Don’t be afraid (to ask for help)…

Pentecost 7

In our Genesis reading for this week, we move on to the birth of Jacob and Esau. Isaac has prayed for Rebekah to have children and she bears twins. The Lord told Rebekah that the older twin would serve the younger, and we see how this happens in the reading for today. Esau was born first but Jacob was born holding on to Esau’s heel. Esau is a hunter, Jacob is a home body. After a day out hunting Esau is very hungry. He is so hungry he proclaims that he is famished. Jacob calmly says, ‘First sell me your birthright’. This isn’t the usual answer anyone would give to a request for food. Maybe Jacob has managed to get other less important things from Esau this way. The text doesn’t tell us that, but it does show Jacob’s calculating character. Now Esau, focused on his empty stomach and only thinking of his physical needs says, ‘I am about to die; what use is a birthright to me?’ Jacob says, ‘Swear to me first’. Amazingly Esau swears and Jacob serves him a nice big bowl of stew and some bread. Having sold his birthright for some stew, Esau then goes on his way. Jacob gets his prize too easily because Esau is too self-focused to see his mistake. The Lord said it would happen, but the ease with which Esau allowed Jacob to take first place is a lesson in itself. How often are we blinded by our own discomfort and vulnerable to Esau’s choice? When we are hungry for something, we can focus on that thing and not keep our mind tuned to the Lord’s voice and our eyes open to the things around us. Distracted by discomfort it is easy for the voice of the thief to whisper, ‘I can get that for you if you will just do this one thing.’ So we give in to the temptation to take the easy way – to use credit rather than saving, to tell a lie, or to sign that paperwork without reading the fine print. In that hungry yes, like Esau we can lose the ability to change track once we realise our mistake. If you’ve made Esau’s choice hand it to the Lord, repent and ask him to forgive you, then surrender the consequences to his grace and let Jesus our Redeemer have his way in them. Praise the Lord that he loves us and can bring good out of evil for his children. We need not be afraid to ask for his help.

Janice

This Week:

Regular Worship Times

Parish Contact Details

Save The Date:

Notices:

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.

After the service there will be refreshments and a glass of wine in St John’s hall

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.

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 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 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.