Friends,

the first MtE news update for 2016!

1. Our Lenten Studies begin Feb 17 (Wednesday evenings or from the 19th for Friday mornings); more info is available here.
2. Following worship next week Feb 7 we’ll have another of our hymn-learning sessions: learning a new communion setting and adding to our hymn repertoire for Lent.
3. Our congregational picnic will be after worship on Sunday March 6
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. The Synod Standing Committee has recently resolved to pursue legal incorporation of the VicTas Synod; more about this can be found here. I’ve made a short response to this advice which might interest some.
7. The most recent Synod eNewsletter (January 16) is here.
8. A number of information sessions have been arranged to discuss the developing outcomes of the Synod’s Major Strategic Review; details are here.

Craig

Friends,

the latest MtE news update:

1. Our service this Sunday Dec 20th will be a service of Advent-themed readings and carols, featuring most of our cantors as soloists and an impromptu choir!
2. The previously announced congregational meeting on our MtE Futures Project (property and resources assessment) planned for this Sunday will now no longer take place as there is not sufficient new information to warrant convening a meeting. The next scheduled meeting on the Project is March 21, although Church Council may convene another meeting in February if sufficient information comes to hand to justify it.
3. Act for Peace’s Christmas Bowl appeal is now underway; more information here.
4. Some might be interested in a couple of Advent Taize events in Melbourne in the next week or so.
5. The most recent Synod e-Newsletter (Dec 11) is here.
6. Our Christmas service times are here.
7. Super-advanced notice for next year:

a. Our Lenten Studies begin Feb 17; more info is available here.

b. Congregational picnic after worship Sunday March 6

Craig

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