2026 Fritzsche Oration. Thursday 17 September at 4.00pm (ACST). Australian Lutheran College Library 1/22 Pulteney Street, Adelaide SA 5000
Australian Lutheran College, in partnership with Lutheran Archives, presents the 2026 Fritzsche Oration, Unearthing the Treasures: Insights into the development and professionalisation of the Lutheran Lohe Library Collection.
Teaching and learning has been a core feature of Lutheranism in Australia from its earliest days, and this has been supported by the development of one of Australia’s leading theological libraries.
Formerly known as the Löhe Library, the Australian Lutheran College Library has a wide ranging collection including a rare Weimar edition of Luther’s works. Librarian Trevor Schaefer, Dr Wendy Mayer and Dr Pam Zweck will speak to different aspects of the library’s history and what the collection offers students and researchers in theology and church history.
Held onsite at the Australian Lutheran College Library in its current home at 1/22 Pulteney St, attendees are invited to browse the collection before and after the oration, and appreciate the diversity of resources the library holds
Attend in person or via Zoom.
View the full flyer for details.
CAN AND BOTTLE RUN - Wednesday, 23rd September 9.30am to 11am. If you are unable to be there on the day, you can leave them in a safe spot and we can pick them up.
TERM 4 WYLDLife and CLUB UPDATE: We have combined WYLDLife and Club with a change of day, time and place in Term 4. We have been meeting every Wednesday, 6pm-7pm at the Uniting Church Hall in Nuriootpa and this has been a success. We are continuing to form good relationships with the young people and thankful for the support of the churches.
AT THE END OF THIS TERM - Tiffany Voigt will be heading onto maternity leave. Any enquires about Young Life in the Barossa after September, you can contact Kevin Green; kevingreen@younglife.org.au or 0459073641.
*We are still advertising the position of Area Director, so please pass on the advertisement to any potential candidates. https://www.christianjobs.com.au/jobs/541996298-area-director-at-young-life-australia
2026 Barossa Zone Lutheran Women’s Fellowship Day
Friday Sept 18th at St Petri Lutheran Church, Eden Valley.
Theme: Our Cosmic God Guest Speaker: Pastor Greg Pfeiffer
“What on Earth is a Dark Sky Reserve?”
9.30am for a Tea/Coffee, 10am worship, BYO lunch, trading table, bookshop display.
Host: Spring Valley Lutheran Women’s Fellowship
Good Seed 2027 Diary and Time Out pre orders
The Australian Christian Diary 2027 is now available to order at $18 each.
Same great features as past editions including Daily Bible verses that match the church lectionary, plus all Australian public and school holidays.
Also available to order is a re-usable slipcover for $10. For additional protection against wear and tear.
Time Out to Re-ignite is now available to pre-order for next year. A selection of short meditations for each day of the year, from Australian writers, including pastors and other faith-filled servants of Jesus.
Call in to The GOoD Seed and order yours NOW!
STEP BACK IN TIME – BAROSSA VINTAGE FESTIVAL. 21st-23rd April 2027
It’s TIME to get organised!
Planning meeting 5pm Friday 25th September at Bethany Hall.
‘Cheese and Wine Happy Hour ‘
Looking for Expressions of interest for Committee members, Volunteers, New Ideas.
Dob in a friend!
For more information, contact Anna Schrapel or Chris Canute.
A NOTE FROM PASTOR PHIL
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, special and precious offshoots of the true and Living Vine, what do you think of the phrase: ‘Forgive and forget’?
Personally, I don’t think it’s helpful.
If I ‘remember’ I might wonder if I have forgiven.
Forgiveness is a heart issue (Matthew 18:35).
Thankfully God has a huge heart and is also into making hearts new.
God bless you and your day, In Christ, the Living Vine.
Pastor Phil Joppich
Living Vine Lutheran Church
LVLC Sunday 13th September Worship Services
Bethany: 10:30am HC Pastor Peter Hartwich
Grace: No service
Langmeil: 8:45am HC Pastor Jim Bryan and 10:30am FUEL
Lyndoch: 9am HC Pastor Phil Joppich
Schoenborn: No service
Tabor: 9am HC Pastor Peter Hartwich
First Reading
a) Exodus 14:19-31 The crossing of the Red Sea
b) Genesis 50:15-21 Joseph is reconciled with his brothers
Psalm
a) Psalm 114
Antiphon: Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord (at the presence of the God of Jacob). (Ps 114:7)
OR a) Exodus 15:1-11 ,20-21
Antiphon: Let us sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously! (Exod15:1)
b) Psalm 103:1-13
Antiphon: The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. (Ps 103:8)
Second Reading
Romans 14:1-12 The strong and the weak faith
Gospel
Matthew 18:21-35 Parable of the unforgiving servant
2026 Barossa Zone Lutheran Women’s Fellowship Day
Friday Sept 18th at St Petri Lutheran Church, Eden Valley.
9.30am cuppa, 10am worship, BYO lunch, trading table, bookshop display
Host: Spring Valley Women’s Fellowship
Theme: Our Cosmic God Guest Speaker: Pastor Greg Pfeiffer “What on Earth is a Dark Sky Reserve?”
A FATHER’S DAY MESSAGE FROM BISHOP PAUL. THE GIFT OF FATHERS
Being a father is a vocation – a calling – where God calls a man to fatherhood through the gift of a child. The Bible has a lot to say about fathers. Throughout the Bible, we discover that God has given a special focus to fathers. We learn that God wants to be known as our Heavenly Father. Our Lord Jesus not only spoke to his Father but also taught us to pray, ‘Our Father in heaven …’
Even the story of the birth of Jesus is about a father named Joseph. Joseph had tried to figure out how to deal with his fiancée Mary, who was found to be pregnant – but God had other plans and set Joseph the task of providing fatherly care to the child Jesus, who was to be the Saviour of the World. Did you realise that Joseph was the first human to speak the name ‘Jesus’? In the Ten Commandments, we are told how to respond to fathers. The fourth commandment says, ‘Honour your father and your mother.’ How do we do that? For some people, that is a hard thing. But God will provide – this was God’s command after all. One way that everyone can do that is to pray for their father and to ask God to guide and bless their father.
And if our father has died, we can commend our fathers to the mercy of God. If your father is still alive and you are able to, you might take the opportunity to express thanksgiving to God for your father and perhaps say ‘thank you’ to him for serving in this God-given vocation in the midst of all his human frailties. Let me guide you in praying: Eternal Father, thank you for the gift of our fathers.
You have worked through fathers from the time of creation, and you have commanded us to honour our fathers and mothers. Give to all fathers what they need to serve according to your good and gracious will. Teach us how to honour our fathers.
Forgive us where we have failed them – help us to forgive our fathers for their failings.
And finally, where children have lost their fathers: give to those children the consolation of your love. In Jesus’ name.
Amen. In Christ, Paul Pastor Paul Smith Bishop, Lutheran Church of Australia and New Zealand