St Andrew s cathedral

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1 Bishop of Singapore and Dean The Rt Revd Rennis Ponniah Vicar Revd Canon Terry Wong St Andrew s cathedral 27 AUGUST 2017 ELEVENTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY COLLECT O God, you declare your almighty power most chiefly in showing mercy and pity: mercifully grant to us such a measure of your grace, that we, running the way of your commandments, may receive your gracious promises, and be made partakers of your heavenly treasure; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen lectionary READINGS Exodus 1:8-2:10 Romans 12:1-8 Matthew 16:13-20 psalm for 5pm Psalm 95 (Church Bible, OT, pg 977) hymns 8.00am: CP262, Majesty, CP538, CP am: CP262, Majesty, When I Look At Your Holiness, CP538, CP pm: Holy, Holy, Holy, Holy Is The Lord Of Hosts, Be Still For The Presence Of The Lord, Still, Jesus Name Above All Names/Beautiful Saviour, HP353 The Diocese of Singapore Clergy Revd Peter Cook, Revd Freddy Lim, Revd Michael Lim, Revd Bertram Cheong Auxilliary Clergy Revd Canon Dr Louis Tay, Revd Soon Soo Kee, Revd Christopher Tan Deaconesses Ds Bessie Lee, Ds June Tan 1 Welcome A warm welcome to all members and visitors to our Services today. Children Each Service has special provisions for families with young children. Please inquire with the ushers. Holy Communion We welcome all confirmed members of the Anglican Church and visitors who are communicant members of other churches to share in the Holy Communion with us. Our practice is to have the Holy Communion by intinction (dipping of the wafer into the wine). If you are not partaking of the Communion, you are welcome to come forward to receive a prayer of blessing. Please keep your hands clasped to indicate that you are not receiving the Communion. Car Parking As there are limited parking lots within St Andrew s Cathedral, members may wish to park at carparks in close proximity to the Cathedral. Visitors who worship with us and park their cars in the Cathedral can collect a free pass from the Information Desk or from the Welcome Centre. Photo: Servers Dedication at the 5pm Service

2 Dispassion THE VICAR WRITES The wisdom of the prudent is to discern his way, but the folly of fools is deceiving. Proverbs 14:8 There is one principle undergirding our spiritual growth which is least taught or understood today. It has to do with the principle of self-knowledge or selfawareness. We hardly take soul-searching seriously unless we are hit with a crisis, i.e. a painful relationship breakdown or a major work failure. However, being self-aware is actually needed in our daily life, work and discipleship. Routinely, are we capable of asking these questions: What are my motivations, the whys of what I do? How is my behaviour impacting others? Am I dictated by a incessant need to please others? Is the fear of man determining my actions? Why am I feeling downcast? Am I simply tired physically or are there some underlying issues which I am not at peace with? Do I have fears that I have not faced up to? Am I capable of taking my intense feelings, positive and negative, out of the depths of my heart for a moment, and putting them where I can look at them and where Christ can look at them? It s what the ancient spiritual traditions meant by dispassion. It s a negativesounding word, and it s not much better in Greek, because apatheia is the source of our English word apathy. But dispassion, apatheia, in the spiritual understanding of the early Christians, is about stepping back a bit from how we are feeling, what we think we are wanting, and what other people are wanting. We are saying: Just a moment can I make some space around these feelings, these instincts, these emotions, these desires? Can I create a bit of space and not allow my reactions instantly to be dictated by them? This applies equally to positive feelings of ecstasy and enthusiasm as to resentment or sadness. Stand back a little, give those feelings room to breathe; give yourself room to breathe. Ask, What s this really about? Self-awareness, and this rather strange word dispassion, is about developing some sense of our freedom from the projections, the expectations and the busyness that control our lives. We can only get to dispassion when, in our prayer and in our life generally, we make enough space to reflect, to hear God. We encounter such moments when we pause to pray: Search my heart, O God. It is about being still enough and to begin to realise who we really are. That self-awareness is often needed if there is to be change and growth. Something to this effect was happening in the conversations between Jesus and Peter in John 21. What did Jesus do to Peter? He simply asked questions. Deep and penetrating ones. They were questions that caused Peter to probe his own heart, his priorities and motivations. Sometimes, the real problem is not the absence of God but the absence of us. Even when we pray, our true selves are in absentia. In our busy city life, there are really no short-cuts to the practice of this discipline of apatheia. You have to find the space to be quiet and to be still. Sometimes another person, asking the right questions can also help us to find the space for self-awareness. I should add that often, we can rob the person from the needful path of self-discovery and discipleship experiences when we rush into defining a person s problems or weaknesses. Instead, we should encourage the person to pray, reflect and seek the Lord. You need to help him or her to step back and find the space to be more self-aware. From there, true growth and change will take place. 2

3 ANNOUNCEMENTS Baptism Please pray for these brothers and sisters who will be baptised today at the 11.15am service. INFANT/CHILD Chew Tze Wei, Hezekiah Gan Chiu Wei Ho Sheng Quan, Elliot Jee Ming Xuan Mary Rosalin Tihda Edwards Nediva Nathania Sihombing Ng Chee En, Solomon Sakura Gabriella Sihombing ADULT Chan Chu Hui, Crystal Chan Man Fong, Mary Chan Poh Sim Chan Xian Jun, Jonathan Chen Lai Heng Chong Gina Choo Hwee Nee, Lily Chu Yu Ying, Joanne Dela Cruz Lilibeth Canonoy Dev Shamaney Goh Ruoh Yunn, Vanessa Ho Si Jin, Nick Lim Ee Shyuan, Rianne Lim Jia Hui, Serene Lim Pong Hui Lin Jingyi Lye Khuen Way Majid Ng Peijing, Serene Ngeow Jia Hao, Alvin Ong Siew Kwee, Andrew Peng Siu Suien, Justin Sim Eng Seng, Kenneth Soh Chyn Huey, Nadine Tan Mei Ni Tan Peng Soon, Desmond Tan Pui San, Christine Wong Pui Wan, Lisa Wong Ying Xuan, Kelly Wong Zhonggen Yeong Cheong Hao, Jason Selvaganesh s/o Sahdra Saigerah WELCOME CENTRE AND CAFE CLOSURE The Welcome Centre and Cafe will be closed on Monday, 4 September for carpet installation. 3 No Sunday School on 27 August & 3 September 2017 The 8am, 9am, 11.15am Sunday Schools and Saturday Citykids will not be in session on 27 August and 3 September 2017 because of Teachers Day celebration (27 August) and SAC Children Ministry Workers Retreat (1-3 September). Classes will resume on the following weekend (9-10 September). The Courier The August issue of The Courier, the Cathedral s magazine, is now available. It will be distributed after Services today. Copies will be available at the Welcome Centre, and the tract racks at the North and South Transepts. Do pick up your copy. PUBLIC HOLIDAY The Cathedral will be closed on Fri, 1 September No services will be held that day. Vacancy for an Assistant Admin Officer St Andrew s Community Chapel has a vacancy for an Assistant Admin Officer. Full details are posted on the notice board. If you are interested, please write to Jenn Wong at jennwong@sacc. org.sg or call CAN T FIND A PARKING SPACE? The Cathedral carpark is usually full from 8.30am, on Sundays. Here are some other places where you can park your vehicles: Cost on Sunday Raffles City Shopping Centre $2.20 for 1st 2hr, $0.40 for next subsequent 15min from 8am to 7.59am the following day, $0.60 for next subsequent 15min after the 5th hr Capitol Piazza $2 for 1st 2 hr, $0.40 for subsequent 15 mins The Adelphi 6am-1am: $3.21 per entry National Gallery 7am-6pm: $1.30 per half hour Peninsula Excelsior Hotel $1.50 per hr Donation for flowers today These are received in memory of Tay Guek Choo and Tan Eng Wah.

4 8.00 and am sermon series (from end of August and into October) Learning from Moses and the People of God in the book of Exodus Saturday Service 26 AUGUST 4.30 pm Contemporary Service Nave Ms Patrena Chua Sunday Service 27 AUGUST 7.00 am Holy Communion Nave Ds Bessie Lee 8.00 am Holy Communion Nave Revd Peter Cook 9.00 am Contemporary Service CNS Ps Hambali Leonardi 9.30 am Service in Mandarin Nave am Service in Mandarin CNS am Holy Communion Nave Revd Peter Cook am Contemporary Service Prayer Halls Archbishop Ng Moon Hing 2.00 pm Filipino Service North Transept Hall Mrs Precy Tay 2.00 pm Myanmar Worship Service Mr Moses Israeli 2.30 pm Bahasa Indonesia Service South Transept Hall Mr Victor Effendie 2.30 pm Service in Cantonese Nave 4.30 pm Hokkien Service Prayer Halls revd Freddy Lim 5.00 pm Evensong Nave Ds Bessie Lee 5.00 pm Service in Mandarin CNS EXTENSION CENTRES am Westside Anglican Church Revd Bertram Cheong am Jurong Anglican Church Mandarin West Coast Recreation Centre am Acts Centre My Saviour s Church Revd Michael Lim 4 Saturday Service 2 SEPTEMBER 4.30 pm Contemporary Service CNS The Vicar Sunday Service 3 SEPTEMBER 7.00 am Holy Communion Nave Bishop Rennis Ponniah 8.00 am Holy Communion Nave The Vicar 9.00 am Holy Communion CNS Bishop Rennis Ponniah 9.30 am Service in Mandarin Nave am Service in Mandarin CNS am Holy Communion Nave The Vicar am Contemporary Service Prayer Halls Miss Charlotte Ng 2.00 pm Filipino Service North Transept Hall CG Sunday 2.00 pm Myanmar Worship Service Revd Moses Kaser Htaw 2.30 pm Bahasa Indonesia Service South Transept Hall Mr Victor Effendie 2.30 pm Service in Cantonese Nave 4.30 pm Hokkien Service Prayer Halls revd Freddy Lim 5.00 pm Holy Communion Nave Bishop Rennis Ponniah 5.00 pm Service in Mandarin CNS SUNDAY SCHOOL ministries 4.30 pm Sat CITYKids Children Ministry 8.00 am Sunday School 9.00 am Sunday School 9.30 am Sunday School (Mandarin) am Sunday School 5.00 pm Junior Cell

5 THE QUIET GARDEN RETREAT Theme: The Mothering Heart of God Saturday, 2 September am to 1pm South Transept Hall Retreat is free. Love-gift to Contemplative Spirituality Ministry, SAC is welcome. For information and registration contact: priscillachua@cathedral.org.sg WEEKDAY SERVICES/MEETINGS Monday, 28 AUGUST 9.00 am Morning Prayer Epiphany Chapel Tuesday, 29 AUGUST 7.30 am Clergy & Leaders Nave Holy Communion Wednesday, 30 AUGUST 9.00 am Morning Prayer Epiphany Chapel pm Holy Communion Prayer Halls 5.15 pm Evening Prayer Epiphany Chapel Thursday, 31 AUGUST 9.30 am Holy Communion Chapel for all Peoples Friday, 1 September Public Holiday The Cathedral will be closed. Saturday, 2 September 9.00 am Morning Prayer Epiphany Chapel 2.00 pm LYnC Youth Ministry Chapel for All Peoples 2.30 pm Shalomkids Ministry Prayer Halls (For children with autism) 5 coming up... august Basic Flag Workshop 30 Alpha 31 Teachers Day 31 Diocesan Certificate of Biblical Studies SEPTEMBER Hari Raya Haji 2 Diocesan Certificate of Biblical Studies Exam T3 2 The Quiet Garden Retreat 3 Confirmation Course 7 Diocesan Certificate of Biblical Studies 8-10 SMF outing to Malacca 9 Alpha Weekend Away 10 Baptism/Confirmation Course 13 Alpha F1 Race 17 Baptism/Confirmation Course 20 Alpha 22 Prayer 23 Baptism/Confirmation Course 27 Alpha 28 SMF: Worship with Movement 30 Marriage Preparation Course 30-1/10 Light Dawn on Myanmar Conference Security Matters As part of the SG Secure initiative to keep Singapore safe, armed police personnel will be patrolling the Civic District including our grounds on Sundays. Please do not leave your belongings unattended and note that bag checks may be conducted by our security personnel. We strongly encourage all to cooperate with such requests. Should you spot anything suspicious or any unattended items, please report to our SGSecure can now be downloaded from the AppStore. Receive important broadcast alerts by Ministry of Home Affairs and what to do in the event of an emergency.

6 Mission Trips to Nepal Registration of interests is now open for the following mission trips to Nepal: 1) Far West Nepal Medical Outreach 6-15 Oct 2017 Medical Outreach to rural Nepali villages. 2) Taja Asa CIT Workshop 4 28 Oct - 5 Nov 2017 Please register your interest by ing AdelineHee@cathedral.org.sg Missions Trips to Vietnam 2017 Celebrate Christmas in Vietnam 2017 There would be opportunities for us to bring the message and joy of Christmas to the people in Vietnam this year. We are organizing missions trips to Vietnam in Dec. Programme highlights: - Christmas Outreach - Christmas Parties - Caroling If you would like to join us, please contact Karen at karenchua@rocketmail.com 14, 21, 28 September , 12 October pm pm (5 Thursdays) Speaker: Bishop Rennis Ponniah Venue: St James Church, Sanctuary1, Level 3, 1 Leedon Road $5 for course book To register: register@sjc.org.sg What will the End times be like? Does the book of Daniel provide details of the End Times? Does the book of Daniel promise faithful believers the same kind of prosperity and success on earth that Daniel and his friends enjoyed? speaker: Revd Dr Gordon Wong 13 & 14 October; 20 & 21 October 2017 Fri 13 & 20 Oct (7.30pm pm) Sat 14 & 21 Oct (9.00am am) St Andrew s Cathedral Organised by Diocesan Certificate of Biblical Studies (DCBS-SAC) Registration online: Or you can register at the Cathedral Welcome Centre 6

7 prayer highlights WORLD Monsoon rains in India, Nepal & Bangladesh Many parts of northern India, Nepal and Bangladesh have been ravaged by torrential monsoon rains and flooding, resulting in the loss of hundreds of lives from drowning, collapsed houses and landslides. Pray for God s mercy upon the people, His divine intervention and provision during this difficult time. Pray for the disaster management workers in the three countries who have launched massive rescue efforts to evacuate, provide food and shelter to nearly 16 million people affected by the floods. Collision between U.S. warship and oil tanker in Singapore waters Thank God for the five U.S. sailors who were rescued, four of whom sustained injuries and are being treated at the Singapore General Hospital. Pray for their good and speedy recovery. Pray God s comfort for the families of those sailors who did not survive the collision. SINGAPORE Teachers Day (31 Aug 2017) Thank God for all our teachers, as they give of themselves to educate our next generation. Pray God will: Give them a love for their students, strength to meet every challenge and wisdom to teach effectively to make learning an interesting experience for their students Fill them with His peace, especially in times of stress or anxiety. Give them the joy of seeing fruit through their hard work and perseverance. THE DIOCESE SACS Psychiatric Services Thank God for the establishment of 7 Psychiatric Centres with over 130 staff, serving the needs of about 2,000 clients in Singapore. Pray for: Mr. James Chan, the Executive Director for the 7 Centres God s leading and empowerment as he shoulders this heavy responsibility. All Centre Heads and Deputy Heads godly wisdom and good health to lead their Centres. Leadership succession - God will send mature Christians who have management experience and a heart for mental health work to join the leadership team. Committed Christians who have the calling to serve in the Centres, to meet their manpower needs. Residential staff who are all foreign workers - God will watch over them; they will find meaning and purpose as they carry out the different mundane tasks. Unity and Teamwork among all staff - each staff will work towards the mission and serve with excellence. Their Management Committee members - divine guidance in decision making and in providing direction for the work. THE CATHEDRAL PKH Tour (31 Aug 4 Sept 2017) Pray for: Participants to experience God during this visit as they are introduced to the different expressions of PKH s work. Journey mercies as they travel to the different Centres in Kampong Speu - Chbarmon, Aoral and Trang. The Holy Spirit s leading as former graduates of PKH share their testimonies at the Alumni Dinner Staff and trainers of PKH, to be encouraged and re-fired to serve with passion and purpose. Children s Ministry Workers Retreat (1-3 Sept) Pray for God s anointing upon Revd Clement Wong as he ministers to our Children s Ministry workers during the Retreat. Pray that all retreatants will be refreshed and re-charged during this time of waiting upon the Lord and hearing His word. PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SICK Annie Dang, Khor Seow Hong, Marjorie Lau, Nancy Li, Barbara Rayney, Rene Tan, Joy Brett, Doris Proctor, Anna Lim, Albert Lim, Janet Lim, Ana Pelaez and Lim Soon Chye Members who know them are encouraged to visit and pray with them. 7

8 DIOCESAN CERTIFICATE OF BIBLICAL STUDIES Term 4: 7 Sep to 11 Nov 2017 Thursdays, 7.30pm 9.30pm@ SAC Module 5: The Minor Prophets Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Nahum, Micah, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Zechariah, Haggai, Malachi Module 11: Corinthians Course fees: $10 per module (inclusive of study materials); $5 for written examination. Registration: Please register online at cathedral.org.sg or use the registration slip in the brochure. For more details, please refer to the DCBS-SAC brochure (available at the Welcome Centre/NTH/STH) Enquiries: call ext 134/154 We warmly welcome you to St Andrew s Cathedral Please complete and return this portion to the ushers or the Info Desk, or simply drop it into an offering bag. Your Name : Sex : F/M Age: Telephone: (HP) Service attended: I am a visitor. I would like to be contacted. I wish to know more about Christianity. I wish to attend an Alpha Course. I wish to be a member of St Andrew s Cathedral. I wish to join a Connect group. I wish to receive a set of tithe envelopes/give online (please indicate your preference). I wish to register for a Christian Education course. The name of the course: Others : 8