A Fresh Start this Easter
Have you ever been half way through something and wanted to start all over again? Perhaps you’re half way through a small renovation on your home and everything starts going wrong and you wish you could start all over again and do it differently. Some of us would like a fresh start with our kids. If only we knew what we know about parenting now when we first had children we would do it a lot differently.
Some of us even wish we could start life over again. We look back on the choices we have made that have set our lives on a course that we now wish they hadn’t taken. If only we could go back and make a different choice. As we live with the negative consequences of our poor choices we begin to feel regret over what we have done. Guilt can also plague us as we see how our choices have hurt others. If only we could have our time again. If only we could have a fresh start.
The events of Easter are all about God giving us a fresh start through Jesus. Jesus came to free us from our past, assure us of our future, and give us his power to live the present. We can hand all our regret and guilt to Jesus knowing that his death on the cross covers all that with forgiveness. Jesus gives us a fresh start with God.
While we have a fresh start with God, Jesus does not enable us to wind the clock back and do things over again. It would be fantastic if things worked like this but they don’t. However, our fresh start with God means that we can live in the present without the deep sense of regret and guilt about our past. Instead of responding to our current challenges out of guilt and regret, we can tackle them in the assurance of God’s love and forgiveness.
Not only that, Jesus’ resurrection shows us that God can bring life out of seemingly dead end situations. When we hand the pieces of our broken lives to God, he can put them back together in a way that works for blessing and not more messing. The same power God used to raise Jesus back to life is available for us to live out a fresh start each day.
Pastor Noel
Prayer Requests Not included in this newsletter, but if you would like to view the current requests, refer to the e-mail that alerted you to this Newsletter. If you hve a prayer request or wish to be covered by prayer please email churchenquiries@paravista.org.au with your request.This week we begin a new series
Hope that lasts forever (How Jesus’ resurrection rubs against everyday life)
Today’s message “A better HOPE than reincarnation”
Bible Readings: Luke 24: 36-48, 1 Corinthians 15:42-49; Phil 3:20
PLEASE NOTE NO 6pm Service on 15th April – due to the NOVO Camp
Kingdom Kids at the 10:30am service for ages 0-12.
Kingdom Kids
Kingdom Kids is now on holidays for 3 weeks.
Our program for term 2 will begin on Sunday 29th April. We look forward to seeing you all then.
Baby Zone
We will run sessions during the term 1 school holidays. We hope you can join us.
Urgent prayer
Baby Zone is struggling to survive with very few team members and no team leader. For this reason we have had to cancel the program on several occasions. Please pray for this ministry and consider getting involved.
Play Group
Playgroup is now on holidays for 2 weeks. We will start up again on Wednesday 25th April and look forward to seeing you then. Contact Beth for more info 8258 4878.
Move Urban Dance
Dance for term 2 will start up again on the 26th April. Well done to everyone involved. What a great first term it has been!
Step Up To Communion 2012
Our invitations for this year’s Step Up program have been sent. If you would like to be involved but missed out, please email or call me so that I can send you the information ASAP.
Laura Carson – Children and Family Team Leader
8263 5087
From the Office
Item for sale
A laminated office desk is for sale and is on display in the hall All offers will be considered.
Walkway painted
During the school holidays the existing walkways will be repainted and the walkway from the village to the hall/church will be painted.
Reminder if parking in the car park for the disabled by the ramp please park as far forward as possible so those with walkers can move safely behind the parked cars.
New office staff
Congratulations to new staff members Helen Bridge (Reception/Publications) and Sooty Lor (Worship Material/Media Production). We warmly welcome them onto the staff team. They will commence their new positions during the coming week.
Stephen Zanker
Administration Manager
On the Notice Board
Why You and I should be donkeys (so we can be sheep)
Explore what it means to follow Jesus into the most challenging places on earth, where drought and famine and conflict devastate people’s lives.
Come and hear Jonathan Krause (Community Action Manager for Australian Lutheran World Service) speak
on Wednesday 9th May at 7.30pm at St John’s Lutheran Church, Balmoral Road, Dernancourt
Supper to follow
WANTED: Driver/ Shed Worker
Lutheran Community Care provides community services on behalf of the Lutheran Church in SA and NT through a range of programs.
We are in need of a driver/shed worker in our Blair Athol Lutheran Community Care Op Shop.
We need your skills as a driver/shed worker to help with deliveries, pick ups, dispatching of boxes and various goods, and other general duties. If you can spare several hours every Tuesday on a regular basis we'd love for you to join our friendly, dedicated team.
Contact: Natalie Bubner, Shops Manager 8269 9338
Today is a gift from God; that’s why it is called “the present”
Church Office Hours: Monday - Friday 9.00am – 3.45pm
