The Keystone of the Kingdom
Imagine you are renting out a property to some family friends you’ve known for years. It starts off well. But after a few months, there is a missed payment for the fortnightly rent. What do you do with that?
Giving the benefit of the doubt, you might wait for few days, or maybe a fortnight.
But still no rent – and now your tenants are four weeks overdue.
You decide to call them, but no one answers. You leave a message: “I’m wondering what might be happening that your rent is a few weeks behind. Can you please call me back to see if we can work something out?”
Another two weeks goes by – and still no rent. So you pop by and knock at the door. It looks like someone is living there, but still no answer.
In spite of repeated attempts to contact your tenants, there is no reply – and no rent!
So what’s next? Eviction! It gets messy doesn’t it?
After Jesus entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, and evicted some money changers and merchants from the temple courts, things got messy. Just like their ancestors in the days of Isaiah and Jeremiah, the religious leaders of Israel hated Jesus for messing with their business.
So they decide to take him on and sort him out. They try to discredit Jesus, and catch him out with tough questions, so they can maintain control – and run the temple the way they like. Matthew chapters 21 and 22 give evidence of the ongoing hostility towards Jesus. Yet Jesus keeps turning tables on them!
This Sunday, we’ll be unpacking Jesus’ story of the tenants in the vineyard. God is always looking for fruit from his people: faithfulness, justice, right living, looking after the marginalised, and sharing his love and light with others. As I’ve said before: No fruit, get the boot! No fruit, chopped off at the root! Eviction looms!
Yet in Sunday’s reading, Jesus ends up quoting some Old Testament verses on stones: “The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone” (Ps 118:22-23); and, “Anyone who falls on this stone will be broken to pieces; anyone on whom it falls will be crushed” (Isaiah 8:14-15, Daniel 2:34,44).
This has puzzled me for decades! Come along Sunday as we try to make sense of Jesus’ perplexing statements. I suspect Jesus is looking forward to something new that will emerge as part of God’s amazing plans for us all!
Shalom!
Pr Rolly Stahl
Bible Readings: Isaiah 5:1-7; Matt 21:33-46
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.
Imagining Theology
Over the last months, we’ve recognised a dramatic shift in culture. In some ways, we didn’t see it coming, but in others, we always knew that the world would shift. After decades of digital revolution, the contemporary church has encountered a divergence of mindsets on how pastoral care, evangelism, worship and ministry will look in the future.
Now, at the precipice of a new era of the Church, it is imperative that we imagine through the Spirit’s vision what change means for Good Shepherd Community.
After the 8:45 and 10:30 services, we’ll be gathering in the library to discuss the Marks of the Post-COVID Church: Imagining the Ancient Church of the Future. These forty-five minute discussions will be helpful as we look into the years ahead.
Across these discussions, we’ll dig into the scriptures that give us vision and hope for the future and how we can understand and see the importance of our changing church Culture. We’ll be meeting in the church library to start with, but if there is large interest, we’ll move over to the school.
Grow Ministries Faith at Home
Dear Church Family,
‘The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.’
A pretty important stone in building terms. Jesus is sometimes referred to as the cornerstone. What does this mean in your life? GFH offer some great resources for you to get the conversations going.
Check out the bible reading for Sunday using this link: https://youtu.be/7MqbjfhEHF0
What point do you think Jesus was making?
Also included on the website this week are some extra resources that you might like to explore, e.g. tips for reading the Bible, Luther’s Prayers, Luther’s scroll.
Next month we will be offering ‘Step Up- Preparing for First Communion’ course. This program is designed to prepare children aged around 10 years for Holy Communion. Starting date will be Sunday October 18, followed by four consecutive Friday nights. If you would like to join us, please register your interest with the Church Office (8263 5087) or email me (Georgie) georgie.schuster@paravista.org.au
Have a wonderful week!
God bless you!
Georgie
Prayer Requests
As we adapt to our new way of living 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.
Eggssssss
The folks with the yolks are back! Come and get your free range eggs – $4 per dozen. Please bring your spare cartons. Get ‘em while they’re (not) hot! Ed.
Office News
Daylight Savings! How are we at this end of the year already?! Please remember to “Spring forward in Spring” and put your clocks forward before you turn in on Saturday.
Help Wanted:
Those with the gift of hospitality to reinstate the mission of tea and coffee service each Sunday! Please contact the church office to let us know if you would like to be a part of this exciting new development!
A volunteer to assist in replenishing all the Covid-19 cleaning supplies and ensure signage is still correctly positioned. Up to two hours per week is required.
A ‘chandler’, to service the candles in the church, on a weekly basis. This can be done at church or from home, to keep the candles trimmed and burning bright.
No experience needed for these positions – training is provided.
Mission Support
Please continue supporting our congregation’s mission and ministry through regular offerings as our facility and staff continues to operate in a different way.
Electronic Deposits can be made to the following bank account details:
BSB 704942
Account No. 100354939
Account Name GSPV REG; or
Click on the GIVE button on our website.
LLL REG: Download the form here and use the same bank details as above in the “account to be credited” section, and email back to address shown on the form. Alternatively contact the LLL on 83607200 or 1800 556457.
Offering Envelopes can still be dropped in at the church office during office hours.
Together Magazine is Here!
The latest edition of Together Magazine is out – copies are available in the church and office.
COVID-Safe Requirements for Worship – please observe these guidelines:
- Entry through front foyer and exit via rear courtyard – exceptions for people with mobility issues. If you’re an able walker, consider parking away from front entrance.
- Register names and contact details.
- Please maintain physical distance 1.5m.
- People from the same household can sit next to one another. Otherwise we need to keep 2 chair spaces between people
- Follow the directional arrows for entry, exit, and Holy Communion.
- Freewill offerings will be received via a retiring offering on the way out of the sanctuary.
- No tea and coffee afterwards at this stage. Social distancing still required while on site.
- Please follow directions of worship hosts
- Early service attendees will need to vacate the building to allow a clean before second service attendees can enter the building.
- Worship hosts and welcomers are now nominated Covid Marshalls.
Regarding children:
• Children will sit with their families. Please feel free to bring activities.
• Playground next to Revive Café is open after the service. Children need to be supervised at all times.
• Parenting Change Room is open again.
Wantok Place – the Museum Unmasked at The Friends of Lutheran Archives Meeting!
Wantok Place is the LCA’s museum of Papua New Guinea artefacts. Timothy Pietsch, the manager of Wantok Place, will talk about the origins of the museum, in Papua New Guinea and in Australia. He will also take us on a PowerPoint tour of the museum artefacts (some of which are culturally and financially significant), including some of the rarities and oddities.
When: Monday 19th October 2020
Where: Bethlehem House, Sudholz Place in the City
Time: 7.00 pm for the AGM, followed by the general meeting.
All welcome, gold coin donation. Because of COVID-19 requirements, if you plan on attending, please register by Friday 16th October with Helen Schubert on – 8364 4350, 0447 740 711 or email hschubert@internode.on.net. Please don’t leave a voice-mail.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.”
John 15:5
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
388 Montague Road Para Vista SA 5093 Phone: 8263 5087
PO Box 306 Modbury North SA 5092
Church Website: www.paravista.org.au Email: churchenquiries@paravista.org.au
