Weekly News

It's the little things

I hate food shopping; it is my least favourite part of the week. Unfortunately it is necessary. But it doesn’t change the fact that I am always in a hurry to leave the supermarket.

Every time I leave I am confronted with the decision of whether or not to return my trolley to the trolley bay or to abandon it in the vacant car park next to me. I don’t really want to, but no matter how much of a hurry I am in and no matter how far away I am parked, I always return the trolley.

It may seem like a strange thing to mention.  Yet I often wonder: if I am willing to do the wrong thing in the small, seemingly insignificant things, what is to stop me from doing the wrong thing in a much bigger and more damaging way? I am choosing to uphold the same standards in small, unseen decisions as I would with big, public choices. Putting the trolley back is just one of the many small every day decisions that build integrity and character. This idea is summed up by a statement made by Pastor Craig Groeschel. He says: “It’s often the small things that no one sees that results in the big things that everyone wants.”

It is often these small things that have a big impact on our faith. When you have space in your life, do you take time to sit and read your bible? Do you encourage people each day even when you don’t really feel like it? Are you willing to admit small mistakes to your small group even before they have a visible effect on your life?

When troubles, crisis and pain strike our character and integrity are on display for all to see because our well composed exterior becomes hard to maintain. When trouble comes it is the everyday small things that help build our character and integrity so we can stand firm. If we don’t have the discipline of reading our bibles in the calm periods, we won’t put in the effort when we are busy. If we find it hard to encourage people in the everyday, it will become much harder in the midst of grief and pain. If we can’t be honest about the beginnings of an addiction, how will we find the strength to confess when it grows even more shameful?

What are some small things that you can do every day to shape your character for the big things God has planned?

Sophie

This Sunday at Good Shepherd

This week’s message is “Reducing or producing?” as we continue the series ‘Choices on the way’ 

Podcasts of weekly messages are available at www.paravista.org.au

Bible Readings: Matthew 21:18-19; 33-46

This Sunday Kingdom Kids will be looking at the following topics:

• Baby Zone: Jesus Loves Me
• Kindy Zone: Jesus tells his people to love one another
• Kids Zone: Who is Jesus? Life Giver
• Kool Zone: I am the way, the truth and the life

Mark and Victor from The Fresh Ministry Dance Team joined us in the Kool Zone last Sunday for an amazing time of testimony, faith talk and dance fun! Thank you to Sonia Colalancia for organising these inspiring and faith-filled visitors, it was an amazing and encouraging time for the kids.

Baby Zone
We have shifted the date of painting Baby Zone to the school holidays and we will be painting on Sunday 13^th of April after church. Please let me know if you are interested in helping with the painting or if you have any painting equipment we can use! 

As you have probably seen, the babies and toddlers of our church have been settling into our wonderful new Baby Zone room. The room will soon be painted and decorated and it is great to be able to leave the room set up and have plenty of storage space. Thank you to everyone who has been involved in helping this happens. Now that we have the space to put it, there is a list of things that we could use for our program for the whole of the year. If you have any of these things and can spare them, our little ones will make good use of them!

• Packets of seeds of herbs or flowers and small pots - “God Makes Growing Things” is the theme for April.
• Kaleidoscopes
• Pieces of fabric in solid colours approximately 20cm square and/or 30cm square
• Dolls (babies only, i.e. not Barbies)
• Doll blankets and other baby doll accessories
• Toy people (too large to swallow, i.e. “Little People”)
• Scarves in a variety of colours (square silk type)
• Toy cash register
• Toy picnic basket and toy picnic set
• Food carrying tray
• 2 small torches
• Children’s stickers (i.e. people, animals, stars)
• Stuffed toy animal sheep, cow, donkey and camel
• Variety of plastic or washable play/dress up hats
• A small toy kitchen for our Pretend Play area (we often pretend to eat and make food).

If you have any of these items that you would be happy to donate to the room, please leave them in the Baby Zone room by the shelves or pass onto Beth or Tanya. Thank you to those of you who have already donated items! Tanya Harrison, Baby Zone Team Leader

Kindy Zone Team Leader

We are praying for someone who would love to lead Kindy Zone and be part of a passionate and fun team! Please consider if this might be you and get in touch with me (beth.einthal@paravista.org.au) for a chat!

Step Up

Running again this year in May for children now in Year 5 at school. The Step Up program helps to prepare children for admission to Holy Communion. The first session will be a shared lunch held on Sunday 4^th May with four sessions on Fridays May 9, 16, 23 and 30, all held in the school library. Please contact the church office on 8263 5087 or email Beth (beth.einthal@paravista.org.au) for further information, or to register your child.

Beth Einthal

Children and Family Team Leader

Prayer requests

Prayer requests are not included in the weekly news. If you would like to view the current requests refer to the email that alerted you to this weekly news. If you have a prayer request please email churchequiries@paravista.org.au with your request.

Pastoral Care and Fellowship Team Leader - 20 hours per week

We are seeking someone with a passion to bring the love and acceptance of Jesus through our church to all people as they give leadership to the pastoral care and fellowship ministries of Good Shepherd. This position requires a leader who is comfortable to lead through empowerment and trust while accepting accountability for outcomes. The person we are seeking will invest a significant portion of their time in recruiting, equipping, and supporting leaders and teams who will carry out this ministry.

Skills and experience in pastoral care and leading teams are essential for this role. The successful applicant will be accountable to the Senior Pastor and supported by the entire staff team.

Remuneration will be according to the Lay Workers Salary Scale Level 2 for accredited Lay Workers or as negotiated in the interview for applicants without accreditation.

A Position Description is available on request from the church office

churchenquiries@paravista.org.au or by phoning 8263 5087.

Applications in writing, by 28^th March 2014, are to be submitted to:

The Chairman, Mr John Dolling, 

Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Para Vista

PO Box 306, Modbury North, SA 5092

Lutheran Women's Fellowship

Join us at !.00pm in the Para Vista Hall for Bible study and fellowship on Tuesday, April1st. Enjoy afternoon tea and a trading table. Theme is "Getting to know you", sharing who we are and learning about others. All welcome.

From the Board

Matters from March meeting

•  Amended policy and procedure on Risk Management and Managing Health and Safety Risks were adopted with minor adjustments.
• Discussion on covering the vacancy in Pastoral Care and Fellowship position. No applications have yet been received.
• Discussion on vacancies on the Village Board – Secretary. Treasurer and committee member.
• Need to find more delegates to attend the District Convention of Synod at Mawson Lakes on Friday May 2^nd thru Sunday May 4^th.
• The Auditor is working on the audit of the 2013 finances.
• The Board will discuss the future of the Connect project at its April meeting.

If you have any questions re the above or any issues please feel free to discuss these with any member of the Board. To help identify Board members their photos are on display above the pigeon holes.

SA District Convention of Synod

We are looking for anyone who is interested in attending the SA District Convention of Synod.  You would be representing Good Shepherd congregation. We are entitled to 5 delegates but at present only have one person who has indicated they would be interested in attending. Issues affecting the church in SA and NT are discussed. You can participate in the discussion or simply  listen and then vote on behalf of the congregation.

The Convention this year will be held at Mawson Lakes from the Friday May 2^nd thru to Sunday May 4^th. All fees associated with the Convention including meals are paid by the congregation.

If you can’t attend all the sessions the Board is happy for you to attend when suitable for you.

If you have any questions please contact John Dolling or Keren Sutton.

From the Office

Budget 2014

Offering summary	End of Feb 2014
	Actual	Budget	Year to date	Budget	Actual to Budget
Offerings - REG	22,528	23,250	45,666	47,500	-                 1,834
Offerings - Plate	19,327	18,750	38,957	38,350	607

·           Offerings in February were in line with our budget, only $145 below.

·           We are only $1,227 behind budget after February which continues our encouraging start to the year.

·           Remember REG forms can be collected from the rear of church or via this link http://www.lll.org.au/giving_through_the_lll/regular_electronic_giving_reg

LLL Personal Savings Account

Make a person contribution to our church without giving anything away. LLL savings accounts are used for loans to LCA projects including our congregation. Account holders can nominate their account as a Matching Deposit to our congregation. We are then able to able to borrow funds for our approved project at a low interest rate of 5% p.a. For more information, contact the LLL on 1800 556 457 or www.lll.org.au

Christian Pastoral Support Workers Celebration - Good Shepherd 10:30am service, March 30^th

A bunch of local churches - including Good Shepherd - support four people doing chaplaincy work in local state schools.  At the 10.30am service on March 30th, we will have a brief presentation by these Christian Pastoral Support Workers on the difference they are making in their school communities.  We will pray for them and their ministries – and take up a retiring offering after the service to support this ministry. We hope to ease a projected shortfall of around $1300 for this year.

Noticeboard

Parking at ALC for AFL Football

Australian Lutheran College Residents Association are making available for rent parking in the staff car park on Jeffcott St at ALC during football games at Adelaide Oval. Cost $10 per week. ALC is only a short walk to Adelaide Oval. All money raised will go directly to improving student facilities at ALC.

For more information contact ALCRA Chairman michael.benbow@student.alc.edu.au