Our Core Business
The Church does many good things in our world and so we should. But we mustn’t neglect our core business. Paul tells us that God appointed him a herald and apostle because “our God and Saviour wants all people to be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth.”
Pr. Steen Olsen
Bible Reading for this Week: 1 Timothy 2:1-7 (NIV)
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
Lutheran Care Community Visitors Scheme Training Day
Next Tuesday, 20 September the Lutheran Care Community Visitors Scheme are running a free training/community education/connecting day at Blair Athol between 10am- 3.30pm.
Please note date is open for booking till the 19th September 2022.
For more information: https://www.lutherancare.org.au/community-visitors-scheme/
Lutheran Church Internal Mission
My sincere thanks to all at Good Shepherd who responded to my recent appeal for gifts to assist Hanna Schulz, a Lutheran from South Australia, who serves with Wycliffe Bible Translators/Lutheran International Mission in a remote part of Papua New Guinea. I’ve been delighted with the number who have said that they have responded with a gift for her Dormitory Project. Beginning this week, she has a workshop in her small village until 21 September for 11 language groups, in which they will be doing Bible translation. For most of them, it will be the first Scriptures ever to be translated into their languages! She plans more workshops for next year but needs to build a dormitory to accommodate the participants because the village houses are too small and already overcrowded. If you still want to contribute to taking the Gospel “to the ends of the earth”, please go to: https://wycliffe.org.au/projects/ubuo-training-centre-png/ or talk to Ian Hutchinson, SA Representative for Wycliffe Bible Translators, to find out more.
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
Family Zone Update
Great support for Lutheran Care. Your generosity continued in the August collection. 33 bags fully filled were collected by Lutheran Care on Tuesday after our last collection. This will be used to support families in need in the Northern suburbs. Our next collection will be on Sunday September 25th. When we receive information for the requirements for September, we will notify you.
With Gratitude,
Family Zone Support Team
Good Shepherd Call to Pastor Joel Cramer
Pastor Joel Cramer has informed us that: after prayerful consideration he has declined the call to Good Shepherd.
Joel was encouraging in that he said he can see the Spirit moving in people at Good Shepherd. He was able to sit down with the Ministry Coordination Group and he sensed our willingness to try different things and our care and support of the younger people in our midst. He could also sense that there is much hidden talent still to be tapped.
He also conveyed that the information we provided during the call process was excellent and well put together and appreciated his visit as this gives a lot of information not able to be communicated in writing.
If you would like to read a copy of Pastor Joel’s email is here: Pastor Joel Cramer – declined call
The Call Committee has met and are considering additional Pastors from an updated LCA District call list. In addition, further Pastor’s names can be submitted the call committee by Tuesday 20th September. This can either be in person or via the church office. The call committee has further work planned and will advise the congregation after this.
Please continue to always pray for our community and Call Committee and especially as we seek the leading of the Holy Spirit in this area.
Lindsay Freund (Chairperson)
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
Family Support Coordinator News, from Georgie
Save the Date! KAPS Youth Event- 25th September
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 others 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.
So, what are you waiting for, save the date and come along to join in with the fun.
Growing Faith at Home
Dear Church Family,
The latest Grow Together newsletter is available for you in the café area. There are a range of articles and an activity on the back. One article discusses ‘The relational world of adolescents. A quote from James Fowler: ‘I think the true religious hunger of adolescence is to have a God who knows me and values me deeply and can be a kind of guarantor of my identity and worth in a world where I’m struggling to find out who I can be.’ The article shares some insight on how young people wrestle with aspects of their spiritual identity. The regular Growing Faith at Home is also available for you to chat about with your friends and family.
School Snippets
A major highlight from this week was the Stage Four (Year 5 and 6) Entrepreneur Enterprise Market. It was a culmination of a brilliant transdisciplinary unit of learning with real life application. Students created a business idea, pitched it to school leadership and received a $50 loan for their project. Production, marketing and advertising soon followed. Students were required to pay back their loan with 10% interest. They were also required to donate 10% of their profits to a charity of their choice. For more detailed information, please have a look at this week’s newsletter by following this link: https://bit.ly/3UizbY7 Alternatively, just ask Georgie and she is happy to organize one for you!
This week we began a new theme in Chapel entitled ‘I am … and here are a few chapters from my God story’. Mrs. Abraham interviewed Mrs. Kluge (Pastor Noel Kluge’s wife) 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://youtu.be/wMebbhxjfOE
Please note: Due to the school’s Showcase performance next Wednesday, the school will be having Chapel in their own classes. We won’t be having worship in the church that morning. The message is videoed, and we will share them with you, like we have today. You are most welcome to join us again the following week (Wednesday September 28th) at 8:50am for Worship and a coffee!
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
Unfortunately, the coffee percolator is not in a working condition. So, this Sunday only instant coffee will be served. 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.
“…The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be my God, the Rock, my Saviour!”
2 Samuel 22:47
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
