We are getting our homes ready for Christmas. What about preparing our hearts for Jesus? This Sunday, we’re looking at John the Baptist. His mission: to prepare the way for the Lord.
His birth was announced by the angel Gabriel to an old priest, Zechariah, while carrying out his duties at the temple:
“Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John. He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born. He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Luke 1:13-17 NIV)
Around 30 years later, John is God’s herald in the wilderness: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near!” Many went out to the Jordan to watch and listen. Some dismissed him as a crazy guy and went back to the way things had always been. Yet others were dramatically impacted by John’s message and responded. They confessed their sins and looked forward to meeting their promised Messiah.
When God’s chosen King comes on the scene, will he find us so occupied with our own plans that we have little or no interest in him? Advent is a time to pause, reflect, and prepare our hearts for Jesus. Repentance is about getting rid of the junk in our hearts, and receiving the gifts of Jesus’ forgiveness and leadership over our lives.
As Luther puts it his Christmas carol:
Ah dearest Jesus, holy child,
Make Thee a bed, soft, undefiled,
Within my heart, that it may be
A quiet chamber kept for Thee.
(From Heaven Above to Earth I Come, LH 23, v11.)
How are you and I preparing room in our hearts for King Jesus in the days ahead?
Pr Rolly Stahl
Bible Readings: Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11. Matthew 3:1-6
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.
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
Experience Christmas
Thank you to every-one who contributed to Experience Christmas 2019 in any way!
Thank you to everyone who came along and engaged in the experience.
Thank you for the conversations, the connections, the carols!
Thank you God for your gift of Jesus!
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!
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)
Grow Ministries Faith at Home
Advent is a season for preparing…. What are you and your family preparing for? More ideas for you to try with your family as we step closer to Christmas.
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!
SPIN Camp
Will your children be looking for something to do in the Summer holidays? Here is an opportunity for you!
SPIN is a summer kids’ camp for young people in Years 4–6 from across South Australia, which ‘turns church upside down’ by showing how the church is relevant and important for the kids of today.
To register go to: www.blueprintministries.org.au
There is a $50 discount code available for campers from Good Shepherd Lutheran Church. See Church Office or Georgie for details!
From the Office
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.
Car parking attendants are required to assist with traffic and parking on Christmas Eve from:
• 4.30pm till 6.45pm
• 8.30pm till 9.15pm
Please, contact Stephen on 0403 180 814 or email churchenquires@paravista.org.au to assist.
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.
Noticeboard
Hossein has asked for prayer into the brutal totalitarian regime in Iran, where protesters have been killed, Christians in jail are tortured, civil rights abuses are common, and the internet has been shut down.
You can find more details via internet searches:
https://www.amnesty.org/en/countries/middle-east-and-north-africa/iran/
https://edition.cnn.com/2019/11/20/middleeast/iran-fuel-protests-intl/index.html
“Teach me to do your will, for you are my God;
may your good Spirit lead me on level ground.”
Psalm 143:10
