This Sunday we begin Holy Week with an outdoor service. It has its challenges, but to be able to show people that we are here and alive is useful, and to be able to witness to the significance of the Cross publicly is also very useful. The Hope25 initiative from the Anglican Church across Australia to bring the hope of Jesus to this nation through our churches is well worth supporting, and I’m pleased to be doing some things as a parish which will reach out to our community for Jesus. The liturgy this Sunday will include a dramatic reading of the Passion using mainly John’s Gospel and entitled ‘Facing the Cross’. It will give us the chance to consider Jesus’ journey to the Cross in terms of our human frailty. It also has a visual component (nothing gruesome!) which will be something to witness to those passing by. There are also a few other opportunities to witness to the hope we have in Jesus this week. We will be doing the Walk of Witness at 11am on Good Friday. This year I have invited the other churches whose pastors are part of our Pastor’s Network to take part, so I hope we have a larger crowd. We also have a festival of Easter music outside the IGA between 10am and 12noon on Holy Saturday. Come along and help us to give out little gifts or just come and enjoy the music team as they sing some favourite Easter hymns. I hear you saying to yourselves, ‘this isn’t a reflection, it’s an advertisement’. To a degree, you’re right, but this is also about our main reason for being here. Jesus did not die on a cross so some people would be able to receive forgiveness and inherit eternal life through faith in him. John 3:16 tells us ‘God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him should have eternal life.’ The whole world was on our Lord’s mind and heart the day he willingly let the Cross take his life. The whole world is his prize, his heart’s desire, and the reason for his sacrifice. There is not one person Jesus did not die for, neither is there anyone he would turn away if they came to him in faith, and he created his church to make sure that every person possible would hear that truth. We serve a risen Saviour, let’s make some noise about it!
Janice
This Week:
| SUNDAY: | Palm / Passion Sunday |
| Combined Holy Communion Service, 10.00am | |
| MONDAY: | Holy Week meditation and prayers at 4.00pm |
| Contact: Janice | |
| TUESDAY: | Hope25 Zoom Prayer and Share, 1.30pm |
| Contact: John R (0421 426 156) | |
| WEDNESDAY: | Holy Communion Service – 10.00am |
| Bible Study Group St Mark’s, 11.00am, | |
| Topic: “Proverbs” Contact: Janice | |
| Cuppa, Craft & Chat Group. St Mark’s, 12.30pm | |
| Contact Robyn (0409 425 044) | |
| THURSDAY: | Easter Service at Calwell Manor, 10.30am |
| Men’s Coffee & Chat, Blackthorn Café, 10.00am | |
| Contact Steve (0437 984 679), Keith T (0413 319 327) | |
| Maundy Thursday, ‘The Messiah’s Cup’ | |
| Holy Communion service, 7.00pm | |
| FRIDAY: | Good Friday |
| 9.00am Service of remembrance and prayer | |
| 11.00am Ecumenical Walk of Witness | |
| SATURDAY: | Holy Saturday |
| Hope25 outreach outside IGA, 10.00am | |
| NEXT SUNDAY: | Easter Day Celebrations |
| Resurrection Communion on the Beach, 6.30am | |
| Resurrection Communion at the Church,10.00am |
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:
Flyers for Easter services…
Flyers for Easter services, advertising the outreach at IGA ,and the Walk of Witness on Good Friday, are now available for distribution. If you know a place where they can be displayed, please take one.
This Sunday…
We are meeting for a combined service at 10am this Sunday in the front garden, beginning with a palm procession which will start from the carpark. We will be setting up from 9am and grateful for any assistance, both to set up and to pack away afterwards.
Alpha is starting soon!!…
Alpha begins 8th May at 6pm to no later than 8.30pm and runs until 28th June. We will share a home cooked meal and good conversation, then watch a short video together and discuss the subjects raised in a comfortable, non threatening home situation. Have you been considering inviting a neighbour, friend or family member? Have you attended Alpha before and still have questions? or maybe God is prompting you to bring a friend along this time. Please don’t miss this chance! Come and find out what it’s all about. Contact Steve or Carol Parkinson for more details. “
Holy Week and Easter 2025…
Palm/Passion Sunday 13th April
10.00am combined service in the Front Garden on Pt Nepean Rd Monday 14th and Tuesday 15th April
Holy Week meditation and prayers at 4.00pm Wednesday 16th April
10.00am Holy Communion
4.00pm Holy Week meditation and prayers Maundy Thursday 17th April
7.00pm ‘The Messiah’s Cup’ Holy Communion service Good Friday 18th April
9.00am Service of remembrance and prayer 11.00am Ecumenical Walk of Witness Holy Saturday 19th April
10.00am Hope25 outreach at the IGA – Music team and Hope25 team bringing Easter Hope to our community.
Easter Day Celebrations
6.30am Resurrection Communion on the Beach 10.00am Resurrection Communion at the Church
This Week’s Prayer Focus
In our country and the world:
- That the government of Myanmar ensures that earthquake aid is protected from looters and military action and is distributed to its intended destination.
- For those 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 families affected by violence.
- 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 St George’s Red Hill 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 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.
