I should say there is a healthy kind of fear, the one that tells us not to touch a poisonous snake or walk out in front of a truck. On the other hand, there is the kind of fear that stops us having faith and trusting that God will step in and provide.
Fear is a natural initial response, but as Christians we have something more to anchor ourselves to than just our own ability to control or alter situations. Faith means we believe in a God who is all-powerful and in control even when the situation or circumstances seem out of control. Perhaps this truth doesn’t stop fear, but rather overcomes and overpowers it. Our faith and trust in God need to be greater than our fear.
One day Jesus and his disciples were sailing across a lake. While they were travelling a storm hit. Jesus had fallen asleep during the trip and remained asleep even after the storm began. The disciples, fearful, woke Jesus up and reprimanded him saying: “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” In response to this Jesus got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” Mark 4:35-41
Now it may seem that the disciples fear in this situation fits into the healthy fear category but let’s think about the story a little more deeply. The disciples were in a boat with Jesus, the Son of God. If the disciples had faith they would have trusted that Jesus had the power to deliver them out of the situation. In this case their fear showed a lack of faith.
Pastor Holly Wagner put it like this, “the man who penned the lyrics to the hymn ‘It Is Well With My Soul’ had just lost his business and all four of his daughters and was able to declare ‘whatever my lot, you have taught me to say it is well with my soul’. No matter what you are facing I would suggest that you to have the authority to say ‘it is well with my soul’ because the wind and the waves still know Jesus name and have to submit to His authority.”
When we are overcome by fear there are some things we can do to increase our faith:
- Look back and see where God has provided in the past;
- Speak over yourself the message “it is well with me” because of who Jesus is and what He has done;
- Pray in the waiting and in the trials that God will increase your faith.
Sophie
This week’s message is “Freedom from religious performance” as we start a new series “Set Free to Live Free (Galatians)”
Podcasts of weekly messages are available at www.paravista.org.au
Bible Readings: Galatians 1:1-9; Galatians 2:11-21
26th Oct – Sun 16th Nov – Workshop sessions
23rd Nov – Full dress rehearsal in the gym – parents pick up at 12noon from the gym
30th Nov – Kingdom Kids Celebration Service at 10:30am
7th Dec – Family Advent Movie Night at the church – more details to come
Baby Zone and Kindy Zone will run as normal during the term and be learning a song with actions each week to lead worship during the Celebration Service. Baby Zone will run as normal in the Baby Zone room during the term.
Beth Einthal - Children and Family Team Leader
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 churchequiries@paravista.org.au with your request.
PVLW Fellowship
On 28th October, Tuesday at 1pm, in the Good Shepherd Hall, our AGM will be held followed by the President's report. Please also note the following date, October 30th, at 10 am if you are attending the Music, Dance and Lunch event at Albert Park for $10 pp. The address is Lutheran Hall, 59 Botting Street, Albert Park. You are assured of a wonderful day.
Christmas Luncheon
Hosted by PVLWF members for our Good Shepherd Community, is to be held on Tuesday, 2nd December at 12noon in the Church Hall. We invite you to book by Sunday, 23rd November with Ruth Oster on 8265 0221 or kroster@senet.com.au. We have a maximum number of approx 80 for whom we will be catering. We have engaged THE BORDERERS as our guests artists’ .They will entertain us with brackets of songs and lead our carol singing after lunch. The Borderers are well known to our community and we look forward to their musicianship on this day. The cost of the luncheon is $12 pp, payable on the day at the entrance door. (Booking is necessary for our catering.)
A prayer support team for Maranatha Health
Maranatha Health is seeking to establish a prayer team to offer prayer support and protection to Michael and Kim and their family and the work of Maranatha Health. It is envisaged the team would meet monthly. If you would like to be a part of this important work please contact Catherine Carr – clcarr@internode.on.net
Cebu Mission Fundraising Team
Our Plant Stalls are becoming very popular, with a few more people wanting to pot up and donate plants. Some have asked if I have a supply of pots for doing this. My supply is from YOU, from people who have donated them to me. I am getting down on my supply, so to help others out also, I would like to request more pots please, especially if you are just throwing yours in the bin.
I need a few pots no larger than 25cm, and more of the 10 to 15cm size pots please. Just make sure they are not brittle thankyou. If you have pots, please bring them to church on Sundays, or call me on 8262 7429 to make arrangements to collect. Thankyou in anticipation.
Joan McCarthy
Christmas card Stall
Cebu Mission Fundraising Team will be holding our usual Christmas Card Stall on Sundays 9th and 23rd November and the final one on Sunday 7th December. Good quality cards to give to your family and friends, at a very cheap price. Thank you for supporting Cebu Mission.
From the Office
Budget 2014
September 2014
Total Offering - Budget $43,750 Actual $39,010. DEFICIT $4,740
January thru September 2014
Total Offering - Budget $399,100 Actual $380,047. DEFICIT $19,053
January thru August 2014 – Total Income & Expenses
Total Income - Budget $375,014 Actual $360,741. SHORTFALL $14,273
Total Expenses - Budget $380,726 Actual $363,001. SHORTFALL $17,725
Projected deficit $3,768 against a budgeted deficit of $2,480
- REG in August was the highest for the year, however in September REG was the lowest.
- In August Income was $4,000 below budget, with expenses being $3,000 below budget.
- All expenditure items were in line with budget except staff expenses which was $3,000 below budget.
Regular Electronic Giving (REG)
Information on updating your REG? Over half our weekly offerings are made through REG. For those who are altering their giving through REG or wish to start giving via REG the appropriate forms are available from the information rack at the rear of the auditorium or via this link http://www.lll.org.au/giving_through_the_lll/regular_electronic_giving_reg
Alternatively deposits can be made to the following bank account details
If transferring from an LLL account, use account number 52752S1, BSB 704942.
If transferring from another banking institution, use account number 100354939, BSB 704942
Thank you for using this facility as an efficient use of recources.
Good Shepherd Village Board
There will be 3 vacancies on the Good Shepherd Village Board for 2015 - Minute secretary, financial officer and an extra member. The board meets quarterly.
Minute secretary role is to take the minutes of the Board meetings and distribute them to the board. Other secretarial duties of the Board are fulfilled by other Board members. The financial role is to check the reports submitted by the accountant and to make recommendations to the board. Each member of the Board contributes to the governance of the village. This does not mean that they actually do the work. They keep in touch with the persons responsible for each area and report to the Board at the meetings.
If you interested or want additional information contact Board Chair Faye Godfrey – 8264 7415.
Spam Email
Not getting your rosters or church emails. Have you checked your spam or junk folder? If you note that church email is being received in this way please mark it as not junk so your computer will place mail into your inbox next time.
Professional Standards Training
The Lutheran Church promotes Safe Place and Child Safe as part of creating a safe and caring environment for all. Training is available for all members to cover a broad range of behavioural issues over three modules:
- Appropriate Behaviour
- Inappropriate Behaviour
- The Child Safe System
Gifts of Grace 2014
Gifts of Grace is a fun, meaningful and exciting way for you to bless those close to you as you bless those far away. Whether you give Vegetable Seeds or a Long Drop Loo, Mosquito Net or Pre-school toys, you can be certain your gift is changing lives!
Pick up your Gifts of Grace Catalogue from the information rack or under the pigeon holes.
Christmas Trees from Holy Cross, Birdwood
High quality trees at $35 each available for purchase again this year.
Trees will be delivered to a nominated location on the morning of Saturday 13th December 2014. Please place your order, including preferred height of tree, by contacting the church office churchenquiries@paravista.org.au or phone 8263 5087 by 30th November.
Proceeds will go towards supporting chaplains in local schools.
Saturday November 1 - Seminar
Presenting research into young adults in the Lutheran Church
$10 including lunch. This event is open to every congregation member and friend.
More information can be found at www.blueprintministries.org.au
So that being justified by his grace
we might become heirs according
to the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:7
