Moses came to the Lord, new tablets of stone in hand, because the first time he had broken them in anger at the sin of the people in creating and worshipping the golden calf. For this sin the Lord was ready to destroy Israel, but Moses interceded for the people and God relented. Moses asked to see God’s glory, but he also pleaded with God to stay with them. He asked, “If your presence will not go with us do not carry us up from here.” (Ex 33:15) Without the presence of God there with them, Moses knew he could not lead well and Israel would not make it through the desert. Without God right there Moses would not know his will and the pillars of fire and cloud wouldn’t lead them anymore. Without the presence of the Lord to keep them safe, they would be vulnerable. We now have what Moses had to plead for. Holy Spirit, the presence of God, is with us through faith in Jesus. We need to cultivate a relationship with God within us and grow in that closeness, for without the knowledge of God’s presence and seeking his will, we can easily choose to act according to what seems good to us, rather than what is God’s will for us. The Lord uses all circumstances to bring us closer and to bring about his purposes in the world – even those which come from the hand of the enemy. If we don’t know what God is leading us to as we walk through the difficulties of life, we may wander onto paths which lead us astray. Jesus said the path to destruction is wide – sometimes the most dangerous path is the easy, comfortable one.
What is the Lord calling us as a church to be as we seek to proclaim Christ crucified to the world? What is screaming ‘look at me, follow me’ but may be a type of golden calf? What does the still small voice, the glory of the Lord want to say to us at this hour – and are we listening? Come Holy Spirit, Risen Lord Jesus, Father God: One in Three, glorious Trinity, and lead your people forth into the days ahead that we may live for you alone and lead the world to you.
Janice
This Week
| This Sunday: | Trinity Sunday |
| Holy Communion, 8.45am | |
| Family Service, 10.30am Healing Service, 5.00pm | |
| Theme: Aspects of Forgiveness | |
| Janice will preach on ‘Forgiving myself.’ | |
| Monday: | Vicarage Working Bee, 10.00am |
| Study Group – “Truth and Freedom” St Mark’s, 7.00pm | |
| Contact Kevin or Anne (0438 234 857) | |
| Tuesday: | Online Study Group,7.00pm |
| Contact Graeme (0490 664 843) | |
| Wednesday: | Janice at Diocesan Clergy Conference |
| Holy Communion, 10.00am | |
| Study Group | |
| St Mark’s,11.00am | |
| Contact Keith (0419 551 082) | |
| Craft Group | |
| St Mark’s, 12.30pm | |
| Contact Robyn (0409 425 044) | |
| Thursday: | Janice at Diocesan Clergy Conference Women’s |
| Bible Study, St Mark’s, 9.30am | |
| Contact Fay (0401 404 280) | |
| Men’s Coffee & Chat Blackthorn Café, 10.00am | |
| Contact Steve (0437 984 679) | |
| Zoom Prayer Meeting, 1.30pm | |
| Contact John (0421426156) | |
| Friday: | Janice at Diocesan Clergy Conference |
| Next Sunday: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Service, 10.30am |
Worship Times
| SUNDAY: | 8.45am | Holy Communion |
| 10.30am | Family Worship with Children’s Ministry | |
| (Holy Communion – 1st Sundays) | ||
| 5.00pm | Healing Service – 1st Sundays | |
| WEDNESDAY: | 10.00am | Holy Communion |
Parish Contact Details
| Monitored contact points | 0493 280 691 |
| contact@stmarksdromana.org.au | |
| Parish Web Addresses | www.stmarksdromana.org.au |
| Facebook page | https://www.facebook.com/stmarksdromana |
| Pastoral Care Coordinators | Kevin and Anne Cranwell (0438 234 457 Kevin) |
Notices:
Vicarage Working Bee (Monday 5th June 10.00am)
Many hands make light work!
We are in need of tip vouchers to take green waste to the tip. If you have any vouchers we can use please bring. Thank you.
St Mark’s Day Festival & Consecration Of New Windows
Archbishop Philip Freier will visit St Mark’s on Sunday 10th September to consecrate the stained glass windows. The weekend will take the form of a Patronal Festival for St Mark (whose official day was 25th April) and to celebrate our 130th Anniversary. There will be a Fete on Saturday 9th September, with visitors invited to view the windows and to attend the combined service the next day. Proceeds from the fete will be used to boost the Missions Fund for the support of Anna Radkovic our CMS link Missionary in Kenya. There is plenty of time to make preserves, plant cuttings, and work on craft projects to make the fete successful. There will be no Christmas Fete this year. Let’s make this weekend a great witness to our Lord and showcase our beautiful church. If you would like to work on craft projects in a group, the Common Threads Craft Group meet on Wednesdays at 12.30pm during term time. Contact Carol for more information (0411 405 597).
St Mark’s Op Shop
Volunteers still needed. Can you help once a month?
Please contact Edna South 0428 551 082 if you are able to help.
Special Services 2023
| 18-Jun-23 | Evensong – All Saints, Rosebud |
| 20-Aug-23 | Evensong – St Mark’s, Balnarring |
| 22-Oct-23 | Evensong – St Mark’s, Dromana |
| 3-Dec-23 | St John’s, Sorrento – Lessons & Carols for Advent |
| 17-Dec-23 | St Mark’s, Dromana – Lessons & Carols for Christmas |
This Week’s Prayer Focus
In our country and the world:
- For those facing hardship and anguish amid rising costs.
- For families affected by violence.
- For those affected by natural disasters in around the world.
- For King Charles III, the UK and the Commonwealth.
- For peace and unity in countries around the World.
- For aid agencies such as “Save the Children”, Oxfam, CARE, UNICEF, World Vision.
In our community:
- For teachers and students.
- For doctors, nurses, paramedics, Coast Guard, the CFA & SES.
- For local community outreach groups such as the Dromana Community House and “Food for All”.
In our Diocese and beyond:
- For Archbishop Geoffrey Smith’s ministry as Primate of Australia.
- For Archbishop Philip Freier’s ministry in the Diocese of Melbourne.
- For the ministry of Bishop Paul Barker in the Jumbunna Region and for Archdeacon Helen Phillips in the Frankston Archdeaconry as she recovers from surgery, and for John as he supports Helen.
- In our Deanery, we pray for the Parish of St John’s Flinders with St Mark’s Balnarring, their Vicar Rev’d Keiron Jones and Deacon Rev’d Christine Barren
- For the work of the Church Missionary Society and Wei-Han the Victorian Director.
- For Anna Radkovic our CMS Link Missionary as she spends time learning language and culture in Kenya while exploring long-term opportunities in discipleship ministry and conservation.
- For Christian churches around the world to be free to worship and be witnesses of the love of God as shown through the coming of His Son.
In our Parish:
- For our leadership and ministry teams.
- For Rev’d Janice O’Gorman our Vicar.
- For the finances of our Parish.
- For our Parish, its people and those we reach out to every week.
- For the success of the new Family and Children’s Ministry.
- For: Ruth.
