Like our Kid’s Christmas & Easter Services, Kid’s Worship will be a inspiring time of worship, teaching and prayer for children (0—12) and their families, followed by a fellowship BBQ.

Come and hear the story of Cecil the Lost Sheep and his adventures, praise God through song and dance and offer up creative prayer. This is also an excellent opportunity to invite family and friends along to church who may not regularly attend church on Sunday’s, to hear about God’s love for them.

Though we acknowledge the power of the individual, the group has much more power to achieve outcomes than any person working alone. God saw the negative aspect of this unity of purpose when he confused the people at the construction site of the Tower of Balel (Gen 11.5-7).  And in a positive sense, we see God has designed the Church to be a community, working in unity with each other to achieve his goal of building up his church in strength of faith and numbers. “But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honour to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it.”(1 Corinthians 12.24-26)

This model of working in teams does not come naturally to us. Working in unity is a threat to many individuals. Why could this be so? It may be because many people are afraid they will lose their identity if they work in a team. They will lose their sense of self, and the personal kudos that comes from achieving something alone…”I did it my way” attitude.

But a foot functions best if it is attached to the body! (v.15). We all function best as Christians when we work together in unity as a team. As teamwork does not come easily to us we must be convinced that it is the most effective model first of all and the bible clearly teaches that is the case, then we must have the resolve to make changes to our basic way of doing things. We have to be prepared to subordinate our own desires for the desires of the team. We need to develop a sense of common-unity. We cannot do Church effectively if we all wish to be foot lose and fancy free, excuse the pun.

The power of the Church comes as we work as “one’. As Jesus prayed for us, let us also pray for our parish.. ”I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (John 17.22-23)

Let us consider how we can work more effectively as a parish body or team and teams within the team as we seek our path into the future. – Ken Hopper (Rector)

There are many mixed emotions and psychological reasons for this, from the sense of grief for those who have experienced the loss of those who physical did not return, to a sense of emotional loss of a loved one who returned home changed forever.

For some it is the sense of gratitude that we feel for the way of life we enjoy as Australians and the knowledge that this has been brought with a price, paid for by blood, sweat and tears.

But there is also another aspect. This is the aspect that reminds us of who we have been in time of crisis and can be again.

In a society characterized by the media as self-centered, self interested  and,  intolerant; that is exhibits itself  in road rage,  greed that is never satisfied, of violence and exploitation of the weak; the elderly, the young and other  vulnerable sectors of our society. When we despair of the values expressed by a minority who seize the headlines, we can take heart that, by the grace of God, there is still within our nation the image of the divine that demonstrated itself in the courage, self-sacrifice and perseverance in the face of determined opposition over two world wars and numerous other battles and military deployments.

 ANZAC Day calls to our mind, in a more focused way, the individuals we miss and our corporate sense of loss we have for our war dead, but it gives us heart, in that we know in spite of all the negativities of our society, the flame of the goodness of God in the human heart will not be extinguished, but will always shine even in the darkest of times.

Kenneth Hopper (Rector)

We encourage all parents to spend time with their children during the week  having “family bible time” where you discuss what the children have learnt  each week at Children’s Church. This is a great way to help them consolidate  what they have learnt!

If you want any advise or suggestions on how you can have family bible  time, give Youth & Children’s Minister John Dougherty an email:

john_dougherty@iprimus.com.au

Drive in off Waterworks Road into the church car park to get your take away pack.

Our 7:30am and 6:00pm services will continue to run at their scheduled times.

“To establish, train and sustain a parish care team, motivated by the love of Christ and his love for all people, which is able to provide support to members of the parish and community, where appropriate, in times of personal need.”

Throughout 2009, the care team have provided support to a number of members of the St Mark’s community, whether it be providing meals, transport or a listening ear.

One of the highlights was hosting a public talk on loss and grief for the wider community in The Gap. The talk, given by grief counselor Anne Ogden, from Kinections, well well attended and well received by those who attended.

For more information about St Mark’s Care Team, please contact the office on 3300 1502.