The Advent readings show how the Lord made sure that his people would know his Messiah when he sent him. The prophets spoke regularly of Messiah, they also spoke of a man who would arise to prepare the way for this Messiah. He would be a voice crying in the wilderness, as Luke quotes from Isaiah 40:3-5, and Malachi sees as the messenger to prepare the way of the Lord before him and declares it, but after his words the world fell silent, and no true prophet arose for nearly 300 years. The word of the Lord had always been given by the prophets to the people and now there was a drought. In the midst of the drought the people began to re-read all that the Lord had said about their times through the prophets that had spoken to them, and they saw that this Messiah was to come to them, that he would be a king in the line of David, and that he would heralded by a messenger who would speak like Elijah did, calling the people to repentance and refining their ways so that they would be ready for Messiah to come. 300 years is a long time, and the more people studied the prophets, the hungrier for God’s Messiah they became. When the angel Gabriel announced the birth of John to his father, Zechariah, the drought broke. John the Baptist was born to call Israel to repentance, to refine them with words which were like fire, calling them out on the ways they had strayed from the Lord and offering baptism for their sins. Uncomfortable though it is, this is grace at work. Without the refining words making us look at ourselves so that we can recognise how we have gone wrong, we cannot come to God to ask forgiveness. If we cannot come, we cannot receive God’s grace. In the call to repent is the invitation to return to the Lord, and in the forgiveness received is the grace and mercy of God which Jesus the Messiah brought to a hungry, hurting people through his death and resurrection. This grace is ours today and just like John the Baptist we are called to pass it on to the hungry and hurting people of this world today. Why not break someone’s drought this Christmas and invite them to church, to Alpha, to dinner, to know Jesus.
Janice
This Week:
| SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Service, 10.30am | |
| MONDAY: | Prayer Group, St Marks, 9.15am (On Hold till 11th November) |
| Contact: Janice | |
| Bible Study Group, St Mark’s, 4.00pm (On Hold Till Advised) | |
| Contact Kevin (0438 234 457) | |
| TUESDAY: | Holding the Light Service, St Marks’s front garden, 11.00am |
| Contact: Janice | |
| Zoom Prayer Meeting, 1.30pm | |
| Contact John (0421 426 156) | |
| Zoom Bible Study Group, 7.00pm | |
| Contact: Graeme (0490 664 843) | |
| WEDNESDAY: | Holy Communion, 10:00am |
| Bible Study Group St Mark’s,11.00am | |
| “Women of the Bible” Contact Kevin (0438 234 457) | |
| Cuppa, Craft & Chat Group. (On Hold this week) | |
| Contact Robyn (0409 425 044) | |
| THURSDAY: | Men’s Coffee & Chat, Blackthorn Café, 10.00am |
| Contact Steve (0437 984 679), Keith T (0413 319 327) | |
| or Kevin (0493 234 457) | |
| FRIDAY: | Janice’s DAY OFF |
| NEXT SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am (Advent 1) |
| 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:
Holding the Light Service…
On Tuesday 10th December at 11am we will be holding a Holding the Light Service in the front garden. This is a service of remembrance for victims and survivors of family violence. It’s a very gentle service and aims to bring hope into the place of grief. Flyers are available and anyone can attend.
We would like to offer a cuppa and biscuit to anyone who wants to talk after the Holding the Light gathering on this Tuesday 10th at 11am. If anyone is free to assist, please speak to Janice.
Christmas outreach…
There will be a Christmas Carol Outreach at IGA, 10.00 – 12.00 Saturday 14th December.
December Men’s Event…
No Men’s Brekkie this month, but all guys are invited to the Sausage Sizzle from 5pm on Saturday 14th December, 2024, just before the St Mark’s Christmas Family Service at 6pm.
Narthex Renovation…
Narthex Renovation update: This week we hope to have the underbench boiler and tap installed, along with the dishwasher issue being fixed. We also hope to have the wardrobe storage installed and the glass in the yellow windows changed. The painting will be underway and the fridge will be in its place.
Diary Date…
Philharmonia Cologne that their concert at St Mark’s will be on Wednesday 15th January 2025. Advice on sale of tickets still to come.
Christmas Services…
Saturday 14th December – 5.30pm Sausage Sizzle followed at 6.00pm with a Family Christmas service
Tuesday 24th December – 11.00pm Carols
11.30pm Midnight Service with Bp Paul Barker
Wednesday 25th December – 9.30am Celebration Service (Services on 24th and 25th December will be Holy Communion)
Christmas Concert By Harmony Singers…
Saturday 21st December – 2:00pm r at The Village Glen, Capel Sound. $5 per person. Pay on day. Come & enjoy some lovely Christmas music.
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 All Saints Rosebud with St Katherine’s McCrae and their Vicar, Rev’d Lynda Crossley
- 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 Annie, Noel and family, Joan R & family, Rhiannon, Richard, Sallie, Rev’d Janice, Pat, Lorna & Peter, Keith S, Harry, Jen, Mike, Chloe, Ted, Monica, Jessica, Audrey, Backy, Fred, Robert, Jan, David, Guy.
