01 July 2018 Speaker Ps Asst Marianne Wong

Transcription

1 01 July 2018 Speaker Ps Asst Marianne Wong For internal circulation only 1

2 As we step into the second half of this year, what are your thoughts and feelings? Time flies (definitely)! Sigh half year has gone by so quickly! For most businesses, they may be doing stocktake as their prescribed operational procedure by this time. A Christian organisation had its recent Pre-Stocktake Sale in its store and online for two weeks. How about us taking spiritual stocktake? It will be good to pause for a moment (and more) and recall significant memories of events or experiences that transpired on the first six months, in our private and public lives. Time to slow down to recall, re-examine, evaluate and respond. A suggested response will be to count blessings that have come our ways, in our personal, family, work and ministry lives. In doing so, most likely, we will be in a much, better shape, right frame of mind and attitude to face the next six months, with renewed confidence, enthusiasm, gratitude, godly love, peace, joy and hope in our daily lives. In Children Ministry, thank God for opportunities to be equipped for His works ahead, and to minister to families whom He has brought to our church the past months and years. There are two events to highlight and reflect on as blessings, amongst many. In the first quarter, seven co-workers attended the BGST course on Teaching Children in the 21 st Century. The lecturer was Mr David Leong, an experienced, engaging and sought-after itinerant Children and Families Educator of more than 25 years. God has used him mightily to equip many Children Ministry teachers and co-workers in Asia and Australia. During the six evening meetings, he highlighted the need to acquire relevant knowledge, skills and attitudes to facilitate the creative teaching of God s Word in impactful ways to the new generations of children, the so-called Generation Z (born between 1995 and 2010) and the Generation Alpha (born on and after 2010/2011). As they are the digital natives generations, and most of the teachers and co-workers currently serving in various churches are made up of digital immigrants, he encouraged participants to go out of one s comfort zone, be bold and innovative, and try various creative approaches to teach and share God s Word and Christian values. He cited timeless quotes as reminders from the late Dr Howard Hendricks, seminary professor, author of the book Teaching to Change Lives : The teacher is primarily a stimulator and motivator, not the player, but the coach who excites and directs the players ; Your task as a communicator is not to impress people, but to impact them; not just to convince them, but to change them ; Teaching is causing people to learn and learning is change in one s thinking (mind), feeling (emotions) and behaviour (will). If we, as teachers and ministers of God s Word, want to impact more young lives for God, we should seek to increase our dependence upon God the Holy Spirit through prayer, with attitudes of humility and willingness for further equipping, for transformational teaching-learning experiences to take place in the young ones, all for God s glory! On 19 May, KidSparks organised the Fun and Bonding Afternoon for Families. Thank God for good responses of participants coming from 21 families (including parents/guardians, and 36 children) and teamwork of 18 co-workers who contributed their time, giftedness and commitment to interact and minister to the families. We filled up the afternoon with songs of praises to God, activity on terrarium-making, tea-break, ice-breaker and final activity on card-making on the theme of Families. Thank God for His wisdom and empowerment upon the team to 2

3 organise and facilitate the various activities as an End-of-School-Term three-hour outreach event. It is our constant prayer that through frequent interactions, casual or structured, befriending will take place with KidSparks families, trust can develop, and eventually, the unchurched parents and guardians (around 70%) in our midst, will be interested to join church life on regular basis, and respond to the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, in God s perfect timing. Personally, I thank God for opportunities to meet up with friends for meal-fellowship and prayer-support, spending extended time in praying for/and with one another on issues ranging from health, family challenges, ministry and work direction, to challenges being faced in the present generation in society, nation and the world at large. After such meetings, we often parted ways with mutual encouragement that we press on and persevere to obey the Great Commandment and Great Commission of Jesus Christ, and to be Christ-like in word, thought and deed. We can cling on to the promises of our Triune God and the truth of His Word: For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (Rom 1:16); Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. (Heb 13:8) Last Monday night, the melody of the hymn Thanks to God for my Redeemer filled my mind and I hummed it all the way home. The hymn was written by August Ludvig Storm in 1891, and is 127 years old! Yet, the message still speaks to us today! Thank God for preserving this precious hymn over the century. We are encouraged to be thankful in all circumstances. Most of all, we are the redeemed children of our Triune God, assured of His presence, guidance and provision each passing moment and day, and fellow sojourners on heavenward journey each day! Have a wonderful time of singing and reflection on these three stanzas.. Thanks to God for my Redeemer, Thanks for all Thou dost provide! Thanks for times now but a mem ry, Thanks for Jesus by my side! Thanks for pleasant, balmy springtime, Thanks for dark and stormy fall! Thanks for tears by now forgotten, Thanks for peace within my soul! Thanks for prayers that Thou hast answered, Thanks for what Thou dost deny! Thanks for storms that I have weathered, Thanks for all Thou dost supply! Thanks for pain, and thanks for pleasure, Thanks for comfort in despair! Thanks for grace that none can measure, Thanks for love beyond compare! Thanks for roses by the wayside, Thanks for thorns their stems contain! Thanks for home and thanks for fireside, Thanks for hope, that sweet refrain! Thanks for joy and thanks for sorrow, Thanks for heav nly peace with Thee! Thanks for hope in the tomorrow, Thanks through all eternity! Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into His presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to Him with songs of praise! (Psalm 95:1-2) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (Col. 3:16-17) Margaret Ong 3

4 PRAY FOR WORLD Twelve boys and their football coach are still trapped in a cave in Chiang Rai, Thailand, for several days now. Pray for ongoing rescue operations by Thai volunteers and military teams will be able to reach the boys and the coach. Pray that out of this episode, some involved will come to know our Lord Jesus as personal Lord and Savior. PRAY FOR THE CHURCH Carmel Men for Christ (CMfC): Pray for the session on 7 July with speaker, YYWong, a veteran Christian businessman. The talk will also benefit the younger brothers and sisters. Pray that more younger brothers and sisters will attend. We are in the process of editing twenty odd articles for Vol II of Men for Christ: Living Out Our Faith. Pray for the editing process. Chinese Ministry: Neighbourhood Outreach helmed by Ps Ng organizes the Parents Day Dinner Celebration on 7 July. Pray to God to open the hearts of non-believers present to hear and receive the gospel through Rev Henry Chong. Commit to God the following:- all logistic tasks to be well arranged; helpers to serve with joy & good attitude as they attend to guests; follow-up work, including inviting the attendees to join our future outreach activities; all serving to spend time praying for guests attending, especially the non-believers. Overseas Missions Ministry: Ps Peter, Titus and Rumi give thanks to God for a fruitful mission trip to Kalimantan. Praise God for empowering them for ministry at the Pastoral Conference (in Sambas) and leadership development (in Singkawang and Pontianak). Pray that the pastors and Bible College students will continue in training and remain rooted in the truth. Pray for Ps Palmanto/Ibu Anna and Ps Yee Xian/Ibu Salmah as they seek to build up the churches at Singkawang and Pontianak respectively. Pray for our brother, in a Creative Access Nation (CAN), that he be comforted and strengthened by our Lord Jesus while in prison. Pray for his release in God s timing. Pray that his wife and two children be comforted, encouraged, provided for and protected. Pray for the church to remain strong and fervent. Ps Fitz in Novaliches, Philippines requests prayer for his daughter Ferrel (14 yr old) who have problems adjusting to schooling in Novaliches. Personal: Pray for those who are recuperating after surgery, prolong illness, etc.. for God s healing and strength during this time. PRAY FOR BPCIS The annual BPCIS Retreat on 9-10 Jul will see 53 pastors, elders and deacons gather in JB. Rev Tan Soo Inn will deliver three messages on Developing Next Generation Leaders. Pray for our time with BPCIS leaders. Come, join our prayer warriors in Room #03-06 on Wednesday, 7.45pm! Next Wednesday (4 July) Chairperson/Devotion: Dn David Chua 4

5 ANNOUNCEMENTS/UPDATES Our Holy Communion is open to all who have confessed Jesus in baptism. If you are visiting and are regularly partaking Communion in the church where you come from, you are welcome to join us. Looking for a way to serve the community? Join the Community Befriending Programme by befriending seniors who are discharged from the hospital and live in Blocks Clementi West St 2. These seniors will need to be visited and be in contact for 6 months post hospitalization. Fei Yue Family Service (who is under the Council for Third Age program) is appointed to care for the seniors. We work in partnership with Fei Yue to reach out to the community and need volunteers. Requirements: Age 50 and above Speak dialects or Mandarin Love and care for seniors Stay around West Coast/Clementi area Able to make 2 home visits and 2 phone calls a month To volunteer, please call Pastor Ng Eng Chye. Calling for volunteers to assist with the 2nd service refreshment. Please contact Henry Koh if you are available to serve in the above area. Ps Peter is on leave from 1 July to 12 July. Congratulations to Stan and Joyce Mitew on the birth of a baby boy, Gabriel on 25 June Date Speakers Topic Text 08 Jul Dr Calvin Chong 15 Jul Rev Lim Kheng Hai Encounters with Jesus: Calling into His presence and the life of the Church 7 Deadly Sins: Guard Against Greed Matt 16:13-16; Matt 9:7 Luke 12: Jul Rev Oh Boon Leong 7 Deadly Sins: Gluttony Luke 16: Jul Rev Allan Webb Think Local-Act Global Acts 11:

6 NEXT SUNDAY 8 July 2018 MINISTRY INVOLVEMENT 1ST SERVICE MINISTRY INVOLVEMENT 2ND SERVICE Ushers Youth Youth Refreshment Worship Leader Congregational Prayer Musicians Ayer Rajah CG Youth Youth Youth Welcome Corner Tan Choon Kiat/John Chua Dn Jonathan Lum/Sunny Yap Scripture Readers Youth Youth AVA Crew Peh Chee Siong/Peter Go/ Sam Kong Choy John Tan/Francis Tay Please make all cheques, including those for the Development Fund, payable to Mount Carmel BP Church Ltd (payee name must be stated on the cheque). Please note that NO receipts will be issued for cheques received by the Church below $5,000 except upon request. All Offerings and Pledges to Mount Carmel BP Church Ltd are not tax-deductible. 6

7 Ecclesiastes 1:1-9; John 5:1-9a Sitting on the Sidelines Getting in the Game Questions Does it surprise you that sloth is a sin? How would a Christian approach to this be distinct from a non-christian approach? In what ways have you failed to avail yourself of God's means of grace and thereby committing the sin of sloth? Of the four areas of indifference - relationships, purpose for living, responsibility, and spiritual life - which causes you the most struggle? Why? What actions steps do you need to take to stop sitting on the sidelines and get into the game of life? 7

8 Welcome! A warm welcome to all newcomers and visitors with us today. We hope that you will have a meaningful time of worship this morning. Do join us for tea at the fellowship hall after the service. Worship Leader Kenneth Lim Speaker Ps Asst Marianne Wong Prayer/Holy Communion Rev Oh Boon Leong Scripture Readers Chai Chor Tiang Kim Kijin Ushers Albunus Ng & Team West Coast CG Refreshment Jennifer Lim/Peck Har AVA Yu Ta Wen Lee Sin Yee Chan Wen Hui Christie Phua Thanksgiving Flowers Ruth Phua Cheang Kum Cheong & Siew Eng Andrew Ong & Janelle Yeo How Great Thou Art Meekness and Majesty Gloria Patri Philippians 3:7-14 Lord I Need You Holy Spirit Living Breath of God All to Us Doxology Ecclesiastes 1:1-9; John 5:1-9a 7 Deadly Sins: Sloth For a digital copy of this bulletin: The Sacrifice - by Choir Day by Day wp-content/uploads/2018/03/ Weekly pdf For recordings of past sermons, visit Three-Fold Amen Worshippers are invited to come forward to the front pew for personal prayer with our elders/pastors. 8