What is our treasure in heaven?

In Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount he talks about treasures in heaven. He says, “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, the desires of your heart will also be.” (Matthew 6:19-21)

What are the treasures that we store up in heaven? We know we can’t take our earthly treasures with us—so what are our heavenly treasures? In the past I’ve always taught that our treasures in heaven are the people we help get there. In essence we store up treasures in heaven when we invest our earthly treasures in helping people get there. While I still believe that people are treasures in heaven, our treasure in heaven is not people, but a person, Jesus.

How do we store up Jesus as our treasure in heaven in this life? Verse 21 gives us the answer: “Wherever your treasure is, the desires of your heart will also be”. Jesus is calling us to make him the desire of our heart in this life and as we do that we will be storing up treasures in heaven for the next life.

So why does Jesus warn against storing up earthly treasures here? Jesus speaks out against storing up earthly treasures because he knows how easy it is for these things to become the desire of our hearts. Jesus knows only too well how quickly we can start looking to our earthly treasures to give us things that only he can provide.

We look to our bank balance for the security that only Jesus can provide. We seek to validate our self-worth through our net worth. Jesus says “You are worth so much that I died for you.” We look for meaning and purpose in the accumulation of earthly wealth and the things we can use it to indulge our desires in. Jesus says, “I have come that you may have life and have it to the full.” Whatever we think storing up our treasures on earth will give us, Jesus our heavenly treasure offers so much more.

If Jesus is our treasure in heaven, then how can people also be treasures in heaven? Every person who goes to heaven is Jesus’ treasure in heaven. That’s right you and I are Jesus’ treasure. You and I are the treasure that Jesus bought through giving his life on the cross. As we receive Jesus as our treasure we become his treasure. The deeper we allow this to sink into our hearts the easier it becomes for us to let go of our earthly treasures because they can never give us what we have as Jesus’ treasure!

So how does this shape the way I use my earthly treasures? How do I use them to store up heavenly treasures? If Jesus is our treasure and we are his treasure then using our earthly treasures to help others hear this incredible news and receive it still remains the best eternal investment of temporal wealth that I know of. Generously giving away our earthly treasures to support the spreading of the gospel also helps keep the desire of our hearts focussed on Jesus, our heavenly treasure.

Pastor Noel

This Sunday at Good Shepherd
This week’s message is “Why rules are not enough (Set free from the chains of God’s law)” as we continue the series “Set Free to Live Free” (Galatians)
Podcasts of weekly messages are available at www.paravista.org.au
Bible Readings: Matthew 5:17-22, 27-28, Galatians 3:1-14

Term 4 Diary Dates:
2nd Nov – 16th Nov – Workshop sessions (kids rehearsing/preparing for the celebration service)
23rd Nov – Full dress rehearsal in the gym – parents pick up at 12 noon from the gym
30th Nov – Kingdom Kids Celebration Service at 10:30am
7th Dec – Family Advent Movie Night at the church – more details to come

Kingdom Kids is in full swing preparing for our Celebration Service on 30th November at the 10:30am service! This week we will be continuing with our rehearsals and preparations for the service! Come along to hear about our plans for the service and how you and your kids can be involved – there is still time to be involved!

Baby Zone and Kindy Zone will run as normal during the term and be learning a song with actions each week to lead worship during the Celebration Service. Baby Zone will run as normal in the Baby Zone room during the term

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.

A prayer support team for Maranatha Health
Maranatha Health is seeking to establish a prayer team to offer prayer support and protection to Michael and Kim and their family and the work of Maranatha Health. It is envisaged the team would meet monthly.  If you would like to be a part of this important work please contact Catherine Carr – clcarr@internode.on.net


Christmas Luncheon
Hosted by PVLWF members for our Good Shepherd Community, is to be held on Tuesday, 2nd December at 12noon in the Church Hall. We invite you to book by Sunday, 23rd November with Ruth Oster on 8265 0221 or kroster@senet.com.au. We have a maximum number of approx 80 for whom we will be catering. We have engaged THE BORDERERS as our guest artists’. They will entertain us with brackets of songs and lead our carol singing after lunch. The Borderers are well known to our community and we look forward to their musicianship on this day. The cost of the luncheon is $12 pp, payable on the day at the entrance door. (Booking is necessary for our catering)

Christmas card Stall
Cebu Mission Fundraising Team will be holding our usual Christmas Card Stall on Sundays 9th and 23rd November and the final one on Sunday 7th December. Good quality cards to give to your family and friends, at a very cheap price. Thank you for supporting Cebu Mission.

Good Shepherd School Quiz Night
On the 8th November 2014, Good Shepherd School Parents are hosting a fundraising quiz night and silent auction, in an attempt to raise much needed funds for our school. This is the school’s main fundraising event for 2014. We have been lucky enough to secure a sponsor, Garden Grove, who will be covering all the costs for the evening.  What this means is that all monies raised will go directly to our school. The funds raised will be going towards outdoor furniture and shade sails. If you are free on the 8th November grab a few friends and get a table together (tables of 8-12). It will be a great night with lots of prizes and auction items. Together let’s support our school and have a great night.

Tickets are $20 and are available from Sharon in the front office. If you can’t get into the office give Sharon a call (8264 7966) and secure a table. Your tickets can be paid for on the night.

Half Yearly Meetings
The half yearly meeting of the church, school and village will be held on Sunday 23rd November commencing at 12.30pm. Written information will be available on Sunday 16th November and will be emailed in the week prior to the meeting. BBQ Lunch will also be available before the meetings.

Noticeboard

Christmas Trees from Holy Cross, Birdwood
High quality trees at $35 each available for purchase again this year.
Trees will be delivered to a nominated location on the morning of Saturday 13th December 2014. Please place your order, including preferred height of tree, by contacting the church office churchenquiries@paravista.org.au or phone 8263 5087 by 30th November.
Proceeds will go towards supporting chaplains in local schools.

Employment opportunity with IGC
International Gospel Centre (IGC) is seeking someone with a passion for the under privileged and marginalised to fill the role of Development Manager on either a 0.8 or 1.0 basis. IGC is an Australia wide non-profit gospel agency that exists to develop supportive relationships with the underprivileged and marginalised, so that they are transformed by the love of Jesus, and share Jesus with others. The focus of this position is to assist the IGC Board to manage and develop the supporting ministries indicated in the position summary on a ‘day to day’ basis.
Details and full position description are available on the IGC Website:  http://www.igcfoundation.org

Payroll Officer
Lutheran Disability Services currently has a vacancy for a Payroll Officer. For a Job Description or further information please contact LDS directly at admin@ldssa.org.au

Lutheran Community Care Vacancies
Placement Support Worker Two positions available - 1.0FTE and 0.6FTE
Opportunities exist to provide support to foster carers with children in their care. These roles will require occasional visits to foster carer homes.
•    Full-time position to commence immediately
•    0.6FTE position to commence February 2015

Alternative Care Worker 1.0FTE
This position will recruit and assess foster carers throughout the service area. Position to commence mid-January 2015

Please apply on-line through the LCC website only by 8.30am Monday 3rd November 2014
For a Job Description and online Application Guide please visit: www.lccare.org.au

God is not man, that he should lie,

or a son of man, that he should change his mind.

Has he said, and will he not do it?

Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?

Numbers 23:19

Fear and faith

It has been said that fear is the absence of faith. Often when we look at our circumstances it is easy to feel fear and anxiety in response. Whether it is in response to current world events or a result of personal insecurities or an uncertain future – there is an endless supply of fear-evoking circumstances in our lives.

I should say there is a healthy kind of fear, the one that tells us not to touch a poisonous snake or walk out in front of a truck. On the other hand, there is the kind of fear that stops us having faith and trusting that God will step in and provide.

Fear is a natural initial response, but as Christians we have something more to anchor ourselves to than just our own ability to control or alter situations. Faith means we believe in a God who is all-powerful and in control even when the situation or circumstances seem out of control. Perhaps this truth doesn’t stop fear, but rather overcomes and overpowers it. Our faith and trust in God need to be greater than our fear.

One day Jesus and his disciples were sailing across a lake. While they were travelling a storm hit. Jesus had fallen asleep during the trip and remained asleep even after the storm began. The disciples, fearful, woke Jesus up and reprimanded him saying: “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” In response to this Jesus got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” Mark 4:35-41

Now it may seem that the disciples fear in this situation fits into the healthy fear category but let’s think about the story a little more deeply. The disciples were in a boat with Jesus, the Son of God. If the disciples had faith they would have trusted that Jesus had the power to deliver them out of the situation. In this case their fear showed a lack of faith.

Pastor Holly Wagner put it like this, “the man who penned the lyrics to the hymn ‘It Is Well With My Soul’ had just lost his business and all four of his daughters and was able to declare ‘whatever my lot, you have taught me to say it is well with my soul’. No matter what you are facing I would suggest that you to have the authority to say ‘it is well with my soul’ because the wind and the waves still know Jesus name and have to submit to His authority.”

When we are overcome by fear there are some things we can do to increase our faith:

• Look back and see where God has provided in the past;
• Speak over yourself the message “it is well with me” because of who Jesus is and what He has done;
• Pray in the waiting and in the trials that God will increase your faith.

Sophie

This Sunday at Good Shepherd
This week’s message is “Freedom from religious performance” as we start a new series “Set Free to Live Free (Galatians)”
Podcasts of weekly messages are available at www.paravista.org.au
Bible Readings: Galatians 1:1-9; Galatians 2:11-21

Term 4 Diary Dates:
26th Oct – Sun 16th Nov – Workshop sessions
23rd Nov – Full dress rehearsal in the gym – parents pick up at 12noon from the gym
30th Nov – Kingdom Kids Celebration Service at 10:30am
7th Dec – Family Advent Movie Night at the church – more details to come

Kingdom Kids is now preparing for our Celebration Service on 30th November at the 10:30am service! This week we will be starting our workshops so there is still time to get involved! Come along to hear about our plans for the service and how you and your kids can be involved!

Baby Zone and Kindy Zone will run as normal during the term and be learning a song with actions each week to lead worship during the Celebration Service. Baby Zone will run as normal in the Baby Zone room during the term.

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.

PVLW Fellowship
On 28th October, Tuesday at 1pm, in the Good Shepherd Hall, our AGM will be held followed by the President's report. Please also note the following date, October 30th, at 10 am if you are attending the Music, Dance and Lunch event at Albert Park for $10 pp. The address is Lutheran Hall, 59 Botting Street, Albert Park. You are assured of a wonderful day.

Christmas Luncheon
Hosted by PVLWF members for our Good Shepherd Community, is to be held on Tuesday, 2nd December at 12noon in the Church Hall. We invite you to book by Sunday, 23rd November with Ruth Oster on 8265 0221 or kroster@senet.com.au. We have a maximum number of approx 80 for whom we will be catering. We have engaged THE BORDERERS as our guests artists’ .They will entertain us with brackets of songs and lead our carol singing after lunch. The Borderers are well known to our community and we look forward to their musicianship on this day. The cost of the luncheon is $12 pp, payable on the day at the entrance door.  (Booking is necessary for our catering.)

A prayer support team for Maranatha Health
Maranatha Health is seeking to establish a prayer team to offer prayer support and protection to Michael and Kim and their family and the work of Maranatha Health.  It is envisaged the team would meet monthly.  If you would like to be a part of this important work please contact Catherine Carr – clcarr@internode.on.net

Cebu Mission Fundraising Team
Our Plant Stalls are becoming very popular, with a few more people wanting to pot up and donate plants. Some have asked if I have a supply of pots for doing this.  My supply is from YOU, from people who have donated them to me. I am getting down on my supply, so to help others out also, I would like to request more pots please, especially if you are just throwing yours in the bin.

I need a few pots no larger than 25cm, and more of the 10 to 15cm size pots please. Just make sure they are not brittle thankyou. If you have pots, please bring them to church on Sundays, or call me on 8262 7429 to make arrangements to collect. Thankyou in anticipation.
Joan McCarthy

Christmas card Stall
Cebu Mission Fundraising Team will be holding our usual Christmas Card Stall on Sundays 9th and 23rd  November and the final one on Sunday 7th December.  Good quality cards to give to your family and friends, at a very cheap price. Thank you for supporting Cebu Mission.

From the Office

Budget 2014

September 2014
Total Offering - Budget $43,750         Actual $39,010. DEFICIT $4,740

January thru September 2014
Total Offering - Budget $399,100    Actual $380,047. DEFICIT $19,053

January thru August 2014 – Total Income & Expenses

Total Income - Budget $375,014        Actual $360,741. SHORTFALL $14,273
Total Expenses - Budget $380,726    Actual $363,001. SHORTFALL $17,725

Projected deficit $3,768 against a budgeted deficit of $2,480

• REG in August was the highest for the year, however in September REG was the lowest.
• In August Income was $4,000 below budget, with expenses being $3,000 below budget.
• All expenditure items were in line with budget except staff expenses which was $3,000 below budget.

Regular Electronic Giving (REG)
Information on updating your REG? Over half our weekly offerings are made through REG. For those who are altering their giving through REG or wish to start giving via REG the appropriate forms are available from the information rack at the rear of the auditorium or via this link http://www.lll.org.au/giving_through_the_lll/regular_electronic_giving_reg
Alternatively deposits can be made to the following bank account details
If transferring from an LLL account, use account number 52752S1, BSB 704942.
If transferring from another banking institution, use account number 100354939, BSB 704942
Thank you for using this facility as an efficient use of recources.

Good Shepherd Village Board
There will be 3 vacancies on the Good Shepherd Village Board for 2015 - Minute secretary, financial officer and an extra member. The board meets quarterly.

Minute secretary role is to take the minutes of the Board meetings and distribute them to the board. Other secretarial duties of the Board are fulfilled by other Board members. The financial role is to check the reports submitted by the accountant and to make recommendations to the board. Each member of the Board contributes to the governance of the village. This does not mean that they actually do the work. They keep in touch with the persons responsible for each area and report to the Board at the meetings.

If you interested or want additional information contact Board Chair Faye Godfrey – 8264 7415.

Spam Email
Not getting your rosters or church emails. Have you checked your spam or junk folder? If you note that church email is being received in this way please mark it as not junk so your computer will place mail into your inbox next time.

Professional Standards Training
The Lutheran Church promotes Safe Place and Child Safe as part of creating a safe and caring environment for all. Training is available for all members to cover a broad range of behavioural issues over three modules:

1. Appropriate Behaviour
2. Inappropriate Behaviour
3. The Child Safe System

Please see the notice board for dates and details.

Noticeboard

Gifts of Grace 2014
Gifts of Grace is a fun, meaningful and exciting way for you to bless those close to you as you bless those far away. Whether you give Vegetable Seeds or a Long Drop Loo, Mosquito Net or Pre-school toys, you can be certain your gift is changing lives!
Pick up your Gifts of Grace Catalogue from the information rack or under the pigeon holes.

Christmas Trees from Holy Cross, Birdwood
High quality trees at $35 each available for purchase again this year.
Trees will be delivered to a nominated location on the morning of Saturday 13th December 2014. Please place your order, including preferred height of tree, by contacting the church office churchenquiries@paravista.org.au or phone 8263 5087 by 30th November.
Proceeds will go towards supporting chaplains in local schools.

Saturday November 1 - Seminar
Presenting research into young adults in the Lutheran Church
$10 including lunch. This event is open to every congregation member and friend.
More information can be found at www.blueprintministries.org.au
 

So that being justified by his grace

we might become heirs according

to the hope of eternal life.

Titus 3:7

What God has called you to do?

I recently went to the Global Leadership Conference where we spent two days worshipping God and listening to amazing speakers from around the world on leadership. One speaker that really stood out to me was Louie Giglio who is the Pastor of Passion City Church and Founder of the Passion Movement. His speech was inspiring to say the least and I wanted to share a few points with you that touched my heart.

Louie encouraged us to think about what God has called you to do, pray about it and ask God to show you. Then don’t stop walking in the trust that Christ is enough in what he has called us to do. Remember that everything in this life is about Jesus’ fame and His life. Do you know what God has called you to? Where is Jesus in this calling?

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
 1 Peter 2:9

When you are going through a difficult or dark time remember that in the valley of the shadow of death, God is with you and growing you for something bigger. Louie encouraged us to take steps into the unknown as it is God within us who empowers us to take the next step. What can you take a next step towards?

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4

Lastly, when we are facing a giant mountain in front of us, remember that the goal is to get to the arms of Jesus not to get up the mountain. Keep moving forward and putting one foot in front of the other to take steps towards Jesus. What mountain is in front of you? Are your steps up the mountain or towards Jesus?

“If you can?" said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes." Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!"   Mark 9:23-24

I hope these thoughts inspire you, challenge you or grow you as they did me!

Beth Einthal

This Sunday at Good Shepherd
This week’s message is “Telling the greatest story” as we explore “Impact 2015”
Podcasts of weekly messages are available at www.paravista.org.au

Bible Readings: 1 Corinthians 15:1-11; Mark 16:15-20

Term 4 Diary Dates:
19th October – service plan and kids choose workshops they are interested in
26th Oct – Sun 16th Nov – Workshop sessions
23rd Nov – Full dress rehearsal in the gym – parents pick up at 12pm from the gym
30th Nov – Kingdom Kids Celebration Service at 10:30am
7th Dec – Family Advent Movie Night at the church – more details to come

Kingdom Kids starts back again this Sunday with everyone meeting together in the school library to begin preparations for our Celebration Service. Come along to hear about our plans for the service and how you and your kids can be involved!

Baby Zone will run as normal in the Baby Zone room during the term.

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.

Interested in supporting our local Christian Pastoral Support Workers? 
Earlier this year, four CPSW workers shared at our Sunday morning service the difference they are making in their school communities.  Inspirational!

The local board that supports and helps resource our local CPSW’s is made up of representatives from local churches.  This board is called SHIN: Salisbury Hills Interchurch Network.  In recent years, Good Shepherd has been represented by Pr Noel, Dean Eaton, and for the last three years your truly.

Since I intend to finish up on SHIN at the end of 2014, I am keen to find another person from Good Shepherd to take my place. SHIN currently meets bi-monthly on a Thursday night at Ingle Farm Salvation Army centre (cnr of Bridge and Maxwell roads).  Normally 5-8 people attend, and meetings run for 1-2 hours, including visits and reports from our local CPSW’s. 

SHIN is also looking for a new treasurer for 2015. If you have served on a governance team in the past, or have gifts in admin, supervision, communication or finance –- and are even ‘just a little’ interested – I would love to hear from you.   

Pr Rolly Stahl

Card Stall
Cards will be on sale this Sunday after both morning services


PVLW Fellowship
TUESDAY 28th October at 1pm in the Good Shepherd Hall. Our AGM will be held and our President will give her annual report. Please attend this meeting if you are able. It is our last for 2014; however we are hosting a Christmas Luncheon in our hall on Tuesday, 2nd December.
There will be further notice of this at a later date. Please note the following reminders of dates for fellowship members.

Wednesday 22nd October, 12:30pm Luncheon at Bethlehem to celebrate their 90th Guild Anniversary. Guest speaker - Dr Lois Zweck.

Thursday 30th October, 10am Albert Park Music Morning with luncheon, 59 Botting Street, Albert Park. $10pp - for sponsored African child.

Cebu Mission Fundraising Team
Our Plant Stalls are becoming very popular, with a few more people wanting to pot up and donate plants. Some have asked if I have a supply of pots for doing this.  My supply is from YOU, from people who have donated them to me. I am getting down on my supply, so to help others out also, I would like to request more pots please, especially if you are just throwing yours in the bin.

I need a few pots no larger than 25cm, and more of the 10 to 15cm size pots please. Just make sure they are not brittle thank you. If you have pots, please bring them to church on Sundays, or call me on 8262 7429 to make arrangements to collect. Thank you in anticipation.

Joan McCarthy

From the Office

Good Shepherd Village Board
There will be 3 vacancies on the Good Shepherd Village Board for 2015 - Minute secretary, financial officer and an extra member. The board meets quarterly.

Minute secretary role is to take the minutes of the Board meetings and distribute them to the board. Other secretarial duties of the Board are fulfilled by other Board members. The financial role is to check the reports submitted by the accountant and to make recommendations to the board. Each member of the Board contributes to the governance of the village. This does not mean that they actually do the work. They keep in touch with the persons responsible for each area and report to the Board at the meetings.

If you interested or want additional information contact Board Chair Faye Godfrey – 8264 7415.

Spam Email
Not getting your rosters or church emails. Have you checked your spam or junk folder? If you note that church email is being received in this way please mark it as not junk so your computer will place mail into your inbox next time.

Personal quiet time seminar – 1 hour
An Invitation from the Bible Study Fellowship Group. Come and explore great ways to keep you in God’s Word over the summer. Learn ways to start or deepen your daily time alone with God. All welcome. Tuesday 21st October, 12pm to 1pm at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church.

Professional Standards Training
The Lutheran Church promotes Safe place and Child safe as part of creating a safe and caring environment for all. Training is available for all members to cover a broad range of behavioural issues over three modules:
1.    Appropriate Behaviour
2.    Inappropriate Behaviour
3.    The ChildSafe System
Please see the notice board for dates and details.

Time-Out Devotion Book
Pre orders for the 2015 devotion book “Time Out. God calls” are now being taken. The books will be available early in December for $22 per copy.

The book provides Christian devotions by Australian writers for each day of the calendar year. Each meditation, edited by Greg Lockwood, is a “time-out” of about 3 minutes. The devotion writers’ thoughts are life-related and centered on the message of God’s love for people shown in Jesus Christ.

Please advise the church office churchenquiries@paravista.org.au or phone 8263 5087 to order your copy, by October 20th.

Noticeboard

Sports Carnival
For all young people - Sunday 19th October from 2pm at Golden Grove Lutheran Fellowship
FREE event, including a Jumping Castle! Cricket, Netball, Ultimate Frisbee, Relays.
Followed by a BBQ at 5.45pm and a youth worship service at 6.30pm. More information can be found at www.blueprintministries.org.au

Adelaide: Grab a bargain at our annual Garage Sale on 25 October
Gather a group of friends and grab a bargain at Lutheran Community Care's annual Garage Sale on Saturday, 25th October from 9.00am-2.00pm at LCC, 309 Prospect Road, Blair Athol. We will have hundreds of items for sale including clothes, shoes, accessories, electrical items, home wares, bric-a-brac, children's toys and books.
We will also have a sausage sizzle and other refreshments available for a small donation.
All proceeds from the day will directly benefit our community programs.

Gifts of Grace 2014
Gifts of Grace is a fun, meaningful and exciting way for you to bless those close to you as you bless those far away. Whether you give Vegetable Seeds or a Long Drop Loo, Mosquito Net or Pre-school toys, you can be certain your gift is changing lives!
Pick up your Gifts of Grace Catalogue from the information rack or under the pigeon holes.

Adelaide and Barossa: Sign up now to volunteer with Christmas Hampers

Lutheran Community Care are currently looking for volunteers to help with the packing and distribution of Christmas 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.

Saturday November 1 - Seminar
Presenting research into young adults in the Lutheran Church
$10 including lunch. This event is open to every congregation member and friend.
More information can be found at www.blueprintministries.org.au

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for,
the conviction of things not seen.

Hebrews 11:1

Strength as we go

Sooner or later life has a way of throwing something at us that is way beyond our capacity to deal with. It will feel like a weight that is too heavy to carry and we will look for ways to find
the strength to get through. The good news is that God wants to give us the strength we need to do the hard things in life. The Bible says, ‘God gives power to the weak and strength to the powerless. … Those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.’ (Isaiah 40: 29, 31)

How do we access God’s strength to do the hard things that feel beyond us? Jesus provides
an answer to this question. He faced many challenges along the way but none were greater than dying on the cross for our sin. How did Jesus find the strength to do this?

Jesus found God’s strength through prayer. Jesus often withdrew to a quiet place to pray. So
it is no surprise then to see Jesus going off to pray the night before he died on the cross. His prayer reveals the struggle he was going through. “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” (Luke 22:42)

Jesus was asking God for another way; a way that would be easier for him. At the same time Jesus submitted himself to God’s will whatever the outcome of his prayer. God’s will was to bring all people back to him and for this to be possible Jesus would have to die on the cross for our sin. God could not give Jesus another. Instead, God answered Jesus’ prayer by giving him the strength to go his way to the cross. We read, ‘Then an angel appeared and strengthened him.’ (Luke 22:43)

We are not sure how the angel strengthened Jesus, but when he had finished praying he got up and walked back to his disciples where his enemies arrived at the same time to arrest him. Jesus could have run away but he chose to walk straight into the hands of the people who would kill him. He trusted God to give him the strength he needed for every step to the cross. God’s strength would come as he in faith did what he knew God wanted him to do.

Jesus shows that prayer is vital for connecting us to God’s strength. Have you prayed about your current challenges? Even if you have never prayed before, God hears you and you may be surprised by the way he answers you.

God’s strength comes as we go. God’s strength comes as we take him at his word and do what we know we have to do no matter how hard it is. You will be amazed at what God enables you to do if you just take the first step.

Why not take some time today to pray about what you feel is too hard and when and you have finished get up and take the first step needed trusting that God will give you the strength as you go?

Pastor Noel Kluge

This Sunday at Good Shepherd
This week’s message is “Reaping what you sow” as we continue the series “What’s in your hands?” Podcasts of weekly messages are available at www.paravista.org.au

Bible Readings: Luke 6:37-38; 2 Kings 4:1-7

New Personal Journal Available in Worship
Each week we have Activity Folders available for kids who stay in the service. During the school holidays and going forward there will be a new Personal Journal handout available for older kids and youth to interact with and respond to the services. Please make sure you try these out!


Kingdom Kids will not be meeting this week as it is school holidays! We hope you enjoy worshipping our amazing God together in the services!

Kingdom Kids Celebration Service
Planning is well under way for our Kingdom Kids Celebration Service this year with a theme of ‘Make Room for the Saviour’. Make sure you book in the date of Sunday 30th of November (10:30am service) which is the first week of Advent. More info will be out soon about how you can get involved!! It’s going to be an amazing time to share as a family with lots of different ways to participate.

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.

Interested in supporting our local Christian Pastoral Support Workers? 
Earlier this year, four CPSW workers shared at our Sunday morning service the difference they are making in their school communities.  Inspirational!

The local board that supports and helps resource our local CPSW’s is made up of representatives from local churches.  This board is called SHIN: Salisbury Hills Interchurch Network.  In recent years, Good Shepherd has been represented by Pr Noel, Dean Eaton, and for the last three years your truly.

Since I intend to finish up on SHIN at the end of 2014, I am keen to find another person from Good Shepherd to take my place. SHIN currently meets bi-monthly on a Thursday night at Ingle Farm Salvation Army centre (cnr of Bridge and Maxwell roads).  Normally 5-8 people attend, and meetings run for 1-2 hours, including visits and reports from our local CPSW’s. 

SHIN is also looking for a new treasurer for 2015. If you have served on a governance team in the past, or have gifts in admin, supervision, communication or finance –- and are even ‘just a little’ interested –- I would love to hear from you.   

Pr Rolly Stahl

From the Office

Air conditioners
The evaporative coolers in the church have been opened for the summer months.  Overview instructions for use are situated on the wall next to the controllers. If you experience any problem using the units please inform the administration manager during office hours or leave a note in the communications book in the hall kitchen.

Time-Out Devotion Book
Pre orders for the 2015 devotion book “Time Out. God calls” are now being taken. The books will be available early in December for $22 per copy.

The book provides Christian devotions by Australian writers for each day of the calendar year. Each meditation, edited by Greg Lockwood, is a “time-out” of about 3 minutes. The devotion writers’ thoughts are life-related and centered on the message of God’s love for people shown in Jesus Christ.

Please advise the church office churchenquiries@paravista.org.au or phone 8263 5087 to order your copy, by October 20th.

Lutheran Media newsletter
Lutheran Media presents comfort not only to lonely and hurting people, but to everyone through God’s message of hope. Read personal testimonies and other articles of interest in the Lutheran Media newsletter, now in your pigeon hole.


Noticeboard

Organist Meet & Swap
Saturday, 18th October, 2014 12noon to 5pm at Zion Lutheran Church Glynde: 15 Glynburn Rd, Glynde. Cost: $10 for light lunch and refreshments – payable on the day. Registrations due by Friday 10th October to: joymildren@hotmail.com

Sports Carnival
For all young people - Sunday 19th October from 2pm at Golden Grove Lutheran Fellowship
FREE event, including a Jumping Castle! Cricket, Netball, Ultimate Frisbee, Relays.
Followed by a bbq at 5.45pm and a youth worship service at 6.30pm. More information can be found at www.blueprintministries.org.au

Adelaide: Grab a bargain at our annual Garage Sale on 25 October
Gather a group of friends and grab a bargain at Lutheran Community Care's annual Garage Sale on Saturday, 25th October from 9.00am-2.00pm at LCC, 309 Prospect Road, Blair Athol. We will have hundreds of items for sale including clothes, shoes, accessories, electrical items, home wares, bric-a-brac, children's toys and books. We will also have a sausage sizzle and other refreshments available for a small donation. All proceeds from the day will directly benefit our community programs.

Adelaide and Barossa: Sign up now to volunteer with Christmas Hampers
We are currently looking for volunteers to help with the packing and distribution of Christmas 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.


Saturday November 1 - Seminar
Presenting research into young adults in the Lutheran Church
$10 including lunch. This event is open to every congregation member and friend. More information can be found at www.blueprintministries.org.au

Part Time Marketing Officer Vacancy
Enquiries can be made to Karen Granger on 8236 4278 or humanresources@sa.uca.org.au.
Application close date: 13th October 2014 at 4.00pm.

Greater love has no one than this,
that he lay down his life for his friends.

John 15:13

What about rest?

Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” (Mark 6:31a NLT)

Work is perhaps the most common addiction among Christians! We affirm the value of working hard and doing things well. We want to be faithful servants. We want to make a difference in the lives of others.   

The danger in pumping out stacks of work is that we can end up an empty soul. When constant activities leave no space to register and work through feelings - or nurture our soul - our hearts start to shrivel up. We lose a sense of doing life with God. We get tired and cranky. We lose interest in other people.

Bill Hybels calls it “the shrunken heart syndrome”. He asks, “What’s the good of standing before God at the end of your life with a great big list of accomplishments but a shrivelled up heart?” 

At what point do we say: “That’s enough for today.” Or: “That’s enough for this week.”

In God’s plan, a balance between work and rest is essential for human flourishing. 

I confess that I have not yet mastered this art of healthy balance, but am still “working” towards it.

It starts by turning to God: “Father, my life is out of whack.  Please help me to get some space in my life to let you into my inner world.” It will require discernment of God’s calling in this particular season - and saying “NO” to a bunch of other “good” things. It may require a mentor or friend to help us with accountability. It means regularly finding a quiet place - and resting awhile in the company of Jesus.

Pr Rolly Stahl

This Sunday at Good Shepherd
This week’s message is “Using God’s Gifts” as we start a new series “What’s in your hands?” Podcasts of weekly messages are available at www.paravista.org.au

Bible Readings: Matthew 25:14-30; 1 Timothy 6:17-19


Reminder
Daylight saving time begins this weekend on Sunday 5th October 2014 at 2am. Please set your clocks forward by 1 hour.

New Personal Journal Available in Worship
Each week we have Activity Folders available for kids who stay in the service. During the school holidays and going forward there will be a new Personal Journal handout available for older kids and youth to interact with and respond to the services. Please make sure you try these out!

Kingdom Kids will not be meeting this week as it is school holidays! We hope you enjoy worshipping our amazing God together in the services!

Kingdom Kids Celebration Service
Planning is well under way for our Kingdom Kids Celebration Service this year with a theme of ‘Make Room for the Saviour’. Make sure you book in the date of Sunday 30th of November (10:30am service) which is the first week of Advent. More info will be out soon about how you can get involved!! It’s going to be an amazing time to share as a family with lots of different ways to participate.

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.

PVLW Fellowship
Meet again on Tuesday, 7th October at 1:00 in the Para Vista church/hall. Our bible study and business meeting will be followed by a "FLORAL DAY". We are asking that you choose to wear or bring your favourite floral piece to share with us. We hope that you will explain why it is special. Do feel free to bring a friend, neighbour of family member along. We look forward to seeing you.

 
Thank you......thank you.....Thank you from Cebu Mission Fundraising Team
We had so many plants this year for our Spring Plant Stall; we had to keep getting more tables set up! So thankyou to all who donated plants and to all who bought plants.
A big thankyou to Daryl Schaeffer, who supplied us with the beautiful, quality seedlings. 
We raised the wonderful amount of $680!

Next week, we will be sending off to Cebu Mission, the wonderful sum of $5000 from our last few fundraising events and donations. This amount will be very welcome at the Mission, so that they can pay for repairs, or maybe purchase land, or use the money where it is most needed at Inayawan Dump area.

Our next fundraiser will be selling Christmas cards on Sunday 9th November, also some jewellery made in Cebu.

On Sunday 23rd November, we will be having a Sausage Sizzle and Steak Sandwich Day after both morning services. This will be followed by the Half Yearly Meeting at 12.30pm in the church. We will also have the Christmas Cards on sale that day.
The last opportunity to purchase Christmas cards will be on Sunday 7th December.

We look forward to your continued support.
Blessings from the Team
Joan McCarthy
Team Leader

Interested in supporting our local Christian Pastoral Support Workers? 
Earlier this year, four CPSW workers shared at our Sunday morning service the difference they are making in their school communities.  Inspirational!

The local board that supports and helps resource our local CPSW’s is made up of representatives from local churches.  This board is called SHIN: Salisbury Hills Interchurch Network.  In recent years, Good Shepherd has been represented by Pr Noel, Dean Eaton, and for the last three years your truly.

Since I intend to finish up on SHIN at the end of 2014, I am keen to find another person from Good Shepherd to take my place. SHIN currently meets bi-monthly on a Thursday night at Ingle Farm Salvation Army centre (cnr of Bridge and Maxwell roads).  Normally 5-8 people attend, and meetings run for 1-2 hours, including visits and reports from our local CPSW’s. 

SHIN is also looking for a new treasurer for 2015. 

If you have served on a governance team in the past, or have gifts in admin, supervision, communication or finance –- and are even ‘just a little’ interested –- I would love to hear from you.   

Pr Rolly Stahl

Time-Out Devotion Book
Pre orders for the 2015 devotion book “Time Out. God calls” are now being taken. The books will be available early in December for $22 per copy.

The book provides Christian devotions by Australian writers for each day of the calendar year. Each meditation, edited by Greg Lockwood, is a “time-out” of about 3 minutes. The devotion writers’ thoughts are life-related and centered on the message of God’s love for people shown in Jesus Christ.

Please advise the church office churchenquiries@paravista.org.au or phone 8263 5087 to order your copy, by October 20th.

Noticeboard

Organist Meet & Swap
Saturday, 18th October, 2014 from 12noon to 5pm at Zion Lutheran Church Glynde: 15 Glynburn Rd, Glynde. Cost: $10 for light lunch and Refreshments – payable on the day. Registrations due by Friday 10th October to: joymildren@hotmail.com or post to 8 Cambridge St, Vale Park, 5081

Sports Carnival
For all young people - Sunday 19th October from 2pm at Golden Grove Lutheran Fellowship.
FREE event, including a Jumping Castle! Cricket, Netball, Ultimate Frisbee, Relays.
Followed by a BBQ at 5.45pm and a youth worship service at 6.30pm. More information can be found at www.blueprintministries.org.au

What, then, shall we say in response to this?

If God is for us, who can be against us?

Romans 8:31