If you want to walk on water…

Whenever I read today’s Gospel reading I hear the echo of a famous preacher I once heard who said, “If you want to walk on water you have to get out of the
boat!” Immediately before this moment Jesus had tried to have some time out for himself but the crowd had followed him. So here is Jesus, exhausted, longing for time with the Father, for rest, for quiet, having not stopped since the day before this one and now depleted. Can you feel the humanity of Jesus at this point? Have you sometimes felt very much like this? I know I have. In dismissing the crowds himself, Jesus gives the gift of his time to them once more, and in sending his disciples ahead he knows the crowds will now go to that next destination and leave him alone for a time. Finally alone, Jesus sleeps – no that’s not what it says – finally alone, Jesus seeks out his Father on the mountain. Now here is a secret known by all who have understood Jesus’ call to ‘come to me you who are weary and heavy laden’. Sleep would seem like a good idea, but true refreshment will come, not only in physical rest, but in the rest given when we come to the Father in prayer. He alone refreshes my soul and fills me with Holy Spirit’s power to go on. He alone can give the wisdom and knowledge I need to be able to face the day ahead. Jesus is no different to us. In his humanity he seeks the One whose love conquers all, and there he receives all he needs for the next part of his journey. Without this time with the Father I believe Jesus would not have had the strength for the miracle to come. Often the Lord will call us aside, ask us to rest in him, to spend time in prayer before the next thing the world throws at us. Who but the Lord can know what will come next? Yet it can be immensely difficult to turn aside and seek out the Father when crises are all around us and we are hard pressed. It can be just as difficult when we are sitting on our couches in comfort, not because we are stressed, but because we are not feeling the need. Either way, the Bible tells us if we seek God we will find him if we seek him with all our heart, and he will give us what we need for the things we cannot yet see coming. Let the Holy Spirit touch your heart as you need it today, for we never know what the day will bring. More than that let’s seek the Lord in prayer, not only for ourselves, but for this parish. I have a feeling that the Lord may be calling us to get out of the boat.

Janice

This Week

Worship Times

Parish Contact Details

Notices:

A Call To Prayer

Last Sunday at the 10.30 service I asked the congregation to join me in praying every morning this month at 9am in their homes for our parish, for Dromana, and for the Peninsula, asking the Lord for strategies and breakthrough to bring revival to our area and light the beacon which our church needs to be to bring people to faith in this area. This week has seen some difficulty with a scammer accessing an old contact list and sending out lying texts asking for monetary assistance supposedly for me. As far as I’m aware they didn’t get anything from anyone and I praise God for that. I also twisted my ankle badly the same day and am fine now but these things show how much opposition will rise when we are diligently seeking the Lord. Keep praying! If you were not at 10.30am last week please join in our 9am at home prayer time. A whole parish seeking the Lord is a powerful thing.
Thank you, Janice

Working Bee

A Church Hedges & Garden Working Bee will be held on Tuesday 22nd August, commencing at 9.30am. It is planned to trim all the hedges and attend to all the church gardens. Many hands make light work, even if for 1 hour. Please let Graeme King 0490 664 843 know if you are able to assist.

Festival Fete

Fete & Luncheon Information

1 Food being provided for the fete cake stall not include meat or cream. There will be a sign-up sheet in the Narthex together with labels to be attached to food listing the ingredients.
2 Graeme King and Richard Watson have requested assistance to erect Gazebos on the morning of the fete. If you are available to help please contact Graeme on 0490 664 843.
3 For the provision of Lunch after Sunday service on 10th September please bring a plate of finger food of your choice.

Women’s Quiet Morning

10.00am Thursday 10 August 2023 St Mark’s Anglican Church. All women are invited to a Quiet Morning with an opportunity for reflection in the stillness of a busy life; set apart in His word with music, poetry & visual display. God is within her, she will not fail; God will help her at break of day. Psalm 46:5

For more information, please contact Fay on 0401 404 280

Special Services 2023

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. Give thanks that Archdeacon Helen is now well and beginning to return to work.
• In our Deanery, we pray for the Parish of All Saints Rosebud with St Katherine’s McCrae and their Vicar, Rev’d Lynda Crossley.
• For the work of the Church Missionary Society and Wei-Han the Victorian Director.
• For Anna Radkovic our CMS Link Missionary. Anna Radkovic has now left Australia and is on her way to Kenya. Her updated prayer letter is on the board in the Narthex.
• 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: Margie, Tom, Irene Cowdell, Guy, Ruth.