Loving Community

“This is how God showed his love among us: he sent his one and only son into the world that we might live through him.  This is love: not that we loved God, but that he love us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.  Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another…”
1 John 4:9-11

In the very core of Good Shepherd’s mission statement is a desire to do something outside of ourselves – to reach into the community.  All of us, I think, have a different opinion of what a ‘perfect’ community might look like, whether the amenities for making life easier, or the people who inhabit it, we all would hope that it would conform to our ideals.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer writes about this difficulty arising in churches and other Christian communities.

“Those who love their dream of a Christian community more than they love the Christian community itself become destroyers of that Christian community even though their personal intentions may be ever so honest, earnest and sacrificial. God hates this wishful dreaming because it makes the dreamer proud and pretentious.”

What is this Christian community that Bonhoeffer writes about?  What is at heart of the community that loves and is loving?

John writes his first epistle and the intended audience is not one, but many.  Because he is in his later years, as an old man he looks back and desires love for the people of God, love that surpasses even their broadest understanding. 

Enter into the discussion as we begin a five week series on community.  Have your eyes and hearts opened up to the majesty of how God builds the community, not we, and when that happens we are free to share the gospel in thought, word and deed.

Pr Reid Matthias

Bible Reading:  1 John 4:7-21 
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 Meeting
5th February 2019  A New Year’s welcome ladies.  We meet at 12 noon for lunch together. Don’t forget to bring your own lunch, but committee will provide fruit platters.  At 1pm we will commence our meeting. Bible study will be lead by Pastor Rolly.

FREE Toys and Resources – NEW ITEMS ADDED
To start the year we have been doing a bit of a cleanout to make more space for ministries and resources.  At the back of the hall are some toys – including a play kitchen (in need of some TLC), small table & stools, water & sand tables – and resources which congregation members are welcome to take.  Toys will be there until after Sunday 3rd February, and then will be donated as appropriate. 
Please take as you need.

YOU’RE INVITED – GSPV Welcome Party
Food, fun & fellowship on the school oval
BYO picnic, and pre-order food to supplement the evening
Download your pre-order form here: https://bit.ly/2GdvDmk 
Order MUST be placed by Friday 15 February to the SCHOOL OFFICE. EFTPOS facilities are available

From the Office

From Administration
Please note that the GSLC Staff have a staff meeting every Thursday morning.
Please accept our apology if we do not answer the phone, or the office appears empty.
Feel free to leave a message on the answering machine, or come to café area where the staff meet.

Notice Board

“You have been raised to new life with Christ.”

Colossians 3:1

Jesus Proclaims His Purpose

What’s the best news you’ve ever received?  Why was it “good news”?  How did that “good news” affect you personally?

In our individualistic culture, we are bombarded with messages that “life is all about me”.  We like to think we are entitled to happiness, to pursue our own goals, and be masters of our own destiny. But how does that work out in reality? 

In the opening verses of Ephesians 2, Paul exposes our fallen human condition: dead in disobedience, obeying the devil, following our passions and desires, and subject to God’s anger.

While I had known Jesus most of my life, it was in my mid-twenties when I first realised my condition apart from Christ. That’s when the sweetness of the Gospel became the best news I ever heard. Jesus came for all messed up and broken people – even a wretch like me!

Right at the start of his ministry, Jesus publicly declares his purpose: to release people from their afflictions and all that holds them in bondage. God had been doing this since Adam and Eve rebelled and hid in a garden: God seeking out guilt ridden and messed up people, God responding to cries from his people in pain, God delivering his people from slavery in Egypt and captivity in Babylon.

The Good News of Jesus is that God is always looking at you with favour, wanting to release you from all that holds you captive, and bring you into newness of life.

The outworking of this is joining in God’s restoration plans.  It happens as we show his compassion to others.  It happens as we listen to people’s stories and help them. It happens as we share the stories of what Jesus has done - and is doing - in our lives. 

According to a new Faith and Belief in Australia report:
• Three in four Aussies say that they are turned off investigating religion when they hear celebrities or public figures talk about their Christian faith.
• Stories of miraculous healing are also significant turn offs.
• But sounding a note of hope, the greatest attraction to investigating spirituality and religion is seeing people live out a genuine faith.
                  https://www.eternitynews.com.au/australia/results-are-in-aussies-admire-people-who-live-out-a-genuine-faith/

The message of Jesus is Good News when it is lived out by his people! 

Pr Rolly Stahl

Bible Reading:  Luke 4:14-21 NLT 
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.

Ladies Fellowship Meeting
5th February 2019  A New Year’s welcome ladies.  We meet at 12 noon for lunch together. Don’t forget to bring your own lunch but committee will provide fruit platters.  At 1pm we will commence our meeting. Bible study lead by Pastor.

Good Shepherd Social Club
Our 2019 year commences on Thursday 31st January, 1.-3.30pm in the Church Hall.

We welcome anyone that would be interested in coming to a free one-off introduction on any Thursday afternoon.

Activities include meeting other members, playing different card games or carpet bowls and enjoying coffee and a chat.

If you wish to join after your free one off visit then the weekly fee is $3.00 per person.

Please contact Tom Curnow - President on 72254593 or 0400 258 410 or Mike Hancock -Vice President on 0403375474 for any enquiries.

FREE Toys and Resources
To start the year we have been doing a bit of a cleanout to make more space for ministries and resources.  At the back of the hall are some toys – including a play kitchen (in need of some TLC), small table & stools, water & sand tables – and resources which congregation members are welcome to take.  Toys will be there until after Sunday 3rd February, and then will be donated as appropriate.  Please take as you need.

From the Office

Notice Board

Lutheran Nurses Association of Australia
All healthcare workers, members and visitors are invited to attend our meeting at 7.30pm on Monday 4th February with speaker Peter Bowley from Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) at 137 Archer Street, North Adelaide, at LCA/SA District Office.  Entry through rear door, 2 hour CDP evidence provided.

“Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed;

    save me and I will be saved,

    for you are the one I praise.”

Jeremiah 17:14

A Wedding to Remember

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee.  Jesus’ mother was there and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.  When the wine was gone…

Gasp.

Jesus, his mother and the disciples are invited to a wedding to remember.  We’re not told whose wedding it is, whether the bride looked ravishing, whether the band was rocking or even where the happy couple was going on a honeymoon.  What we are told is that the father-of-the-bride is about to be humiliated because the wine has run out.

I suppose it sounds like a trivial thing in the twenty-first century, and in some ways we who attend multiple weddings per year almost hope that the wine runs out early so that we can go home, but for the ancient host who often would allow revellers to party for a week after the actual wedding, this was an embarrassment.

What to do…

Jesus is thrown headfirst into this situation by his mother: she knows his abilities; she knows his history and how he can change this tragedy into triumph.  But Jesus, as he takes control of the situation, allows us perspective to look at these events also in a very symbolic way.  As the first of his miracles, Jesus gives the wedding guests of two thousand years ago, and the readers of the 21st century, a new world of understanding.

Join with me in experiencing how Jesus transforms life.

Follow along as we read John 2:1-11 – a wedding to remember.

Pr Reid Matthias

Bible Reading:  John 2:1-11
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.

Good Shepherd Social Club
Our 2019 year commences on Thursday 31st January, 1.-3.30pm in the Church Hall.

We welcome anyone that would be interested in coming to a free one-off introduction on any Thursday afternoon.

Activities include meeting other members, playing different card games or carpet bowls and enjoying coffee and a chat.

If you wish to join after your free one off visit then the weekly fee is $3.00 per person.

Please contact Tom Curnow - President on 72254593 or 0400 258 410 or Mike Hancock -Vice President on 0403375474 for any enquiries.

From the Office

Change of Seating Arrangements
As a trial there has been a change to the seating arrangements in a section of the Worship Centre. The walkway behind the sound desk has been eliminated. The walkway is now along the wall behind the last row of seats. We are trialling this for a period of time. Any feedback would be appreciated.

Cafe Furniture Arrangements
We are experimenting with the arrangement of furniture in the cafe to discover the most productive use of the space for all users. If you move any furniture we request that after use you return it to its original place. If you have any comments re the setup or suggestions for additional items for this area or alternate ways of setting up the cafe or its use please contact John Dolling.

Notice Board

Lutheran Nurses Association of Australia
All healthcare workers, members and visitors are invited to attend our meeting at 7.30pm on Monday 4th February with speaker Peter Bowley from Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) at 137 Archer Street, North Adelaide, at LCA/SA District Office.  Entry through rear door, 2 hour CDP evidence provided.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”

2 Corinthians 5:17

Announcing the King

Some announcements are private. Like when two people are dating, they may reach a point when they declare their love for one another. It’s a private matter. 

Further down the track they may exchange marriage vows. Their relationship is still personal; but the announcement that they are now husband and wife is declared publically. From that point on, the couple and their wider community is aware that the relationship is now different.

This Sunday, we see John the Baptist acting as herald of public truth, announcing to the people of Israel that their Messiah/King is coming – so they best get ready! 

John calls people to repentance and baptism – and to bear the fruit of repentance in their lives.  One’s relationship with God is to transform how we treat others in the public domain. 

When Jesus is baptised, God the Father makes a public announcement: "You are my Son, whom I love: with you I am well pleased.” (Luke 3:22 NIV)  Jesus is the Messiah/King who ushers in the kingdom of God and brings God’s restoration plans to completion. God wants every person on earth to be part of that.

The same Holy Spirit that fell on Jesus has anointed us in baptism, and continues to empower us as his witnesses. We are to announce and live out the difference Jesus makes in our everyday relationships.

One’s faith in Jesus as Saviour and Lord is indeed a personal matter. Yet Christian faith is not just a private opinion – like one’s preferred wine or favourite meal. The Good News of Jesus is objective truth based on historical events. It is not merely private truth, but objective public truth for ALL people. 

God’s desire is that none perish, but that all come to know Jesus, do life with God and his people, and inherit salvation. Good News indeed! 

Pr Rolly Stahl

Bible Reading:  Luke 3:2-18, 21-23a
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.

Good Shepherd Social Club
Our 2019 year commences on Thursday 31st January, 1.-3.30pm in the Church Hall.

We welcome anyone that would be interested in coming to a free one-off introduction on any Thursday afternoon.

Activities include meeting other members, playing different card games or carpet bowls and enjoying coffee and a chat.

If you wish to join after your free one off visit then the weekly fee is $3.00 per person.

Please contact Tom Curnow - President on 72254593 or 0400 258 410 or Mike Hancock -Vice President on 0403375474 for any enquiries.

From the Office

Summer Clean
A big thank you to the team of volunteers who attended on Wednesday 9th January to move chairs so the church carpets could be steam cleaned.  Approximately 1200 (600 X twice) chairs were moved and all the furniture in the auditorium/parenting room shifted so cleaning could be achieved.  A team spent the day with damp cloths dusting off each chair and anywhere dust had settled.  An enjoyable lunch for those who spent the day was supplied along with coffee whenever the energy levels were low. Personally, from the Admin Manager your efforts on the day will be enjoyed by all who call or visit our home in the Lords service.
Thank you. Stephen Zanker, Admin Manager

Catering for Big Week Out
Big Week Out (BWO) is an initiative of local churches aiming to empower young people to be transformed by Christ’s love, enabling them to grow as they share this love, and gospel boldly. BWO is run from 15th to 18 January, 2019. Throughout this week young people of Adelaide are called to utilise their strengths to help support members in the community by serving at events, including: helping out at schools, nursing homes, with backyard blitz’s, and emergency relief. This all happens through the service they provide.

BWO rely on donations to feed participants dinner, keeping registration costs low and emit any financial barriers for participants attending. As a volunteer run program we aim to ensure money is solely put towards facilitating the service events.

BWO are seeking assistance with evening meals on the 16th, 17th and 18th. Options for food preparation could be:

- pre prepare the meal (e.g pasta sauce) and freeze it and we will pick it up.
- bring the ingredients and the catering team at the base (Burnside Uniting Church) will help prepare it.
- provide the ingredients and we will pick them up and prepare them ourselves at the base.
- baked goods for morning or afternoon teas.

Please contact Elly Schoff on 043 435 9988 to confirm your assistance or feel free to check out the BWO website for further details: http://www.bigweekout.org.au/#bio

Notice Board

Lutheran Nurses Association of Australia
All healthcare workers, members and visitors are invited to attend our meeting at 7.30pm on Monday 4th February with speaker Peter Bowley from Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) at 137 Archer Street, North Adelaide, at LCA/SA District Office.  Entry through rear door, 2 hour CDP evidence provided.

“For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

John 6:40

Joy Delivered

It’s been said: “A sorrow shared is a sorrow halved; a joy shared is a joy doubled.”

In our Bible reading this Sunday, there is awe and wonder as two pregnant women share a festival of joy. What makes this account unique is that both women are carrying miracle babies. 
• One is Mary: a virgin who is engaged, but has not slept with her fiancé. 
• The other is Elizabeth: a woman past her child bearing years and well into menopause. 

Both women rejoice in knowing that the sons born to them will play a special part in God’s plans for his world. This Sunday, we will lift the lid on their joy – so we might share in it too! Come and receive the joy that God delivers to us in Jesus. 

As we enter these days of Christmas, I pray this blessing for you and yours:
    May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, 
    so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. 
(Romans 15:13 NIV)
Pr Rolly Stahl

Bible Reading:  Luke 1:35-56
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.

As Christmas draws near we invite you and those in your home to spend time together doing a different activity each day.

On New Year’s Eve, we’ll be doing something special together as a family here at Good Shepherd.  A night of worship and celebration - kicking off at 7pm.  The evening will include worship (will be very different than our typical Sunday services) and then  join in a night of board games, music, drinks, coffee, laughter and joy as we ring in the new year as a Church family.  If you are attending please bring nibblies to share, drinks and board games.

We’ll have the play area open for smaller kids and have some other large games for bigger kids.

We are so excited to have you all there!

From the Office

Christmas Whirlwind Competition
The competition is open again on Monday 24th December at 8.30am to find the best dust blowing machine on the block.  The competition will 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 a petrol driven (or electric) blow vac that needs a dust out 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.

Cobwebs will also need to be removed so if you don’t have a competitive machine maybe you can compete for the longest broom handle.

Carpet Cleaning
A team of volunteers is required on Wednesday 9th January 2019 to move chairs to allow the church carpets to be shampooed.  As cleaning has not been done for two years due to building works, the whole of the complex will be cleaned in the one day.

NO LIFTING (or minimal) will be required as all the chairs are on sliders.  All volunteers will be required to do is slide banks of chairs forwards and backwards.  This is a lot easier with a small team.  Some chairs may have to be singled out for spot cleaning.

Volunteers are required from 9am to approximately 4pm.   You are not required to be here the whole day if you do not have the time and for those who have the whole day to spare a light lunch will be provided.

Please email stephen.zanker@paravista.org.au or call /text Stephen on mobile 0403 180 814 as soon as possible with your availability so Stephen can confirm with the carpet cleaners if the task is to go ahead and how many lunches to provide.

Office Closure Over Christmas
The office will be closed for an extended period to allow staff to exhaust leave.  Office hours will be:-
24 Dec 9.00am to 2.00pm OPEN
25 Dec to 7th January CLOSED
Every Monday in January CLOSED
Every Tuesday in January OPEN 9.00am to 3.00pm
Wednesday to Friday, 9th to 25th January OPEN 9.00am to 12.30pm
Wednesday 30th January OPEN normal hours 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 period.

Deliver the Gift of Parking this Christmas
Please consider parking on the school oval, leaving the parks close to the entrance of the church as a gift 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 is appreciated.
 
Remember traffic flow is one way at all times entering from Montague Road and exiting through the rear gate.

Notice Board

Peter Steicke’s new book ‘Favoured’ is now available in paperback on pre-order now.  Books are $20 each and will be available from this Sunday onward in between services and after the 10.30 service from Debbie Wesselingh.

“For to us a child is born,

    to us a son is given,

    and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called

    Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,

    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Isaiah 9:6

Delivered Invitation

There is something incredibly endearing and nostalgic about receiving a letter, or an invitation, in the mail.  In our world of instant communication, snail mail has gone the way of the Dodo, and our mailboxes are frequently reserved only for advertisements, bills and reasons to vote for a politician.  More often than not, our expectation of anything important arriving is limited.  But at Christmas time, we look with great hope that news from afar (or even aclose) will turn up in our mailbox reminding us that someone is thinking about us and that we have not been forgotten or abandoned.

Is there any other better metaphor for the life of a Christian?

This week we look at the theme Delivered Invitation through the eyes of a young woman who was expectantly waiting for news from God.  Little did she know her expectation would resolve in her becoming an expectant mother.

In this invitation, we find that God arrives at the exact moment He intended.  Even after four hundred years of silence, of seemingly empty prayers, the Message/Invitation/Word takes on flesh and starts breathing.

The invitation of Gabriel to Mary is a reminder that God shows up when you least expect it and invites us to participate in His majestic and glorious plan through His son, Jesus Christ.  But it is still an invitation.  There is time for preparation and a time for a response, but truly, how can anyone really turn down an invitation from the King of Kings?

Join with me this week to experience the delivered invitation to all of us; to experience the joy of life in Jesus Christ and to live out that joy in sharing with others.

Pr Reid Matthias

Bible Reading:  Luke 1:26-38, Isaiah 11:1-5
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.

Meet N Eat Christmas Dinner

105 guests all wanted to shake the jolly red man’s hand at the Meet N Greet Christmas dinner last Monday provided by volunteers at Good Shepherd.  This ministry has grown bonds of generosity and provided healing to many over the past year.  More than 2700 meals have been provided to the lonely and those looking for a community that accepts them as they are.  This is truly Jesus’ love at work.

Please prayerfully consider how you can help grow this ministry in 2019.

As Christmas draws near we invite you and those in your home to spend time together doing a different activity each day.

Maranatha Health

Maranatha Health believes that all people have the right to live healthy lives with access to excellent care when they need it.  We are an Australian and Ugandan not-for-profit organisation committed to healing the sick, empowering poor communities and making an impact that lasts long into the future.  This Christmas, on 16th December Maranatha Health are setting up a stall at GSPV.  We are giving you the opportunity to share 'Gifts of Life' this Christmas.  At the stall you can make a tax-deductible donation (via cash or credit card) to our life-changing work in Uganda and we will give you a Maranatha Health gift card to pass on to your friends and family.  We will also be selling delicious Christmas cupcakes for $2, and there will be someone available to chat with you about volunteering opportunities at MH.  Come and say hello!  If you would like to order your Christmas cards earlier to be sent out to you this week visit https://maranathahealth.org/give/christmas

From the Office

Christmas Whirlwind Competition
The competition is open again on Monday 24th December at 8.30am to find the best dust blowing machine on the block.  The competition will 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 a petrol driven (or electric) blow vac that needs a dust out 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.

Cobwebs will also need to be removed so if you don’t have a competitive machine maybe you can compete for the longest broom handle.

Office Closure Over Christmas
The office will be closed for an extended period to allow staff to exhaust leave.  Office hours will be:-
24 Dec 9.00am to 2.00pm OPEN
25 Dec to 7th January CLOSED
Every Monday in January CLOSED
Every Tuesday in January OPEN 9.00am to 3.00pm
Wednesday to Friday, 9th to 25th January OPEN 9.00am to 12.30pm
Wednesday 30th January OPEN normal hours 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 period.

Notice Board

Peter Steicke’s new book ‘Favoured’ is now available in paperback on pre-order now.  Books are $20 each and will be available from this Sunday onward in between services and after the 10.30 service from Debbie Wesselingh.

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means “God with us”).”

Matthew 1:23

Delivered into Light

Waiting, waiting, waiting – few of us enjoy it!

But maybe there is something about the waiting that stops us feeling entitled?  Perhaps it breaks our need to be in constant control.  Maybe waiting helps us find value in something more important that meeting our desires, and to realise that we are not masters of our own destiny.

Could it be that waiting is vital for growing patience and the capacity to bear with others?  Perhaps waiting helps us to find greater satisfaction in the fulfilment of a hope or dream.  Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a hope fulfilled is a tree of life.  (Proverbs 13:12 NIV)

This Sunday we consider Israel’s waiting for God to fulfil his promises to Abraham and David.  Reading through the Old Testament, we find people who keep turning away from God and ending up in trouble.  Yet God keeps reminding them that a son of David would usher in a new covenant that would ultimately bring God’s light to the nations.

Sometimes it takes God a long time to move quickly.  In Luke chapter one, we find an old priest going about his duties in the temple.  He and his wife had prayed and waited decades for a child, but nothing happened.

An angel appears with an announcement: the old priest and his old wife are going to have their first child – a son who will be the royal herald for God’s promised Messiah.  Their son would prepare the way for the Lord and his salvation.

At the child’s naming, the priest prophesies:
Because of God’s tender mercy,
the morning light from heaven is about to break upon us,
to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death,
and to guide us to the path of peace.” (Luke 1:78-79 NLT)

Come along and celebrate that Jesus delivers us into light.

Pr Rolly Stahl

Bible Reading:  Luke 1:57-58, 67-70, 76-79 NLT
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.

Graduation Blessing
There will be a blessing at the end of the 10.30am service on Sunday 9th December, for all who are graduating from a course/stage/study/University/High School/Primary School. At the end of the service when we call the graduates forward, please come forward and receive your blessing as you move into the next phase of your life!

Experience Christmas Volunteers Needed!
We are looking for people to be involved – please chat to Chelsea Schiller 0447 225 517 chelsea.schiller@paravista.org.au if you’d like to be involved in any way.

Meet N Eat Christmas Dinner
Excitement is building as the Christmas invitations have gone out for the Meet N Eat Christmas Dinner.  The generosity of 20 kitchen staff has been shared over the past 12 months, and guess what?!!

Broken people who feel loved are sharing in the work load while new formed friendships are creating bonds of generosity towards each other that were never before encountered.  An inner healing is happening as they serve and listen to each other, whether it be a quiet horror story shared or one of good news that is proclaimed with joy.  The 'chatter' and 'buzz' of Jesus being presented to community who now call Good Shepherd home because they felt His presence here is a light we can all share in.

How?

Please keep this ministry and team in your prayers as they present Jesus to the world in a practical way.

Good Shepherd Social Club
Our 2019 year commences on Thursday 31st January, 1.-3.30pm in the Church Hall.

We welcome anyone that would be interested in coming to a free one-off introduction on any Thursday afternoon.

Activities include meeting other members, playing different card games or carpet bowls and enjoying coffee and a chat.

If you wish to join after your free one off visit then the weekly fee is $3.00 per person.

Please contact Tom Curnow - President on 72254593 or 0400 258 410 or Mike Hancock -Vice President on 0403375474 for any enquiries.

From the Office

Church Security
The Good Shepherd facility has been the target of vandals, unlawful access and graffiti over the past four weeks.  As there is a cost to repairing the damage, I am requesting that all members take an active part in assisting to prevent further attacks to the facility.  If you are passing the facility after hours, please take note of any activity or perhaps drive through the car park to deter any person that is not a member of the community.  If you do see something do not put yourself in danger but report it as soon as possible.  If you do not go past on a regular basis all I ask is that you pray for our community and the protection of our assets both physical and human.  Stephen - Admin Manager.

Car Parking at the Church
Members are reminded that the church car park is not a secure parking area and should take the following precautions when parking.

1. Hide possessions or any valuable items out of sight such as a phone or wallet– better still take any valuable possessions with you.
2. Close all windows and the sunroof, if you have one.
3. Ensure the boot is secure.
4. Lock your doors.
5. Ensure your security system (if fitted) has been activated.

Notice Board

Peter Steicke’s new book ‘Favoured’ is now available in paperback on pre-order now.  Books are $20 each and will be available from this Sunday onward in between services and after the 10.30 service from Debbie Wesselingh.

“Light shines on the righteous

    and joy on the upright in heart”

Psalm 97:11

Delivered from Darkness

The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned…

Isaiah 9:2

There are many times that I enjoy a stroll at night.  There is something spectacular about non-visual senses taking over to hear the cicadas, the smell of the heavy air ripe with evening mist and to feel the cool breeze after a warm summer’s day.  But that feeling of enjoyment would erode after time if the sun never appeared.  What would you feel if the long night never ended and the sun always seemed perched on the other side of the planet, somewhere far, far away…

This is the sense that I get from the prophet Isaiah as he sheds light (and darkness) on the path of the Israelite.  Since the Fall, humankind has been in constant need of redemption, and to be honest, a continual sense of God’s nearness and connection.  In the Wilderness, the Israelites were led by fire and cloud, and yet they still doubted God’s power and abundance even so much as to proclaim allegiance to a golden idol that they made.  And when they turned their eyes away from the true source of light in the world, bit by bit, the world became darker until finally, they walked only in spiritual darkness exploring even the depths of their depravity by consulting ‘mediums and spiritists who whisper and mutter…’ (Isaiah 8:19)

How are God’s people delivered from darkness, and how do they see the dawning light?

So it is in the 21st century.  Join with us this week to plow through the darkness and hear God’s message to His people living now, who might be living in darkness, that the light is continuing to dawn and arise in the life and soul of His people.

Pastor Reid Matthais

Bible Reading:  Isaiah 9:1-7, John 9:1-5 NIV
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.

Family Hub
What a fantastic response last week in our support for the Family Hub.

The total raised was a fantastic $1,906
• BBQ $393
• Plant sale $118
• Donations at services $1,115
• Donation from Fellowship group $280

TOTAL $1,906

When the money was delivered to Kathlene on Tuesday they were not having such a good day, but this certainly brightened it!  She assured us that the money would go to good use.

Graduation Blessing
There will be a blessing at the end of the 10.30am service on Sunday 9th December, for all who are graduating from a course/stage/study/University/High School/Primary School. At the end of the service when we call the graduates forward, please come forward and receive your blessing as you move into the next phase of your life!

Experience Christmas Volunteers Needed! 
We are looking for people to be involved – please chat to Chelsea Schiller 0447 225 517 chelsea.schiller@paravista.org.au if you’d like to be involved in any way.

Good Shepherd Social Club
Our 2019 year commences on Thursday 31st January, 1.-3.30pm in the Church Hall.
We welcome anyone that would be interested in coming to a free one-off introduction on any Thursday afternoon.
Activities include meeting other members, playing different card games or carpet bowls and enjoying coffee and a chat.
If you wish to join after your free one off visit then the weekly fee is $3.00 per person.
Please contact Tom Curnow - President on 72254593 or 0400 258 410 or Mike Hancock -Vice President on 0403375474 for any enquiries.

Notice Board

Peter Steicke’s new book ‘Favoured’ is now available in paperback on pre-order now.  Books are $20 each and will be available from this Sunday onward in between services and after the 10.30 service from Debbie Wesselingh.

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Romans 6:23