I think the main reason is fear: Fear of leaving our comfort zones. Fear of the unknown. Fear of getting involved. Fear of saying the wrong thing. Fear of not knowing what to say. Fear that the other may expect more from me than I am prepared to give. Fear of being exposed as shallow. Fear of not being in control. Fear of …
So we focus our time and attention on persons familiar, and wonder why our capacity to love shrivels up over time.
What if Jesus comes to us in the form of a stranger (Matthew 25:34-40)?
What if the other person could potentially enrich, bless or stretch us?
In Christian tradition, the ancient practice of hospitality always includes welcoming the stranger. How do other people experience this through you and me – in all the places we live, work, and play?
Christine Pohl writes: “In hospitality, the stranger is welcomed into a safe, personal, and comfortable place, a place of respect and acceptance and friendship… Such a welcome involves attentive listening and a mutual sharing of lives and life stories. It requires an openness of heart, a willingness to make one’s life visible to others, and a generosity of time and resources.”1
People gravitate towards places where they are accepted. An accepting community will attract people to it like bees around nectar. Without acceptance a Christian community will struggle to thrive, grow, or reach out into its community.
What does it mean to accept others – as Christ accepted us? It is just saying, “Hello” and being “nice” - or does it go further and deeper? Come along this Sunday as we consider how our Good Shepherd family and small groups might reflect the love of Jesus by being an Accepting Community.
Pr Rolly Stahl
Bible Reading: Luke 18:35 - 19:10 (cf Romans 15:1-2, 5-7)
Podcasts of weekly messages are available at www.paravista.org.au
1 Christine D. Pohl, Making Room Recovering Hospitality as a Christian Tradition (Eerdmans, 1999), 13.
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.
YOU’RE INVITED – GSPV Welcome Party
Food, fun & fellowship on the school oval
BYO picnic, and pre-order food to supplement the evening
RSVPs required no later than Friday 15 February forms available on the pinup board in the Church or from the School Office. Payment accepted via CASH or EFTPOS at the SCHOOL OFFICE.
From the Office
From Administration
Please note that the GSLC Staff have a staff meeting every Thursday morning.
Please accept our apology if we do not answer the phone, or the office appears empty.
Feel free to leave a message on the answering machine, or come to café area where the staff meet.
AED Device
A Defibrillator (AED) has been installed in the rear school alcove next to the Café playground. A key can be located on the café entrance door next to the keypad. All members holding keys to the complex are to add to their security procedure the visibility of this key and if it is not hanging on the hook to advise either the church or school office as soon as possible of its absence. First Aiders Please note where the unit is located in case of emergency.
Invitation from Australian Lutheran College (ALC)
ALC invites you to attend events marking the beginning of the new academic year.
• Monday 25 February 2019
• 9.00am: Worship
• 9.30am: Opening Lecture, presented by the ALC Dean, Rev Dr Stephen Haar, entitled, ‘Learning, Formation, and Community: Challenges facing a distributed model of theological education.’
Please park off campus and enter via the entrance at 200 Ward Street, North Adelaide. All enquiries / RSVP to: Alice on (08) 7120 8212 or alc@alc.edu.au. The lecture will be recorded and made available via the ALC website: alc.edu.au.
Notice Board
“Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.”
Romans 15:7
