2020_0906_Online Bulletin_website

Sunday 6th September 2020 ST GEORGE’S CHURCH Every person complete in Christ - Colossians 1: 28 WELCOME BACK to St George’s church! Finally, after many months of meeting Online we are now able to meet together, in person. Thank the Lord and rejoice with us. You will notice that Church has changed in many ways, but the Lord remains the same and so does our mission of presenting everyone complete in Christ. God has given us new ways of sharing Christ with our world, our city and our neighbours. He has also given us news ways to develop how we nurture our faith and support each other in the Lord. Thanks for being part of these new ways. THE COLLECT FOR 13TH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY Lord God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: increase and multiply upon us your mercy, that you being our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal that we finally lose not the things eternal. Grant this, heavenly Father, for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN. http://www.stgeorges.org.sg https://www.facebook.com/stgeorgeschurchsingapore 1

This week Zoom Sunday School is starting a new series on Jesus has the power. Sunday School’s very first passage is in line with our sermon series in Church. We will all be looking at John 5 and seeing that Jesus has the power to heal. Jesus was in Jerusalem again and he visits the Pool of Bethesda / Bethzatha / Bethsaida, where tradition has it that if the water bubbled an angel had done it and the 1st person in will be healed. So obviously the pool was surrounded by lots of desperate people. Jesus’ attention focuses in on a man who has been crippled for 38 years. When Jesus askes the man if he wants to be healed, his answer; “I have no one to help me,” is an acknowledgement of the man’s helplessness. This is a great reminder that for all of us that we are 2

all in need of help when it comes to our salvation. We all need Jesus. When Jesus commands the man to get up and pick up his mat, the man responds in obedience and is healed. The response of the Jewish leaders is so sad. They are more concerned about him carrying his mat on the Sabbath than rejoicing in his healing. Jesus had shown his compassion and demonstrated his God given authority over sickness, but the religious leaders failed to recognise the healing came from God. When Jesus met up with the man later in the temple, telling him not to sin reminds the man that he is to walk in the new life that Jesus has given him. Jesus has shown God’s power in healing the man, but also God’s authority to forgive sins and that he is Lord of the Sabbath to do God’s work. Narelle Hadfield 6th Sept 2020 3

John 5: 1-18 5 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. 5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” 7 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” 8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, 10 and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.” 11 But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ ” 12 So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?” 4

13 The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there. 14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well. 16 So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. 17 In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” 18 For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. 5

9.00AM “Live” Service Order of Service OPENING INSTRUMENTAL Suki Tong WELCOME Kenneth Tan PRAYER OF PURITY Kenneth Tan AND TITUS 2 & 3 CREED SONG All Must Be Well CONFESSION Kenneth Tan BIBLE READING John 5: 1-18 Raelee Chapman SERMON Rev Dr Andrew Reid SONG This Life I Live INTERVIEW WITH HYDIE VALDEZ Hydie Valdez / Rev Ian Hadfield INTERCESSIONS & THE COLLECT Heather Reid COMMUNION Rev Paul Tan ANNOUNCEMENTS Rev Ian Hadfield CLOSING Kenneth Tan CLOSING INSTRUMENTAL Suki Tong 6

PRAYERS PRAISE GOD FOR WHO HE IS • Thank God for steadfast love that never ceases and is new every morning. THE WORLD • Pray for Morocco (Africa). Praise the Lord for this small but emerging church. It is estimated that there are only about 2000 believers in the nation of 36 million. It is legal to talk about Christ and to religious discussions at home but generally this legal ‘freedom’ is not upheld. Pray for this persecuted church and pray for the nation to become open to hearing about Christ. • Pray for the persecuted church that our sisters and brothers will remain strong in the faith. Pray that their steadfastness will bear witness to Christ. • Bring before the Lord the world as it continues to struggle against COVID-19 and the economic fallout. Pray that our world will recognise God’s challenge to turn to him. SINGAPORE • Pray for wisdom for the government as it continues to determine when and how to lift COVID-19 restrictions. • Continue to pray for those in the dormitories; their health and ability to return to work. Pray that they would come to Christ whilst in Singapore. Thank God for opportunities to share with them during circuit breaker and phases 1 and 2. • Bring before the Lord those who work in the banking sector. Pray for banks to be wise and gracious in how they deal customers and business and governments. 7

ST GEORGE’S • Pray that St George’s would be a community which accepts all who join and continue to support each other whether we are single or married. Pray that those who are single that they will not be made to feel ‘second class’ because they are not married. • Thank the Lord for Hydie and her work with Toddler Time and Filipino Fellowship. Thank God for opportunities to she has to share Christ and to encourage those who are already Christians. Pray that all of us at St George’s will be a help to the ministry to Helpers as well as showing Christ to all whom we employ. • (Pray for a St George’s Mission Partner) Young Life - Kaithlin Chaffin: For staff returning from the US. For ministry adjusting to small meetings vs. large group gatherings, fundraising efforts, and new ministries that are gaining traction- Specifically with local schools & universities!! • Pray for the sick Joanna, Rosemary, Peter, Kah Seng, Caitlin and Tee Dhye. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. John 5:23b 8

ANNOUNCEMENTS Special Parochial Church Meeting 15th September 2020 8:00 pm at St George's Church Due to COVID-19 delays, the St George's Annual General Meeting (AGM) in June 2020, was not able to accept the completed audited Accounts for the year 2019. Draft audited accounts were only acknowledged by that AGM. The complete accounts are now available and the only difference on them is that there is a signature from the auditor. St George's Constitution requires that these accounts be accepted now by a Special Parochial Church Meeting (SPCM) held for Electoral Roll Members. Thus two things are being asked of those who are currently on the Electoral Roll: 9

i) Go to this link https://stgeorgeschurch.churchcenter.com/people/forms/166058 and complete it thus requesting that a Special Parochial Church Meeting be held. (Note that at least 10% of the Electoral Roll must make a request for this meeting to occur) ii) Upon submission of the above form, you will be provided with a link to register to attend the Special Parochial Church Meeting on 15th September 2020 at 8:00 pm in the church. We need at least 20 people to attend for that is our quorum. A maximum of 50 can attend in person. If there are more people wishing to attend, they can watch (but not participate in voting) via Zoom. Note that the meeting will only last for about 10 minutes. But it is important to hold the meeting. Also, due to COVID restrictions no refreshments will be provided. 10

Midweek Communion Every Wednesday at 10:30 am A weekly opportunity to gather together to celebrate what Christ has done in a tangible way. This is a Church Service for those in the COVID-19 vulnerable group (over 60 years of age and/or those with other health issues) Please register for the Service (as only 50 people can gather). Please go to our church website: https://stgeorgeschurch.churchcenter.com/registrations to register or ring/send a WhatsApp message to the Office 9812 5473. Please let the office know if you would like transport to St George’s to attend the Service. 11

Moore College Preliminary Theological Certificate EPHESIANS Enrol at Moore College here -> https://apply.moore.edu.au for Ephesian by 9th September (paying Moore College directly) and then let us know that you wish to join the Ephesians Study Group by registering here https://tinyurl.com/SGC-EPHESIANS-MOORE-SEPT2020 . The free Study Group will start on Monday the 14th Sept 7:45- 9:15 pm for 10 weeks. Moore College Basic Cost: $45 AUD. (includes the online version of the Ephesians Study Book and extra study materials) $20 AUD (extra cost for a hard copy of the Ephesians Study Book to be posted to you. Note it takes approx. 2 weeks for the book to arrive so register with Moore College by the 31st Aug) There is no extra cost to sit the Online Exam which can be done within 6 months of your enrolment. 12

An Excellent Conference held in Singapore 23 & 24 September 2020 (Wed & Thu) 9AM-12.30PM Preaching Genesis: Taking Biblical Theology back to the Beginning Speaker: David Helm Chairman, Charles Simeon Trust (USA) Pastor, Holy Trinity Church Chicago 2 Day Ticket: $20 1 Day Ticket: $10 - Two instructional talks by David Helm on 'How to preach and teach Genesis' - Two small group sessions for participants to work on passages together from Genesis (via Zoom Breakout Rooms) - Two Model Sermons from Genesis by David Helm - Two Q&A opportunities with David Helm Registration closing date: 15 Sep 2020 11:59 PM Register here: https://www.eventbrite.sg/e/expository-preaching- conference-2020-with-david-helm-project-timothy-tickets-116238858555 13

Adopt a Dorm Program - Update From May 2020, we at St George's have been supporting guest workers in their dormitories with physical and spiritual food. The program is now ending but we want to celebrate what has been done in the name of Jesus and out of his love. We praise God for the opportunities to share food and Christ with these men who have faced difficulties, shortages and isolation during the Circuit Breaker period of COVID-19 and only now are allowed back to work. It has been a magnificent effort sharing the love of God and so thank you to everyone for your prayers and donations towards this local mission cause. You have brought honour to God. We are particularly grateful to Shiva (a Christian) who has been the contact person in the dormitories and to Fileo, Larry, Nishka, Rebekah and Annette (all from St George's) for their hard work in making this possible. And we pray that God will continue to do his good work in these men and their families due to the love and generosity that we have been able to share with them. 14

Church Live Stream Online Watch the 9 am St George's Church Service as it happens from home, the car, with others etc. Go to this site - YouTube Live from 9 am on Sunday. We would appreciate your feedback too. Please contact [email protected] for your thoughts on whether we should continue to offer this style of church. 15

For our online Services, View at St George's YouTube Channel: https://youtube.com/StGeorgesChurchSingapore Services are available from 7 am on the date of the Service and soon after on the Church's website itself. (https://www.stgeorges.org.sg) Interactive Church SUNDAY From 8 am OR 10 am OR 5:30 pm on Sundays, join us for St George's Online Church. 8 am Zoom details: CHANGED FORMAT from now on: Join us at 8 am, discuss a topic in a small group and pray for one another then hear some announcements and thereafter watch the Service. There will be no discussion on Zoom after the Service. 10 am Zoom details: CHANGED FORMAT from now on: Join us at 10 am, chat for a while until Ian joins the group then discuss a topic in a small group and pray for one another followed by some announcements and thereafter watch the Service. There will be no discussion on Zoom after the Service. 16

5:30 pm Zoom details: NO CHANGE IN FORMAT for the 5:30 pm Service. You may email us at [email protected] for meeting details on Zoom. 17

CHILDREN Online Sunday School 10-10:45 am every Sunday. Join in for a song, a story, a prayer and an activity. For kids of all ages and their parents. Kindly email Narelle at [email protected] for details. YOUTH Sunday Circuit Breaker LIVE happens every Sunday from 11 am onwards & Dig Deeper Online happens every Friday from 7-9 pm. We welcome all teens to join us at both our meetings! For more info, please get in touch with Shehan at ([email protected]) 18

YOUTH Dig Deeper Online: This Friday at Dig Deeper Online, we will be finishing up our teaching series called 'What is a Disciple?' continuing on in the acronym: D.I.S.C.I.P.L.E looking at E- valuate. As we have journeyed through this series, we've learned the importance of obedience in following Jesus Christ and how we can truly live a transformed life! We're also excited to announce that starting this Friday, we'll be restarting our Physical Dig Deeper meeting at different homes keeping to the (5) person rule in each household excluding the people already in the house. If you're interested in hosting a group or sending your teen to one, please do let us know by getting in touch at ([email protected]) 19

YOUTH: This Sunday at Circuit Breaker LIVE will be our 1st 'Ask Anything' LIVE Q&A session with Max Jeganathan. Max Jeganathan is the Asia-Pacific Regional Director of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries. He leads a team of pioneering apologist-evangelists and speaks around Asia on how the Christian faith answers the deepest questions of life. He is passionate about the power of the gospel of Jesus Christ to transform lives. Born in Sri Lanka, Max’s family moved to Australia as refugees in the mid-1980s. He has worked as a lawyer and a political and policy adviser in the Australian National Parliament, including time as an adviser to a senior Cabinet Minister and as Senior Social Policy Adviser to the leader of the Australian Opposition. Max was educated at the Australian National University and the University of Oxford. Max lives in Singapore with his wife, Fiona, and their two young children. 20

Toddler Time Online Toddler Time continues online every Tuesday at 10 am (for about 30 mins) on Zoom. Please contact Hydie at [email protected] for more details. 21

In Serving the Church Go to this link https://tinyurl.com/SGC-Ministry-Form-2020 and sign up to help serve a) in our Pre-recorded Services (usually Saturday Mornings) and then 8 days later at b) b) at Church on Sundays 9 am c) at our Midweek Wednesday 10:30 am Communion Service. d) at our other events including Youth, Sunday School, Life Groups/Bible Study Groups, Toddler Time and Mums and Tots SPECIAL REQUEST: We NEED people who would be willing (with training) to work on the Live Streaming aspect of Church on Sunday mornings. We need people who would enjoy working with sound, with video camera and video editing. Please complete the form https://tinyurl.com/SGC- Ministry-Form-2020 22

HAVE ANY OLD IPADS/TABLETS? St George's would like use some of your old Tablets or iPads which are in good working condition (with Wifi connectivity), to use for our Check In system for Children and Youth when we return to meeting in person. Please let Nicholas know (email [email protected]) if you can help. 23

HAVE ANY SPARE COMPUTERS/ LAPTOPS/MACS ETC. JUST LYING AROUND? Kokkos Christian Children's school in rural Kampot / Cambodia is a St George’s Mission partner, and they are looking to acquire used laptop computers and tablets for the children’s use, to replace existing ones. They have a contractor who will scramble the hard drives. Requests: * Laptops: not more than 3 years old. (Screen size 14\"+) * Mac- Book/Pro: not more than 5 years old. * Chrome books: not more than 2 years. (Screen size:14\"+) * Tablets (Android) & iPads: not more than 3 years. (8.5\") They must be in working order and have Wi-Fi connectivity. A service to 'clean' the hard disc can be provided. Their needs are quite large. In fact, the existing machines are definitely past their shelf life, and thus need to be replaced plus adding more in the next 2 years. If there are donors (or those who want to sell for a nominal value), we can arrange for collection, but the ideal is for the donor to leave it with the church. Please let Nicholas know (email [email protected]) if you can help. 24

Rev. Dr Soh Guan Chin's Retirement After 6 years of solid and sound ministry at St George's Church, Rev. Dr Soh will complete his work with us at St George's at the end of October 2020 to focus on the Joshua Mission which has grown in its reach to 18 different nations. You can find out more about Joshua Mission here: https://thejoshuamission.net We are grateful to God for Guan Chin's work in the Lord among us. He will be missed, and we will officially farewell him nearer to the end of October. 25

NOTICE ON CHANGE OF USE FOR TES FUNDS Dear Donors, If you have previously donated to the PMF-ST GEORGE’S CHURCH account to support the restoration of St George’s Church, and received a tax deduction on your donation, please note that the scheme now allows collected donations to be used for: 1. Restoration of non-protected but historical structures within our Monument’s compound; 2. Works that are required for compliance with statutory regulations; and, 3. Payment of Lease and TOL renewals. This is in addition to the original approved use, which was to support the restoration of the monument building. The Parochial Church Council has recommended, and Church Members have approved at the recent AGM that up to S$160,000 of funds in the PMF-ST GEORGE’S CHURCH account be used for Payment of Lease and TOL renewals. Should you have any concerns or objections to your donation being used for these new purposes, please contact Annette Ho (email: [email protected]), with your official tax exemption receipt as issued by NHB, by no later than 31st October 2020. Note: After 1st November 2020, it shall be taken that donors have no objections to the additional proposed uses, and donations will be channeled to fund these, where applicable. 26

St George's Church is seeking a Full Time Children's Ministry Director The Director will: 1) Oversee the ministry of Sunday School 2) Oversee the ministry of Mums and Tots 3) Work with the Toddler Time leadership team 4) Raise up, support and equip the teams of Volunteers who work with Children 5) Ensure Child Safeguarding policies and procedures are fulfilled. Job advertisement is found here https://www.stgeorges.org.sg/employment/ For more details, questions and to apply - contact Ian at [email protected] 27

For your prayerful consideration Whilst the church is not meeting together, we still have financial costs as well has providing assistance to those who need it. So we ask that you prayerfully and carefully consider giving online through PayNow or Planned Giving. Please go to this section of the website to find out more https://www.stgeorges.org.sg/how-do-i-give Or download the form here. And send the completed form to Annette: [email protected] 28

Contact Us Vicar: Rev. Ian Hadfield [email protected] Seniors: Rev. Paul Tan [email protected] Associate Minister: Rev. Dr Soh Guan Chin [email protected] Children's Ministry: Narelle Hadfield [email protected] Youth Ministry: Shehan Thomas [email protected] Small Groups/Life Groups: Marc Wang [email protected] Filipino Ministry: Hydie Valdez [email protected] Admin Manager: Nicholas Tan [email protected] Finance: Annette Ho [email protected] Membership & Courses: Betty Wu [email protected] Property: Cynthia Lamb [email protected] Rosters+Website: Lesley Limpin [email protected] Office Mobile (WhatsApp only) 9812 5473 Address: St George's Church 44 Minden Rd, Singapore 248816 29