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,
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
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
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
Applications
close Friday 1st of February 2013
A family is the basic foundation of the
World
Church Web site: www.paravista.org.au
