Sunday’s gospel, Luke 10:38-42 is one of my favourites. This beautifully simple recollection of Jesus’ ministry is set at the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus long before Lazarus’ illness. Jesus has stopped at their home and is teaching those who are present. With so many filling their house, Martha is busily trying to make sure that all receive good hospitality. She’s busy with ‘her many tasks’ and more than a little frustrated that her sister is sitting at Jesus’ feet listening to him teach instead of helping her. “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” Martha obviously expects that Jesus will see this very unjust situation and put a stop to it. There’s work to be done to care for all these guests and Mary is slacking off in a big way. But Jesus doesn’t tell Mary off. He gently reminds Martha that his teaching is more important than a beautifully tidy house or a fancy meal. He wants her heart not her chores. Mary is listening to Jesus and Jesus knows this is her heart seeking him. Martha wants to do all the things for Jesus, but listening to him isn’t one of them. She hasn’t the time. Everything around her is pulling her away from him. It’s not that it doesn’t need doing. Jesus knows it needs to be done. He knows hospitality is a very important thing. His words are not to rebuke Martha but to open her eyes to what’s happening here. She has the Messiah in her lounge room and she’s missing it. You know, people often tell me that they think God is far away and they’ve lost touch with him. They want to get back to the intimacy of a close relationship with the Lord but don’t know how to do that. Yet the issue is not that Jesus has moved away from them. He’s always close. It’s that they have followed the distractions of life; job, financial freedom, children, friendships, family – none of which are bad things – but when they take our eyes away from Jesus, when they become the centre of the daily stuff of living instead of him, our hearts become blind and deaf to his words. If only he were sitting in our living rooms… Holy Spirit, God within us, open our eyes and unblock our ears that we might choose the better part and listen at Jesus’ feet
Janice
This Week:
| SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Service, 10.30am | |
| Parish Council Meeting, St Mark’s, 1.30pm | |
| MONDAY: | Prayer for the Parish, St Mark’s, 4.00pm |
| Contact: Janice | |
| TUESDAY: | 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 | |
| Cuppa, Craft & Chat Group, St Mark’s,12.30pm | |
| Contact: Robyn (0409 425 044) | |
| THURSDAY: | Men’s Coffee & Chat, Blackthorn Café, 10.00am |
| Contact Steve (0437 984 679), Keith T (0413 319 327) | |
| Women’s Study Group, In recess until 24 July | |
| Contact: Carol (0411 405 597) | |
| NEXT SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Holy Communion, 10.30am | |
| Youth Group Begins, 4pm to 5.30pm | |
| see Michelle or Janice for details |
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:
Thank you…
Thank you to all who catered, set up and cleaned up for our Newcomers Lunch last Sunday.
Church cleaning coordinator…
Many thanks to Dennis Williamson who has taken up the opportunity to serve as coordinator of our working bees for cleaning the inside of the church.
Looking for a place to serve..
We have opportunities at our Op Shop for volunteers. Training is provided and if needed assistance given to obtain your Police Check and Level 1 Training Certificate. The Op Shop is at the heart of our ministry to the Dromana community and we hope to grow this ministry, but we do need helpers to do that. Shifts can be as little as 4 hours once per month. Talk to Vicki Brown if you’d like to know more.
Soup and scones for lunch…
Everyone is invited to lunch on 3 August after 10:30 service RSVP required by 27 July – to Anne 0473 562 968
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
Men’s breakfast…
Save the dates for the next Men’s breakfasts
16th August when Graeme King will speak.
18th October when Malcolm Glasscock will speak.
20th December will be the last breakfast for the year – Speaker TBA
All men welcome. Details to follow. Contact Steve.
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
This Week’s Prayer Focus
In our country and the world:
- For all suffering loss and grief resulting from the NSW floods.
- For families suffering as a result of violence and home invasions.
- For all affected by the worsening antisemitic attacks around Australia and the world.
- For those facing homelessness, hardship, anguish and despair amid rising costs.
- For all in Israel, Gaza, and Ukraine and Myanmar.
- For all women in Afghanistan now banned from hearing each other’s voices.
- 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 Sorrento & Rye and their Acting Vicar. For the work of the Church Missionary Society and Wei-Han the Victorian Director.
- 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 Joan R, Family of Barbara Vance, Lynda & Ian, family of Bill Uhe, Robyn, Ellen, 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.
