As we continue our series in Acts, we move to the aftermath of Peter and John’s first arrest for proclaiming that Jesus had been raised from death. The Sadducees were particularly unhappy because they didn’t believe in resurrection so they seem to have been the ones behind this arrest. Peter and John have been the means of God healing the beggar at the Beautiful gate of the Temple, and he has been by their side happily proclaiming his healing. Notice how Peter has no problems speaking the truth to the leaders of the people who were the same ones who condemned Jesus not long before this. His words are fearless, Holy Spirit led, and quite pointed in their challenge to the gathered leaders. They sent Peter and John and the healed beggar out so they could work out what to do. How can they keep this controlled? Note how they were amazed at the eloquence of such ‘uneducated and ordinary’ men. Have you ever felt too ordinary to be of real use to the Lord? Have you ever felt that you lack education in some area and doubt your ability to do what you feel God wants of you? The beauty of knowing that Peter and John were ‘uneducated and ordinary’ is that these men were picked to lead the team that brought Christianity to the nations despite that. That means that in our ordinariness, our lack of education in some area or struggle with something which makes us feel we are ‘less than’, we have the same potential to bring change by the power of Holy Spirit. We feel inadequate, Holy Spirit says I am adequate for you. We feel ordinary, Holy Spirit says I am the presence of your extraordinary God within you. We feel ‘less than’, Holy Spirit says I am more than anything you can name, and I am with you to lift you up. The same unlimited, amazing, beautiful, loving, righteous, purifying fire that was in them is in us. This is the living water that flows from the believer’s heart, and we don’t need to be special or have theology degrees to be used by our God for his glory. We just need to belong to him. In faith in God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit we know we are not enough, but God fills us with Holy Spirit who is enough for us to be all God created us to be.
Janice
This Week:
| SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Service, 10.30am | |
| 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 | |
| Cuppa, Craft & Chat Group. St Mark’s, 12.30pm | |
| Contact Robyn (0409 425 044) | |
| Wardens’ Meeting, St Mark’s, 2.30pm | |
| 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 | |
| Parish Council, 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:
Looking for a place to serve?…
We have opportunities at our Op Shop for volunteers. Training is provided and you will be assisted to obtain your police check and level 1 training certificate if you don’t have them already. 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.
Vicarage working bee…
Monday 19 May 9.30am – Front Garden Donations of tip vouchers for green waste would be appreciated Please bring your own toys
Contact : Graeme 0490 664 843
Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea!!…
The Craft Group invite you to join them for an informal afternoon tea on Wednesday 28th May from 1.30 – 3.00pm
A collection box and QR code will be available for donations to the Cancer Council We look forward to seeing you Contact Robyn or Carol.
Medical Powers of Attorney and Wills…
Join us at Safety Beach Community Centre 185 Marine Drive, Safety Beach
Bookings & information: tel: 9783 3600 email: pclc@pclc.org.au
LEARN HOW TO SAFEGUARD YOUR RIGHTS, CHOICES AND FINANCES
Register: link below
Elder Forum – Free legal information session
Transport bookings: (limited and available only for those who may have difficulty attending)
Mornington Peninsula tel: 5950 1605
Frankston – tel: 1300 322 322
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 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 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 Elijah, Family of Jane Hambly, 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.
