Let’s say your favourite fruit is peaches (it is one of mine). You have a large yard with good soil, so you decide to plant a couple of peach trees. After buying two quality trees from a reputable nursery, you plant them with all the goodies to help them grow. You water them, fertilise them, prune them, lay mulch underneath, and deal with the bugs. Within a few years, what are you hoping for? Some plump, ripe, juicy, sweet and delicious peaches!
After a few years you have some very healthy looking trees. As summer approaches, you look forward to picking ripe peaches in the cool of the morning for breakfast. But alas, after 10 years there is still no fruit? What do you do?
Friends, God is constantly looking for fruit in the lives of his people. It’s a theme throughout the Bible, and in many of the stories that Jesus told. John the Baptist declared to the crowds that - if there was no fruit - God would put an axe to the roots (cf Luke 3:7-9). No fruit ultimately ends in disaster!
In our Bible reading this Sunday, we find Jesus dealing with the temple AND with a fig tree. The two things come together like a sandwich, implying that both are closely connected. The bottom line: No fruit -> get the boot!
Pr Rolly Stahl
Bible Reading: Mark 11:11-25
Podcasts of weekly messages are available at www.paravista.org.au
NOVO – 2018!
It’s that time of year again to gather together with other high school youth from across South Australia. NOVO is a four day camp designed to meet NEW people, learn NEW things, try NEW opportunities and enjoy worship and activities. The theme for this year is Stand which looks at Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand.
Register here http://www.blueprintministries.org.au/camps/novo/
There is financial assistance available.
Let’s have a great experience together.
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.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for Good Shepherd!
Miriam Smith, former Mayor of Tea Tree Gully and now a project officer for Baptist Care, SA, will be with us to share her passion for ministry to refugees in the metro area. Combining a wealth of experience with her distinctive love of Christ, Miriam will share with us during the Spotlight and Coffee and Theology, stories of struggle and faith, and ways that we can partner with refugees in bringing prosperity to those who have come to the ‘Lucky Country.’
Miriam will be with us on Sunday 18th March. Please attend the Coffee and Theology and ask many questions about the ministry.
Praise Point
We thank God for the safe arrival of Jasper James, son of Andrea and Tom Bowden, little brother to Piper and Poppy.
We also thank God for the safe arrival of Hendrix Gabe, son of Calli and Trent, little brother to Hailo and Zeppelin.
30 Days of Prayer
Is underway… and is being held at church 7.30-8.30pm every day except Sundays during March. Everyone is encouraged to come along to at least one night to pray as a community.
Hot cross buns needed for Good Friday
As part of our Easter celebrations we will be serving hot cross buns for morning tea on Good Friday. If you are able to bring a plate of hot cross buns, cut, buttered and ready to serve, that would be greatly appreciated. Please put the buns in the kitchen before service so those people rostered for morning tea can serve them.
From the Office
Assistance required
Please stay for a few minutes after Maundy Thursday service to move chairs in preparation for the Good Friday Service.
Assistance will again be required on Easter Saturday morning at 9am to replace the chairs. Please mark your connect card with your availability for either day - or advise Stephen.
Easter Car parking
The school oval will be available for parking for the Easter services weather permitting. Members are encouraged to park on the school oval to allow our guests to park in allocated parking spaces. Please assist by parking to the eastern end of the oval and keeping as close to the fence as possible.
Finance Report
Offerings
January – February 2018
Total Offerings – Budget $87,500 Actual $80,116 UNDER $7,384
Budget Summary
January – December 2017
Total Income – Budget $568,000 Actual $540,832 UNDER $27,168
Total Expenses – Budget $568,560 Actual $546,923 UNDER $21,633
DEFICIT OF $6,090 FOR 2017
Notes since last Board meeting
• Offerings so far in 2018 are well below budget. This affects plate offering and REG.
• Plate offerings are down around $550 a Sunday (8.45 $175; 10.30 $375) compared to 2017 and down around $630 a Sunday compared to first 9 Sundays in 2017.
• REG is also down around $2,000 a month compared to 2017. February was the lowest REG month since 2007.
• On the positive side our wage expense is around $7k under budget to end of February 2018.
• Income was significantly below budget in 2017. This was due to School Hire payment ($10k) not received as project did not finish and because we only transferred $6k from the special purpose account ($26k was budgeted).
• Expenses were also significantly under budget. The major differences were Loan repayments ($10k under budget. Project not completed as expected) and Plant. (also $10k under Budget) Property maintenance budget not fully used due to building project.
Regular Electronic Giving (REG)
www.lll.org.au/REG
REG is a way for our members to regularly support the work of our church. Details of transactions are kept totally confidential. None of your personal details are given to the congregation or treasurer. The treasurer is only advised of the total amount credited to the account for the month. For those who are altering their giving through REG or wish to start giving via REG the appropriate forms are available from the information rack at the rear of the auditorium or via this link http://www.lll.org.au/giving_through_the_lll/regular_electronic_giving_reg use account number 52752S1, BSB 704942
Alternatively deposits can be made to the following bank account details
If transferring from an LLL account, use account number 52752S1, BSB 704942.
If transferring from another banking institution, use account number 100354939, BSB 704942
Parking lot safety – One Way traffic at all times
Remember traffic flow is one way entering from Montague Road and exiting through the rear gate at all times. Please do not ‘sneak out’ onto Montague Road after hours. As this is a shared area, speed is restricted to 10KPH. Some users are not doing the right thing and are leaving themselves open to prosecution.
Urgent Vacancies!
Vacancies are open to learn how to make the brewed coffee. Please mark your connect card or contact the church office to assist in this small but very important part of service. A team of volunteers will make a huge impact on our Sunday social activity after services.
Help Wanted
For the next few months, an elderly lady living at Gilles Plains would like transport to the 8:45am service and then home again. Ideally it would be good if we could have offers of help to do this on a roster system, unless there is an individual who wishes to volunteer weekly. Contact Lyn Hancock on 0403 375 474 or the church office for more information.
Notice Board
Nominations for LCA Standing Committees open
The LCA's Standing Committee on Nominations is inviting all eligible congregational members to consider serving on an LCA board, council, commission or committee in the next synodical term. Please refer to the LCA nominations web-site: www.lca.org.au/nominations for information and to access the nominations form. Please note: Nominations must be submitted to the LCA Standing Committee on Nominations by 15th May 2018.
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“For the Son of Man came
to seek and to save the lost.”
Luke 19:10
