For centuries humanity has tried to find meaning and direction through all sorts of natural and unnatural means. We are often under the illusion that we can control the outcome of our actions, yet we prove ourselves powerless many times over. In the midst of the human struggle to work out how to change what we do not like, or at least predict what will happen next so we can control how we respond, the need for a voice we can trust which helps us to know we are somehow safe is basic to our existence. In our readings last week we saw Simon the magician using sorcery and magic tricks to manipulate people’s fears and get money from them. This week Paul travels to Macedonia after the Holy Spirit shows him that this is his next move, and he comes across two women over the course of a few weeks. The first is Lydia, a worshipper of God who is eager to learn about Jesus and comes to faith. The second is a slave girl who is possessed by a spirit of divination which uses her to tell fortunes for which her master is paid. Lydia is a picture of one who is seeking the Lord and wanting to know the truth. This slave girl is unable to choose her fate, controlled by something which does not come from God under the hand of a master who just wants to use her to take advantage of those who are seeking certainty in her predictions. As we look at this picture, we see how Holy Spirit leads Paul to be there for Lydia to come to faith, and to set this slave girl free. Both Lydia and the slave girl experience the power of the Holy Spirit in different ways and both are now free in different ways. Lydia becomes the leader of a church which begins meeting at her house. What happened to the slave girl we don’t know, but we do know that now she cannot be used to take advantage of people’s insecurities and her master is not happy. Jesus said Holy Spirit would teach us everything and speak the truth. Are you feeling the future is uncertain, even unsafe? Pray for the Lord to show you his heart for you. He may not show you what the future holds, but Holy Spirit will help you to know and be set free by the truth that you are safe in the hands of the One who holds the future.
Janice
This Week:
| SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Service, 10.30am | |
| Parish Council, 1.30pm | |
| MONDAY: | Prayer for the Parish, St Mark’s, 4.00pm |
| Contact: Janice | |
| TUESDAY: | Hope25 Zoom Prayer and Share, 1.30pm |
| Contact: John R (0421 426 156) | |
| WEDNESDAY: | Holy Communion Service – 10.00am |
| Bible Study Group St Mark’s, 11.00am, Contact: Janice | |
| Tea for the Cancer Council. St Mark’s, 1.30pm | |
| If you are planning to attend, please make sure you RSVP’d to Carol or Robyn | |
| Contact: Robyn (0409 425 044) Carol (0411 405 597) | |
| 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) | |
| FRIDAY: | JANICE’S DAY OFF |
| NEXT SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Holy Communion, 10.30am | |
| Healing Service, 5.00pm | |
| Topic : ‘Identity-healing the inner self’ Speaker: Janice |
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 for your prayers…
Thank you for your prayers for Joy Clayton and her family. Joy’s mother, Betty Holter, passed away peacefully on Monday 19th May and will be laid to rest after a funeral to be held at St Paul’s Yarra Glen on June 2nd which will be led by Janice. Further details to follow.
Vicarage working bee…
A big thank you to those who attended the vicarage working bee last Monday. What a blessed day. Great weather, great fellowship, and a great outcome. The front garden looks fantastic. Graeme
WANTED…
A Team Leader to coordinate working bees for cleaning the inside of our lovely church every few months. Perhaps you are not up for the cleaning but are happy to lead a team who can, or maybe cleaning is your secret power. Either way, if this is you, please talk to Janice or one of the Wardens – Kevin, Mike or Jan Glass. Thanks.
Men’s Breakfast…
Dates for your diary: 8.30-10am in the Narthex
June 21st : Roy Lindsay will tell us about his childhood in Ireland.
August 16th : Graeme King will be speaking.
This Week’s Prayer Focus
In our country and the world:
- That the Myanmar government releases the stockpiled aid to those in need.
- 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:
- A prayer for the election of a new Archbishop for our diocese:
Eternal God, shepherd and guide, in your mercy give your Church in this diocese a shepherd after your own heart who will walk in your ways, and with loving care watch over your people. Give us a leader of vision and a teacher of your truth. So may your Church be built up and your name glorified; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. - 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 Acting Vicar.
- 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 family of Betty Holter (Joy Clayton’s mother), 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, Guy
