Is it Better to Give or Receive?
We all like to receive presents. Most of us
enjoy being served by someone else. It is great to receive as it makes us feel
special and valued. Yet to receive someone has to give; someone has to give a
gift or give of their time and effort. You cannot receive without someone else
giving.
So is it better to give or to receive? The
reality is that life will always involve both giving and receiving. So what
should our focus be, giving or receiving? I think the answer to this question
is found by asking what would happen if we just focussed on receiving or just
giving?
If we were to all focus on receiving then
who would do the giving? We would reach a grid lock where there would be
nothing to receive because nothing was being given as everyone would be waiting
to receive. However, if everyone focussed on giving then people would still be
receiving even if they were giving themselves. Receiving would naturally flow
out of a culture of giving.
It is no surprise then that God’s first
move towards us always involves giving. He gives us our life; he gives us his
love; and he gives us what we need for life here. His greatest gift was his Son
Jesus who he sent into this world to give his life for us so that we could
enjoy life together with a perfect God even though we live imperfect lives. God
is a giving God and he wants us to receive all that he gives us through his Son
Jesus.
God’s plan is that as we receive from him
we will then pass it on by giving. We begin by giving our lives to God to live
for his plans and purposes. Out of the love that God gives us we will love each
other and give to each other. As God modelled a life of giving by sending his
Son Jesus to die for us, he calls us to focus on giving instead of receiving.
Jesus said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ (Acts 20:35) When we focus on
giving we become a blessing to each other.
Is your life more focussed on receiving or
giving? How can you further develop a giving focus for your life? How can you
model this to your children and teach them that it is better to give than to
receive? As we all focus on giving there will never be a lack of opportunities
for us to receive.
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 have a prayer request or wish to be covered by
prayer please email churchenquiries@paravista.org.au with your request
This week we continue the
series, “Hope that lasts forever (How
Jesus’ resurrection rubs against everyday life)”. This week’s message: HOPE for Justice. God is perfectly
HOLY: He cannot tolerate evil in any way, shape, or form. God cannot allow
anything evil - including sin stained people - into heaven. Yet, God has made it possible for ALL people to
come into his heaven. How? Through Jesus. He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross… (1 Peter 2:24
NIV).
Bible Readings: Matthew
13:24-30, 36-43; 2 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Kingdom Kids at the 10:30am service for ages 0-12.
Kingdom
Kids
Kingdom Kids is
an intentional children’s program that aims to teach the bible through creative
forms. It also nurtures faith and supports parents in their role of spiritual
mentorship through extended teaching and opportunities to discover more about
faith.
Our Kingdom
Kids Ministry is growing and growing each term, in size and in desire to
worship and honor our amazing God.
This growth has
also brought about the need for a larger team of helpers and teachers, more
space and new resources. The support of our church family is invaluable. Please
continue to pray for this ministry and consider ways you too can be involved in
nurturing our future generations for the kingdom.
Family
visits
We would like
to continue encouraging parents, grandparents and friends of those in Kingdom
Kids to come and visit us at least once a term over in the school. It is really
important that we share this experience with you so that together we can find
the best ways to model and support the faith of our children. So grab your
diary and lock aside a Sunday to come and pay us a visit. You are ALWAYS
welcome.
Baby
Zone
We have loads
and loads of pureed food to sell with all profits going towards new resources
for Playgroup and Baby Zone. The food is located in the church hall and can be
purchased at $5 a box or $20 for 5 boxes. Please feel free to take as much as
you want (money can be given to Laura Carson, Debbie Wesselingh or the church
office). This SA made product contains 100% natural ingredients.
Play Group
When:
Wednesdays from 9:30am -11:30am
Where: Church
Hall
Who: anyone
with children or grandchildren 5 years and under
What: Craft,
shared morning tea, story and music time and free play. Everyone is welcome
Contact Beth
for more info: 8258 4878
Step Up
Thank you to
the 4 families who joined us for our Step Up lunch last Sunday in the OSHC
room. We are looking forward to sharing this journey with you over the next
month and pray for God’s richest blessings as you prepare to receive your first
communion.
Laura Carson –
Children and Family Team Leader
lcarson@paravista.org.au
8263 5087
Women's Fellowship
This year's annual fundraising luncheon will
be held on
Tuesday 5th June 2012 at 12noon in the church hall.
Donation
$10.00 on entry.
There will be door
prizes and a trading table.
Pastor Rolly
Stahl will present a devotion.
Guest speaker will be Matthew Huckel on
his experiences as a Music Therapist.
Upcoming Events
Plant
Stall
Our Fundraising Team have been asked to
hold a Plant Stall at the Rubies Night on Friday 18th May. If you have any pot plants you don't want any
more or some that you have potted up since my last request, then please bring
them along to the Hall on Friday 18th.
Please put a label on your plants as to what they are and flower colour
if they flower. If you can't get your
pots to the Hall, please contact Joan on 8262 7429.
If your plants aren't ready to sell by May,
we will be holding our annual Plant Stall on 17th and 24th June, so bring them
along then.
Thank you again.....in anticipation.
Cebu Mission Fundraising Team
We are still
looking for another Team member, so if you are thinking you would like to be
involved in some fundraising and have a passion for the poverty people, then
please prayerfully consider joining our team.
Please contact Joan
on 8262 7429 or email joanrmc@bigpond.com
On the Notice
Board
Maranatha Health Supporters Brunch
When: Saturday 19th May from 10:30am to 12noon
for BBQ, tea and coffee,
African items for sale
Where: Endeavour College Mall
85 Mawson Lakes Blvd Mawson Lakes
SA
(Plenty of parking around the back)
Kids welcome, plenty of space to run around (BYO balls etc)
Why: To thank
people for their support, prayers and interest. And to hear first hand how
Marantha Health is making a difference to local communities in providing
employment in the district; providing much needed health care and hope for
local community development. Kimberly (Hampel) Findlay writes ”I was talking to Kiiza, the
first Ugandan staff member who helped to build the Clinic and now is the head
groundskeeper. He has now finished his 6 month probation and his positive
outlook and appreciation re-energised me. He pointed out how only 6 months ago,
we had almost nothing to show for ourselves. He reminded me of how far we had
come, and how much of a difference we are making. He reminded me of the LIFE
that is in Maranatha Health. God-breathed life.”
Mission Thailand
You’re
invited to be part of a unique team experience to serve in Thailand.
We are currently calling for volunteers to
come to Thailand in January 2013. The
trip will be an opportunity to serve Christ in a different way, enjoy
fellowship with Lutherans from another culture and have a little bit of fun….
The ‘MT2013: Here I
am! Send Me!’ trip is planned for Friday 4th January to Sunday 20th January
2013. We will fly into Chiang Mai via
Bangkok from Sydney. The cost will be
approximately $3,000 AUD (this will cover airfares, car hire, fuel, food while
in the village and accommodation). We
are looking for expressions of interest by 15th June, completed applications and deposit paid by 30th June.
To register your interest in the team or to know more
about the exciting things happening in the Nan province of Thailand, please
contact Simon King on e-mail: project.thailand@lca.org.au or on 0403 999 979 for an Application Package.
Friends of Lutheran Archives meeting.
Topic: SA
lawyers of German heritage 1860-1918. –
names like von Doussa, Homburg, D’Arenberg, Heuzenroeder, von Bertouch, Spehr
and Wallmann. Speaker: Peter Moore. At Bethlehem House, Sudholz Place,
Adelaide, on Monday 21 May at 7.30 pm. Supper. Gold coin donation.
Disability 101 - Foundations for Enabling the Church
You are invited to the first opportunity to experience a
brand new workshop.
We
invite attendance by one or two people from each congregation.
Date:
Thursday, 24th May 2012
Time:
9.00am - 1.00pm
Venue:
Lutheran Church SA District Office, 137 Archer St, North Adelaide
Cost:
$10, which includes materials and morning tea
To
register by phone: 8212 7766
By
fax: 8212 7744
(see notice board for more details)
Alpha is coming
Stay tuned for more information
COME JOIN US AT THE …..
Monthly Glynde Markets
4th Saturday of the
month
Glynde Lutheran
Church (15-17 Glynburn Rd)
26th May, 9am-1pm
Join us for a Sausage
Sizzle and Devonshire Tea
Stalls include:
Plants, Craft, Cakes/Biscuits, Home Produce, Good Second Hand,
Pandora Style Jewellery, Bric-a-Brac
Pandora Style Jewellery, Bric-a-Brac
From the Office
AGM’s
The
AGM’s of the church, school and village will be held on Sunday May 20th
at 12.30 pm.
A BBQ lunch will be provided after the
second service. Main business for the church meeting is the presentation of the
2011 audited Financial Audited statement, Senior Pastor’s report.
Hard copies of church reports will be
available on Sunday 13th May from the Members Information section in
the foyer or in the Member’s section on our Web site.
Celebrating Pentecost Sunday May 27th 2012
Hot Curry Lunch in the Church Hall after
the 10:30am service
“And tongues, like flames of fire were
divided, appeared to them and rested on each of them”
Acts 2:3.
“Red Thai curry” “Chilli beans” “Chicken curry”
Can you please assist the Sunday
Hospitality Team by preparing and bringing that ‘hot’ meal to share?
If you have a favourite curry or other
spicy dish that you enjoy preparing and sharing….it does not have to be
flaming, smoke out of the ears ‘hot’ so that we do see tongues of fire and
watery eyes, it can be a mild curry or
chilli dish - your contribution would really be appreciated.
chilli dish - your contribution would really be appreciated.
If you can assist please let me know by writing
‘assist with curry’ on your welcome card, via email, bklaer@paravista.org.au or
by contacting the church office.
Your support will be significantly
appreciated.
Barry Klaer and the Sunday Hospitality Team
Vacancies
Please check the
church notice board for details of all job vacancies
BUSINESS MANAGER
.8 FTE PERMANENT POSITION
The opportunity
exists for an outstanding individual to join the team at St Jakobi Lutheran
School, Lyndoch. This is a permanent 0.8
FTE position commencing in Term 3 2012, or by negotiation.
God loves you
because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do
Church Office Hours: Monday - Friday 9.00am – 3.45pm
Church Web site: www.paravista.org.au
