What is God’s will…

Pentecost 6

How do we know what the Lord’s will is in a specific thing? It can be difficult to discern between what we want and what is actually God’s will, mainly because we can deceive ourselves easily by listening to our feelings and not the facts. Often we have within us a quiet pull one way or the other which gives us a sense of direction, but if our feelings are louder than that pull we can ignore it. The Lord speaks in many ways and always in accordance with his word in the Bible, so the first thing is, does it align with the Word of God? If that’s already a ‘no’ or questionable enough to make you doubt, stop right there. History teaches us that we can ignore even that sign if our own feelings are allowed to override it, so be prayerful and make sure if you have doubts about whether this is in line with God’s word or not. Ask someone who has knowledge of the bible and can assist you to think it through. Some things are easy to work out, but some things have no particular biblical precedent. In our reading from Genesis 24 today we see Laban, Abraham’s servant, going on a mission to find Isaac a wife from the people group Abraham is related to. Laban has Abraham’s instructions but wants to find the Lord’s choice of wife for Isaac, not just someone pretty and available. So, having come to the well belonging to the tribe of Abraham, he prays very specifically, asking the Lord to make sure that the woman who is the right one for Isaac say words which are not typical for a woman drawing water. Rebekah comes to the well and says these exact words, so Laban proceeds. It’s an interesting way to find the right person, but it has the advantage of not being about feelings at all. These sorts of prayers can be very useful, but they have to be clear, not based on feelings, and specific. ‘Lord let the right person for this job fill me with confidence’ is not a good prayer. Anyone can lie in an interview and some are really good at it. ‘Lord, send me someone with these skills and this specific one’ is a better prayer. Rebekah was a good choice for Isaac and the story moved on. Are you trying to work out what God wants right now? Begin with the bible. Look at the facts. Ask the Lord his opinion and listen to the inner pull of the Spirit. Pray specific, non-emotion based prayers. Write down what you’ve asked. Wait for the Lord to answer.

Janice

This Week:

Regular Worship Times

Parish Contact Details

Save The Date:

Notices:

Op Shop

If you have a 1/2 a day spare once in a while and would like to assist us in the shop, we have a variety of ways in which you can help out including : Tip Runs , working B’s. Weekly sorting, cleaning, sewing counting jigsaw pieces!, or going on the shop roster once a month. Every little helps and we would love to hear from you.

Vicki. 0425770197.

Can You Help

We are again putting carry bags in the Samaritan’s Purse boxes this year. Could you please look through your fabric box and see if you have any pieces you could donate. The fabric pieces need to be a minimum of 50cm X 85cm of light weight cotton in cheery prints. They can be given to Edna or put in the box in the narthex.

Evensong

There will be an Evensong service at St John’s Flinders next Sunday, 12th
July.

The Byrdsong choral ensemble will be singing Lead Me Lord (Samuel
Sebastian Wesley), If Ye Love Me (Thomas Tallis), Magnificat & Nunc
Dimittis (H Walford Davies).

Guest Speaker: Tatenda Hopkinson – A Journey from Zimbabwe to Balnarring.

Listening in Lent

What We Heard draws together the main themes that emerged from almost 3,000 responses and engagements across the diocese. It offers an initial summary of the hopes, concerns, prayers, and invitations that were shared, and has helped shape the shared journey now emerging across the diocese.
You can read the summary here: melbourneanglican.org.au/listeninginlent

Step Back In Time: A Simple Biblical Meal Experience

You are warmly invited to share in a special evening inspired by the simplicity and spirit of meals in Biblical times. Gather around a table where food is shared, not rushed-where conversation, connection, and quiet reflection are part of the experience. Rather than recreating a perfect historical feast, this evening offers a gentle step back in time-an opportunity to experience how people once gathered, ate simply, and connected deeply with one another. All welcome.

Saturday 5th September 2026 6pm to 9pm here at St Mark’s
Cost $33 per person. Bookings via https://www.trybooking.com/DNRMY

This Week’s Prayer Focus

In our country and the world:

• For de-escalation of the Middle East war.
• For the people of Israel and Iran and Middle East countries.
• For the victims and those who are mourning after the Bondi terrorist attack.
• For all needing support following home invasions and all other violent attacks.
• 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 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 John’s Flinders with St Mark’s Balnarring, their Vicar Rev’d Keiron Jones and Deacon Rev’d Christine Barren.
• 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 the success of our building permit application.
• For our Parish, its people and those we reach out to every week.
• For the success of the new Beachside Youth program.
• 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 all members of the Parish Council.
• That the Good News of Jesus will be known in Dromana.
• For Kevin, Anne, Doris B, Ellen, Ted & Monica, Lorna, Louise, Jen, TJ and family, Karen, Mary, Jan K, David, Belinda, Joan R, Robyn, Phillip, Nikki, Jason, Rhiannon, Richard, Pat, Keith S, Harry, Mike, Chloe, Jessica, Audrey, Backy, Fred, Robert.