Welcome Rest!

“I want you to enjoy me more than just doing stuff for me!” These are the words I once heard from the Lord.  It wasn’t audible, but rather his Spirit communicating with my spirit.  As one who likes doing stuff, I am still working this out in my life – not because I’m under a burden of fear or condemnation, but because my Father in heaven wants something better for me than busy! 

Busy robs me of peace because I start forgetting that God is in control.
Busy robs me of joy because I stop receiving life as a gift from God.
Busy robs me of love because I do not stop long enough to soak in God’s love. 

The LORD invites us to rest in him: Be still and know I am God (Ps 46:10). 

Solitude, stillness and silence are ancient spiritual disciplines which help us slow down long enough to enjoy God - rather than just doing stuff for Him.  I need to foster these for the health of my soul.  How is it with you?

Perfect rest is not about having a long holiday from work. 
Perfect rest is a result of trusting our Father to take care of us! 
Perfect rest is when our souls rest in the truth and grace of God above all else. 
Perfect rest is being secure in Jesus. 
Perfect rest is living as precious and loved children of the King. 

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
    my hope comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation;
    he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honour depend on God;
    he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in him at all times, O people;
    pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.   Psalm 62:5-8 NIV
May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD,
   even as we put our hope in you.                                   Psalm 33:22 NIV 

Shalom! 
Pr. Rolly Stahl

Bible Reading: Matthew 11:25-30 – try reading this from several translations.

Please check the website www.paravista.org.au for podcasts and video archives of weekly messages or head to our Facebook page www.facebook.com/goodshepherdparavista for regular updates and encouragement from our pastors.

COVID-19 News and Weekly Messages

During this period of COVID-19 restrictions, our Sunday worship has moved online, starting at 10:30 am.  If you would like to participate please contact the church office for information about how to access this. 

From the Office

Offerings 2019
	February		March		April		Year to Date Variance
	Actual	Budget	Actual	Budget	Actual	Budget
Sunday Offerings	13532	18300	16690	18300	15386	18300	-9292
REG Offerings	20767	23333	20767	23333	22470	23333	-5995
Offerings 2020
	February		March		April
	Actual	Budget	Actual	Budget	Actual	Budget
Sunday Offerings	14669	18300	10016	18300	0	18300	-30215
REG Offerings	25805	23333	23756	23333	34855	23333	14417

     
Notes:
Offerings are still down on budgeted amount for the year. 
All ministry areas are resourcing only what is necessary.

Mission Support
Please continue supporting our congregation's mission and ministry through regular offerings as our facility and staff continues to operate in a different way.
Electronic deposits can be made to the following bank account details:

BSB 704942
Account number 100354939
Account Name GSPV REG 

LLL REG: Download the form here, use the same bank details as above in the account to be credited and email back to address shown on the form. Alternatively contact the LLL on 83607200 or 1800 556457.

Offering Envelopes can still be dropped in at the church office during office hours.

Facilities Maintenance
Thank you, thank you to all who have contributed to the maintenance of the facility.  There are a few outstanding tasks that some groups are working on.  If you do have the urge to get out and get active by contributing to the remaining items please contact Stephen stephen.zanker@paravista.org.au or leave a message with the front office.

Update from the Family Hub
THANK YOU for your generous donations to the Family Zone (the Hub) last week.
Great news from Kathlene: the Drakes’ keyring money has just come through: $349! (Sales from December to May.) Sincere thanks to all the lovely shoppers for your support.
If you don’t have, but would like to use a keyring to support the Family Hub, please call into the church office to collect one. As part of the Drakes’ Community Dollars scheme, scan your keyring BEFORE you pay for your goods.  A small percentage of what you spend is donated to the Family Hub. Every 6 months Drakes will send the accumulated amount to the Family Zone.
Thanks again from the Family Hub.

Prayer Requests
As we adapt to our new way of living please forward all prayer requests to the church office via churchenquiries@paravista.org.au or phone 08 8263 5087. If you know or have spoken to anyone who does not have access to a computer, please assist them to submit their request and offer to pray with them. Prayer requests are not included in the weekly news. If you would like to view the current requests please refer to the email that alerted you to this weekly news.

Grow Ministries Faith at Home

Dear Church Family,

Carrying things around can become exhausting! The longer you do it, the heavier it feels. So, what are you carrying? Worry that no one else understands? Memories of past hurts? Jesus invites us to bring our worries to him. Check out the emailed resource from Grow Ministries for things to talk about (don’t forget to listen!) and do as a family in this area. 

I shared a child friendly link a few weeks ago of Andrew McDonough sharing his story of ‘Bob the Bird’, followed by a drawing lesson. Bob observes a range of people who hold onto their worries before he comes across Jesus… Check out what happens next! Here is the link again: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSPJmtgbpUo

God’s Peace and blessings,

Georgie

Little Lambs Opportunity!

With Covid-19 restrictions easing in South Australia, we are keen to reconnect face to face. Little Lambs Playgroup has been on hold through this time and we are looking forward getting back together.

Over time we have been blessed to have amazing servant hearts in our community. We thank and bless Amy and Rochelle who ran things last year and Emma who took over the reins this year before she had to go home to America. So we are looking for people who are interested in serving. We aren’t starting from scratch. We have some great ideas and a couple of helpers already. If you have some time on Friday mornings and would like to be part of this valuable time of connection and community, please let me know! Wonderful seed is being sown!

Please contact me on 08 8264 7966 or via the church office. Otherwise send me an email: georgie.schuster@paravista.org.au

I am happy to give you more details.
Many thanks,

Georgie

Maranatha Health News
The new Maranatha Health Newsletter is out, and can be viewed here:
https://mailchi.mp/f69858b04c39/celebrating-5-years-of-impact

New CARE Link up and Running

On the opening page of our GSPV website, https://paravista.org.au/ we now have a button that people can click onto for care and assistance.  

This page has 4 blue circles with white icons.  The one on the right has a cube in the middle, with the word Care underneath it.  Under that is a tag:  Need assistance? You’ll find it here.

Clicking this icon opens a Care & Assistance page where people can leave contact details and a brief description of their need. 

The Triage Officer will make initial contact to discover more about the person’s situation, work out an appropriate response, and refer the need for follow up to an appropriate person or team leader, e.g.

• Phone call or visit from one of the Pastoral Care Team

• Counselling referral

• Food/groceries/vouchers/household items

• Handyman help

• Backyard clean up team

• Prayer Ministry Team

• Pastors – spiritual/theological issues; pastoral acts

The vision is that more people from GSPV will be able to use their gifts to share the love of Jesus in the lives of others. It’s joining in his mission.

Please make use of this link and point it out to others.

Pr. Rolly Stahl

Bread Collectors Needed

The Food Centre is in great need of help and support from new volunteers willing to be placed on a rota to collect bread from the local bakery at Tea Tree Plaza one Sunday evening per month. This task will require about one hour a month from you and will make a big difference in families in need - from small things big things grow. If you would like to know more about how you can make a difference, please contact Maurice Clark on 8269 3396 or just call into The Food Centre and ask for James or Tracy to show you around and familiarise yourself with all of the "wrap around" services provided there. 

Further information can be found on our website at www.thefoodcentre.com.au and/or have a look at our community video using the following youtube link: https://youtu.be/RKZno5n9tMk

Best regards,

James Chapman

The Food Centre

“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.”
Psalm 4:8 (NIV)