How the Bible Teaches us to Lament
The book of Lamentations isn’t necessarily the most popular or well-known book in the Bible, but it has some important messages to teach us. A specific focus of Lamentations is the lament of the Israelite people, and they show us in this poetic book what lamenting can look like and how we should be lamenting as followers of Christ.
What does it mean to lament? Why should we lament? How does God reveal his character through our lamenting? I would love to challenge you to reconsider the way you lament, pray, and come together as followers of Christ. I look forward to sharing the message with you on Sunday and unpacking Lamentations and how it applies to us today.
Nicole Pfeiffer
Bible Reading for this Week: Lamentations 3:19-40 (The Message)
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.
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
Calling for Church Volunteers
As from November we are hoping to offer Holy Communion twice a month for each service. However, to be able to do this successfully we will need more volunteers. The areas we need help include setting up, serving, and clearing up. None of these are big tasks and full training will be given.
We are also looking for volunteers at both services to serve as Worship Hosts and Welcomers, and to help serve morning tea.
Please prayerfully consider this request and notify the office if you feel called to serve.
The Global Leadership Summit
We would like to invite you to the Global Leadership Summit to be held on 22 October 2022, at Salisbury Lutheran Church. The Global Leadership Summit is a fantastic event to grow your leadership skills with world class speakers. It’s also a great opportunity to gather with local leaders, share in the joys and struggles of ministry, and a chance to share in the great presentations and talk over how you can lead your church community.
It is open to everyone at an early bird fee of $69. After this date the price increases to $89 per ticket. If you want to attend, please contact the church office prior to 30th of September to allow us to take advantage of the lower cost.
For information follow the link: GLS22 – Global Leadership Network – Australia
September Support For Lutheran Care
Again, in September we have the opportunity to support the work of Lutheran Care through our food donations. This month they have requested:
Pasta
Pasta sauce
Vegemite
Tinned soup
Rice
Shampoo/conditioner
This Sunday September 25th donations can be brought to either service or can be left in the office during the week. On Sunday October 23rd Kerry MacGrath from Lutheran Care will be visiting to thank the congregation for our generous support of Lutheran Care and to talk about the work of Lutheran Care.
Family Zone Support Team
GSPV Young Adults
Our Wine & Cheese night was a fantastic event, with more than 20 young adults congregating at Liz and Stephen’s home last Saturday, 3 September 2022. We look forward to seeing many more young adults at our next event – BBQ & Bonfire at the Schwarz Residence in Two Wells on the 1st of October. The word is spreading and young adults from other congregations are also joining us on these events. We are grateful for all the support that we have received and are receiving from the congregation. We ask that you continue your prayers for us.
Christa Schwarz
Ladies Fellowship
Upcoming Meeting
The next meeting of Ladies Fellowship is on 4th October.
We are very blessed to have Pastor Stephen Abraham as special guest speaker. Sem Student Jacob Fabich will be giving a devotion so please bring your Bibles. There will be a trading table.
Hostesses: Dorothy Buscumb and Joy Wandel
Please note that membership fees $10, Lutheran Women magazines $14 and donation of $1 are due at the end of October. Mask wearing is optional and please do not come if unwell. Apologies to Di Schlenk 0409 820 448.
Christmas Lunch Invitation
Advance Notice- Ladies Fellowship Christmas lunch 6th December at 12 noon.
Husbands welcome!
$25 per head payable to Margaret by the end of October.
Special Guest Speaker: Greg Pattinson, CEO Foodbank SA
Please bring some non-perishable food which will be donated to Foodbank SA.
Family Support Coordinator News, from Georgie
KAPS Youth Event– Only Two Sleeps to Go!
Parent, grandparents, and children… Are you looking for an opportunity to connect with others either your age, younger or older? KAPS is an event aimed at years 4-7, providing an opportunity to connect with each other from the local community (school and church). Join us for bingo, a treasure hunt, worship, and dinner. While the first part of the evening is for students in years 4-7 and their parents, the worship from 5:30 is open to all family members and members of the congregation who want to check it out. When? Sunday 25th of September 4-6:30pm
Where? Good Shepherd Lutheran Church (enter via the main door facing Montague Road) For more details you can check out the flyer below, contact Rachel on 0475582289 or see Georgie.
See you on Sunday!
School Snippets
A major highlight from this week was the production of the school’s showcase ‘Aladdin’ on Wednesday. Songs, a story, enthusiastic students, and plenty of color blended to brighten the day and the evening for all who came to enjoy it! For more information, please have a look at this week’s newsletter by following this link: https://bit.ly/3dwDZsB Alternatively, just ask Georgie and she is happy to organise one for you!
This week we continued a new theme in Chapel entitled ‘I am … and here are a few chapters from my God story’. Georgie interviewed Mrs Dani Levy, our wonderful uniform shop coordinator, asking questions like ‘Can you tell us about a time when it was hard to trust God? And ‘Can you tell us about a Bible verse that is important to you and why?’ Here is a link to the message: https://bit.ly/3S2Kli7
Growing Faith at Home
Dear Church Family,
Are you content? It is an interesting question given that we live in a culture that is always trying to promote the next shiny new thing to satisfy our desires. The goal posts keep shifting! But God offers us things that can’t be bought that truly meet our deepest needs. His gifts of love, forgiveness, peace, purpose, and security in him. This week’s GFH title is ‘Secret of being content’. It offers some thought-provoking conversation starters. Something interesting happens when we shift focus away from ourselves to see how we can meet the needs of others. Have a look at the Creative Response section for some ideas to try!
Chapel Invitation
What are you up to at 10 to 9 (8:50am) on a Wednesday morning? We would love for you to join us for our final Chapel for the term on Wednesday. ELC children, school students and staff, parents and caregivers all coming together. You are most welcome to join in with worship and a coffee afterwards. (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!)
Library News
There are a number of resources about prayer in the library.
A selection has been placed on the spinner in the library and others can be found on the shelf labelled PRAYER (248.3).
Titles displayed include:
Taking our cities for God by John Dawson: “You are in the middle of an invisible spiritual war! Explore strategies for faith and prayer that can win the battle!”
Watchman prayer by Dutch Sheets: “How to stand guard and protect your family, home and community.”
When God’s people pray (DVD) by Jim Cymbala: “Discover the keys to powerful prayer. Prayer can change lives and circumstances like nothing else can.”
Prayer by Philip Yancey: “Does it make any difference?”
Praying with power by C. Peter Wagner: “How to pray effectively and hear clearly from God.”
Borrow these inspirational resources by following the instructions on the notice board in the library.
Office News
Staff Leave/ Staff News
Stephen will be on leave for the next 2 weeks from the 16th of September till 4th of October 2022. For urgent enquiries please contact the church office.
Name Badge Request
The cost for a Name Badge is $12. If you would like to order one then, contact the church office on 0882635087 or send an email to: churchenquiries@paravista.org.au
Weekly News Items
Weekly news items are to be sent to churchenquiries@paravista.org.au or krishna.vasani@paravista.org.au by Wednesday Evening. Out of hours please leave a message on the answering system 08 8263 5087 or email the office and staff will respond as soon as they are able.
Congregational Contacts
Due to the turnover of office staff and running from an older version of outlook in recent years we have discovered a few discrepancies in the email contact lists. We are working to resolve this and ask for patience as we do so. As a result, you may discover that you are not receiving the weekly news reminder or emails you require for your rostered positions. Please email churchenquiries@paravista.org.au or contact the office if you find you are not receiving information you require. We apologize for any inconvenience caused.
Morning Tea and Coffee
You may purchase a $2 coffee from the coffee machine if you wish. For health and welfare of our members and guests we still request hosts to serve the milk and sugar. This should assist in preventing the spread of COVID or influenza. We will monitor this and return to self-serve as soon as we believe it to be safe.
“Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord; Lord, hear my voice!”
Psalm 130:1
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!
In observing Christ’s command to love one another, we are to treat each other with respect and dignity. In honoring people, we are also fulfilling our responsibility under the law of the land. The LCA and Good Shepherd Para Vista is committed to implementing processes to ensure the church is a safe place. If anyone feels they have been subjected to sexual abuse or harassment in any form by anyone who holds a position of trust in the church, please contact:
P: 1800 644 628 E: report.abuse@safeplace.lca.org.au
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-Friday 9am-3pm (closed 12:30pm-1:30pm for lunch)
Church Website: www.paravista.org.au Email: churchenquiries@paravista.org.au
Look for us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube!
388 Montague Road Para Vista SA 5093 | Phone: 8263 5087 | PO Box 306 Modbury North SA 5092
