1. We will have another of our hymn-learning sessions after morning tea this Sunday December 16.
2. Details of Christmas services at MtE are here.
3. Hotham Mission has launched its Christmas appeal; you can donate online here (you indicate that it’s for the Christmas appeal on the second page…) or via the envelopes available in the church.
4. For those interested in doing some preparation to hearing the readings for this coming Sunday December 16, see the commentary links here.

Other things potentially of interest 

1. An iconography event in January…

Old News

1. The former President of the Australian Human Rights Commissioner, Emeritus Professor Gillian Triggs will speak on  Religion and Human Rights in Australia, a free public lecture co-hosted by the University Chaplaincy and Religions for Peace on 5 Feb (Tue) at 5:30–8pm. The lecture will be held at Carrillo Gantner Theatre, B-02 (basement), Sidney Myer Asia Centre, University of Melbourne, 761 Swanston St, Parkville. (FLYER with booking details)

1. Hotham Mission has launched its Christmas appeal; you can donate online here (you indicate that it’s for the Christmas appeal on the second page…) or via the envelopes available in the church.
2. We will have another of our hymn-learning sessions after morning tea on Sunday December 16.
3. The most recent Presbytery eNews (December 4) is here.
4. The most recent Synod eNews (December 6) is here.
5. For those interested in doing some preparation to hearing the readings for this coming Sunday December 9, see the commentary links here.

Other things potentially of interest 

The former President of the Australian Human Rights Commissioner, Emeritus Professor Gillian Triggs will speak on  Religion and Human Rights in Australia, a free public lecture co-hosted by the University Chaplaincy and Religions for Peace on 5 Feb (Tue) at 5:30–8pm. The lecture will be held at Carrillo Gantner Theatre, B-02 (basement), Sidney Myer Asia Centre, University of Melbourne, 761 Swanston St, Parkville. (FLYER with booking details)

1. This 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. Hotham Mission has launched its Christmas appeal; you can donate online here (you indicate that it’s for the Christmas appeal on the second page…) or via the envelopes available in the church.
3. St John’s Essendon is hosting the launch of the Christmas Bowl this year, with a program of Christmas music and carols from around the world; date, time and program details are here (download).
4. For those interested in doing some preparation to hearing the readings for this coming Sunday December 2, see the commentary links here.

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

Sunday December 23 (Advent 4 morning worship): a service of Advent carols and readings with Eucharist, 10am.

Christmas Eve (afternoon and evening): (we have Christmas Eve services 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 30 and throughout January

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!