“Hang in There!” (Lessons in Spiritual Resilience)
Resilience has become a bit of a buzz word in recent years. Doubly so, as we’ve battled through Covid and are still recovering from that, emotionally, socially, financially, and even spiritually. We’d all like to know how we might hang in there during the tough times in life and continue to thrive and live well, in even the most challenging of circumstances?
Abraham Lincoln was once asked what he would do if he had several hours of wood to chop. He wisely replied that he’d spend the first hour sharpening his axe. Think about that. Looking after our spiritual health and spending time in prayer, reading the Bible, and coming to worship is all about sharpening your spiritual axe.
A prayer for resilience: “Lord, warm my heart, renew my mind, use my hands, and shape my life. Amen.”
Let’s unpack that a little:
- Lord, warm my heart, for the honest truth is that my heart is often cold and hard. Resilience begins by us coming before God in repentance and faith. First and foremost, it’s a heart issue. Lord, warm my heart and bring me back to you!
- Lord, renew my mind, for so often my thoughts and attitudes and priorities are making a mess of things in my life. Lord, help me to see things your way and to follow your lead in my life. Lord, renew my mind and keep me on the right path!
- Lord, use my hands in your service, so that I can be a blessing to those around me. Help me to realise that shifting the focus off my wants, my plans, and my advantage, frees me to find meaning and fulfilment in all my interactions and relationships with others – as your child and acting in your name.
- And, Lord, shape my life, so that I live out my identity as your beloved and forgiven child in all I do. May your saving Gospel, fill my life with your love, hope, and peace and may this overflow onto all those around me – especially my loved ones and those you have placed in my life to befriend and care for – so that they may encounter you, Lord, in me and be drawn closer to you.
Yes, please Lord. Do that Lord and help me to truly want it and to seek it. To your glory, and my joy, and for the spread of your Kingdom. Amen.
Pr Richard Haar
Bible Reading: Galatians 6:7-10
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 ministry team.
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.
Ladies’ Fellowship
The next meeting for Ladies’ Fellowship is on Tuesday 5th July at 1pm.
Masks preferable but optional.
Please bring your Bible.
We will be planning for the North Zone Rally.
It is vitally important that members attend so that we can have a smooth running event. Many hands make light work!
Afternoon tea hostesses: Jan Oldman and Milla Nitschke.
There will be a trading table.
Any apologies to Marg Dohnt: 0404 052 685.
Fantastic Support for Lutheran Care – Future Dates
The response to last Sunday’s food collection was fantastic. There were 31 shopping bags crammed with donations. The volunteers who collected the donations on Tuesday were amazed at the generosity of the congregation. Those in need in the northern suburbs of Adelaide will appreciate this food!
Collection dates for the remainder of the year (on the last Sunday of the month):
July 31st
August 28th
September 25th
October 23rd
November 27th
Volunteers to help sort items after the 10:30am service on those days would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you,
Family Zone Support Team
Operation Christmas Child
Are you thinking about how you might be able to share God’s love with children beyond our borders? Here is an opportunity! Packing a shoebox with gifts and prayer is something you could do as an individual, a family, or a small group. There are brochures available with more information in the church office… just pop in to see Helen or Tina. Alternatively, you could contact Lynette Beck on 0407 354404 for more details.
Family Support Coordinator News, from Georgie
Save the Date! KAPS Kids and Parents Youth Event July 31st!
We had a great time last Sunday. The theme of the afternoon/evening was ‘Fruit of the Spirit’. We had a game of ‘Get to Know You Bingo’ and a Scavenger Hunt. Along the way we decorated biscuits, wrote notes of encouragement, bounced table tennis balls ‘gently’ into cups and ‘faithfully’ guided friends through a task blindfolded (amongst other things!) We spent some time in worship and ended the evening chatting with others while we enjoyed a sausage sizzle.
Our next gathering is July 31st from 4pm (first Sunday after Week One of Term Three.) So…save the date! Look forward to seeing you then!
Growing Faith at Home
How do you feel when you hear good news? It can change your day, especially when the good news impacts you personally! Today’s GFH title is ‘Sharing the message’. We have the opportunity to share God’s message of love, hope and peace with others…but sometimes this opportunity feels a bit daunting. Jesus knows this. In Luke 10 he encouraged people to ‘go out in twos’ (take a friend with!) Have a look at the GFH resource for some ideas to try out with your friends, family, or small group. Who could you share God’s message of love, hope and peace with over the next few weeks?
God bless your endeavours!
School Snippets
It’s been another BIG term: big learning; big growth. We have trodden a path of uncertainty and growth in resilience. We are beginning to find our feet as restrictions lift and ‘school life’ re-sets. We have begun to worship together again, go on excursions and spend time with buddies. It was wonderful for Foundation parents to be invited into classrooms to taste and experience learning from their child’s perspective. Parents of Curiosity (ELC) children were invited to ‘Come and Play’ sessions for a similar experience.
Another highlight has been our Parent ‘Coffee & Connect’ Friday mornings that we have been enjoying in the church café in recent weeks. All of these opportunities allow for relationships to grow and strengthen. We are indeed very blessed!
The school holidays begin next week. School Staff will spend the first week attending professional development, either here in Adelaide or over in Melbourne at the Australian Conference on Lutheran Education. School will resume on Monday July 25th. You are most welcome to attend Opening Worship that morning at 8:50am. Face masks will be required for parents and visitors. To enter, please come in via the courtyard (not the Montague Road main entrance). Seating for non-school staff adults will be in the church hall (as the church auditorium will be full of children!)
The regular Week 9 Newsletter is available for you to enjoy here on this link: https://bit.ly/3bET1Lo
If you would like a paper copy of the school newsletter, there are some available on the stand in the church café area. Alternatively, just ask Georgie and she is happy to organise one for you!
Young Adults 2022, Semester 2
The semester 2 events for Good Shepherd Young Adults have been decided!
Mark the dates and times in your calendar so that we can see you there.
Talk to Christa Schwarz if you have any questions.
Office News
Financial Assistance – Arsha
A huge thankyou to all who have donated to assist Arsha Noroozi in his quest for permanent residency in Australia. Your generous support over the past few weeks have resulted in another $1254.20 being raised to assist in covering the extra legal hurdles that were not anticipated. Only another $545.80 is required to meet the goal of $1800.00 that had been set to cover the extra. Donations to support Arsha can still be done in the following ways:
Electronic Funds Transfer
BSB: 704 942
Acct: 100713424
Acct Name: Para Vista Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Operating
Reference: ARSHA
Cash Donation: Place in an envelope marked with ARSHA (we have Mission Vision Ministry Support envelopes available in the office or the ushers’ desks), either handed into the office or placed in a collection bowl after service.
Cafe Ceiling Repair
The Café area will be unavailable for use from the 4th to the 8th July, to repair the storm water damage to the ceiling. Groups will still be able to use the church and hall and ablutions will need to be accessed via the church. Access to the courtyard will be restricted.
Mission Vision Report – End of May 2022
Free Books
Rolly has kindly sorted through quite a few books that have been donated towards possible library addition. As a result, there are books that were no longer suitable or excess to requirement. A number of tables have been set up in the hall with books that you are free to help yourselves to. We request that the books are not returned to the library.
Office Hours/Staffing
Mon: Closed
Tues: Open 9.00am to 3pm. Closed for lunch 12.30 to 1.30pm. Stephen and Helen on site.
Wed: Open 9.00am to 3pm. Closed for lunch 12.30 to 1.30pm. Stephen on site.
Thurs: Open 9.00am to 3pm. Closed for lunch 12.30 to 1.30pm. Stephen and Tina on site.
Fri: Office closed Rachel working remotely
Georgie is onsite at the school Tuesday to Friday
Staff have a meeting Thursday from 9.30 to 10.30am.
Weekly news items are to be sent to churchenquiries@paravista.org.au or rachel.koopmans@paravista.org.au by Wednesday evening. Out of hours please leave a message on the answering system or email the office and staff will responded as soon as they are able.
Professional Standards Workshop
For those that missed Safe Church Training here at Good Shepherd Para Vista on Saturday 2nd July, another date is being offered by Holy Cross Lutheran Church Birdwood: Saturday 16th July, from 9am-4pm. There are three sessions on the day covering different topics, with a cost of $5 per session or $15 for the full day. Morning tea and lunch are provided. For more information check the flyer at the end of this bulletin. Register by 11th July at the following link: https://bit.ly/3a9IDeo.
Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.’
2 Corinthians 9:6
We are a Covid-Safe Church 
Please consider the health and safety of others and do not attend the church if you are feeling unwell. We continue to practice good hygiene and respect the discretion of individuals to wear/not wear a mask. Thank you!
Weekly News Submissions should be made by the Wednesday prior to Friday publication.
Church Giving via Electronic Funds Transfer:
Regular Electronic Giving (REG): BSB 704 942; Acc 100 354 939
Church Office Hours: Tuesday-Thurs 9am-3pm (closed 12:30pm-1:30pm for lunch)
Church Website: www.paravista.org.au Email: churchenquiries@paravista.org.au
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388 Montague Road Para Vista SA 5093 | Phone: 8263 5087 | PO Box 306 Modbury North SA 5092
