Growing In Jesus

Prayer Requests

Please forward all prayer requests to the church office via churchenquiries@paravista.org.au or phone 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 online. If you would like to view the current requests, please refer to the email that alerted you to this Weekly News.

Finance update

The following is an update on our finances for Good Shepherd Para Vista to 31^st August 2023.

In the budget approved at our Half Yearly meeting in November 2022, we provided for annual offerings and donations of $450,000. To 31^st August we planned to have received $262,885.

As of 31^st August 2023, our donations were $251,766, a shortfall of $42,234 against our planned budget of $296,000.

The good news is that our offerings have increased in June and July to help bring us back to a balanced budget for the year to date.  The not so good news is that our giving dropped off in August leading to our increased shortfall.  As we have not yet been able to secure a pastor nor employ a planned lay worker our year-to-date expenditure is down on the budget plan.

Thank you to all those who have prayerfully reviewed their giving and increased their commitment.

Dean Bartley (Treasurer)

September Support for Lutheran Care

Our next food collection in support of Lutheran Care will be on Sunday September 24th at both services. Donations can be brought to either service on that Sunday or left at the church office during office hours up to Monday 25^th September.

Requests for September are:

• Baked beans
• Tinned spaghetti
• Tinned vegetables
• 2-minute noodles 
• Biscuits 
• Cereal
• Soap

Thank you for your continued fantastic support of our monthly food collections!

Ladies Fellowship

The next meeting of Ladies Fellowship will be held on Tuesday 3^rd October at 1pm.

We are having a presentation from the CFS Tea Tree Gully. This should commence about 1:30pm following our usual business and devotion.

Please note that you may bring husbands if you wish.

There will be a trading Table – Beth Stringer will help with this.

Afternoon tea Hostesses: Lyn Hancock and Maree Pukallus

Apologies to Di Schlenk 0409 820 448

Power and Authority: Weekend Focus

Led by Pastor Michael Dutschke, Adventurous Discipleship

At Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Para Vista

7-8^th October 2023

Saturday 7^th October Workshop: Discovering Spiritual Authority

• “Explore the biblical teaching of the spiritual power and authority that God has, and we have as followers of Jesus”.
• Through a series of sessions explore, observe, and practice using your spiritual authority.
• Prepares participants for Sunday afternoon Prayer Walk

Sunday 8^th October: Worship and Prayer Walk

• Worship services at 8:45am and 10:30am with Pastor Michael Dutschke bringing us a message on Power and Authority
• A sausage sizzle will be provided after the 10:30am service.
• Sunday afternoon Prayer walk, 1pm (approx.) over Good Shepherd Church using guiding principles from Saturday’s sessions.

Further Details

• Saturday workshop is free for Good Shepherd Church community!
• We are inviting others outside of Good Shepherd, where a fee is being charged to attend ($40 pp)
• Registration for all participants on Saturday is required for catering purposes (morning tea and lunch, gluten, and dairy free options)
• More details to come about program times for Saturday.
• To register
• Contact the Church Office on 8263 5087
• Write in your Contact card.
• See Julie Freund on Sundays between the services in the café.

Community Family Support News

Growing Faith at Home

The title of this week’s GFH resource is ‘God is amazingly generous.’ Have you ever had a ‘double take’ when you received a generous gift that you felt was undeserved? How did you feel about it? I’m wondering if your attention changed from the gift to the gift giver. Have a look at this week’s GFH edition for some things to talk about and perhaps even do as a small group or in your family.

KAPS – 2 Sleeps to go!

Our next KAPS event is just around the corner… and we are going on a bear scavenger hunt! It’s going to be lots of fun and we would love for you to be a part of it. Bring your children or your grandchildren! There is also something for older people too. Students from Years 7-12 are invited to join in with some Youth games. (So… if you know anyone in this age group, share the news!) Everyone is then invited to join in with worship and dinner. Hoping to see you soon!

Rachel and Georgie

 Do you like to cook?

From time to time, we have the opportunity to help out families in need of a meal or two. If one of your hobbies is cooking (or if it is something that you don’t mind doing) I would love to hear from you. Feel free to have a chat or you could contact me here and I can give you more information.

School Snippets

Ms. Bethany McAleer, our Performing Arts teacher, is busily preparing our Stage 1 and 2 children (Foundation to Year 2 students) for our JP Showcase next week ‘Seussical Kids’. We have many excited children eagerly preparing for their moment up on stage.  If you would like to find out more of what is happening at school, you are also welcome to click on the link to our newsletter: https://inewsletter.co/J1WDLx/latest A printed copy is available in the café area, and I am happy to arrange your own copy if you would like!

Worship

One of our school staff members, Mrs. Colalancia, shared part of her faith story at Worship on Wednesday. You will be able to see the video recording by clicking on the link in this week’s devotion. Next week we hear from a past student, who will share part of her faith walk with us.  Please note: Next week we will be having our Worship on Friday 29^th September as we like to close our school term in this way. We would love for you to join us for both Worship and coffee next week. Same starting time… 8:50am… Just a different day!   Love to see you!

Devotions

We give thanks for all those who have contributed to our online devotions this year. Now we are looking for more! If you have one or more of your own that you would like to share, please send them through to the church office via churchenquiries@paravista.org.au