This Sunday we will begin a new sermon series in our morning services on the book of Zechariah. One of the great blessings of being part of God’s people is in the fellowship we have in community as we meet regularly with others who love the Lord Jesus and as we enjoy worship together. For the people of God in Zechariah’s day being God’s community meant that they had lived in the wilderness of exile for 70 years and now they were free to follow the Lord properly, but what did that look like? How do they follow when there is no human king anymore in their lives to give the lead? In their new reality God did not leave them without help. God sent prophets like Zechariah and Haggai, leaders like Nehemiah and priests like Ezra so they would know his will for them and how to live this new life. In our lives we also can find things change and reality has taken a new shape. We can find ourselves in grief for what was, while we work out how to live in what is and try not to fear what is to come. Our world is constantly changing in many ways, and God is still here amongst us. Just as he did not leave the returning exiles without leadership, he has not left us. Through Jesus we have instruction on how to live for him. Through the Holy Spirit we have the presence of the living God with us at all times to lead and guide us. The parable of the good Samaritan, which we also read this Sunday, puts this into perspective. The question asked of Jesus was, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” The answer was to live out the command to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, but this lawyer knew the command to love our neighbour was also key and needed clarification. Jesus answered this with a parable. The good Samaritan treats a Jewish man as his neighbour by tending his wounds, making sure he has shelter and food and giving from his own resources to make sure the injured man survives. In this way he fulfills the command. Jesus said to the lawyer, ‘Go and do likewise’. Today, no matter our reality, the same words apply to us. Following Jesus is loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and living out the love and mercy of God in our lives by loving our neighbours as ourselves. Sounds like community to me.
Janice
This Week:
| SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Service, 10.30am | |
| Newcomers & Recent Arrivals Lunch, 12.30pm | |
| 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) | |
| Wardens’ Meeting, St Mark’s, 2.30pm | |
| Women’s Study Group, In recess until 24 July | |
| Contact: Carol (0411 405 597) | |
| FRIDAY: | Janice’s DAY OFF |
| NEXT SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Holy Communion, 10.30am | |
| Parish Council Meeting, St Mark’s, 1.30pm |
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:
Team leader wanted…
A Team Leader is wanted 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.
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
Mens 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.
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 All Saints Rosebud with St Katherine’s McCrae 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 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
