Amazing
Our Amazing God and His Amazing Grace in His Amazing People…
I thank God for the joy of worshipping with you over our Advent/Christmas/New Year season. What continues to amaze me at Good Shepherd is how we all pitch in together, and by the grace of God produce something as a team that we could not do by ourselves.
Profound thanks and appreciation:
• To you who have carried both the staff and our congregation in prayer.
• To you who keep encouraging us to keep using God’s gifts to his glory… in preparing service orders and sermons, in producing Powerpoint slides, in finding creative or funny snippets, in organising the service rosters for our big services, in making sure that there is enough of everything,…
• To you who process the Welcome Cards – and the numerous people who follow up requests for care, information, prayer, help and so on.
• To the Kidzone ministry team who amazed us with their Christmas production about God not giving us what we want, want, want… but what we need, need, need.
• To those of you who prayed for – and then invited family or friends to join with us.
• To you who planned, designed or helped set up our amazing visual arts displays –striking!
• To you who choreographed and practiced dance routines until it became seamless – a great opener to our Christmas Eve services.
• To you who arranged music, played instruments, rehearsed with the band, played the organ, and sang – you help us to participate in the joy of the angels.
• To the tech team who set up equipment, mix sound, adjust lighting, and operate slides for us – you help communicate the wonder of Christmas.
• To you who helped with setting up for Holy Communion and packing up afterwards – how good it is to celebrate the Lord’s Supper, especially on holy days.
• To those who put activity packs together for the children so they could participate.
• To you who cleaned the church, set up chairs, sharpened and replaced pencils, picked up between services, did dishes, greeted, ushered, served as worship host, helped with car parking. Those first impressions are lasting ones! Hospitality is making people feel accepted and valued members of the family. This is the heart of God for ALL.
• To you who came and shared in the joy of Jesus with his people!
How good is God in bringing all this together so we can celebrate and share his love for us in Jesus?! It astounds me. It touches my heart. It transforms my life. Amazing!
Pr Rolly Stahl
Prayer Requests
For privacy the prayer list is not included in this Blog but if you would like to view the current requests refer to the e-mail that alerted you to this site. 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 theme, “Better Than Busy”. Our Guest Preacher will be discussing “How to lighten Your Load”. 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Mathew 11:28-30 (NIV)
Bible Readings: Mathew 11:28-30
Podcasts available at www.paravista.org.au
Kingdom Kids School Holiday Program
Unfortunately our 2012 Christmas Holiday Program has been canceled for this Sunday due to circumstances beyond our control. The holiday program will run again next week.
2012 Back to School Service
Save the date: Sunday 5th February 2012 @ 10:30am followed by a shared lunch
Please note there will be no Kingdom Kids at either morning services on this day.
Laura Carson
Children and Family Team Leader
lcarson@paravista.org.au 8263
And dear God, it would be good to know the names of all the people in our church. I know
that if they had name badges that it would help me and everyone else get to know them better too. Amen!
Name badges can be ordered by writing ‘Name badge’ on your welcome card. Write your preferred name and choice of magnet pin or clip. Avoid the Christmas rush – order your name badge now! Cost is $9:50 each badge
Small Groups Launch – Sunday Feb 19th 2012
Our Sunday services on Feb 19th 2012 will be highlighting the purposes and blessings of small groups, and providing opportunities for people to try out a small group. I will be preaching on the importance of Growing in Jesus Together!
We would LOVE to share some positive small group stories at our services. For example, how being in a small group has helped a person:
- through a difficult time (grief, loss, struggle, crisis,…).
- overcome a personal struggle through support and accountability.
- find acceptance, friendship, and a sense of belonging.
- grasp the love of Jesus at a deeper level.
- grow in character, faith, hope, and love.
- discover opportunities to serve others.
If you or someone in your group has a “good news” story, I’d love to hear it!
If appropriate, there are several ways we can share stories in the worship setting:
- A person telling or reading their story.
- An interview style where we can prepare questions and answers.
- A pre-recorded interview that is shown on the screen.
Stories need to be REAL, to the point, and giving glory to God! I am happy to help people with this.
Please note we will NOT be holding a lunch or dinner at Good Shepherd. Rather, we are asking small groups to be open to the possibility of hosting some new people on Sunday Feb 19th – or a time slot during that following week.
Three weeks leading up to this date, we will be distributing flyers at worship where people can express interest in trying out a small group. I will allocate these to various group leaders to make contact and provide details of the next gathering of their group.
Small Groups can do something social or fun (e.g. lunch or dinner, a gathering in the park, trip to the beach); or follow their normal group pattern. If you’re already in a small group, please explore this with your group so we can have healthy participation.
Lent Studies – Crossing the Boundaries
The season of Lent begins with Ash Wednesday: Feb 22nd in 2012. Through Lent we will be taking a fresh look at Jesus through the Gospel of Mark. Who is Jesus? Why does Jesus cross all sorts of “boundaries” of his day? What does it mean for us to follow Jesus?
To “value add” into this series, we will be offering a series of 5 Bible Studies for small groups – which will be emailed to small group leaders in early February. If anyone else is interested, please write “Lent Studies” on your Sunday Welcome Card and your email address. If you require a printed copy, please write “Printed copy” on your Welcome Card and Lorraine will place in your pigeon hole.
Rolly Stahl
Associate Pastor - Discipleship & Small Group Ministries
From the office
Staff on Leave
Rolly: 17th January - 30th January 2012
John: 17th January - 19th January 2012
Laura: 26th December 2011 - 23rd January 2012
DISCOVERY IS MORE THAN MEMBERSHIP
What is Discovery?
· Discovery is a means to assist every person on their journey through life at Good Shepherd.
· Discovery involves learning more about God, about ourselves and the life that God has given us in Jesus.
- Discovery is designed to explain who and what our congregation is – our
- Discovery shares a variety of tools for growth in God’s family.
Register Now!
The next Discovery course starts on Tuesday evening 21st February at 6:30pm – 9:30pm beginning with a meal and an informal introduction to the staff and continues on the 28th February 2012.
To Register Write ‘Discovery’ on your welcome card or contact the office by telephone (8263 5087) or email churchenquiries@paravista.org.au
Mission news
We challenge you to climb 3 peaks in a single weekend.
Mt Remarkable at Melrose, Rawnsley Bluff and St Mary’s Peak at Wilpena Pound.
March 10-12, 2012
$50 gets you registered and includes a Maranatha Health T Shirt.
Support the people of Kamwenge, Uganda and test yourself.
Do it with your class/team/youth group/family/friends
Or wait for our next mailout for more information.
We challenge YOU
Cebu Mission Fundraising Team
The Team would like to thank all the people at Good Shepherd Church for their support last year. We look forward to cooking sausages, steak sandwiches, scones and pancakes for you all again this year. Our Plant Stall will be held again in June, so all you 'green thumbs' can start potting up!
We also looking for another person who has either been to Cebu or interested in fundraising for the mission, to join our Team. Please email me, speak to me at church, or ring me to have a chat about coming on board. For us to sell chocolates this year, we need at least 3 or 4 sellers to help us. If you are able to sell in your place of work, please contact me.
Thanks on behalf of all the Team members.
Joan McCarthy
Team Leader
Email: joanrmc@bigpond.com
Phone: 8262 7429
On the notice board
Paul Coleman Trio in Adelaide on 13th January 2012 at the CloverCrest Baptist Church
Tabor Adelaide has only recently gained government accreditation to offer Music as a major or minor study within its Bachelor of Arts. Applications now open.
Grassroots Training, Australian Lutheran College
Australian Lutheran College is seeking a Coordinator for Grassroots Training. Launched in 2010, GRT is a fresh and innovative expression of Australian Lutheran College (ALC) as it trains ‘everyday people for everyday ministry’. For further information, including the Position Description, Selection Criteria and Information for Applicants, please contact the Dean’s Office on (08) 8267 7400 or email dean@alc.edu.au
Applications close on: 20/01/2012
"Poem”
(c)2011 Kylie Woithe. Used with permission.",
Remember that amazing feeling
when an unexpected kindness sent you reeling?
Love showed in action reaches deeper
than simply words - which come much cheaper.
The effect of action - with or without words - lasts longer The sense of being loved is felt much stronger.
True love does not depend on good deeds before it's given it's not limited to time or space, but is needs-driven.
Is this love possible, or just "pie in the sky"?
The answer is in the One that in the manger lies.
For this is true love in action so great and what the world at Christmas celebrates.
The presents, the food, family and fun
can never outshine what God has done.
It's yours for the taking, if you'll just say "God, I need your love today".
So celebrate and share love all year through This is our Christmas wish for you.
“I was hungry, and you gave me food.
I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink.
I was alone and away from home,
and you invited me into your house.
I was without clothes, and you gave me something to wear.
I was sick, and you cared for me.
I was in prison, and you visited me.”
(Matthew 25:35-36, New Century Version)
Church Office Hours: Monday - Friday 9.00am – 3.45pm
