My friend and I were reflecting on the propensity for some things to get lost just by being put down somewhere. It’s not that they’re actually lost, as in never to be found again, but lost in that we don’t realise we don’t have them until we look for them where we think they should be. Keys, mobile phones, that pen I was using just 10 seconds ago – those sort of things. They are not so much lost as misplaced, but they feel very lost to us when we are suddenly in need of them. But that’s the point really. Many of the things we live with daily are just there as part of the fabric of our daily living. Accessories to how we fill our time. I sometimes feel this is how we can live our life in Christ as well. We love Jesus and we make him part of our routine of life – attending church, a meeting here, a prayer there, perhaps some bible reading when we remember to do it and a devotional read on the days we’re not too busy with other things. Then one day something happens and we are plunged into crisis and we need him. We need him now, right now, and we can’t find him. The distance between when we put him down to do other things and when we last picked him up has grown so that we have lost connection. But Jesus is not lost, we are. We have wandered from the Way by turning Jesus into an accessory to our lives, instead of our central reason for living. This is what had happened to Israel and had led them to a place of having lost their way. The other gods, the other things they could do on sabbath, the ‘fun’ things other cultures did led them to make God an accessory and they strayed so far they got very lost. The good news, Paul tells us, is that although they did this and are lost, Jesus will make sure those of them who seek him will find him and never be lost again. Is Jesus central to your life, or is he becoming an accessory? Perhaps call him now, he’ll be there.
Janice
This Week
| SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Service, 10.30am | |
| MONDAY: | Study Group – The Gifts of the Spirit (4 week study) |
| St Mark’s, 7.00pm | |
| Contact Kevin or Anne (0438 234 857) | |
| TUESDAY: | Online Study Group,7.00pm |
| Contact Graeme (0490 664 843) | |
| Zoom Prayer Meeting, 1.30pm | |
| Contact John (0421426156) | |
| WEDNESDAY: | Holy Communion, 10.00am |
| Study Group St Mark’s,11.00am | |
| Contact Keith (0419 551 082) | |
| Festival Meeting, St Mark’s, 12.30pm | |
| Cuppa, Craft & Chat Group St Mark’s, 12.30pm | |
| Contact Robyn (0409 425 044) | |
| THURSDAY: | Women’s Bible Study, St Mark’s, 9.30am |
| Contact Fay (0401 404 280) | |
| Women’s Quiet Morning, St Mark’s, 10.00am | |
| Contact Fay (0401 404 280) | |
| Men’s Coffee & Chat Blackthorn Café, 10.00am | |
| Contact Steve (0437 984 679) | |
| Study Group – The Gifts of the Spirit (4 week study) | |
| St Mark’s, 7.00pm – 9.00pm | |
| (Contact Janice) | |
| FRIDAY: | JANICE’S DAY OFF |
| NEXT SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Service, 10.30am | |
| Healing Service, 5:30pm |
Worship Times
| SUNDAY: | 8.45am | Holy Communion |
| 10.30am | Family Worship with Children’s Ministry | |
| (Holy Communion – 1st Sundays) | ||
| 5.00pm | 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:
Help!
If anyone has a gazebo/small marquee with sides, that we could use for the festival please contact Carol (0411 405 597).
Festival Fete
Fete & Luncheon Information
1 Food being provided for the fete cake stall not include meat or cream. There will be a sign-up sheet in the Narthex together with labels to be attached to food listing the ingredients.
2 Graeme King and Richard Watson have requested assistance to erect Gazebos on the morning of the fete. If you are available to help please contact Graeme on 0490 664 843.
3 For the provision of Lunch after Sunday service on 10th September please bring a plate of finger food of your choice.
Women’s Quiet Morning
10.00am Thursday 10 August 2023 St Mark’s Anglican Church. All women are invited to a Quiet Morning with an opportunity for reflection in the stillness of a busy life; set apart in His word with music, poetry & visual display. God is within her, she will not fail; God will help her at break of day. Psalm 46:5
For more information, please contact Fay on 0401 404 280
Special Services 2023
| 20th August | Evensong – St Mark’s, Balnarring |
| 10th September | Patronal Festival & Consecration of New Windows |
| 22nd October | Evensong – St Mark’s, Dromana |
| 3rd December | St John’s, Sorrento – Lessons & Carols for Advent |
| 17th December | St Mark’s, Dromana – Lessons & Carols for Christmas |
This Week’s Prayer Focus
In our country and the world:
- For those facing hardship and anguish amid rising costs.
- For families affected by violence.
- For those affected by natural disasters in around the world, and at this time for the people of, Maui, especially the town of Lahaina which has been destroyed by wild fires.
- 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 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 for Archdeacon Helen Phillips in the Frankston Archdeaconry. Give thanks that Archdeacon Helen is now well and beginning to return to work.
- In our Deanery, we pray for the Parish of Sorrento & Rye and their Vicar Fr. Nicholas Wallace.
- For the work of the Church Missionary Society and Wei-Han the Victorian Director.
- For Anna Radkovic our CMS Link Missionary. Anna Radkovic has now left Australia and is on her way to Kenya. Her updated prayer letter is on the board in the Narthex.
- 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 our Vicar.
- For the finances of our Parish.
- For our Parish, its people and those we reach out to every week.
- For the Fête and Patronal Festival in September.
- For the success of the new Family and Children’s Ministry.
- For the 9am at home prayer time for the Parish, Dromana & Mornington Peninsula.
- For: David, Margie, Irene Cowdell, Guy, Ruth.
