As I celebrate the 50th Anniversary of my service as a priest I am aware that each of us has responded to the call of God. This call is the same for all of us as it is the quiet, still, small voice speaking to the very centre of our beings and asking us to respond to the call to trust and obey. It is also different for each of us as it asks different things according to the gifts bestowed on as we are being formed and shaped in the image of God.
Another thing to note about God’s call to service in His church is that it comes at the right time. We may not think so – the writer of Ecclesiastes in that great passage in chapter 3 spells out that under God’s control there is a time for everything, and every experience, every lesson, everything in our lives can be used by the God who never wastes anything.
An illustration from my journey into pastoral ministry as a Priest: At 18 I was youth leader in my home parish. Our Vicar wanted me to teach Sunday School. I turned the request down as at that time on a Sunday I was teaching children to swim with the NSW swimming Association. Later in ministry on several occasions in Parishes and Diocesan settings my previous swimming skills were used in youth groups and camping programmes.
On another occasion I came across a parishioner attempting to remove a large clump of tall shrubs with a chainsaw and there was danger of having them fall the wrong way. Whilst living in East Gippsland, Forest Commission staff taught me the skill of felling a tree to get a free supply of firewood. With this long disused skill I was able to assist him to safely finish the task.
Those are just two ways God has used past skills to offer pastoral assistance in practical ways. “To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven.” Ecc 3:1 God never wastes anything. He collects up everything – all our joys and sorrows, our skills and gifts and weaves them and arranges them to fit His plan for us. We are free to follow or reject, that is our choice, and even that is worked into a call to accept the path He asks us to take. We have to tune ourselves in to hear His still, small voice and to respond by trusting and obeying.
Your friend and fellow parishioner,
Keith
This Week
| SUNDAY: | Combined Service, 10.00am |
| A Celebration of Rev’d Keith South’s | |
| 50 years of Ordained Ministry | |
| MONDAY: | Study Group, St Mark’s, 7.00pm – 9:00pm |
| Contact Kevin or Anne (0438 234 857) | |
| TUESDAY: | Zoom Prayer Meeting, 1.30pm |
| Contact John (0421426156) | |
| Zoom Bible Study Group, 7.00pm | |
| Contact Graeme (0490 664 843) | |
| WEDNESDAY: | Study Group St Mark’s,11.00am |
| Contact Keith (0419 551 082) | |
| Cuppa, Craft & Chat Group, St Mark’s, 12.30pm | |
| Contact Robyn (0409 425 044) | |
| THURSDAY: | Women’s Bible Study, St Mark’s, 9.30am |
| We will be using Cynthia Heald’s book | |
| “Becoming a Woman of Grace” | |
| Contact Fay (0401 404 280) | |
| Men’s Coffee & Chat, Blackthorn Café, 10.00am | |
| ALPHA Course | |
| Contact: Carol (0411405597) or Steve (0437984679) | |
| FRIDAY: | JANICE’S DAY OFF |
| NEXT SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| 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:
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Night Thank You…
Thanks to all who prepared and cooked for our Shrove Tuesday Pancake Night. Our MC Kevin entertained us with a Lent quiz and puzzles whilst we enjoyed two courses of pancakes and delicious toppings.
Family Life Group…
The Family Life Group will meet at St Mark’s on Wednesday, 21st February at 6.00pm
8:45 Service Media Team…
Thank you to those who have offered to learn the computer system for the 8.45am service. Joy and Janice will assist you in training after Janice returns from leave. We still need a second person to learn how to set up services for the 10.30am service. Please speak to Anne or Janice.
World Day Of Prayer 2024…
This year’s service will be held at the Southern Mornington Peninsula Uniting Church, Murray-Anderson Road, Rosebud at 2.30pm on 1st March 2024. The Service was prepared by Christian women in Palestine. We have been asked to participate in the service with the prayer of confession and a short reading.
Vickarage Working Bee…
There will be a garden clean-up at the Vicarage Monday 4th March, 2024 Please join anytime you can between 9.30am and 2pm. A BBQ lunch will be provided from around 12noon. It would be great to have “All hands on deck” !!
This Week’s Prayer Focus
In our country and the world:
- For all suffering damage and loss caused by the violent storms in Victoria.
- For all affected by the storms and floods in Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria.
- For all in Israel, Gaza, and Ukraine.
- For all ADF and rescue teams as they help in the Queensland storm and flood cleanup.
- For those facing homelessness, hardship, anguish and despair 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. Give thanks that Archdeacon Helen is now well and beginning to return to work.
- In our Deanery, we pray for the Parish of Holy Trinity Hastings and their Vicar, Rev’d Tim Anderson.
- For the work of the Church Missionary Society and Wei-Han the Victorian Director.
- For Anna Radkovic our CMS Link Missionary.
- 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 the success of the new Family and Children’s Ministry.
- For the 2024 Alpha program, its leaders, and all who attend.
- For the 9am at home prayer time for the Parish, Dromana & Mornington Peninsula.
- For: Ian Lyons & family on the death of Christine, Helen R, Jessica, Audrey, Joan, Backy, John R, Margie, Fred, Robert, Jan, David, Guy.
