Questions That Lead to Wonder
Children are renowned for asking questions. While an incessant “why?” may grate, questions are how they discover and mature. We can learn from them.
Jesus engaged people through questions, giving them time to reflect, process, and take ownership of the discovery process. It was an empowering aspect of their discipleship journey. It led to wonder.
“Who do you people say that I am?” Jesus asked his disciples. This was quickly followed by, “Who do you say I am?”
“What do you want me to do for you?” he asked the once-blind Bartimaeus. This question invited Bartimaeus to trust Jesus, and at the same time, it invited him to participate in (not contribute to) his own healing.
You get to grow through asking your heavenly Father questions. Jesus invites us to ask, seek, and knock.
Some of my favourite questions, all addressed to God, assist me in growing in Father’s love and be a conveyor of this love to others:
“What is it about you and your heart and character I’m missing that has me responding this way?”
“What is it about you and your heart that, if I knew, would have me responding differently?”
“Father, I know you’re with me; what is blocking me from seeing your presence?”
“Father, where am I living out of what I’ve heard in the past rather than what you’re showing me in the present? And what would you like to show me today?”
“Father, how can my joy in you return?”
You can ask your heavenly Father about absolutely anything: relationships, sex, finances, work, emotions, uncertainties, faith, and motives; nothing is off limits.
Ask, be still, wait, listen, he will answer.
Pr. Peter Steicke
Bible Reading for this Week: Jeremiah 29:10-14 and Matthew 7:7-9 (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.
Notice of Half Yearly General Meeting
Please mark your dairies for the upcoming half- yearly GM to be held on 20th November 2022. Reports to follow.
Para Vista Call Meeting
A meeting to call a Pastor for our congregation will be held on 20th November 2022 along with the Half- Yearly AGM after the 10.30am service.
If you have any questions, please either ask a call committee member or email the church office churchenquiries@paravista.org.au
Support For Lutheran Care
Our last collection for 2022 in support of Lutheran Care will be held on Sunday November 27th at both services.
Requests for November are
Tinned vegetables
Tinned soup
Breakfast cereals
Tinned tuna
Sugar
Shampoo
Conditioner
Items to bring joy for Christmas
You may want to include something special that will bring joy to all the family through hampers to be distributed e.g., Christmas pudding, chocolates, mince pies
Also, there will be small gifts distributed to needy families. Identifying gifts for small children is much easier than for teenagers. Any provision of such items as perfume, jewellery, toiletries, headphones, gift cards, board games would be greatly appreciated.
All these items can be included in our collection on the 27th.
Through our promotion of Drakes Supermarket shopping tags, the Family Hub has recently benefitted by $435. This makes a total of $1058 for 2022 donated to the Family Hub through the shopping tags promotion. Anyone shopping at a Drakes supermarket simply has to produce a tag and a percentage of the bill is donated to the Family Hub. If you want details or a tag, see Lorraine Johns.
Our last fundraiser for the Family Hub for 2022 is providing a BBQ meal before the Half Yearly meeting on Sunday November 20th. Cost -Sausages $2, Steak sandwich $5, maximum charge for a family will be $15.
With Gratitude,
Lutheran Care
Live Christmas Trees Available
Birdwood is again selling live Christmas trees. The proceeds go towards supporting the chaplaincy programmes in the schools in the Adelaide Hills.
Trees available are 6 or 7 feet
Cost is $50 per tree
Trees will be available on Saturday 10th of December @ 9am at a venue to be decided
Orders are to be placed no later than Sunday 4th of December. To order or for more information contact John Dolling – 0409819864 or via email – dollingjohn47@gmail.com
Devotion Book
The Devotion Book “Time Out in Christ’s Hand” for 2023 is now available for ordering. The cost will be $30 so if you would like to place an order, please could you let us know at the office 0882635087 or send an email to church enquiries.
Connect Cards
Please fill in a connect card as you walk in the church as it is the only way we can connect with you!
Maranatha Health
Thank you for all your support of Maranatha Health and the work we do to improve healthcare in Uganda. We’d love to catch up and celebrate what we’ve achieved together! Please join us for afternoon tea on 12 November 2022 from 2-4pm at Broadview Baptist Church.
Endeavour College- Mock Interviewers Needed
Want to help our Endeavour College future graduates get career ready?
Sign up to our Year 10 Mock Interviews to help provide students with real-world experience.
Event details:
WHEN: Monday, November 14
TIME: 9:00am – 1:00pm
WHERE: Endeavour College
For more information and to register your interest contact Annie Fitridge, annie.fitridge@endeavour.sa.edu.au
Morning tea provided.
Annie Fitridge
Student Pathways Leader
Young Adults
Come along and join us for some fun and exciting game of mini golf at West Beach on this Saturday the 5th of November at 3.30pm. Please continue praying for us as we continue this growing ministry.
Christa Schwarz
Ladies Fellowship
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.
Good Shepherd Country Drive
Come along for a family outing, drive along a beautiful green country road. Have lunch and join in and play some games, but most of all have some great fellowship. Also bring afternoon tea for mystery location.
Venue: Federation Park Gumeracha
Date: Sunday 13th November
Time: 12.15pm (at the park)
BYO Lunch, drinks & games + tables
Calling For Pastoral Care Team Coordinators
Our church community is seeking for a person or persons to assist in coordinating the Pastoral care for our community.
If you are interested and believe you have gifts to serve our church family in this way, please come and speak to Cess Wesselingh after the service or write it on your connect card so he can get in touch with you and explain this further.
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.
Family Support Coordinator News, from Georgie
School Snippets
Would you like to know what is going on in the school? Please check out our School Newsletter via this link: https://bit.ly/3DZLaUr
If you would like to have a hard copy of the newsletter, Georgie is more than happy to organize one for you!
Chapel Invitation
This week we continued our Christmas theme ‘Journey to Bethlehem’ in Chapel. Eve and Emma from Endeavour talked about the seemingly impossible task that Mary and Joseph encountered when they discovered what was about to happen in their lives. They shared that when God gives us something difficult to do, he makes a way. Nothing is impossible with Him! (Even loving people who are tricky to love!) Have a look at this week’s devotion for a reflection of what was shared. Next week Pastor Stephen Abraham will be sharing a message about the shepherd’s experience that first Christmas night. We would love for you to join us! (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!) Tea and coffee will be available before and after the service. See you next Wednesday at 8:50am for Worship, a coffee and a chat!
Growing Faith at Home
Dear Church Family,
Our God is with us in every season of our lives, the ones that are full of reasons to celebrate and the ones that are marked with challenges. This week I will share two GFH resources. This Sunday is ‘All Saints Sunday’. A time to remember loved ones who have passed away. This resource offers some conversation starters and ideas that your family and friends might consider reflecting on as you remember loved ones that have left an indelible imprint on your life. The other GFH resource speaks of hope and the blessing we can be to others around us.
May you experience God’s comfort and love as you go about your week.
KAPS Youth Event– Save the date- November 27th
Can you keep up with this weather? After a cold and wet morning, the sun came out in the afternoon on Sunday! (Thank you, God!) In fact, it was warm and even a little humid as we enjoyed some water balloon fun on the school oval. This was followed by worship in the church and some conversations over dinner.
Our last KAPS event for the year is coming up on Sunday 27th November from 4pm, so pop it in your diaries now. This time it is open to all members of the family as we experience ‘Christmas in November’. Just a $2 donation per child to cover costs for the activities. Look forward to seeing you then! For more details you can check out the fliers in the café or contact Rachel on 0475 582 289 or chat with Georgie.
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
Office News
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.
“…Do you know how the clouds hang poised, those wonders of him who has perfect knowledge?”
Job 37:16
Safe Church
Please consider the health and safety of others and do not attend the church if you are feeling unwell.
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
