20211212 English Bulletin

Vision: Building a Church after God's Own Heart SUNDAY 12TH DECEMBER WELCOME TO CAMBERWELL METHODIST CHURCH We are a faith community that is growing in our love for Jesus, who died for our sins, and is raised from the death. We are called to follow Jesus, and to make disciple of all nations. If you would like to know more about God, Jesus, or our church or the bible, please use [email protected] / Minister-in-Charge Rev. James Kong 0413 953 238 / English Pastor (Part Time) Ps. Allan Quah 0402 675 219 to Get in Touch. 58 Cooloongatta Road, Camberwell, VIC 3124 • Tel: (03) 9889 0702 • www.cmca-camberwell.org.au

Silent Prayer ORDER OF WORSHIP Call to Worship THIRD SUNDAY of Advent (12 December 2021) Adoration & Praise <Be Still in the Presence of the Lord> Prayer Responsive Reading Light the First and Second Advent Candles (purple). The Lord’s Prayer Read: Isaiah 35:10 Welcome/Notices And the ransomed of the LORD will return. They will enter Zion with singing; Offering everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, Intercessory Prayer and sorrow and sighing will flee away. Scripture Reading While lighting the Third Advent Candle (pink), say, Proclamation We light this candle as a symbol of Christ our Joy. of the Word May the joyful promise of your presence, O God, Chorus of Response make us rejoice in our hope of salvation. Benediction O come, O come, Emmanuel. Psalm 48:1-14 396 <Give of Your Best to the Master> 1 Peter 4:12-19 Standing Firm by rejoicing in suffering Ministry Roster 12/12/2021 Preacher Ps Allan Quah Worship Leader Michael Fung Song Leader Felicia Teng Backup Natalie Law Pianist Adeline See Keyboardist - Accompaniment Simon Wong & Joseph Fung Cajon Bryan Law Bible Reader Jaden Wong Multimedia Damian Seow Live Stream/PA Jin Loong & Gerald Wong Ushers Cassandra & Josiah Tan Floral - HC Prep - Preacher LP Joo Soo Lim Ministry Roster 19/12/2021 Song Leader Jennifer Yap Worship Leader Jimmy Kong Pianist Jason Ting Backup Diana Kong Accompaniment Joseph Fung & Steven Yek Keyboardist Dennis Yong Bible Reader Adam Tiong Cajon David Chieng Live Stream/PA Bryan Law & Andrew Zhang Multimedia Yew Fong Lim Floral - Ushers Jonathan & Danielle Ting HC Prep - 2

“God looks for those whose hearts are prepared to be intercessors before Him ...Intercessors can be the only ones standing between an individual or a nation and God’s wrath.” Henry Blackaby Weekly Praying for the Church 1. P ray for coming back to church to 3. Pray for Annual Conference continue worship to be faithful in leading all churches in Australia, that we may work together to 2.1 Pray for ongoing streaming work to bring the gospel to the those who are be effective, and glorifying God; lost, and discipled to be fisher of men and women. 2.2 Pray for wisdom to discern how to allow congregation to come back to 4. P ray for Jimmy Kong (therapy worship with limited seat capacity due treatment), Ken Hii, Clarence Yek, Uncle to social distancing; Hii, Aunty Su King Ting, Mdm. Lu (Mrs. Kong’s mum), Christina (Boon Koh’s 2.3 Pray for the small groups, and sister, Canada), Flora (Singapore), fellowships continue to connect with Ben (USA) and LP Lina Lim (recovering each other, and reach out to other; from wrist surgery). Thank you all for upholding them in prayer. 2.4 Pray for God’s break through in all that church is doing so that we may experience renewal in the life of community and ministry. 2. P ray for LCEC 2022 and English working Committee that they may work together to reach out to families, our young people, and our community. 3

“God looks for those whose hearts are prepared to be intercessors before Him ...Intercessors can be the only ones standing between an individual or a nation and God’s wrath.” Henry Blackaby Weekly Praying for the Church 5. P ray for our church family continue to 6. P ray for spiritual awakening experience living God in each of these household at Camberwell Methodist 1.1 Your plead with the Lord to be Church. We pray for deeper relationship merciful to us and graciously draw us among the family members, deeper back to Himself and His ways. Ask Him to relationship between husband and show us unfailing love and grant us His wife, and deeper relationship between salvation that we may rejoice in Him. parents and children. I cannot stress more than saying this is the time, God 1.2 Restore us again, O God our is at work through and in our families. Saviour...Will you not revive us again, Let us not look else where but instead that your people may rejoice in you? look within our daily relationship and Show us your unfailing love, O Lord, and our family. God is right there with us. grant us your salvation (Psalm 85:4,6-7); Seek Him first and His kingdom, all these things shall be added to you. 1.3 Thank God that He is willing to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask. Cry out to Him for an outpouring and mighty working of the Holy Spirit in our day. 1.4 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him. (Luke 11:13) 4

All that’s going on around Camberwell Methodist Church COMMUNITY WATCH Welcome Prayer Meeting Thursday (16/12) 7:30PM We welcome everyone who join our worship Prayer Meeting to be led by Jing Jing Ngu through service. May the peace of God be with you! If you zoom. Let us serve one another through prayer. are a new friend to the church, please introduce yourself. Pastoral Needs Restrictions If you have any pastoral needs, please do not hesitate to seek Rev. James Kong (0413 953 238), Phase D of the National Plan: 90% of 12+ fully Ps. Allan Quah (0402 675 219) or local preachers: vaccinated from 11.59PM 18th November 2021 Lina Lim, Chris Ting, or Joo Soo Lim. If you need the pastor to pray for you, do approach Rev. James There will still be mask requirements, density limits Kong or Ps. Allan Quah after the service. and caps in place for weddings, funerals, places of worship and other settings if the vaccination Family Devotion status of attendees is not being checked. The usual exceptions will apply. We encourage families to start a regular family devotion each week. It is our main thing for our Masks in high-risk indoor settings or settings where church because we will grow stronger, closer, and there are low vaccination levels and where you more love for God and one another. Let us not cannot socially distance. waste this time of being together…. explore every opportunity to play, to read, to do something The church is open for in-person worship in the together, to pray and to sing together. church building. Attendees need to show Covid Vaccination Certificate, and we will continue with Personal Testimony online streaming. We encourage you to write your personal Note: We are one family in Christ, our Lord Jesus testimony and send it to [email protected]. accepts everyone. We sincerely hope everyone can come back to gather in the church building One Day Seminar to worship and fellowship. But due to the fully vaccinated Restrictions from the Victorian State 2022 Church Camp has been changed to One Government, those who are yet to be fully Day Seminar “Transforming ourselves, Transforming vaccinated will need to remain patient for a little our Families” on 08/01/2022 (Sat) at the church while longer, in the meantime, please join our (from 9AM to 4:30PM). Speaker: Brett Ryan. Lunch services through live streaming on YouTube. is provided. Participants need to register online via link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA IpQLSfXprXmK7lwvBMaYYRxWIl3HoRvLisRYC5Mxf lz875KMHi0kg/viewform or scan the QR Code to register. No registration fee is required. Closing Date of Registration: 24/12/2021. Please treasure the opportunity and register early. (Please refer page 9) 5

All that’s going on around Camberwell Methodist Church COMMUNITY WATCH Use of church venue for followship CCLM Module: Introduction to Christian Theology Please book through picktime.com to avoid clash of use. Please make sure all lights, air-conditioners, The purpose is to help participants to gain some and other equipment are switched off, also basic and further understanding of the Christian making sure all doors are locked before leaving. faith and its theology. Dates: 1st January to 7th February 2022 (6 Monday evenings of 1.5 hours each) by Rev. Michael Ting. Registration fee: $40. Register by 2nd January 2022. (Refer to Page 8) Offering detail Thank you once again for brothers and sisters who faithfully support the ministry of the church through finance, prayers, and participation. May God bless you. Here is the bank detail for your reference: Account name: Chinese Methodist Church in Australia Camberwell; BANK: ANZ; BSB: 013 225; Account Number: 4939 79025. We have prepared an Offering Box in the Lobby for envelope offering. Offering: $13587.17 (28/11-03/12/2021) Description Abbreviations Bank reference Tithing TITHE C9/E11 C9 TITHE Paul WONG General GEN C9/E11 C9 GEN Paul WONG Thanksgiving TKS C9/E11 C9 TKS Paul WONG Mission MIS C9/E11 C9 MIS Paul WONG Theological student THE C9/E11 C9 THE Paul WONG Special SPE C9/E11 C9 SPE Paul WONG Others OTH C9/E11 C9 OTH Paul WONG Building fund C9/E11 C9 Camberwell mc Paul WONG, E11 Mercy mc Paul WONG….. 6

Everybody Does It! Family Devotion 2021-12-12 Friends who try to talk you into wrong choices are likely to hurt you, not help you. Bible Reading of the Day: Read 1 Peter 4: 1-5 and 19. Bible Verse to memorize: \"In everything set them an example by doing what is good\" (Titus 2:7) John walked with his friends, Andy and Todd, to the pond. \"Don't walk so fast,\" John complained. \"I can't keep up.\" He had to work harder than his friends because his left foot was cast. The cast was removable. John could take it off when he took a shower, for example, but the doctor had given him strict instructions not to swim or play sports until the toe he had broken last week was fully healed. Otherwise, the doctor had informed him that the toe would not heal properly and probably require surgery. As they got closer to the pond, Andy and Todd's walks grew longer, and John fell behind. When he reached the pond, he noticed that his friends had left their towels, shoes, and shirts on the bank and were already in the water. \"Come on in, John,\" Todd called. \"The water's great!\" \"Yeah,\" said Andy. \"Come on!\" He pitched forward under the water. \"I can't,\" John answered. \"You guys know what the doctor said.\" \"Oh, a little water's not going to hurt anything,\" Andy said, splashing water in John's direction. The day was hot, and John knew that the water would feel so good. But he shook his head. \"I don't want to have an operation,\" he said. \"You won't, \"Todd said. \"It's just a toe.\" \"Yeah, don't be such a wimp,\" Andy said. John looked at the gleaming water. The little pond had never looked so clean and inviting. And swimming wasn't too different from taking a bath, was it? He reasoned within himself. John shook his head again. \"I'd get in trouble if I went swimming,\" he said. \"My parents would kill me.\" Andy looked from one side of the pond to the other. \"I don't see your parents,\" he said sarcastically. \"Do you?\" John hesitated just a moment before sitting down on the bank and started carefully removing his cast. As he did, he seemed to be arguing with his conscience. \"I know I shouldn't do this,\" he whispered. \"I'm gonna be sorry.\" – Josh McDowell's Family Devotions – A daily devotional for passing biblical verses to the next generation, 1997, pg 177. To Discuss: Do you think John's friends showed concern or lack of respect for him? Why? Do your friends ever tempt you to join them in the wrong or harmful behaviors? Do they act \"very surprised\" that you won't? As the Bible reading mentions, do they ever \"say evil things about you\" when you refuse to participate in their actions? What does today's Bible reading say is a proper response when such things happen? To Pray: \"Father God, help us, to have the proper response when friends say evil things about us. Help us also to follow your way, even if no one else does.\" 7

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Course: Introduction to Christian Theology Do you desire for you and your Teacher: Rev. Michael Ting church to stand on rock-solid theological doctrine? ASSIGNMENT … The Bible, theology, method, Write a book review of 2,000 words on Part 2 of Knowing God/Trinity, Jesus/Christ, God. ‘Behold Your God!’ (pages 83-198) Humanity, Sin, Salvation/Gospel, Holy Spirit, • 1,300 words on the highlight and importance of the The Church, The section of the book. Future/Eschatology, Mission/Evangelism … • 350 words on what impacted you as a Christian, from the section of the book. GOALS: To gain some basic and further understanding of the • Another 350 words on what you think you need to Christian faith and its theology. teach to your church/Christians around you today. CLASSES: 6 days of each 2.5 hrs REFLECTION Write a simple and straight forward reflection of your TIME: 2100 to 2330 learning in class for about 500 words. What you find it helpful and applicable to your life as a Christian. (AEDT) RECOMMENDED TEXTBOOK Knowing God: With Study Guide 1800 to 2030 (AWST) By J. I. Packer, Published by Hodder & Stoughton, 2005 (ebook version, 2011) DATES: Koorong $22.99 Koorong ebook $13.99 Mon 3 January 2022 REGISTRATION Mon 10 January 2022 https://forms.gle/6FsriBimpy1E5MHf6 Mon 17 January 2022 Mon 24 January 2022 Mon 31 January 2022 Mon 7 February 2022 ENQUIRY CONTACT: Rev. Alan Lau Phone: 0407515103 Email: [email protected] 8

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