20210718 English Bulletin

Vision: Building a Church after God's Own Heart SUNDAY 18th 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 (18 July 2021) Prayer Responsive Reading <Be Still in the Presence of the Lord> The Lord’s Prayer Welcome/Notices Psalm 29:1-11 Offering Intercessory Prayer 406 <Take My Life and Let It Be> Scripture Reading Gal. 5:16-26 Proclamation of the Word In Step with the Holy Spirit Chorus of Response Benediction Ministry Roster 18/7/2021 Preacher LP Lina Lim Worship Leader Rev. James Kong Song Leader Diana Kong Backup - Pianist Jason Ting Keyboardist - Accompaniment - Cajon - Bible Reader - Multimedia Damian Seow Live Stream/PA Jonathan Liew Ushers - Floral - HC Prep - Ministry Roster 25/7/2021 Preacher Ps. Allan Quah Worship Leader Michael Fung Song Leader Jin Loong Wong Backup Albert Wong Pianist Jiaxin Wong Keyboardist Venus Kang Accompaniment Oscar Ling Cajon Jonathan Liew Bible Reader Adam Tiong Multimedia Wesley Chew Live Stream/PA Alister Chew & Andrew Zhang Ushers Joyce & Joan Wong Floral David & Genevieve 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. 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 Adventure Resort. Theme: are a new friend to the church, please introduce “Growing a gospel-centered Family”. Speaker: yourself. Brett Ryan (CEO of Focus on the Family). Please reserve the dates for attending the church camp. Restrictions (Please refer to page 13) From 11:59PM 14 July 2021, the restrictions for Prayer Meeting Thursday (22/7) 7:30PM Melbourne has been further amended. Besides the present restriction for Religious gatherings Prayer Meeting to be led by Daniel Ha through and ceremonies: No overarching venue limit. zoom. Let us serve one another through prayer. Density quotient of 1 person per 2 sqm applies when using a COVID Check-in Marshal, otherwise Offering detail density quotient of 1 person per 4sqm applies. From 11:59PM 14 July 2021, for indoor and places Thank you once again for brothers and sisters who where social distance of 1.5 metres could not be faithfully support the ministry of the church through maintained, wearing of face mask is mandatory! finance, prayers, and participation. May God bless you. Here is the bank detail for your reference: At present, the number of people allowed in each Account name: Chinese Methodist Church in area of the church venue: Sanctuary (84); Foyer Australia Camberwell; BANK: ANZ; BSB: 013 225; (15); Annex 1 (35); Nursery (14); Annex 2 (Ground A.N: 4939 79025 floor Sunday school room) (18); Upstairs Sunday school rooms ( all 4 rooms) (32). Offering We welcome our congregation back for physical $14,528.00 (04/7-09/7/2021) worship. However, we seek your cooperation to book online https://bit.ly/return-to-cmc to ensure Pastoral Needs that it would not reach the limit. At the same time, face mask needs to be worn at all time. If you have any pastoral needs, please do not hesitate to seek Rev. James Kong (0413 953 238), The YouTube live streaming will be continued for Ps. Allan Quah (0402 675 219) or local preacher: the worship service. At the same time, Sunday Lina Lim, Chris Ting, or Joo Soo Lim. If you need the school will announce its own arrangement through pastor to pray for you, do approach Rev. James its group. Thank you all for your co-operation. Do Kong or Ps. Allan Quah after the service. take good care, follow the restrictions, continue to love others as ourselves, step forward for COVID vaccination and continue to pray. 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 with QR Code outside short of our target. This will cover basic renovation sanctuary after the service. Do approach Oscar costs as mentioned as well as the purchase and Ling or Wesley Chew for further details. installation of necessary equipment and furniture, plus clearing a dozen trees to establish ditches to 2021 Family Discipleship Seminar 10-12 prevent flooding on site. Hence, we would like to September (English) invite you to participate in the fundraising for the purchase of our church property. We hope that Theme: God’s Kingdom Blessings: The Gospel and you will find joy in giving, knowing that God will the Family. Speaker: Rev. Dr Moses Tey (and Cathy reward you in heaven. MMC’s account detail: Tey). Please scan the QR code for registration, and Mercy Methodist Church, BSB:484799 Account: contact your local church pastor in-charge for 609503161, you can transfer direct to their more information. (See Page 10) account. (Refer Page 11-12) Board of Christian Social Concerns Prayer Holiday Children Character Camp Letter (June-July 2021) Date: 24-25 September 2021 Venue: Camberwell Please continue to care for our community and MC. A day camp over two days - fun times for year pray for the prayer items listed. (Refer Page 9) 1 to year 9 children of family and friends to learn 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. (Please see page 14) 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 24: 18th July 2021 Theme: Three Promises You Can Believe for Anxiety Bible verses: Psalm 94:19 ESV When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul. By Samantha Seal When the world is constantly changing around me, sometimes I am overcome by anxiety and feel that I can’t catch my breath. I look around and see that there is nothing stable in this world that can give me the true peace of mind that I am longing for. In that time of desperation, I turn to the many scriptures containing practical steps for receiving true peace that God promises us. These consolations, or comforts, from the Word of God, bring me joy and settle my anxiety (Psalm 94:19). I pray these three verses will calm your heart, ease your mind, and focus your attention back on our God of peace. Philippians 4:6-7 First, in Philippians, we learn what to do with our hearts when we are anxious. It may be hard to see at first, but Paul actually gives us a mathematical equation to teach us this valuable lesson. Philippians 4:6-7 says “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Did you catch the equation? Prayer + Supplication = Peace. Instead of holding onto your worries until they overwhelm your mind, turn them into prayers. God wants to hear all about your anxieties because He cares for you (1 Peter 5:7). Next, you need to add supplication, which is the action of asking for something humbly. The something you need to ask God for is peace, and that takes a dose of humility. It is not easy to admit that we are weak. Because of our pride, we want to control our lives on our own. To receive true peace, though, you need to humbly go to God and release that control to Him. The result of this equation is a peace that “guards your heart and your mind in Christ Jesus.” When you have true peace from God, He protects you against temptations to be anxious. Isaiah 26:3 Second, in Isaiah, we learn what to do with our minds to receive God’s perfect peace. Isaiah 26:3 says “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” It is extremely difficult to keep our minds on Christ when we are going through trials here on this earth. Our minds want to focus on the pile of bills stacked on the kitchen table, our loved ones in the hospital, or our family members fighting in the other room. Anxiety is not of the Lord; it comes from 7

the Devil as a distraction to the work of the Kingdom. When we are anxious, we worry too much about our own lives and are blinded to all the opportunities God is giving us to serve Him. The last thing our human minds want to do is focus on Christ and His goodness, but that’s exactly what our minds need to do. 2 Corinthians 10:5 tells us to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” When you have anxious thoughts, surrender them to the only one who is in control of the always-changing world. Even now, God is moving in ways you cannot even imagine, and there is nothing in your life that does not first go through His hands. God’s perfect peace is awaiting you when you give your anxieties to Him. When we have God’s perfect peace, not the temporary peace that the world gives us, there are no holes in that peace where worry can squeeze through. It’s perfect, just like God Himself. Psalm 121:1-3 And finally, we learn in Psalms, what to do with our eyes when we are overwhelmed by our circumstances. Psalm 121:1-3 says “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber.” It is so easy to keep our eyes on our terrible circumstances, but the Psalmist encourages us to lift our eyes to the Lord. When you concentrate on everything that is falling apart around you, you can easily become overwhelmed and lose sight of the power of God. However, by shifting your focus from your situations to the never-changing promises of God, you begin to trust Him more. And as you trust God more, your anxiety begins to fade away because you realize how big God is in comparison to your troubles. Often we tell God how big our circumstances are, but I encourage you to tell your circumstances how big your God is! God promises those who look to him in the midst of their anxiety that He will never leave them and never let them fall. You may stumble as you go through trials in life, but God will always be there to catch you if you keep your eyes on Him. So whenever you are struggling with anxiety, align your heart, mind, and eyes with God. And in all His love, God promises to never leave you and provide you with peace — perfect peace. Talk it over Are you overwhelmed with anxiety? Give your anxieties to God by surrendering your heart to Him today. Pray this week: Dear Lord, I am overcome with anxiety and need your perfect peace. I thank you for never leaving me in times of trouble. Please help me to look to you, and not my troublesome circumstances, and take every anxious thought captive under your name. In Jesus’ name, amen. 8

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. 9

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 10

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. 11

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!\"#$%&'()*+, -\"./01/2343/5/6, 78.9:;, <=., >\"?@AB-'CDEBFGH)EIFGAJKLMNEOP QRSCTUVWCXYZ[\\]^_PQ)A`abJKLcd !\"%&'AefB@ghBijkAlmb, nQopqrb, stuvwxA CHAT box,yz{| [email protected],, s}~., 6JKAÄrÅFÇ,, /ÉAÑÖÜáZz{7à, Holiday Children Character Camp (Chinese) Date: 24-25 September 2021 Venue: Camberwell Methodist Church Introduction: A day camp over two days - fun times for year 1 to year 9 children of family and friends to learn 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: [email protected] 1. Your children’s name and age 2. Return contact number 14