Stubbornness…

Our readings this week strike some serious notes. In 1 Corinthians 10, Paul begins this section with warnings from the Israelites in the desert. He points out that they had the Lord with them in the pillar of cloud by day and the fire by night, that they had Moses guiding them and the miracles of crossing the Red Sea, manna and quail daily for their food in the desert, water from the rock, not to mention the escape from Egypt. Yet they perished in the desert because they failed to please God. The writer to the Hebrews tells us that without faith we cannot please God, and this is the fundamental failure we see in the actions of Israel. Paul tells us that the issue is that faith needs to be applied to our lives. If we believe that our God is indeed the only God – Father, Son and Holy Spirit, then faith in God applied says nothing else can hold the throne of our lives. Yet we scramble after money, possessions, human affection, physical satisfaction, spending hours, months and sometimes years in their pursuit – even as we call Jesus ‘Lord’ and begrudge him an hour or so on a Sunday morning. Faith applied says we need to live with one another as Jesus called us to, since he is our God – to love one another, honour one another, forgive one another, exercise grace and mercy, and seek Godly peace in our dealings with one another. Yet we take offence and refuse to forgive, we choose to judge rather than acknowledging sin or character flaws on both sides and working in grace, forgiveness and honour to correcting what we can in ourselves while using healthy boundaries as needed. Paul says if we think we’re standing we need to watch that we do not fall. He understood this well as he knew his own faults and failures. Yet, because his faith was applied to his life, he became a beacon of God’s grace in a dark world. Paul worked every day at becoming a man with the mind of Christ, seeking the Father, proclaiming the Son, and working with Holy Spirit acknowledging his own struggles with faith in action, and seeking to submit his will to the will of the Father. How’s your walk going in pursuit of active faith? Father God is full of grace, go to him.

Janice

This Week:

Regular Worship Times

Parish Contact Details

Notices:

Jesus for the Mornington Peninsula *…

Prayer Meeting at St Mark’s on Saturday 5th April Gather at 3.30pm for a Prayer Walk around the area 4.00pm Worship and Prayer in the church All are welcome.
* Sponsored by the Mornington Peninsula Pastor’s Network.

Alpha is starting soon!!…

Alpha will begin on 8th May at 6pm to no later than 8.30pm and run until 28th May.
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. “

Harvest Festival Celebrations…

30 March – 8.45 & 10.30am, On the day, can you bring some seasonal fruit or vegetables. Do you know a farmer who might loan bales of hay?

* Flower arrangements – see Lorraine.

* Food items, decorations and helping on the stall – see Anne.

* Could you contribute with posters, bunting, autumn wreaths, etc unleash your artistic talents and have some fun! We have a few cut-and-paste decorations – see Anne.

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

Byrdsong Evensong!!…

The next Byrdsong Evensong will be at Balnarring at 5.00pm on Sunday 30th March. Please contact John or Helen R for more information.

This Week’s Prayer Focus

In our country and the world:

• 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 others 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 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 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 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