeed! Hallelujah!
Janice
This Week:
| SUNDAY: | Easter Day |
| Easter communion on the beach, 6.30am | |
| Resurrection Celebration with Communion, 10.00am* | |
| MONDAY: | Prayers for the Parish, St Mark’s, 4.00pm |
| Contact: Janice | |
| TUESDAY: | Zoom Bible Study, 7.00pm |
| Contact: Graeme (0490 664 843) | |
| WEDNESDAY: | Holy Communion, 10.00am |
| Bible Study, 11.00am St Marks | |
| Contact: Janice | |
| THURSDAY: | Men’s Coffee & Chat, Blackthorn Cafe, 10.00am |
| Contact: Steve (0437984679) Keith T (0413 319 327) | |
| Men’s Bible Study, Mark’s Place, 11.00am | |
| Contact: Kevin (0438 234 457) | |
| FRIDAY: | Good Friday Service with the ‘Way of the Cross’, 9.00am |
| NEXT SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Service, 10.30am |
* Our public signs have 10.00am as the time for this service so we will be starting at 10.00am not 9.30am as had been advertised in the Pewsheet.
Apologies for any inconvenience.
Please note that the Thursday Ladies Bible Study Group is in recess during the school holidays and will meet again on Thursday 23 April.
The Cuppa,Craft & Chat Group is also in recess during the school holidays and will meet again on Wednesday 22 April.
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 (0438 234 457 Kevin) |
Notices:
Alpha Course
We are running an Alpha Course after Easter Thursday evenings commencing 9th April from 6.00 to 8.30pm at the home of Steve and Carol Parkinson, Mount Martha. Would you consider attending and/or maybe bringing a friend?
You would be signing up to:
- Enjoying dinner in beautiful surroundings
- Watching an excellent TV/video presentation
- Sharing in a discussion or just listening to others
Please see Janice, Carol, Steve, John or Helen for further details.
Men’s Breakfast…
The next breakfast is on 18th April at 8.30am-10.30am in the Narthex. Speaker : Dennis Williamson. Please BYO gf bread. It would be absolutely wonderful if you would RSVP to Steve by Sunday 11th April. Thank you.
This Week’s Prayer Focus
In our country and the world:
- For de-escalation of the Middle East war.
- 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 St John’s Flinders with St Mark’s Balnarring, their Vicar Rev’d Keiron Jones and Deacon Rev’d Christine Barren.
- 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 all members of the Parish Council.
- For the Christianity Explored seminars and those participating in them.
- That the Good News of Jesus will be known in Dromana.
- For Ted & Monica, Lorna, Xavier, Yvonne and family, Louise, Jen, TJ and family, Cheryl K, Karen, Mary, Jan K, David, Belinda, Joan R, Robyn, Phillip, Nikki, Jason, Rhiannon, Richard, Pat, Keith S, Harry, Mike, Chloe, Jessica, Audrey, Backy, Fred, Robert.
