Remember that amazing feeling
when an unexpected kindness sent you
reeling?
Love showed in action reaches deeper
than simply words - which come much
cheaper.
The effect of action - with or without
words - lasts longer.
The sense of being loved is felt much
stronger.
True love does not depend on good deeds
before it's given
it's not limited to time or space, but
is needs-driven.
Is this love possible, or just
"pie in the sky"?
The answer is in the One that in the
manger lies.
For this is true love in action so
great and what the world at Christmas celebrates.
The presents, the food, family and fun
can never outshine what God has done.
It's yours for the taking, if you'll
just say "God, I need your love today".
So celebrate and share love all year
through, this is our Christmas wish for you.
“I was hungry, and you gave me food.
I was thirsty, and you gave me
something to drink.
I was alone and away from home,
and you invited me into your house.
I was without clothes, and you gave me
something to wear.
I was sick, and you cared for me.
I was in prison, and you visited me.”
(Matthew
25:35-36, New Century Version)
“Our love should not be just words and
talk; it must be true love, which shows itself in action.”
(1
John 3:18, Good News Translation)
Poem from (c) 2011 Kylie
Woithe. Used with permission”
This week is Pentecost Sunday. This week’s message is “Sending out God’s S.O.S. to the World” “For God so loved the world that he gave his
one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have
eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world,
but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned,
but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not
believed in the name of God’s one and only Son”. (John
3:16-18 NIV2011)
Bible Reading: John 16:5-11,
Acts 2:1-5; 14a; 22-24 and 32-41
Kingdom Kids: This term we are continuing to work our
way through the bible and will be studying the following this Sunday:
Baby Zone – People at
church help me
Kindy
Zone
– Leaving Eden (Genesis 3:8-24)
Kids Zone
–
Sin spoils creation (Genesis
3:1-4:15)
Kool Zone – God makes his choice (Genesis 12)
Parents/carers,
please remember to sign your child in and out of Kingdom Kids each week. This
way we can ensure everyone is safe and accounted for.
Kindy
Zone helpers: We are in
need of 2 or 3 more helpers in Kindy Zone (for ages 3-5 + reception) urgently!
No preparation is required and you would only be rostered on once or twice a
term. Please contact Laura ASAP if you are interested. It would be great to
have some Dads.
Baby Zone: the countdown is on…only 2 weeks
to go! Matt Huckel (who is currently studying at Sem to be a Pastor) will be
running a 5 week worship opportunity for Baby Zone kids and their families
during the month of June. This will be an incredible time of teaching, music,
movement and worship as Matt shows us ways we can worship together in our
homes. If you have a child(ren) in Baby Zone, please book aside this time to
come along and worship with us. We ask that at least one parent attends with
their child so that the whole family can benefit from the experience.
Thank you
for the very generous donation that was anonymously received last week. Baby
Zone will now be able to purchase all the items needed for the program. God has
blessed us through your kindness. Thank you!
Playgroup: Last week we had fun celebrating Mums. The kids got creative
making gifts for their special ladies and enjoyed playing together. We finished the morning with a story and
songs about families and the important role mums play in our lives. Our theme
for this week is ‘On the farm’ and we are looking forward to a visit from some
little fluffy friends (chicks). 9:30am -11:30am in the Church Hall. $2 per
child per each week or $3 for a family. We hope to see you there.
Step Up 2013
In communion we celebrate, remember
and…
It has been
an absolute joy and privilege to watch the families involved in Step Up 2013
laugh, chat, pray and read God’s word together as they work their way through
the Step Up Program. Our third night session will be held in the Good Shepherd
Primary School from 7:30pm-8:45pm this Friday. So far we have discussed what we
celebrate and remember in communion. We look forward to what Mary Jo has in
store for us next. Please pray for the families involved.
Laura Carson – Children and Family
Team Leader
Bake Stall:
Sunday 19th May with
all proceeds to Maranatha Health. If you like baking please think about
donating baked or homemade goodies (think biscuits, cakes, relish, jam,
marmalade) for the stall. Just label your ingredients on the packaging.
Donations, clearly labelled, can be brought to the Church.
If you like eating baked and homemade goods please
support the Maranatha Health cause. Let us show everyone at MH Uganda our
support during this difficult time.
Cebu
Fundraiser: Sausage
Sizzle Day on Sunday 26th May after both morning services. There will
also be Steak Sandwiches available after 2nd service. Sausages are $2 and Steak
Sandwiches are $4 each. Have some lunch and stay for the church AGM at 12.30pm.
Our Project for this year is to help purchase Bethlehem Day Care Centre in
Cebu, which is currently operating as a child care centre and school up to
level 2. Thank you for your support.
Joan McCarthy
Team Leader
From the Office
Church,
School, Village AGM’s
Bargain: Three for the price of one. On Sunday 26th May the
AGMs of the church, school and village will be held from 12:30pm in the church.
So you don’t go hungry, lunch will be provided after the 10:30am service.
What’s on the agenda?
Booklets
containing the agenda and information about each meeting are available in hard
copy in the Information section in the foyer. Next week the information re the
church AGM will be emailed to members.
The Connect Project
On
Tuesday 21st May at 7:30pm in the church there is an
information/sharing session about the Connect Project.
This
is an opportunity for you to be further informed about the project and to hear
the views of others and have input into the plan.
Giving through REG
REG
is not the nick name of a member. It stands for Regular Electronic Giving. In
other words your offerings can be
transferred electronically on a regular
basis from the account of your choice into our Church account. 55% of our
weekly offerings are given via REG.
What are
the advantages to you in giving through REG?
- Convenient - as it simply happens
- Regular - even if you are absent for a period of time
- Flexible - amounts can be easily adjustable
- Safe - no need to carry cash
- Confidential - the congregation receives a bulk amount of money without names
What are
the advantages for your congregation?
- Budgeting becomes easier as we can more accurately predict income for the year
- Income flow becomes regular which helps with account payments
- Saves time in processing money on Sundays
- It’s safer as there is less cash to handle
Volunteers make it happen
Feel part of the community. Become a volunteer
You
may have noticed the church gardens have been covered in bark chip mulch. During
the school holidays some of the trees in the church and school yard were
trimmed and or taken down due to safety issues. This resulted in 2 truckloads
of bark chips being dropped in the car park at the front of the church. A
number of volunteers were encouraged to attend on ANZAC day and spent their
time spreading the bark chips across the church gardens. Thank you to members of the maintenance team
who gave of their time on the public holiday so our guests and members can
enjoy the church surrounds. Thank you to Matt and Jayden Eckermann, Ashley,
Abbigail, Georgina and Phoebe Schmidt, Matt Modra and Dave and Brodie Bartel.
The
maintenance team have also had a hand in the plumbing department replacing the
dripping and unserviceable taps in both the ladies and gents toilets. Now you
can safely wash your hands at the push of a button. I wish to thank Matt and Jayden
Eckermann and Jason Hermann for the fun and excitementthey had replacing the
old with the new and also learning more about themselves.
Volunteers make it happen
A view of
Adelaide to be experienced
Time is
running out
Have
you registered your interest in becoming part of this elite group Your
assistance in the cleaning of the gutters at Para Vista. The task would only
involve an hour of spare time whilst being able to gain a view of the
surrounding area not normally seen by others. Please contact Stephen or the
office on 8263 5087 or put on your Sunday welcome card your intention to be
part of the “View Adelaide with a
difference” team.
Did you know over 400 items were borrowed from our library last year?
While
equipping in Cebu in recent days, Pr Peter Steicke was amazed to find
participants turning up with the same SOAP journals we have here at Good
Shepherd: “I have no idea how they got these journals, but they treasure them,
and our new field directors (Friederich & Nancy Lueckhof) are very
impressed with them.”
From the
Administration Manager
Stephen Zanker
Notice Board
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: We are looking for two volunteers to help
at our Blair Athol office.
Emergency Relief Worker - one day a week from 9.00am-1.00pm interviewing clients and assessing
what type of assistance they need. Computer skills are essential and Emergency
Relief training will be provided.
Emergency Relief Pantry Worker - help one day a week unpacking donations and restocking cupboards.
For more information
contact: Audene 08 8269 9300
'Prepare Training' for
Facilitators
Training
qualifies educators to deliver the Preparing for Marriage program for couples,
which assists in focussing on critical relationship issues, identifying areas
of strength and potential growth, and choosing a positive direction for the
future. Educators must have relevant training in teaching, social work, family
therapy or pastoral care.
Prepare Core Training, Friday 14th June
[9.30am-4pm]
Going Deeper Training, Friday 12th July
[9.30am-3pm]
Venue:
Magill, Cost: $250.00
[NB: Fee covers both training days, but you can attend the second
session later in the year if preferred]
'Preparing for Marriage'
Courses
Saturday 15th
[9am-5pm] and Sunday 16th June
2013 [1pm-5pm]
Venue: Good Shepherd Lutheran
School, 388 Montague Road, Para Vista
Cost: $160/couple if both employed; $85 if one
employed; $65 if neither employed/students.
For registrations or more information: Tel:
8331 3111; Email: magill@lccare.org.au
Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea
May 1993 saw the launch of one of Australia’s
favourite and most iconic fundraising events, Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea.
A small and simple concept – getting together over a cuppa – has since grown to
something much bigger with over a million Australians getting together in
living rooms, community centres, schools
and workplaces to put the kettle on for a cause each year.
and workplaces to put the kettle on for a cause each year.
YOU ARE INVITED
The school and church community have joined
together to invite you to
Australia’s Biggest
Morning Tea
Good
Shepherd Church Hall
Friday 31st
May, 9:15 am (after chapel)
Come along and make your cup count in the
fight against cancer!!
(Men, toddlers and babies welcome!)
You are welcome to attend chapel in the
morning at 8.45am then stay for the morning tea, or just join us for the
morning tea from 9.15am.
Guest Speaker – Thelma Eckert
Make a donation in exchange for coffee/tea and nibbles, and help raise funds for the Cancer Council SA. In 20 years Cancer Council’s Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea has raised
over $110million with breakthrough advancements in treatment, successful
screening programs and major improvements in survival rates for many cancers
just some of the reasons to celebrate.
For any enquiries please contact Lenna
Uebergang or Tina Pfeiffer on 8263 8545
Barmera Parish
Dried Apricots Missions Fund Raising
Apricots are now available from the church
office. Call in during office hours 9am – 3.45pm Monday to Friday. Orders:
phone 8263 5087 or email: churchenquiries@paravista.org.au
Each 500gm bag is
sold for $10.50. The apricots are grown without any sprays, but do have Sulphur
preservative.
Journey
to Recognition - towards Constitutional Recognition
AFL legend Michael Long will take the
symbolic first steps of the Journey on 26th May 2013.
The first leg of the Journey will see supporters walk from Melbourne to
Adelaide, arriving around 30 June, in a relay, and then cycle, drive and paddle
their way to Nhulunbuy, Northern Territory. To make this historic journey
a success, church communities along the route are encouraged to join together to:
a success, church communities along the route are encouraged to join together to:
v
lend their support
by taking part in the Journey
v
attend or help out
with a local event
v
provide volunteers
v
promote the Journey
to Recognition and its importance.
An initiative of Recognise - more
information available at www.recognise.org.au/TheJourney or contact SA
Council of Churches sacc@picknowl.com.au - Supported by SA
Council of Churches Committees for Local Ecumenism & for Christian World
Service
Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting
everywhere
Church Office Hours: Monday - Friday 9.00am – 3.45pm
Church Web site: www.paravista.org.au
Email: churchenquiries@paravista.org.au
