A sower went out to sow… These words immediately bring to mind the parable which they begin. The sower sows the seed, and as he does, some fall on the path, some fall on rocky ground, some fall among thorns, and some fall on good soil. We can all probably recite this parable and its interpretation for ourselves. Perhaps you’re beginning to ‘switch off’, even now. ‘I know this one’, we say, and skip past it. Wait just a moment. This is no less the Word of God than any other passage, even though it’s well known. These words are living and active. They are a two-edged sword capable of separating sinew and bone, as the writer to the Hebrews says. What if the Lord wants to speak to you today through these words? If you knew there was a message for you in them would you read them, sit with them, pray through them? Let me share my own experience with the parable of the sower. It was the reading for the day – again. So I dutifully read it – again. I had taken on a sense of guilt at what I saw as a missed opportunity to bring the gospel to someone. I had answered a question they had with another question, trying to draw them deeper. Immediately they broke off the conversation. ‘Sorry I’m not going there’, they said. I knew that was the one and only time I would have to speak to them and I was sure I blew it. This time these familiar words came alive as I read them and the Lord spoke into the situation I was in at that moment in a most amazing way. Resisting the temptation to skip over it, I read this well-known passage and the Holy Spirit whispered to me, ‘the sower sows the seed, it is not his responsibility to make the seed grow – that’s my job. Trust me’. And I was freed from my guilt. Let me encourage you to read again the passages you know well. Who knows if those very familiar words might not hold the very Word of God for your situation today?
Janice
This Week
| TODAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Service, 10.30am | |
| Evensong – All Saints, Rosebud, 5.00pm | |
| MONDAY: | 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: | Holy Communion, 10.00am |
| Study Group | |
| St Mark’s, 11.00am | |
| Contact Keith (0419 551 082) | |
| Cuppa, Craft & Chat Group | |
| St Mark’s, 12.30pm | |
| Contact Robyn (0409 425 044) | |
| Patronal Festival Meeting | |
| St Mark’s, 12.30pm | |
| Contact Carol (0411 405 597) | |
| THURSDAY: | 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’S DAY OFF |
| 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:
Gentleman’s Breakfast
Cuppa Craft And Chat Group
if you’re feeling lonely, come and have a cuppa if you like to do craft for yourself or for charity, come and join us. We also have members who can help you
make cards, patchwork, crochet & knitting various things if you’re going through some hard times, we’re always here to have a chat and hopefully help a little.
Festival Weekend
“Festival = A period of celebration particularly for religious events” Our Patronal Festival Weekend is taking shape and promises to be a time of celebration as well as presenting our church and its refurbished windows to the community. In the next couple of weeks there will be sign-up sheets for the stalls and attractions. Please be praying for a great turnout on the day, for good spring weather, and that we bring glory to God.
Speak to Cheryl or Carol if you can help or would like more details.
Special Services 2023
| 20th August | Evensong – St Mark’s, Balnarring |
| 10th September | Patronal Festival & Consecration of New Windows |
| 22nd October | Evensong – St Mark’s, Dromana |
| 3rd December | St John’s, Sorrento – Lessons & Carols for Advent |
| 17th December | 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 Fête and Patronal Festival in September.
- For the success of the new Family and Children’s Ministry.
- For: Jessica and Guy, the family of Eric Haughton, Ruth.
