God’s generosity…

Pentecost 17

A slice of pie is $2.50 in Jamaica. It is $3 in the Bahamas. These are the “pie rates” of the Caribbean! More seriously our Gospel reading from Matthew 20, is not about pie rates but labour rates. We read that labourers were hired, first thing in the morning, for a day’s work in the vineyard at a rate of 1 denarius. They agree to the deal and set off to work. Other labourers are hired throughout the day, and all is well until it’s time to get paid. The late-comers receive a denarius so naturally the people who have just finished a 12-hour shift are expecting a bit more. They receive the agreed amount of just one denarius and feel miffed. We see their point. It seems unfair. But the landowner doesn’t see it that way and admonishes them for not being satisfied with their pay and telling them he can do what he likes with his own money. How do we get our heads around that! Maybe the clue is in the first sentence. This is a parable about the Kingdom of God where the ruler is none other than our loving, fair and righteous Father. The latecomers had spent part, or most of their day in the marketplace waiting to be hired. Surely working for a good boss who had your best interests at heart is a better alternative to sweating it out doing nothing but waiting around. Maybe it also challenges us as to how we behave in the workplace. Are we good at our job? Do we work hard and efficiently? If we are in a position of authority, have we got a happy and contented staff? Are we good to work for? This time last year, as a congregation, we were seeing Marlene through the final stages of cancer. Little did we realise, when she came to the Alpha courses how little time she had with us. She was able to come back to her loving heavenly Father, find forgiveness and love and see so much healed in her life before entering the heavenly kingdom. One of her comments was she only wished she’d come back to church a lot sooner. And for us it was such a joy to have her, with that beaming smile, here in the body of St Marks. So may we enter this new week renewed and thankful that we can be welcomed and employed by our heavenly Father, who is the perfect boss.

Helen

This Week:

Regular Worship Times

Parish Contact Details

Please Note:

Craft will stop after this week and start back 7th October and Thursday prayer group after this Thursday and start back 8th October.

Reminder of upcoming events:

Notices:

Message from janice

My mother’s funeral will be held on Thursday 24th September at 2pm at Mount Eliza Anglican Church. All are welcome to attend. My mother has requested that you wear white or colours rather than black

Working Bee: 0900 – 1200 Friday 25th September

The Church and surrounds need a spruce up after the winter months. There is a need to dust and clean the church on the inside and tidy up the garden and car park on the outside. If you can help, please call or text Keith T on 0413 319 327 by Thursday 24th. If you have spare tip vouchers, please bring them and give to Keith or Graeme K. If you can bring a trailer, please bring that too. We expect to trim the hedges and do weeding, and any green materials need to go to the tip. Bring suitable tools please.

Operation Christmas Child

Next Sunday – 27 September will be our packing day for Operation Christmas Child. Be part of blessing a child with love and giving some hope. Items will be provided. To cover contents and postage, the cost is $25 – cash or card. Let’s aim for 60 boxes in 2026 – that’s 60 children’ lives impacted by God’s love and our prayers.

Peninsula Evensong

The next PENINSULA EVENSONG is at St George’s Red Hill. 5pm on Sunday 27th September followed by refreshments.
Everyone welcome.

Trivia Night

3rd October 6.45pm for 7pm $10 per person. Bookings via Trybooking https://www.trybooking.com/DNRLV This event is part of Senior’s Month and bookings can also be made by giving your name to Keith Thomas.

CMS Anna visit to St Marks

Saturday 31st October – Sunday 1st November Exciting and informative events are planned. There will be a luncheon on the 31st and Anna will be with us for our Sunday services on the 1st. Further details to follow. See Carol.

CMS Summer Conference

7th & 8th January at Crossway Baptist Church Early bird tickets are now available online https://my.cms.org.au/ Speak with Steve Parkinson for more details.

This Week’s Prayer Focus

In our country and the world:

• For all affected by the Nepal-Tibet floods, particularly for the missing Australians.
• 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 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 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 William, Kevin, Anne, Doris B, Ellen, Ted & Monica, Lorna, Louise, Jen, TJ and family, Karen, Mary, Jan K, David, Belinda, Robyn, Phillip, Nikki, Jason, Rhiannon, Richard, Pat, Keith S, Harry, Mike, Chloe, Jessica, Audrey, Backy, Fred, Robert.