Many years ago I was working at a large public hospital as an RN on the oncology and haematology ward. We looked after anyone with cancers, and especially blood cancers. It was the mid 1980’s and HIV had just come on the scene with a terrifying surge of infections. There were those awful ads on TV and so much false information going on. On our ward we had a couple of people diagnosed with AIDS. The nurses looked after them without hesitation. The cleaners wouldn’t. They refused to even enter the room for fear of contagion and no amount of education changed that. Gloved hands and masks were necessary, but AIDS is not caught through touch, so when safe to do so we would not wear gloves. Most of the relatives and friends of these men had refused to visit and their sense of being ‘unclean’ was very real. So it was that one evening I held the hand of a dying AIDS patient in a busy ward while their family stood outside the door afraid to come in. Our gospel reading today is about a woman who has been crippled for 18 years. 18 years of living bent over and ritually unclean. She comes into the synagogue to find Jesus, and Jesus lays his hands on her. Miraculous touch, filled with compassion and healing. The woman stands straight up and the evil spirit which has kept her crippled for nearly two decades has gone. Wonder and delight is what you’d expect, but the synagogue leader is indignant that Jesus would heal on the sabbath. Jesus touched a woman (forbidden), he touched a crippled woman (unclean), and ‘worked’ on the sabbath! God did a miracle and all this leader can do is get upset and quote scripture at Jesus. My mother says ‘there’s none so blind as those that cannot see’ meaning that there is a blindness that has nothing to do with our eyes. This leader could not see this miracle, he could only see the rules Jesus broke. Jesus understands this leader’s issues and addresses him using those same rules. Suddenly he is ashamed at his blindness, and everyone joins in the celebration. In our world today many different voices are crying out ‘be afraid’, or ‘be angry’. Ask the Lord what he wants before you respond.
Janice
This Week:
| SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Service, 10.30am | |
| Youth Group, 4.00pm | |
| Evensong St Peter’s Mornington, 5.00pm | |
| MONDAY: | Prayer for the Parish, St Mark’s, 4.00pm |
| Contact: Janice | |
| TUESDAY: | Op Shop Committee, 3.00pm |
| Zoom Bible Study, 7.00pm | |
| Contact: Graeme (0490 664 843) | |
| WEDNESDAY: | Holy Communion Service – 10.00am |
| Bible Study Group St Mark’s, 11.00am | |
| Contact: Janice | |
| Healing Service Planning meeting, 12.15pm | |
| Cuppa, Craft & Chat Group, St Mark’s,12.30pm | |
| Contact: Robyn (0409 425 044) | |
| Fete meeting, 2.00pm | |
| THURSDAY: | Men’s Coffee & Chat, Blackthorn Café, 10.00am |
| Contact Steve (0437 984 679), Keith T (0413 319 327) | |
| Women’s Study Group, St Mark’s, 9.30am | |
| Contact: Carol (0411 405 597) | |
| SATURDAY: | VCCEM Training, 9.00am |
| SUFM McCrae fundraiser, at Gateway Church, 7.00pm | |
| NEXT SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Service, 10.30am | |
| Prayer and Worship service, details pending |
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:
BYRD Song Choir…
BYRD SONG CHOIR – Conducted by John Rogers
Sunday 17th August 2.30pm Sorrento, 150th Anniversary Service
Sunday 24th August 5pm Mornington, Evensong Service
Sunday 28th September 5pm Dromana, Evensong Service – Us!
Refreshments will follow all services.
Ladies Lunch…
The Thursday ladies Bible Study Group invite St.Mark’s ladies and their friends to lunch & conversation on Thursday September 4th at 12.45pm. Please come alone or bring a friend. If you are able to provide a small contribution of a plate of food to share it would be appreciated. RSVP numbers to Carol by Sunday 24th August.
In the Beginning…
Bishop Paul Barker will be leading talks on Genesis 1-4 over the Wednesdays in August. 7.30pm to 8.30pm on 6,13, 20, 27 August 2025 in person at Glen Waverley Anglican Church, 800 Waverley Rd Glen Waverley or online at www.gwac.org.au/livestream
Ladies Lunch…
The Thursday ladies Bible Study Group invite St.Mark’s ladies and their friends to lunch & conversation on Thursday September 4th at 12.45pm Please come alone or bring a friend. If you are able to provide a small contribution of a plate of food to share it would be appreciated. RSVP numbers to Carol by Sunday 24th August.
National grandparents conference…
23 August – 9am to 4.30pm
‘Leaving a living legacy’ – One day of Inspiration and Encouragement The day will be live-streamed from St Paul’s Castle Hill, Sydney. For further details & participation please contact Cheryl 0490 664 830 or Graeme 0490 664 843
VCCEM Training…
VCCEM TRAINING is happening here at St Mark’s on Saturday 30th August. If you would like to volunteer to offer psychological first aid in disaster situations with the Victorian Council of Churches Emergency Management team this is your chance to train with them. Details on how to register are at www.vccem.org.au Ask Janice for details.
SUFM Mccrae…
SUFM MCCRAE are holding a fundraiser Trivia night on 30th August from 7-9pm at Gateway Church, 14 Heversham Drive, Seaford. To register use this link https://brushfire.com/sua/fundraiser/606364
Vicarage Working Bee…
Vicarage Working Bee focusing on backyard, 26 August commencing at 9.30am BYO tools, stories, food Please let Cheryl or Graeme know if you are able to attend.
This Week’s Prayer Focus
In our country and the world:
- For Government action to address the out of control protests in Melbourne.
- For the Government plans to address the rise of antisemitism in Australia.
- For families suffering as a result of violence and home invasions.
- For those facing homelessness, hardship, anguish and despair amid rising costs.
- For all in Israel, Gaza, and Ukraine and Myanmar.
- 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 Melbourne Archbishop-elect Right Reverend Dr Richard (Ric) Thorpe as he prepares to move from London to Melbourne.
- 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 Jennie Savage.
- 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.
- 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 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 all members of the Parish Council.
- For Hope25. That the Good News of Jesus will be known in the community of Dromana.
- For David, family of Christine Little, Belinda, Joan R, Family of Barbara Vance, Lynda & Ian, Robyn, Phillip, Nikki, Jason, Bernadette & family, Noel and family, Rhiannon, Richard, Pat, Lorna & Peter, Keith S, Harry, Jen, Mike, Chloe, Ted, Monica, Jessica, Audrey, Backy, Fred, Robert, Jan, David.
