Surprised by Joy
Joy to the world! The Lord is come:
Let earth receive her king.
Let every heart prepare him room,
And heaven and nature sing.
There is joy in knowing that we are loved and treasured by our Heavenly Father. In spite of human indifference and rebellion towards our Creator, God has never given up on his restorations plans for his creation – including us humans who have been created in the image of God.
Over thousands of years, God promised a Deliverer from the curse of sin, a descendant of Abraham who would bring blessing to the nations, a son of David who would establish an everlasting kingdom, the Messiah through whom God would redeem the world. The Lord’s ancient promises are – and will be – fulfilled in Jesus.
At the birth of his Infant Majesty, God’s holy angels sang for joy in heaven; and people rejoiced here on earth. As we remember Jesus’ birth, we celebrate the love of God for us in sending his Son to save us and make us his forever.
I invite you to share and celebrate the joy of Jesus with the Good Shepherd community over this weekend.
Christmas Eve
5pm Family Christmas Service: “Baby Boy”
6:30 & 8pm Carols, readings, and message: “Joy in the Best Gift of All”
Matthew 1:18-25, Luke 2:1-20
Christmas Day
10am only with Holy Communion: “Celebrating with the Angels” (guest preacher, Pr. Richard Haar)
Luke 2:8-20
Boxing Day
10am only: “Joy in Blessing the Poor”
Luke 14:1, 12-14. Acts 6:1-7
As we enter these days of Christmas, I pray this blessing for you and yours:
Oh! May the God of green hope fill you up with joy, fill you up with peace, so that your believing lives, filled with the life-giving energy of the Holy Spirit, will brim over with hope! (Romans 15:13 MSG)
Pastor Rolly Stahl
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 pastors.
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.
A Fond Farewell
Goodbyes are never easy, but they are especially difficult with people you care about. My boys and I have an adventurous year ahead, because for family reasons we will be moving to the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales. My last day in the Church Office will be Christmas Eve. I will miss your encouraging words, your acts of kindness, and your smiling faces all so much! I would love nothing more than to pack up Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and bring it along with me!
Being a part of the Good Shepherd team has been more than “just a job” for me – it has been an expression of the way God has called me to serve Him, and it has been a healing experience as well. While the thought of leaving brings tears to my eyes, I rejoice in the understanding that, no matter how far we travel, we are all in the family of Christ together. I’ll be back in SA quite a bit in the early months, so we may yet see each other again. May God bless you all with peace and joy throughout the coming year and always,
Rachel Koopmans
Media & Administration Officer
Christmas/New Year Services 2021
Christmas Eve: 5:00pm Children & Family Service; 6:30pm and 8pm Carols, Readings and Message.
Christmas Day: 10am ONLY – combined service with Holy Communion (no tea or coffee)
Boxing Day: 10am ONLY – combined service (tea or coffee served on this day.)
New Year’s Eve: 7:30pm intergenerational service “Songs of the Heart”, followed by a fun evening of games, carpet bowls, and connecting. BYO food & drinks.
Songs of the Heart – 7:30pm New Year’s Eve 2021 
Breaking: The SA Government has just announced that there will be restrictions on singing, from 28th December. However we will still gather on New Years Eve in fellowship, to celebrate all that God has given, and is giving to us!
For our worship time on New Year’s Eve, we’re hoping to get people from various generations to talk about their favourite Christian song, hymn, or carol.
After sharing why this song is special and what it means to them, we will all join together in singing it!
Please note: for us to all sing with gusto, the song needs to be singable – and a bit familiar to our Good Shepherd community.
To make this intergenerational, the age brackets are: 0-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-60, 61-75, 75-90, 90- 105.
Please let me know if you’d like to share your favourite song of the heart.
Our praise and worship will be followed by a fun evening of games, carpet bowls, and connecting with one another. BYO food and drinks, but there will be a sausage sizzle by donation, and free popcorn as well!
Joy in Jesus!
Pr Rolly
Grow Team News
With Christmas approaching we have a wonderful opportunity to make new connections with people who wouldn’t normally come along during the year. Let’s pray for Holy Spirit to keep us open to these opportunities to connect with someone new over the festive season.
Let’s continue to encourage one another to make new connections and share stories to grow our faith in Jesus. “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
Social Club News
The GSPV Social Club held its AGM recently and elected its new committee for 2022:
President: Ross Pukallus
Vice President: Mike Hancock
Margaret Dohnt: Treasurer
Rosemary Wheeldon: Secretary
The Social Club would like to extend its gratitude to past President Tom Curnow, for his faithful service to the club.
From 27th January 2022 the club will continue to meet each Thursday from 1pm-3pm . $3 per week will secure refreshments, fellowship and activities including carpet bowls, Bridge, Rummykin and other card games, and several outings are arranged throughout the year. However there may be some informal gatherings in January – please call Ross on 0422 482 558 or Mike on 0403 375 474 for more information. From the Senior Social Club, we wish you all a very Merry Christmas and blessings of the season.
Family Zone: Great Support Throughout 2021!
Thank you for your continued support of the food collections for Lutheran Care. Last month’s response will bring joy to many at Christmas as they open their hampers and discover among other items a wide range of nibbles and delights made available by the members of Para Vista.
Food collections will recommence in February 2022.
Besides the monthly food donations we donated $2295 directly the Family Zone at Ingle Farm to support their work among the disadvantaged families in the area. Considering the restrictions imposed by Covid-19, this was a very pleasing result. Main sources of fundraising were the plant sale ($1289), BBQ ($418) and Drakes shopping tags ($571). If you shop at any Drakes supermarket and show your key tag before processing your purchases, a percentage of your purchase is donated to the Family Zone. Key tags are available in the church cafe or from the church office.
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
Family Support Coordinator News from Georgie
Christmas Resources
I’d like to highlight some clips that you might share with your children or grandchildren over Christmas. The first one is the Christmas Story from the perspective of children:
The next two are child friendly cartoon style videos depicting the story of Christmas:
Have you collected your ‘Christmas Family Faith Trail’ booklet yet? Copies are available on the stand in the café area. Why not pick one up for your children or grandchildren? Heaps of Advent and Christmas ideas to try out over Christmas!
As this is the last Weekly News for the year, I would like to share a few GFH resources with you. Enjoy some Caring Conversations, Devotion and Service ideas and some Creative Responses with family and friends over the next few weeks. Chatting as you drive to a holiday destination is a wonderful way to enrich your faith as you share time together! These resources are available on our website: https://bit.ly/3qheRIB
5pm Family Christmas Eve Service
Come along and celebrate Jesus’ birthday with us at the 5pm Family Christmas Eve Service. There are plenty of opportunities to be involved! Join in with singing, actions and retelling the hope filled and joyous story that impacts our life today! Invite your family, grandchildren, friends and neighbours! Look forward to seeing you soon!
God bless you all with his hope and joy!
Blessings,
Georgie
Worship Team Gathering
Hi Everyone,
It’s been a while since we all got together as a team, so we’re organising a Worship Team Get Together on the 8th January 2022 from 5.00pm (dependent on COVID restrictions). Michael Gower has graciously opened his home up for this. His address is 6 Saturn Cres, Modbury North.
We understand this is quite soon, and we apologise for that. A few of us got caught up in the busyness of Christmas.
The meat will be provided, just bring your family, salad and/or sweets, drinks and chairs.
So that we can plan provisions, can you please let us know if you are planning to attend or not by the 5th January 2022.
We would love to see you all there.
God Bless and Merry Christmas
James
Office News
Office Closure over Christmas
The office will be closed for an extended period to allow staff to exhaust leave. Times will be:
24 December 2021 9.00am to 2.00pm OPEN
25 December 2021 to 10th January 2022 CLOSED
Tuesday to Friday 2022 OPEN 9.00am to 3.00pm
For urgent contact please call 8263 5087 and leave a message. Messages will be retrieved by staff as available over this time.
Weekly News
The last Weekly News for 2021 will be published on Friday 24 December and the first edition for 2022 will be published on 14 January.
A Parking Blessing for Christmas
Parking for members will be in the Good Shepherd early learning centre car park (old Alliance church) and can be accessed via Hillary Cres without having to enter the church grounds. Please consider leaving the parks close to the entrance of the church as a blessing for our visitors. Overflow if required will be on the school oval. These arrangements will be in place for all Christmas services. Parking signs will be in place and your assistance in following directions of the car parking attendants is appreciated.
Car parking attendants are required to assist with traffic and parking on Christmas Eve from:
- 3pm till 6.45pm.
Please contact Stephen on 0403 180 814 or email churchenquires@paravista.org.au to assist.
Car Park Repairs
There are planned car park repairs for Wednesday 19th January 2022.
If you are attending the school site on that day, you can expect the exit to Hilary Crescent to be closed. Please enter and exit via Montague road for that day.
AED Device
A Defibrillator (AED) is located rear school alcove next to the Café playground. A key is on an orange tag next to security keypad in the café (small entry exit door). All members holding keys to the complex are to add to their security procedure the visibility of this key and if it not hanging on the hook to advise either the church or school office as soon as possible of its absence. First Aiders Please note where the unit and key are located, in case of emergency.
Found
A security fob on a keychain has been found in the courtyard, that does not belong to the church or school. Please contact the office if you think it is yours.
We are a Covid-Safe Church 
The church is required to comply with current Covid-19 arrangements as mandated by the State Government. QR Code check-in is a legal requirement for all who enter the facility, as are masks except where exemptions apply. If you do not have the ability to check in using this code, please check in with a host or sign the records sheet with your name and telephone number. Physical distancing of 1.5 metres is required when not seated. This includes entering the building, attending Communion and while served tea & coffee. Please respect the safety of staff and others by complying with current distancing regulations. White floor markings are placed at 1.5m to assist you. 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-Friday 9am-3pm
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
