However, this week I went into Koorong to buy a new Bible. I was standing there for a least half an hour trying out the different Bibles to see which one “felt right”. None of them did. They were all stiff and lifeless. I eventually found one similar to my old Bible, but it’s still not the same.
It got me thinking. Bibles that are unopened are useless. The Bibles in the shop felt soulless because they had never been opened, never been used for their intended purpose. Bibles need to be worn in.
The power of a Bible is not in the nice thin pages, the gilded lining or the leather cover. The power isn’t even really in the fact that the words have been translated painstakingly from Greek, Hebrew or Aramaic into English or that the original text dates back thousands of years. The power is in the reading, hearing, understanding and applying of the words. The words God has given to us as his people.
Often we complain about not knowing what God wants us to do or worry that God never speaks to us but that isn’t true. God has spoken to us and the words are written in the Bible. We just have to open it. There is so much wisdom in the Bible and yet many of us never give it a chance. There are so many answers to questions which people have been asking for centuries that never make it into our heads or hearts because we never open the book.
How is your Bible looking? Does it still look like it did when you bought it?
I challenge you to rack up some time with your Bible. Dive into it and read the words that have been faithfully recorded and preserved by the people of God. Open it so many times that the spine starts to break. Wear out your favourite book so that it begins to fall out and you can see the fingerprints and coffee stains on the page. That is when the Bible has done its best work – when it has been well used and worn. Not because it makes us look more spiritual, but because the Word of God has been at work in us.
A lifeless Bible is an unopened one.
Sophie
This week’s message is “Being good news” as we continue the series “Engage”
Podcasts of weekly messages are available at www.paravista.org.au
Bible Readings: Luke 4:14-21, 40, 41; 1 John 3:16-18
- Baby Zone: God Gives Me Friends (welcome at Chris Jaensch concert with an adult)
- Kindy Zone: Chris Jaensch music concert in the school library
- Kids Zone: Chris Jaensch music concert in the school library
- Kool Zone: Separate into Boy/Girl groups for chats – Boys looking at Elijah, Girls looking at Esther
More Teachers and Helpers Needed
We urgently need more teachers and helpers in ALL Kingdom Kids Zones, please consider if you can help out once or twice a term to help ease the load for everyone and spend some time with our amazing Godly kids!! Please contact me for more info (beth.einthal@paravista.org.au)
Term 3 Diary Dates
Saturday 30th of August
Sean W Smith – LIVE CONCERT TOUR 2014!! Featuring 60 minutes of High Energy Fun, Music and Hilarious Dancing Antics for the whole family! Sean W Smith will be live in Adelaide on the 30th of August and tickets can be purchased from Koorong for $7 each.
Wednesday 1st of October
Colin Buchanan is putting his whole self in to his 2014 national tour, celebrating the release of his new album, "The Jesus Hokey Pokey”. Colin will be in Adelaide on the 1st of October with his cheeky puppet chum, Nudge! Tickets are available from Koorong for $11.50 each.
Playgroup Coordinator
We are still praying for someone who would love to coordinate Little Lambs Playgroup. Please consider if this might be you or if you can help in any way and get in touch with me for more info (beth.einthal@paravista.org.au).
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.
How to become a member at Good Shepherd
If you are interested in becoming a member of Good Shepherd, we invite you to attend our next Discovery course in August. When you take the step to become a member of a local church you are making a commitment to God’s mission through that church. Discovery will provide you with the opportunity to hear about the exciting mission God has called Good Shepherd to and how you can be part of it.
Discovery is also a great way to get to know other people new to Good Shepherd who are considering membership. Our next Discovery course will be held over two evenings, Tuesday 19th and Tuesday 26th August. The first evening begins with a meal at 6.30pm in the church hall and finishes at 9pm. The second evening is from 7pm – 9pm in the Education Centre at the rear of the hall.
You can register for Discovery in the following ways: by phoning the office on 8263 5087, emailing churchenquiries@parvista.org.au or by writing ‘I would like to register for Discovery’ on your Connect Card at a Sunday service.
Cebu Major Fundraising Night
You can purchase your tickets now, for 'A Night with the BordererS', Saturday 23rd August in the Good Shepherd Church. 7 for 7.30pm start, BYO drinks and supper, Tea and Coffee will be provided. Bring coins for Raffles, Lucky Squares, Guessing game and Coin Slide. Tickets $20, (cash only) available on Sundays 10th and 17th August in the Hall, or from Team members: Rex Post, Aston Schenscher, Di Ollino, Karen Small, Karen McAleer or Joan McCarthy. Also available from the Church Office on weekdays. We look forward to your support for this event.
The Team is requesting approx 8-10 helpers at 2pm on Sat 23rd to move all the chairs in the church, to help set up tables and chairs, cabaret style please. If you are available, please put your name on the list at the Ticket Sales table on Sundays 10th and 17th. Also, if you are coming to the Borderers Night, we ask that a few people stay behind and help with vacuuming, putting tables away and resetting all the chairs back into place for the services next morning. Please put your name on the list if you can do this.....it would be VERY MUCH appreciated.
A Winter Sleep out weekend is happening at Good Shepherd
Friday August 8 - Youth and leaders from Good Shepherd will be ‘sleeping rough’ overnight on the grounds of the school oval to understand what many homeless Australians experience every night.
Saturday August 9 - A group of young adults will take up the same challenge.
Sunday August 10 – Sleep out participants will run a sausage sizzle after the 10:30am service to raise money for Mission Australia, a not-for-profit organisation that assists disadvantaged and homeless Australians.
How you can get involved - We welcome you to challenge yourself to a chilly night on the Saturday, or stick around after the service on Sunday and buy a sausage. For more info contact Tennyson Jaensch: tennysonjaensch@hotmail.com'
Noticeboard
The Bible Society is conducting a festival of hymns on 10th August @ 2.30pm and all are welcome to attend, enjoy the music and sing our praises.
Friends of Lutheran Archives (FoLA)
German language documentation and revival in the Barossa and Beyond.
At the next FoLA gathering on Monday 25th August, Dr. Peter Mickan will tell the remarkable story of how community members have maintained the ability to speak German, how their speech is being recorded and how the community is now working to revitalise the use of German. Bethlehem House, Sudholz Place, Adelaide. 7.30 pm. Supper, gold coin donation.
Installation Service
All are invited to attend the Installation service of Rachel Kuchel as Archivist and Janette Lange as Assistant Archivist of the Lutheran Archives. Sunday 17th August, 9.00am at St Stephen’s Lutheran Church, 152 Wakefield Street, Adelaide.
Morning tea will follow.
Adelaide and Barossa: Sign up now to help with Christmas Hampers
The time has come to start preparing for Christmas Hampers! We are currently looking for volunteers to help with the packing and distribution of hampers. Packing will take place at the end of November and the hampers will be distributed in December. If you have time to spare and would like to help those in need this Christmas, please contact our Blair Athol office at 08 8269 9300 or the Barossa office at 08 8562 2688 for more information on how to get involved.
Adelaide: Can you donate sugar, rice or tea bags to help stock up for Hampers?
At Blair Athol we are trying to stock our pantry in preparation for Christmas. We are in need of sugar, rice and tea bags so that we can repackage them in time for hampers. If you are able to donate any of these items please drop them by at 309 Prospect Road, Blair Athol SA 5084. A full list of Christmas Hamper items will be available in the October issue of Together and will be available at the LCC website, www.lccare.org.au.
Schools Administrator (Maternity Contract)
Australian Lutheran College is looking to appoint a part-time (0.8) 9 months Maternity Leave Contract Commencing 1st September 2014
The position description can be obtained from www.alc.edu.au/community/employment-at-alc
Applications should be submitted by 13th August 2014 to:
Human Resource Manager
Australian Lutheran College
104 Jeffcott Street North Adelaide 5006
business@alc.edu.au
You are God’s masterpiece
Ephesians 2:10
