Jesus Proclaims His Purpose

What’s the best news you’ve ever received?  Why was it “good news”?  How did that “good news” affect you personally?

In our individualistic culture, we are bombarded with messages that “life is all about me”.  We like to think we are entitled to happiness, to pursue our own goals, and be masters of our own destiny. But how does that work out in reality? 

In the opening verses of Ephesians 2, Paul exposes our fallen human condition: dead in disobedience, obeying the devil, following our passions and desires, and subject to God’s anger.

While I had known Jesus most of my life, it was in my mid-twenties when I first realised my condition apart from Christ. That’s when the sweetness of the Gospel became the best news I ever heard. Jesus came for all messed up and broken people – even a wretch like me!

Right at the start of his ministry, Jesus publicly declares his purpose: to release people from their afflictions and all that holds them in bondage. God had been doing this since Adam and Eve rebelled and hid in a garden: God seeking out guilt ridden and messed up people, God responding to cries from his people in pain, God delivering his people from slavery in Egypt and captivity in Babylon.

The Good News of Jesus is that God is always looking at you with favour, wanting to release you from all that holds you captive, and bring you into newness of life.

The outworking of this is joining in God’s restoration plans.  It happens as we show his compassion to others.  It happens as we listen to people’s stories and help them. It happens as we share the stories of what Jesus has done - and is doing - in our lives. 

According to a new Faith and Belief in Australia report:
• Three in four Aussies say that they are turned off investigating religion when they hear celebrities or public figures talk about their Christian faith.
• Stories of miraculous healing are also significant turn offs.
• But sounding a note of hope, the greatest attraction to investigating spirituality and religion is seeing people live out a genuine faith.
                  https://www.eternitynews.com.au/australia/results-are-in-aussies-admire-people-who-live-out-a-genuine-faith/

The message of Jesus is Good News when it is lived out by his people! 

Pr Rolly Stahl

Bible Reading:  Luke 4:14-21 NLT 
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.

Ladies Fellowship Meeting
5th February 2019  A New Year’s welcome ladies.  We meet at 12 noon for lunch together. Don’t forget to bring your own lunch but committee will provide fruit platters.  At 1pm we will commence our meeting. Bible study lead by Pastor.

Good Shepherd Social Club
Our 2019 year commences on Thursday 31st January, 1.-3.30pm in the Church Hall.

We welcome anyone that would be interested in coming to a free one-off introduction on any Thursday afternoon.

Activities include meeting other members, playing different card games or carpet bowls and enjoying coffee and a chat.

If you wish to join after your free one off visit then the weekly fee is $3.00 per person.

Please contact Tom Curnow - President on 72254593 or 0400 258 410 or Mike Hancock -Vice President on 0403375474 for any enquiries.

FREE Toys and Resources
To start the year we have been doing a bit of a cleanout to make more space for ministries and resources.  At the back of the hall are some toys – including a play kitchen (in need of some TLC), small table & stools, water & sand tables – and resources which congregation members are welcome to take.  Toys will be there until after Sunday 3rd February, and then will be donated as appropriate.  Please take as you need.

From the Office

Notice Board

Lutheran Nurses Association of Australia
All healthcare workers, members and visitors are invited to attend our meeting at 7.30pm on Monday 4th February with speaker Peter Bowley from Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) at 137 Archer Street, North Adelaide, at LCA/SA District Office.  Entry through rear door, 2 hour CDP evidence provided.

“Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed;

    save me and I will be saved,

    for you are the one I praise.”

Jeremiah 17:14

A Wedding to Remember

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee.  Jesus’ mother was there and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.  When the wine was gone…

Gasp.

Jesus, his mother and the disciples are invited to a wedding to remember.  We’re not told whose wedding it is, whether the bride looked ravishing, whether the band was rocking or even where the happy couple was going on a honeymoon.  What we are told is that the father-of-the-bride is about to be humiliated because the wine has run out.

I suppose it sounds like a trivial thing in the twenty-first century, and in some ways we who attend multiple weddings per year almost hope that the wine runs out early so that we can go home, but for the ancient host who often would allow revellers to party for a week after the actual wedding, this was an embarrassment.

What to do…

Jesus is thrown headfirst into this situation by his mother: she knows his abilities; she knows his history and how he can change this tragedy into triumph.  But Jesus, as he takes control of the situation, allows us perspective to look at these events also in a very symbolic way.  As the first of his miracles, Jesus gives the wedding guests of two thousand years ago, and the readers of the 21st century, a new world of understanding.

Join with me in experiencing how Jesus transforms life.

Follow along as we read John 2:1-11 – a wedding to remember.

Pr Reid Matthias

Bible Reading:  John 2:1-11
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.

Good Shepherd Social Club
Our 2019 year commences on Thursday 31st January, 1.-3.30pm in the Church Hall.

We welcome anyone that would be interested in coming to a free one-off introduction on any Thursday afternoon.

Activities include meeting other members, playing different card games or carpet bowls and enjoying coffee and a chat.

If you wish to join after your free one off visit then the weekly fee is $3.00 per person.

Please contact Tom Curnow - President on 72254593 or 0400 258 410 or Mike Hancock -Vice President on 0403375474 for any enquiries.

From the Office

Change of Seating Arrangements
As a trial there has been a change to the seating arrangements in a section of the Worship Centre. The walkway behind the sound desk has been eliminated. The walkway is now along the wall behind the last row of seats. We are trialling this for a period of time. Any feedback would be appreciated.

Cafe Furniture Arrangements
We are experimenting with the arrangement of furniture in the cafe to discover the most productive use of the space for all users. If you move any furniture we request that after use you return it to its original place. If you have any comments re the setup or suggestions for additional items for this area or alternate ways of setting up the cafe or its use please contact John Dolling.

Notice Board

Lutheran Nurses Association of Australia
All healthcare workers, members and visitors are invited to attend our meeting at 7.30pm on Monday 4th February with speaker Peter Bowley from Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) at 137 Archer Street, North Adelaide, at LCA/SA District Office.  Entry through rear door, 2 hour CDP evidence provided.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

2 Corinthians 5:17

Announcing the King

Some announcements are private. Like when two people are dating, they may reach a point when they declare their love for one another. It’s a private matter. 

Further down the track they may exchange marriage vows. Their relationship is still personal; but the announcement that they are now husband and wife is declared publically. From that point on, the couple and their wider community is aware that the relationship is now different.

This Sunday, we see John the Baptist acting as herald of public truth, announcing to the people of Israel that their Messiah/King is coming – so they best get ready! 

John calls people to repentance and baptism – and to bear the fruit of repentance in their lives.  One’s relationship with God is to transform how we treat others in the public domain. 

When Jesus is baptised, God the Father makes a public announcement: "You are my Son, whom I love: with you I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:22 NIV)  Jesus is the Messiah/King who ushers in the kingdom of God and brings God’s restoration plans to completion. God wants every person on earth to be part of that.

The same Holy Spirit that fell on Jesus has anointed us in baptism, and continues to empower us as his witnesses. We are to announce and live out the difference Jesus makes in our everyday relationships.

One’s faith in Jesus as Saviour and Lord is indeed a personal matter. Yet Christian faith is not just a private opinion – like one’s preferred wine or favourite meal. The Good News of Jesus is objective truth based on historical events. It is not merely private truth, but objective public truth for ALL people. 

God’s desire is that none perish, but that all come to know Jesus, do life with God and his people, and inherit salvation. Good News indeed! 

Pr Rolly Stahl

Bible Reading:  Luke 3:2-18, 21-23a
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.

Good Shepherd Social Club
Our 2019 year commences on Thursday 31st January, 1.-3.30pm in the Church Hall.

We welcome anyone that would be interested in coming to a free one-off introduction on any Thursday afternoon.

Activities include meeting other members, playing different card games or carpet bowls and enjoying coffee and a chat.

If you wish to join after your free one off visit then the weekly fee is $3.00 per person.

Please contact Tom Curnow - President on 72254593 or 0400 258 410 or Mike Hancock -Vice President on 0403375474 for any enquiries.

From the Office

Summer Clean
A big thank you to the team of volunteers who attended on Wednesday 9th January to move chairs so the church carpets could be steam cleaned.  Approximately 1200 (600 X twice) chairs were moved and all the furniture in the auditorium/parenting room shifted so cleaning could be achieved.  A team spent the day with damp cloths dusting off each chair and anywhere dust had settled.  An enjoyable lunch for those who spent the day was supplied along with coffee whenever the energy levels were low. Personally, from the Admin Manager your efforts on the day will be enjoyed by all who call or visit our home in the Lords service.
Thank you. Stephen Zanker, Admin Manager

Catering for Big Week Out
Big Week Out (BWO) is an initiative of local churches aiming to empower young people to be transformed by Christ’s love, enabling them to grow as they share this love, and gospel boldly. BWO is run from 15th to 18 January, 2019. Throughout this week young people of Adelaide are called to utilise their strengths to help support members in the community by serving at events, including: helping out at schools, nursing homes, with backyard blitz’s, and emergency relief. This all happens through the service they provide.

BWO rely on donations to feed participants dinner, keeping registration costs low and emit any financial barriers for participants attending. As a volunteer run program we aim to ensure money is solely put towards facilitating the service events.

BWO are seeking assistance with evening meals on the 16th, 17th and 18th. Options for food preparation could be:

- pre prepare the meal (e.g pasta sauce) and freeze it and we will pick it up.
- bring the ingredients and the catering team at the base (Burnside Uniting Church) will help prepare it.
- provide the ingredients and we will pick them up and prepare them ourselves at the base.
- baked goods for morning or afternoon teas.

Please contact Elly Schoff on 043 435 9988 to confirm your assistance or feel free to check out the BWO website for further details: http://www.bigweekout.org.au/#bio

Notice Board

Lutheran Nurses Association of Australia
All healthcare workers, members and visitors are invited to attend our meeting at 7.30pm on Monday 4th February with speaker Peter Bowley from Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) at 137 Archer Street, North Adelaide, at LCA/SA District Office.  Entry through rear door, 2 hour CDP evidence provided.

“For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

John 6:40