God’s wants everyone to experience Jesus personally at a heart level. God actively works in our lives through the Holy Spirit to open our hearts to the message and person of Jesus to create, refresh and sustain our faith.
This Sunday we look at how God opened the heart of Lydia so that she could have a heart encounter with the person of Jesus and receive in faith all he did for her on the cross. As we look at this event the question I will be asking is “Can we learn anything from Lydia’s conversion that will help us be more open and responsive to the message of Jesus at a heart level?”
Why does God want us to experience Jesus at a heart level? The reason is that only our hearts can take hold of God’s incredible love for us in Jesus. Paul says in Ephesians 3 that God’s love for us in Christ ‘surpasses knowledge’ (Ephesians 3:19). There is something about God’s love that can only be grasped by a heart that has been opened up by the Holy Spirit. When this happens the transformation of God’s love for us in Christ is amazing as we will see in the story of Lydia.
I pray you can join us this Sunday, which is also Mother’s Day, as we look at how God opened the heart of Lydia and what we can learn from her story.
Bible Readings: Acts 16:9-15; Ephesians 3:14-19
Podcasts of weekly messages are available at www.paravista.org.au
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 May. 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 17th and Tuesday 24th May. 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 Discover 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.
What is spiritual attack? Are there evil powers working against me? How do I stand firm against such “powers”?
Vicar Dan will be leading a Bible study over two nights (Wednesday night, 18th & 25th May, 7:30pm–8:30pm) in the church. The study will look at the role of prayer in standing firm against evil “powers.”
Prayer is a gift from God (Luke 11:1–13). One of the purposes of prayer is to strengthen God’s people to stand firm against attack from the evil powers that lead humanity to disobey God. These evil powers include the world, the devil, and the sinful nature (Ephesians 2:2–3). This struggle is real and encompasses all Christians in the present age.
Join us as we unpack the theme of “power” in the book of Ephesians, and how prayer is God’s gift for standing firm when attacked by evil powers.
Pre call meeting questionnaire
This week all who call Good Shepherd their church home should have received a copy of a questionnaire in preparation for a pre-call meeting in June (date yet to be finalised). These can be completed on line, via email or hard copy. They are to be returned no later Sunday May 22nd. This will give time to correlate results before the pre-call meeting.
The AGM’s of church and school
The AGM’S of the congregation and school will be held on Sunday May 29th @ 12:30. Information will be available by Sunday May 22nd. There will be a meal available after the 10:30 service
There will be no Kingdom Kids this Sunday to enable families to worship our amazing God together for Mother's Day. There will be a special activity for families in the hall following the 10:30am service so stick around to make something to take home!
Faith at Home
Pick up a copy of the May Faith at Home booklet from the Kingdom Kids Sign-in desk or the parenting room. Use the booklet via the Good Shepherd phone app!
Children and Family Ministry Team
Beth Einthal & Kathy Liebig
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.
May is MaranathaMONTH
This May is MaranathaMONTH and we invite you to run a fundraiser in honour of mothers in Uganda (and everywhere!) We're making May a month of sharing stories of mums, children and families whose lives are impacted by the work of Maranatha Health, and who positively impact those around them.
Host an event and share stories from our work in Uganda. Download an event kit to make the planning simple or create your own MaranathaMONTH event. Let us know what you are planning to do because we love to share your story too! For more information: www.maranathahealth.org/month or contact keren.sutton@maranathahealth.org
Maranatha Health - Stall and Soup Sunday
Soup weather is here, and Maranatha Health is always ready to serve!
Join us in the hall on 29 May after services for a warming mug of soup and cheese toastie lunch. Browse at our stall of homemade and homegrown goods, with items donated by our generous Good Shepherd community. Any donated items are welcome before services on the day.
All proceeds of sales go towards the work of Maranatha Health. www.maranathahealth.org
Thank you for your continued support in prayer, giving and serving! We look forward to catching up with you over a cup of steamy soup soon.
From the office
Air conditioners
The evaporative coolers in the church have been closed down for the winter months. To prevent accidental usage the remote controls have been removed and will be returned when the units are opened for summer.
Hall Floor
Just a reminder: Please remove any spills from the floor straight away and lift the furniture to prevent damage to keep the hall looking great.
Heating our facility
To assist all users of our facility in keeping warm the following actions will help to heat the areas in an economical way. When heaters are turned on, ensure the ceiling fans are turned on to a low speed. For the auditorium the switches are located in the rear corridor and speed setting 5 or 4 will suffice. In the hall and the rear right of the auditorium the fans are in the dark boxes on the ceiling. The switches for these are located along the northern brick wall in line with the fans. Select speed setting medium.
Library
Note for all library users. Please assist our volunteer librarian by not putting return items back onto the shelf but return them to the return box once you have finished borrowing. This will prevent you from receiving an overdue notice. Accordingly, if you remove items and then can’t remember where they belong please put them into the return box. You can become a library user by contacting the front office or writing ‘Library Card’ on your connect card
First Aid
As part of providing child safe programs for our children we are required to have safety management systems in place. To assist our leaders and teams, anyone with a current first aid certificate is requested to provide a copy to the office for recording. Your services would only be required in the unlikely event that minor assistance is required.
Noticeboard
Lutheran Community Care
Loaves & Fishes – for May, we invite you to replenish our Emergency Relief shelves with:
Hard Pasta, Pasta Sauce, Sanitary Pads and Tuna
Thank you for helping us help others.
Your LCC representative will ensure we receive your donation.
Boomerang BACK to Hermannsburg and Neuendettelsau in Germany
At the Friends of Lutheran Archives (FoLA) meeting on Monday May 23rd, Pastor Rob Borgas of Finke River Mission in Central Australia will tell us about the 2015 concert tour to Germany & why it was so important for the Aboriginal people of central Australia. Bethlehem House, Flinders St. city, 7.30 pm, supper & gold coin donation.
Lutheran Nurses
Monday the 23rd of May at 7.30pm in the SA District Office at 137 Archer St, North Adelaide Guest speaker is Dr. Chris Hahn on “GENETIC ENGINEERING [the Genome of Cancer]".
All are welcome not just nurses. CPD evidence is available if needed.
Senior Manager, Alternative Care Services - Full-time position
If you are seeking a leadership role where you can make a significant difference, please forward your resume addressing the person specification in the Job Description to slane@lccare.org.au. For further information on the role please contact Susan Lane, Deputy Director on 08 8269 9333.
Applications close Tuesday, 17 May 2016 at 5.00pm.
“For if you forgive other people
when they sin against you,
your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”
Matthew 6:14
