Weekly News: 9th December 2012

Friday, December 7, 2012

9th December 2012

Is Jesus still relevant at Christmas?

Given that everyone who reads this article is a Christian, the title of this article may come across as a little offensive. The question “Is Jesus still relevant at Christmas?” strikes at the heart of what we believe Christmas is all about. Yet in a poll published in Tuesday’s Advertiser 47.8% of people said the religious element of Christmas was not important at all. 58.3% said they were not religious in response to the question “Do you go to church at Christmas?” The reality is that Jesus is not relevant at Christmas for around half of our population.

Another interesting statistic that came from this poll was 55.3% said that the worst thing about Christmas was the stress of shopping for presents and food. When you take Jesus out of Christmas, which is all about God’s gift to us and turn it into our gifts to each other it is no surprise we get stressed out!

Understandably 47.5% said the best thing about Christmas was spending time with loved ones. Christmas celebrations do provide a great opportunity to catch up with family and spend some time with them. In saying that 19% of people report that the worst thing about Christmas is annoying relatives and family fights. No matter how good the food is, no matter how perfect the gift, our fallen human nature does not suddenly change just because it is Christmas. We and our family members are still less than perfect.

When you look at it like that, Jesus is still relevant today. Regardless of whether people acknowledge it or not, we human beings still need rescuing from our fallen natures. Our fights around the Christmas table are symptoms of a larger battle going on between us and God. This battle is fuelled by our choice to live independently from God. Our rejection of God means there is no peace with God.

When the angels appeared to the shepherd they proclaimed that a “Saviour had been born and as a result there would be peace on earth.” As people made peace with God by receiving the gift of Jesus, peace would flow out into the world. This peace only comes through Jesus. Given that more than half our population is rejecting Jesus it is no surprise that we continue to see a lack of peace at all levels, in our families, our communities, our workplaces and our nation.

As followers of Jesus we shouldn’t let the above statistics discourage us but rather spur us on to be people of peace and to proclaim the message of peace through Jesus. I also pray that you take this peace with you as you prepare for your own Christmas celebration so that this Christmas is not marked by stress but rather joy and celebration over the birth of Jesus.

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 “Get ready for Jesus”. This week’s message is ‘Be Receptive’ ‘When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.’ (Luke 2:15, 16)

Bible Readings: Luke 2:8-18; 3:1-14

Podcasts available at www.paravista.org.au

Kingdom Kids

Kingdom Kids is now on holidays.

Baby Zone

Please pray for this ministry and consider if you or anyone you know could be involved in any way. Volunteers are usually rostered on once a month and we need more volunteers to keep this ministry going. Please contact Beth if you would like to know more!

Playgroup

This term Little Lambs Playgroup has been learning about and enjoying the meaning of Christmas through craft, stories, songs and play. There is a display on the wall in the hall which is being added to each week, so please take a look!

Our Christmas celebration will be 12^th December at the Victory Church Cafe on Maxwell Road from 9:30-11:30am so please mark this date in your diaries. Please phone Beth on 8263 5087 or email beth.einthal@paravista.org.au if you plan to come.

Beth Einthal

Relief Children and Family Team Leader

Women's Fellowship

The next 'sit & stitch' afternoons, to finish patch work quilts for blessing at the Lutheran Women of Australia Convention in April 2013 and then to be handed on to Lutheran Community Care for distribution to those in need, will be on 29th January & 12th March 2013 from 1pm - 4pm in the church hall.

Cebu Fundraising Team 'Thanks'
On behalf of our team, I would like to take this opportunity to say a very BIG THANKYOU to all who have supported our fundraising events for 2012.

Thank you for the wonderful amount of $1104 from the retiring offering on Sunday 25th November. The Sausage sizzle raised $329 on that day also. Throughout the year we send off money raised, to Cebu Missionary Foundation and this year we have been able to send off approx. $9000, to help with their needs in the two dump areas, the cemetery, Pier 4, the Women's Prison and Street Feeding. They thank you so much for your generosity too! We pray that you will continue to support our events in 2013.

On 25^th November, at the 10.30am service we (sadly) farewelled Linda Dulay and Melissa Rogers. They have been a big part of the fundraising team and we are going to miss them very much. We thank them for all their work and wish them many blessings in the future.

New Team Member
It is with much pleasure that we welcome Di Ollino to our team and we pray that she will be blessed as she serves on the team.

We are still looking for another person to join us. If you have a passion for supporting the poverty people in the mission areas and you enjoy working with a team, then we ask that you prayerfully consider joining our team.

Please speak to me or a team member, either next Sunday in the Hall or contact me by phone - 8262 7429 or email - joanrmc@bigpond.com I would love to hear from you.

The team would like to wish everybody a very Happy Christmas and a Happy and Blessed 2013.

Joan McCarthy
Team Leader

Maranatha Health

Maranatha Health founders Kim (nee Hampel) and Michael Findlay will be speaking on Sunday 16 December at both services about the growth of MH and future plans. After the service a stall will be held, where you will be able to buy gift cards as Christmas presents, where all proceeds will go to MH Uganda projects. Another opportunity to support MH coming up is a Gala Dinner, on Jan 25. More details will be announced soon.

Notice Board

Please see Notice Board for more Information

Donations Needed for Christmas Hampers

As registrations pour in, we are still in need of toys for children under 18 as well as food items for our Christmas Hampers. If you are able to help, it is preferable that toys have some educational value (eg. Lego, ball, board game, or any other sports toy you choose) as we currently have enough soft toys.

We ask that any donations are delivered this week to allow us ample time for packing and distribution.

Donations can be delivered to our Blair Athol office (309 Prospect Road, Blair Athol) and Barossa office (16 Gawler Street, Nuriootpa). For a full list of required items or for more information, visit www.lccare.org.au or call 8269 9333.

*Christmas Gift Ideas *

What a superb gift idea for Christmas for a loved one, family or friends!

2 Wonderful Musical Events at St Michael’s Lutheran Church, Hahndorf

Featuring ...

Chamber Philharmonia Cologne— Offering familiar greats like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Vivaldi in dialogue with works from people such as Sergei Prokofieff through to the “King of Tango” Astor Piazzolla. Wednesday 16^th January 2013, 8pm. Tickets are $30 - Adults, $25 - Seniors/Pensioners, and $20 - Students/Children.

Tickets from St Michaels Lutheran Church. Contact Sharon ph: 8388 1225 in our office for further information.

The Idea of North— a quartet of musicians, serious about their music without taking themselves too seriously. Their instrumentation: voice (soprano), voice (alto), voice (tenor) and voice (bass), with a little bit of vocal percussion thrown in. They have a beautifully distinct sound and style, but they cross many musical genres: jazz, folk, gospel, pop, classical, comedy. 22^nd Friday February 2013, 8.00 – 10.00pm (Champagne available on the night).
Tickets available from 7^th December’ - Adult: $38.00, Concession: $31.00, Child: $18.00, Group: $33.00,
Booking information—FringeTIX www.adelaidefringe.com.au Phone: 1300 621 255.

Christmas CD featuring Lutheran School choirs now available!

ver the past few months Lutheran Community Care has been privileged to work with hundreds (nearly 500) of gifted and talented children from 19 Lutheran School choirs to develop a Christmas CD. ‘A Christmas Note 2012’ features 20 Christmas songs including
‘Do You Hear What I Hear’, ‘Away in a Manger’ and ‘Joy to the World’ mixing school choirs, bands and bells all on one disc. The CD is now available for $25 +postage and would make lovely Christmas gifts for family members and friends or the perfect background music for upcoming Christmas events. Contact our State Office at 8269 9333 or call in to 219 Main North Road, Sefton Park to purchase a CD just in time for Christmas.