What story are you telling yourself?
If we were to compile all the things
you have thought about yourself over the last week, what kind of story would
they tell about you? Would you want this story told, or would you prefer to
keep it secret?
I imagine we would want to keep our
internal story secret. There is no way we want others seeing the kind of
thoughts we wrestle with about ourselves. What would people think if they knew
how insecure we really are and how unsure we are of ourselves?
However, can we really keep what we
think of ourselves secret from those around us? Dan Rockwell a leadership
consultant recently tweeted, ‘The story in your head always finds expression in
your life.’ What we’re telling ourselves always works its way out into our
lives. The way we act and react is shaped by our inner story. Sometimes the two
are similar. Other times we cover up our thoughts and feelings by acting in the
opposite way.
Where do the thoughts that form our
inner stories come from? They come from the words and actions of others towards
us. They come through the barrage of messages we receive each day in the media.
They come through the accusing voice of the devil. As we process all these
messages and interpret their meaning for us our thoughts are formed and our
internal story composed.
The problem is that our internal
stories are corrupted by a much bigger story written by sin. Sin corrupts what
is said and done to us. Sin distorts the way we think so our thoughts and the
stories we write with them are often negative and point to an unhappy ending.
Is there a way to transform our thoughts so that the story in our head is far
less negative and points towards a happy ending?
The answer is “Yes” and it is found
in Jesus. When Jesus hung on the cross and cried “It is finished” he was
declaring the end of sin’s sad story in our lives. When Jesus rose from the
dead he was declaring that a new story is now being written for us to live in.
We enter this story as we give Jesus our old sin stained story in repentance
and receive his new story written through forgiveness.
Our new story in Jesus is not a one
off event, but a daily journey of renouncing the old story through confession and
forgiveness and a writing of the new story through faith filled life following
Jesus.
Our Good Friday service will provide
an opportunity to hand over the old story together with the words of others
that have formed it. You will also hear Jesus declare again that “It is
finished!” On Easter Sunday we will celebrate how Jesus’ resurrection changes
everything. The old story of sin and death has been replaced by a new story of
life and hope in Jesus.
I pray you can join us this Easter.
Pastor Noel
This Easter Sunday at Good Shepherd
This
week’s message is “This changes
everything”
Podcasts
of weekly messages are available at www.paravista.org.au
Bible Readings:
Matthew 26:36-46
Easter Service Times
Maundy
Thursday - 7.30pm Service with Holy Communion
Good
Friday - 8.45am & 10.30am Good Friday
Experience
Easter
Sunday - 8.45am & 10.30am Celebration
service with Holy Communion
Please take a look at the
presentation on the wall in the church hall to see how Kingdom Kids recently
celebrated Easter! It was a God filled morning filled with fun, faith and
community, and it was amazing to see so many children, youth, parents and grandparents
doing the stations with the children, with around 90 children and adults
learning together; Praise God!
Kingdom Kids (including Baby Zone)
will not be running during the school holidays. There will be lots for kids to
see, do and be involved with in church over Easter so come and enjoy church
together as a family!
Baby Zone
The new Baby Zone room was painted on Sunday and looks nice and fresh! Many thanks to Kathy and Mia Liebig and Aaron, Ruby and Helen Einthal for their amazing help with this! Thanks also to Tanya Harrison for moving the furniture away from the walls. It was a great team effort!
The new Baby Zone room was painted on Sunday and looks nice and fresh! Many thanks to Kathy and Mia Liebig and Aaron, Ruby and Helen Einthal for their amazing help with this! Thanks also to Tanya Harrison for moving the furniture away from the walls. It was a great team effort!
Over the next few weeks we will be
fully decorating the room! There are still some things that we could use for
our program below. 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.
- Dolls (babies only, i.e. not Barbies)
- Doll blankets and other baby doll accessories
- Toy people (too large to swallow, i.e. “Little People”)
- Toy cash register
- Toy picnic basket and toy picnic set
- 2 small torches
- Stuffed toy animal sheep, cow, donkey and camel
- Variety of plastic or washable play/dress up hats
If you have any of these items that
you would be happy to donate to the room, or are happy to purchase them for the
room, please leave them in the Baby Zone room by the shelves or pass onto Beth
Einthal or Tanya Harrison, Baby Zone Team Leader.
Kindy Zone Team Leader
We are still 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
Is 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 4th 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.
Cebu Fundraising Event
Sausage Sizzle and Steak Sandwich Day, Sun 25th May. There will be sausages available after the first service and sausages and Steak Sandwiches available after the second service. Come and enjoy some lunch and then attend the AGM for the School, The Village and the Church at 12.30pm. There will also be freshly baked Cupcakes for sale.
Sausage Sizzle and Steak Sandwich Day, Sun 25th May. There will be sausages available after the first service and sausages and Steak Sandwiches available after the second service. Come and enjoy some lunch and then attend the AGM for the School, The Village and the Church at 12.30pm. There will also be freshly baked Cupcakes for sale.
All monies raised will go to the
'Inayawan Project' in Cebu, Philippines.
Wishing Well
Wishing Well
The fundraising team have available
a Wishing Well for hire, which can be used for Weddings, Engagements,
Christenings, 18th or 21st Birthday parties, etc. It is a secure locked box and
the $50 hire fee goes to Cebu Mission. For more information or to make a booking,
contact the Church office or Linda Dulay on 0423067398
Chocolate Sellers
Chocolate Sellers
We would like one more person to
sell chocolates please. If you work in an office, kindy, etc and have a
suitable area to display a box of chocolates, then please contact Joan McCarthy
or other team member.
Noticeboard
Grace conference 2014
LWSA/NT encourages women of all ages
to attend the Grace conference 2014 at Concordia College. The theme for the
conference this year is Evangelism for Everyone, * guilt not included.
Spend a day with Christian women
from all walks of life and explore what God does and doesn't want us to do when
it comes to evangelism from the book of 1 Peter.
Or phone Carol Black on 82663007
/0418834150 for more information.
“Faith grows best in the winter of trial”
