You received without payment, give without payment. Matthew 10:8

The annual Winter Art Show will run at St Mary’s from July 28-30. Contact Warrick Stewart on 5447 3955 to enter.

A time of Christian meditation led by Eileen Dunicliff is held in St Mary’s side chapel Wednesdays at 3.30pm. For information call her on 5447 8312.

Merry Music is a fun time for pre-schoolers and is on each Thursday from 10-11am. 

For more details about what is happening at St Mary’s visit our website at www.stmaryskangarooflat.com or call 5447 7427.

St Paul’s Cathedral

This Sunday is the feast day of St Peter and St Paul. We will celebrate the two great missionaries both of whom were martyred for their faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Today’s Gospel shows us Jesus asking Peter if he loves him. When an affirmative answer is given (three times, no less) Jesus commands Peter to look after his sheep. This command, though primarily to Peter as an example of episcopal/ordained ministry, can be applied to us all: those of us who say we love Jesus should provide pastoral care – a listening ear and a loving heart – to those around us. Services this Sunday are 8am – said Eucharist, 9.30 – choral Eucharist, 11am – Celebration Eucharist with children’s church. 

Collective Youth, for year six and above, is growing in popularity. Held Fridays from 7-9.30pm.   

Women are looking forward to their monthly breakfast this Saturday at Lakeview Hotel at 8.30am. New people welcome. Phone 5441 3133.

Female residents from Transformations House will share at Hymns Alive Thursday from 1.30pm. This is always an emotional time as they share their struggles. This is also an opportunity for us to support and encourage them. All donations from the day will go toward this most worthy cause. Favourite old hymns will be sung concluding with a delicious afternoon tea.

If you would like to join in with other parents with preschool children, then you are most welcome at playgroup every Thursday in the portable from 10-11.30am. No charge. Bring a plate of food to share. Sunday services, 10am and 4pm, 35 Solomon Street, Bendigo.

This Sunday, June 25, will be the third Sunday after Pentecost and we will be celebrating with Holy Communion at our worship centre, 94 Spring Gully Road, Spring Gully, at 10am. Sunday School will meet at 10.45am.

The sermon this week will be based upon Matthew 10:24-39. This reading tells us of Jesus explaining to his disciples what they should expect when taking the gospel out into the world. Discipleship means first loyalty and total attachment to Christ himself - it means to love Jesus and to love Jesus means to follow him regardless of the pain, rejection or persecution which may result.  

Our craft group, hearts and hands, will meet on Wednesday, June 28, in the Lutheran Manse at 7pm.

The message was presented by Stella Johns who challenged us with: Why Go To Church? We fellowship at church to be " living stones" who become part of a structure which is the Body of Christ. The Church itself is in fact the Bride of Christ and we all need to be in this marriage to build one another up as a family. It is a spiritual fellowship. Despite all the personal prayers, DVD's, books and TV; we still need a local church for strength and spiritual food.

People flitting from one church to another don't provide sound teaching for their children to respect leadership and follow it faithfully. We can fall into disunity if we don't learn, in love, to break bread together and worship God together. Jesus cements all these things in His Church.

Next Sunday is our Mission Sunday and shared lunch. Ladies have scripture study on next Wednesday at 10am. A night group will form shortly. Prayer support from Pastor Peter Pritchard on 0413 682 999.

Last Sunday Pastor John’s message spoke about ‘The Power of God’s Glory’. There is no other foundation that anyone can lay such as the Word of God (1 Cor.3:11). The penalty of sin and its power over mankind was destroyed by Christ. Before people came into the saving knowledge of Christ we were bound to our sinful nature, but now followers of Christ are alive through the power of the Word of God that goes through them, in them and goes out from them. The power of His Word is the foundation of all truth and will stand the test of time.  

All are warmly welcome at our regular Sunday services where you will find hope, encouragement and encounter God, held on Sundays at 10am at the Long Gully Community Centre, 27 Havilah Road, Bendigo. Enquiries:  Ph 5443 1468. Mob:  0402 087 083.  

Eaglehawk

Preaching from Romans 6 V1-14 last Sunday Reverend Grant Vayne titled his message “Sanctification”. God’s provided righteousness involves more than declaring believers righteous on the basis of faith. God’s provision by grace through Jesus Christ leads to sanctification.

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound. By no means. When we were sanctified by grace the believer died to sin. We died with Christ on the cross, we were buried with Him in the tomb, we will rise with Him and be made alive with Him forever.

We try to live a life worthy of His grace to us when He sanctified us, we do not desire to be controlled by the sin to which we were once enslaved. We have been made free from sin but not free to sin. The believer is dead to sin but alive to Christ.

Sunday 25: 10am, worship service conducted by Graham Hammond. This being the last Sunday of the month our bring and share lunch will be held. All inquiries to 5446 3779.

The Bendigo Salvos are commencing an Alpha Course. The launch of the course will be on Wednesday, June 28, 6pm-8.30pm. The evening includes a free meal and will be held at the Salvos Hilltop Café, 65-71 Mundy St, Bendigo. To register contact Major Andrew Walker at andrew.walker@aus.salvationarmy.org or call 5440 8431. Bendigo Salvos Church meets every Sunday at 10.30am at 65-71 Mundy Street (enter gate 1). This Sunday we are beginning a new series called ‘Generous Living’. This week Major Kelly Walker will be sharing about how generosity is a key to living a fulfilled and happy life.

St John’s

Rev Philip Burns preached from 1 Timothy 5:1-16. Because Paul loved the church he wrote to the younger pastor at Ephesus, Timothy, with many instructions on how Timothy should manage church life. Timothy was not only to preach the Word faithfully but show respect and honour to all, treating older men as he would his father, younger men as his brothers, older women as he would his mother and younger women as sisters. There is an inter-generational aspect to the church that is special and unique. But Timothy was also to especially care for and help the widows in his congregation. With no pensions or other social security offered to them, their needs were great. The church is to be a place where people 'be the church' to each other. Our witness to the world only begins when we truly show the love of Christ to one another. Home Groups meets tonight at 7:30pm. SMILE Playgroup meets on Mondays at 10am. Playgroup meets on Friday at 10am. Next Sunday, Rev Philip Burns will preach on 1 Timothy 5:17-25. Sunday School. Shared lunch follows. 

Bendigo Central

A great friendly atmosphere surrounded the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Uniting Church Australia last Sunday. It was a Bendigo-wide service held in St Andew’s followed by morning tea. The theme for the service was “Faithfulness into the Future” on which Guest Speaker Rev. Dr. Jenny Byrnes, Executive Director of the Centre for Theology and Ministry, reflected. Five Bendigo UC ministers, former Moderator UC Vic, the combined Uniting Churches’ Choir & Instrumental Group and Bendigo UC Social Justice Group Executive provided leadership to the celebratory worship.

Friday, June 23: monthly Messy Church event is held in the St. Andrew’s Hall, 4.30 -6.30pm. The theme is ‘ Joseph: From slave to friend of a Pharaoh’.

Sunday’s 9.30am worship at Forest St will be led by Rev. Ralph Clarke, while at St. Andrew’s Rev. Jon Watson will be the worship leader.

Monday, June 26: Forest St UCAF, 1.30pm, will be held in the meeting room. Gwenda Pratt will speak on her travels in Africa. 

The next six month’s church rosters are being drawn up. Please advise Naomi Boyd or Judy Stuchbery of your availability.

There is still an opportunity to book for the annual weekend away at Hall’s Gap. Contact Barb Fordham  0428 423 855. 

ELM Cluster

Eaglehawk: Everyone is welcome to come along to our services this Sunday at 10am when Rev Cynthia page will celebrate Holy Communion. The service will also include the Cornerstone program for young people. Morning tea will follow the service. The evening service will be at 6.30pm and include Holy Communion.

The monthly pub lunch will be held on Sunday after church at the Borough Club in Eaglehawk.

The Community Market will be held this Saturday in the hall from 9am.  

The Women's Get Together will be held on Monday at Lets Get Saucys Café from 10am.

The Church Council Executive will meet on Monday at 7pm. The Missionary Action Group will meet on Tuesday at noon.

The Tuesday morning Bible Study will be delivering Winter Hampers to our Neighbours on Tuesday from 10am.

Thursday, June 29: 7pm at the Star Cinema the Church is holding a fundraiser to see the movie "The Case for Christ". Cost is $20 per person. Please bring some food to share.

Long Gully: Sunday’s 9.30am service will be led by the Rev Tyrone Balfour.

Marong: Sunday’s 9am service will be led by the Rev George Buckle.

Bendigo South Cluster

Kangaroo Flat: Sunday’s service at 9.30am will be led by Rev Ian Stewart (‘cuppa’ following). 

Lockwood: Sunday’s 9.30am service will be led by Rev George Buckle. 

Chum Street: Sunday’s service at 11am will be led by Rev Ian Stewart (‘cuppa’ from 10am). 

Thursday, June 22: Indoor (non-bias) bowls, 2-4pm (note time change), cnr Harkness & Russell Sts, Quarry Hill. All ages and bowling abilities are welcome. Cost $2. Contact Anne 5447 8430. 

Mondays: 9.30 – 11am Playgroup at Kangaroo Flat is a welcoming place for parents and grandparents to bring children under five years. Gold coin donation. Contact Anne 5447 8430. 

Tuesdays and Fridays: UnitingCare Emergency Relief, 10am - 1pm, Kangaroo Flat Uniting Church. Phone 5443 5458.

Tuesdays: 10.30am, Bible study group at 149 Thistle Street, Golden Square. All Welcome. Contact: Glenys 5443 9451. 

Wednesdays: 11am, Talk ‘n’ Tucker, Chum Street Uniting Church.

Wednesday, June 28: noon, community lunch at Kangaroo Flat Uniting Church. Cost $5 for two course meal. Everyone welcome.  

Wednesday, June 28: 1.30pm, Lockwood Craft Guild at Lockwood Uniting Church. Everyone is Welcome. Enjoy a ‘cuppa and a chat’ while working on your own craft projects, or craft projects for organisations supporting people in need. Gold Coin Donation.

UnitingCare Prayer Point: Winter can be a miserable time for those who are homeless, who have inadequate bedding or clothing to keep them warm, or who cannot afford to heat their homes. Please pray for those in need and for the agencies who try to help them.

Weeroona

This Sunday there will be three Weeroona Uniting Church Services. Morning services will be held at 9.15am and 11am at Neale Street and led by Rev. Susan Malthouse-Law and will include activities for children.

Song, Story, Supper, this Sunday, 5pm, at the Neale Street church. Come and experience worship in a different way. This service is ideal for families, singles, couples, old, young, and those in between. The service will be followed by a bring and share tea. The next TIC TAC Kid’s Club get together is happening on Tuesday, June 27, 4pm, at Neale Street. All school aged children are welcome for a great afternoon. Fun is promised!