Whatever gains I had…

The secret to life lived well is an age-long quest. The first issue is to define what a life lived well looks like. For many this is defined by outward gains; enough money to buy what I want, shelter which is comfortable and has a few luxuries, transport which suits my needs and perhaps also looks good, a job or other means of income which satisfies all the above and someone to share this life with who suits my own wants and desires. Sounds good, doesn’t it? But then, what about the needs of my inner self, my mental, emotional and spiritual health and wellbeing – surely this life needs to bring stability and peace of mind, freedom from guilt and shame, from anxiety and depression. The solution for the physical needs doesn’t always also deal with the mental, emotional and spiritual needs. Paul had been a pharisee, full of ‘do nots’ and wanting to keep the letter of the law to the point of blamelessness, but it did him no good in the end. He had all the form of the Jewish religion but none of the true power of it until he met Jesus. He had actually been trying to kill the Son of the owner of the vineyard as the tenants in the vineyard did, by killing Christians, but when Jesus met him on the road to Damascus he finally met the actual Owner. Suddenly Paul was shown the God he had thought he’d known for years, and at that moment Paul saw that all his trying to be a faultless Jew was useless without the One who fulfilled every law he was keeping, then gave his life on the cross to wash away every sin, all the shame, the guilt and pain, and to bring healing to the very soul of those who believe. Speaking of his years of service as a pharisee and his heritage as a Hebrew, Paul said, “Whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ … I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” (Philippians 3:7-8) Further on in this chapter Paul laments the state of those who have chosen things other than Jesus. His tears are real. He truly lamented and often cried over those who wouldn’t follow Jesus or hadn’t yet been reached with the gospel. He knew the grace of God and all his life was dedicated to bringing that grace to others. What about us? What is the focus of our Christian lives? Have you ever grieved the lost as Paul does here? How can we, individually and as a parish, actively seek to save the lost in our area? How can we produce good fruit?

Janice

This Week

Worship Times

Parish Contact Details

Notices:

Synod

Synod is on 11th to 14th October. Synod reps attending are: Helen Rogers and Anne Cranwell with the Vicar. Please include the Synod meetings in your prayers this week.

Annual Meeting…

Our Annual Meeting will be held on Sunday 12th November immediately following a combined 10am service of Holy Communion. Please submit your reports to Janice no later than Sunday 23rd October. Nomination forms for Parish Council will be available from 15th October, please prayerfully consider if you are being called to serve next church year. The electoral roll will be reviewed over the next two weeks. If you have not yet enrolled or wish to step off the roll please see Janice. If you are new to the parish and/or have not yet completed the Level 1 Safe Ministry Training and need to, please take note of the following dates: Orientation for new parishioners Sunday 29th October after the 10.30 service over lunch. Level 1 Safe Ministry training Monday 30th October at 2pm in the church. For details see Janice.

Operation Christmas Child

Yes, getting close to that time of year again! This year, Operation Christmas Child celebrates its 30th year of demonstrating God’s love to children all over the world. Since 1993, more than 209 million children have received a gift-filled shoebox. Most importantly, each shoebox presents the opportunity to learn about Jesus through The Greatest Journey. It all starts with packing a shoebox. You can use your own shoebox if you wish (approx. A4 size) but to be consistent we will be receiving the Christmas Child shoeboxes too. The National Collection is 23rd October – 4th November, so we would require them to be returned to Church before that date so we can deliver them. If you would like to donate items but not pack your own box, we will have the opportunity for you to do that. You may also like to donate Online directly to Samaritan’s Purse. More information soon! For any further information please contact: Anne Cranwell – 0473 562 968 or Heather Such – 0417 032 817

Special Services 2023

This Week’s Prayer Focus

In our country and the world:

• For the residents and rescue workers in Derna, Libya as they struggle to cope with body management issues/concerns following the devastating floods.
• 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. Anna has arrived in Kenya. Anna’s updated prayer letter is on the board in the Narthex. There is also an article about Anna in the October issue of the Melbourne Anglican.
• 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 Synod 11-14 October, our representatives & Vicar attending the meetings.
• For the success of the new Family and Children’s Ministry.
• For the 9am at home prayer time for the Parish, Dromana & Mornington Peninsula.
• For: Edna, Fred, Tahlia, Robert, Jan, David, Margie, Irene, Guy, Ruth.