Have you ever asked a group of Year 6 children what they wanted to be when they grew up? The answers are fascinating. I used to do this with my CRE children. The most common answer was that they wanted to be rich and famous in some way. As time has gone on, the answers have changed from ‘movie star’ to ‘TikTok influencer’, but the gist is the same. Most people at some stage in their life have dreamed of having their name in lights, as we used to say. Making lots of money and being the centre of people’s attention are the things which they strive for, and for many that’s true. But not all those who embark on these careers end up with the spotlight on them and a mansion in Beverley Hills. The lure of fame can just as easily lure them into places they would never have gone and leave them penniless and sometimes in danger. In our reading from Acts this Sunday we read the story of Simon the Magician who was happily making a name for himself using magic to pretend to be someone with the power of the ‘God who is called Great’. When Philip came to his part of Samaria preaching Jesus and performing miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit, the people turned to Jesus instead of Simon, and Simon decided to ‘get with the strength’ and joined them. An issue arose, however, when Peter and John arrived and prayed over the new Christians for them to receive the Holy Spirit, laying their hands on each. Simon’s interest in being someone who could draw the crowds was rekindled and he wanted to be able to wield this power. He wasn’t short of a quid so he offered Peter and John money to buy this power from them. Obviously he had no real understanding of what or who he was dealing with, and little actual faith. Peter gave an instant and very stinging reply calling him to repentance and declaring that Simon’s heart was not right and he was bound in the chains of wickedness. Suddenly there was no gain in his money or his status. He could only plead for them to pray for him. What do you want in life? What are your priorities? Where is your heart set? Jesus said, ‘Without me you can do nothing’. Do you need to do a heart check and realign?
Janice
This Week:
| SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Service, 10.30am | |
| Parish Council, 1.30pm | |
| MONDAY: | Vicarage Working Bee, 9.30am |
| Contact: Graeme (0490 664 843) | |
| 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) | |
| 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 evening and all day SATURDAY: | Election Synod, please pray for Janice and our Synod reps, Carol and Helen, as they cast their votes for our new Archbishop. |
| NEXT SUNDAY: | Holy Communion, 8.45am |
| Family Holy Communion, 10.30am |
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.
Men’s Breakfast…
Dates for your diary: 8.30-10am in the Narthex
June 21st : Roy Lindsay will tell us about his childhood in Ireland.
August 16th : Graeme King will be speaking.
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 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 Bill Uhe, Robyn, Elijah, 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
