20210711 English Bulletin

Vision: Building a Church after God's Own Heart SUNDAY 11th JULY 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.

Silent Prayer ORDER OF WORSHIP Call to Worship Adoration & Praise (11 July 2021) Prayer Responsive Reading <Be Still in the Presence of the Lord> The Lord’s Prayer Welcome/Notices Psalm 28:1-9 Offering Intercessory Prayer 409 <Have Thine Own Way, Lord> Scripture Reading 1 Tim. 4:12-16 Proclamation of the Word Be an Example to the Believers Video Chorus of Response Spark Benediction Ministry Roster 11/7/2021 Preacher Rev. James Kong Worship Leader Esther Liong Song Leader Wesley Chew Backup Zoe Ha Pianist Cassandra Keyboardist - Accompaniment Oscar Ling Cajon Jonathan Liew Bible Reader En Sing Lim Multimedia Joseph Fung Live Stream/PA Jin Loong & Alister Chew Ushers Jacklyn & Jamilyn Wong Floral - HC Prep - LP Lina Lim Ministry Roster 18/7/2021 Preacher Jin Loong Wong Worship Leader Chris Ting Song Leader Jiaxin Wong Backup Albert Wong Pianist Oscar Ling Keyboardist Venus Kang Accompaniment Verene Kang Cajon Jonathan Liew Bible Reader Jin Loong & Bryan Law Multimedia Damian Seow Live Stream/PA - Ushers Stephen & Florence Siew Floral 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. Pray for coming back to church to 2. P ray for LCEC 2021 and English working worship Committee that they may work together to reach out to families, our 2.1 Pray for ongoing streaming work to young people, and our community. be effective, and glorifying God; Please pray for the search of suirtable new pastor for English Congregation. 2.2 Pray for wisdom to discern how to allow congregation to come back to 3. Pray for Annual Conference continue worship with limited seat capacity due to be faithful in leading all churches in to social distancing; Australia, that we may work together to bring the gospel to the those who are 2.3 Pray for the small groups, and lost, and discipled to be fisher of men fellowships continue to connect with and women. each other, and reach out to other; 4. Pray for Boon Koh’s sister, Christina, 2.4 Pray for God’s break through in and her family in Canada: Samuel all that church is doing so that we and Ruth; Flora’s recovery; Ben; Mr. may experience renewal in the life of Tan (Angeline’s father); Recovery community and ministry. after surgery: Jimmy Kong; Bick Seng; Recovering at home: Uncle Lu, Rev. Y.C. Liong. 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 Church Camp 2022 We welcome everyone who join our worship Dates: 07-10 January 2022 (Friday to Monday). service. May the peace of God be with you! If you Venue: Philip Island. Theme: “Growing a gospel- are a new friend to the church, please introduce centered Family”. Please reserve the dates for yourself. attending the church camp. Other details will be available soon. Restrictions Prayer Meeting As the restriction for Melbourne has been further relaxed: Religious gatherings and ceremonies: Thursday (15/7) 7:30PM Prayer Meeting to be led No overarching venue limit. Density quotient of by Gerald Wong through zoom. Let us serve one 1 person per 2 sqm applies when using a COVID another through prayer. Check-in Marshal, otherwise density quotient of 1 person per 4sqm applies. Starting from this coming Offering detail Sunday, number of people allowed in each area: Sanctuary (84); Foyer (15); Annex 1 (35); Nursery Thank you once again for brothers and sisters who (14); Annex 2 (Ground floor Sunday school room) faithfully support the ministry of the church through (18); Upstairs Sunday school rooms ( all 4 rooms) finance, prayers, and participation. May God bless (32). We welcome our congregation back for you. Here is the bank detail for your reference: physical worship. However, they will need to book Account name: Chinese Methodist Church in online https://bit.ly/return-to-cmc to ensure that Australia Camberwell; BANK: ANZ; BSB: 013 225; it would not reach the limit. At the same time, A.N: 4939 79025 face mask needs to be worn. The YouTube live streaming will be continued for the worship service. Offering At the same time, Sunday school will announce its own arrangement through its group. Thank $12,972.17 (27/6-02/7/2021) you all for your cooperation. Do take good care, follow the restrictions, continue to love others as Pastoral Needs ourselves, step forward for COVID vaccination and continue to pray. If you have any pastoral needs, please do not hesitate to seek Rev. James Kong (0413 953 238), Ps. Allan Quah (0402 675 219) or local preacher: Lina Lim, Chris Ting, or Joo Soo Lim. If you need the pastor to pray for you, do approach Rev. James Kong or Ps. Allan Quah after the service. 5

All that’s going on around Camberwell Methodist Church COMMUNITY WATCH Family Devotion Mercy Methodist Church We encourage families to start a regular family Mercy Methodist Church has successfully secured devotion each week. It is our main thing for our an existing church in the Tanah Merah suburb on church because we will grow stronger, closer, and May 31 2021, with a land area of 3,594m2and more love for God and one another. Let us not an existing building area of 356m2. The purchase waste this time of being together…. explore every price is eight hundred and fifty thousand opportunity to play, to read, to do something Australian dollars ($850,000), with addition of together, to pray and to sing together. administration fees and basic renovation costs totalling an estimated one million Australian CMC Youth Camp 19th – 22nd September dollars (AUD $1,000,000). Settlement of the 2021 property is scheduled for 5th July, 2021. At present, Mercy Methodist Church had raised a total of Theme: “The Simple Gospel”. Speaker: Ps. Stephen AUD$820,000, which means we are AUD$180,000 Tan. Please register for camp on the day with short of our target. This will cover basic renovation QR Code outside sanctuary after the service. Do costs as mentioned as well as the purchase and approach Oscar Ling or Wesley Chew for further installation of necessary equipment and furniture, information. plus clearing a dozen trees to establish ditches to prevent flooding on site. Hence, we would like to 2021 Family Discipleship Seminar 10-12 invite you to participate in the fundraising for the September (English) purchase of our church property. We hope that you will find joy in giving, knowing that God will Theme: God’s Kingdom Blessings: The Gospel and reward you in heaven. MMC’s account detail: the Family. Speaker: Rev. Dr Moses Tey (and Cathy Mercy Methodist Church, BSB:484799 Account: Tey). Please scan the QR code for registration, and 609503161, you can transfer direct to their contact your local church pastor in-charge for account. (Refer Page 10-11) more information. (See Page 9) Holiday Children Character Camp Board of Christian Social Concerns Prayer Letter (June-July 2021) Date: 24-25 September 2021 Venue: Camberwell MC. A day camp over two days - fun times for year Please continue to care for our community and 1 to year 9 children of family and friends to learn pray for the prayer items listed. (Refer Page 8) about exciting characters from the Bible through story-telling, sing-a-longs, games, arts and crafts. There will be a special theatrical performance by the children about the adventures they discover on the second day of the camp. Registration is open! To register, please use the CHAT box on the page or email to: vchairman.cmcacamberwell@ gmail.com 1. Your children’s name and age 2. Return contact number CAMBERWELL METHODIST CHURCH 58 Cooloongatta Road, Camberwell, VIC 3124 • Tel: (03) 9889 0702 • www.cmca-camberwell.org.au Minister-in-charge: Rev. James Kong 0413 953 238 6

Devotion Week 23: 11th July 2021 Theme: How Can We Be OK Living In Uncertainty? Bible verses: Ruth 1:16 16 But Ruth said, “Do not urge me to leave you or to return from following you. For where you go I will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your people shall be my people, and your God my God. When you lose someone, it creates pain so deep that tears and words often fail. Admittedly, so often, when I read Ruth's short book, I skim over all the pain and suffering in her life and think only of the beautiful ending. But Ruth experienced a significant amount of loss in her life. Her father-in-law, brother-in-law, and husband all died within a short time of each other, leaving her and her sister-in-law childless. The amount of loss in Ruth’s life is big. Naomi, the two women’s mother-in-law, instructs her daughters-in-law to return to their own homes because of all the grief and loss. But instead, Ruth chooses to have compassion and stay with Naomi. She does the kindest, loving, and most selfless thing by committing to stay. She even follows Naomi back to Bethlehem, where she becomes a foreigner. I cannot imagine this was easy for Ruth. She was dealing with sorrow as a widow in a strange place. Naomi couldn’t have been easy to be around. She was so filled with grief that she even changed her name to Mara to reflect her bitter heart. But that didn’t deter Ruth. Instead, she dedicated her life to her mother-in-law and her faith. When they arrived in Bethlehem, they were so poor that Ruth was forced to gather the leftover grain in a wealthy kinsman’s field named Boaz. Ruth was methodical, faithful, and kind. She didn’t complain and remained content in each circumstance, and God blessed her abundantly. He provided for her through Boaz. Boaz became her husband but also her kinsman- redeemer. Eventually, they married and had a child, and Ruth became part of the lineage of Jesus. So, what can we learn from Ruth? As we read Ruth’s story, it might be easy to forget that she didn’t know the outcome of her circumstances. She didn’t know all the good things that God had in store for her. Yet, she remained faithful and content, even in the darkest of times. She trusted God and continued to move forward, and He provided for her as He does us today, through His Son, our Redeemer. When we get lost, and difficulties come, we can trust the Lord. He remains forever in control. We have only to take the next best step and stay faithful. Like Ruth, we can look forward, not dwelling on the past and those things that we cannot change. Isaiah goes as far as to tell us to forget the former things and stop dwelling on the past because God is creating something new. He is the God of new beginnings. He is the God of life. How then should we navigate difficulties with a content heart? • If you are not already a believer, pray and trust Jesus as your personal Saviour. • Ask God to give you wisdom and discernment as to which best next step you should take. • Seek wise counsel when you are uncertain of the right decision. • Rest with contentment in the waiting. • Ask God to use you to minister to others who are hurting. • Spend time in God’s Word and with other believers. • Ask God for His peace to comfort you and direct you on the best path for you. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Finally, remember that as God’s child, His love for you is immeasurable. You can trust in His timing, wait on His answer, have faith in His goodness, and take heart in His promises. Talk It Over Can you trust God even in pain and suffering? Today, will you invite God to direct your path and give you contentment in the waiting? 7 Pray this week: Heavenly Father, You are the God of new beginnings. I will trust you in all areas of my life, even when I can’t see what the next step might be. Amen.

Board of Christian Social Concern 2021 六-七月祷告事项 June – July Prayer Items: Bible verses: 耶稣说，我就是道路，真理，与生命，若不藉着我没有人能 到父那里去。Jesus said, “I am the way, the Truth, and the Light, no one come to the Father except through me.” （约翰福音 John 14:6） 1. 为那些曾经被歧视，被欺压祷告。求圣灵赐帮助他们能够从悲伤和 苦毒中走出来。并能以神的爱去饶恕那曾伤加害他们的人。Pray for those who have been discriminated, and oppressed. Pray for Holy Spirit to bring them out of pains and bitterness. 2. 为着澳洲的原住民仍面对着酗酒，家庭暴力，高失业率和高辍学率 等问题祷告。求神透过政府的政策和社会关怀能帮助原住民脱离现 状。Pray for our aboriginal community in Australia to be free from alcohol addiction, family violence, high unemployment and low schooling. Pray for God to restore and deliver our people from these conditions through the policy of government and the assistance of our society. 3. 求圣灵使信徒们走出教会去关心及看见他们社区里的需要如流浪 汉，精神疾病，高自杀率，失业，新移民问题等使神的名在世人中 间被彰显。Pray for Holy Spirit to compel our church members to walk out of the church into our community, especially to help the homeless, mental illness, suicidal persons, unemployment and new migrants so that the name of God will be manifested among His people. 4. 继续为世界的疫情祷告，求神医治这大地並恳求圣灵在每个国家呼 召神的子民来归向事奉祂。Continue to pray for covid19 in global setting, we pray for God to heal this land and ask Holy Spirit to call upon God’s people to turn to Him. 5. 为我们的教会祷告，求神帮助我们成为世界的光，地上的盐，来面 对我们目前社会的挑战。Pray for our church to be the light of the world and be salt of the earth to stand on biblical ground as we face various challenge of our own society in Australia. 8

2021 Family Discipleship Seminar 13-15 August (Chinese) & 10-12 September (English) What is God’s purpose for marriage? What is God’s purpose for family? Can every individual or family be a gospel-centred, Christ-centred and God-glorifying person for God? And how does that look like? We will try to answer some of these questions … God’s Kingdom Blessings: The Gospel and the Family Theme Talks Speaker: Rev. Dr Moses Tey (and Cathy Tey) Date and Time: Based on Melbourne time (AEST, UTC/GMT +10 hrs) Chinese Seminar Session 1 (Friday 13 August 8:30-10:00 pm) Session 2 (Saturday 14 August 11:00 am-12:30 pm) Session 3 (Saturday 14 August 8:30-10:00 pm) Session 4 (Sunday 15 August 8:30-10:00 pm) English Seminar Session 1 (Friday 10 September, 8:30-10:00 pm) Session 2 (Saturday 11 September, 11:00 am-12:30 pm) Session 3 (Saturday 11 September, 8:30-10:00 pm) Session 4 (Sunday 12 September, 8:30-10:00 pm) *Session 1 Topic 1 – 1 Corinthians 15:1-5 – Gospel of First Importance *Session 2 Topic 2 – Genesis 1 – The Family at the Heart of God’s Kingdom *Session 3 Topic 3 – Luke 2 – A Key for Next Generation’s Faithfulness *Session 4 Topic 4 – Deuteronomy 6 – Family Discipleship at the Heart of God’s Great Commandment -Event Coordinator – Rev. Gloria Ling, Rev. Michael Ting, Board of Christian Education, CMCA -IT, Zoom and YouTube (and registration) etc. – Dennis Wong -For more information and registration etc. – Please scan the QR code for registration, and also contact your local church pastor in-charge for registration and more information Moses’ intensive biblical exploration of how God builds His church spans from Genesis 1 to Revelation 22. At the heart of this comprehensive framework is the family of God. This framework address many challenges churches face, including developing authentic leaders, marriages, children as they become adults, and the explosion of church programs. Moses’ team serves in China (2.5 million live attendance), USA, and part of SE Asia. Upon graduating with an Electrical Engineering degree, Moses pursued a M.Div at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, ThM at Asbury Theological Seminary, PhD of Communications at the University of Kentucky. He and his wife, Cathy, are currently pursuing a Ph.D. at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Church and Family. They have been married 27 years with two adult sons who love the Lord. 1 9

CMCA Mercy Methodist Church 11.06.2021 Dear Reverends, Pastors, Brothers and Sisters in Christ of CMCA, Peace in the Lord! We thank God for His grace and love for choosing us to serve the Him with one heart and one mind in all the churches and preaching point in Australia! 1. Our Story It all began in September 2013, with the encouragement of then Bishop Kwang, under the leadership of Rev. Alexis Lui and LCEC of EMP Methodist Church, the first Chinese Worship Service of EMP Preaching Point was held at a rented venue at Sunnybank Community Centre in Brisbane, giving birth to a church planting ministry. After about a year, due to the increased rental cost of the Sunny bank venue, the church then secured the rental of Mansfield Christian Reformed Church venue in January 2015 (the current rented worship place) to continue to reach out to the Chinese community and entrusted a group of brothers and sisters from EMP Methodist Church to commit and serve in the Preaching Point. Praise the Lord, for over the next few years, through the passionate pastoral care of Rev. Alexis Lui and Rev. Tay and the faithful brothers and sisters in serving the Lord, the congregation number and the financial capability of the Preaching Point gradually increased. 2. Establishment of Mercy Methodist Church In order to move towards becoming a church, a working committee team (including the church building team) was set up at the end of 2018 with the consent of the LCEC and Reverends of the EMP Methodist Church, in order to work together with EMP church executive committee to manage the ministries in the preaching point. By the grace of the Lord, the inauguration of the Chinese Methodist Church of Australia (CMCA) Mercy Methodist Church was held during the Thanksgiving Sunday Service on 29th December, 2019 under the auspices of Bishop Albert Wong. 3. Church Purchase Plan As a relatively newly established Church, building or purchasing an existing church is an extremely challenging task. However, the executive committee of Mercy Methodist Church, the church building team, and brothers and sisters have the same vision that Mercy Methodist Church needed to have our own worship venue to continue to expand its church ministries mainly because: ) Our Sunday Service is allocated to 3:00pm as the current rented venue also accommodates the worship times of other congregations. 2) We do not have a formal lease agreement for the rented venue, and so may be forced to relocate at any time. 3) There is a lack of classrooms for adult and children's Sunday School classes at the current venue, therefore some of the Sunday school classes are currently held at home prior to Sunday Service. 10

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