You
have to share to be fair
We
all seem to have an inbuilt sense for justice. From an early age we react when
we feel unfairly treated. One of the biggest challenges of parenting is trying
to keep things fair between our children. As soon as one feels that they have
missed out or have been hard done by, you can bet there will be some
complaining.
Our
innate sense of justice flows from being created in the image of God. The Bible
says, ‘The Lord loves righteousness and justice.’ (Psalm 33:5) In
God’s eyes we are all equal. He has created us and he equally loves us. When we
seek to treat each other as equals we reflect this part of God’s image in us.
Working
for justice in the world is all about making things fair. When some have more
than enough and others have none it is not fair. To make it fair those with
plenty need to share with those who have nothing or very little. It sounds
simple enough but the problem is those with plenty often do not recognise their
abundance. Or, they have gotten so used to living with surplus they find it
very hard to contemplate living with less.
This
is very true for us who live in Australia. When we see the needs of the poor
and reflect on what we can do, we often conclude that we do not have anything
to spare to help. Yet on a global scale we are all in the top 5% of the world’s
wealthiest simply because we were born in Australia. Our privileged birth place
provides us with the resources to share with others and play our part in making
things fair for those who are poor simply because of where they were born.
We
reflect God’s heart for justice when we who have lots go without a little so
others who have nothing can have something. God doesn’t call most of us to
poverty but neither does he call the poor to poverty. God has provided all the
resources we need to ensure no one needs to live in poverty. The problem is one
of distribution not provision.
Where
could you cut back in your life so that you have something left to share with
the poor? How can you pass this value of justice on to your children? How can
you teach them about the importance of going without a little so they can give
something to help those who have nothing? Not only will you be teaching them
something very important but you will be helping them discover where real joy
is found. The happiest people in the world are often the ones who give the
most, not the ones who have the most.
Pastor
Noel
This Sunday at Good Shepherd
This
week’s message will be “God’s promise of
comfort” as we continue the series ‘God’s promises in tough times’ Podcasts
of weekly messages are available at www.paravista.org.au
Bible Readings:
Matthew 5:3-4 and 2 Corinthians 1:3-11
Celebration Service
Final Dress Rehearsal:
We have spent the entire term in Kingdom Kids
preparing for our Celebration Service: The promise of a Saviour King. We will
have a full dress rehearsal for all ages in the school gym this Sunday, the
24th November from 10:45am-12pm, followed by the Celebration
Service at 10:30am on Sunday 1st December. All children involved
need to be at this rehearsal. Please contact Laura ASAP if you are unable to
attend. Thanks
BBQ Lunch cancelled:
Due to the massive amount of work already going into
the celebration service, and to avoid over working our volunteers, we have
decided to switch the BBQ lunch to a special and gourmet morning tea after the
10:30am service on the 1st Dec. Thank you to the few families that
offered to bring a salad. If you would like to bring a plate of morning tea
instead that would be wonderful. Thank you.
Baby Zone:
There will be no Baby Zone this Sunday, 24th
November. Instead we’d like to invite the children and their families to come
along to our celebrations service dress rehearsal. No supervision for this age
will be provided so parents of children aged 3 and under will need to stay.
Please feel free to make use of the parenting room during the service if you
would prefer not to be involved in the rehearsal. Normal lessons will resume on
Sunday 8th December.
Playgroup: The things
we love about Christmas!
Come along to playgroup this term to help us celebrate
“the things we love about Christmas”. Each Wednesday from 9:30am-11:30am the
church hall is transformed into an inviting play area with loads of fun and
interesting activities for everyone to take part in. Our theme for next week is ‘Christmas tree decorating’ followed
by The Nativity Story and
finally Carols and Community (a
joint celebration with Bethany Kluge’s classroom at GSLS). $2 per child or $3 per family. Please bring a
piece of fruit to share. All welcome.
Please contact Beth Einthal for more info 0438 233
671.
$150 to go!
It has become a tradition at Good Shepherd Para
Vista to give the children a Christmas pack as they enter church on Christmas
Day, as a way to include and bless them in the service. This year we have
started making up packs that include an activity booklet from the Lutheran
Tract Mission, a set of coloured pencils, a bookmark and some Christian based
Christmas stickers (all of which will be given in a small zip lock bag).
To
help cover the cost of this expense, we would like to ask for small donations
from the congregation. The total expense of making 150 of these packs is just
over $200, so if you feel led to make a small donation towards this gift we
would be thrilled. Please place your donations in the ‘Kids Christmas Packs’
money house located on the Kingdom Kids sign in table on Sundays, or in the
main office during the week. Thanks in advance for your support in this way.
Just over $60 has been donated so far.
Laura Carson – Children and Family Team Leader
New Staff for
Children and Family Ministry in 2014
We are pleased to announce that Beth Einthal will be
taking over from Laura Carson as the Children and Family Team Leader (12 hours
per week) in 2014. Beth currently works in a support role to Laura and this has
prepared her well to step up into the leadership of the Children and Family
Ministry.
We are also pleased to announce that Kathy Liebig
will be taking on Beth’s current role of Children and Family Support Worker (8
hours per week). Kathy currently serves as a volunteer in the Kingdom Kids
Ministry as well as leading the children’s ministry for Bible Study Fellowship
which meets in our church on Tuesday mornings. We thank God for providing Beth
and Kathy to give leadership to this very important ministry area in our
church.
We anticipate Beth and Kathy taking up their new
roles sometime in mid-January 2014. We also plan to give Laura Carson a fitting
farewell on Sunday 19th January.
Prayer
requests
Prayer
requests are not included in the weekly news. If you would like to view the
current requests refer to the email that alerted you to this weekly news. If
you have a prayer request please email churchequiries@paravista.org.au with your request.
Para
Vista Lutheran Women's Fellowship – Honey Biscuits
We will be sending honey biscuits to Lutheran
Community Care near the end of this month. The biscuits will then be
distributed to people who need extra love and Christmas cheer. We welcome the
baking efforts of any congregation members and ask that you bring your biscuits
to the church kitchen by Sunday 24th November where they will be
collected.
We are asked to comply with the following requests: No nuts or 100s
and 1000s, some biscuits may be iced and long sprinkles are acceptable. We
thank you for your help towards others through our congregation.
Para
Vista Lutheran Women's Fellowship - Christmas Break Up Luncheon
Held on Tuesday 3 December at 12noon in the Para
Vista Church Hall. Members of our Good Shepherd Community are invited to a
delicious lunch. You will enjoy carol singing, Christmas readings, a Bible
message and joyful fellowship.
RPVS to Ruth Oster on Ph. 8265 0221 or email: kroster@senet.com.au
by Tuesday 26 November. Donation of $12 per person
Fundraising
Christmas
Stalls
Available after both morning services on the
following dates: 24th November, 8th and 15th December.
All proceeds to Cebu Mission. Thank you for your support.
Sausage
Sizzle and Steak Sandwich Day
This Sunday 24th November. Sausages
are available after 8.45amt service. Sausages and steak sandwiches
are available after 10.30am service. Grab some food and then take part in the
Half Yearly meeting at 12.30pm.
Retiring
Offering for Typhoon Disaster
Last Sunday’s retiring offering for Cebu Missionary
Foundation to provide emergency assistance to those affected by the typhoon
disaster in the Philippines was $2365.65. This is a fantastic response. This
money has been deposited into their Australian Office account and will be put
to good use immediately.
If you missed this offering and would like to donate
you can do so by direct credit to their bank account- International Gospel Centre,
BSB 034-204 Account no. 125599. Please include ‘typhoon relief’ in the deposit
reference. You can read updates and view photos on their website www.igcfoundation.org.
Alternatively you can make a tax deductible donation to Australian
Lutheran World Service (ALWS) online at http://www.alws.org.au/urgent-action.html. ALWS is linking with churches around the world through ACT Alliance to
help survivors of Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. Please see Church noticeboard for more details.
Christmas
Trees from Holy Cross, Birdwood
We have high quality Christmas trees at $30 each available for purchase again
this year. Delivery to the church will be on Saturday 14th December.
Please email churchenquiries@paravista.org.au or contact the
church office 8263 5087 or write your order on your welcome card by Wednesday 4th
December. It will be helpful if you can state a preferred height of tree.
Research
on conversion to Christianity
Researchers from Flinders University (theology department) are seeking
participants for research on why individuals convert to Christianity. If you
are aged over 18 years, from an English speaking background, have begun
considering yourself a Christian in the past two years and are willing to be
interviewed about your experiences, they would love to hear from you. More
information on the noticeboard or from Lynne Taylor
Mobile: 0488 497 881
Phone: 08 8358 2149 or
Lutheran
Media
RADIO - Listen to FACE TO FACE Invite others to do the same. Download
or listen online at www.facetoface.org.au Check
out our inspiring mini movies! More details are on the noticeboard.
Information
Evening
Tabor Ministry, Theology and Culture (MTC) Faculty are holding an
information evening on Wednesday, 27th November at Tabor Adelaide
from 7pm.
The
Singing Christmas Tree
St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Loxton presents an outdoor evening of
music, drama, lights and the power of the Christmas story. 8pm, December 6th
and 7th, 13th and 14th, 20th and 21st.
Students
commencing Tertiary Study in 2014
Please see Church notice board for further details
“If you’re happy, let your face know!”
