1. On Sunday December 2 there will be a congregational meeting to receive the proposed budget for 2019 and for another info update on the buildings project.
2. Safe Church Training at 11.30 on THIS SUNDAY 25 November. It’s not too late to sign up – let Ann or Craig know. The workshop will last for 2 hours. This is a valuable opportunity to acknowledge the importance of striving to be a Safe Church in our community and how each one of us is an important part of our success.  We will be providing sandwiches to sustain us during the training. A facilitator from the Safe Church unit at Synod will be there to lead the workshop. Please speak to Ann if you have any questions at all. If this date does not suit you, other congregations will be arranging workshops for which you could register.  Ann Wilkinson can help you discover those.
3. We’ll conclude our short series on Ruth this Sunday, the festival of the  Reign of Christ. The reading for this coming Sunday November 18 will be Ruth 3.1-13, although it is whole of the Ruth-Boaz drama which will be our theme; some commentary from Howard Wallace on this text can be found here. (This was actually the set OT reading for November 11; we’ll hear it alongside Psalm 126 and this week’s set gospel, John 18.33-37). 

Other things potentially of interest

 

Each year Mark the Evangelist encourages its members and others to contribute to the Christmas Bowl, an annual appeal run by Act for Peace which raises funds for various national and international relief projects.

For an introduction to the focus of the appeal this year, click on the video below. The Christmas Bowl’s own home page is here. To contribute to the appeal, go directly to the appeal’s donation page.

Introduction to the Christmas Bowl Appeal 2018

1. This Sunday, following worship, there will be a congregational info session regarding progress on our buildings project; background papers have been circulated.
2. On Sunday December 2 there will be another congregational meeting regarding progress on the buildings project.
3. The latest Synod Justice and International Mission eNews (Nov 15) is here.
4. Safe Church Training at 11.30 on 25 November

As you all now know, Church Council has undertaken to provide training in the form of a Safe Church Awareness Workshop which will be held on next Sunday 25 November.  The workshop will be at 11.30am after church and will last for 2 hours. The invitation is extended to all church members.  It is a valuable opportunity to acknowledge the importance of striving to be a Safe Church in our community and how each one of us is an important part of our success.  We will be providing sandwiches to sustain us during the training.

All local appointed leaders – those who are required to have a Working with Children Check – are required to attend such a workshop as are officiating ministers and employees.  The Workshop is designed to provide congregational members and leaders with knowledge and understanding of our Safe Church policy and procedures. Awareness raising training such as this is highly relevant to us all.

If this date does not suit you, other congregations will be arranging workshops for which you could register.  Ann Wilkinson can help you discover those.

 Please register by adding your name to the list which is on the notice board at the church. A facilitator from the Safe Church unit at Synod will be there to lead the workshop. Please speak to Ann if you have any questions at all.

 

 

Taking a lead from the lectionary, we’re spending three weeks (November 11, 18 and 25) on a short series from the Old Testament book of Ruth. This is a short book of only 4 chapters — try to read it through at least once over these few weeks! The reading for this coming Sunday November 18 will be Ruth 3.1-13, although it is whole of the Ruth-Boaz drama which will be our theme; some commentary from Howard Wallace on this text can be found here. (This was actually the set OT reading for November 11; we’ll hear it alongside Psalm 46 and this week’s set gospel, Mark 13:1-8). 

 

Other things potentially of interest

1. Anja & Zlatna: Russian Caravan — Saturday 17 November, 6pm in the Primrose Potter Salon. We’re delighted to invite you all to our second concert for 2018 in the wonderful Local Heroes series at the fabulous Melbourne Recital Centre Salon. Journey through a land imbued with a fascinating and curious history. Russian Caravan features traditional and street songs, exploring dreams, nature and integral questions of existence. 

Old News

1. Please see the invitation to the opening of the community space at the new 8th Day Baptist building.

1. Most recent Synod eNews (November 8) is here.
2. You will have seen in the Spring edition of Mark the Word and in the pew sheet last week that Church Council has undertaken to provide training in the form of a Safe Church Awareness Workshop on Sunday 25 November.  All who have a leadership role in the congregation are invited to attend.  The workshop will be at 11.30am after church and will last for 2 hours. The Workshop is designed to provide all leaders with knowledge and understanding of our Safe Church policy and procedures. It is a valuable opportunity to acknowledge the importance of striving to be a Safe Church in our community and how each one of us is an important part of our success. All local appointed leaders – those who are required to have a Working with Children Check – are required to attend such a workshop as are officiating ministers, and employees. The invitation is also extended to any church member who would be interested.  Awareness raising training such as this is highly relevant to us all. Please register by adding your name to the list which is on the notice board at church. A facilitator from the Safe Church unit at Synod will be there to lead the workshop. Please speak to Ann if you have any questions at all. If this date does not suit you, other congregations will be arranging workshops for which you could register, and we can help you discover those.
3. Please see the invitation to the opening of the community space at the new 8th Day Baptist building (North Melbourne).
4. Taking a lead from the lectionary, we’ll spend the last three weeks of the liturgical year (November 11, 18 and 25) on a short series from the Old Testament book of Ruth. This is a brief but much loved book of only 4 chapters — try to read it through at least once in the next few weeks! The reading for this coming Sunday November 11 will be Ruth 1.1-18; some commentary from Howard Wallace on this text can be found here. (This was actually the set OT reading for November 4; we’ll hear it alongside last week’s complementary psalm and this week’s set gospel). 

5. Other things potentially of interest

Anja & Zlatna: Russian Caravan — Saturday 17 November, 6pm in the Primrose Potter Salon. We’re delighted to invite you all to our second concert for 2018 in the wonderful Local Heroes series at the fabulous Melbourne Recital Centre Salon. Journey through a land imbued with a fascinating and curious history. Russian Caravan features traditional and street songs, exploring dreams, nature and integral questions of existence. 

1. All Saints luncheon this Sunday following worship!
2. The latest Presbytery update (October 15) is here.
3. The latest Synod eNews (Oct) is here.
4. We have a SAFE CHURCH AWARENESS WORKSHOP following worship on Sunday November 25. Holding a Working with Children’s Check card is now a legal (state) requirement for all who have a leadership or other public role within churches and other public institutions which involve children, and participation in these awareness workshops is part of the requirement. Please see the pew sheet for more information, or speak to Craig or Ann.
6. Andrew Gador Whyte is our preacher this coming Sunday Nov 4; for those interested in some background commentary to the readings for this Sunday, see the links here (the All Saints readings).

7. Other things potentially of interest

8. Anja & Zlatna: Russian Caravan — Saturday 17 November, 6pm in the Primrose Potter Salon. We’re delighted to invite you all to our second concert for 2018 in the wonderful Local Heroes series at the fabulous Melbourne Recital Centre Salon. Journey through a land imbued with a fascinating and curious history. Russian Caravan features traditional and street songs, exploring dreams, nature and integral questions of existence.
9. If you’re a North Melbourne local and would like to assist with the distribution of the North West Melbourne News (quarterly), see here.

10. Old News

1. The latest Presbytery eNews is here (with the correction that the next Presbytery meeting is Nov 17, not 24).
2. For those interested in some background commentary to the readings for this Sunday September 30, see the links here (we’ll be hearing only the gospel reading, supplemented with Psalm 1).

Other things potentially of interest

1. Brunswick Uniting Church is offering a forum on the Victorian Voluntary Assisted Dying legislation

Old News

1. If you’re interested in following up further the material Robert Gribben presented two weeks ago on the Great Prayer of Thanksgiving, you might be interested in looking at his book on the subject; some copies are available here ($10 plus postage…). It can also be consulted at the theological library at the CTM. (Robert Gribben, Uniting in Thanksgiving, The Great Prayers of the Uniting Church in Australia,  Melbourne: UAP, 2008.  It has three parts: (1) The Genealogy of the Great Prayer; (2), a commentary on the texts and (3) A Practical Commentary).
2. Our series on the Ten Commandments will return for 4 consecutive weeks in October; if you were planning get one of suggested background reading resources for this series but haven’t yet, now’s a good time to order it!

1. We will gather for conversation following worship THIS Sunday September 23 to hear and discuss information on the proposed subdivision of the MtE site for divestment and some building concept options for the new complex. September-November will be a period of considerable input into design of the new buildings. This will not be a formal congregational meeting but will set us up for important decision-making about the project over the next few months.
2. If you’re interested in following up further the material Robert Gribben presented last week on the Great Prayer of Thanksgiving, you might be interested in looking at his book on the subject; some copies are available here ($10 plus postage…). It can also be consulted at the theological library at the CTM. (Robert Gribben, Uniting in Thanksgiving, The Great Prayers of the Uniting Church in Australia,  Melbourne: UAP, 2008.  It has three parts: (1) The Genealogy of the Great Prayer; (2), a commentary on the texts and (3) A Practical Commentary).
3. A pastoral letter from the UCA Assembly President on church governance (and the recent marriage resolution).
4. Our readings this week are ‘contrived’ from various lectionary resources to help our reading further into last week’s gospel reading; click on the following for some background to the texts: Isaiah 51:1-6; Psalm 138; Mark 8.31-38.

5. Other things potentially of interest

Brunswick Uniting Church is offering a forum on the Victorian Voluntary Assisted Dying legislation

1. Old News

Our series on the Ten Commandments will return for 4 consecutive weeks in October; if you were planning get one of suggested background reading resources for this series but haven’t yet, now’s a good time to order it!

1. The latest VicTas Synod eNews is here.
2. LATE UPDATE: After worship next Sunday September 16 our reflections on worship will continue with Robert Gribben speaking on the “Great Prayer of Thanksgiving” in the Eucharist.
3. There will be a meeting following worship on Sunday 23 September to hear and discuss information on the proposed subdivision of the MtE site for divestment and some building concept options for the new complex. September-November will be a period of considerable input into design of the new buildings – more details to come!
4. A further pastoral letter from the UCA Assembly President on the marriage resolution, the new marriage service, and other things. This comment on the character of the Assembly debate may be of interest.
5. Our focus for this Sunday will be 1 John 5.14-21
6. Visions of the Invisible: An Icon Exhibition of the Uniting Church Icon Schools

Icons painted by members of the three Icon Schools during the past 12 months – 10 are for sale, at the Centre for Theology and Ministry, 29 College Cres, Parkville. 10 September to 22 October 2018, 9.00-5.00 Monday-Friday

Official Launch on Saturday 15 September 2018 by Rev Dr Rob Gallacher, 2.00 – 4.00pm; Info: 9434 4742

1. A monthly series of sermons on the the Ten Commandments will commence THIS SUNDAY August 26. Some more details are given here, including some suggested background reading to the Commandments for the series. For a brief online commentary on the texts for this Sunday, see.
2. Also Sunday August 26 there will be an open conversation following morning tea around the recent resolution of the UCA’s national Assembly on marriage. Some background papers on the resolution are available here.
3. The latest Presbytery eNews is here.

1. TONIGHT, Wednesday August 15, the online discussion group commences, looking at Northrop Frye’s The Great Code; for more on the book, see some of the reviews here. It is a challenging but very rewarding read! The quickest and cheapest way to obtain a copy is probably here (typically arrives in 7-10 days); electronic versions do not seem to be available. The experimental and online aspects of this group are that we will ‘meet’ via Skype or a similar video-conferencing vehicle — more details to come, and not as hard as it might sound (we think!). This means not having to travel in the evening for the group. The group will ‘meet’ online at 7.45pm on Wednesday August 15. Let Craig know if you are interested in joining; details on how to participate are here.
2. The 2018 JD Northey Lecture: “Truth and Reality: An Ecclesiology of Resistance.” Thursday August 23, 7pm at the CTM; details.
3. For those interested in some background commentary to the readings for this Sunday August 12, see the links here (we’ll hear Ps 34 and the gospel reading this week, in addition to our focus text from 1 John – 1 John 5.1-12 (cf. here), a reflection on the church’s faith in God as Trinity).

4. Old News

5. A monthly series of sermons on the the Ten Commandments will commence on Sunday August 26. Some more details are given here, including some suggested background reading to the Commandments for the series.
6. ALSO on Sunday 26 there will be an open conversation following morning tea around the recent resolution of the UCA’s national Assembly on marriage.