One of the things I love about this church is that it was built and paid for by the faithful Anglican Christians of Dromana who bought the land and raised the church with proceeds from bake sales and community dances. It tells me that this church is truly a community church and a place of continuity in the Christian witness to this community for 132 years. What a legacy! As we enter this Easter season and the Hope25 outreach effort is happening in churches all over Australia, the focus is on our witness to Jesus Christ as our Lord and Saviour and our call to go into the nations and make disciples. Mark’s gospel contains two endings. The decision was made to include both because they both appear in different sources. The emphasis in both is on the transformation from disbelief and fear to faith and action. The resurrection is real and the living Lord Jesus meets to the disciples in both, and in both this is a process. For many people today faith is something they want, and many seek to find meaning in their lives in varied ways. The statistics show that people are open to hearing the good news about Jesus more today than for many decades, and in every church there are people beginning to come in. Some are returning to a faith once left behind, some are discovering Jesus for the first time. Everyone comes at their own pace, and we can’t be forcing or rushing it, but they are coming. Conversations about Jesus and church are happening. It’s good for us to get equipped to be able assist these seekers in their journey with grace and love. The Truth will set people free, this is the promise of the Gospel. In that freedom is forgiveness and acceptance, the joy of eternal life and the solid rock of knowing our God walks with us through the valley of the shadow. In this week’s pew sheet is a link to a clip from Canon J. John. It’s hilarious, but it also makes a point. Sometimes it takes an invitation for someone to make the choice to step into their journey with Jesus. Invitations need a question, ‘Will you come to with me to…?’ Holy Spirit can then help them to respond. Perhaps an invitation to ALPHA or church or for coffee to talk is just what that person needs
Janice
This Week:
| SUNDAY: | ST MARK’S DAY CELEBRATION and ANZAC Day remembrance |
| Holy Communion, 8.45am | |
| Family Service, 10.30am | |
| Parish Council, 1.30pm | |
| MONDAY: | Prayer for the Parish, St Mark’s, 4.00pm |
| Contact: Janice | |
| TUESDAY: | Janice’s day off |
| 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, Contact: Janice | |
| Cuppa, Craft & Chat Group. St Mark’s, 12.30pm | |
| Contact Robyn (0409 425 044) | |
| THURSDAY: | Men’s Coffee & Chat, Blackthorn Café, 10.00am |
| Contact Steve (0437 984 679), Keith T (0413 319 327) | |
| Women’s Study Group, St Mark’s, 9.30am | |
| Contact: Carol (0411 405 597) | |
| FRIDAY: | Janice has funeral in Rosebud. |
| SATURDAY: | Federal Election – don’t forget to vote! |
| NEXT SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Holy Communion, 10.30am | |
| Healing Service, 5.00pm, Topic: Jesus our Living Stone | |
| Speaker: Graeme King |
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:
Thank You…
Thank you to everyone who supported the singing group outside IGA on Holy Saturday. Thank you also to all who helped with the Easter Day services held on the beach and in the church.
Janice away…
Janice will be away at the Jumbunna Ministry Conference from Sunday afternoon, 4th May to Tuesday night, 6th May.
Please direct urgent pastoral needs to Kevin Cranwell 0438234457.
Hope25…
Our Easter outreach has been very well done and has lifted interest in our community. Let’s not lose that momentum. Do you have someone you can invite to our ALPHA on 8th May? There are invitation cards in the Narthex. Have you invited someone and not heard back? Why not follow them up with a phone call and/or an invite out for coffee to encourage them? Have a look at this clip from Canon J. John. You never know where your persistence in invitation will lead.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBDldMDe-nU
ALPHA begins on May 8th!!…
ALPHA begins on May 8th. Who will you bring? There are invitations available to give to family/friends or neighbours. Ask Steve or Carol Parkinson for more details. Please RSVP by May 1st, to allow time for catering arrangements and ordering of books.
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 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 Family of Fred Nicholson, Family of Joane Brown, 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.
