Shovel, Sceptre or Shotgun

How do you feel when you hear Jesus calling you to be a ‘servant’? This seems the exact opposite of a world that encourages us to constantly promote ourselves, get ahead, accumulate ‘likes. We’ll explore some of the ways we can be a servant in 2022 suburban Adelaide, and how that can lead us to places we might not expect, and joys that can be experienced nowhere else. Shovel, sceptre, or shotgun – how will you serve?

Jonathon Krause

Bible Reading for this Week: Luke 17:5-10 (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

Grow Team

Thank you for your support and encouragement of our team over the last couple of years as we have journeyed together in looking at changing our church culture here at Good Shepherd Para Vista.

The Grow Team attended their final Grow coaching workshop a couple of weeks ago.  We focussed on the topic of leadership and spent some time discussing how we will implement our plans for the future.  To finish the workshop each congregation who were part of our cluster presented their joys, highlights, challenges and what we’re looking forward to in the future as we’ve journeyed.

The team will meet one more time this year where we will plan our move forward.

Please pray for Holy Spirit’s leading for the team, each team member, and our community here at Good Shepherd.

“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

Helpers For Carols

Volunteers to join the joint School and Church Community Carols team would be welcomed with great joy. Meetings are planned for the 19^th of October 26^th October and 9^th November.  This team will be planning the Community Carols and recruiting the cast and support team.  Please contact Merv Thiele if you can help.

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.

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

The next meeting of Ladies Fellowship is on 4^th 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 6^th 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

Growing Faith at Home

Dear Church Family,

Are you travelling by car in the next couple of weeks and wondering what to chat with others about? Maybe you could try some out with your small group? Have you considered the Caring Conversations from the GFH resources…

Topics include: ‘Faith that overcomes’, ‘Giving thanks’ and ‘God watches over us’. Some link to the questions we have pondered in school Chapel in recent weeks. (E.g., ‘Why is it sometimes difficult to trust God in hard times?’ connects with ‘Can you tell us about a time when it was hard to trust God?’) You might even ask each other the very same questions that Mrs Kluge, Mrs Levy and Micah answered. Links to these interviews have been shared in the Weekly News.  Listening to each other’s stories, especially the ones that we find challenging, can be a valuable way to share our faith… and remind us that God is with us no matter what we face. A few GFH resources to cover you for the next few weeks have been added to the Children & Families page of the website.

KAPS Youth Event- Save the date- October 30th

The rain did not dampen our spirits on Sunday! We had a lot of fun, going on a treasure hunt and playing games.  During Worship, Pastor Chris Mann from Endeavour shared a message with us about wearing our Jesus clothes. The songs for the evening were chosen by some of the kids who attended. We sang and joined with the actions.   The evening finished with a sausage sizzle and ice cream.

Our next youth event is after the holidays on Sunday 30^th October (last Sunday of the month) from 4pm, so Grandparents and parents, pop it in your diaries now.  Look forward to seeing you then!

School Snippets

The unexpected … it’s all about a right focus

Could we ever have imagined that after a passenger on a flight from Wuhan, China to Melbourne, Victoria on the 19 January 2020, disembarked, unknowingly infected with Coronavirus, that the impact would be so significant and long lasting? Could we ever have imagined that our lives would be ‘thrown off balance’ for such an extended period?

As you know I’m a ‘glass half full’ kind of guy. Almost three years have passed, and I still believe that despite adversity and challenge, we have so much to be thankful for.  We’ve been prompted to reassess what is important in relationships, family, and workplaces. We’ve learnt new skills; we’ve grown to be more resilient and adaptable.  I believe we’ve learned to ‘love more’.

The reality is that life has always taken turns that we don’t expect and our reactions to these events are always varied. The unexpected can make us angry, sad, hurt … and more.

Having these feelings isn’t the issue, as the feelings are normal. When I look back over my life, at the ups and downs, the real problems arise on the occasions when amidst the challenges that have come my way, I have chosen to take my eyes off Jesus. These were times when I wanted life to go my way. These were times when I wanted to tick off boxes on my list. They were times when I was so focused on what I considered ‘problems’ that I failed to remember that God was in control, not me.

Gods never surprised by what happens in my life, or yours, or indeed the life of Good Shepherd Lutheran School. Wherever life has you placed now, be encouraged by Paul’s words to the Philippians.

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any moral excellence and if there is any praise—dwell on these things.”  Philippians 4:8

I thank and praise God for Good Shepherd Lutheran School. We love to recognize and celebrate that which is good. Check out this combined data – received from students, parents and staff through the health check surveys completed earlier in the year. The data is fresh in my mind, as we are currently deep into our Strategic Planning process. These are the elements of the larger survey that were ranked most positively across our community. (Average response rankings of greater than 8/10 by all stakeholder groups)

Community building

• School communications are informative, timely and appropriate
• Technology is used effectively to engage with families and the wider community
• Staff and students are encouraged to serve others
• Individuals are empowered and supported to make decisions
• Trust is significant to the culture of the school

Ongoing improvement and innovation

• The school researches and invests into new ideas, knowledge and practices
• Continual improvement of the school’s facilities is informed by research and contemporary best practice
• The school values, vision and mission guide improvement and innovation.

Excellence in Learning 

• The school strives for excellence in learning
• All areas of work and service are adequately financed and resourced
• The campus, buildings and facilities provide for effective teaching and learning
• Staff feel that excellence is expected of them in their workplace
• The school is being recommended to others in the community

Lutheran Identity

• The policies and practices of the school reflect Christian values
• The culture of the school reflects Lutheran Education values
• The school respects, values and takes action to care for creation (the earth and its environment)
• Staff are given the opportunity to attend worship/devotions

Organization & management 

• The school is safe and secure
• Individuals are accountable for their own actions, behaviours and decisions
• Relationship between the Principal and Chair is based on a shared vision, trust and a common understanding
• The Board have ownership of development & oversight of KPI’s
• The Board and leadership understand the demographic breakdown of the local community

Recent months have taken us on a journey of discovery. Data related to every aspect of school life and learning has been collected. We’ve explored school strengths and opportunities for improvement or transformation. More recently we’ve been dreaming of our preferred future – ‘big visioning’ that will carry us forward on a trajectory of continued growth, improvement, and empowerment. I’m inspired!

David Wilksch, Principal

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.

“…For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.”

Psalm 100:5

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

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388 Montague Road Para Vista SA 5093  |   Phone: 8263 5087 |  PO Box 306 Modbury North SA 5092