Often I am asked ‘what we should do’, ‘how we can pray’, even ‘what on earth does God think he’s doing’ with those who we see being part of the church but not living God’s way. In this parable of the weeds amongst the wheat we see that the Lord is well aware that there will be those in our churches at all levels who do much good and live his way, and others at all levels who do not. He lets us know that we may recognise the ‘weeds’ but we are not their judges. He is. He also shows us that many are interwoven into the fabric of roots beneath the surface and therefore very hard to root out without significant damage. So he recommends that we keep caring for the wheat but let him sort the weeds out in the end when the harvest comes. Does this mean we shouldn’t name and remove those who do things which are harmful to the Body of Christ like paedophiles? No. Jesus said to many, having offered them forgiveness, “Go, and sin no more”. We need to take sin seriously and expect repentance to be real, not excusing poor behaviour but calling those who continue in sin to repentance now, so that they can be forgiven and be able to become wheat, not weeds, and removing them if needed for the safety of others. What this parable about the weeds and the wheat points out is that when the time comes for the final judgment, the Lord, as the one true Judge of the church, will not allow the weeds to join the wheat in their righteous reward. This shows the forbearance of the Lord to wait until the end so all who can be saved will be. Jesus is clear that in the end the weeds will be gathered up and sent to the fire. There is no sentimentality in that sentence. Those who persist in sin and refuse to repent, even if they are ‘in the church’, will have no defence when the One who knows the truth comes as the Judge. Those who have been harmed by the weeds amongst the wheat in the church can take comfort in this, for even if they fool us, they will not be able to escape justice in the end.
Janice
This Week
| TODAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Service, 10.30am | |
| MONDAY: | Study Group St Mark’s, 7.00pm |
| Contact Kevin or Anne (0438 234 857) | |
| TUESDAY: | Online Study Group,7.00pm |
| Contact Graeme (0490 664 843) | |
| Zoom Prayer Meeting, 1.30pm | |
| Contact John (0421426156) | |
| WEDNESDAY: | 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) | |
| 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) | |
| 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:
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 helpers will be meeting in the church 12.30pm Wednesday 9th August. We will decide on publicity and draft the sign-up sheets to ask for the help we might need to run the stalls and events. Please be praying about your part in this weekend and how we can glorify God as we showcase our new windows to the community. All are welcome. Bring your lunch and stay for craft and a cuppa.
Carol and Cheryl.
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 Holy Trinity Hastings and their Vicar, Rev’d Tim Anderson.
- 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: Irene Cowdell, family of Malcolm Bird, family of Daphne Wright, Guy, Ruth.
