23Oct16 Herald Prayer Page.docx. Inspired to worship

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1 23Oct16 Herald Prayer Page.docx Inspired to worship Christians today struggle to find the right reasons for Sunday worship. Many unconsciously rely on habit or a sense of Christian duty to bring themselves to church. Some depend on the draw of friends or the attractiveness of fellowship. Others feel obligated by the expectations of church leaders. Even in the service itself, many turn to music to set the mood for worship. Their participation in worship often hinges on the appeal of the music. Some even leave their existing communities just to find worship services that use their preferred music. In addition, Christians have become increasingly focused on self. More and more worshippers casually switch between different church services to suit their own time and convenience. Many come to worship expecting to receive and be blessed, but have little interest in serving and giving. In response to these problems, many church leaders try to teach their congregations what true worship means that worship is more than just habit and duty, that it is not driven by people or music, that true worship is really about God. Some may also include lengthy instructions about the do s and don ts of worship. For internal circulation only Vol 29 No January, 2017

2 Although such responses are well-intended and certainly not wrong, teaching about worship regrettably does not solve the problems of worship. Think of it this way: Even if I know true worship is about God, that does not mean I want to make it about God. Even if I know all that true worship requires of me, it does not mean I want to do any of those things. What is sorely missing in all this is the motivation for worship. Christians need to be inspired to worship, and not just know what it is. If they are not sufficiently motivated, no amount of knowledge about worship is going to change the way they worship. How then can Christians be inspired to worship God? The answer lies in discovering the worthiness and greatness of God. Worship can only be truly about God when worshippers are most deeply impressed by God Himself. The infinite power, fathomless love and perfect will of God, if fully grasped, will compel even the most disinterested Christian to heartfelt worship. No other impetus to worship, be it music or people, is needed if worshippers recognise the awe-inspiring qualities of God. Their focus will never be misplaced on themselves if they perceive His stunning beauty. This high view of God is what truly inspires Christians to worship and it first begins with the leaders and teachers of the church. Unless those who lead and teach sincerely and highly esteem God, those who are being led and taught will never do the same. And if a church does not appreciate the worthiness of God, none of its teachings on worship will be of help. Because how we worship ultimately hinges on how we view God. John Chua (Editorial Writers: 22 Jan Dns Malar Thomas; 29 Jan Dn Sandor Wang) 2

3 PRAYER ITEMS Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 CHURCH Hermon Children and Youth Ministry (HCYM) Pray for Dn Pang Wee and the staff team (Chow Meng, Dns Elizabeth, Dn Luwin and Samuel Chan) as they plan this year s activities and programmes. Ask the Lord to grant them wisdom, strength, and unity of hearts and minds to do the work He has given them to do. BB/GB The BB & GB parades have been changed to every Mon and Fri, the running of the activities and programmes will be affected as most of the volunteers are working adults. Pray for smooth running of the parades with the limited number of volunteers. May God protect the time of the BB Primers as they help out in the midst of their own studies. Pray for relationships can still be built even with the limited contact time our volunteers have with the students. Pray also for good planning and coordination between BB & GB as we are looking into combined parade once a month on a Saturday. WORLD Myanmar Pray for the leaders of Myanmar and Bangladesh as they begin diplomatic negotiations to handle the Rohingya humanitarian crisis, which has seen 65,000 Rohingyans fleeing to Bangladesh in the last three months. May the Lord also watch over the Rohingyans and comfort them in their time of uncertainty and persecution. Singapore/Malaysia If 2017 turns out to be a dry year, the Linggiu Reservoir in Johor, which is important to Singapore s water supply, may run out of water. Pray for favourable weather conditions in the year ahead and for God to grant the Singapore and Malaysia government wisdom as they seek to sustain the water supply in both countries. PASTORAL CARE Birthdays We rejoice with our members whose birthdays fall this week (15-21 Jan): Natalie Chong, Cheryl Cheah-Teo and John Ee. 15Jan: Deborah Engelsen/22Jan: Angela Choo PRAYER MEETING Wed (25 Jan), Peter room Prayer leader: Eld Peter Seah Prayer Focus: Committing Hermon to the Lord 3 2

4 A warm WELCOME to all who are here this morning. If this is your first time with us, please complete the Visitor s Card and drop it into the offering bag during the Offertory. We invite you for fellowship over lunch/refreshment after Service at the Visitors Table on the ground floor. VISITORS CORNER. We are glad to have had Ms Tina Porras Quintero and Ms Amanda Koh worshipping with us last Sun. ANNOUNCEMENTS FELLOWSHIP LUNCH & COMMUNICATIONS DAY. Today after Service let s stay back for fellowship over a free-will offering meal. All communicant members are invited to be seated at Hope Courtyard for a Communication session at 1.00pm. The leaders will share with you our church theme for 2017 and the plans to go in line with the theme. MEN S FELLOWSHIP Fellowship Dinner on Fri 20 Jan, 7.00pm at Hope Courtyard. This is the first Men s Fellowship gathering of the new year. We d have dinner, fellowship and sharing of the 2017 Plan for men. Please come. You re cordially invited! Dn James Quek ( ) LADIES RETREAT. Calling all ladies, we will be having a combined ladies retreat with Mt Carmel and Hebron from 02 Mar to 04 Mar at Double Tree in Johor Bahru. The speaker will be Mrs Hia Lin Choo who will be sharing on the topic Living a Christ-Centred Life. Do pray and set apart this time for a time of silence, solitude, learning and fellowship with sisters from the 3 churches. Registration continues today at Love Fellowship Hall. Cost: $200 per person for double occupancy. Do provide passport details when registering. Dns Justina Ng CATECHISM/MEMBERSHIP CLASS. The 1 st lesson will start on Sun, 12 Mar, and the Baptismal Service will be on our Church Anniversary Service on 09 July. If you have been worshipping with us for more than six months and have decided to settle in Hermon as a member by baptism (public confession of your faith), membership transfer (from another Bible-believing church) or re-affirmation of faith (for children above 12 and have been baptised during childhood), please get a form from the Steward i/c. 4 2

5 ANNOUNCEMENTS ENVELOPES FOR PLEDGE OF TITHES & DEVELOPMENT FUND 2017 are available at the table outside the Sanctuary for your use. NEWSLETTER from Perry & Aileen of their missions trip to Maesot, Thailand and Petaling Jaya, Malaysia and UPDATE/THANK YOU NOTE from Adelene & Gary Tsujiuchi for a love gift from Hermonites are available at the table outside the Sanctuary. CAR LIFT FOR VIVIEN NG. Vivien is now staying in Sasco Senior Citizen's Home (30 Hong San Terrace S Tel: ) which is near CCKBC. If you are able to pick her from the Home to church on Sundays at 10.30am or send her back after Service, please fill in the roster which is pinned on the Notice Board at Love Fellowship Hall. Please call church office at or wailan@hermon.org.sg for more details. CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICE MUSICAL. The live video recording of our musical "Christmas Lives" is out! It is hosted on YouTube as an unlisted video. You can view it at tinyurl.com/musicalchristmaslives THANKSGIVING FLOWERS CHART is displayed on the Notice Board at Love Fellowship Hall. Each bouquet per week is $ Please make cash payment to that week s floral arranger. Jessie Lim-Choy HERALD ANNOUNCEMENTS for next Sun 22 Jan. Please send your announcements to Gillian Lim at church@hermon.org.sg by this Wed. STAFF MOVEMENTS. 1) Peggy Tan on leave from 16 Jan to 20 Jan. 2) Tang Lai Kin will be attending the GB Leadership Conference 2017 this Sat 21 Jan, 9am-5pm. Every Sun MEETINGS Vocal Team Practice 8.45am 9.30am Paul #04-14 Worship Practice 8.45am 10.30am Ebenezer Chapel #01-01 HCYM Equip & Prayer 9.45am 10.50am Paul # Jan Pulpit Ministry 1.30pm 3.00pm Resource # Jan, 12, 26 Feb DSG practice 1.45pm 3.00pm Gideon/Samuel #04-07/08 05 Feb CG Leaders Equipping 1.45pm 3.30pm Peter #04-02 CM Equipping 12.30pm 1.30pm Isaac # Feb Session mtg 1.45pm 5.00pm Peter #

6 COVENANT GROUP MEETINGS CG & Leader Date Venue / Occasion Agape Lester Cheng 21 Jan, Sat, 7.30pm Titus room #04-16 CCK Open Care 19 Jan, Thu, 7.30pm Gideon/Samuel rooms #04-07/08 de Vine Tan Swee Sin 20 Jan, Fri, 9.00am Eld & Mrs Tan Kim Ping s home El Shaddai Sally Chan 11 Feb, Sat, 11.00am Hope Courtyard Jehovah Jireh Dns Malar Thomas 21 Jan, Sat, 7.30pm Dean & Ramona Martin s home Jehovah Shammah TBA TBA Klema Eld Ho Hian Chye 20 Jan, Fri, 8.00pm Moriah Sanctuary Koinonia Dn Simon Toh 20 Jan, Fri, 8.15pm Joseph room #01-07 Living Water Daniel Woon 18 Feb, Sat, 7.30pm Peter room #04-02 Morning Glory Ladies Jeanette Ler-Lee 03 Feb, Fri, 9.30am Peter room #04-02 Oxley Lee Yew Mun 03 Feb, Fri, 8.00pm Noah room #01-08 Paideia Gene Tan 18 Feb, Sat, 7.30pm Paul room #04-14 Young Adults Dn Luwin Wong 20 Jan, Fri, 7.30pm Peter room #04-02 YOUTH BIBLE CLASS Time: 11.30am 1.00pm Upper Level Youths (S3 & above) Lower Level Youths (P6 S2) CHILDREN BIBLE CLASS Time: 11.30am 12.30pm YOUTH & CHILDREN ROOM Peter (#04-02) Gideon/ Samuel (#04-07/08) ROOM JANUARY Youth Teaching Leader: John Chua Youth Group Leaders: S3-S4 Girls Fong Wen Wei Post Sec Girls I Sora Chua Post Sec Girls II Lu Yanwen S3/PS Boys Dominic Lim S4/PS Boys Tan Jiayi Youth Teaching Leader: Dn Sandor Wang Youth Group Leaders: P6-Sec 2 Girls Teo Mei Yee P6-Sec 2 Boys Darren Thomas JANUARY Faithfulness (P4/P5) Nehemiah (#02-04) Florence Yip / Ng Zhe Hui Goodness (P1-P3) Abraham (#01-04) Choong Kai Xin Peace (3 s K2) Jacob (#01-06) Lee Hwee Mei / Lydia Li ATTENDANCE (Last Week) OFFERING / PLEDGES Adults 164 Children 17 Total 181 Last Week Month-To-Date General Fund $12, $34, Development Fund $1, $3, Please issue cheques to Mount Hermon BP Church (for General Fund) Mount Hermon BP Church Development Fund (for Development Fund) Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. (2 Corinthians 9:7, 12) 6

7 GOD S MESSAGE 15 Jan 17 Speaker: Eld Dr Tan Kim Ping Sermon Title: True Worship in a Vibrant Church Scripture Text: Romans 12:1-21 Pre-sermon question: What do you think is the most important activity for Christians? Where and how often? 1. The basis and nature of true worship (v 1-2) a) Living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God b) God s will good, acceptable and perfect Review: What is most important for a Christian from God s viewpoint? 2. The diversity of true worship (v 3-8, 11) a) Sober assessment b) Complementary and coherent c) Just do it by faith, diligently, cheerfully, eagerly Reflection: What is the level of faith God has assigned me regarding my spiritual gift from Him? 3. The unity of true worship (v 9-21) a) In our attitudes b) In brotherly affection c) In kindness to enemies Reflection: Which of my attitude(s) is(are) found wanting in the light of these verses? Conclusion: The story of Martin, the cobbler by Leo Tolstoy. 7

8 Pastoral / Ministry Staff Rev Daniel Tan (Pastor) /O-Extn 11 danieltan@hermon.org.sg Ms Tang Lai Kin /O-Extn 13 laikin@hermon.org.sg Dn Luwin Wong /O-Extn 12 luwinwong@hermon.org.sg Board of Elders Eld Peter Seah (Moderator) Rev Daniel Tan Eld Elgin Chan Advisory Pastor Rev (Dr) David Wong Session Dns Elizabeth Chua Dn Mike Fong Dn Lee Pak Choon Dn Lee Pang Wee Dns Justina Ng Dn David Oh Dn James Quek Dn Simon Toh Dns Malar G. Thomas Dn Sandor Wang Dn Luwin Wong Administrator Ms See Siew Kee /O-Extn 18 siewkee@hermon.org.sg Sunday Service 11.00am Children & Youth Bible Class 11.30am 12.30pm Prayer Meeting Every 2 nd & 4 th Wed 8.00pm 9.30pm 10 Choa Chu Kang St 52 #04-01 CCKBC Singapore Tel: church@hermon.org.sg Welcome & Announcements Order of Worship 15 January, 2017, am COMMUNION SUNDAY Church Theme 2017: "A Community Making Disciples Prelude Call to Worship Romans 10: 5-13 Opening Song Opening Prayer Worship in Songs Holy Communion Offertory/Doxology Jesus is Lord Only by Grace I will glory in my Redeemer What the Lord Has Done In Me The Old Rugged Cross Facing A Task Unfinished YOUTH & CHILDREN LEAVE FOR THEIR BIBLE CLASSES Pastoral Prayer Scripture Text Romans 12:1-21 Message True Worship in A Vibrant Church Closing Response "God of the Living Church" by Alfred H. Ackley (TH 290) Benediction Three-Fold Amen Postlude Speaker: Eld Dr Tan Kim Ping Worship Leader: Jeremiah Chan Pianist: Lenith Cheng Vocalists: Josie Oh (ic), Sharon Thomas, Chua Keng Chay, Dawn Tan, Dns Justina Ng and David Chong Scripture Reader: Angela Choo Announcer: Dns Malar Thomas Pastoral Prayer/Benediction: Ps Daniel Tan Projectionists: Sheryl Yew and Samuel Ang PA: Samuel Chan and Joel Mak Communion Elements: Fong May Yee & Team Stewards: Dn Mike Fong & Team A Thanksgiving Flowers: Naomi Ee Floral ic: Doreen Ee Chrysalis: Mary Lim (ic), Ding Cheong and Kenan Ng Lunch: Jehovah Jireh CG NEXT SUNDAY S SERVICE (22 JAN 17) Sermon Topic: Watch (Psalm 5) Speaker: Ps Daniel Tan Worship Leader: Dn Lee Pak Choon Pianist: Rebecca Li Scripture Reader: Dion Ow Vocalists: Sharon Thomas (ic), Inez Tan, Bernice Oh, Elsa Tan, Trina Oh and Shirlynn Yew Announcer: Dns Justina Ng Pastoral Prayer/Benediction: Eld Elgin Chan Projectionists: Benjamin Chua and Steven Chua PA: Daniel Woon, Benson Fong and Edward Stewards: Nelson Chong & Team B Thanksgiving Flowers: Patsie Lim Floral ic: Jessie Lim-Choy Chrysalis: Mary Lim (ic), Ding Cheong and Kenan Ng Refreshment: Jehovah Jireh CG