ORDER OF WORSHIP Volume 25, Issue 20 15 th July 2012 Call to Worship Dn Arvind Pawa * Hymn 37 - Praise, My Soul, the King of Heaven * Invocation & Gloria Patri * Responsive Scripture Reading Psalm 1:1-6 Hymn 184 - Rock of Ages Collection of Offerings * Doxology & Prayer Hymn 131 - No One Ever Cared for Me Like Jesus Children s Sermon & Scripture Memorization Pastoral Prayer Eld Mah Chin Kwang Sermon Pr Dennis Kabingue The Way of the Righteous Psalm 1:1-6 Hymn 425 - Take the World, but Give Me Jesus * Closing Prayer & Threefold Amen * Congregation Standing Welcome to all worshippers For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. Exodus 34:14 Scripture Memorization CHRIST S BIRTH Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel. GETHSEMANE BIBLE-PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH Not my will, but Thine, be done (Luke 22:42)
July 15 July 22 09-10am Church Choir & Children s Choir Church Choir & Children s Choir 09-10am Malayalam Fellowship Bro Benny Skariah Malayalam Fellowship Chinese Service 10.30am English Service 10.30am SUNDAY DUTY ROSTER Worship Leader: Eld Alan Choy Preacher: Eld Alan Choy; Pianist: Eunice Choy Flowers: Roscelle Lim; Refreshment: Ivy Seah Ushers: Sam Cheah & Leow Beng Wee Worship Leader: Dn Arvind Pawa Preacher: Pr Dennis Kabingue Musicians: Chloe Pawa & Dorcas Koshy Ushers: Maverick, Stephen, Joseph, Kwan Teng, Randy & Jason; Greeter: Diana Chan AV Ministry: Crew No. 3 Flowers: Lee Kim Lei Refreshment Duty: Yeo Geok Hien, Corliss Tan & Stella Tan Junior Worship: Choy Luan Kheng (Lok Qian Hui), Ruth Low (Jasmine Low), Adrian Lim Combined with the English Service Worship Leader: Rev Dr Prabhudas Koshy Preacher: Rev Lee Kim Shong Musicians: Eunice Choy & Jasmine Low Ushers: Johnny, Robert, Kee How, Francis Lim, David & Jerah; Greeter: Violet Quek AV Ministry: Crew No. 1 Flowers: Stephanie Lee Refreshment Duty: Catherine Choy, Lynn Koh & Chong Shu Mun Junior Worship: Melissa Neo (Fidelia Mah), Dn Kelvin Lim (Violet Quek), Dn Lok Kwok Wah Filipino Service GCM 1.30pm Lions Home 3.30pm Worship Leader: Pr Dennis Kabingue Preacher: Pr Dennis Kabingue Pianist: Chu Seong Yeng; Usher: Donald dela Cruz Refreshment: Roscelle Lim Song Leader: Karen Quek Nursery-P2: Karen Quek P3-P6: Jenny Lok Venue: 487 Bedok South Ave 2 English Speaker: Dn Francis Lee Dialect Speaker: Pr Kelvin Lim Worship Leader: Pr Dennis Kabingue Preacher: Pr Dennis Kabingue Pianist: Josias Pawa; Usher: Julius Del Rosario Refreshment: Daryl Kabingue Cancelled in view of the Combined Thanksgiving Service Venue: 41 Toa Payoh Rise English Speaker: Bro Edwin Quek Dialect Speaker: Dn Daniel Lim Page 2
15 July 2012 Pastoral Exhortation Prabhudas Koshy Philippine Mission Report Two weeks ago, I made a hurried journey to Cebu, the Philippines, to preach in the combined anniversary service of our mission churches and GBI. About 200 adults and children from our four mission churches (Cebu, Bohol, Bogo and San Antonio) gathered in Cebu with grateful hearts. Four choirs from various churches, including a children s choir, sang praises to God. There were also baptisms and transfer of membership, bearing a glorious testimony to the power of the Gospel. A video message from Preacher Dominino (who was in Singapore for medical treatment) was played during the service; and many were teary as they listened to his exhortation and prayed for him. In my preaching of the Word from Romans 12:16-21, the worshippers were exhorted to be overcomers of evil with good. They were also reminded that Christian living involves a fight; a good fight against Satan and his evil ploy. Let us pray that our brethren in those mission churches would be brave soldiers of Christ. I am publishing for your information and thanksgiving: (i) our felicitations on their combined anniversary and (ii) excerpt from Rev Reggor Galarpe s pastoral exhortation in the anniversary bulletin. Felicitations on their Combined Anniversary 1st July 2012 Beloved in Christ, As you gather together to bow before the throne of God in worship and gratefulness for another year of ceaseless mercy and goodness, the brethren in Singapore also praise Him with joyful hearts for His blessings upon you. We continue in thanksgiving for all the Gethsemane B-P Churches in Cebu, Bohol, Bogo and San Antonio. The Lord loves His church. Wherever the congregations of His saints shall be, whether in a great city or in a small village, He loves them all equally. He cares for His flock, which He redeemed by His blood He shed on the cross. He guides them with His clear and pure voice of truth. He abides with them, as they go through dark valleys of temptations and trials. He purifies them with His Spirit and truth. He gives them assurance and hope in their difficult ordeals. O dear churches of Christ, strengthen yourselves in the might of the Lord. Be watchful unto prayer. Be ever ready to preach the Gospel, to deliver those who are sinking in sin. Be ever vigilant to fight a good fight of faith against Page 3
satanic assaults. Many evil men creep into churches, preaching demonic doctrines and propagating carnal living. So I remind all our preachers and members, Meditate upon these things (the truths of His Word); give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee (1 Timothy 4:15-16). We are glad to hear of the cheerfulness and diligence of the teachers and students of Gethsemane Bible Institute, Cebu, as you enter the 2nd year of her ministry. I would like to quote our Lord Jesus Christ in my exhortation to the GBI Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old (Matthew 13:52). Our heartfelt congratulations to the churches in Cebu (8th anniversary), Bohol (6th anniversary), Bogo (4th anniversary) and San Antonio (3rd anniversary), and GBI (1st anniversary). Praying that every blessing in Christ be upon you. In His love, Rev Dr Prabhudas Koshy On behalf of Gethsemane B-P Church, Singapore Excerpt from Rev Reggor Galarpe s pastoral exhortation in the anniversary bulletin On behalf of Gethsemane Bible-Presbyterian Church, Cebu, greetings and welcome to all our dear brethren from our sister churches in Bohol, Bogo and San Page 4 Antonio as well as our visitors and friends to our Combined Church Anniversary and Thanksgiving Service. We also gladly welcome our beloved pastor, Rev Dr Prabhudas Koshy, from the mother church, Gethsemane Bible-Presbyterian Church, Singapore Reflect Upon God s Great Work It s a great opportunity to look back and recall how the Lord in His own good time established Gethsemane B-P Church, Cebu, in July 2004. Memories are still fresh of the very first worship service that was held in a rented hotel function room with slightly over 50 people in attendance. A few weeks later, it was officially inaugurated with Pastor Koshy and a good number of brethren from Gethsemane B-P Church, Singapore, in attendance to grace the occasion. Since then, we have been holding regular Sunday services in the hotel room until the Lord led us to a rented apartment building in Capitol Site in 2005, and in 2011, to our current location in Happy Valley (which also housed the Gethsemane Bible Institute whose anniversary we also celebrate today). All these years, we praise God for the harvest of souls through the preaching of the Gospel. Glory be to His name! He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion (Psalm 111:4). Two years later in July 2006, we saw the inauguration of the mission church in Baclayon, Bohol (it was then moved to Tagbilaran City in 2007). Then in July 2008 came the mission church in Bogo, in the northern tip
of Cebu province and eventually the mission outreach in San Antonio in 2009. With these mission stations, we praise God for the labours of our missionaries Bro Edsel Locot and Bro Dominino de la Cruz Jr. Thus, today we celebrate the 8th Anniversary of Gethsemane BPC, Cebu, the 6th for Bohol, the 4th for Bogo, the 3rd for San Antonio and the very 1st for Gethsemane Bible Institute. Coincidence? No, it s God s providence!... In July last year, we rejoiced as the Gethsemane Bible Institute was formally inaugurated. The primary goal is to train and prepare men to become missionaries, preachers and pastors, in response to the great need for labourers in the Lord s harvest. Also, through the Monday Night Class and part-time courses, our brethren now have the opportunity to receive formal and systematic instruction in the study of God s Word. In these two ministries, we thank the Lord for the labours of our Bro Eliezer Ortega, overseeing the daily activities at TGCM and Bro Richard Tiu in the academic affairs of the Bible Institute. And in all these, we rejoice in the Lord for His gracious provisions that sustain the ever-growing ministries through the support we have been receiving from the mother church and our mission partners and in the cheerful giving of the brethren in our midst. Resolve to Give Our Best to God Having tasted and feasted on the Lord s goodness, I see the need for us to make a firm resolve to give our very best to God! Page 5 Another year is past and the next is before us. Perhaps we need to ask ourselves: Have I done my best for Jesus? This year 2012, we are burdened to Enlarge the Place of Our Tent. We have been earnestly seeking the Lord s leading and guidance on how we could further enhance our ministries. This we adapted from the words of the Lord to the nation Israel through the prophet Isaiah: Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes (Isaiah 54:2). Consider the words here: ENLARGE! STRETCH FORTH! SPARE NOT! LENGTHEN! AND STRENGTHEN! Thus, let us make that resolve to: 1. ENLARGE our vision and scope for the Lord s work. 2. STRETCH FORTH the reach of our church s ministries. 3. SPARE NOT our resources give cheerfully unto the Lord! 4. LENGTHEN our time spent in service to the Lord. 5. STRENGTHEN our conviction and faith. Pressing on towards another year ahead of us, may the Lord be gracious to bless all our endeavours for His glory sake. For now, let us resolve to praise and worship the Lord: Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation (Psalm 111:1).
The LORD told Abram assuredly that his seed would live as a stranger in a foreign land. Abram was still childless then, but everything that the LORD said concerning his descendants happened accordingly. Abram s seed refers to the Israelites. They were the children of Jacob, the son of Isaac (Genesis 25:26). Isaac was the heir promised to Abram by the LORD (Genesis 17:9). The Israelites were slaves in Egypt for four hundred years. They had to work as labourers and farmers. Whenever they Junior Worshippers Page Kelvin Lim Thy Seed Shall Be A Stranger And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; and also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance (Genesis 15:13-14). could not produce enough to meet the demands of Pharaoh, they were punished severely. They were greatly afflicted there in the land of bondage until the LORD sent Moses to deliver them. They left Egypt with much possession (Exodus 12:35-36). In this regard, the Israelites were a stranger in the land of Egypt. The term stranger in biblical usage means foreigner. Abram was a foreigner in the land of Canaan, and among the sons of Heth (cf. Genesis 17:8 & 23:4). Thus, a stranger is a person who lives in a place that does Page 6 not belong to him or her, among others that are not related to him or her. My young reader, Christians are spiritual descendants of Abraham, for he is the father of all who believe (Romans 4:16-17). We are strangers living on earth, a place where we do not belong, and among many people who are not related to us spiritually. But one day, our Lord Jesus Christ will come and bring us to our heavenly home.
COLLECTION Sunday (08/7/2012) General Offering 6,064.05; Tithes 2,392.00 Ethiopia Bldg Fund 200.00, 100.00 Ethiopia Van Fund 100.00, 27.00 Gladys Ratnam 200.00; Randy Laurencio 50.00 Grace Tiu (Medical) 1,000.00, 150.00 Dominino (Medical) 100.00; Eric Delina 100.00 Kenneth Wong 100.00; Ho Kee How 50.00 Non-Sunday Gifts (08/7/2012) General Fund 400.00, 470.00; TGCM (local) 220.00 Pastor Koshy 300.00; Medical Fund (Domi) 500.00 Ethiopia Bldg Fund 400.00 Ethiopia Van Fund 200.00 SPECIAL FUNDS (Total as of 8 th July) Ethiopia Bldg Fund 1,040,463.44 Ethiopia Van Fund 19,225.90 ANNOUNCEMENT Chinese Bible Conference (organized by Chinese Service) Date: Sat, 21 July 2012 Time: 3.00pm-6.00pm Speaker: Rev Lee Kim Shong Theme: Contending for the Faith (Jude 3) Venue: City Beach Resort (8 Port Road) Dinner: $4.00/person (Please sign up by today.) We encourage all worshippers to invite Mandarin-speaking relatives & friends to attend. Pamphlets are available at the reception table. 9th Anniversary of Chinese Service (Combined with the English Service) Date: 22 July 2012 Time: 10.30am Speaker: Rev Lee Kim Shong Mandarin Interpreter: Pr Daniel Lim Lunch: $4.50/person (Please sign up by today.) Seniors Outing A One-Day Farm Visit to Johor is being organised for our seniors. Date: Thursday, 26 July 2012 Time: 9.00am to 9.00pm Fee: $68.00/adult (inclusive of transport & meals) No. of seats still available: 7 Those who are keen to join, please see Pr Jeremiah Sim today. The Gethsemane Care Ministry The 7th Thanksgiving Service will be held on Thursday, 9 August, at 5.00pm in this auditorium. We encourage all worshippers to attend in praise of God s goodness towards this ministry. To facilitate the arrangement for dinner, please sign up at the reception table. Page 7
POST-WORSHIP ACTIVITIES Please stay back after worship to join: Refreshment & Fellowship (12.30-1.30pm) Adults and Youth Bible Study (1.30-3.00pm) Children s Bible Study (1.30-3.00pm) TUESDAY-FRIDAY ACTIVITIES Tuesday Prayer Gathering (8.00pm) Wednesday Lunch Hour Bible Study (1.15pm) Thursday Seniors Ministry (11am) Friday Morning Prayer (6.45-7.30am) Church Camp (3-7 Dec 2012) Venue: Hotel Equatorial Bangi, Putrajaya Speakers: Rev Dr Jeffrey Khoo & Pastor Koshy Theme: The Lord s Message to the Church (Rev 2-3) Camp fees: Adults: Single - $515; Twin sharing - $350; Triple sharing - $325 Children: 4-11 years of age with extra bed - $230 4-11 years of age without extra bed - $140 Those below 4 years of age - free Transport: $70/person YAF & FEBC Combined Fellowship Topic: Importance of Strong Relationship between the Church, Pastors & Missionaries Speaker: Pastor Koshy Date: Sat, 21 July 2012 Time: 9.30am-2.30pm Venue: City Beach Resort (8 Port Road) Transport: Pick up from Labrador Park MRT station at 9.30am Please contact Maverick (9739 3792) for more information. Far Eastern Bible College FEBC will reopen tomorrow, 16 July, with a Day of Prayer and Registration at 8.30am. Monday night class on Joshua, Judges, Ruth by Rev Dr Quek Suan Yew will also begin tomorrow. Thursday night class 1 & 2 Peter by Rev Dr Prabhudas Koshy will begin on 19 July. Registration forms are available at the reception table. Page 8 Time and Place of Worship 10.30am SingPost Centre Level 5 10 Eunos Rd 8 (Next to Paya Lebar MRT) Prayer Hotline 8138 8139 SMS your prayer item Our Office 510 Geylang Road, #02-06, Singapore 389466 Tel: 6741 1910; Fax: 6741 1016 Our Websites gethsemanebpc.com biblewitness.com Our Pastor Rev Dr Prabhudas Koshy Mobile: 9001 1119 Email: gethsemane@pacific.net.sg Our Session Rev Dr Prabhudas Koshy, Eld Mah Chin Kwang, Eld Alan Choy, Dn Arvind Pawa, Dn Daniel Lim, Dn Lok Kwok Wah, Dn Kelvin Lim & Dn Francis Lee