Transfigured!

A lot of people are not content with how they look.  How is it with you?  If you could remodel your appearance, what changes would you like to make?  

So much for externals.  What about your internal world?  What would be a “better version” of you?  If you could change the person you are, what is one area of your character you’d like transformed? 

Jesus can help us with that.  He knows our brokenness – yet brings us restoration. 

This Sunday in the Church year is Transfiguration Sunday.  It comes three days before Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent - when the journey of Jesus turns toward the cross. What was the point of Jesus’ transfiguration with his inner circle of disciples: Peter, James and John?  I wonder, what might Jesus’ transfiguration mean for us?

Come along as we explored this mysterious and inspiring word: Transfigured!  

Bible Readings:  Exodus 24:12-18, Matthew 17:1-9.
Podcasts of weekly messages are available at www.paravista.org.au
 

Kingdom Kids
Kingdom Kids will be available this Sunday at 10.30 for Toddler, Kids and Kool Zones.

Our Kingdom Youth Year 5-7s will be staying in worship this week.  We are trialling sitting together at the front for worship, reflecting on the message after the service and observing what needs to happen to make church happen on a Sunday morning!

We look forward to seeing you!

Activity folders are available for the younger children and Worship Journals available for the older children for use during the services.  Please help yourself to them in the narthex.

Growing Faith at Home
Now available only on our church App!  To encourage families to keep growing in their faith at home each week.

Little Lambs Playgroup
Little Lambs Playgroup is held on Wednesdays at 9.15am in the church hall.  Come on over straight after dropping off the kids at school.  Join other Mums and Dads and Grandies for a coffee and chat with activities for the little ones.

Kathy Liebig - Children and Family Support Worker

Youth Ministry
Last Friday we had our movie night watching “Heaven Is For Real’.  This movie touched on a subject that the youth were wanting to talk about.  The movie proided insight from a 4 year old boys experience of Heaven and encountering Jesus.  We then had some thought provoking discussion and great reflection on the movie.  We did have some fun game time too, with “warm wind whispering” around and then we “found Nemo” too.  Our next event is Friday 3rd March and Pastor Reid will be joining us to discuss Lent.

Don’t forget to invite along a few friends.  Youth is a safe, non-confronting environment where like-minded teens get to share and grow their faith.

 
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.

Notice Board

Friends of Lutheran Archives
Those were the days . . . What memories those camps invoke in us!  Did you meet your spouse at a Youth Camp? Pastor David Eckermann will be the guest speaker at the FOLA (Friends of Lutheran Archives) gathering on Monday 27th February, 7.30pm at Bethlehem House, Sudholz Place in the city. David has been involved in Youth, singles and camp ministry for many years & has a wealth of knowledge about those camps. All welcome & gold coin donation.

Invitation to attend events at Australian Lutheran College (ALC)
ALC invites you to attend the following events being held on Monday 27 February 2017, which marks the beginning of a new academic year for the college. The day will begin with worship in the Chapel at 9.00am followed by the Opening Lecture at 9.30am in the Refectory.

This year’s lecture will be presented by Dr Wendy Mayer (ALC’s new Associate Dean of Research) and is entitled, ‘Preaching Schism: Why what good people say can have unintended consequences for the Church.’

If attending either the service or the lecture, please park off campus and enter via the entrance at 200 Ward Street, North Adelaide. For all enquiries or to notify of your attendance, please contact Alice Lamnek on (08) 7120 8200 or email: alice.lamnek@alc.edu.au. For those unable to physically attend proceedings, the lecture will be live-streamed via the ALC website – www.alc.edu.au.

Installation of new ALC staff
The installation of Dr Wendy Mayer (Associate Dean of Research), Dr Adam Hensley (Lecturer in Old Testament) and Rev Thomas Pietsch (Lecturer in Church History) will take place at the 9am service on Sunday 19 February 2017 at Zion Lutheran Church, Glynde. All are welcome to attend.

“Taste and see that the LORD is good;

blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”

Psalm 34:8

To Add an Hour

Jesus asks arguably the most pertinent question to the twenty-first century human: Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

Worry has always been a difficulty.  No generation finds itself immune to it.  It’s what humans do because they are constantly traveling to the great land of What If?  For certain, all worry starts with these two words: What if we don’t have enough…?”  What if my daughter…?”  “What if my phone doesn’t work?”

Jesus crucifies the question by pointing to God’s caretaking of nature.  The flowers don’t worry about their clothes, why do you?  “So don’t worry because the pagans run after these things…”  And then, without us even being prepared for it, Jesus nails our sin (and worry is sin because it does not trust God) by telling us “Firstly, seek the kingdom and his righteousness.”  When we seek God’s innumerable blessings in the faithful life, what we find is that all the things that we worried about are gift wrapped along the way.  They are given to us; it’s just a matter of picking them up and unwrapping them.

This week, we’ll be encountering the heavy burden of worry and how, with Christ’s help, we can offload those worries to find the Kingdom and God’s righteousness.

Bible Readings:  Exodus 18:6-23, Matthew 6:19-34
Podcasts of weekly messages are available at www.paravista.org.au 

Kingdom Kids
We had a wonderful Kick Off to Kingdom Kids last Sunday in the school library.  We had a visit from Pastor Reid who taught us a very funny song about needing God to help us!  The children then spent some time asking him questions.

As it is a non-communion Sunday at 10.30am, Kingdom Youth begins this year for Year 5 – Year 7 students and will be held in the OSCH room over at the school.  Just a reminder to parents and carers we will be finishing at 12 and then sharing lunch together in the OSCH kitchen.  Come on over and join us!

We look forward to seeing you!

Toddler Zone will not be operating this Sunday.

Activity folders are available for the younger children and Worship Journals available for the older children for use during the services.  Please help yourself to them in the narthex.


Growing Faith at Home
Now available only on our church App!  To encourage families to keep growing in their faith at home each week.

Little Lambs Playgroup
Little Lambs Playgroup is held on Wednesdays at 9.15am in the church hall.  Come on over straight after dropping off the kids at school.  Join other Mums and Dads and Grandies for a coffee and chat with activities for the little ones.

Kathy Liebig
Children and Family Support Worker

Youth Ministry
On Sunday we launched our new look and new name.  The name was a topic of many a discussion over the course of the weekend leader’s retreat.  Our final inspiration came when the vision of the young people’s ministry plan was shared, discussed  and finalised.  Our vision  is:  “We believe that through the power of the Holy Spirt, God is going to grow our young people so that they S hare their faith, O wn their faith, U nderstand their faith and L ive their faith.”  Hence the name SOUL Crew was born. 

SOUL Crew is happening this Friday night.  Heaven was a topic that came up last year as a subject they would like to discuss so we are viewing the movie “Heaven Is For Real” and then we will be having group discussion time after the movie.

Don’t forget to invite along a few friends.  Youth is a safe, non-confronting environment where like-minded teens get to share and grow their faith.

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.

From the office

Summary of February Board meeting
•    After a lengthy debate the Board decided against applying for any government loan where the money source was from gambling.
•    The Board agreed to support Stamps for Mission. There will be more information provided to congregation in the near future.
•    The Board agreed to contract the Mossop Company for our facilities upgrade.  The school will use the same company for their upgrade.
•    The Finance Team have worked diligently to complete our 2016 finances and have arranged the audit for March.
•    It was decided to appoint women to the Adjudication Team. This is now permissible after a change to our constitution at the half Yearly meeting in November.

Wine Clearance
We have 2 dozen red and 3 dozen white anniversary wine left. Selling at discount rates $100 a dozen or $50 for half a dozen. See John Dolling or Andrea Brooks for a bargain.

Notice Board

Friends of Lutheran Archives
Those were the days . . . What memories those camps invoke in us!  Did you meet your spouse at a Youth Camp? Pastor David Eckermann will be the guest speaker at the FOLA (Friends of Lutheran Archives) gathering on Monday 27th February, 7.30pm at Bethlehem House, Sudholz Place in the city. David has been involved in Youth, singles and camp ministry for many years & has a wealth of knowledge about those camps. All welcome & gold coin donation.

Invitation to attend events at Australian Lutheran College (ALC)
ALC invites you to attend the following events being held on Monday 27 February 2017, which mark the beginning of a new academic year for the college. The day will begin with worship in the Chapel at 9.00am followed by the Opening Lecture at 9.30am in the Refectory.

This year’s lecture will be presented by Dr Wendy Mayer (ALC’s new Associate Dean of Research) and is entitled, ‘Preaching Schism: Why what good people say can have unintended consequences for the Church.’

If attending either the service or the lecture, please park off campus and enter via the entrance at 200 Ward Street, North Adelaide. For all enquiries or to notify of your attendance, please contact Alice Lamnek on (08) 7120 8200 or email: alice.lamnek@alc.edu.au. For those unable to physically attend proceedings, the lecture will be live-streamed via the ALC website – www.alc.edu.au.

Installation of new ALC staff
The installation of Dr Wendy Mayer (Associate Dean of Research), Dr Adam Hensley (Lecturer in Old Testament) and Rev Thomas Pietsch (Lecturer in Church History) will take place at the 9am service on Sunday 19 February 2017 at Zion Lutheran Church, Glynde. All are welcome to attend.

“Therefore,

since we have been justified by faith,

we have peace with God

through our Lord Jesus Christ”

Romans 5:1

Created for connection

It is not good for humans to be alone! Just look at what solitary confinement does to people. 

As human beings, we need interactions with other people to flourish.  How would we get on if no one taught us to speak, dress ourselves, read, write, or develop skills?  Just about everything we have learnt has come to us through connecting with others.  While our personality is a given, our values and character are shaped by doing life together with others. 

Having been made in the image of God, we are created for connection – with God and with other people.  This Sunday, we will explore how these two connections come together for us as followers of Jesus.  Come along and find out how connecting regularly with a few other Christians helps us to grow in the character of Jesus – and continue his work in our community. 

Small groups are one way this can happen.  This Sunday we will be launching our small group ministry for 2017, blessing our small group leaders, and praying for our small groups to flourish in the year ahead. 

Bible Readings:  Acts 2:42-47   (For preparation, you might also read Genesis 1-2)
Podcasts of weekly messages are available at www.paravista.org.au 

Kingdom Kids
This Sunday is our Kingdom Kids Kick Off for 2017 at the 10.30am service.  We will be meeting in the school library for a combined zone event.  We look forward to seeing you!

Activity folders are available for the younger children and Worship Journals available for the older children for use during the services.

Growing Faith at Home
Now available only on our App!  To encourage families to keep growing in their faith at home each week.

Little Lambs Playgroup
Little Lambs Playgroup is held on Wednesdays at 9.15am in the church hall.  Come on over straight after dropping off the kids at school.  Join other Mums and Dads and Grandies for a coffee and chat with activities for the little ones.

Kathy Liebig
Children and Family Support Worker

Youth Ministry
Last Friday night we had our first event for the year.  We had a great time getting to meet some new people, welcoming our new leaders, having fun, worshipping together, talking about “new beginnings” and then exploring new beginnings in the scriptures in a creative way – scripture sculptures.  

The youth and leaders found very clever ways of forming themselves into items listed in bible verses talking about new beginnings.  We had the three crosses for Christ’s crucifixion, the dove from Noah’s Ark, and the throne of honour all formed.  We then farewelled “Ignite Youth” as we know it, acknowledged that it played a significant part in youth ministry here at Good Shepherd, but with new beginnings we have a new name and new look.  We left the youth hanging and all will be revealed in church this Sunday morning at 10.30am service.

Next event is Friday 17th February. Don’t forget to invite along a few friends.  Youth is a safe, non-confronting environment where like-minded teens get to share and grow their faith. 
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.

Notice Board

Friends of Lutheran Archives
Those were the days . . . What memories those camps invoke in us!  Did you meet your spouse at a Youth Camp? Pastor David Eckermann will be the guest speaker at the FOLA (Friends of Lutheran Archives) gathering on Monday 27th February, 7.30 pm at Bethlehem House, Sudholz Place in the city. David has been involved in Youth, singles and camp ministry for many years & has a wealth of knowledge about those camps. All welcome & gold coin donation.

Invitation to attend events at Australian Lutheran College (ALC)
ALC invites you to attend the following events being held on Monday 27 February 2017, which mark the beginning of a new academic year for the college. The day will begin with worship in the Chapel at 9.00am followed by the Opening Lecture at 9.30am in the Refectory.

This year’s lecture will be presented by Dr Wendy Mayer (ALC’s new Associate Dean of Research) and is entitled, ‘Preaching Schism: Why what good people say can have unintended consequences for the Church.’

If attending either the service or the lecture, please park off campus and enter via the entrance at 200 Ward Street, North Adelaide. For all enquiries or to notify of your attendance, please contact Alice Lamnek on (08) 7120 8200 or email: alice.lamnek@alc.edu.au. For those unable to physically attend proceedings, the lecture will be live-streamed via the ALC website – www.alc.edu.au.

Installation of new ALC staff
The installation of Dr Wendy Mayer (Associate Dean of Research), Dr Adam Hensley (Lecturer in Old Testament) and Rev Thomas Pietsch (Lecturer in Church History) will take place at the 9am service  on Sunday 19 February 2017 at Zion Lutheran Church, Glynde. All are welcome to attend.

“Therefore we do not lose heart.

Even though our outward man is perishing,

yet the inward man is being renewed day by day”

2 Corinthians 4:16

Stumbling into Change

Many difficult questions come about with a faithful life.
Think about some of the seemingly ‘insane’ things that Jesus mentions to different people:

It would be easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven.
You must be born again.

And then our theme for this week:  
Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

So, I guess I have to be both poor and infantile, is that right?

Matthew 18:1-10

What exactly is Jesus talking about when he confronts the disciples’ question about being the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?  For most of our developing years, there is an adult or two who uses the phrase, “Oh, just grow up,” but now Jesus smiles at the disciples (and us too!) and gives the opportunity to be child-like again and to experience exactly what it’s like to see with young eyes again faith and the wonderful world of child-like trust.

Included in this discussion is the question of stumbling blocks – things we keep tripping over and how we sometimes put the same stumbling blocks in front of our children.

As school kicks off for Good Shepherd Lutheran Primary School, come engage with scriptures and find new life in change.

Bible Readings:  Matthew 17:24-27
Podcasts of weekly messages are available at www.paravista.org.au

Congregational meeting
There will be special Congregational meeting next Sunday February 12th at 10am. This is for the congregation to accept the conditions for the loan from the LLL. Full information will be emailed early next week. There will be a progress report on the Facilities development.

Kingdom Kids
Kingdom Kids is currently on holidays!  We will be returning Sunday 12th February.
Activity folders are available for the younger children and Worship Journals available for the older children for use during this service.

Growing Faith at Home
Now available only on our App!  To encourage families to keep growing in their faith at home each week.

Little Lambs Playgroup
Little Lambs Playgroup begins on Wednesday 8th Feb at 9.15am in the church hall.  Come on over straight after dropping off the kids at school.  Join other Mums and Dads and Grandies for a coffee and chat with activities for the little ones.

Kathy Liebig - Children and Family Support Worker

Youth Ministry
We had an absolutely fantastic time away in “The Pink Shack” planning, training and brainstorming on the weekend.  Your leaders are all so focussed and excited about sharing their faith and encouraging all the youth on their faith journey.  You will notice the logo is a little faded this week – that is because on Friday night we say farewell to “Ignite Youth” as we know it, as we kick off the year with new beginnings, equalling a new name.  All will be revealed in time.

We start the year in youth this Friday at 7pm – “Come, Join Us”.   It will be a fun night getting to know each other, whilst exploring the scriptures in a creative way!  Don’t forget to invite along a few friends.  Youth is a safe, non-confronting environment where like-minded teens get to share and grow their faith.  Looking forward to seeing you all there.

Further details regarding youth contact Margot Mertin 0401 850814 or mmertin@paravista.org.au
Margot Mertin

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.

Para Vista Women’s Lutheran Fellowship - 2017
Welcome to a year of Bible study and coffee with friends. We invite you to meet at Good Shepherd Hall next week at 1pm on Tuesday, February 6th.  Pastor Reid, our lead Pastor, will introduce himself to us, lead our Bible Study and move forward with us into 2017.

Unlike previous years and because of our church and school building program, the Women’s Fellowship program has been simplified, but we still plan to meet on the first Tuesday of each month, except November. Because of the Melbourne Cup we meet twice in October, on the first and fourth Tuesday of that month. The venue will be decided from month to month.
We invite all members to meet our new pastor as we greet and welcome him as our special guest.

Help urgently needed
At the November Half Yearly meeting the congregation voted to proceed with our facilities upgrade. The project will commence within the next 3 weeks. Much work has already been undertaken to ensure we are ready to proceed, but to ensure all is ready we need the assistance of lots of members. If we are not ready we will incur extra costs, which would mean we cannot keep within budget.

Help urgently needed to:
•    relocate the library. Most of the library will be set up in the foyer. Before you say I can't carry books down the stairs, we also need people to stack books onto the relocated shelves. Skills required - enthusiasm to get the job done.

•    relocate shelving from the storeroom to the hall to give us some much needed storage.
Skills required - ability to remove shelves from wall (bolted to wall), some carpentry skills to attach to hall wall, shifting gear from kitchen and storeroom to shelving.

•    relocate items to storeroom area in shed at the end of the oval. Trailer needed.

•    Remove remaining pavers from the courtyard and store ready to be reinstated at the completion of the redevelopment. This will be very expensive if completed by the contractor. This work can be completed whenever you have an hour to spare but there will be 2 working Bees on Saturday 11th and 18th starting at 9:30

We need to complete all the above within the next 3 weeks so we urgently need the assistance of many to ensure we meet the deadline. We are very flexible so you can assist at a time that is convenient to you. If you can assistance please contact JohnDolling 83675296 or jdolling@bigpond.net.au.

From the office

Back to school Sunday
This year due to the construction work happening around the complex a sausage sizzle will not be happening after the 10.30am service.  The great snags and salad will return for the 2018 back to school Sunday in a newly completed area.

Misplaced Items
The Women@PV trolley was accidently left in the hall last weekend and items used for this ministry were removed from a box marked Women@PV.
Missing items are:
•    12 small red glass tea light holders, and
•    6 or 7 mosaic candle holders, green and red in colour
If any member knows of the whereabouts of the items it is requested they inform the office to arrange a return, or return the items to the church ASAP so they can be used for this ministry.

Igniting the Future upgrade notes
Remember: Morning tea during the upgrade will be served in disposable cups due to no washing up facilities.  Please assist by placing your cup into provided bins when finished.
Shelving has been removed from the Hall store.
Archive items are being sorted.

Air conditioners in Parenting room and Baby Zone
The air cons in both these areas have failed in the last month and are being quoted on for repair.


Thank You
Thank you to Peter Kraft who became a member of the “View Adelaide with a difference” team by assisting in the cleaning of the gutters. 

Notices Section
Will Hall a past Lay worker/employee, of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Para Vista, is being installed as Pastor on Sunday 5th February 1:30 pm at Adelaide West Uniting Church, 312 Sir Donald Bradman Dr, Brooklyn Park SA 5032.

Notice Board

“So those who are last now will be first then,

 and those who are first will be last.”

Matthew 20:16