Over the course of June-October 2016, most of our Sunday services will feature a preaching focus on the book of Galatians.

Galatians features in rather a potted way in the Revised Common Lectionary on six Sundays over this period, leaving out large sections of the book and including sections which are large enough to justify two or three weeks’ reflection.

We’ll be considering the text in a sequential treatment over this time.

Friends,

the latest MtE Update!

1. This Sunday May 15 we have Lisa Sammut, Convener, Homeless Action Group as our After Worship guest speaker.
2. On Thursday evening, May 19, we are co-hosting a public discussion, “Whose problem is the ‘Problem of Islam'”; the details are here.
3. Please consider signing this online petition regarding Melbourne City Council’s not having continued the tenure of the current operators of “The Venny”, a partner service of Hotham Mission.  In addition to the petition there will also be a  Community Meeting at the Kensington Town Hall TONIGHT (Wed 11/05) 6:30pm to “discuss the future of the Kensington Adventure Playground”. This is a community consultation process whereby the voices of the local residents and patrons of The Venny will have a chance to have their voices heard and questions answered. It would be great to have as many people present as possible as this is a significant change which will have long-term impacts on the youth in the area.
4. The next issue of Mark the Word is coming up: reflections on our current “futures” thinking are invited, or anything which might be on your mind! Please let Suzanne know if you have written or are intending to write something. Contributions are due May 23.
5. If you can’t get to church on Sunday morning (15th), you might like to come to Evensong at St Mary’s North Melbourne at 6pm – a service in which we’ve been invited to share: 6pm.
6. The latest issue of the Synod eNewsletter (May 3) is here.

Other things of potential interest:

From the Taizé in Melbourne, Working Group

Please join us this Saturday, 7 May at 5.30pm (Singing practice at 4.45pm) for Taize prayer at Trinity College Chapel, Royal Parade in Parkville.

The dates for the rest of the year are:

• 7th May
• 4th June
• 2nd July
• 6th August
• 3rd September
• 1st October
• 5th November

You can connect with us on Facebook: Taize in Melbourne, Australia.

Later in the year, one of the Taize Brothers will be in NSW leading a retreat, details are as follows:

The Courage of Mercy – with Br Ghislain – Retreat for Young Adults with music and prayers from Taizé

Where:  Mt Carmel Retreat Centre, 247 St Andrews Road, Varroville, NSW, 2566 (near Campbelltown).

When:  Sep 26 @ 3:00 pm – Sep 29 @ 4:00 pm

Cost:  Single rooms with ensuite ($315.00), camping: $200 (suggested donation).

Please hear that these costs are ‘suggested’.  So, if these are too expensive, then the Taize brothers have requested that people pay what they can afford.

Contact:  John Ransom, General Manager, Mt Carmel Retreat Centre.  Ph:  0435 857 690, or by email:  generalmanager@carmelite.com

Retreat Description

“According to the Bible, God is mercy, in other words, compassion and kindness. By telling the parable of the father and his two sons (Luke 15), Jesus shows us that God’s love does not depend on the good we can do; it is given unconditionally. The father loves the son who remains faithful his whole life long. And he already holds out his hands to one who left him, while that son is still far away.

God’s love is not just for a moment, but for all time. Through compassion, we can be a reflection of this love. As Christians, we share with so many believers of other religions the concern to place mercy and kindness at the centre of our lives.”
“The Courage of Mercy” – Br Alois, prior of Taizé

During this retreat, we’ll journey together into the arms of this God of Mercy. Using traditional Taize chants, prayers and presentations our retreat will be a time to pray and reflect so that we can take action, taking mercy out into our troubled world.

Friends,

the latest MtE Update!

1. This Sunday is our Congregational AGM, following worship; after the AGM there will be an opportunity for more questions about our futures project (this session will not go longer than 30 min, making for a meeting total of up to one hour).
2. After worship on Sunday April 17 there will be a brief presentation of the recently approved 3 year plan for UnitingCare Hotham Mission. This will be followed by a “Seeing Where We Serve” tour of the locations at which the mission runs its programs, or community services with which it has partnerships. You can register your interest for the tour through this page on the Hotham Mission website.
3. Sunday April 24 is our annual Mark the Evangelist Day luncheon; please reserve the date and let Rod know if you are able to come. We will seek your contributions to the catering in the next week or so!
4. Please also keep in mind (and in your diaries!) that our next meeting regarding the congregation’s Futures Project is scheduled for after worship on Sunday, May 1 this will be an important decision-making meeting and we strongly encourage you to be there if you are able.
5. The most recent eNews from Pilgrim Theological College is here.
6. This link has been circulated before, but I included here again to remind you that it’s on our web page: Thoughtful Faith.

Friends,

the latest MtE Update!

1. Our congregational picnic will be after morning tea on Sunday March 6, again under a shady tree at the Native Gardens section of Royal Park.
2. Our next meeting on our MtE Futures project (buildings, mission), will be after worship on Sunday March 20; papers for this meeting will be distributed to you directly by email next week, and be available for pickup at worship on March 13.
3. Nominations to the next VicTas Synod meeting (June 4-8 2016) are now open, closing March 9. Nominations are open to confirmed UCA members; Craig has more details if you are interested in nominating someone, or being nominated.
4. The Synod’s Major Strategic Review is nearing its end, and is doing the rounds across the synod to give people the opportunity to hear and give feedback on its vision and plans as well as explore its findings and the potential changes for the church. The session to be held in this region is happening next week on Tuesday 8^th March from 6:30pm-9:30pm (with a break) at Heathmont UC. It is an important opportunity to understand the directions the Synod may be taking in the future. More information can be found here and you are invited to register to help with catering.
5. If you took petition forms regarding one of our asylums seeker’s approach to government senators, please return them this Sunday.
6. Our Easter Service times are here.

Other things of potential interest:

1. Brunswick UCA is running a study series on the book of Revelation over 3 weeks in March
2. You are invited to Taizé prayer this Saturday: 5.30pm Saturday, 5th March at Trinity College Chapel (singing practice starts at 4.45pm); Please stay for dinner afterwards in the Trinity College Dining Hall ($10). You can RSVP to the event on Facebook or just come on the day. The following prayer at Trinity College will be at 5.30pm on 2nd April. Heidi, Email: taize.melbourne@gmail.com; Taizé in Melbourne, Australia

Craig

Friends,

the latest MtE Update!

1. Our after church conversation this Sunday Feb 21 will feature Dr John Flett on the topic of “What it Means at the Congregational Level to Engage in Mission” – will be worth hearing, and important for us as we consider future directions in connection with our building “issues”!
2. On Sunday February 28 there will be a “workshop” on the Assembly’s new Code of Conduct for Lay Leaders. This code can be found here. The workshop is intended particularly for those in our congregation who qualify as “lay leaders,” but all are welcome to participate.
3. Our Lenten Studies have begun; Wednesday evenings until March 9, Friday mornings in Hawthorn until March 11; more info is available here. Please note that the Wednesday group was incorrectly advertised; the soup/bread is from 6.30pm and the study from 7.00pm (at St Mary’s Anglican).
4. The deadline for pieces for the next issue of Mark the Word approaches rapidly! Please get in touch with Suzanne if you have something to contribute.
5. Our congregational picnic will be after morning tea on Sunday March 6, again at the Native Gardens section of Royal Park.
6. The most recent Presbytery eNewsletter is here.
7. The most recent Synod eNewsletter (Feb 12) is here.
8. Nominations to the next VicTas Synod meeting (June 4-8 2016) are now open, closing March 9. Nominations are open to confirmed UCA members; Craig has more details if you are interesting in nominating someone, or being nominated.
9. Our Easter Service times are here.

Other things of potential interest:

1. A series of talks at RMIT on “Philosophies of difference”
2. A Unity in Diversity concert (Feb 28)

Craig

Easter is a time of special celebration in the Christian church. At MtE, we come together for a series of services marking particular aspects of the Easter, from Palm Sunday to Easter day itself.

You are very welcome to join us at any – or all! – of these services. The service dates and times for 2016 are:

• Palm Sunday: 20 March, 10.00am
• Maundy Thursday, including the Eucharist and the foot-washing ritual 24 March 7:30pm
• Good Friday: 25 March 10.00am
• Easter Vigil: 26 March from 8.00pm
• Easter Day, including the Eucharist and a re-affirmation of baptism: 27 March 10.00am

 

The order for the reaffirmation of baptism on Easter Day

Sisters and brothers, in our baptism, we died and were buried with Christ, so that we might rise with him to new life. We were initiated into Christ’s holy church and brought to life through water and the Spirit. God’s mighty acts of salvation for us and for all people are gracious gifts, freely given.

As we reaffirm our baptism, we declare our common allegiance to Christ and seek to be obedient to his will.

And so I ask you now:

Do you turn to Christ?

    I turn to Christ.

Do you repent of your sins?

    I repent of my sins.

Do you renounce evil

and the false values of this world?

    I renounce them.

 

And now I ask you to confess the faith into which you were baptised, and in which you continue to live and grow:

Do you believe in God, who made you and loves you?

    I believe in God, the Father almighty,

    creator of heaven and earth.

 

Do you believe in Jesus Christ, your Saviour and Lord?

    I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord,

    who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,

    born of the Virgin Mary,

    suffered under Pontius Pilate,

    was crucified, died, and was buried;

    he descended to the dead.

    On the third day he rose again;

    he ascended into heaven,

    he is seated at the right hand of the Father,

    and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

 

Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, and the continuing work of our salvation?

    I believe in the Holy Spirit,

    the holy catholic Church,

    the communion of saints,

    the forgiveness of sins,

    the resurrection of the body,

    and the life everlasting.  Amen.

 

This is the faith of God’s baptised people.

    We are not ashamed to confess it

    in Christ our Lord.

(Water is poured into the font.)

Come Lord Jesus,

refresh the lives of your faithful people.

(The people are sprinkled with water.)

(During the music those who wish to are invited to come to the font and, using the water, make the sign of the cross on yourself, or your neighbour with the words, I/You belong to Christ.)

Friends,

the latest MtE Update – a busy start to the new year!

1. Lent begins next week with our Ash Wednesday service, 6pm on February 10.
2. Our Lenten Studies begin the following Wednesday, February 17 (Wednesday evenings or Friday mornings from the 19th); more info is available here. If you’ve an interest in being part of a third (proposing a time not listed) please let me know.
3. Following worship this Sunday Feb 7 we’ll have another of our hymn-learning sessions: learning a new communion setting and adding to our hymn repertoire for Lent.
4. Our after church conversation on Feb 21 will be Dr John Flett on the topic of “What it Means at the Congregational Level to Engage in Mission” – will be worth hearing, and important for us as we consider future directions in connection with our building “issues”!
5. On Sunday February 28 there will be a “workshop” on the Assembly’s new Code of Conduct for Lay Leaders. This code can be found here. The workshop is intended particularly for those in our congregation who qualify as “lay leaders,” but all are welcome to participate.
6. “Truly we will remember them” is an ANZAC remembrance service; more details here.
7. Our congregational picnic will be after morning tea on Sunday March 6, again at the Native Gardens section of Royal Park.
8. The CTM (Parkville) is offering two events on the theme of faith and sexuality, led by Bill Loader: an evening Feb 18 and Feb 19 day event.
9. The Anglican Church in Melbourne is running a conference on evangelism in February:  Life in Abundance: An Anglican Conference on Mission and Evangelism. The MtE Church Council is willing to subsidise up to $150 for any members of the congregation who would like to attend. Please speak to Craig if you’d like to avail yourself of this offer.
10. Taize Melbourne has a service tomorrow tonight, February 6.
11. This is a communication from the VicTas’s Social Justice Unit regarding the High Court decision this week on off-shore detention centres.

Craig