ANGLICAN
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St Paul’s: This Sunday is Trinity Sunday.
Each of the readings today hints at the Trinity rather than naming it.
It may be curious for some that such a key doctrine is never explicitly stated in the Bible. Yet from “Holy, Holy, Holy” in Isaiah and the human encounter with God, we come down the centuries to wonders like St Patrick’s breastplate.
Pray for those who struggle with the balance of faith, for those who find God the Father abstract, or the Spirit too confronting, or Jesus too distant.
Services this Sunday are 8am – said Eucharist; 9.30am – Choral Eucharist; and 11am – celebration Eucharist with children’s church.
For more information about St Paul’s, visit www.stpaulsbendigo.org.au or find us on Facebook.
CATHOLIC
St Kilian’s: The Trading Circle is a national not-for-profit Fair Trade organisation helping women trade their way out of poverty with dignity.
Due to the success of the Trading Table on Mother’s Day weekend, the St Kilian’s Parish Pastoral Council has organised another Trading Table after all Masses on May 30 and 31 before the unsold goods are returned to the Sisters of the Good Shepherd.
CONNECT CHURCH
Hymns Alive meets today in the hall at 1.30pm, when 70 to 80 people will gather for a time of singing well-loved hymns and to hear our guest speaker, Virginia McDonald, who is a leader at Common Ground Church, Maiden Gully.
New people are welcome and there will be afternoon tea. Free bus transport may be arranged – phone 5447 8161.
Transformations Soak time will be in the house tonight from 8pm. Everyone is invited to come along and enjoy the getting to know the residents and the opportunity to be refreshed to music, testimonies and ministry.
Connect Youth (years 6 to 12) is in for an awesome time tomorrow in the hall from 7pm to 9.30pm. The program will be Worship Part 2 “With the Power of God”. Come along, bring your friends and experience the unexpected.
Weekly prayer meeting is held in the supper room on Wednesdays from 7.30am to 8am.
If you would like to be involved in weekly small group, contact the church office for more details.
Sunday service is at 10am at 35 Solomon Street, Bendigo. For more information on all weekly programs, phone the church office on 5441 3133.
OASIS OF LOVE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
Last Sunday Pastor Diane continued her message about the “Secret Place”.
If God’s people desire to dwell in this Secret Place there are certain things that must take place in our hearts and life before we can enter.
First we enter by the atoning Blood of Jesus Christ that blots out our sin from the Father’s gaze. By His grace, God imparts His holiness to us to enable us to have a relationship with Him, while our minds, thoughts and imaginations are in a process of being healed through the washing of the Word of God, in which the Spirit of God reveals deeper layers of truths and wisdom, new insight and understanding.
However, we can never take His presence for granted; if we do, we find that we are not in the Secret Place any longer.
We can’t hang around the edge of worldly desires and get close enough to God to be in His shadow as verse 1 of Psalm 91 tells us.
When we get close enough to God to get in His shadow, that is when the promises of Psalm 91 begin to take place as we learn to trust Him more and know that only in Him can we have real security and protection from the adversary.
The person in the Secret Place develops a heart like God and a relationship of intimacy with the Father. Let God live in you and His Spirit draw you out further into the River of Life. Rev.22:17 states, “And let him that hears say come and let him that is thirsty come.”
All are warmly welcome at our regular Sunday services held at 10.00 am at the Long Gully Community Centre, 27 Havilah Road, Bendigo. Inquiries to 5443 1468 or 0402 087 083.
PRESBYTERIAN
St John’s: Last Sunday at St John’s, the Reverend Philip Burns continued his series on 1 Peter by preaching from chapter 3, verses 18-22.
In these verses, Peter reminded his readers that Jesus suffered much on the cross when he gave Himself on the cross to save His people.
However, not all of what Peter says is so clear, and in mentioning that Jesus preached to those who lived in the days of Noah, some have assumed that Jesus did this between his death and resurrection.
It is better to understand this to mean that Jesus preached the gospel through Noah, who was a herald of righteousness. Either way, Peter’s conclusion is clear; Jesus was vindicated by God the Father who will do the same for all His children who suffer for the gospel.
Home Groups meet tonight at 7.30pm and on Wednesday at 1.30pm.
Playgroup (sorry, no vacancies) meets on Fridays at 10am.
On Sunday the Reverend Burns will continue his series on 1 Peter at 10.30am and morning tea will follow in the hall.
For more details or to hear this week’s message, visit http://bendigopc.org.au
Eaglehawk: Last Sunday Pastor Steven’s address was “Bearing up in pain”, Hebrews 12 V7-10.
Do we realise what the end result of true faith will be? Eternal life with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Look at the world today, full of suffering and sorrow. Despair has taken over and the Christian who stands by God’s word is called a racist or a bigot. Because of this persecution, the minimal believer is tempted to give up his faith.
We must stand firm on God’s word, living by the morals it teaches us. Jesus said, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven”.
God has made provision for us through His Son Jesus Christ who suffered more than any of us to defeat sin that is so rife in the world today.
We must be ready to give a good account of what we believe in Jesus, His life, death and resurrection .
So much of the world is living in the flesh, not in the spirit. See how athletes suffer much to obtain worldly glory which is of no use. The Christian knows that when we suffer for the glory of God the crown we win is everlasting.
We belong to God. He has bought us with the precious blood shed by Jesus on the cross. Know, too, that He helps us in bearing our pain.
Sunday, May 31, at 10am – worship service. This being the last Sunday in the month, our bring and share luncheon and afternoon service will be held.
Tuesday, June 2, at 2.30pm – Session will meet.
Wednesday, June 3, at 9am – the weekly prayer meeting will be followed by Bible study at 10.30am.
All inquiries to Pastor Steven on 0408 990 903.
SOUTHERN GATEWAY
On Sunday last Pastor Peter shared the powerful teaching in Zechariah of God moving in the power of the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit invites us all to allow him into our lives. Holy Spirit dwelling gives us total refreshment in our spiritual journey with Jesus. When we are born again we receive a dynamic outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
However, we are meant to witness this breakthrough in our lives to others. We are meant to share the gifts of the Holy Spirit .
Christianity means living a Christ-like experience. We are encouraged to “put on the mind of Christ”. With the wisdom of the Holy Spirit we can walk like Christ, but with Jesus.
We had a lengthy time of worship and praise led by Bob Yam to bring honour to our Lord and King. Pamela Yam reminded us of the need to thank God for what we receive.
If we woke up only to what we thanked God for yesterday, what we would we have? We need to thank God daily and pray daily for our needs.
Pastor Colin Flitton will visit us next, as will Mikey Dynon from Christian FM. Lady Day is on this Wednesday at June Matthews’ house at 10am.
Come join us at 10 am on Sundays in the Y community hall opposite Aldi in Kangaroo Flat.
Prayer support and inquiries to Pastor Peter Pritchard on 5441 3526 or 0413 682 999.
THE LAMP CHURCH
A new Pentecostal church is holding services in the Revival Centre Chapel at 237 High Street next to BMW Golden Square.
Len Cutting is the senior minister of the Lamp Church International and has been ministering The Word of God for more than 40 years, travelling all around Victoria, NSW and Queensland and extensively through the north island of New Zealand.
The Lamp Church is very much a Word based ministry. “I believe that the word of God empowers, equips and releases people.” says Len. He welcomes everyone to come and hear the uncompromised, powerful word of God.
To Contact Len, call 0432 354 230.
UNITING
Weeroona Uniting Church Bendigo: Sunday, May 17, saw the sad occasion of the decommissioning and official closure of the Arnold Street Bendigo Church.
Formerly Methodist, now a congregation of the Uniting Church in Australia, this had been a place of Christian worship for many people over the past 141 years.
It once had a vibrant community, with many and varied activities over the years. Sadly, due to declining numbers, the time had come to make some rational and objective decisions.
In July 2014, the congregations of Arnold Street, Neale Street and White Hills merged to form the Weeroona Uniting Church Bendigo congregation.
The last service that was officially held in the building was on December 28, 2014. Since then the congregation has been worshipping with other members of the Weeroona Uniting Church Bendigo, alternating at the Neale Street and White Hills sites.
The decommissioning service was organised and led by Loddon Mallee Presbytery administration mininster Judy Berridge, with the Reverend Lorene Day, a past presbytery chairperson, delivering the reflection.
Various congregation members past and present assisted in the procession of symbols and Bible readings. The congregation were each given a stone as a symbol to remind them of the memories, gifts and things we have learned on the way during our times with Arnold Street.
Towards the end of the service, the congregation was led out of the building by a group carrying the Bible, Cross, Candle and Holy Communion elements.
The two current members with the oldest ties to the building symbolically closed the doors at the end of the service.
Following the service, the congregation of about 100, which included former ministers, joined for an afternoon tea in the Sunday school hall.
Thanks go to all who had input into the day, especially Judy and Lorene and members of the former Arnold Street Church Council.
We now look forward to the next phase in the life of the Weeroona Uniting Church Bendigo with anticipation.
Thanks be to God for the history and with faith and hope we trust in Him for the future.
ELM Cluster.
Eaglehawk: Everyone is welcome to come along to our services this Sunday at 10am for Cornerstone (Sunday school) and the service in the church, which will be a “Back to Baptism” Sunday.
The service will include the baptism of Charlie Pratt. The Reverend Cynthia Page will be the leader. Morning tea will follow the service.
The evening service will be at 6.30pm and will be led by the Reverend Page.
Items for the UnitingCare Bendigo stall include breakfast foods and cans of soup.
Playgroups will be held on Fridays and Wednesdays from 9.30am.
Men’s Coffee and Conversation will be held tomorrow from 10am at the home of Merle and David Uren.
On Friday night from 7.30pm at the church Mesh Youth will be having a “Shrek A Thon”.
Church Council will meet on Wednesday from 7pm.
Long Gully: The service on this coming Sunday at 9.30am will be led by the Reverend Tyrone Balfour.
Marong: The Reverend Joe Wilson will lead the Service this Sunday at 9am.
Bendigo South Cluster:
This week the services are as follows::
Kangaroo Flat: At 9.30am, led by the Reverend Adrian Pegler.
Lockwood: At 9.30am, led by Joanne and Richard Daly.
Chum Street: At 11am, led by the Reverend Adrian Pegler.
Today, the Biggest Morning Tea will be held in the Forest Street Uniting Church Hall. There will be raffles, as well as a delicious morning tea. Admission by donation to the Cancer Council.
Kangaroo Flat Market will be held at Kangaroo Flat Uniting Church from 8am to 2pm this Saturday, May 30. There will be plenty of stalls, a garage sale, Devonshire teas and a sausage sizzle. Kim Ritchie will be singing between 9am and noon.
Uniting Church hospital chaplain Miriam Darlow visits both Bendigo and St John of God Hospitals. She welcomes hearing about any UC members who are in hospital and can be contacted on 5443 2887.
To everyone who supports our Outreach Program, a big thank-you. Through the generosity of many this program is able to support many families in our district.
Some items needed at the moment are sugar, tins of soup, small packs of cereal, small tins of fruit, small jars of Vegemite and dry and sweet biscuits.
On Mondays between 9.30am and 11am there is a playgroup for children under five years of age at the Kangaroo Flat Uniting Church. Please bring a gold coin donation and a piece of fruit to share.
On Wednesdays from 9am to noon there is a craft group at Kangaroo Flat Uniting Church. All interested persons welcome.
On Thursdays from 1.30pm to 3.15pm there is indoor bowls at the Golden Square Hall (Laurel Street entrance). All ages and abilities welcome, $2 donation.
Central Bendigo Cluster:
Sunday’s 9.30am worship at Forest Street will be led by the Reverend Ray Outhred and at St Andrew’s by David Shield.
There will be A Trumpet and Organ concert at St Andrew’s UC on Sunday, May 31, at 2pm. It’s part one of a series that will include Louisa Trewartha (trumpet), David Castles (organ),Stephenie Ead (violin), Ryan Williams (recorder) and Josie Graham (cello). Admission is a donation, with funds going to support Louisa’s Masters program in Ireland.
Uniting World has agencies working on the ground in the wake of the Nepal earthquake and is assessing immediate needs. Donations can be made to your church or to the UnitingWorld Nepal Earthquake Appeal on 1800 998 122.
Out of the Darkness is an exhibition hosted by Rural Australians for Refugees Bendigo and features paintings, fibres, graphics, photography, sculpture and text. It will be held in St Paul’s Cathedral in Myers Street from June 13 to 21, from ,10am to 4pm daily.
On Sunday, June 21, at 10am at St Andrew’s there will be a combined service of Bendigo Uniting churches with Synod General Secretary the Reverend Dr Mark Lawrence the speaker and guest at a bring and share lunch.