Friday, December 16, 2016

He will be called… Everlasting Father

During Advent, we’ve been looking at some of the names of the promised Messiah prophesied by Isaiah around 700 years before Jesus was born: For a child is born to us, a son is given to us… And he will be called: Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6-7 NLT)

Over the last two Sundays, we’ve looked at how Jesus is our Wonderful Counsellor and Mighty God. This Sunday we explore the name: Everlasting Father.   

Our picture of God is often shaped by the experiences of our earthly fathers. For some of us, our image of God as Father is a positive one because of the close and safe relationship with our dads. For others, that image has been damaged by negative experiences with our earthly fathers. 

If you ever want to know what God is like as a Father, then look at Jesus - and suddenly the picture becomes clear.  In Jesus, we meet this Father up close and personal.

Jesus is the perfect image of God, and the exact representation of his being. Jesus alone makes the Father known to us. Indeed, no one can come to the Father except through him (John 14:6).

Come along this Sunday and discover what sort of Father we meet in Jesus.  In Jesus we find our Everlasting Father’s heart goes out to us… and that he always wants to do us good! 

Bible Readings:  Psalm 103:8-13; John 14:1-11
Podcasts of weekly messages are available at www.paravista.org.au 

Kingdom Kids
We are on holidays. Activity folders will be available for the younger children and Worship Journals available for the older children for use during this service.

Faith at Home
On the Kingdom Kids Display Board you will find a Taking Faith Home resource for the month of December that contains a month’s worth of daily bible readings.

Kathy Liebig - Children and Family Support Worker

Youth Ministry
This week we have our end of year celebration family BBQ where we meet the year 6s and hopefully some other new faces too.  Bring a salad or dessert to share.  A night of fun and fellowship guaranteed.  Hope to see a lot of you there.  I wonder who is game enough to take up the challenge and run “The Gauntlet”!! Don’t know what that is - come along and join in to see.

It has been a great year with these awesome young people and their leaders!
Youth will then recommence in February 2017. Further details regarding youth contact Margot Mertin 0401 850814 or mmertin@paravista.org.au

Margot Mertin - Faith Formation 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 churchenquiries@paravista.org.au with your request.

Office closure over Christmas 
The church office will be closed from 3.45pm 23 Dec 2016 till 9.00am 9th January.
For urgent contact during this time please call 8263 5087 and leave a message. 
Messages will be retrieved on working days over this time.

Maranatha Health Gala Dinner
Partnerships create possibilities
Come on a journey with us to discover the tastes, aromas, colours and sounds of Africa, and support Maranatha Health as we create bright new futures in Western Uganda. The evening will feature a delicious 3 course meal (including Ethiopian buffet), energetic African entertainment from Moore Black & the Organic Roots, a silent auction and fundraising fun, and all the latest updates from our in work Fort Portal, Uganda.

Special guests: Kimberley & Michael Findlay, MH Founders
MC: Kate Collins, from Channel Nine News
Guest speaker: Suren Krishnan, Associate Professor of Surgery at Adelaide University (who recently performed MH's first surgeries in Uganda)
  
Venue:
Furlan Centre - 69 Briar Road, Felixstow, SA 5070
Tickets: Tables of 10
1 ticket $100* pp
10 tickets $90* pp
Book tickets at www.trybooking.com/NDRM
Contact: RSVP 17 January, including dietary needs contact@maranathahealth.org

From the office

Car parking this Sunday 18th December
We are expecting a large number of visitors for baptism this Sunday and would appreciate members parking on the school oval to allow our guests to park in allocated parking spaces. 

Car parking attendants are still required to assist with traffic and parking on Christmas Eve from:
•    5.30pm till 6.30pm. 
•    7.00pm till 8.00pm
Please mark your connect card with parking, contact Stephen or the office on 8263 5087 to assist.

Food hamper for Pastor Reid
Pastor Reid Matthias will be arriving mid-January and as a gift we would like to put together a pantry of items so they feel welcomed.  Donations can be dropped off at the church office during office hours or left in the hall kitchen in the marked containers.  Please provide essential items that are in date and are not perishable.  Some examples are: Cereals, tinned fruit & vegetables, dried fruits, sauce, toilet tissue, paper towel, spreads, flour, pasta, sugar, rice, oil, alfoil & gladwrap, dishwashing detergent and garbage bags.

Anniversary wine
There is still a limited amount of both the red and white 50th anniversary wine available but stocks are fast disappearing. If you are interested in obtaining some of this never to be offered again wine contact John Dolling (83675296) or Andrea Brooks (0407 799 772)

Watering new plants
Before our 50th anniversary celebrations there were over 100 plants planted in our front garden. By this time next year our grounds will start to return to their former glory. To survive their first summer they need to be watered weekly. This task using a hose takes about an hour. If we can get 4 volunteers it would mean an hour a month for 4 months – a total of 4 hours for the year. If you can assist please contact John Dolling 83675296

Notice Board

Barossa: Position Vacant: Reception and Administration Worker
We are seeking applicants with experience in office administration and reception to join our team in supporting families and individuals in the Barossa.  This position is part time (2 days per week).  A Job Description with further details about the position can be found at www.lccare.org.au  For further information please contact Louise Mather
lmather@lccare.org.au or 8562 2688.  Applications close 15 December.

“When they saw the star,
they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.”
Matthew 2:10