Hunger and Thirst for Righteousness

Jesus says, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be satisfied."  The word 'fill' or 'satisfy' is the same one used after the feeding of the 5,000.  There, they all ate, they all were filled, and there were 12 baskets left over.

When Jesus gives, he does so abundantly, leaving you completely sated.  Not just a little bit of righteousness, or half an in-filling, or a snippet of acceptance.  Rather, a completely ridiculous, overwhelmingly abundant display of acceptance, deposit of righteousness, and endowment of favour.

Living in this gift that satisfies completely changes everything. We no longer work for favour, but live out of it.  We don’t strive for acceptance, but seek to know more deeply the heart of this gracious Father who accepts us.  We don’t discipline our way into righteousness.  Instead, receiving his righteousness, we now delight in the reality that we’re included, we’re welcomed, we’re accepted.  This delight has us seeking the appropriate discipline for each of us, one that fuels our hungering and thirsting to know him deeper, more intimately.

Then we become people who show the world our delight instead of our displeasure.  We show them acceptance instead of judgement.  We display our satisfaction in the Father’s heart toward us, instead of a striving for the love that we could never believe is really ours.

Remember, when you hunger and thirst for righteousness, you’re not champing at the bit after something that doesn’t exist or that you don’t yet have.  You’re already righteous in Jesus.

You’re hungering to see yourself as you truly already are.  You’re thirsting to drink deeply from the identity you’ve already been given.  Nothing satisfies like the security of knowing your identity as a daughter or a son; that you’re an insider and you belong; that he has placed you in Christ and that is where you’ll remain.

Pr Peter Steicke (who will be our guest preacher this Sunday.)

Bible Readings: Matthew 5:6, Psalm 63
(For background to the character skit, please read: 1 Samuel 24)
Podcasts of weekly messages are available at www.paravista.org.au

Prayer Requests
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.

Grow Ministries Faith at Home
Dear Church Family,
Our journey through Lent begins. A time for reflection. Please find the latest Growing Faith at Home resource attached to this email for you to try out with your family. If you would like to have a printed copy, please see me and it can be arranged! If you would like any more information about these resources, please see me.

Throughout Lent, we will be sharing some ‘Generations In Faith Together’ (GIFT) questions for you to try. These will be available on the tables in the café area and on a couple wall displays. I encourage you to be brave and ask someone. I wonder how they will respond! Here is one for you to consider…  ‘How have you seen or sensed God this week?’
God bless you all,
Georgie

From the Office

LCA eNews Ministry Support
Follow this link to view the latest http://lcaenews.online/200218

Facilities update
The Café dishwasher has been installed and commissioned for use.  Please read the instructions prior to use when using the machine. PLEASE do not use for Sunday service morning teas as a wash cycle takes over an hour. Continue to use the commercial dishwasher in the main kitchen.
If you find a discrepancy with the instructions please advise the Congregational Administrator on
churchenquiries@paravista.org.au

Electrical upgrades have been progressing during the weeks since the end of November 2019. The Library has been electrically completed and data cable has been installed to most points throughout the buildings along with lighting controllers.  Most of the work is hidden behind walls and ceilings but the upgrade will take us well into the 22nd century.  Thanks to Lindsay Freund and the boys from AVID for their professional work.  You will notice lighting changes throughout the ablution areas as sensors have been installed. If you do not understand the lighting controls or new points please kindly request one of the staff to show you or a member who may already be familiar with the system.  To assist with preserving electrical costs please only turn on lighting to the areas you are going to be using.  Once finished in an area turn lighting off.

Office Closed Wednesday 4th March
Please note the church office will be closed on Wednesday 4th March while staff attend a personal development day.

“This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ

to all who believe.”
Romans 3:22

Blessed are those who Mourn

In our 21st Century Western culture we like to think we are in control.  We enjoy our creature comforts.  We desire continued progress, advancement, success.  We want to maximise pleasure and minimise discomfort – including other people’s pain.  For some reason, we tend to think that other’s people’s pain might be contagious.  We’d much rather celebrate than commiserate.  Yes?

There’s a verse in Ecclesiastes that challenges this: It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart. (Ecclesiastes 7:2 NIV)

Going to a house of mourning reminds us that we are not “gods”, or masters of our own destiny.  Death reminds us that no matter how hard we try, we cannot conquer death… and we cannot establish heaven on earth.  In time, each of us will breathe our last breath… our heart will stop beating… and then what?

In a house of mourning we are confronted with our own inevitable death – and our impotence to change that fact!

I can remember the first time this fact hit me real BIG.  I was in my mid-20’s, doing vicarage at Mt Barker.  After attending three funerals of people I’d known, and reflecting on times shared with them, it suddenly dawned on me: “One day it will be my body in that box at the front – and then where will I be?  And how can I be sure?”

With this sudden awareness, I threw every objection I could muster at the resurrection of Jesus.  In the end, I was convinced by the cumulative evidence of the New Testament that Jesus is risen, and my hope in him well placed.

Jesus says: “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.” (Matthew 5:4 NIV)

Our Western culture keeps grief and loss at arm’s length.  Even among fellow Christians, we don’t talk about it all that much.

So when someone we know is mourning the loss of a loved one, many of us are not sure how to respond.  We might attend a funeral, drop off a meal, and send flowers or a card.  Feeling awkward in knowing what to say or how to help… we may keep our distance.

What can we do to comfort those who mourn?

As followers of Jesus, we do well to take a leaf out of Jesus’ book, responding to people in grief with compassion, empathy, and tenderness.  Come along this Sunday as we explore this some more.

And if you are currently in the shadowlands of grief, may you experience Jesus’ comfort and peace in these days!

Pr Rolly Stahl

Bible Readings: Matthew 5:4, Ruth 1:1-22
Podcasts of weekly messages are available at www.paravista.org.au 

Prayer Requests
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
The meeting for March will be held on Tuesday March 3rd at
1-00pm in the hall.  All ladies most welcome to attend.
Pastor Reid will be challenging us with his Bible study.
Entertainment: please bring along a souvenir from a holiday.  Hostesses for the day: Judy R & Lyn.
Trading Table: looking for 2 ladies to volunteer.

Grow Ministries Faith at Home
Are you a good listener? What is involved in listening carefully to
others?
Check out this week’s Growing Faith at Home resource for some ideas to try out with your family.
God bless your week!  Georgie

Little Lambs Playgroup Resources Needed
Little Lambs Playgroup are looking for cardboard rolls for an upcoming activity. Think cling wrap, alfoil or paper towel rolls etc. No toilet rolls please.
Please see Emma or Georgie or leave at the Church Office.
Thank you!

Noticeboard

Lutherans@Uni Welcome Event- Come along and meet other young Lutherans at Uni this O'Week on Tuesday Feb 25, 3:00pm. We'll meet in the 'Hub' at Adelaide Uni, and then head to the room where our weekly Bible studies will be held for a chat, some snacks and a short study. All welcome! Look up Lutherans@Uni on Facebook to stay in touch, or contact our chaplain Pastor Joshua Pfeiffer on 0431 398 713. Look forward to seeing you there!

LCA eNews Ministry Support

Follow this link to view the latest http://lcaenews.online/200218

“For the Lamb at the centre of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”

Revelation 7:17

Blessed are the Poor in Spirit

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven is theirs…

Who does Jesus think he is?  To make a statement like this - that somehow those who are dispirited will ‘own’ the kingdom – this makes privileged people uncomfortable.

In giving the sermon on top of a mountain, surrounded by hordes of people who were waiting with bated breath to hear how good they were, how well they were liked, how blessed they were to because they were too rich, healthy, prosperous and comfortable, Jesus turned everything upside down.  The culture of egocentrism and greed - of seeking after what ‘God can do for me’ - needed to be destroyed.

In order to actually see, experience, and even inherit the kingdom of heaven, the temple-of-self had to be deconstructed so the temple of God in human hearts could be rebuilt.

This was only done in Jesus and through Jesus.

The people who followed Jesus caught a first-hand glimpse of this many times, but a great example of Jesus blessing the ‘poor in spirit’ was his encounter with a woman who had a bleeding disorder for twelve years.

This week, as we continue the series of radical, cultural transformation using the Beatitudes (blessings) as a template, we encounter a shift in thinking.  From one who was considered unclean and shunned, to one who was blessed with saving faith, peace, healing and an inheritance.

We will see a recollection of the story, retold in dramatic form, and then take into our own hearts the struggles of communities and cultures as focus shifts from self to others.

Please read Mark 5:25-34 to be prepared for the discussion.

God’s peace as you wrestle with the upside down kingdom!

Pr Reid Matthias

Bible Readings: Matthew 5:1-3, Mark 5:24b-34
Podcasts of weekly messages are available at www.paravista.org.au

Prayer Requests
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
The meeting for March will be held on Tuesday March 3rd at
1-00 pm in the hall.  All ladies most welcome to attend.
Pastor Reid will be challenging us with his Bible study.
Entertainment: please bring along a souvenir from a holiday.  Hostesses for the day: Judy R & Lyn.
Trading Table: looking for 2 ladies to volunteer.

Grow Ministries Faith at Home
Interested in more information about Growing Faith at Home?  This Sunday Christine Matthias, from Grow Ministries… oh yes, and also the wife of our esteemed Pastor Reid… is going to be talking about this valuable resource for families as a Spotlight after both services.
If you can’t wait until then, check out this week’s Growing Faith at Home for some ideas to try out with your family.
God bless your week!  Georgie



Having Your Child Baptised
is a short course to help parents and families prepare for their first baptism at Good Shepherd.

Our next course commences Tuesday February 18th at 7:30pm at Good Shepherd, continuing for the next two Tuesday evenings (Feb 25, Mar 3).

For more info and how to register:
https://paravista.org.au/contact-us/baptism/

Noticeboard

ALC 2020 Commencement Events
ALC invites you to attend 2020 academic year commencement events:
• Opening Service—Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Flinders St Adelaide, Sunday 23 February (in conjunction with the regular 11.00 am service).  ALC Principal, Pastor James Winderlich will preach at this service.
• Opening Conversation—on campus in Hamann Hall, Monday 24 February at 2.00 pm. Topic: ALC exists in partnership to serve.  Format: a Q&A session with a panel of leaders from various parts of the LCA contributing to the discussion. The conversation will be facilitated, live streamed and will include a Twitter feed. For more information visit: alc.edu.au.

“Blessed are you who are poor for yours is the Kingdom of God.”

Luke 6:20

Transformed Culture and Matthew's Account of Jesus

Culture is to us what the ocean is to a fish.  We live in it – often unaware of its effects.  The country we live in, the people we do life with, our education, and the local community we’re part of – these keep shaping us as people.  Our identity, sense of belonging, beliefs and values, hopes and dreams – these are influenced by the culture we live in.

21st Century Western culture keeps telling us that the most important person in the world is self.  And that the purpose of life is to pursue one’s own happiness, strive for success, become financially secure, and cram as much pleasure into life as possible.  As we hear in the lyric from an Aussie band: “Do what you wanna do, be what you wanna be, yeh!” (The Master’s Apprentices, 1988)

With individualism, each person ends up writing one’s own story.  Frankly, many find it empty and unsatisfying: “There must be something or someone greater to live for than self!”

Those who seek to live in a larger story may seek community in a common interest or passion. It may centre in sport, hobby, or a creative pursuit.  It may focus on a project, or service agency, or even connection with a local church.

A shared interest and goal is better than doing life alone.  Yet our souls still sense that we have been created for much more.  We still hunger and thirst for a deeper sense of meaning, purpose and destiny of God’s making – to be part of HIS story.

God created humans in his image so we could do life together with him - and participate in HIS story for HIS world.  God has always given humans freedom to reject him – to do life in whatever way we choose.  Yet it grieves the Father’s heart when we miss out on the better things he has in store for his children.  God will indeed bring his restoration plans for his world to completion – and he wants ALL people to join him in this.

We find proof of God’s passion and plans for us in his Son, Jesus.  In Jesus, we see what it looks like when God is King here on earth, and what it means to live as children of God’s kingdom.

Jesus was born and raised in a Jewish culture.  His stories and teaching connected with the people of his culture.  Jesus made it clear that he had come to fulfil God’s ancient promises, and to usher in a kingdom where former cultural values would be challenged and transformed.

In Jesus’ first sermon - The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) - he starts with a series of one-liners that tip the world’s values upside down – and reveal the things that matter to God and his kingdom.

In the weeks ahead at Good Shepherd, we’ll be looking closely into Matthew’s account of Jesus – and what it means to do life together with Jesus in such a way that it permeates everything we do… until it’s part of our culture.

This Sunday we will be laying the foundation by looking at some of the cultural background and main themes of Matthew’s account of Jesus.  Please come along…  I’d love for you to be part of this adventure.

Pr Rolly Stahl

Bible Readings: Matthew 9:9-13  (See also Matthew 8:5-13, 15:21-28)
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.

When: - 11th February
Where: - 6 Von Braun Crescent, Modbury North
Time: - 6.30 to 9.00 pm
Cost: - $10 donation is appreciated to offset costs (under 16 $5)
Contact: - Jim 0438 899 629

Transform 2020
The Team are excited to welcome you to Transform for 2020!

This Sunday (Feb 9th) we would love to invite families with youth (age 10 to 13) who are interested in joining/continuing their Transform journey this year.  Families are invited to bring a plate to share (drinks provided) and hear this year’s plan for faith in action.  We will be meeting in the Ark over at the school.  Please follow the signs, or there will be people around to show you the way.  Time 12:30pm to 2pm.  See you there!
Blessings,
Mardi and Georgie

Grow Ministries Faith at Home
Dear Church Family,
This week, the resource explores ‘Jesus calls us to live as salt and as light for him.’
What is your favourite salty food? I still enjoy salt and vinegar chips myself!
Check out some conversation starters and other ideas with your family!
Bless you!, Georgie

Having Your Child Baptised
is a short course to help parents and families prepare for their first baptism at Good Shepherd.

Our next course commences Tuesday February 18th at 7:30pm at Good Shepherd, continuing the next two Tuesday evenings (Feb 25, Mar 3). 

For more info and how to register:
https://paravista.org.au/contact-us/baptism/




Noticeboard

ALC 2020 Commencement Events
ALC invites you to attend 2020 academic year commencement events:
• Opening Service—Bethlehem Lutheran Church, Flinders St Adelaide, Sunday 23 February (in conjunction with the regular 11.00 am service).  ALC Principal, Pastor James Winderlich will preach at this service.
• Opening Conversation—on campus in Hamann Hall, Monday 24 February at 2.00 pm. Topic: ALC exists in partnership to serve.  Format: a Q&A session with a panel of leaders from various parts of the LCA contributing to the discussion. The conversation will be facilitated, live streamed and will include a Twitter feed. For more information visit: alc.edu.au.

“For those who are led by the Spirit of God

are the children of God”

Romans 8:14