Hotham Mission Newsletter now available
The latest Hotham Herald (Hotham Mission) newsletter can be found here.
Author Archives: CraigT
MtE Update – February 12 2017
Friends,
the latest MtE Update!
- There’ll be a hymn-learning session this Sunday, following morning tea; please stay to expand your repertoire, if you’re able!
- The most recent Hotham Mission Herald (newsletter) is available here.
- Our study groups for the year will begin with a Lenten series on the Lord’s Prayer. Details about this and other planned groups through the year are here.
- There will be a congregational meeting following worship on Sunday February 26. The main reason for the meeting will be the presentation (for reception) of our 2017 budget; the budget papers will be available at church this Sunday.
- On Monday February 20 (6.30pm) we will be presenting Brother Bray of Bethlehem University at a public event in our hall. More details are available here. Please forward information about this event to other people you think might be interested. We hope also to be able to offer hospitality following the presentation; if you are able to help be bringing something to share, please speak to Heather M about how you can assist.
- The most recent Synod newsletter (Feb 8) is here.
- Other forthcoming dates for your calendar:
- Congregational picnic March 26
- If you’d like to do some background work on this coming Sunday’s readings (February 12, Epiphany 6A),
Lent and Easter 2017 at MtE
Our Lenten and Easter events begin with Ash Wednesday and our Lenten Studies, through to Easter Day.
Ash Wednesday Service
Lenten Studies: on the Lord’s Prayer; more details are here.
Easter Services
Palm Sunday April 9, 10.00am with Eucharist
Maundy Thursday April 13, 7.30pm with Eucharist
Good Friday April 14 10.00am
Easter Vigil Service Saturday April 15 8.00pm
Easter Day Service 10.00am with Eucharist
Beyond the Walls: Father Peter Bray at MtE
Mark the Evangelist, in association with the Palestine Israel Ecumenical Network, is pleased to be able to present Brother Peter Bray at a public gathering on Monday February 20, at 6.30pm, in the Elm Street hall (4 Elm Street, North Melbourne).
An educationist and an inspirational speaker who promotes Bethlehem University as an oasis of calm in a most difficult environment, Brother Bray speaks about the work of the university and the conditions under which they all live and work. You can learn more about Brother Bray here.
You are most welcome to join us!
Please feel free to share this event with others you believe might be interested.
MtE Update – February 3 2017
Friends,
the first MtE Update for 2017!
- There’ll be a hymn-learning session Sunday week Feb 12, following morning tea
- Hotham Mission’s work featured recently in a local newspaper report: here.
- Our study groups for the year will begin with a Lenten series on the Lord’s Prayer. Details about this and other planned groups through the year are here.
- The latest Presbytery update (January 11) is here.
- Some forthcoming dates for your calendar:
- On Monday February 20 (6.30pm) we will be presenting Brother Bray of Bethlehem University at a public event in our hall. More details will be available shortly!
- Congregational meeting February 26 (receipt of 2017 budget)
- Ash Wednesday service: Wednesday March 1, 6.00pm
- Congregational picnic March 26
- If you’d like to do some background work on this coming Sunday’s readings (February 5, Epiphany 5A), have a look at these links:
LitBit Commentary – Gordon Lathrop on Preaching 8
LitBit: The preacher needs to articulate the awful truth of human need, a need that many of the hearers may already know but for which they may have no words. The words of the sermon need to include the hearers together with all the outsiders and the sinners, using the terms of the texts as names for our sin and death and sorrow. There will be no insiders here; all of us need a word to say the truth about our common lot and all of us need a word in order to begin to believe again.
Gordon Lathrop, The pastor, p51.
LitBit Commentary – Gordon Lathrop on Preaching 7
LitBit: The preacher ought never to introduce a new text as “my text”, as if the preaching event were something other than what the assembly is doing as a whole. Even Jesus was handed the scroll of Isaiah. In the Christian community, all the members of the assembly need to know the texts, own the texts, be able to prepare the texts.
Gordon Lathrop, The pastor, p49.
LitBit Commentary – Gordon Lathrop on Preaching 6
Litbit: In the assembly, the preacher arises to bring to present articulation what the assembly is doing by gathering, reading Scripture, praying, and holding the meal on Sunday or on some other festival. Indeed, the juxtaposition of this sermon to the celebration of the Lord’s Supper makes it most clear that this a word that is to be eaten and drunk in faith, just as that is a meal that “preaches”, that makes proclamation into present need.”
Gordon Lathrop, The pastor, p47.
LitBit Commentary – Gordon Lathrop on Preaching 5
LitBit: When you open the book containing the gospels and read or hear how Christ comes here or there, of how someone is brought to him, you should therein perceive the sermon or the gospel through which he is coming to you, or you are being brought to him. For the preaching of the gospel is nothing else than Christ coming to us, or we being brought to him.
Martin Luther, in Gordon Lathrop’s The pastor, p49.
LitBit Commentary – Gordon Lathrop on Preaching 4
LitBit: …this is what preaching is for: to show forth God and God’s grace, in the terms of the materials of the gathering – the texts, the sacraments, the assembly itself – so that the assembly and each of its participants may come again to faith. The ordo of the liturgy will then move on to urgent prayer to God for all the needy world, to that actual meal of faith, and to the sending of food to the hungry and witness to the world.
Gordon Lathrop, The pastor, p51.