Why do we celebrate the transfiguration? This is a significant moment in Jesus’ ministry with his disciples, and in the journey to understand who Jesus actually is. The transfiguration shows us that this man, Jesus, was and is God. It brings in a glimpse of eternal life with Moses and Elijah, representing the law and the prophets talking with Jesus and therefore giving their witness to him, but more than that, these men were just that – men. Human beings with no claim to divinity now alive and chatting with Jesus. Here is a momentary glimpse of the fact of eternal life for those who believe. For us, a long time having passed since it was possible to follow Jesus through the countryside of Galilee, this glimpse of God’s glory in Jesus and the eternal life we have been promised, is a place to draw encouragement and hope. We lose our loved ones to death and it feels like the end. Moses and Elijah show us that it is not. We find life hard and God’s glorious presence seems an eon away at times, but Jesus’ transfiguration tells us that the Lord is present and can bring his glory into our lives whenever it is needed. We feel inadequate, small, unworthy to stand in the glory of God, but Peter, James and John were not perfect at all – Peter had just been rebuked by Jesus, James and John had been in trouble for trying to decide who was the greatest – they weren’t necessarily qualified for the experience but Jesus chose them for it because he had called them to be with him. Each one of us is called to be with Jesus, chosen because we responded to his invitation with faith. We are not necessarily ‘great’ as the apostles were great, but we are children of God adopted through faith in Jesus and therefore still able to stand in the presence of God. In fact, because we have come to faith after the cross and Jesus’ blood covers us, we’re more able to stand in God’s glory than they were at the time! We are able to recognise the glory of God and to enter into that glory daily through Jesus because of his death and resurrection, as Paul puts it in the sentence for today: ‘For it is the God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness’, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.’ (2 Corinthians 4:6)
Janice
This Week
| SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Service, 10.30am | |
| MONDAY: | Study Group, St Mark’s, 7.00pm – 9:00pm |
| Contact Kevin or Anne (0438 234 857) | |
| TUESDAY: | Zoom Prayer Meeting, 1.30pm |
| Contact John (0421426156) | |
| Online Study Group, 7.00pm | |
| Contact Graeme (0490 664 843) | |
| WEDNESDAY: | Ash Wednesday Holy Communion, 10.00am |
| With Imposition of Ashes | |
| Study Group St Mark’s,11.00am | |
| Contact Keith (0419 551 082) | |
| Cuppa, Craft & Chat Group, St Mark’s, 12.30pm | |
| Contact Robyn (0409 425 044) | |
| Ash Wednesday Holy Communion, 7.00pm | |
| With Imposition of Ashes | |
| THURSDAY: | Women’s Bible Study, St Mark’s, 9.30am |
| We will be using Cynthia Heald’s book | |
| “Becoming a Woman of Grace” | |
| Contact Fay (0401 404 280) | |
| ALPHA Course | |
| Contact: Carol (0411405597) or Steve (0437984679) | |
| NEXT SUNDAY: | Combined Service, 10.00am |
| A celebration of Rev’d Keith South’s 50 years of | |
| ordained ministry. | |
| SATURDAY: | Men’s breakfast, St Mark’s, 8.30 – 10.00am |
| Contact Steve (0437 984 679) |
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:
Celebrate Shrove Tuesday – 13th February at 6pm…
Pancakes – some like ‘em sweet, some like ‘em savoury. We’re going to have both!
Come for some good food, games, quizzes, and great company!
Bring your family and friends!
If you’d like transport, just let us know.
Important note: please add your names to the sign-up list in the foyer or contact Kevin and Anne: 0438234457 by this Sunday, 4 February.
Janice annual leave arrangements…
I will be on annual leave from Monday 29th January to 11th February inclusive. While I am away Rev’d Peter Woods will look after the Sunday services and all pastoral matters should be referred to Kevin Cranwell. Wednesday services will continue with Kevin leading and Keith South consecrating. I will be back on 12th February.
Janice
8:45 Service Media Team…
Thank you to those who have offered to learn the computer system for the 8.45am service. Joy and Janice will assist you in training after Janice returns from leave. We still need a second person to learn how to set up services for the 10.30am service. Please speak to Anne or Janice.
Samaritans Purse…
By the way…. Samaritans Purse not only delivers Operation Christmas Child boxes to children in underprivileged countries (on our behalf), their volunteers assist when natural disasters strike. Their teams worked in the Rochester area in Victoria last year after severe flooding. On Thursday,18 January, their Disaster Relief Units arrived in the Gold Coast suburb of Upper Coomera to bring relief to those people hardest hit by the storms. Their primary focus will be green waste removal, including assistance with the removal of fallen trees and garden and home clean-up. Please pray for all those people affected, and for the relief teams.
Men’s Breakfast…
The first Men’s Breakfast for the year, will be on Saturday February 17th at 8:30am. RSVP for catering to Steve Parkinson (0437 984 679)
World day of Prayer 2024…
This year’s service will be held at the Southern Mornington Peninsula Uniting Church, Murray-Anderson Road, Rosebud at 2.30pm on 1st March 2024. The Service was prepared by Christian women in Palestine. We have been asked to participate in the service with the prayer of confession and a short reading.
This Week’s Prayer Focus
In our country and the world:
- For the Gold Coast residents badly affected by recent storms and the Samaritans Purse relief teams working in Upper Coomera helping with the clean-up.
- For all affected by the storms and floods in Queensland, New South Wales, and Victoria.
- For all in Israel, Gaza, and Ukraine.
- For all ADF and rescue teams as they help in the Queensland storm and flood cleanup.
- For those facing homelessness, hardship, anguish and despair amid rising costs.
- 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 for Archdeacon Helen Phillips in the Frankston Archdeaconry. Give thanks that Archdeacon Helen is now well and beginning to return to work.
- 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.
- 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 our Vicar.
- 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 2024 Alpha program, its leaders, and all who attend.
- For the 9am at home prayer time for the Parish, Dromana & Mornington Peninsula.
- For: Ian Lyons & family on the death of Christine, Helen R, Jessica, Audrey, Joan, Backy, John R, Margie, Fred, Robert, Jan, David, Guy.
