St Paul’s: This Sunday is All Saints day and in the gospel we hear Jesus teaching the crowd that the attributes of mercy, righteousness and peacemaking are things to strive for. 

We are to understand that the life of a saint does not consist in perfection, but in pursuing the blessing that comes from living in the pattern of Jesus’ own life. 

On Saturday from 10am to 1pm there will be a plant sale, cake stall and sausage sizzle in the grounds between the hall and the church at 8 Myers Street.

St Paul’s Art Exhibition is on display in St Paul’s Hall from 10am to 4pm on Saturday and noon to 4pm on Sunday.

The St Paul’s Christmas Shop in the rear of St Paul’s hall is open Monday to Saturday. 

For more information, visit www.stpaulsbendigo.org.au or find us on Facebook.

Kangaroo Flat: The annual parish fair is this Saturday, November 1. It will include a jumping castle, CFA and SES displays, sausage sizzle, coffee, morning tea, craft, cakes/slices, produce, plants, books, lucky dip, chocolate spinning wheel, trash ‘n’ treasure stall and car boot stalls. 

A number of local choirs will perform including the Kangaroo Flat Primary School Choir, Sing Australia, Rusty Divas and the Euro Fest Choir. 

For more information, visit http://stmaryskangarooflat.com or find us on facebook.

South East: Caritas meets on the first Thursday of the month at 7.30pm at Holy Trinity.

There will be a Men’s Breakfast at Strathfieldsaye Uniting Church from 7.30am on November 1.

Coming up in November is the opportunity tobuy “Really Useful Gifts” (see www.usefulgifts.org) through the parish once again. So instead of scratching your head to find the perfect gift, take an envelope off the tree and fulfil our Lord’s second great commandment: Love your neighbour as you love yourself. You will serve your neighbours in lands near and far, offering life, safety, education and security – all that we take for granted. So grab some chickens, adult literacy, find some safer birthing, or even the good ol’ goat, and encourage friends and family to live simply so that others can simply live.

Baptist

This Sunday Andrew Johnston will speak on “The Song of Celebration” from Psalm 100 at Eaglehawk at 9.30am and at Junortoun at 10.30am and 6pm. Pastor Morris Morris will speak at the 10.30am service at the Htoo Moo Plaw church at Junortoun.

Shed Youth (years 11-12) meet on Fridays at Junortoun from 7.30pm to 9.45pm. See Kevin Sourgen for more details or phone 5449 3033.

Tomorrow, Tim Costello and friends from World Vision will appear at the Junortoun campus in a special thank-you event for the people of Bendigo. Doors open at 6.30pm for a 7pm start. Entry $5 at door. 

The church’s annual general meeting is on Saturday, November 8. There will be a dinner at 6pm in the Novo Centre at Junortoun. Cost is $20 per head for a two-course meal and drinks, $15 for pensioners and $40 a family. Non-members are most welcome to attend. Please sign up at the connect desk for catering purposes. Payment may be made on the night.

A Men’s Breakfast will be held at Sparky Malone’s shed on Saturday, November 15, at 7am. Contact Andrew Johnston for more details.

The Bendigo Baptist Church Choir is rehearsing for Christmas cantata and welcomes anyone interested in joining. Rehearsals are on Thursdays from 7.30pm to 9pm at Junortoun campus. 

For more information, please see Alison Apostolou or Sandra Kroker. 

As part of the two-year Bible reading plan, the passages for this week are: Thu. 2 Kings 15,16; Fri. 2 Kings 17,18; Sat. 2 Kings 19,20; Sun. 2 Kings 21,22; Mon. 2 Kings 23,24; Tue. 2 Kings 25, Ps. 55; Wed. 1 Samuel 1,2. 

Catholic

St Kilian’s: The Bereavement Committee of St Kilian’s Catholic Parish is holding its Annual Remembrance and Thanksgiving Mass this Monday, November 3, at 6pm in St Kilian’s Church. All have lost a loved one and would like to remember and pray for them are welcome. For details, contact the parish office on 5441 6244. 

Nominations are open for membership of the St Kilian’s Parish Pastoral Council. Nomination forms can be obtained from the church or the parish office. Nominations close on November 11.

St Joseph’s: St Joseph’s Parish and School are holding a car boot sale and fun day on Saturday, November 8, from 10am to 2pm at the church at 44 Russell Street, Quarry Hill. Come and see what trash or treasure you may find! 

Sausage sizzle, cake stall, jumping castle and more. Sites available pre-paid for $20. Book at St Joseph’s Primary School, Gladstone Street, Quarry Hill.

Sacred Heart: Great cathedrals inspire! However, they just do not arrive by accident. People dream, others encourage, many support. 

This Sunday, the 11am Mass will remember the many benefactors of Sacred Heart Cathedral, beginning with Dr Henry Backhaus and including all those who have made a difference down to this day. 

On Tuesday, November 4, our social group is conducting its annual Melbourne Cup afternoon – remember, wear a hat. Special prizes to be won and watch the race on the big screen in the cathedral hall. Doors open at 1pm. 

At 5pm on Tuesday, members of the Liturgy Committee are reminded that the November meeting is at the Presbytery at 5pm. Christmas plans are on the agenda. 

At 7pm on Tuesday, the RCIA team is organising a reunion dinner at 7pm. Past members welcome. Contact Paul or the parish office if you intend to come. 

St Mary’s: Tonight from 7pm there will be an open meeting to discuss future planning for our parish at the Jaara Centre at St Monica’s Primary School, Kangaroo Flat, from 7pm. Parishioners will be able to listen to and share ideas. 

Our end of year parish pre-Christmas get together and barefoot bowling gathering will be on Sunday, November 23, from midday at the Kangaroo Flat Bowls Club. It will include a barbecue lunch and conclude with afternoon tea about 3.30pm. Cost o is $20 per person, kids under adult supervision are free. All are welcome. Those wishing to attend are asked to RSVP for catering purposes by Monday, November 10, to the parish office on 03 5443 6969 or text Jackson on 0400 841 721. 

The next Youth-led Mass will be on Saturday, November 15, at 6pm at St Mary’s, Golden Square. 

Bishop Les Tomlinson has appointed Father Tony Shallue as administrator of Sacred Heart Cathedral, St Joseph’s Quarry Hill, St Mary’s Golden Square/ Kangaroo Flat, and Chancellor of the Sandhurst Diocese as from January 22, 2015. Father Tony currently serves as Parish Priest of Myrtleford and Bright.

The parish Scripture group meets on Thursdays (excepting the third Thursday of the month) in the meeting room at St Mary’s, Golden Square, from 1.30pm. 

A parish social lunch is held on the third Thursday of each month. For details, call Carol on 5447 7992. 

Weekend Masses are 6pm on Saturday at St Mary’s, Golden Square, and 9am on Sunday at St Monica’s, Kangaroo Flat. Today, Mass will be celebrated at 9.15am at St Mary’s, Golden Square, and at 11.30am at St John of God Hospital. 

Tomorrow, Mass will be celebrated at 9.15am at St Monica’s, Kangaroo Flat. Mass is also celebrated on Tuesdays at St John of God Hospital at 11.30am, and at Mercy Health Bethlehem Home for the Aged at 11am on Wednesdays. Reconciliation on Saturdays from 10.30am until 11.30am at Sacred Heart Cathedral. 

Connect Church

Transformations SOAK time will be on again in the house tonight at 8pm. An opportunity to support the residents plus allow the Holy Spirit to refresh us through music and testimony. All welcome.

Hymns Alive meets next Thursday, November 6, in the hall at 1.30pm for hymns, afternoon tea and fellowship. Guest speaker will be Uniting Church minister Julianne Parker. Free bus transport may be arranged – phone 5447 81621.

The church AGM will be held after the service on November 9, with annual reports available from help desk.

Sunday services are at 10am at 35 Solomon Street, Bendigo, preceded by prayer at 9.30am.

Lutheran

Sometimes discovering the truth can be a painful experience. It certainly was for the Pharisees when Jesus told them that they were enslaved to sin and their father was the Devil! 

This is recorded in John 8:31-59. Unlike how it might appear, Jesus was simply telling them the truth and this truth applies to all people before they are saved and redeemed by Jesus. Unsurprisingly, the Pharisees found this truth hard to swallow and had a heated exchange with Jesus. 

The sad part is that the Pharisees were not able to listen to Jesus when He shared with them the good news – that He was able to set them free from their enslavement and make them heirs in the kingdom of God. How common it is for those outside the Christian faith to be offended when they are told the truth about their human condition and not hear the good news the church also proclaims. To hear one message and not the other is a great tragedy. The truth can hurt, but also has the power to heal and set free. 

All welcome to join us for worship this Sunday at 9am at 94 Spring Gully Road. During Sunday’s service a small memorial rite will be held to remember loved ones who have died in recent years. 

Oasis Christian Church

Pastor John’s message last Sunday spoke about “the Cross at work in the believer”.

Psalm 34:19 states: “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers him out of them all.”  

God does not cause difficulties or hardships, but He allows believers to go through them to learn about His grace, avoiding arrogance and pride.   

Jesus through the Cross and His shed blood broke down the middle wall of separation between mankind and God.  He took all sin upon himself at His crucifixion, presenting Himself and the church without spot or wrinkle.  

Through Christ’s crucifixion, burial and resurrection, believers have been set free from a fallen nature of sin and death.  

They have been made alive and victorious in the Spirit of God and now have His power at work in them to resist wrong ways of living and become transformed in their thinking.   

By grace believers are free to worship God the Father and once more to have a close and loving relationship with Him.

Sunday services are at 10am at the Long Gully Community Centre, 27 Havilah Road, Bendigo.

Inquiries to 5443 1468 or 0402 087 083.  

Presbyterian

St John’s: At St John’s last Sunday, the Reverend Philip Burns concluded his sermon series on 1 Samuel by preaching on chapter 31. 

When the Philistines attacked Israel and were victorious, both King Saul and his sons’ lives came to an end – the sons in the battle and Saul by his own hand. 

Saul’s tragic life ended in a sad and lonely death, having refused to turn away from his mad pursuit of David and having failed to turn away from his sin. Saul’s death came about according to the Lord’s own warning to him, but even this did not deter him from this course of action. 

Saul’s death stands in stark contrast to the death of Jesus, the true King, whose death was not senseless and sad, but secured the salvation of the people of God and brings real and eternal hope. 

Home Groups continue on Wednesdays at 1.30pm and Thursdays at 7.30pm. Playgroup meets on Fridays at 10am. There will be a service at Joan Pinder tomorrow at 2pm. 

On Sunday the Reverend Burns will begin a new series on 1 Peter and the congregation will participate in Solidarity Sunday with the persecuted church. Morning tea will follow in the hall. For more information, contact 5443 6189 or visit http://bendigopc.org.au

Eaglehawk: Last week guest preacher Rory Wainwright spoke of “One body in Christ”, Ephesians 4 V11-16.

As we get older our bodies break down but we can ensure we are built up spiritually with the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Our spiritual life is a gift of God through Jesus’s death on the cross. God is calling us to Himself. He wants to share His love with us.

We, the church, are the body of whom Christ is the head. We have different parts, much like the human body. We have different gifts to serve God such as welcoming the newcomer, organising the cups of tea, or one who just does things that need doing, etc., none seeking a reward as it is all done in Jesus’s name.

Being part of the body of Christ we are redeemed, adopted and blessed. We belong to the family of God.

Sunday’s 10am worship service will be conducted by guest preacher Stephen Blythe. On Wednesday, November 5, the 9am weekly prayer meeting will be followed by Bible study at 10.30am.

As pastor Steven is still on leave, all inquiries to Alan on 5446 8086.

Southern Gateway

Last Sunday we had the joy of Pastor Shaun Foster from Project Compassion speaking out of his experiences in different countries and the wonderful God-centred function of sponsoring children into education in the poorest countries of the world. 

He reminded us of the Great Commission as in Matthew 28: 19-20 to go into the WHOLE world making disciples of all nations. Our service was led in praise by Richard Tatti and the Holy Spirit filled us afresh as we honoured God. 

Any people who feel led to sponsor a child in Project Compassion may contact our church for details. 

Next Sunday is Mission Sunday and our usual free shared lunch will be catered by Bob and Pamela Yam from the Malayan Orchid. All welcome. 

Our next Scripture study is on November 6 at June Mathews’ home at 7.30pm. 

Please feel welcome to attend our service at 10am in the Y community hall opposite Aldi in Kangaroo Flat. 

Support and prayer from Pastor Peter Pritchard on 0413 682 999.  

Uniting

Bendigo South Cluster:

Chum Street: At 11am with the Reverend Ian Stewart leading the service. Holy Communion will be celebrated.

Kangaroo Flat: At 9.30am with the Reverend Ian Stewart leading the service. Holy Communion will be celebrated.

Lockwood: At 9.30am with the Reverend Joe Wilson leading the service.

Envelopes for the asylum seeker appeal are available at church, or donations can be made by phoning 1800 668 426 or online at www.shareappeal.com.au. 

Each Monday during the school term Playday Monday is on at the Kangaroo Flat Uniting Church from 9,30am to 11am for all children under five.

ELM Cluster:

Eaglehawk: This Sunday, Cornerstone (Sunday school) will be celebrating the 160th anniversary of continous Christian education with a special service at 10am. 

The Cornerstone members will take part in the service and guest artist Geoff Roberts will play the keyboard. A special morning tea will follow the service.

At 4pm the men will meet at the Eaglehawk Baptist Church for the annual Eaglehawk men’s ecumenical tea.

The evening service will be at 6.30pm and include a study on the life of Jesus.

Playgroup will meet tomorrow from 10am. The Men’s Coffee and Conversation will tour the Whipstick and will meet in the church car park at 10am. A barbecue lunch will be provided.

The MESH Youth will meet at the church tommorrow at 7pm to 9pm for “And they’re Off” activity. Cost $3.

Church Council will meet on Wednesday at 7pm sharp.

Long Gully: Sunday’s 9.30am service will be led by the Reverend George Buckle and will include Holy Communion.

Marong: The congregation will participate in the service this coming Sunday, starting at 9.30am.

Weeroona Uniting Church Bendigo:

Thanks to all who helped make the Garden Party on October 18 such a huge success. More than $1000 was raised for the Strath-Haven Special Equipment Appeal. The weather was so kind, the garden beautiful, and many enjoyed coffee and cake after finding bargain on the plant stall.

Arnold Street and White Hills congregations will have their church service at the White Hills Church at 11am this Sunday, led by the Reverend Joe Wilson.

There will be two services at Neale Street his Sunday, at 9.15am and 11am. Both will be led by the Reverend Ralph Clarke and will include Holy Communion.  

During the 9.15am service we will also commemorate All Saints Sunday, where we will remember and light a candle for those of our congregation who have died in the past 12 months. 

Central Bendigo Cluster:

Sunday’s 9.30am worship will be led by the Reverend Julianne Parker at Forest Street, when there will be a combined Holy Communion service including St Andrew’s, Myers Street and Axedale congregations.

After worship there will be a special cluster congregation meeting, to hear a report from the cluster’s joint nominating committee with a recommendation for the next minister for the cluster. 

Members of the three congregations are encouraged to participate in the decision-making component of a lengthy process. 

Holy Communion worship at Axedale will start at 2.30pm, led by the Rev. Parker. 

St Andew’s Shirley Unmack will welcome offers of help with the Café St Andrew’s, which complements the Embroiders’ Exhibition from November 14 to 17 in the main Hall. 

St Andrew’s Elders have planned a series of studies starting on November 6 at 7.30pm. The first topic is “Grief and Loss”, led by the Reverend Parker.