ANGLICAN
St Paul’s Cathedral
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This Sunday is the first in Lent. Services are 8am – said Eucharist, 9.30 – choral Eucharist, 11am – celebration Eucharist with children’s church. Lent began this week with the Holy Day of Ash Wednesday. It represents the time when Jesus ventured into the desert to fast and to pray. There he is confronted with all the desires and difficulties that his human nature can throw at him. He shows us that there is no real love without sacrifice. In this time of much sorrow, evil and stress in the world and in the Church, Lent is a healthy reminder that whatever good we can do, is far better done, if we do it with God.
For more about St Paul’s please visit www.stpaulsbendigo.org.au or find us on facebook.
BENDIGO INTERFAITH COUNCIL
“Spirituality by the Lake” is fast approaching, on Sunday, February 21, from 1.30pm - 3.30pm, at the Rowing Pavilion, Lake Weeroona. Speakers from five faith traditions – Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Islamic and Jewish - will pair with five emerging artists for an afternoon of art, short presentations, discussion and reflection. This reflection will centre around making meaning in our own lives and hearing different spiritual perspectives. There will be children’s activities, including boat making and mandala installations and afternoon tea will be provided. This is a free event.
Visit www.daybreak.net.au or Spirituality by the Lake on facebook.
The Interfaith dinner and forum will be staged at The Conservatory, All Seasons Motor Inn, McIvor Rd, on Friday, March 18, from 6.30pm - 9.30pm.
The Keynote speaker will be Des Cahill, O.A.M., Professor of Intercultural Studies at RMIT University in Melbourne. Des is chair of Religions for Peace Australia, and deputy moderator of Religions for Peace Asia. He is a foundation member of the Victoria Police Interfaith Council. He will address “The Challenge of Compassion and the Global Age” and there will be responses from representatives of several faith groups, as well as an opportunity for questions and comment.
Tickets, at $50 per person or $380 for a table of eight, may be purchased from All Seasons, Loddon Campaspe Multicultural Service, or online at http://interfaithdinner2016.eventbrite.com.
CONNECT CHURCH
Transformation's Soak time will be held tonight, 8 - 9.30pm, in the supper room. Everyone welcome to come and relax to Christian music and ministry, plus the opportunity to get to know the residents.
Next Live Soak in church is on Thursday, February 18.
Connect Youth, for years six to 12, are getting together from 7pm -9pm tomorrow evening. More info on facebook or at church office.
If you enjoy singing hymns, then you are most welcome to join 80 to 90 others in the hall next Thursday, February 18 at 1.30pm. Susan Malthouse-Law, senior ministry of Weeroona Uniting Church, will be sharing with us in word and song. Afternoon tea is provided and free bus transport can be arranged. Phone 5442 2774.
Coffee Connect invites new people to join them for a coffee and a chat at the Green Oliver, Eve Court, Quarry Hill, 2pm , Saturday, February 20. For further information phone Kerry 0407 422 673 or Jenny 0417 861 057.
Weekly small groups operate during the week at various times and locations. If you would like to be part of one, contact the church office, phone 5441 3133.
Sunday service is at 10am, 35 Solomon Street, Bendigo. Pastor Kerrin Wallis will continue his series "We are family".
Kid's Church will run in conjunction with the church service but children must be registered at Kid's Corner in church foyer prior to the service.
OASIS OF LOVE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
‘Fire of the Holy Spirit’ was Pastor John’s message last Sunday. In Matthew 3:11 John the Baptist said that Jesus would baptise with the Holy Ghost and Fire. This looked ahead to Pentecost (Acts 2), when the Holy Spirit would be sent by Jesus in the form of tongues of fire, empowering His believers to preach the Gospel. It resulted in a worldwide harvest of new believers, the first converts to Christianity. Why tongues of Fire? Tongues symbolise speech and the communication of the Gospel. Fire symbolises God’s purifying presence, which burns away the undesirable elements of our lives and gives our heart a passion to ignite the lives of others. God works all kinds of miracles to spread the Gospel, no matter what your race, colour, nationality or language, God is able to speak to us. Malachi 3:2 tells us God is like a refiner’s fire, cleansing and healing and His reflection in our lives becomes more and more clear to those around us. Fire of the Holy Spirit in the early church is the same Fire that is in the church today with words of God’s life and unconditional love to the world.
Evangelist Peter Kimani from Nairobi Kenya will be visiting Oasis for two weeks from February 23 to March 6. Peter’s purpose is to communicate God’s restoration to the people of Bendigo; that the God we read about in the Bible is as real today as He was then.
All are warmly welcome at our regular Sunday services where you will find hope, encouragement and encounter God. Services are held on Sundays at 10am at the Long Gully Community Centre, 27 Havilah Road, Bendigo.
Enquiries: Ph: 5443 1468; Mob: 0402 087 083.
PRESBYTERIAN
St John’s: Last Sunday at St John's, Steve Blyth preached from Luke 13:1-21. Throughout the history of time, people have always been weighed down by some kind of suffering. In Jesus' day this was no different. The sudden deaths of some people who were killed by a murderous Pontius Pilate or by a falling tower, caused some people to approach Jesus and share their concerns with Him. In response, Jesus told them that the problem of suffering is caused by sin in the world, that the solution to the problem of sin is something that only He can deal with and the great incentive that believers look forward to is found in the coming of His Kingdom. Look for us at the 'Scots' Day Out' in Rosalind Park on Saturday. Next Sunday, the prayer meeting begins at 10am and then Rev Philip Burns will continue his series on Joshua 1-8. Sunday school continues. Morning tea will follow in the hall. All are welcome. For further information, or to hear this week's message, visit http://bendigopc.org.au.
Eaglehawk: Last Sunday Pastor Steven preached on “John’s warning” Luke 3 V7-14.
John the Baptist’s ministry was short but very direct, telling the people of their need to repent of their sins. We see how it affected the people, even tax collectors and soldiers came and asked “ What must I do then?”, his advice was “Repent, do what is right”.
Today this sinful world is not content with their lot, they want more, more money, more of everything. Because of their sinful state they do not realise that all their needs, not their wants, can be met in Jesus Christ.
Pastor Steven asked, “Do we make decisions in this life to please ourselves, or is our life for God?” Are we wheat or chaff? The people needed to hear what John preached and believed, we need it even more today to turn us back to the living God, religion to most is a drag, no one wants to offend anyone, nice words mean nothing if you are heading for Hell.
Scripture is very clear on the return of Jesus Christ. People and some preachers say that God is a loving God, rightly so, but He is also a righteous God who will judge us all because we are sinners who need to repent and be saved. We are saved only by a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
How we react to trials will be a testament to the world of our faith in our Lord and Saviour.
Sunday, February 14, 10am, worship service.
Wednesday, February 17, 9am, weekly prayer meeting followed by Bible study at 10-30am.
All enquiries to Pastor Steven 0408 990 903.
Reforming: The Psalms are the hottest 150 of the Bible, the songs of those saved by grace. This coming Sunday, we finish our series by plumbing the depths of forgiveness found in Jesus Christ - there is no end.
Last Sunday, we saw that even in the worst-case-scenarios of our lives, we can behold who Jesus is for us - and how the worst has happened to Him, so we can have the best.
Soon we will see a whole bunch of new university students come to Bendigo, and we pray that Christian students would stand firm for Christ by getting amongst the encouraging gospel ministry of the Christian Union on campus. We are a church who welcomes students, workers, singles, families, children and older generations. We are reforming by the good news of Jesus, and we invite you to be reforming with us.
Find us at Bendigo South East College on Sundays, 10.30am in the Theatre Auditorium on Ellis Street, all are welcome. We are online at reforming.org.au.
SOUTHERN GATEWAY CHRISTIAN CHURCH.
On Sunday, it was so evident that Jesus is touching our lives. Amanda Parker, regional leader from Scripture Union, spoke about her role and the mighty work they all conduct in a variety of schools. It was a real blessing for us as we partner with them.
Linda Fraser shared a great testimony of God at work in her family's life and led us in Communion. This was a time of affirming the Blood of Jesus changing us and bringing righteousness into our lives. The Word overcomes the natural.
This was evidenced when one our ladies declared the total healing of a severe problem.
I recall her coming forward for prayer three weeks ago and we prayed and asked Jesus to heal her. The problem was totally removed. Gone! Praise God.
Praise and worship led by Linda and Karolyn truly gave God the glory.
Pastor Peter preached from Luke 24 on how Jesus opened the eyes and then the ears of two disciples on the road to Emmaus. Jesus will open our eyes and ears too if we walk with him.
The world only knew Jesus had died on the Cross and that's how the world still tends to view Him. Pilate didn't know what to do with Jesus. The challenge is still much the same today. Do Christians really know what they should do? The world doesn't know that's for sure because he rose from the dead and conquered the grave .
In I John 1 and later in 1John 2 we are encouraged to walk in the light. If we walk in darkness by hating our brother then surely we are in the dark and lost.
Turn to Jesus who is our Saviour.
On February 17 we have Sondra Baras speaking about her work in Judea and Samaria. She has conducted this life enriching work for Jewish people for many years. All are welcome.
Next lady meeting is on the last Thursday of the month at 10am. Hour of Power prayer at Pritchard home, first Wednesday at 11am and then at the Box home at 7pm the last Wednesday.
Church welcome to all at 10am on Sundays, held in the Y community hall opposite Aldi in Kangaroo Flat.
Prayer support from Pastor Peter Pritchard on 0413 682 999.
UNITING
Bendigo Central
Friday, February 12: St.Andrew’s Messy Church program, 4.30pm. The theme is ‘Baptism- A New Start’ and all ages are welcome. For further information contact Garth Phillips on 5441 1050 or garthcphillips@bigpond.com
Sunday, February 14: 9.30am, Forest St, UC worship will be led by Rev.Ray Outhred. Rev Di Esbensen /Joy Spark’s team will lead the contemporary service at St.Andrew’s, Myers St.
Monday, February 15: the Forest St. elders will meet at 7.30 pm.
St.Andrew’s congregation are having a ‘Bring fruit & Vegetable” donations to their baskets on Sunday, as a sign of their generosity to others.
Regular church activities: St.Andrew’s, Myers St, 9.30 pm; Uniting Threads, Fridays, 9am; Meditation and Creative Living, Mondays, 10.30am.
The CBD’s Ecumenical Study Program will meet on February 16, 1pm, meeting in rotation at St.Paul’s, Forest St, Sacred Heart & St.Andrew’s and use ‘Migration and Movement’ for the six-week study.
Local study groups will be held on Sundays at 7pm, from February 14, at 34 Kendall St. led by David Shield 5441 4029. Mondays from February 15, 2pm , in St.Andrew’s Randall Room and at Forest St UC Vestry, 2pm, Wednesday, or 7.30pm Thursdays. Please ring Rev.Di Esbensen 5447 3803 or Judy Causon 5443 5909 so that enough resource copies are printed.
The Fellowship Groups will meet at St.Andrew’s on Friday, February 19 at 10am and Forest St on Monday, February 22, at 7.30pm.
Coffee with Our Minister will commence on February 25 at 3pm, at Café, 11 Forest St.
ELM Cluster
Eaglehawk: Everyone is welcome to come along to our services this Sunday at 10am, when the service will be led by the Rev Cynthia Page and will include the dedication of the Cornerstone Program and personnel.
Morning Tea will follow the Service.
The evening service will be held at 6.30pm and the Rev Cynthia Page will lead the first Lenten Study. All welcome to join in this study leading up to Easter.
The Tuesday Bible study group will meet on Tuesday at 10am.
The op shop is holding a working bee on Tuesday from 1pm. Anyone who can help would be appreciated.
Playgroup meets from 9.30am on Wednesday. All preschoolers and their parents welcome.
The friendship group will meet on Wednesday at 12.30pm for lunch at the Camp Hotel.
The property committee will hold their AGM on Wednesday at 7pm.
Long Gully: The service on Sunday will be at 9am and will be led by the Rev Joe Wilson.
Marong: The service on Sunday at 9am will be the monthly kid's service.
Weeroona
Preparations are currently underway for our 2016 production of the musical Godspell. Rehearsals began last week and there is much excitement in the air. Performances will be held on Saturday, March 19 and Sunday morning, March 20. Watch this space for more details.
This Sunday there will be two Weeroona Uniting Church Services, at 9.15am and 11am. Both services will be held at Neale Street and will be led by Rev. Susan Malthouse-Law. The 9.15am service is a family service which includes a Sunday school program for children from crèche to grade six. The 11am is more traditional in its presentation, and also includes activities for the children.
The first TIC TAC (Totally Inclusive Children Talking About Church) Kid’s Club get together for 2016 is happening next Tuesday, February 16 at 4pm, Neale Street. All primary school-aged children are welcome to come along for an afternoon of fun. Fun is promised.
Bendigo South Cluster
Services this week: Kangaroo Flat week one of Lent service at 9.30am will be lead by Faye Fletcher.
Chum Street week one of Lent service, 11am, will be lead by Rev. Ian Stewart.
Lockwood Service, 9.30am, will be lead by Rev. Ian Stewart and Holy Communion will be celebrated.
On Friday, February 12 at 6.30pm there will be a cross-cultural ministry gathering at
Chum Street Uniting Church. A time of sharing and fellowship for people from different backgrounds and cultures – BYO food to share.
UnitingCare Pancake Day will be held on Wednesday, February 17 at Kangaroo Flat.
Uniting Church from 10am – 11.30am. Cost $5 for pancakes with topping and tea or Coffee. All welcome.
A community lunch will be held on Wednesday, February 12 at Kangaroo Flat Uniting Church from noon. Two course meal for $5 and everyone is welcome.
Playgroup for grandparents recommences at Kangaroo Flat on Mondays between 9.30am and 11am.
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.
Miriam can be contacted on 5443 2887.