My grandfather was a short stocky man with a wicked sense of humour. Pictures of him as a young man show him looking very athletic despite his height and I know he loved sports of all kinds, especially Aussie rules football and cricket. In those sports he did well, but he was banned from playing golf for cheating (apparently yelling “Look!” and pointing away from the tee then attempting to throw his ball down the fairway wasn’t successful). When I was young my grandfather tried to make sure my siblings and I would always have the head start we needed on the track. He carefully schooled us on the idea that there was no harm in taking off on the word ‘set’ when the coach said ‘ready, set, go’. Now, I was not a rule breaker so I didn’t take his advice – which didn’t please him – but my big sister was always looking for the short cut and got in trouble a bit for running on ‘set’. Somehow the teachers at school always caught her out. In our gospel reading today Jesus is carefully explaining to his listeners that shortcuts don’t work in God’s kingdom. There is no get rich quick scheme which will help us to gain higher status in the kingdom of God, and no place for trying to ride on the back of someone else’s faithful service. If we want to be standing on the day the Lord Jesus returns, we need to do so on our own faithful service to the Lord, not someone else’s. Money is neither here nor there. Riches won’t buy us a ticket, nor will being poor be our free pass. It is faith in Jesus – living, active, and obedient faith – which will be the way we make sure we get to the end of our lives, whenever that may be, and find that the place we have been promised is reserved for us. It doesn’t matter when or how we came to that faith in Jesus. It is immaterial if we are the last in or the first. What matters is that we ran the race and kept the faith. This is how we can be ready for whatever comes, at whatever time it comes. Jesus makes it clear that we are to be people who are living out our faith every day however we can. He doesn’t say we have to do it better than anyone else, he just says to be ready for the day we face him by being people who live each day for him. Are you ready?
Janice
This Week:
| SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Service, 10.30am | |
| Youth Group, 4.00pm | |
| 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) | |
| Women’s Study Group, In recess until 24 July | |
| Contact: Carol (0411 405 597) | |
| SATURDAY: | Men’s Breakfast, 8.30am |
| RSVP by Wednesday 13th | |
| NEXT SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Holy Communion, 10.30am | |
| Parish Council, 1.30pm | |
| St John’s Sorrento, 2.30pm | |
| 150th Anniversary Service – Byrd Song Choir singing |
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:
BYRD Song Choir…
BYRD SONG CHOIR – Conducted by John Rogers
Sunday 17th August 2.30pm Sorrento, 150th Anniversary Service
Sunday 24th August 5pm Mornington, Evensong Service
Sunday 28th September 5pm Dromana, Evensong Service – Us!
Refreshments will follow all services.
Ladies Lunch…
The Thursday ladies Bible Study Group invite St.Mark’s ladies and their friends to lunch & conversation on Thursday September 4th at 12.45pm. Please come alone or bring a friend. If you are able to provide a small contribution of a plate of food to share it would be appreciated. RSVP numbers to Carol by Sunday 24th August.
In the Beginning…
Bishop Paul Barker will be leading talks on Genesis 1-4 over the Wednesdays in August. 7.30pm to 8.30pm on 6,13, 20, 27 August 2025 in person at Glen Waverley Anglican Church, 800 Waverley Rd Glen Waverley or online at www.gwac.org.au/livestream
Men’s breakfast…
Saturday August 16th 8.30am – Speaker: Graeme King
$7 will give you a delicious breakfast of egg and bacon roll, coffee/tea and the best conversation in Dromana!
PLEASE RSVP to Steve by Wednesday 13th. It really does make shopping (for Carol) and setting up easier and is very much appreciated
National grandparents conference…
23 August – 9am to 4.30pm
‘Leaving a living legacy’ – One day of Inspiration and Encouragement The day will be live-streamed from St Paul’s Castle Hill, Sydney. For further details & participation please contact Cheryl 0490 664 830 or Graeme 0490 664 843
VCCEM Training..
VCCEM TRAINING is happening here at St Mark’s on Saturday 30th August. If you would like to volunteer to offer psychological first aid in disaster situations with the Victorian Council of Churches Emergency Management team this is your chance to train with them. Details on how to register are at www.vccem.org.au Ask Janice for details.
SUFM Mccrae..
SUFM MCCRAE are holding a fundraiser Trivia night on 30th August from 7-9pm at Gateway Church, 14 Heversham Drive, Seaford. To register use this link https://brushfire.com/sua/fundraiser/606364
Vicarage Working Bee…
Vicarage Working Bee focusing on backyard, 26 August commencing at 9.30am BYO tools, stories, food Please let Cheryl or Graeme know if you are able to attend.
This Week’s Prayer Focus
In our country and the world:
- 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 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 Mornington & Mount Martha Church, and their Vicar Rev’d Colleen Clayton.
- 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 Christine Little, Belinda, Joan R, Family of Barbara Vance, Lynda & Ian, family of Bill Uhe, Robyn, 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.
