Sharing Grace
Over the weekend we have celebrated the wonder of the death and
resurrection of Jesus. This is the act that bought our freedom. The beautiful
exchange of our sin and shame for Jesus' righteousness. There is so much power
in the cross. We are given grace that not only saves but also transforms us.
Often remembering or discovering that we are covered by grace can lead
us to think about what is next. What do we do with our grace? How do we stay in
God’s grace? I think that the easiest way to live in grace is to live out
grace. God forgave us, so we now forgive. God loved us, so we now love. As we
do these things we not only pass on grace to others but we are also reminded
that we have been given these things in the first place. Grace, unlike food or
money, is not used up as it is given away. We have an abundant source when we
are connected to the Father.
One verse that demonstrates this response to grace is Colossians 3:12 is
says:
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe
yourselves with compassion kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
Every morning I like to wake up, ground myself in God’s grace and his
promises and then think about how I can clothe myself with these things. Grace
transforms not only us but those around us.
If instead of letting our stress or insecurities claim us, we let God’s
grace claim us - doesn’t that make a difference already? If you then swap
callousness, meanness, selfishness, anger and impatience for compassion,
kindness humility, gentleness and patience – the world around you begins to
change as well. You may not notice it on others but I can guarantee that it
will at least change you. The beautiful thing about this is that we can do
these things out of grace – assured of our salvation – and not to earn grace.
If you are worried that you will lose grace - don't be. As God said to
Paul “My grace is sufficient for you.”
(2 Corinthians 12:9)
God Bless,
Emma Kluge (Worship Support and Young Adults)
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 start a new
series “You Got It! (Colossians)”. This
week’s message is “In Jesus,
you got it!” And he is
the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from
among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. (Colossians
1:18 NIV)
Bible Reading: Colossians
1:13-23
Podcasts available at www.paravista.org.au
Family Prayers - Good Shepherd families, we would love to get you involved
with leading the prayers in our 10:30am worship services. You would be rostered
on one Sunday a year and we would love to see and hear both adults and children
leading the congregation in their prayers. We hope this is a fun and meaningful
way for families to get involved in the service!
Kingdom Kids - This week is the final week for Kingdom Kids this term!
There will be no Kingdom Kids over the school holidays. Please have a look at
the display in the church foyer of how Kingdom Kids celebrated Palm Sunday and
Easter, it was an amazing day!
Baby Zone is being transformed through the wonderful work of God and
an amazing team leader, Tanya Harrison! To fully utilise the amazing Baby
Beginnings resources we are in need of the below items! If you have any of
these items no longer being used at home or you would like to donate them,
please drop them into the church office or bring it on Sunday to Baby Zone!
- Small plastic watering can and toy gardening tools
- Colourful scarves for waving around (small ie. bandana size)
- A few animal puppets
- A few people puppets
- 1 set of plastic bowls (ie. Ikea ones), 1 set of plastic spoons, 1 set of plastic cups
- 1 set of large plastic toy food
- Several fake/plastic/silk flowers
- Several soft balls
- Unbreakable mirror
- 2 magnifying glasses
- 2 masking tape (thin)
- 2 clear sticky tape (thin)
- 1 pkt Blu tac
- 5 small glue sticks
- Blue and green crepe paper
- 1 pkt large paper plates
Playgroup
Next
Wednesday Little Lambs Playgroup will be having a party to celebrate a
fantastic term! Please join us next Wed 10th for a fun time in the
church hall, 9:30am-11:30am. Please bring a plate of something sweet or savoury
to share! Hope to see you then.
Little
Lambs Playgroup is also looking for a new coordinator. There is an amazing team
of ladies who run the playgroup together; we are looking for someone to oversee
and coordinate this team! Please consider if this might be you?
Beth Einthal
(Relief Children and Family
Ministry)
Pastor Noel’s 10 years @ PV
At services on Sunday March 24th we
acknowledged it has been 10 years since Noel commenced his ministry at PV.
Although 10 years is a significant time we particularly acknowledged the
leadership Noel has given. During this time he has guided the congregation through some significant events.
We thank and praise God for Noel’s
ministry @ PV.
At the March Board meeting, on behalf
of the congregation, we gave Noel a gift that he and Bethany can share.
ALIVE!175
This year the Lutheran Church of Australia will
be celebrating 175 years of God’s blessing on Lutherans in Australia and New
Zealand.
On Sunday 21st April these
celebrations will begin with a worship service to open our General Convention
at 10am at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. This will be followed by a lunch
provided for $5.00.
ALIVE!175 will commence at 2pm on Sunday,
21st April, after the worship service (10am) and lunch. Through a
combination of live performances and multi-media presentations, you'll travel
through our Lutheran history in Australia, celebrate how God is working in our
church in the present, and look with hope to how he will lead us into the
future.
While our regular Sunday worship services
will occur as normal at Para Vista you are encouraged to attend the opening
worship service at 10am. It will certainly be an amazing experience to worship
with so many other people. You are also welcome to attend just the ALIVE!175
presentation in the afternoon from 2pm. More Information can be found online @ http://www.lca.org.au/
To help the organisers plan we ask that you
register for this event. You can do this by emailing churchenquiries@paravista.org.au ASAP or writing “Alive 175” on your welcome
card indicating how many will be attending and if you will be going for the
whole time or just the afternoon presentation.
Cebu
Mission Fundraising
Our major Fundraiser for 2013 is a RIVER BOAT MUSIC
CRUISE on the Port River Dolphin Explorer. Tickets are available from
the church office, or from Team members Joan McCarthy, Di Ollino or Karen
McAleer.
Date: Saturday 13th April 2013,
Boarding Time: 6.30pm
for 7pm departure (don't be late or you will miss the boat!)
Where: Near the Lighthouse at the end of Commercial Road, Port Adelaide.
Where: Near the Lighthouse at the end of Commercial Road, Port Adelaide.
Tickets are $45/head which includes
music by The Adelaide Old Time String Band, dancing, 3hrs cruising and
supper. There will be raffles, lucky squares, games and a coin slide.
Optional ~ you can even dress up like the band for some added atmosphere! So
gather your sea-legs and your friends and come along and enjoy a fantastic
night!
For any further details please see Poster and flyers (please
take one) in the Narthex.
Step Up 2013
Step Up is generally aimed at children in grade 5 who are interested or
have a desire to participate in
Holy Communion.
Our planned dates are:
Holy Communion.
Our planned dates are:
Sunday May 5th – Step Up lunch following the 10.30am
service.
Fridays May 10, 17, 24, 31 – probably at 7:30pm
Possible dates for Step Up to receive Holy Communion: Sunday June 9
or June 23.
All sessions will be held in the Good Shepherd Primary School. Mary Jo
Zwar is our Step Up facilitator – and she is fabulous. We ask at least
one parent to attend each session with their child.
To register, please notify our church office (8263 5087 or churchenquiries@paravista.org.au) with names (child
and parent/s) as well as contact information (email and phone).
Alpha 2013
The Alpha course is
where participants can discover who Jesus is and what it means to follow
him. Following the presentations by
Nicky Gumbel, participants can ask questions and search for answers in a small
group with others.
God touched many hearts
and lives through last year’s Alpha course here at Good Shepherd. This year we are hoping to run Alpha on a
series of Sunday nights: 14th April to 7th July; plus a
day where we explore the Holy Spirit (Saturday 1st June). We would like to kick off each Sunday evening
around 5:30pm with a meal.
For that to be possible,
we need the gifts and help of others. So
we are asking whether members and friends of our Good Shepherd family can serve
in the following areas:
- Helping with set up or pack up
- Catering or food preparation
- Creche
- Small group leaders
- Prayer team
- Music or sound
Please consider and pray
about being involved.
If you have any
questions or would like to join in this adventure, please contact any of the
Alpha Team: Debbie and Cees Wesselingh, Merv and Ros Thiele, Lindsay Freund.
Notice Board
Barmera Parish
Dried Apricots Missions Fund Raising
Each 500gm bag is
sold for $10.50. The apricots are grown without any sprays, but do have Sulphur
preservative. They come straight from the grower so have not been
rehydrated as have those which are commercially available
in Supermarkets. MORE apricot, LESS water for your money, so
good value.
Except for a quite
small amount retained for maintenance, the Funds raised this year will be
forwarded through the Lutheran Board for Missions to Projects we have already
supported in Cambodia and to the Mango Tree Rehabilitation Centre for the
Disabled in Tonga, via NazCare Australia Inc.
Apricots are now available from the church office. Call in during
office hours 9am – 3.45pm Monday to Friday. Orders: phone 8263 5087 or via email: churchenquiries@paravista.org.au
THE
LUTHERAN—APRIL ISSUE OUT NOW
GETTING MESSY
Life is messy-but
Messy Church founder Lucy Moore believes that mess is a great tool for
spreading the gospel.
MESSY CHURCH
ON SWANPORT
What would a
Lutheran Messy Church look like? In Murray Bridge, the community is finding out
for themselves.
SURGERY FOR
THE SOUL
It took more
than one miracle to heal the mess of Peter and Carolyn Knudsen’s marriage. But
healing brought peace.
ALIVE!175
Everything you
need to know about our 175th anniversary celebration! – 21 April
To subscribe, visit www.thelutheran.com.au
Subscriptions – 11 issues per year; $40 Australia, $42
New Zealand
The Lutheran App available 3 April
on iTunes.
MEN ONLY!!
ADELAIDE MEN’S CONVENTION 2013
LOVE, SEX,
MARRIAGE & RELATIONSHIPS
Saturday 11th May 2013
Concordia College 45 Cheltenham Street, Highgate
Early bird
Registration Until 11th April $35
You can register online www.adelaidemensconvention.org
Group of four or more 12th April – 4th May $40
Concession: (Pensioners, Unemployed, Students) 12th April –
11th May $40
Standard Registration 12th April – 11th May $45
Registration
includes
Lunch, morning & afternoon
refreshments & your convention booklet…& ample parking!
Brochures and
registration forms in information rack in narthex.
Barry Klaer - Pastoral Care & Fellowship Team Leader (Shepherding
& Care)
Remembrance
Book for Dr Semmler's Farewell
2013 marks
the celebration of 175 years of the presence of Lutherans in Australia; it also
marks the end of an era. Dr Mike Semmler, President of the LCA since 2000 is
retiring at the end of the General Convention of Synod. During a special
celebration on Tuesday, 23 April 2013, Dr Semmler will be presented with a
Remembrance Book containing letters from people who wish to express their
appreciation to him for his time as President. Anybody who would like to have a
letter included in this book is most welcome to contribute.
There are a
few stipulations about the letters:
- Could they be on A4 paper
- If they are posted we would be grateful if the letters aren’t folded
- Could emailed letters please be scanned and forwarded as an attachment (ie not as part of email text; we would like to include signatures. Letters as part of email text may have to be reformatted)
- Could they reach the LCA National Office by Tuesday, 30 April 2013
Please post
letters to: Larissa Helbig Assistant to the President Lutheran Church of
Australia
197 Archer
Street NORTH ADELAIDE SA 5006 or email letters to: larissa.helbig@lca.org.au
If you obey all the rules, you miss all the
fun. (K
Hepburn)
Church Office Hours: Monday - Friday 9.00am – 3.45pm
Church Web site: www.paravista.org.au
