The timing of Christmas…

I always find the timing of Christmas interesting. Although it’s always on the same date, because it’s not always on the same day we have odd timings to deal with. Sometimes an extra long weekend. Sometimes a mid-week hiatus. Always the rush and chaos of the season as people try to get all their gifts, make their way to relatives’ places, and generally sort out food and parties. We here on the southern Peninsula see the influx of tourists filling our foreshores, and the accompanying increase in local traffic. It can feel anything but a relaxing, joyful time to be around. Often Christmas is miserable for people due to their circumstances or the association with bad things in the past which have occurred at this time. Aid agencies and mental health support services report significantly raised numbers of people accessing their services at Christmas. That’s no real surprise. So let’s think for a moment what it would be like to be parents in a busy capital city, the streets crowded with people gathered for a holiday and all the family kids mixing and matching their time with each other’s aunts and uncles to maximise their entertainment factor. Finally, you’re heading home in a caravan of family members, but without the crazy crowds, and you can’t find your eldest boy anywhere. Fear would grip you and panic set in as one by one the relatives say, ‘no haven’t seen him since before we left’. This is Mary and Joseph’s nightmare described this Sunday in our reading from Luke. They are on their way home and they find Jesus is missing. Now I’ve lost some important things in my life, but I’ve never lost the Messiah! Can you imagine the panic? Back to Jerusalem at full speed they went and searched the streets for Jesus – for three whole days! Of course, like many 12 year olds who are just doing what they want without regard for their parent’s feelings, Jesus in non-plussed by their anxious greeting. He’s been happily debating with the elders in the Temple. Home he goes to Nazareth, being obedient to his parents, who probably needed a good rest after that. Sounds like a normal family to me, and I find that encouraging.

Janice

This Week:

Regular Worship Times

Parish Contact Details

Notices:

 Scripture Union Beach Mission…

The SUFM McCrae team will be joining us on Sunday 5th January for our 10.30am service and invites us to join them for their service on the beach at McCrae that aCernoon at 4pm.

PHILHARMONIA COLOGNE CONCERT AT ST MARK’S…

Bookings are now open for the Philharmonia Cologne concert at St Mark’s on Wednesday 15th January 2025 at 7.00pm (Not 8.00pm). Tickets are only available through: www.trybooking.com?CXATM (not through the Information Centre). If you wish to book but have difficulty accessing the website, please see Janice.

Fellowship Meals in January…

If you would like to host a meal on 5 or 19 January, please contact Anne Cranwell.
Everyone is welcome to come along each Sunday in January at 6pm with their own meal and drink.
Meals are at the homes of the following:
5 January – Kevin and myself
12 January – Cheryl and Graeme
19 January – TBA
26 January- Janice

Second People’s Warden…

We are yet to have someone step forward to be our second People’s Warden. If you have been considering this position, please speak to Janice.

This Week’s Prayer Focus

In our country and the world:

• For everyone suffering after the horrendous floods in Spain & Portugal.
• For all women in Afghanistan now banned from hearing each others voices.
• For those facing homelessness, hardship, anguish and despair amid rising costs.
• For all in Israel, Gaza, and Ukraine and Myanmar.
• 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 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 next 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 newly elected Parish Council.
• For Hope25. That the Good News of Jesus will be known in the community of Dromana.
• For Richard and Alyson McNeill at the loss of their daughter Sallie, Nikki, Jason, Bernadette & family, Annie, Noel and family, Joan R & family, Rhiannon, Richard, Pat, Lorna & Peter, Keith S, Harry, Jen, Mike, Chloe, Ted, Monica, Jessica, Audrey, Backy, Fred, Robert, Jan, David, Guy.