1. 1. Advance notice: Lent is still a while away, but the Lenten Study series will run for four weeks after Ash Wednesday, March 6 (Wednesday nights, March 13+). An intro to the series can be found here. There may also be a Friday morning series at Hawthorn in the same weeks (TBC)
   2. For those interested in doing some preparation to hearing the readings for this coming Sunday February, see the commentary links here

1. The first update for 2019!
2. The latest Presbytery update (Jan 3) is here.
3. The most recent update from the Synod Justice Unit
4. An update from the Assembly on the recent decision about same-sex marriage.
5. For those interested in doing some preparation to hearing the readings for this coming Sunday January 27, see the commentary links here.

Other things potentially of interest

Richmond Uniting, together with the local Richmond Anglican and Catholic churches, runs a Food Centre: Richmond Churches Food Centre. The Food Centre provides food security to hundreds of households each week and also provides a welcoming and safe space for a cup of tea and a chat – this is particularly important for many isolated people, including people experiencing homelessness. It is a pretty awesome, grassroots initiative that is almost completely run by volunteers.

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.