Our ecumenical Lenten studies for 2016 will consider a recent publication coming out of the Australian Anglican-Roman Catholic ecumenical dialogue, Called to Holiness in Australia.

The document is available here, or copies can be collected from the church after worship closer to the commencement of the study series. You are invited to have read the relevant chapter prior to each session of the study group.

At least two groups will meet for the studies:

Wednesday nights (in conjunction with St Mary’s Anglican Church), February 17-March 9, 7.00pm at St Mary’s Anglican Church, 428 Queensberry St, North Melbourne. This will be proceeded by a light soup and bread meal from 6.30pm. [Note Change of times!]

Friday mornings (in conjunction with Habitat Uniting Church), February 19-March 11, 10.30am at Habitat Uniting Church, 2 Minona St, Hawthorn.

There will also be a Lenten retreat at Habitat on Friday March 18

Please let Craig know if you are interested in one of these study groups, preferably via our registration form; if you’re keen and can’t make one of these, let me know and we might be able to convene another in those weeks. (Contact: Craig Thompson, minister at Mark the Evangelist).

If you would like us to keep you informed about other reading groups like this one, add your email address to our Reading Groups list in the box below. This list is only used to send emails about our reading groups and you can unsubscribe at any time.

These discussion groups are organised by the Congregation of Mark the Evangelist, (Uniting Church, North Melbourne), in conjunction with Habitat Uniting Church, Canterbury and Hawthorn and St Mary’s Anglican Church, North Melbourne.

Your are most welcome to join us at our Christmas celebrations this year!

Sunday December 20: a service of Advent carols and readings with Eucharist, 10am.

Christmas Eve: (we have no service at Mark the Evangelist, but commend the Christmas Eve services at St Mary’s Anglican Church – the 4pm “Kids’ Christmas” and the 11.30pm Christmas Eve Midnight Mass)

Christmas Day: Worship with Eucharist, 9.30am

Normal services will continue, 10am, on December 27 and throughout January

Friends,

the latest MtE news update:

1. Advent begins this Sunday! The lectionary readings for the new liturgical year can be found via the link on our worship page.
2. There will be a special meeting of the congregation following morning tea on Sunday 6 December to adopt the 2016 Budget and to appoint the auditor for the year ended 31 December 2015. Copies of the Agenda and recommended Budget are available in the narthex on Sunday.
3. The most recent update on the Synod’s Major Strategic Review is here.
4. St George’s Anglican Church in Travancore has a concert series coming up in 2016 which some MtE folk might be interested in; the details are here.
5. You might be interested in an Advent Service at Auburn Uniting Church this coming Sunday.
6. AND, see the image below for details of the fundraising concert following worship this coming Sunday November 29!

Craig

Friends,

the latest MtE news update:

1. The final study group series is almost upon us – the Tuesday evening group begins next week Tuesday 20, the Friday morning group the following week. If you’re interested in coming but haven’t registered, please send me an email or register via the web page.
2. Our annual All Saints luncheon approaches again: Sunday November 1! If you are likely to be attending for the luncheon, please let Rod know; if you are able to assist with bringing something to contribute to the meal, please speak to Bev.
3. We are seeking someone to take over responsibility for overseeing the provision of morning tea after worship. While the work on any day is done by those rostered, we need a person to maintain the tea and coffee supplies (not milk; with reimbursement), wash the tea towels as needed, order, supply or arrange occasional birthday cakes (usually just the “decade” birthdays) and for baptisms or over special events. If you think might be able to take this on or share it for a shorter or longer term, please speak to Rod.
4. The October 2015 newsletter Synod is here.
5. A recent request from Yarra Yarra Presbytery re support of several ministries in region oriented towards mental health issues can be read here.

Craig

Friends,

the latest MtE news update:

1. Following worship (morning tea) this Sunday October 11 there will be a short workshop considering the new preamble to UnitingCare Hotham Mission’s Strategic Plan, which is being reviewed after three years. We encourage you, if you are able, to stay for a half hour or so to reflect on UCHM’s work and its link to the life of the congregation, as expressed in the preamble. The focus text for the service will be the gospel for the day (Mark 10.17-30); we may get to finishing up with James the following week! The text of the new preamble is available here.
2. Our annual All Saints luncheon approaches again: Sunday November 1! If you are likely to be attending for the luncheon, please let Rod know; if you are able to assist with bringing something to contribute to the meal, please speak to Bev.
3. We are seeking someone to take over responsibility for overseeing the provision of morning tea after worship. While the work on any day is done by those rostered, we need a person to maintain the tea and coffee supplies (not milk; with reimbursement), wash the tea towels as needed, order, supply or arrange occasional birthday cakes (usually just the “decade” birthdays) and for baptisms or over special events. If you think might be able to take this on or share it for a shorter or longer term, please speak to Rod.

Craig

Friends,

the latest MtE news update:

1. There will be no congregational lunch following worship this Sunday; the next congregational lunch will be the All Saints luncheon on November 1.
2. Following worship (morning tea) next Sunday October 11 there will be a short workshop considering the new preamble to UC Hotham Mission’s Strategic Plan, which is being reviewed after three years. We encourage you, if you are able, to stay for a half hour or so to reflect on UCHM’s work and its link to the life of the congregation.
3. A number of you have expressed appreciation for the “LitBits” we’ve been including in Sunday pew sheets, illuminating some aspect of the worship service. Imagining that others might find them helpful as well, we’ve launched a page on our web site making them available to whomever might be interested, and will be advertising their availability through the church. 
4. The VicTas Synod has recently launched its Keeping Children Safe Policy, available here; the church council continues to work through the new requirements of congregations with respect to this.
5. For the Synod’s recent decision about what to do with its 130 Lt Collins Street office block, see the Moderator’s letter and the information sheet.
6. Some of you might be interested in a web page I stumbled across while looking for something else — some old newspaper “clippings” on the construction of Union Memorial Church, and the windows in particular.
7. Brunswick Uniting Church invites you to to hear of life in Palestine from Dr Bishara Awad, the founder and president of Bethlehem Bible College Monday, October 5th at 7:30pm – 9:00pm – an informal supper will conclude the evening.

– Bishara Awad was born in Jerusalem in 1939. During the height of the Arab/Israeli conflict, Bishara’s father fell victim to a stray bullet, and Bishara became a refugee along with his mother, three brothers and three sisters. Following his high school education in Jerusalem he attended the Dakota Wesleyan University in the USA. After marrying Salwa from Gaza in 1970 and the birth of their first son, Sami, in 1972, Bishara returned to Palestine to work in the Hope School in Beit Jala.  He served as principal for ten years. In 1979, Bishara felt led to start Bethlehem Bible College and with the support of other Christian leaders and a $20 donation, began this ministry during evening hours at Hope School. From 1979 until 2012, Bishara has served as president of Bethlehem Bible College. Today, Bethlehem Bible College is a fully accredited institution that enjoys its own campus and serves 130+ young men and women each year. Extension satellites operate in the Galilee region and in Gaza. Graduates of Bethlehem Bible College are serving their communities as pastors, Christian educators, counsellors, and tour guides. 

Bethlehem Bible College: http://www.bethbc.org/ 

Bethlehem Hope: http://bethlehemhope.net/

AND don’t forget that Daylight Savings begins this Sunday morning!

Craig

“LitBits” are a new liturgical educational aid for congregations. We have started to develop and use them at Mark the Evangelist, and imagine than others might find them helpful as well! LitBits are text snippets intended to be inserted into a pew sheet in the midst of the liturgy itself or as part of your pew sheet’s “notices” section. For more information, see here.

Friends,

the latest MtE news update:

1. On Sunday September 20 there will be a congregation discussion following worship (this replaces the previously planned Sunday Conversation). This will be an introduction of the Mark the Evangelist Futures Project (MTEFP), which is the process we will be going through to make a decision regarding our utilisation of the various capital resources we have for mission (including questions of the renovation of Union Memorial Church). The MTEFP is a major exercise which will engage us for the next 6-8 months. Further details about the September 20 meeting have been posted directly to congregational members. We expect to begin after a brief morning tea, and for the introduction and discussion to run between 1.5 and 2 hours (and so to include a light bring-to-share lunch).
2. The most recent Synod e-Newsletter is here.
3. COMMUNITY ACTION FOR PEACE – MONDAY 14th SEPTEMBER 5.30 – 7.30 P.M.

   Dr John Langmore will be presenting the next in the Church of all Nation’s series of Spring Conversations: Both Sides of War. His topic will be: Community Action for Peace. All are welcome at the CAN Church Space (180 Palmerston Street Carlton) for conversation and a light dinner on Monday 14 September between 5:30 and 7:30 pm.
4. The VicTas Synod of the UCA has recently launched its Safe Church Policy; see here for more information.
5. The Assembly of the UCA has called for immediate sanctuary in Australia of refugees from Syria and Iraq; see the press release here.

Craig

Friends,

the latest MtE update:

1. This Sunday we begin a series of reflections on the book of James; more information here.
2. On Sunday September 20 there will be a congregation discussion following worship (this replaces the previously planned Sunday Conversation). This will be an introduction of the Mark the Evangelist Futures Project (MTEFP), which is the process we will be going through to make a decision regarding our utilisation of the various capital resources we have for mission (including questions of the renovation of Union Memorial Church). The MTEFP is a major exercise which will engage us for the next 6-8 months. Further details about the September 20 discussion will be advised in the next week or so, but at this stage the Church Council encourages as many members as as possible to plan to be present at this particularly important conversation. We expect to begin after a brief morning tea, and for the introduction and discussion to run up to 1.5 hours.
3. Some of you might be interested in this historic film strip, which gives some insight into the work of the Methodist Mission in North Melbourne several generations ago (perhaps some one of you can date it for us?!)

Craig

Friends,

the latest MtE news update:

1. This Sunday August 30 we’ve another of our occasional hymn-learning sessions following worship. If you’re especially keen you can have a look before we get together; the list will likely include TIS 394, 673, 183, 628, 178, 393 – some new, some refreshers!
2. The President of the UCA National Assembly has sent this Pastoral Letter on Same-Sex Marriage to all congregations.
3. If you’re interested in something more to read, here’s another “Worth a read” suggestion, principally on the theme of worship.
4. The most recent Presbytery Update (August 20) is here.

Craig