This Sunday we look at Mary’s response to the angel’s announcement that she had been chosen to be the mother of Jesus. Mary’s willingness to surrender her life and her plans to be used by God to bring Jesus into this world was amazing. Her life would never be the same again.
While Mary had a very special and privileged role to play in Jesus’ coming that required her full surrender to God’s will, all of us are called to follow her example of surrender so that Jesus can come into our hearts and lives.
Surrendering ourselves to God is a daily challenge for all of us. It doesn’t come naturally and the very thought of it can make us shudder with fear. However, through the love God has shown us in Jesus, our fear of surrender can be replaced by the assurance of God’s acceptance and blessing as his children.
Bible Readings: Luke 1:26-38; Philippians 2:6-11
Podcasts of weekly messages are available at www.paravista.org.au
Christmas @ Good Shepherd
Christmas Eve - A necessary MESS 5.00, 6.30 and 8.30pm
Christmas Day – Courageous or Crazy 9.30am
New Year’s Eve - 7.30pm
Kingdom Kids is now on holidays. We wish all families a blessed Christmas.
Activity folders will be available for the children and Personal Journals available for the older children for use during services.
Advent
After the 10.30am service last Sunday the children made crowns to take home to remind them that “Jesus is my King”! This Sunday we will have another activity after the 10.30am service so don’t miss out!
Faith at Home
December booklet out now! Pick up a copy of the December booklet at the Kingdom Kids Sign In desk and the parenting room.
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 churchenquiries@paravista.org.au with your request.
Cebu Mission Thanks
Many thanks to all who bought sausages and steak sandwiches at our S/sizzle end of Nov. Thanks also to those who bought Christmas cards, our last Ringpull bag and few little knick knack things from the Gift table. On that day we raised the wonderful amount of $600.
The Cebu Mission Fundraising Team has been raising money for the poverty people in Cebu, Philippines for almost 9yrs. In that time we have raised over $41,000! So the members of the Team (past and present) wish to sincerely thank everyone for their support of our Pancake days, Scone days, S/sizzles and all our Major Fundraiser nights that were held throughout those 9yrs.
We would also like to sincerely thank all those people who were on our 'Helpers' list. It was much appreciated that we could call you for help when needed, for cooking a BBQ, for 'manning' a stall or helping out at a Major Fundraiser night, etc. Much appreciated.
Last Sunday, a lunch was held as a 'Thankyou' to all past and present Team members....sadly, a final farewell to an 'End of an Era' of Fundraising for Cebu. Steve Buck attended as the International Gospel Centre chairman of the Board. He thanked the Team members for all their hard work, commitment and compassion for the mission. He also wanted to say a big thankyou to the Para Vista Congregation for supporting the Cebu Mission for 9yrs. Thanks also to Pastor Noel and John Dolling for their help during those years too.
Joan McCarthy
Lutheran Women SA/NT 2016 Retreat
Date: 15-17th January 2016
Where: Australian Lutheran College, North Adelaide SA
Theme: ‘Women of Faith’
Pr Dale Gosden will be chaplain and Bible Study leader.
Guest Speakers:
Sarah Möller — Visual Artist sharing her art
Andrea Ogia — Journey with a hidden disability
Anne Pietsch — Dementia - My Story
Plus: Entertainment Saturday evening, singing, closing worship service on Sunday afternoon, excellent food, fun and fellowship.
Cost: Full Time: $145.00. Part timers are more than welcome.
Payments can be made through the LLL electronic funds transfer facility.
See the enrolment form for details: http://www.sa.lca.org.au/?q=mission/women
Enrolments and full payment must be received by 6th January for catering purposes.
6:45pm for a 7pm start. Fogolar Furlan Centre, 69 Briar Road, Felixstow
A delicious three course meal, entertainment, and auctions will feature on the night.
Reservations can be made for tables of 10 for $90 per guest, or individuals for $100 per guest.
Please rsvp and inform us of dietary needs by Friday 8 January 2016: www.trybooking.com/161959
Further information: contact@maranathahealth.org
From the Office
A gift for Christmas
One of the simplest free gifts you could give this Christmas is to park in the Mattiske carpark or on the school oval for the Christmas Eve services and allow our visitors to park close to the entrance of the church. Car parking attendants and signs will be directing traffic for the 5.00 and 6.30pm services and your assistance in following directions will be appreciated.
Please note: Traffic flow will be ONE WAY entering from Montague road and exiting through the rear gate.
Office closure over Christmas
Office will be closed from 3.00pm 24th December 2015 to 9.00am on Tuesday 5th Jan 2016.
Christmas whirlwind
Will be happening on Thursday 24th December at 9.30am. Please assist in giving the church grounds a bit of a dust of by marking your connect card ‘Whirlwind,’ contact Stephen or the office on 8263 5087or via email szanker@paravista.org.au of your availability. Extra blowers are available if you don’t have one. Please bring safety glasses and a set of earmuffs/earplugs.
Urgent! Car parking attendants will be required to assist with safe traffic movement and parking on Christmas Eve for the 5pm and 6.30pm service. Please mark your connect card ‘Parking and time available,’ contact Stephen or the office on 8263 5087.
Urgent help required
We are looking for families or individuals to help erect and decorate the church Christmas tree this Sunday 20th December at 4 pm. If you are able to help please could you contact Andrea Brooks on her mobile 0407 799 772
Improvements around the church
Manse fence, a team of volunteers assisted to replace the manse fence as the bottom of the old one was starting to rust through and there was no privacy from the school oval. Thank you to the team who pitched in and did a professional job with little supervision
Main speakers. The Tech team have been extremely busy tiding and permanently fixing the main speakers in the main auditorium. The holes in the ceiling are no longer noticeable. Other high work maintenance on the lights was completed while the scaffold was set in the church.
New door. The pigeonhole corridor door was replaced to dry rot and becoming a security risk. Thanks to the volunteers who assisted with this.
A volunteer is now required to complete the painting on this door.
Staff Leave
Stephen Paech 15 December 2015 to 13 January 2016
Kathy Liebig 28 December 2015 to 10 January 2016
Stephen Zanker 4 January 2016 to 15 January 2016
Rolly Stahl 19 January 2016 to 25 January 2016
Noticeboard
Youth from this church will be involved in a service event Big Week Out (BWO) from the 18th-22nd of January which is exciting initiative of local churches where young people from partnering churches all over Adelaide come together to make God's love known through service.
We would love your help by donating a meal to ensure the cost of participant registration remains low. Please consider donating baked goods for morning/afternoon teas or contributing to one of the dinners so that the participants and leaders are being nourished!
Please contact Zoe Thiel on 0422938623 or visit the BWO website http://www.bigweekout.org.au/#bio for more information.
Lutheran Community Care
Loaves & Fishes – in January, we invite you to replenish our Emergency Relief shelves with:
Coffee, Pasta, Pasta Sauce, Toothbrushes
Thank you for helping us help others.
Your LCC representative will ensure we receive your donation.
For thus the LORD has told me,
"I will look from My dwelling place quietly Like dazzling heat in the sunshine, Like a cloud of dew in the heat of harvest"
Isaiah 18:4
