Psalm 121: “Looking to the Hills”
The opening question of this Psalm resonates with all of us. To be a human being, so often means having to face numerous problems and challenges in life. No one is immune from that. Sooner or later, we all find ourselves asking: Who’s going to help me? How am I going to get through this? How will I cope? These kinds of questions naturally come up when we’re faced with difficulties in life – when we’re pulling a heavy load and it all seems a bit too much for us.
Where will my help come from when I get sick? Or when my loved ones get sick? Where will my help come from when my business fails? Or my marriage fails? Where will my help come from when I feel overwhelmed and afraid? When I don’t think I can cope anymore? Where will my help come from when I don’t know what to do? And when I feel like giving up? Where will my help come from when I feel crushed by guilt? Or when I’ve been deeply wounded by others?
With the Psalmist, we can confidently say, “My help comes from the Lord!” These problems may indeed be too much for us to handle on our own, but God promises to be with us, and nothing is too much for Him to handle!
The take-home message for us, is that we can trust in God because He is trustworthy. We can have faith in Jesus because he is faithful to us – always and in all things! This same confidence in God’s faithfulness and goodness to us, is repeated in Romans 8:37-39, where we are reassured that whatever life throws up at us, whatever we have to go through, God will always be with us, and He won’t let us down. God will continue to be faithful and trustworthy. And His love for us will never fail!
Pr. Richard Haar
Bible Reading: Psalm 121
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.
Family Support Coordinator News, from Georgie
School Snippets
Annual Performance Report
Although not a formal agenda item on the Congregation AGM agenda, Good Shepherd Lutheran School shares its Annual Performance Report for the 2021 school year: https://bit.ly/38ktaHx
The regular Week Two Newsletter is available for you to enjoy here: https://bit.ly/3lbUHNO
This week for School Worship we continued our new theme ‘Fruit of the Spirit’. Pastor Stephen Abraham talked about ‘joy’. We would love for you to join us. Just click on the link: https://bit.ly/3yzTsjM
Growing Faith at Home
Dear Church Family,
The title for this week’s GFH resource is ‘Love one another’. Jesus invested his love in the people he shared time with… and then commanded them do the same. Imagine a world where everyone showed love through their words and actions… We often come up short (I know I do) but with Jesus’ strength and help, we can show love to the people we interact with each day.
I loved the theme of the school’s Mother’s Day stall, ‘The Five Love Languages’. Children were given the opportunity to think about their mother’s/grandmother’s/caregiver’s love language and bless them with a meaningful gift. The Creative Response section of the GFH resource offers more thoughts on this topic, with a website to find out more. The different love languages were a definite eye opener for me when I first came across them. Why not check them out? God bless your week everyone.
Georgie
Camps
Junior Christian Life (JC Life) Camp
JC Life is a camp for young people in Years 4 -7. It is aimed at providing a fun, safe place for young people to meet others of their own age and grow in relationship with God. This year the camp’s theme is “Unlikely Heroes”. A generous sponsorship is on offer for all first-time campers attending camp in 2022. The camp will be held in the school holidays 11th-14th July, at Camp Kedron, Barmera. Head to blueprintministries.org.au and follow the links through to the JC Life camp section. If you have any questions, feel free to ask Georgie!
Metro CLW
Metro CLW is a camp for young people in Years 7-12. This year’s camp is held in the July school holidays, 11th-15th of July, at the Ankara Campsite at Walkers Flat. The theme for camp is GLOW, based on Matthew 5:14-16. Pastor Stephen Schultz will be talking about how we can GLOW in our schools, workplaces and at home. There will be fun, games, worship, small group time, amazing food and even a gnome hunt!! A generous sponsorship is on offer for all first-time campers attending camp in 2022. For more information and to register head to blueprintministries.org.au and follow the links through to the Metro CLW camp section. If you have any questions, feel free to ask Nicole Pfeiffer or Georgie!
Idea Inspired by Pastor Richard
Last week Pastor Richard suggested that we come up with a display/sign ‘Be determined and confident’ as we walk with Jesus (our Pastor and Good Shepherd) into our future. He was impressed with the creative gifts displayed over Easter by our amazing Visual Arts team. Only thing is, many of our Visual Arts Team are unavailable for one reason or another right now. A couple people chatted with me after the service and made some suggestions. So, combining them, here is an idea.
There will be cut out letters available after the service on Sunday. You are invited to write one of your favourite Bible verses on the letters. It could be a verse that inspires you, a verse that you have relied on when you have walked through days that you needed God’s strength to be strong and courageous, or maybe just a verse that that means a lot to you. There will be pens available (with wipes to clean them after) or you may choose to bring your own pen of whatever colour. So, start thinking (it is hard to come up with just one)! We would love to have as many people contribute as we can! We are all part of the Good Shepherd flock!
Grow Ministries Update
Our next workshop with Grow Ministries is on Saturday 4 June 8.45-1pm here at Para Vista. We will focus on “Missional Faith Formation”. Look beyond the walls of our church buildings and seek to understand the people in our local communities. Who are the spiritual but not religious in our area? What about church refugees? Why is it important to understand those we are trying to reach? We explore models and approaches for missional outreach and pathways for encountering Jesus.
Everyone is welcome! If you would like to come along, please email churchenquiries@paravista.org.au to register. Tea and coffee will be provided but please BYO morning tea.
A community which intentionally develops intergenerational relationships to grow faith in Jesus so that He can build His Kingdom here and now.”
Kathy Liebig
Grow Team Leader
One in Worship Praise and Worship Services
If you enjoy singing or listening to Christian songs and music or like to pray with others, for others, you are warmly invited to attend the One in Worship service on Sunday evening May 29th at the Springhead Lutheran Church Hall near Mount Torrens, with services offered on the last Sunday of the month through until the end of September.
Come along for a community meal at 5pm (gold coin donation if possible) and/or join us for the evening service of prayer and worship at 6pm.
The service will be live streamed as well on the Onkaparinga Lutheran Parish Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/onkaparish/
Any queries, phone: Kathy Schutz 0439 414 084 / Amy Loechel 0416 222 591.
Office News
Notice of AGM
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Para Vista Inc. will be holding the Annual General Meeting on Sunday 22 May 2022 beginning at 12.15pm. (Please note the amended start time.) The agenda and reports should have been emailed to you. If you have not received them, please contact the office for a copy so you have an opportunity to review the information prior to the meeting. Hard copies are available in the church office, front foyer and café areas. To participate in the meeting remotely please use the following:
Zoom Meeting ID: 859 4264 4724
Passcode: 496038; or
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85942644724?pwd=dk9pZ0hXNjRlRXJRWjNGNjgzTzBidz09
Apologies may be submitted to the church office on 8263 5087 or churchenquiries@paravista.org.au. An apology sheet is located on the sound desk from this week if you wish to complete prior to the meeting.
Marantha Health Fundraising Sausage Sizzle Lunch
Prior to the AGM Maranatha health will be providing a sausage sizzle lunch. Cost will be $3.00 per sausage, or you can get a bargain and buy 2 for $5.00. See Maranatha Health for more information or to donate.
Serving Platters
Thank you to all who provided a plate for the shared lunch last Sunday. I am sure you will agree with me that the buffet spread left it hard to make a choice. A few serving plates were left behind on the day and have been left in the café. Please remove them as any items remaining after a month will be donated to Lutheran Care.
Air Conditioners
The evaporative coolers in the church have been closed down for the winter months. To prevent accidental usage the remote controls have been removed and will be returned when the units are opened for summer. Ceiling fans in the auditorium have also been reversed.
Café Heating
Works to install heating into the Café area will commence on Monday 16 May. Everything going to plan the works should be completed by COB Tuesday 17th May. If you are moving through this area on these two dates, please remain outside any cordoned-off area/s.
Australian Lutheran World Service (AWLS)
509,873 – that’s how many people our Australian and New Zealand Lutheran family have supported through AWLS. Lives You Touch leaflets have been placed into the display rack in the café providing information on how that support can be continued by gifting through your will. Please take a leaflet and consider the impact you could make.
Request for Assistance
One of our members has been placed into respite at Glynde homes and requires assistance in picking up some washing once a week from the homes and dropping it off at Gilles Plains to be washed and then returning clean from the same address to the Glynde homes.
Person would need to be COVID and Flu-vaccinated. Please contact the church office 8263 5087 or churchenquiries@paravista.org.au to assist or for further details.
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”
Romans 12:12
We are a Covid-Safe Church 
The church is required to comply with current Covid-19 arrangements as mandated by the State Government. From 15th April 2022 masks and check-ins are no longer required, however please respect the safety of staff and others by complying with continued physical distancing and by exiting the church through the café doors.
Please do not attend the church if you are feeling unwell. 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
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
