Stubbornness is a mixed blessing, I find. It can be very helpful to be able to dig your heels in and stand your ground for what’s right. It can also be a difficulty if you’re wrong about what is right and are standing your ground against it, rather than for it. In this there are two distinct issues. First, that we need to be able to accurately discern what is right in any given case. Second, we need to be prepared to self-reflect and to change our stand, if indeed we find that we are wrong. Paul wrote to the Philippians, inviting, and sometimes insisting, that they work at keeping their minds in line with the mind of Christ. He wanted them to know what good behavior was and what was of eternal value so that they would grow into maturity as Christians and continue to learn how best to follow Jesus in every way. Paul sees how, as citizens of heaven, we need to be excellent examples to others of what is of eternal value and empowered to follow Jesus in all we do and say. In essence Paul is asking us to get stubborn about making sure we are living as Jesus would have us live, constantly relying on the Holy Spirit who will always give us the wisdom and guidance to choose our actions and words well. Be stubborn about this more than anything else, he says, because this has eternal value. Most other things don’t. Many other people are pursuing the things of this world which are temporary and give no lasting inheritance. They are choosing these things with great determination because they are wanting good things without having to take responsibility for the outcome. He is referring mainly to those who are worshipping the Roman and Greek gods whose worship requires many things which pleasure the body but do nothing for the soul, or requires things which are immoral at their core. Rather than get angry with these people, Paul is in tears for them, knowing that they are throwing away eternity. He warns the Philippians so they won’t fall into that trap, and mourns these ones who are not responding to the Gospel message. As citizens of heaven are we choosing to live for, even stand for eternal values? Are we loving those not doing that enough to be in tears for them?
Janice
This Week:
| SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Service, 10.30am | |
| MONDAY: | Prayer for the Parish, St Marks, 9.15am |
| 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: | Women’s Study Group, St Mark’s, 9.30am |
| Contact: Carol (0411 405 597) | |
| Men’s Coffee & Chat, Blackthorn Café, 10.00am | |
| Contact Steve (0437 984 679), Keith T (0413 319 327) | |
| 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:
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 coming!!…
8th May – 28th June Who will you bring?… Details to follow
Harvest Festival Celebrations…
30 March – 8.45 & 10.30am, On the day, could you bring some seasonal fruit or vegetables (home-grown or bought)? Do you know a farmer who might loan bales of hay? 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. Please bring your decorations to church by Sunday 16 March.
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:
- For the people in Qld south coast & Northern NSW as they recover from TC Alfred.
- 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 Sorrento & Rye 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 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
