What are your hopes and expectations for this Christmas-New Year season? Perhaps some rest, gourmet food, holidays, watching cricket, time at the beach, or catching up with family.
What are you expecting from God as your life unfolds in the years ahead?
If things don’t turn out the way you expect, how could that affect your relationship with God?
This week we look at how things worked out for John the Baptist. I wonder what his expectations were of Jesus. Did he expect the promised Messiah to evict the Romans from the land and establish perfect justice and peace throughout Israel? Did John expect to one day hang up his preaching boots and live in quite retirement until one night he would die in his sleep and join the children of Abraham in God’s glory?
While languishing in prison, John reaches out with a question to Jesus. This Sunday we’ll explore his question – along with Jesus’ answer.
If God does not satisfy all our expectations, will we get offended, turn our back on God and pout? Will we stop following Jesus, reject God as Father, and grieve the Holy Spirit?
Or will we rewind and remember Jesus: his suffering, death, resurrection and promises to bring his faithful ones into the place he is preparing for us in his Father’s house (John 14:1-6).
Come along and be part of God’s transformation of our Good Shepherd culture.
Pr Rolly Stahl
Bible Reading: Matthew 11:2-11
You might also check out: Isaiah 29:18, 32:1-4, 35:4-6, 42:5-7, 42:16, 61:1-3
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
This Sunday at the 10.30am service, Elliott James Scott Bruggemann, son of Matt and Andrea, will be welcomed into God’s family through Holy Baptism.
From the Library
A number of Christmas resources including books, DVD’s and CD’s are displayed on the spinner in the church library. They may be borrowed following the instructions near the computer in the library. Enjoy them!!
(Carol Gallasch - Librarian)
Request for Musicians by Family Hub
Message from Kathlene
We are in the final stages of planning/preparing for ‘our’ Christmas event on Saturday 14th December 12.00 – 2.00. Would there be anyone from the congregation who might be free to share background music for the event? In the past we have had Endeavour students – a couple on guitar and/or singing Christmas music.
Hopefully this might be a possibility? If you can assist please contact John Dolling 0409819864 / 83675296
Final Summary of Support for the Family Hub
Besides the very generous support through our monthly food donations and practical help with on site volunteering, the congregation provided cash to assist the Hub to support families in need.
The total of this support was the fantastic amount of $5980 made up of:
Women's Fellowship donation $500
Pat Varney card sales $567
Donations $510
Plant stall sales $914
BBQ $433
Karaoke Night $3056
Thank you for your ongoing support during 2019
Christmas Eve… Jesus’ Birth
A time to come together as family once again…
This year we need… you!
The ancient Jewish tradition was for families to gather together and retell the story of their escape from slavery.
This year we are encouraging families, young and old to come together for the 5pm Christmas Eve service and share in the story that changes our lives forever.
Be ready to retell the Christmas story in your own words.
Be ready to think about why you are here.
Be ready for dress ups.
Be ready to sing carols.
Big hint: You can check out some details in Luke 1 and 2
See you soon!
Grow Ministries Faith at Home
How about asking someone…
What is your favourite thing about Christmas?
Why is Advent important to Christians?
What is your favourite part of the Christmas story?
Check out the Growing Faith at Home resource provided.
Blessings, Georgie
Christmas ‘Gift of Life’ Cards
This Christmas Maranatha Health is sharing Gifts of Life with our Ugandan community. We invite you to donate and receive Christmas Gift Cards to share with friends and family - and give a Gift of Life that lasts long into the future.
Your gift of a tax deductible donation to Maranatha Health can provide life-saving medical care, increase community understanding to prevent ill-health, and help build a more accessible and just health care system that will bring lasting change to people’s lives.
To give a Gift of Life and order your cards, visit our website at www.maranathahealth.org/christmas. To see samples of our elegantly designed Gift Cards, see Julie Freund after church!
From the Office
Church Phone System
A new phone system has been installed and is now operating. Thank you to all who have been patient with the old system. Communication has been greatly enhanced and appreciated by staff for the ease of use.
Mission Vision Support
Donation amounts have been updated again so look for the graphs around the complex.
This month’s support will go towards Pastoral Care. Donations will assist in training for our care volunteers and ensuring legal requirements are followed. Look for the Mission Vision Support envelopes at the entry doors and consider how you can assist, or donations can be made to:
BSB: 704942
Account number: 100713424
Reference: Pastoral Care
Regular Electronic Giving (REG)
www.lll.org.au/REG
REG is a way for our members to regularly support the mission of our church. Details of transactions are kept totally confidential. For those who are altering their giving through REG or wish to start giving via REG the appropriate forms are available from this link http://www.lll.org.au/giving_through_the_lll/regular_electronic_giving_reg use BSB 704942 and Account number 100354939,
Alternatively deposits can be made to the following bank account details
BSB 704942. Account number 10354939
Christmas Whirlwind Competition
The competition is open again this year on Tuesday 24th December at 8.30am to find the best dust blowing machine on the block. The competition heats up this year to see if the electric machines can outdo the petrol ones and will greatly 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 your best blow vac machine 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 until the big GSPV machine was brought out of hiding.
Cobwebbing will also be completed so if you don’t have a competitive machine maybe you can compete for the longest broom handle.
A Parking Blessing for Christmas
Please note this year is going to be different to previous years as the school oval will not be available. Parking for members will be in the new Good Shepherd early learning centre car park (old Alliance church) and can be accessed via Hillary Cres without having to enter the church grounds. Please consider leaving the parks close to the entrance of the church as a blessing for our visitors. These arrangements will be in place for all Christmas services. Parking signs will be in place and your assistance in following directions of the car parking attendants is appreciated.
Office Closure over Christmas
The office will be closed for an extended period to allow staff to exhaust leave. Times will be.
24 December 2019 9.00am to 2.00pm OPEN
25 December 2019 to 7th January 2020 CLOSED
Every Monday in January 2020 CLOSED
Tuesday to Friday January 2020 OPEN 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 time.
Weekly News
The last weekly news for 2019 will be published on Friday 20 December and the first edition for 2020 will be published on 10 January.
Church Candles
We are seeking the services of a ‘chandler’ to service the candles in the church on a weekly basis. Time required for this is less than 30 minutes per week and can be done from home or at the church to keep the candles trimmed and burning bright. Training so a new skill can be attained will be free. (Chandler is a person who makes Candles or trims them.)
“I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.”
Isaiah 42:6-7
