Planting seeds…

What are you grateful for today? Our parables from Mark’s Gospel are parables of the kingdom but are also lessons in how the small things often have a much bigger impact than they seem to at first. To sow a seed is nothing, yet that seed can grow into a tree capable of bringing shelter and shade or into a crop of food to feed a family or a nation. Sometimes we need encouragement to see that our seeds can bring more than we are able to envision ourselves. Sometimes we need to remember that it’s not we who grow the seed. We plant and we water but God makes it grow. To stand watching the soil for the first shoot could mean you’re watching for a long time, but when that seed is ready to put forth shoots it will break through the soil quickly. To trust the Lord for the timing of the breakthrough is very important, and often very hard, but breakthrough it will when all is prepared. As God’s people today we can keep planting seeds of care for our neighbours or for ourselves, of prayer, of practical care, of Gospel words, of fellowship; and look for them to bring their growth in due season. Who knows if what you have planted in a small act of kindness or many years of prayer may now be ready to breakthrough. What is hidden beneath the surface no one but the Lord knows, but that’s the beauty of it, for God’s timing is always perfect – even if we don’t think so. As we look forward to the breakthrough, let’s put our trust in the Lord of the harvest and keep sowing whenever the soil is ready. As St Paul puts it, let’s put on whatever will make us ready to spread the gospel of peace. The shoes of the Roman soldier when used for battle were made to grip the road and allow them to lock their stance to repel an onslaught. When used for marching, they had hobnails in them that kept them from wearing down as they marched over cobbled roads for kilometre after kilometre carrying all they owned. Sometimes we need determination to go out with the gospel and we need our battle shoes. Sometimes we need to go the distance and we need our marching shoes. Either way what is it that you need to spread the seeds of the gospel? To help gather your seed, why not write out your own story of how the grace of God has saved you?

Janice

This Week

Regular Worship Times

Parish Contact Details

Notices:

Op Shop…

Our Op Shop is a ministry of this parish to the wider community which Parish Council would like to see grow as a ministry, alongside its financial support of our work here. We have had some volunteers resign this week for various reasons and will be in need of others to assist. If you can spare some time to help, please see Edna South or another member of our Op Shop Committee: Vicki Brown, Lorraine Strickland, Richard Watson, Graeme and Cheryl King or Rev’d Janice.

Fencing & Security Project…

As announced on 2nd June, Parish Council have decided to install a security system which will cover the Church and Op Shop, including the car park, and allow for secure entry to both buildings as well as internal alarms and cameras. The cost for this is $15,000, $8,000 of which has been covered by money already set aside for a large project such as this. Parish Council is in the process of seeking grants towards covering the balance, but feels it is imperative to install this system given the vandalism of the windows in 2022 and to mitigate security risks for our Op Shop volunteers, and so has approved that the balance of funds be spent from our account. If you would like to donate towards this project, please put any cash into an envelope marked “Security” and put it in the offering bag on a Sunday. We will provide you with a receipt on request and keep these monies aside for the project. You can also give to this project electronically. Donations of cash are still needed for the fence. In other news: our NBN is now up and running so the security project can go ahead on 24th-25th June.

This Week’s Prayer Focus

In our country and the world:

• For those facing homelessness, hardship, anguish and despair amid rising costs.
• For all in Israel, Gaza, and Ukraine.
• 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 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.
• 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 the 2024 Alpha program, its leaders, and all who attend.
• For the 9am at home prayer time for the Parish, Dromana & Mornington Peninsula.
• For: Maggie, Chloe, Ted, Monica, Joy, Jessica, Audrey, Joan R, Backy, Margie, Fred, Robert, Jan, David, Guy.