19 August 2018
Welcome to Church of All Nations We are a Christian Congregation with a Lutheran heritage that unites people of diverse backgrounds by sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ, growing in faith and nurturing each other for life and service. 23 South Bay Close, Repulse Bay, Hong Kong Website: www.can.org.hk Facebook: Church of All Nations CAN Pastor Joel Scheiwe 5183-3872 pastor@can.org.hk Church Administrator Megan Kincaid 2812 5151 office@can.org.hk Director of Christian Education Kevin Kong 9305 8477 kevin@can.org.hk This week at Church of All Nations THOUGHT OF THE DAY: What does your church need to do to help you show God s love in the world? Today in worship we consider our calling to mission to the world and or vocations as members of a church community. In Christ, we pray CAN may be a blessing to all nations. Sunday School + Adult Bible Class at 9:30 am Worship + Holy Communion at 10:30 am Dim Sum Lunch following worship FPSC Fellowship at 12:00 pm GREETERS USHERS READER MUSIC LEADERSHIP AV TECHNICIANS FPSC FPSC Mary Ewing + Debbie Blakely Megan Kincaid + Fola Owolabi THE TYPHOON AND HEAVY RAIN SEASON is upon us. Please note that all Sunday morning activities and worship will be cancelled if there is a RED or BLACK rain warning issued, or if a T8 warning is hoisted by 8:00 am on any Sunday. Also be advised that some, if not all, automobile insurance is invalid if you suffer damage/injury while the T8 signal is hoisted. PLEASE BE SAFE! 2
Guests and Members: Welcome to Church of All Nations; we pray you feel at home as together we receive Christ s gifts of grace. Our church is like a family, so we want to know each other s names. Please wear a name tag and introduce yourself to others. Together we hear the Word of God in scripture, in song, and in ritual. We believe that God s Word changes us, both confronting our sin and comforting us with the joy of forgiveness. In response to the love Jesus shares, we also respond in worship with singing praise, speaking our faith together, and praying for each other. Although we come together in the church for worship, the worship does not end here. Worship continues as we go about our lives in faithful service to others. As one part of worship at Church of All Nations Jesus comes and gives into our mouths bread and wine along with his living body and blood to eat and to drink for the forgiveness, life and connection to one another. Our Lord invites to his table those who trust his words, repent of all sin, and forgive others as He forgives us. Children and adults who have not yet received instruction in the Lord s Supper may come forward with arms crossed to receive a blessing. Holy Communion is a family meal of the church, so if you are new to CAN, first to speak with Pastor Joel or one of the members of the congregation. CAN ID cards: All Church of All Nations members who do not have an HKIS ID card should get a CAN ID card to enter the Lower Primary campus, including the chapel. If you have not completed the form, please ask Megan or Pastor Joel in the church office. Offering: By the grace of God, Church of All Nations operates though the financial gifts given by members. If you would like to receive a tax receipt, the giving options are listed below: For HKD Tax Receipts Cash in an envelope with your name Checks made payable to Church of All Nations For USD Tax Receipts Checks made payable to: LCMS Northwest District For other giving options, please contact Megan (office@can.org.hk). For HKD and USD Tax Receipts HKD or USD checks drawn from a Hong Kong bank made payable to: Friends of Hong Kong Charities, Inc. 3
Welcome Pastor: Pastor: Let us begin worship with the name of the Almighty God: In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen Just as we enter the church through our baptism, we enter worship through confession and absolution, which is the daily living in baptism. Please sit and reflect on these words: What does Baptizing with water indicate? It indicates that the Old Adam in us should by daily contrition and repentance be drowned and die with all sins and evil desires, and that a new person should daily emerge and arise to live before God in righteousness and purity forever. What is Confession? Confession has two parts. First that we confess our sins, and second that we receive absolution, that is, forgiveness, from the pastor as from God Himself, not doubting, but firmly believing that by it our sins are forgiven before God in heaven. What sins should we confess? Before God we should plead guilty of all sins, even those we are not aware of, as we do in the Lord s Prayer; but before the pastor we should confess those sins which we know and feel in our hearts. Which are these? Consider your place in life according to the Ten Commandments: are you a father, mother, son, daughter, husband, wife, or worker? Have you been disobedient, unfaithful, or lazy? Have you been hot-tempered, rude, or quarrelsome? Have you hurt someone by your words or deeds? Have you stolen, been negligent, wasted anything, or done any harm? 4
Hymn of Praise: Christ the Eternal Lord Leader: If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. We believe that Jesus is Lord! Leader: At the name of Jesus every knee will bow. Every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord. Our knees bow, and our tongues confess his name! Leader: Always be prepared to give a reason for the hope that you have as a Christian. We hope in Jesus, the crucified and risen one! Leader: Together we proclaim the praises of him who called out us of darkness into his wonderful light. Praise to the Lord for calling us into the light! 5
Prayer of the Day Pastor: Let us pray, Almighty God, in Your kindness You cause the light of the Gospel to shine among us. By the working of Your Holy spirit help us to share the good news of Your salvation that all who hear it may rejoice in the gift of your unending love; through Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. First Reading: Psalm 67 (GW) May God have pity on us and bless us! May he smile on us. Then your ways will be known on earth, your salvation throughout all nations. Let everyone give thanks to you, O God. Let everyone give thanks to you. Let the nations be glad and sing joyfully because you judge everyone with justice and guide the nations on the earth. Let the people give thanks to you, O God. Let all the people give thanks to you. The earth has yielded its harvest. May God, our God, bless us. May God bless us, and may all the ends of the earth worship him. Reader: This is the word of the Lord, Thanks be to God. Epistle: Ephesians 2:13-22, 4:31-5:2 (GW) But now through Christ Jesus you, who were once far away, have been brought near by the blood of Christ. So he is our peace. In his body he has made Jewish and non-jewish people one by breaking down the wall of hostility that kept them apart. He brought an end to the commandments and demands found in Moses Teachings so that he could take Jewish and non-jewish people and create one new humanity in himself. So he made peace. He also brought them back to God in one body by his cross, on which he killed the hostility. He came with the Good News of peace for you who were far away and for those who were near. So Jewish and non- Jewish people can go to the Father in one Spirit. 6
That is why you are no longer foreigners and outsiders but citizens together with God s people and members of God s family. You are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets. Christ Jesus himself is the cornerstone. In him all the parts of the building fit together and grow into a holy temple in the Lord. Through him you, also, are being built in the Spirit together with others into a place where God lives. Get rid of your bitterness, hot tempers, anger, loud quarreling, cursing, and hatred. Be kind to each other, sympathetic, forgiving each other as God has forgiven you through Christ. Imitate God, since you are the children he loves. Live in love as Christ also loved us. He gave his life for us as an offering and sacrifice, a soothing aroma to God. Reader: This is the word of the Lord, Thanks be to God. Gospel: Luke 24:44-53 (GW) Then he said to them, These are the words I spoke to you while I was still with you. I told you that everything written about me in Moses Teachings, the Prophets, and the Psalms had to come true. Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. He said to them, Scripture says that the Messiah would suffer and that he would come back to life on the third day. Scripture also says that by the authority of Jesus people would be told to turn to God and change the way they think and act so that their sins will be forgiven. This would be told to people from all nations, beginning in the city of Jerusalem. You are witnesses to these things. I m sending you what my Father promised. Wait here in the city until you receive power from heaven. Then Jesus took them to a place near Bethany. There he raised his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken to heaven. The disciples worshiped him and were overjoyed as they went back to Jerusalem. They were always in the temple, where they praised God. Reader: This is the Gospel of Christ, Praise to you, O Christ. 7
Apostles Creed I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. And Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. Message 8
Hymn of the Day: Listen, God Is Calling The Lord s Prayer Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen. Prayers of the Church Pray out loud together at your tables, include at least two parts: 1. Thanksgiving for something God has done. 2. Ask God s blessing on each person at the table. 9
Offering Song Offering When the offering song begins, choose one person from the table to carry the offering from the table forward to the Altar. The Lord s Supper Passing of the Peace Greet members of the community and say a brief word of Peace. Distribution + Distribution Songs Blessing Pastor: Now to him who is able to keep you from falling, and to make you stand without blemish in the presence of his glory with rejoicing, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, power, and authority, before all time and now and forever. (Jude 24-25 NRSV) Amen. Closing Hymn: Praise and Thanksgiving Sending Leader: May God bless us (Psalm 67:7) And may all the ends of the earth worship him! 10
Spiritual Life You are invited to join us for Adult Bible Class and Children s Sunday School every Sunday at 9:30 am. The full Sunday School program (both English and Mandarin) will resume on Sunday, September 9. All women of Church of All Nations and friends are invited to join the annual Women s Welcome Fellowship Brunch on Wednesday, August 29 at 10:30 am in the chapel. Enjoy a time of fellowship and learn about Bible study and fellowship opportunities! All Middle School and High School students are invited to stay for lunch after worship on Sunday, September 2. Kevin will lead the youth as they discuss and plan for the student fellowship activities this year! The Contemplative Worship service will resume next Sunday, September 2 at 5:00 pm with Mike Kersten leading. The confirmation class for middle school students will begin on Sunday, September 16 immediately following worship. The group will continue to meet once per month through next spring. Talk to Pastor Joel for more information. Ministry Opportunities Church of All Nations will be sending a team to visit our long time ministry partner Concordia Children s Services in Manila, Philippines during the HKIS fall break (October 1-5). If you are interested in joining the team, please speak to Megan Kincaid or Kevin Kong. Next week at Church of All Nations ASSISTANT MINISTER GREETERS USHERS READER MUSIC LEADERSHIP AV TECHNICIANS Mary Ewing + Dave Werner Megan Kincaid + Fola Owolabi 11
What s Happening We are looking forward to several celebrations: We are thankful the Meilin Christian Church choir from Shenzhen will share their musical gifts with us in worship on Sunday, September 2. We will celebrate Education Sunday on September 9. We will take time during the worship service to thank all educators and share a meal together following worship. Following the Education Sunday lunch, Mandarin speakers are invited to stay after worship for our first Mandarin fellowship on Sunday, September 9 at 1:00 pm. Activities for children will be provided. The FPSC (Fellowship, Prayer, Share and Care) group will celebrate the 31 st anniversary of the group in worship on Sunday, September 30. We will share a meal together following worship. Prayer Requests All in our close and extended circles who are ill, hospitalized and suffering: Vern Gemaehlich (father of Persephone James) in hospice care; John Cima and Mary Cima (father and grandmother of J.P. Cima) as they battle cancer; Hellen (mother of Mary Garetson) in hospice care; Collin Shaw as he undergoes treatment for stage 4 cancer; Beth Daugherty and family as they are in the United States for medical treatment. Thanksgiving for Elisa O. (domestic worker of the Forrester family) as her cancer is in remission and Janet Tan as she continues to recover. Tithes and Offerings Attendance General Designated 19 August 95 HK$28,922 HK$0 12