Delivered Invitation

There is something incredibly endearing and nostalgic about receiving a letter, or an invitation, in the mail.  In our world of instant communication, snail mail has gone the way of the Dodo, and our mailboxes are frequently reserved only for advertisements, bills and reasons to vote for a politician.  More often than not, our expectation of anything important arriving is limited.  But at Christmas time, we look with great hope that news from afar (or even aclose) will turn up in our mailbox reminding us that someone is thinking about us and that we have not been forgotten or abandoned.

Is there any other better metaphor for the life of a Christian?

This week we look at the theme Delivered Invitation through the eyes of a young woman who was expectantly waiting for news from God.  Little did she know her expectation would resolve in her becoming an expectant mother.

In this invitation, we find that God arrives at the exact moment He intended.  Even after four hundred years of silence, of seemingly empty prayers, the Message/Invitation/Word takes on flesh and starts breathing.

The invitation of Gabriel to Mary is a reminder that God shows up when you least expect it and invites us to participate in His majestic and glorious plan through His son, Jesus Christ.  But it is still an invitation.  There is time for preparation and a time for a response, but truly, how can anyone really turn down an invitation from the King of Kings?

Join with me this week to experience the delivered invitation to all of us; to experience the joy of life in Jesus Christ and to live out that joy in sharing with others.

Pr Reid Matthias

Bible Reading:  Luke 1:26-38, Isaiah 11:1-5
Podcasts of weekly messages are available at www.paravista.org.au

Prayer Request
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.

Meet N Eat Christmas Dinner

105 guests all wanted to shake the jolly red man’s hand at the Meet N Greet Christmas dinner last Monday provided by volunteers at Good Shepherd.  This ministry has grown bonds of generosity and provided healing to many over the past year.  More than 2700 meals have been provided to the lonely and those looking for a community that accepts them as they are.  This is truly Jesus’ love at work.

Please prayerfully consider how you can help grow this ministry in 2019.

As Christmas draws near we invite you and those in your home to spend time together doing a different activity each day.

Maranatha Health

Maranatha Health believes that all people have the right to live healthy lives with access to excellent care when they need it.  We are an Australian and Ugandan not-for-profit organisation committed to healing the sick, empowering poor communities and making an impact that lasts long into the future.  This Christmas, on 16th December Maranatha Health are setting up a stall at GSPV.  We are giving you the opportunity to share 'Gifts of Life' this Christmas.  At the stall you can make a tax-deductible donation (via cash or credit card) to our life-changing work in Uganda and we will give you a Maranatha Health gift card to pass on to your friends and family.  We will also be selling delicious Christmas cupcakes for $2, and there will be someone available to chat with you about volunteering opportunities at MH.  Come and say hello!  If you would like to order your Christmas cards earlier to be sent out to you this week visit https://maranathahealth.org/give/christmas

From the Office

Christmas Whirlwind Competition
The competition is open again on Monday 24th December at 8.30am to find the best dust blowing machine on the block.  The competition will assist in giving the church grounds a bit of a dust off and the facility a bit of a spruce up.

For free entry, please bring along a petrol driven (or electric) blow vac that needs a dust out with safety equip and join the group to create an inviting appearance to our church facility for Christmas.  If you don’t have a blow vac and have the time, still come along as I have a few spare.  BEWARE last year an electric blower nearly took the prize.

Cobwebs will also need to be removed so if you don’t have a competitive machine maybe you can compete for the longest broom handle.

Office Closure Over Christmas
The office will be closed for an extended period to allow staff to exhaust leave.  Office hours will be:-
24 Dec 9.00am to 2.00pm OPEN
25 Dec to 7th January CLOSED
Every Monday in January CLOSED
Every Tuesday in January OPEN 9.00am to 3.00pm
Wednesday to Friday, 9th to 25th January OPEN 9.00am to 12.30pm
Wednesday 30th January OPEN normal hours 9.00am to 3.00pm

For urgent contact during this time please call 8263 5087 and leave a message.  Messages will be retrieved on working days over this period.

Notice Board

Peter Steicke’s new book ‘Favoured’ is now available in paperback on pre-order now.  Books are $20 each and will be available from this Sunday onward in between services and after the 10.30 service from Debbie Wesselingh.

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means “God with us”).”

Matthew 1:23