What is the Kingdom Like?
When my girls were young, they loved listening to stories. It always amazed me that they wanted to hear the same stories over and over again. And it wasn’t just a ploy to avoid going to bed!
We loved telling them Bible stories. And they loved listening.
Why do people of all generations like stories?
Because we are curious. Stories draw you in. As you imagine or observe the characters, and the tensions between them, you start wondering how things will work out for them. (By the way, that’s why we sometimes keep watching a dull movie right until the end!)
A really good story or movie gives us something to consider, reflect on, and discuss with others. As we wrestle with the story, it wrestles with us. Stories have the capacity to shape and transform us – for better or for worse!
Jesus was a master storyteller. He uses illustrations from everyday life to explain how things are in the kingdom of God. As we get older, we may have become so familiar with those stories that we no longer listen, reflect, or wonder about its meaning for us today.
When it comes to the stories Jesus’ told, we do well to ponder:
- What is the main point of the story?
- What did this story mean for those who first heard it?
- What might this story mean for us today?
- If we take this story on board, what needs to change in our lives?
What I still love about reading God’s story is that my story is now part of it. Fact is we all need to live for a greater story than just ourselves. The joy of doing life with Jesus is getting to play a part in God’s restoration story for his world. His story is the only one that has a glorious ending.
Come along this Sunday as we talk about stories, and then unpack two stories that Jesus told. Who knows…? It just might change your life.
Joy in Jesus!
Pr Rolly Stahl
Bible Readings: Mark 4:26-34
(reading Mark 4:1-25 will be helpful)
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.
Jesus “Super Signs” in John – 7+1 Miracles
John records just seven of Jesus’ miracles – or “signs”. Over four weeks we’ll look at each of them. What do these signs tell us about Jesus?
How did they impact people who witnessed them? How did they fulfil the Old Testament Scriptures? And how do they point to Jesus’ resurrection…
and our life in Christ? Come and share in the joy of life in the Word.
Four Wednesday evening workshops with Pr Rolly, starting June 9th.
Please register via the Church Office: 8263 5087 Or: churchenquiries@paravista.org.au
Decade Dance
The Decade Dance will be held on the 19th of June from 7pm-midnight in the church hall.
Anyone is welcome. We teach easy dances on the night. We are inviting kids under 18 as well, so long as they have a parent or guardian with them.
There will be time for freestyle, as well as line dances like the Macarena, Nutbush and Cotton-Eye Joe.
BYO food and drinks. Admission is free.
The Theme is ‘Decades,’ so come dressed in clothes from your favourite decade (20s, 50s, 80s etc.)
There will be practices and ballroom dancing lessons for those who want to learn ahead of time. These will be held in the church hall from 7-8pm on Tuesday the 1st, 8th and 15th of June. You are welcome to come to all or one.
Greta Matthias
Coffee and Conversation
There will be no Coffee and Conversation this Monday, due to the Public Holiday.
I look forward to seeing many of you next Monday 21st June.
Pr Reid Matthias
Maranatha Health End of Financial Year Appeal
“I no longer spend money in hospital since no one gets sick in my household all the time!” Lauben, 68, father and grandfather
The above statement sums up our ultimate dream at Maranatha Health. We want to see communities healthy and thriving.
We do this partly by providing high quality health care, counselling, and health education that families can turn to when things are tough. Thousands of children come through the doors of our hospital each year.
Where we are seeing long-term, transformational, sustainable change however, is through our Village Health Leaders. We partner with a community to elect a team of locals. This team is equipped to identify barriers to well-being, shift household behaviour, advocate for better services, and assist their communities to become healthier.
Lauben’s local community is supported by Village Health Leader, Fiona.
“Previously, at least every month a member from my household would get sick, something that took a lot of money for treatment,’ says Lauben. “Practices in my family have changed with the help of Fiona – every month she comes to my home to advise us on different health issues and checks our home hygiene.”
This End of Financial Year, we are inviting you to invest in this transforming work led by Village Health Leaders like Fiona. Help us roll out this program in more communities:
$50 Provides a month of support for a Village Health Leader
$100 Provides start up capital to begin a Village Health Program in a new area
$500 Funds MH staff to travel to remote locations to equip Village Health Leaders
$3000 Covers the full 12-month costs of a community-wide Village Health Program
To give a tax-deductible donation, <click here > or head to https://maranathahealth.org/give/eofy-appeal and support Maranatha Health this End of Financial Year!
Family Support Coordinator News from Georgie
Growing Faith at Home
Jesus is an amazing storyteller! His stories have a timeless quality. He chose things in his environment like sheep, vines, seeds, and trees to explain deeper things of God and his kingdom. Even in our urban context, these are still very relatable! This week’s GFH resource offers ideas and conversation starters to use at home. How about this for starters… What is one way that you have grown over the past year? What has helped you to grow?
Little Lambs
This morning we heard the story of David’s trust in God as he faced Goliath. Just a heads up that we have one more get together for this term (next Friday). It’s not too late to bring your child or grandchild aged 0-5years of age. Or perhaps you might like to come along and serve a cuppa (to the grown-ups) and have a chat. Either way, we would love to see you!
Little lambs will then be on a little break. As the last day of school term is an optional day our Little Lambs Team will be looking after their own children that day. We will recommence in Week One of Term Three, Friday July 23rd.
The Little Lambs Team.
CLW 2021
Are you in Years 7-12 and looking for something to do in the next school holidays? Metro CLW is an awesome time of fun, fellowship and amazing food and the team can’t wait to explore the theme of GLOW with you this year. If you would like to register, please head to this link: https://bit.ly/3gl26rs
Thanks to the generous sponsorship of the LLL, Blueprint Ministries is offering all new CLW Life campers this year the opportunity to attend free of charge (apart from a $20 admin fee). For more information contact admin@blueprintministries.org.au or check out the Blueprint Ministries website www.blueprintministries.org.au
For return campers there is a discount code available for Good Shepherd Church Members…(this is available for camp leaders too!) Just inquire at the church office churchenquiries@paravista.org.au , or ask Georgie georgie.schuster@paravista.org.au
The Village
It was lovely to see a few different faces helping in the Village last Sunday… But there is room for more. Keep thinking about ways we can support families with children of all ages (whether they are up the front or in the seats right next to you). Why not try one (or more) of these on Sunday?
- Smile and interact with families before, during and after worship.
- Engage with children during worship and encourage them in their worship.
- Chat with families and their children after worship with the intention to repeat each Sunday.
God bless you and your week!
Georgie
Need Help or Prayer? Head to CARE Link!
On the opening page of our GSPV website, https://paravista.org.au/ we have a button that people can click onto for care and assistance. This page has 4 blue circles with white icons. The one on the right has a cube in the middle, with the word Care underneath it. Under that is a tag: Need assistance? You’ll find it here.
Clicking this icon opens a Care & Assistance page where people can leave contact details and a brief description of their need.
The Triage Officer will make initial contact to discover more about the person’s situation, work out an appropriate response, and refer the need for follow up to an appropriate person or team leader, e.g.
- Phone call or visit from one of the Pastoral Care Team
- Counselling referral
- Food/groceries/vouchers/household items
- Handyman help
- Back yard clean up team
- Prayer Ministry Team
- Pastors – spiritual/theological issues; pastoral acts
The vision is that more people from GSPV will be able to use their gifts to share the love of Jesus in the lives of others. It’s joining in His mission.
Please make use of this link and point it out to others.
Pr Rolly Stahl
Office News
Bread Roster
We are looking for volunteers to collect bread products from the TTP Bakers Delight Bakery at 5.05 pm on a Monday night and deliver it to the church for Meet ‘n’ Eat distribution. This would be on a rostered basis so it would not be every week. The more people we get the less everyone needs to do! If this is something you could help with, please contact the office Ph 82635087 or email churchadmin@paravista.org.au
Meet ‘n’ Eat Needs your Containers
If anyone has empty ice cream, or screw top yoghurt containers that they aren’t using, please leave them in the kitchen for Meet ‘n’ Eat to use. They are sending more meals home with guests lately, and it saves them buying disposable containers.
Mission Vision Report
Empty Space?
A reminder to please take all your belongings with you when you leave the Good Shepherd facility. Surplus items will be collected after 2 weeks and placed in the community care bin. Remember, a lost property box is also located on the cupboard in the hall leading from the parenting room to the rest rooms.
Please note that unwanted items are not to be bought to the Good Shepherd facility and left in the hope that we may be able to use them. Permission from the Congregational Administrator or church office is required before leaving items in any area.
“Once, on being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, Jesus replied, “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is,’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.”.”
Luke 17:20-21
We are a Covid-Safe Church 
The church is required to comply with current Covid-19 restrictions as mandated by the State Government. QR Code check-in is a legal requirement for all who enter the facility. If you do not have the ability to check in using this code you are required to check in with a host or sign the records sheet with your name and telephone number. A physical distance of 1.5 metres is still required when not seated. This includes entering the building, attending Communion and getting served tea & coffee. Please respect the safety of staff and others by complying with current social distancing regulations. White floor markings are placed at 1.5 to assist 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
