Bishop Ron Stone celebrated 25 years as a Bishop at St Mary’s last Sunday.  

The annual Winter Art Show will run at St Mary’s from July 28-30. Contact Warrick Stewart on 54473955 to enter.

You are invited to the Fellowship lunch at the Kangaroo Flat Sportsman’s club at noon on June 20.

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.

The Bendigo and District Concert Band presents “A Walk through the Seasons” at St Mary’s, 2pm, June 18. Entry by donation, a delicious afternoon tea provided. For details about what is happening at St Mary’s visit www.stmaryskangarooflat.com or call the Parish Office on 5447 7427

St Paul’s Cathedral

This Sunday is the second after Pentecost. In the Gospel, Jesus tells the disciples that being sent out for the sake of God’s mission is not without its costs. He warns they will be hated by all because of his name. Nonetheless, their fidelity will be rewarded: those who endure will be saved. Services this Sunday are 8am – said Eucharist, 9.30 – choral Eucharist, 11am – Celebration Eucharist with children’s church. At 6pm there will be a ‘singalong’ Evensong. All are welcome to join the choir for the rehearsal at 4.30pm with a short break before the service. For more about St Paul’s please visit www.stpaulsbendigo.org.au  or find us on facebook.

Hymns Alive welcomes Valentine and Jacob from Transformations Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation program to share their past struggles with addictions. People will sing their favourite hymns in the hall at 1.30pm and new people welcome.  Afternoon tea.  Free bus transport may be arranged. Phone Allan 5442 2774. Collective Youth – year six onwards – will be in action again tomorrow 7-9.30 pm.  Contact Dave at Church Office for details.

Regional Safer Churches Workshop for Church volunteers will be conducted on Saturday, June 24, from 9.30am – cost is $25, includes morning tea.  If you need help in registering contact Toni West who will be in the supper room from 12-2pm following this Sunday morning’s service.

Andino the Magician, will feature in the 4pm service this Sunday. He combines the art of magic and his Christian faith in the performance. Sunday services 10 and 4 pm, 35 Solomon Street, Bendigo.  Kid’s Church 10am during service.

During the holy month of Ramadan (May 27 - June 24 this year), the Bendigo Islamic community has been hosting members of the wider Bendigo community at their Saturday evening Iftar meal. Food is provided by different groups each week and a guest speaker addresses the gathering. 

On Friday, June 16, the Sikh community will commemorate the Martyrdom of Guru Arjun Dev Ji , the Fifth Guru, and the first martyr-guru. He was responsible for the compilation of the Sikh scriptures in 1604. He also helped to build the Golden Temple at Amritsar. He was tortured to death on the orders of the emperor for upholding the right to religious freedom and justice.

This Sunday is the second Sunday after Pentecost. In the Bendigo Lutheran Parish we will celebrate with Holy Communion at both our worship centres at 9am at 94 Spring Gully Road, Spring Gully, and 11am in Castlemaine at the Seventh Day Adventist Church (corner of Bakers and Doveton Streets). Our Sunday school will gather at 9.45am at our Spring Gully centre.

Our meditation will be upon, Romans 5:1-8. In this reading, Paul continues the previous teachings on 'justification' and enlarges upon its results in the new life of the believer. This new relationship with God is based not on feeling but on fact - that is that Christ died for sinners. This fact gives assurance of salvation to those who have been given faith in Jesus.

In Mark 3:13-15 Jesus spells out his calling of the Apostles. And later in John 16:9-16 Jesus talks beautifully about what he'd done with them and for them as His Heavenly Father led Him. These lessons are for us as we become Christians. We can go out in Jesus name healing the sick and casting out demons. We have been given that authority. All these actions bring others to Jesus and then being saved for eternity to dwell in heaven with the Lord.

Pastor Peter shared the Word of the Lord to remind us all that we can do mighty things if we step out filled with the Holy Spirit.

Ladies meet for scripture on Wednesday at Stella's place at 10am. Christian Karaoke will lead worship next Sunday by Leny Pahina. Prayer support from Pastor Peter Pritchard on 0413 682 999.

Pastor John’s message last Sunday spoke about the soul.  In Psalm 107 it talks about people in distress, wanderers, prisoners, the sick and the storm-tossed.  No matter how extreme our misfortune, God can help us.  He satisfies the longing soul in His love; He guides us by His Word and heals our broken hearts.  His Word promises that Jesus is the Way, the Bread of life, the Water of life and the Giver of rest.  We call to God in our times of distress, but we can prevent it if we stay close to God for decisions in every part of lives.  It is so easy to allow willful spiritual decline to take over.  Our souls need continually to be fed by the Word of God where we find the will of God for our lives.   

All are warmly welcome at our regular Sunday Services at 10am at the Long Gully Community Centre, 27 Havilah Road, Bendigo.

Eaglehawk

Preaching from Ephesians 6 V10-18 last Sunday Graham Hammond told us to put on “The full armour of God”. We like to be brave in our own strength, we try to do it without God. Today’s world gives us this image. There have always been evil people ready to take advantage of us. The believer has over the past few years become more persecuted because the world has turned against God and His laws. The scriptures tell us we are to put on the full armour of God for our protection against Satan and his ways.

Today at 2.30pm the Session will meet followed by the board of management at 4pm.

Sunday, June 18, 10am, worship service, conducted by reverend Grant Vayne.

Wednesday, 9am, weekly prayer meeting followed by bible study at 10.30am.

St John’s

Last Sunday at St John's, Rev Philip Burns preached from 1 Timothy 4:11-16. These verses form some of Paul's main instructions to Timothy as a younger pastor of the church at Ephesus. It is very clear Timothy’s main calling upon his time and energies was to be given to preaching and teaching the Word of God. This was not to be done in a vacuum or with no reference to the needs of his people and was also something that Timothy would need to do to himself. He would need to ensure that his own faith, discipleship and service for the Lord were all an example for the rest of the flock to follow. These instructions of Paul's are also applicable to all God's people. All are called to model the gospel of Christ to a watching world. On Saturday the Men's Fellowship meets at 8am and the Ladies' Fellowship at 10.30am. 

Bendigo Central

Next month Uniting Care agencies and their Share Appeal unit combine to operate under the one name Uniting, a single organisation delivering the community services established in Victoria and Tasmania. 

Friday, June 16: 10am, the St Andrew’s UCAF will meet and look at the work of the Bible Society.

Saturday, 17 June: Grandmothers Against Detention of Refugee Children invites all to "Creating Communities through Gardening" at the  Salvation Army Hall, Gravel Hill  10am to 2pm. Cost $15.00  Further information: Di O'Neil 0405 125 928. Workshops and lunch prepared by the Karen Community included in Entry Fee.

Sunday, June 18: 10am at St.Andrew’s, a Combined Bendigo Clusters Service to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the UCA. Dr.Jenny Byrnes (ex. Director Centre for Theology and Ministry) will be the Guest Preacher. Followed by a bring and share celebration morning tea.

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

ELM Cluster

Eaglehawk: There will be no 10am service at Eaglehawk this Sunday as we are all encouraged to join in the 10am Combined Service at St Andrews, Bendigo. A shared Lunch will follow. The evening service at 6.30pm will be held as usual led by the Rev Cynthia Page.

FoodShare providing food assistance for the Community will be open on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 1.30pm to 4pm.

The Community Breakfast will be Friday from 7.30am.

The Friendship Group meets Wednesday at 10.30am at the Church Car Park to go to the Pottery for lunch.

Items for Emergency Relief include Packets of Spaghetti and Baked Beans.

Long Gully: The Service on Sunday at 9.30am led by the Rev George Buckle.

Marong: There will be no Service at Marong this week as everyone is encouraged to join in the Combined Service at St Andrews. 

Bendigo South Cluster

As Kangaroo Flat & Chum Street congregations will attend the Combined Bendigo Uniting Churches Service, there will be no Service at either church this Sunday.

Lockwood: Sunday’s 9.30am Service will be led by Joanne & Richard Daly. 

Saturday, June 17: 6 - 9pm – ‘Dinner Club’ at Chum Street Uniting Church. Cost $2 – please bring a main or dessert to share. RSVP Janette on 5447 1552.

Monday, June 19: noon, The Sparkling Seniors, Chum Street Uniting Church. Bring $4 for Pizza Lunch.

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

Tuesday, June 20: 10-11.30am, KYB –Bible Study, 22 Magellan Crescent, Kangaroo Flat. Contact: Marj 54477970.

Tuesdays: 10:30am – Bible Study Group, 149 Thistle Street, Golden Square. All Welcome. Contact: Glenys 54439451

Wednesday, June 21: 6.30pm – Getaways will meet at Ginger Thai, Bendigo.

Weeroona

In looking forward it is also important to acknowledge our past. Each of the congregations that form the Weeroona Congregation have the history of being the source of wonderful Christian witness. White Hills, Arnold Street and Neale Street go back more than a century since their establishment and include the many rural churches whose existence in the past is also recognised. Each person who was part of these congregations lived to give voice to the word of God as they heard it in their lifetime.

Forty has been a significant number for a measuring point for numerous Bible heroes and events. In everyday life it has been said “Life begins at 40”.  Is this true for the Uniting Church?  In 1977 the inaugural service which launched the UCA was the culmination of years of effort.  The goal being to create a church with an Australian identity to be the voice of Christ with an Aussie accent. In the Weeroona family, there are endless lists of people who have been and are working in the image of Christ.

The Weeroona Congregation has a vision to establish a Uniting Church Centre for worship and service on the site of the White Hills Uniting Church.  This at times, due to regulations and many practical issues, seems an impossible dream, but the congregation through the dedication of committees and church council chip away to keep the vision alive.

In the meantime, the congregation aims to keep Christ's light shining using the facilities at the Neale Street complex and the White Hills Church in Napier Street. Included in the programming are items like caring for children, film evenings for all ages, variety in worship services, study groups and fellowships are all part of our Christian voice. For details see the website weeroona.unitingchurch.org.au. Recently, congregation members undertook a study titled 'Finding a Voice' featuring the story of George VI becoming King after the abdication of Edward VIII. Setbacks experienced in the Weeroona developments might likewise be just moments leading to greater opportunity. The vision for Weeroona is still before us and with God's help it will be realised.