The Golden Rule
As I was
growing up I was taught the golden rule of ‘Do unto others as you would have
them do unto you.’ It wasn’t until I was older that I realised Jesus had taught
this. He said “Treat others as you want them to treat you.” (Matthew 7:12)
This teaching was not unique to Jesus. Many others held to this including
Ghandi. Any group of people that can embody this teaching and live it out will
enjoy a harmonious life together.
The
problem is that we all struggle to treat others as we would want them to treat
us. This struggle is caused by the reality that none of us are perfect and
sooner or later we are going to hurt each other with our words and actions. Our
natural instinct when we are hurt is to hurt back and usually to a greater
degree and this begins a cycle that is not easy to break. Only forgiveness can
break the cycle of retaliation and get us back on the track of treating others
as we would want them to treat us.
When you
think about it, how many of us would like to be forgiven when we mess up? We
all do! That means to forgive others is to also treat them as we would want to
be treated in that situation. Forgiveness is a very unnatural thing to do. It
goes against our sense of justice. Yet forgiveness is vital for us to break the
cycle of retaliation and replace it with the cycle of love.
While
Jesus was not alone in his teaching to treat others as you would want to be
treated, he is the only one that has made it possible for us to be forgiven by
God. It is in God’s forgiveness that we find the capacity to forgive those who
hurt us. It is from our experience of God’s full and complete forgiveness that
we can treat others as we would want to be treated when we have failed and that
is to forgive.
If you
are caught up in a cycle of retaliation that you seem powerless to break
because you just can’t find it in yourself to forgive, focus on God’s love for
you and the forgiveness he gives you in Jesus. God will never ask you to
forgive anyone more that he has already forgiven you. Let God’s forgiveness
transform you today so that you too can forgive others as you have been
forgiven by God.
Pastor
Noel Kluge
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 “Getting a grip on life” This week’s
message is “Taming my temper” Better a patient person than a warrior, one
with self-control than one who takes a city. (Proverbs 16:32 NIV)
Bible Reading: Ephesians
4:26-32 and James 1:19-22
Kingdom Kids:
This Sunday is buddy
week! Baby and Kindy Zone (ages 0-5) will be meeting in the Education Centre
for a worship workshop with Matt Huckel. Kids and Kool Zone (year levels 1-6)
will be meeting in the School Hall for fun and games with the Ignite Youth and
young adult team. All welcome. Kingdom Kids will then be on holidays for 2
weeks and will kick off again on the 28th July.
Volunteers URGENTLY needed:
In order to keep Kingdom Kids Ministry running in term 3
and beyond, we need the following people:
- 1 Team Members in Baby Zone, ages 0-3 (minimal prep required – Child Safe
screening will need to be completed)
- 1-2 helpers in Kindy Zone, ages 3-5+ reception (no prep required – Child Safe screening
will need to be completed)
- 1-2 helpers in Kids Zone, year levels 1-3 (no prep required – Child Safe screening
will need to be completed)
- 1 Team Leader and 1 helper in Kool Zone, year levels 4+
(Child Safe screening will need to be completed)
Please
contact Laura Carson for more information on how to get involved or how to
complete the Child Safe screening process.
Playgroup
We would like to thank the staff from
Endeavour College who cleaned out and sorted all of the playgroup resources
under the stage. What a blessing!! Playgroup will now be on holidays for two
weeks and will kick off again on Wednesday 24th July.
In term 3 we will looking for the following support from our church:
- Help with set up and pack up
- Story time (telling stories and singing
songs)
- Leadership: Playgroup needs a new
coordinator. Interested?
You do not
need to have any previous involvement in playgroup or children/grandchildren in
playgroup to get involved.
Child Safe Team Member Training
To help everyone meet
their Child Safe requirements, we will be hosting a Child Safe Team Member
training session here at Good Shepherd on the 10th August from
12-6pm. Tea, coffee and afternoon tea will be provided! It will be held in the
Education Centre (up the stairs at the back of the church hall).
Child supervision will be
provided by Beth and Laura for those that need to bring their children. If you have completed
Mandatory Notification Training in the last 3 years then you will only need to
complete the first 3 hour session of the training (you will need to present
your original certificate on the day).
We need ALL volunteers in
Children, Family and Youth ministry to complete this training ASAP so that we
can continue to run safe programs for our kids. Please contact the church
office on 8263 5087 to register. Payment will be covered. Beth Einthal.
Kid’s Activity Sheets
Once again we are in need
of someone to help put together the weekly kid’s activity sheets and folders.
If you could volunteer an hour once a week to make this happen, we would greatly
appreciate it. Please contact Beth Einthal at the office for more info or to
express your interest.
Laura Carson – Children and Family Team
Leader
Maranatha Health Quiz Night
Sat
3 August, 6:30 pm at Endeavour College. Get a table together (up to 10).
Tickets are $15 each.
Book now at contact@maranathahealth.org.au.
Please contact Julie Freund or Jackson Jaensch for more details.
GOD’S HOUSE ROCKS -
REGULARLY
The midnight oil often
burns on the church premises on many a night and through the day. Alpha, Discovery, Praise Raisers, Youth &
Young Adults, Baptism classes, Craft, Monday soup kitchen, band practice, Women
@ PV, neighbourhood watch, worship workshops and other different ministry
workshops – there are many activities happening in our facilities! We praise and thank God for our church
building and facilities which enables us to have the capacity to invite people
to a broad range of events.
Opportunities
for learning:
(left) Ps. Rolly recently facilitated the “Getting more out of the
Bible” workshop held in the education centre.
Opportunities to Connect & serve:
(right)
Beginning with a meal prepared by our own chefs extraordinaire, Stephen &
Liz Zanker, Ps. Noel facilitated the Discovery Seminar.
Opportunities
for fellowship:
(below) The Hot Soup
Sunday was certainly a Souper Day for fun, food and fellowship!
(left) Ghanashyam &
Yogesh Ghimire first visit at Para Vista and enjoying a cup of soup with Di
Rolling (centre) The vivacious young adults (right) Maria, Petra Milan and
Jakob ‘Czech’ing enjoy the tasty soups.
Barry Klaer
Pastoral Care & Fellowship
Notice Board
Part Time
Administration/Professional Standards Assistant
The
Administration/Professional Standards Assistant provides a range of
administrative functions to support the work of the LCA SA/NT District. Job and
Person Specifications available by email: districtadministrator@sa.lca.org.au or phone Jayne Wardrop on
Ph. 8230
0904. Applications close Friday 12th July, 2013.
LCC – three opportunities
Seeking
experienced people committed to service excellence to join our passionate team.
TEAM
LEADER LCC Level 5 - full time (1.0 FTE)
SUPPORT
WORKER LCC Level 4 - full time or part time
OFFICE
LIAISON WORKER LCC Level 3 - full
time or part-time
For
Job Descriptions and on-line
Application Guide please visit: www.lccare.org.au. Enquiries to Robin Judd Tel: 0400 103
621. Please apply on-line by 9.00am
Monday 15 July 2013
Friends of Lutheran Archives meeting
Topic: Culture and conversion –
the Indian caste dispute in the 19th
century. Speaker: Rev Volker Dally, Director of Leipzig Mission. The talk explores the different positions in the dispute. As a result Pastors Appelt and Meischel
came to South Australia. The Dalit Theology today is a related issue. At Bethlehem House, Sudholz Place, Adelaide, on
Monday 22 July at 7.30 pm. Supper. Gold coin donation.
