NEWS

This is our church news page which is updated weekly.

Updated 13/11/2024

This Sunday - 17 November

This Sunday morning Steve Jone will be preaching from Malachi 1:6-14. To get your head around the whole book of Malachi you can check out a helpful video summary of the content and structure of the book here. If you would like to re-listen to any of our past sermons, you can find them here.

Gravity Service - ‘Knowing God’ - 17 November - 5:00pm

In life, we’ll all face difficult circumstances that leave us feeling afraid or frustrated or anxious. When we do, we might question where God is in all of our mess. Has he even noticed? Does he care? Can he do anything to help? 

Psalm 139 is a song written by King David when he was feeling much the same way. In it, he speaks in a deeply personal way about what he knows to be true of God even in the midst of his difficult circumstances. At our next Gravity Service, we’ll consider how this song might stir our soul to find great comfort and security in the midst of our distress, simply in knowing God.

• Dinner at 6:30pm ($2)
• Speaker: Heath Easton

Congregational Survey - Third Sunday Service at DPC

In discussion with others from your household please thoughtfully and prayerfully fill in the short Church Survey to help our elders gather information about your interest and preference regarding the exciting potential of launching a third regular Sunday Service at DPC. You can find more information about this possible third service here. Please complete and submit this Church Survey by Sunday 8 December. If you are having trouble with the electronic survey, please email or speak to Hepzibah to request a paper copy of the survey and return it to one of the pastors. 

Children’s Ministry Worker - Expressions of interest

The elders are currently looking to appoint a Children’s Ministry Worker at our church. This will be a part time position for 1.5 days per week from July 2025 for an initial 12 month trial period. You can download a role description for this position here. To express your interest in this position, please email a copy of your resume with a cover letter to the Session Clerk by 31 December. 

Church Membership Sessions

The second of our 2 part membership course is on Sunday 24 November from 1:00-3:00pm. If you were unable to make the first session, but would still be interested in attending, it’d be great to have you there. Please let Heath Easton know if you’d like to come along.

Hope Explored Evangelistic Course

Our vision at DPC is to see hope-filled disciples of Jesus Christ shining in every single street of our community. That’s what we’re praying and working towards to the glory of God. Over three Wednesday evenings in November (13, 20 & 27) from 7:30pm we are running our Hope Explored Evangelistic Course again for those who are interested in exploring the claims of Christianity. 

The three sessions focus on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, showing how Jesus offers us a hope worth having and a hope that won’t disappoint us.

We’ve run this course before and found that it’s a great introductory course to invite a friend along to get them engaging with some of Jesus’ extraordinary claims. Each week there’ll be a short Bible study, a video talk and a discussion based on the talk. It’s relaxed, informal, enjoyable and allows plenty of time for questions and conversations. 

We’d love you to come along to this course if you’re still getting to know Jesus for yourself, or to invite a friend to come along with you if you already know Jesus, so that they might come to be filled with the same hope you’ve found in him. Pick up a flyer from church and get praying about how you might make the most of this Hope Explored course! Let Heath Easton know if you would like to find out more.

Deacons Election

We’re approaching three years since Ian, Katharine, Louise, Robyn and Sandy were elected to serve as deacons in our church. They have been a great blessing to us and have provided valuable and practical service among us during this time. Given that deacons are inducted to serve for three-year terms, we are now once again at the point of proceeding to the election of deacons to serve in our diaconal care team. 

Session desires to elect up to eight deacons to serve in the church and the upcoming election will be conducted as a two-stage process of nomination then ballot, for up to eight deacons. The election of deacons will commence with nominations being received on and between Sundays 10 & 17 November, and then a ballot being conducted on Sundays 1 & 8 December.

Any communicant member of the congregation can nominate someone listed as eligible for election on the notice displayed at the entrance to the main church building, on a nomination form available in the entrance to the main church building.

Current deacons can certainly be nominated to serve for another three-year term, although Robyn and Sandy have indicated that they will not be accepting renomination. More information is available in the weekly email and at church on how the nomination process will proceed. If you have any questions, please speak to Heath Easton or any of the elders.

Student Summer Placement 

Colin Spackman and his wife Jemimah  will be joining us for 4 weeks over summer so that Colin can complete his Summer Country Placement. Colin is training to become a Minister in the PCV and will be preaching, leading services, visiting and generally getting a taste for ministry in the county during that time. We hope you’ll help to make Colin and Jemimah welcome among us.

Dates for your Diaries:

• 13 November - Hope Explored Course – 7:30pm
  
• 15 November - Gravity Youth Group 7:00-9:30pm
  
• 17 November - Gravity Service – 5:00pm
  
• 17 November – Deacons Nominations

Can we help?

Each of our deacons is responsible for coordinating a different ministry of service: Sick and Laid up (Sandy Bryant), Meals (Robyn Crocker), Practical Help (Ian Hemphill), New parents and young families (Louise Hood), Visitation (Katharine York). If you, or someone you know, needs a helping hand, speak to any of the deacons directly or for general enquiries contact Katharine York via email or in person at church on a Sunday.

Praying in Everything

“Pray continually” says Paul in 1 Thessalonians 5:17. Because God love it when we pray, listens to us when we pray, and answers us when we pray…we want to be a church that is committed to Praying in Everything. And while we can pray on our own, there’s something special about praying together as a church too. For that reason we’d love to have you join us for one of our regular prayer meetings during the week. We have two groups that anyone is welcome to attend, that meet to pray on Tuesday mornings from 7:00-8:00am and Thursday afternoons from 2:00-3:00pm. Speak to Heath Easton or Steve Jones if you’d like to come along.

2024 Ministries for All Ages

- For Children:

Sunday School – Our Sunday School is on for 3yo kinder to Grade 6 kids 10:00-10:30am. Every Sunday (in school terms). Teaching kids to know, love, trust, obey and enjoy Jesus.

Contact: Christina Finley via email or in person at church on a Sunday.

KidZone

Our fortnightly (in school terms) Friday evening KidZone ministry for primary aged kids is, 4:30-6:00pm in the church hall. Format is kid’s club with games, activities, food and discipleship. Great place to bring kids from school to introduce them to Jesus.

Cost: $5/child or $10/family*.

Contact: Steve Jones via email or in person at church on a Sunday.

Toy Library

Drouin Toy Library is open again on Friday mornings between 9:00am-12:00pm and fortnightly Saturday mornings between 9:00-10:00am. Borrowing out toys, books and DVDs and providing a fun and safe environment for children and families to play and socialise and experience the love of Jesus.

Contact: Kerryn Selvaraj via email or in person at church on a Sunday.

- For Secondary School Aged Youth:

Youth Group

7:00-9:30pm. First Friday of each month at the church. Hang out, have some fun and be encouraged to take Jesus seriously.

Cost: $5/youth or $10/family*.

Contact: Alistair Hood via email or in person at church on a Sunday.

Youth Connect Group

7:00-8:30pm. Every Monday in school terms at the church. Connecting with God and discipling teens through God’s word.

Contact: Alistair Hood via email or in person at church on a Sunday.

*we do not wish to see these costs to be a barrier to any child or teenager attending our programs. Please speak to the leader of this ministry to discuss other arrangements.

-For Adults:

Prayer Groups

7:00-8:00am Tuesdays and 2:00-3:00pm Thursdays at Anne Kenney’s home in Drouin. A time of reflecting on God’s word and then praying for our church, community, nation and world.

Contact: Heath Easton (Tuesday group) or Steve Jones (Thursday group).

Connect Groups 

We have groups running in the evening and daytime, weekly, fortnightly and monthly, mixed groups, women’s groups and a young adults group. Connecting with God and each other as we read, discuss, apply and pray about the Bible together during the week. Various leaders and locations. We would love all of you to be involved in Connect Groups this year. If you are not in one and would like to join one, please let Steve Jones know and we will help you find an appropriate group.

Contact: Steve Jones via email or in person at church on a Sunday.

Who should I talk to?

If you ever want to contact Session (the elders) with questions, concerns or suggestions about our church life, teaching, leadership or ministry, please communicate with our Session Clerk, Merv York, in person or by email.

If you ever want to contact the Board of Management regarding our church facilities, resources, maintenance, safety issues or finances, please communicate with our Board Secretary, Robyn Crocker, in person or by email.

If you ever want to contact our Deacons for any practical assistance for yourself or for someone you know, when a helping hand is needed, please contact Katharine York, in person or by email.

These people will ensure that the matters you’ve raised will be passed on, in a timely manner, to the other elders, board managers and deacons respectively. The Deacons will respond to your requests within a matter of days. The Board and Session will receive your communication at their next scheduled meeting which means you can expect a response within a month (session) or two months (board). 

Name Badges

As we meet week by week at church, one practical thing we can do to serve newcomers (and the memory challenged among us) is to wear a name badge at church. You can find them in the church foyer. If you don’t have one yet, or if you’ve lost yours, please just email Hepzibah Haynes and she’ll make one for you.

One-to-One Discipleship

Here at Drouin Presbyterian, we love to have opportunities to meet up one to one with others in the church, to read the bible, pray and encourage each other regularly. Some people meet once a week, others once a fortnight but it is a great way to encourage one another in a relaxed environment. If you would like to explore more about this, or get involved, please let Steve Jones know and we can work with you to find someone appropriate to meet up with you. 

Church Library

The Church Library is open for business! It is accessible at all times with the church centre key. It is located in room opposite the top kitchen.

There are Christian books, DVDs and CDs to support the nurture and growth of our whole church family. We’re sure you will find something for yourselves and your whole family.

Please follow the directions on signs for recording loans. Check it out online using the link and login details that will be emailed to you personally, or head to the church and see it for yourself. Speak to Kerryn Selvaraj for more details.