Whose voice are you listening to?
The name ‘Good Shepherd’ which the church and the school have adopted is
a title Jesus gave to himself. Jesus said, ‘I am the good shepherd; I know my own sheep
and they know me’ (John 10:14)
Jesus uses the image of a shepherd to give us an insight into how our
relationship with him is to work.
Many people find the image of a shepherd a very comforting one.
Shepherds cared for their sheep. They knew each of their sheep by sight. They
could pick them out from a mixed flock. Shepherds would protect their sheep
from danger. They would fight off wild animals and risk their lives for the
welfare of their sheep.
Jesus said, ‘The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.’ (John 10:11) Jesus
not only risked his life for our well-being he gave it up for us on the cross
so that we could be free from the sin that seeks to destroy us.
The relationship between the shepherd and the sheep was not all one way.
Jesus said, ‘My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me.’ (John
10:27) The shepherd knew and cared for his sheep and the sheep
recognised and listened to the voice of the shepherd. A shepherd could call out
to a large flock of sheep and his own sheep would come out of the large flock
to him.
As long as the sheep recognised and followed the voice of their shepherd
they remained safe under his care. The same is true for you and me. It is one
thing to recognise Jesus as our ‘Good Shepherd’; it is another to listen to his
voice and follow him.
Last Sunday’s message was based on an event in Jesus’ life called the
“Transfiguration”. The high point of this event was God coming to Jesus in a
cloud and proclaiming “this is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen
to him.” (Luke 9:35) God spoke these words for the benefit of the
disciples present and for all they would tell. Jesus is the chosen one and we
are to listen to him.
In a world where there are many voices competing for our attention and
allegiance it can be difficult to hear the voice of Jesus, let alone listen to
him. We can’t leave this to chance. We need to intentionally plan times to meet
with Jesus and to learn his ways so that we can discern his voice in the midst
of our noisy world and follow it. Can you pick out the voice of Jesus in the
midst of a noisy world? If so, are you listening to him?
Pastor Noel Kluge
This week we continue the series
“Soul Encounters on the Way to the Cross”.
This week’s message is “Who is in the driver’s seat?” “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny
themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save
their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it.”
(Luke 9:23, 24)
Bible Reading: Luke
9:57-62; 14:25-32
Podcasts available at www.paravista.org.au
Kingdom Kids
We
have some fabulous new resources which we will be using this year – we will be
beginning the first year of a three year program which extends across all the
zones and takes the children on a journey throughout the whole bible!
·
Kindy
Zone will be held in the school (in Bethany Kluge’s classroom)
·
Kids
Zone will be held in the school library
·
Kool
Zone will be held in the classroom next to the school library.
We
need at least 3 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 on
their faith journeys.
As
part of Child Safe requirements, parents need to complete a new Child
Participation form for their kids as soon as possible. Please fill one out when
you pick your kids up on Sunday and return to the Team Leader or me.
Baby Zone
Baby
Zone will be available for children 0-2yrs in the Education Centre. We have an
exciting program this year and look forward to encouraging your kids in their
faith journey and having fun with them!
We desperately
need at least one more volunteer for this ministry to run well and the
commitment is not a huge one. Please say a prayer for this ministry and
consider being involved. You would be 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.
As
part of Child Safe requirements, parents need to complete a new Child
Participation form for their kids as soon as possible. Please fill one out when
you pick your kids up on Sunday and return to the Team Leader or me.
Playgroup
We
will be having fun with Easter this term, please feel free to pop in and visit.
We are also enjoying some fabulous new equipment from a government grant we
received last year!
Playgroup
is held Wednesday morning 9:30-11:30am in the Church hall, please come and say
hi!
If
you would like some more info about children’s ministry, please give me a call
or send me an email (I work Thursdays). 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 as a family! If we work together and have a larger
number of volunteers, these ministries can run efficiently, the responsibility
can be shared and the kids get so much more out of them!
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.
From the Office
Staff reviews
As part of our organisational structuring, each of our paid staff is
reviewed by their supervision annually. The purpose of these reviews is to
engage in meaningful and encouraging discussion about job roles with a view to
helping staff to be better equipped for their respective ministry and support
roles. These reviews have been operating for a few years now and they do
include the Senior Pastor.
This is to let you know that in his recent review, conducted by two
Board members, Pastor Noel showed that he is serving at a high performance
level. Even so, we were still able to come up with a few areas to better equip
him for his very important leadership role over the next 12 months or so.
Convention
Delegates
The Convention of the LCA SA District will be held at Immanuel College
Novar Gardens Monday 22nd April thru Wednesday 24th April.
If you are interested in being one of Para Vista’s delegates please contact
John Dolling (jdolling@bigpond.net.au
/ 8367 5296) or the church office.
For more details on the Convention go to the SA District web site www.sa.lca.org.au
Vacancies
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
0439 047 271 or at dschutz@bigpond.net.au
Applications
close 5pm Wednesday 20th February 2013.
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: 8212 7766 or email: admin@ldssa.org.au
Applications close by Friday 1st March 2013
ADMINISTRATOR (0.8—1.0 FTE)
St Petri Lutheran Church Nuriootpa
For Position Description contact: Parish Office 8562 1011 or email
admin@nuriparish.org
Applications please to:
The Chairperson, Parish Office, 21 Second Street, Nuriootpa 5355, by 5pm
on 22nd March 2013.
Personal Assistant /
Administration Assistant 0.6FTE
Lutheran Super - Based in North Adelaide, flexible Working
Arrangement
No Closing Date. For further information please see:
Notice Board
Please see Notice Board for more Information
FOOD PARCELS+ for Lent
(Food + Support + Care = Hope and Dignity)
(Food + Support + Care = Hope and Dignity)
We need your help to give 700 Food Parcels+ to people in need this Lent.
By supporting Food Parcels+ you will help restore hope and dignity to
children in need. Your donation will be used to help give people, not just
food, but also support and care so that they can look to a brighter
future. A future with restored hope and
dignity....
Look for the donation envelope in the March edition of ‘Together’, visit
the LCC website or telephone our office on 08 8269 9333 to find out how you can
help support Food Parcels+ for Lent.
Donations $2 and above are tax deductible. For more information visit: www.lccare.org.au or Tel: 08 8269 9333
BSF
(BIBLE STUDY FELLOWSHIP) starts up for the year THIS TUESDAY … and we
invite any women from our community to join us. BSF is an interdenominational
movement with groups all over Australia and the rest of the world. In the past
two years we have studied the books of Acts and Isaiah. This year we’ll be
focusing in on Genesis and God’s continuing desire to be in relationship with
us today. Classes consist of small group time and a talk on the week’s passage.
Notes are then given out to review at home as well as questions on the
following week’s segment.
Babies and children up to school age are wonderfully
cared for and discipled in their own age specific groups. If you are interested
in finding out more, why not come along to church on Tuesday morning at 9:30
for an introductory class … or contact Sonia on 7122 2903 with any questions.
2013 LCA Yearbook
“Where Love Comes to Life” only 1 left
Keep up with
who’s where and on what in the LCA.
$20 from the
Church Office.
Friends of
Lutheran Archives meeting Topic: Hermannsburg Mission: setting the record
straight. Speaker: John Strehlow
(grandson of missionary Carl Strehlow). John examines the widespread
criticism of the Mission over the taking of land, conversion to Christianity,
and the loss of Aboriginal culture. His momentous biography of his grandparents
will be on sale ($100). At Bethlehem House, Sudholz Place, Adelaide, on Monday
25th February at 7.30pm. Supper. Gold coin donation.
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. Friday 22nd 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.
Please see Notice Board for more Information
We need not think alike to love alike
Church Web site: www.paravista.org.au
