Friday, January 18, 2013

20th January 2013



Take a day off!
One of the most neglected things in our modern western culture is rest. We burn the candle at both ends and sometimes in the middle as well. So many things demand our time that we find it very hard to make time to just stop and rest.

Yet rest is vital to a healthy life. Without rest we suffer physically, emotionally, spiritually, and relationally. Rest is so important that God included it in the Ten Commandments. “Remember to keep the Sabbath holy. Work and get everything done during six days each week, but the seventh day is a day of rest to honour the Lord your God.” (Exodus 20:8-10) God wants us to take a day off each week to rest.

The day after God created humans he rested. The first thing humans did as God’s creation was rest. Sure God had plenty of work for them to do but they were to rest first. God’s plan was that we work from our rest and not rest from our work. While Adam and Eve’s fall into sin impacted this plan, God’s intention has always been that we take a day of rest each week.

We ignore this commandment at our own peril and sooner or later our lack of rest catches up with us. Do you know what happens when we fail to take a day off to rest? We end up taking them all in a row when we are laid up sick for a couple of weeks, or even worse burnout and need months to recover.

Getting appropriate rest takes intentional planning. It requires us to set time aside on our weekends and our days off to take it easy. It also requires us to set some healthy boundaries in the lives of our children so that we are not running them here there and everywhere.

Some of us parents have bought into a lie that good parenting is all about providing our children with as many enriching activities as possible. The result of this is our week nights and weekends are full of sports and activities where we leave no time for rest for ourselves or our children. There is nothing wrong with any of these things; it is just the amount we try to fit into our lives. One of the greatest lessons we can teach our children is a balance between activity and rest. Spending some time at home, just taking it easy as a family can be one of the best things we can do for ourselves and our kids.

In addition to rest from work God invites us to come and rest in his presence. Part of keeping the Sabbath holy includes taking time to acknowledge God for who he is and what he has done for us in Jesus. Regularly attending worship services places us before God where he can refresh our whole being. As we take time out to rest and to be with God in worship together with other believers, God blesses us with the refreshment we need to face each week. So take a day off each week to rest and to worship our 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 “Overcoming your ‘I’ problem”. This week’s message is Standing tall under pressure”. Daniel says, “... you, O king, are that tree! You have become great and strong; your greatness has grown until it reaches the sky, and your dominion extends to distant parts of the earth.” (Daniel 4:22)

Bible Reading: Daniel 4:4-8; 19-34
Podcasts available at www.paravista.org.au


Kingdom Kids
Kingdom Kids are on holidays and will restart when school returns in 2013.

Baby Zone
Please pray for this ministry and consider if you or anyone you know could be involved in any way. We need more volunteers to keep this ministry going. Please contact Beth if you would like to know more!  

Playgroup
Playgroup will begin again when school starts back in February 2013. If you are interested in helping out with this ministry, please have a chat to Beth.

Beth Einthal

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 and 12th March 2013 from 1pm - 4pm in the church hall.



Maranatha Health: Opportunities to hear updates
Knightsbridge Baptist Church, Sunday 13th January at 6:00 pm

The Gala Dinner is on Friday 25th January at John DiFede Reception Centre, 10 Freebairn Street, Windsor Gardens from 6:45pm for a 7:00pm start. RSVP and payment of $110 per guest must be made as soon as possible this week at contact@maranathahealth.org

The event will of course also feature delicious food, unique entertainment and silent and live auctions.

Cebu Mission Fundraising Team
Happy New Year to everyone, we pray that you all had lovely family times over the Christmas and New Year celebrations. We welcome two new members to our Team in 2013, Di Ollino and Karen McAleer. We pray that they will enjoy working on our Team and that they will be blessed richly for their time and efforts throughout the year.

Our first event is a Pancake Day on Sunday 10th February, as we then enter the season of Lent.  Pancakes for $1 each, will be served after both morning services.  You will have the choice of maple syrup or lemon juice and sugar to put on your pancakes. We look forward to preparing yummy food for you again this year.  We also look forward to your support again this year. All proceeds got to the Cebu Missionary Foundation in the Philippines.

We are in the process of planning our major fundraiser for 2013. Keep Saturday the 13th April free for a great night out! More details soon.

Thankyou
Joan McCarthy

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 3rd 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".  
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.
Date:  Saturday, 9th 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:
Saturday 23rd February 2013
11:00am (Australian time) for worship and lunch
 Concluding at 4:00pm (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 21st 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 


 to the next new project


Notice Board
Please see Notice Board for more Information

Renew summer camp
For 18 years and over. 15th – 18th February at Victor Harbor. Regos are open http://renew2013.eventzilla.net

Vacancies
ALWS Cambodia, Sudan and Kenya Program Officer
Australian Lutheran World Service (ALWS) is the aid and development agency of the Lutheran Church of Australia (LCA). It is seeking an enthusiastic and motivated person to oversee the Cambodia, Sudan and Kenya programs. This is a unique, full-time position which provides opportunities in both Asia and Africa, and across both development and relief fields. Based in Albury, the position offers a balance of living in regional Australia while still being connected to the international community. ALWS invites qualified and experienced applicants who are committed to serving the world’s poor and marginalised through a global network of partners. Applications close 25th January 2013. For more information, please contact ALWS at 1300 763 407, the Acting Executive Secretary at cheym@alws.org.au, or visit our website at www.alws.org.au.

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 30th January, 2013 to be forwarded to Pastor Rodger Russ.

ST STEPHEN’S LUTHERAN CHURCH, ADELAIDE - PART TIME YOUTH WORKER (0.2 FTE)
At St Stephen’s we value our young people.We want a person to work with us and share our passion to support and care for young people. If you want to find out more about this important ministry check our website:  www.ststephensadelaide.org.au or call/email James on p: 08 8223 5491 e: jameswin@tpg.com.au 

Applications close on Friday 1st of February 2013


PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS OFFICER LCA - SA/NT District
Up to 37.5 hours per week

Contact Judy Gilbertson on 0400208184
Email: singingbushlark@gmail.com for information and a position description 
                                                                                                                                                 
Applications close Friday 1st of February 2013






A family is the basic foundation of the World



Church Web site: www.paravista.org.au