To follow Jesus…

This Sunday we will be sharing about Hope25 and what that means for our own parish, as well as commissioning our Parish Council for their very important ministry amongst us. Our readings lead us into what it is to be someone called to follow Jesus, and this theme is very much in keeping with what Hope25 is about. When Jesus called his disciples, he first spent some time teaching from their boat, letting them hear the word preached. Having done that, he addressed their needs. They had fished all night without success, so Jesus told them to put their nets down on the other side of the boat, and fish filled their nets so much that they were almost sinking them. After this Jesus addressed their self-doubt and sense of unworthiness for the task. Peter saw the miracle of the fish and recognized himself as unworthy in the light of the presence of God. Jesus raised him up and told him not to be afraid because from this moment he will be catching people! I wonder what Peter thought of that. Regardless of such strange language, Peter, James, and John followed Jesus that day and never looked back. When we are wanting to spread the good news about Jesus these steps still apply. We need to be speaking God’s words when opportunity arises and be ready to identify ourselves with Jesus in word and action. We need to rely on the Lord to witness to himself through our conversation, and if the person responds, to be ready to assure them that they are loved and there is nothing to fear. Jesus counts them worth his life given for them and their past does not disqualify them. Then we need to invite them to follow Jesus with us, making opportunities for them to experience church, to learn about Christianity, to belong in our community, and to grow in faith. Of course, they will then be called to repeat the process with others, as we have been. When Jesus left his disciples to ascend to the Father, he told them to go and make disciples, teaching them all he had taught them and baptising them in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. We are called to do the same and Hope25 is an opportunity to be intentional in obeying this command.

Janice

This Week:

Regular Worship Times

Parish Contact Details

Notices:

Pancake Tuesday…

4 March , 5:30pm in the Dromana Uniting Church Hall

Everyone is invited to share some fun and fellowship based on food (pancakes)! It’s a night for all the family. Please RSVP as soon as possible: 0493 280 691 / contact@stmarksdromana.org.au Can you help by making pancake batter and/or cooking pancakes? Sign-up sheet for cooking is in the narthex. We’d love to hear from you! Many thanks, Anne and Kevin (Pastoral Care)

Wanted…

Small glass sauce or soft drink bottles for Ellen to make Tomato Sauce Please leave in Narthex or Op Shop.

Hope25 Zoom Prayer and Share…

(previously St Mark’s Zoom Prayer Meeting) will recommence on Tuesday 4th February at 1.30pm and will focus on preparation for Hope25.

Harvest Festival & Shrove Tuesday Celebrations…

Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Meal) – 4 March. Harvest Services – 30 March (usual service times).

This Week’s Prayer Focus

In our country and the world:

• For all affected by the worsening antisemitic attacks around Australia and the world.
• 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 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.