Last week we reflected a little on Job and his struggles. In this week’s reading Job finally hears from God who appears to him in a whirlwind. God challenges Job to answer his questions and then proceeds to ask him where he was when God laid the foundations of the earth, if he knows who determined its measurements or how it was put together. All through chapters 38 and 39 God questions Job about what he knows and what he can do. Each question is rhetorical, in that it points back to God, to his glory and majesty, his wisdom, his grace, his infinite knowledge and the very acute inadequacy of Job to do anything that God does, or even know how God does it. Job gives no answer because the answers are obvious. This is not God treating Job like an idiot but God trying to help Job to understand that he’s been watching all along and wants Job to know that not understanding what’s happening to him is natural. God is far too big to be fully understood and far too powerful to be put in a box and told what he should do. All along Job has acted in faith, he has chosen to believe that God is just and good and all the things that have been happening to him must have an explanation. God does not give an explanation to Job. God is God and is not required to explain himself. Paul puts it this way, ‘But who indeed are you, a human being, to argue with God? Will clay being moulded say to the one who moulds it, why have you made me like this? Does not the potter have the right over the clay to make what he wants?’ Romans 9:20-21. God teaches Job as he listens to God’s questions to him, that his understanding of God is totally inadequate but God’s understanding of him is absolute. He has been safe all along in God’s hands. His demand for justice is not invalidated, rather Job now sees that God has everything in hand. Hebrews 5 tells us that even Jesus did not glorify himself, but learned obedience even to death on a cross, trusting fully in the Father’s grace to save him. Having trouble? Rather than demanding answers and complaining, lean into the grace of our holy God and trust him. He knows what he’s doing. Nothing is too hard for God.
Janice
This Week : 25th August to 1st September
| SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Service, 10.30am | |
| MONDAY: | Prayer Group, St Marks, 9.15am |
| Contact: Kevin (0438 234 457) | |
| Bible Study Group, St Mark’s, 4.00pm | |
| Contact Kevin (0438 234 457) | |
| TUESDAY: | Zoom Prayer Meeting, 1.30pm |
| Contact John (0421426156) | |
| Zoom Bible Study Group, 7.00pm | |
| Contact Graeme (0490 664 843) | |
| WEDNESDAY: | Holy Communion, 10:00am |
| Bible Study Group St Mark’s,11.00am | |
| “Women of the Bible” Contact Kevin (0438 234 457) | |
| Cuppa, Craft & Chat Group. St Mark’s, 12.30pm | |
| Contact Robyn (0409 425 044) | |
| THURSDAY: | Women’s Bible Study, St Mark’s, 9.30am |
| “Becoming a Woman of Strength” | |
| Contact Fay (0401 404 280) | |
| Men’s Coffee & Chat, Blackthorn Café, 10.00am | |
| Contact Steve (0437 984 679), Keith T (0413 319 327) | |
| or Kevin (0493 234 457) | |
| FRIDAY: | Janice’s DAY OFF |
| NEXT SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Service, 10.30am |
Regular Worship Times
| SUNDAY: | 8.45am | Holy Communion |
| 10.30am | Family Worship with Children’s Ministry | |
| (Holy Communion – 1st Sundays) | ||
| 6.00pm | 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:
Annual General Meeting
Will be held at St Mark’s on 10th November at 11:30am after a combined service at 10.00am. All parishioners are encouraged to attend The Notice of Meeting has been posted. The Roll is being updated and will be available for viewing in the Narthex. Annual Reports, and a Budget for the 2024/25 year will be presented and the election of members of the Parish Council will take place. Nomination forms for Parish Council are available from Janice. Nominations which should be given to Janice will close 7th November. Please note that we need a new Treasurer as our current Treasurer, Cheryl King, is due to stand down having completed 6 years on ParishCouncil. Please talk to Janice if you are interested in nominating for this position. Please give your prayerful consideration to the elections and other matters to be raised at this meeting.
Alpha…
The next Alpha course has commenced Are you able to bless us with some food ? Please contact Carol Parkinson if you can assist.
Church Fete (Saturday 2nd November)(Melbourn Cup weekend)…
Times 10am – 2pm. Stalls – Cakes, Preserves/Jams, Plants, Craft, BBQ, Morning Tea & Scones. Start thinking of what you make or add to the day. Cakes = Jen Watson, Preserves = Ellen Brindley, Plants = Robyn Falconer, BBQ = Mens Thursday Group, Morning Tea = Carol Parkinson, Craft = Craft Group. Kids – crafts and Face Painter, Music – Ukulele Group Invited.
Opp Shop…
Our Op Shop is still in need of helpers. If you can assist for a few hours and have your Police Check and Level 1 training, please talk to Cheryl King.
Archbishop election process…
The website for those interested in how the Archbishop election process works is www.boardofnominators.org
Australian Anglican Calendar 2025…
Australian Anglican Calendar 2025 now available $15.00 each – see Janice
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 and Myanmar.
- 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 Archdeacon Rev’d Sam Bleby, in the Frankston Archdeanery.
- In our Deanery, we pray for the Parish of St George’s Red Hill and their Vicar Rev’d Fiona Goy.
- For the work of the Church Missionary Society and Wei-Han the Victorian Director.
- For Anna Radkovic our CMS Link Missionary in Watamu, Kenya.
- 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 as she regains full health.
- 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 next Alpha program, the leaders and all who will attend.
- For the 9am at home prayer time for the Parish, Dromana & Mornington Peninsula.
- For our Op Shop staff and all who visit each week.
- For the AGM and those willing to be nominated for Parish Council.
- For Rev’d Janice, Pat, Lorna & Peter, Keith S, Harry, Jen, Mike, Joan R, Chloe, Ted, Monica, Jessica, Audrey, Backy, Fred, Robert, Jan. David, Guy.
