Weekly News: 3rd February 2013

Friday, February 1, 2013

3rd February 2013

Perfect rest is NOT an extended holiday!

The last Sunday I preached at GSPV was November 25^th, 2012, on The Good Samaritan. After second service, I found an envelope had been pushed under my office door… with money inside… and a hand written note on the back: To Pastor Rolly & Family. Have a good break. How kind was that! I was touched, encouraged, heartened. I felt appreciated and honoured. I went home and announced this good news to Leanne. My deep and sincere thanks to our anonymous and gracious benefactor!

Having a nine week break from parish ministry was great. It meant having some head-space to tackle some of those “round-to-its”. It meant being able to sleep-in on Sunday mornings, and still make it to worship services. It made a three week family holiday to WA possible. I managed some maintenance, gardening and even some wood work!

It also provided reflection time – to realise yet again my addiction to activity… to doing rather than being. The problem with constant doing is that I tend to become the centre of my existence – and frankly that is an anxiety ridden life.

Busy robs me of peace because I start forgetting that God is in control.

Busy robs me of joy because I stop receiving life as a gift from God.

Busy robs me of love because I do not stop long enough to soak in God’s love.

The LORD urges us: Be still and know I am God (Psalm 46:10). Solitude, stillness and silence are ancient spiritual disciplines which help us slow down long enough to enjoy God - rather than just doing stuff for Him. I need to foster these for the health of my soul. How is it with you?

Perfect rest is not about having a long holiday from work.

Perfect rest is a result of trusting God to take care of us!

Perfect rest is when our souls rest in the truth and grace of God above all else.

Perfect rest is being secure and centred in Jesus.

Perfect rest is living as precious and loved children of the King.

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;

my hope comes from him.

He alone is my rock and my salvation;

he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.

My salvation and my honor depend on God;

he is my mighty rock, my refuge.

Trust in him at all times, O people;

pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge. Psalm 62:5-8 NIV

May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD,

even as we put our hope in you. Psalm 33:22 NIV

Joy in Jesus! Pr Rolly

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 “Conviction in the face of compromise”. This week’s message is “Knowing the God who stands by you”. ‘... he did his work so much better than the other governors and officials that the king decided to let him govern the whole kingdom.’ (Daniel 6:3)

Bible Reading: Daniel 6:1-23

Podcasts available at www.paravista.org.au

I am really excited about Children's and Family Ministry in 2013 at Good Shepherd! The number of kids attending our Sunday ministries and Little Lambs Playgroup has risen with around 60-100 kids attending each Sunday and 10-20 kids with their mums/dads/grandparents/carers attending playgroup each week.

We are kicking off Little Lambs Playgroup on Wednesday 6th February and Kingdom Kids Sunday Ministry from 10th February 2013.

Thank you so much for your response to this call so far, God’s provision is truly amazing and has blown me away! Praise God for Tanya Harrison who has offered to Team Lead Baby Zone! This ministry has been without a team leader for at least 12 months so this is very exciting news!! However, we still need more volunteers to help these ministries continue and run well!

We currently need 5 new volunteers for Baby Zone (0-2 yrs). The number of kids attending this ministry is rapidly growing but we are really struggling with volunteers to help run it. Could you please say a prayer and consider if you would like to be a volunteer. It will involve being rostered on about once every 4-6 weeks from February to November. New resources are being used so there will be very little planning involved for you! You would need to come at about 10am to set up the room and activities on the day you are rostered.

We need at least 1 more volunteer to help run Little Lambs Playgroup (0-5yrs). I coordinated the playgroup last year and won't be able to commit as much time this year so we are looking for anyone to help out in any regard; particularly with newsletters, cutting up fruit and washing dishes, being the contact person/coordinator, setting up/packing up, craft activities and/or rostering any or all of these!

We need at least 5 more volunteers (helpers) for Kindy Zone/Kids Zone/Kool Zone (3-12yrs). You would be rostered on with a Team Leader on Sundays and all of the planning will have been done by them. You would need to come at about 10am on the Sunday you are rostered on and enjoy spending time with the kids and learning about God (often from them!).

If you would like some more info, please give me a call or send me an email. All volunteers need a current police check (free for a volunteer). There is Team Member training coming up on 9th February from 12noon to 6pm, so if you want to be involved, it would be great to book you in for this! The church covers the cost of this training. I will walk you through this process and it is quite easy.

We would love to see more Grandparents and families (Mum and Dad) get involved where you can be rostered on together and enjoy kids church together! If we work together and have a larger number of volunteers, the ministry can run efficiently, the responsibility can be shared and the kids get so much more out of these ministries!

May God bless you as you consider how you can be involved!

Beth Einthal

Relief Children and Family Ministry

Team Leader Good Shepherd Lutheran Church

Women's Fellowship

The next 'sit & stitch' afternoon, 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 12th March 2013 from 1pm - 4pm in the church hall.

Card Stall

Sue Schenscher will be selling cards again on the 10^th of February after the 8:45 and 10:30 am services.

From the Office

Office closure

The church office will be closed from 11.30am til 1.30pm on Thursday 7th February for staff meeting and lunch.

Volunteer required

Do you have office filling skills? Would you like to pass on your skills for others to use. The Administration Manager is looking for a volunteer to assist in setting up a current filing system that can incorporate electronic and paper files that is easy to use and time efficient.

Please contact Stephen or the office via email at churchenquiries@paravista.org.au or phone 08 8263 5087 during office hours.

Cebu Mission Fundraising Team

Pancake Day - Sunday 10th February after both morning services. Pancakes are $1ea with maple syrup or lemon juice and sugar. All proceeds to CMF in the Philippines.

From the Pastoral Paddock:

FAT FEBRUARY

February 2013 is already chockers with a trilogy of events.

The first event:

Beginning with the Back to School celebration lunch after the 10:30am service on 3^rd February, as a church family we have the opportunity to show hospitality and the genuine love of Jesus as we meet and greet new and longstanding school families not associated with Good Shepherd.

The second event:

"Disability 101 – Foundations for enabling the church".

Based on theological spine, not legislation,

Lutheran Disability Services (formerly Amandus) invites you to this workshop which gives practical information to assist your church to grow as a place of acceptance for people with disabilities. This workshop has been produced by CBM and is one of a range of materials available for that purpose.

In his Australia day address, Paralympic gold medallist, Kurt Fearnley OAM said in part, “In Australia, 45% of people with a disability live in, or near, poverty; more than double the OECD average of 22%. We rank 21^st out of 29 OEDC countries in employment participation rates for those with a disability. We rank 27^th of the 27 in terms of the correlation between disability and poverty”.

As Christians we should be up front in serving the disabled. Australia has a miserable record for care and understanding of the disabled. This is your opportunity to learn how to change that!

Date: Saturday, 9^th February 2013

Time: 9.00am – 1.00pm (be ready for a 9.00am start)

Venue: Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 388 Montague Road, Para Vista

Cost: $15, which includes materials and morning tea

To register

Contact Barry Klaer or phone LDS on 8212 7766 or email admin@ldssa.org.au

The Third Event:

African Gathering:

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 388 Montague Road, Para Vista

Saturday 23^rd February 2013

11:00am (Australian time) for worship and lunch

Concluding at 5:00pm (Australian time)

This gathering is open to all who wish to participate as well as for African people who are part of the ministry and mission of the Lutheran Church and for others who work with them or are interested in this ministry

This gathering is open to all. As Pastoral Care and Fellowship Team leader I strongly encourage you to attend and participate. We want to empower our African sisters and brothers so for the rest of us the emphasis is on listening and learning rather than telling. Our cultural diversity brings richness to the fabric of our Church and is part of God’s blessing to us in the 21^st Century. We have much to learn from the faith in Jesus Christ many of our African sisters and brothers live today. A faith that has often been tested by hardship and tragedy that the rest of us may struggle to comprehend. A faith that is naturally shared with others and celebrated with vigour and enthusiasm. Like all relationships this is two-way. We all have much to contribute and much to receive.

Barry Klaer

Pastoral Care

Vacancies

Lay Worker/Ministry Worker Required 6 – 8 hours per Week Albert Park, SA

We are seeking a motivated Lay Worker to develop ministry with children and families in our local community and reinvigorate our current Kids Club program. Experience working with migrant children and families, especially African cultures, would be an advantage. The position has an initial time frame of 3 years with flexible working hours of 6-8 hours per week.

For more information and a position description, please contact Pastor Rodger Russ, Phone 8345 3780 or Email: woodpars@chariot.net.au

Postal Address: 64 Botting Street,

ALBERT PARK SA 5014

Applications close 15th February, 2013 to be forwarded to Pastor Rodger Russ.

Ministry Support Officer

Immanuel Lutheran Church

(Office Administrator/Secretary)

For a more detailed job description please contact, ILC chairperson David Schutz on

0439 047 271 or at dschutz@bigpond.net.au

Applications close 5pm Wednesday 20^th February 2013.

Congregational Life Director (0.5) and Adult Education Director (0.4)

St John’s Lutheran Church, Unley

While these positions have separate roles, there is the possibility of combining them into a 0.9 position for the right candidate. Position Descriptions and further enquiries to Pastor Rob Schubert rob.schubert@lca.org.au

(08) 8271 9556 or mob 0412 184 803

Applications for this position close on 8^th February

Administration Positions Vacant

Lutheran Disability Services is seeking applications for the following positions:

· Administration (Property) Officer- SCHDSC Level 4. Permanent 3 days/week.

· Administration Assistant- SCHDSC Level 3 Permanent Full time.

If you are interested in working in one of these rewarding positions please contact the office for a copy of the position description relevant to your interest.

Phone: 82127766 or email: admin@ldssa.org.au

Applications close by Friday 1^st March 2013

Notice Board

Please see Notice Board for more Information

2013 LCA Yearbook “Where Love Comes to Life”

Keep up with who’s where and on what in the LCA.

Limited supply of books @ $20 now available from the Church Office.

THE LUTHERAN—FEBRUARY EDITION OUT NOW

THE GIFT OF GRAIN
Now there’s a way for farmers to help farmers.

THE SCHOOL OF LIFE
The most important lessons can’t be learnt in classrooms.

HEARTS AND HANDS
LWA continues a long tradition of providing hands-on support for the church’s mission.

MEET OUR NEW PASTORS
Eight pastoral ministry graduates were ordained in December. We introduce you to them.

To subscribe, visit www.thelutheran.com.au

Subscriptions—11 issues per year; $40 Australia, $42 New Zealand

Fringe Event at St Michael’s Lutheran Church - 3 Balhannah Rd, Hahndorf

‘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. Fri 22^nd February 8—10pm (Champagne available on the night).

Adult: $38.00, Concession: $31.00, Child: $18.00, Group: $33.00, Booking information—FringeTIX (www.adelaidefringe.com.au) Phone: 1300 621 255. Contact Sharon 8388 1225 in the office for further information.

Grassroots Training Workshops