When Jesus Returns

Many times Jesus declared he would return in glory as the end time Judge of all – even at his trial (Mt 26:64).  The New Testament writers allude to Jesus’ return about 300 times!  We keep anticipating this event in the Apostles’ Creed:
He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty.
From thence he will come to judge the living and the dead. 
How does this make you feel?  Is this something you are ready for?

A bunch of Jesus’ parables describe a separation that will occur when Jesus returns:
• Between the wheat and the weeds (Matt 13:24-30, 36-43)
• Between good fish and bad fish (Matt 13:47-50)
• Between the foolish and wise virgins (Matt 25:1-13)
• Between the faithful and unfaithful servants (Matt 25:14-30)
• Between the sheep and the goats (Matt 25:31-46)
It seems that Matthew's account of Jesus addresses Christians who have become complacent, self-centred, smug - in knowing the facts of Jesus… without following the teaching and example of Jesus in caring for others.

As we read in Isaiah, God’s calls his people to more than just outward shows of piety:
‘When you come to worship me, who asked you to parade through my courts with all your ceremony?  I hate your new moon celebrations and your annual festivals.  They are a burden to me.  I cannot stand them!  When you lift up your hands in prayer, I will not look.  Though you offer many prayers, I will not listen, for your hands are covered with the blood of innocent victims.  Wash yourselves and be clean!  Get your sins out of my sight.  Give up your evil ways.  Learn to do good.  Seek justice.  Help the oppressed.  Defend the cause of orphans.  Fight for the rights of widows.’ (Isaiah 1:12,14-17 NLT)

Jesus’ teaching and example prove he is indeed a friend to the marginalised – to the hurting, hassled, heartbroken and hopeless.  Regardless of our religious habits, if there is no compassion or kindness to the suffering, we have denied Jesus.

Faith proves genuine by how we treat others… especially the "little people”.  As James writes: ‘Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.’ (James 1:27NIV)

Faith active in love is the fruit God is looking for in us.  Come along this Sunday as we explore how Jesus continues his ministry of mercy, love and kindness through you and me.

Pr Rolly Stahl

Bible Reading: Matthew 25:31-46
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
Congregation members are invited to “Experience life in PNG” through the eyes and work of nursing sister Margaret Voigt, guest speaker Tuesday 6th August at 1pm.  Coffee and afternoon tea will be served.

Support for Family Hub
This Sunday July 28th at both services is the next food collection for the Family Hub.
Kathlene Wilson, Manager at the Family Hub, will be at both services to receive this month's donations and thank the congregation for our very generous support of the Hub.

To prevent accidents carrying donations up the steps, please use the hand rail or leave them on the steps and someone will transfer them onto the platform.
Toilet paper
Dish washing liquid
Noodles
Tins of vegetables
Milo – urgently needed for breakfast
Sliced cheese
Grated and block cheese for cooking
Creamed cheese
Plain Flour
SR flour
Sugar
Pancake mix

Karaoke Night to Support the Family Hub
Our major fundraising event for 2019 is a Karaoke Night on Saturday August 17th commencing at 7:30pm.  It will be a fun night of music, games, wine auction and fellowship.  BYO drinks and nibbles.

Early bird tickets for $10 are available till July 30th in the hall after services or from the church office.  Unfortunately there will no EFTPOS facilities available on the night so bring cash for games and wine auction.

If not attending on the 17th you can still support our fundraising effort by donating a bottle /s of wine for the auction.  These can be brought on Sunday and left at the sales desk in the hall, church office or given directly to Eric Hofmanis or Joan McCarthy.

Thanks for your support of the Family Hub

From the Office

Weed Spraying
Would you be available to spray the weeds that have been growing around the church grounds?  Please contact Stephen through the church office.

LLL Interest Rate Change
Our congregation has received an ‘LLL Interest Rate change’ notice advising that effective
1 July 2019, the interest rate on at-call Savings Accounts is 2.00%.  This notice has been placed on the church notice board for your information.

Noticeboard

Lutheran Nurses (LNAA)
All healthcare workers, members and visitors are invited to attend our meeting on Monday 29th July with Pastor Michael Prenzler presenting 'Adelaide Deaf Community Church', 7.30 pm at 137 Archer Street, North Adelaide, at LCA/SA District Office.  Entry through rear door with 2 hour CDP evidence provided.  Rose Howard, Secretary LNAA  Mobile 0410 463 649.

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

Matthew 7:21

The Incarnate Word

As far as introductions go, Jesus’ introduction in the book of John would be considered atypical.  John doesn’t introduce the Saviour of all humankind by name, but by confusing imagery.

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning… (John 1:1,2)

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.  We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only, who came from the Father full of grace and truth.

I read these words and nod my head sagely.  After two thousand years of Christian tradition, we blithely agree and move on to contemporary ‘issues’ of the church.  But in the beginning, this was THE issue.  How is it that God could become human?  What was John doing in his introduction naming Jesus as ‘The Word?’  What does this mean?

This week during our series on Jesus – Trinity, we’ll look at the word ‘incarnate’ – that the Word, the Creator’s voice in the beginning, took on flesh and made his home among us, not just above us or around us, but in the middle of us.

We’ll wrestle with these verses also: Colossians 1:15, John 8:58 and Philippians 2:6-8

Read through them ahead of time.  Prepare for God’s advent into your hearts again.  Here the message of the ‘God with flesh on’ that is a stumbling block to Jews and Gentiles alike.

Allow me to introduce you to Jesus.

Pr Reid Matthias

Bible Reading: I Timothy 3:14-16, John 1:1-5
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.

Praise Point
At the 10.30am service this Sunday we will be welcoming into God’s family through Holy Baptism Madison Anne Schiller, daughter of Chelsea and Matt and Gabrielle Yutong Miao, daughter of Michelle and Vitley.

Ladies Fellowship
Congregation members are invited to “Experience life in PNG” through the eyes and work of nursing sister Margaret Voigt, guest speaker Tuesday 6th August at 1pm.  Coffee and afternoon tea will be served.

Support for Family Hub
The next food collection for the Family Hub will be next Sunday July 29th at both services.  A list of food requirements will be included in next week's Weekly News and sent via email.  Thank you for your support during the year.

Karaoke Night to Support the Family Hub

• This will be held on Saturday August 17th at 7:30.  All proceeds will go to the Family Hub to support their work among the needy families in Ingle Farm.

• Early bird ticket price is $10 if purchased before July 31st.  Tickets are on sale in the hall after both services each Sunday.

• Part of the fun on the night will be a  fabulous wine auction.  Donations of wine for the auction will be greatly appreciated. These can be left in the church office or given to Eric Hofmanis or John Dolling.

From the Office

LLL Interest Rate Change
Our congregation has received an ‘LLL Interest Rate change’ notice advising that effective
1 July 2019, the interest rate on at-call Savings Accounts is 2.00%.  This notice has been placed on the church notice board for your information.

Noticeboard

Lutheran Nurses (LNAA)
All healthcare workers, members and visitors are invited to attend our meeting on Monday 29th July with Pastor Michael Prenzler presenting 'Adelaide Deaf Community Church', 7.30 pm at 137 Archer Street, North Adelaide, at LCA/SA District Office.  Entry through rear door with 2 hour CDP evidence provided.  Rose Howard, Secretary LNAA  Mobile 0410 463 649.

“The Son is the image of the invisible God

the firstborn over all creation.”

Colossians 1:15

Jesus is the Only Son who is the LORD

From ancient times till today, two questions have often been asked about Jesus:

1.  “How could the Creator God share our human life?”
Many religions and philosophies assert that the Creator God would not get tangled up in our human flesh.  In the first Century AD, some claimed that Jesus only seemed to have a body, and therefore did not experience hunger, thirst, or pain.  What do you think?

2.  “Is Jesus the Son of God really God?”
Many today assume that Jesus was a great teacher, a kind person, a great moral example – but still just a man.  In the early 300’s AD, a chap named Arius claimed that Jesus was the first being of God’s creation – and therefore lesser than God.  What do you think?

“What’s so special, unique or amazing about Jesus?”  How would you answer the question?

The accounts of Jesus in the New Testament make it clear that in the light of Jesus’ claims, teachings, miracles, death and resurrection, the Jewish disciples who witnessed these events confessed Jesus as the Son of God and LORD (Greek: kurios).

In our worship series on The Creed, this month we’re taking a closer look at Jesus the Son of God.  Last week Pr Reid asked the question: “Who do you say Jesus is?”

It is one of the most important questions of all!

Luther’s answer:
 “I believe that Jesus Christ is my Lord.
  He is truly God – he has always been the Son of the Father.
  He is also a real human being, the Virgin Mary’s son.”

I invite you to read and reflect on our readings for this Sunday, and join us as we celebrate the life and love of God that is ours forever in Jesus.

Pr Rolly Stahl

Bible Reading: John 1:14-18,  Matthew 22:41-46
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
Congregation members are invited to “Experience life in PNG” through the eyes and work of nursing sister Margaret Voigt, guest speaker Tuesday 6th August at 1pm.  Coffee and afternoon tea will be served.

Karaoke Night to Support the Family Hub

• This will be held on Saturday August 17th at 7:30.  All proceeds will go to the Family Hub to support their work among the needy families in Ingle Farm.

• Early bird ticket price is $10 if purchased before July 31st.  Tickets are on sale in the hall after both services each Sunday.

• Part of the fun on the night will be a  fabulous wine auction.  Donations of wine for the auction will be greatly appreciated. These can be left in the church office or given to Eric Hofmanis or John Dolling.

From the Office

Cafe Repairs
The replacement of the cafe floor has been completed and this area is now back in full operation.  Thank you for your patience and cooperation during the repairs.

A reminder if you shift furniture in the cafe area please return to its original position after use.

Redevelopment of Facilities
Except for a roof leak we are close to finally signing off on the redevelopment.  Hopefully this should occur in the next few weeks.

Noticeboard

Friends of Lutheran Archives
Dr Robert Heimann, a professional genealogist from Germany, presents the story of the persecuted French Reformed ‘Huguenots’ in exile, “Wandering between the Lines”.  Many found refuge in German lands, and some joined the German migrations to Australia – and even into the Lutheran Church.  Come along to the next Friends of Lutheran Archives (FoLA) meeting on Monday 15th July, 7.30 pm at Bethlehem House, Sudholz Place in the city.  Supper and gold coin donation.  All most welcome.

Lutheran Nurses (LNAA)
All healthcare workers, members and visitors are invited to attend our meeting on Monday 29th July with Pastor Michael Prenzler presenting 'Adelaide Deaf Community Church', 7.30 pm at 137 Archer Street, North Adelaide, at LCA/SA District Office.  Entry through rear door with 2 hour CDP evidence provided.  Rose Howard, Secretary LNAA  Mobile 0410 463 649.

“As soon as Jesus was baptized, … he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. … a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”

Matthew 3:16-17

Jesus the Christ

C. S. Lewis wrote in his book, Mere Christianity:

You can make your choice.  Either this man was, and is, the son of God: or else a madman or something worse.  You can shut Him up for a fool, you can spit at Him and kill him as a demon; or you can fall at His feet and call him Lord and God.  But let us not come with any patronising nonsense about His being a great human teacher.  He has not left that open to us.  He did not intend to.

Lewis has taken the question that Jesus asks, ‘Who do you say that I am?’ and adds quite a bit of pepper to it.

In our 21st century world (as well as Lewis’ 20th century one), Jesus’ question is almost always responded to with a ‘soft soap’ answer.  “He was a great moral teacher.  He was a great pacifist.  He was a social activist.”  But rarely, will you hear the words ‘Lord and Saviour, Son of God,’ in the broader world.

Some of this has to do about how we, as Christians, answer the question that Jesus asks.

This week, read chapters 6 and 7 of the book of John and dig a little deeper under your own skin, in your own soul.  Who do you say that Jesus is?

Pr Reid Matthias

Bible Reading: John 6: 60-69 John 7:37-44
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.

Support for Family Hub
Thank you for your continued fantastic support last week for the food and blanket collection for the Family Hub.  Kathleen was amazed at the generous support of the congregation.  With the advent of winter there are constant calls for extra food.

This was a real team effort.
• fantastic donations of food and blankets
• the transform group sorting the donations
• the transporting of goods to the Family Hub

The donations brought a smile to all at the Hub.

You could also support the Hub by having an enjoyable Karaoke Night at the church on Saturday August 17th.  All proceeds to support the work of the Hub.

From the Office

Replacement of Cafe Floor
The replacement of the cafe floor has commenced and should be finished by Friday next week. During this time this area cannot be accessed except for turning on and off the lights.  If workers are present check first before entering to access the lights.

Movement restrictions:
• Sunday there will no entry directly from the courtyard.  Entry will be via the door by the church office
• Entry to the hall will be through the door in the operable wall at the back of the church or via the Montague Road foyer.
• Morning tea will be served at the servery between the kitchen and hall.

Noticeboard

Friends of Lutheran Archives
Dr Robert Heimann, a professional genealogist from Germany, presents the story of the persecuted French Reformed ‘Huguenots’ in exile, “Wandering between the Lines”.  Many found refuge in German lands, and some joined the German migrations to Australia – and even into the Lutheran Church.  Come along to the next Friends of Lutheran Archives (FoLA) meeting on Monday 15th July, 7.30 pm at Bethlehem House, Sudholz Place in the city.  Supper and gold coin donation.  All most welcome.

“But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

John 30:31