20230101 English Bulletin

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 disciples 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 / Assistant Pastor (English) 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

ORDER OF WORSHIP Epiphany Sunday, Covenant Sunday, Holy Communion Sunday Service (1 January 2023) Call to Worship Psalms 1:2-3 Adoration & Praise Prayer 396 <Give of Your Best to the Master> Apostle Creed (Third Order) Welcome/Notices John 11:1-44 Offering Intercessory Prayer When tragedy strikes, where was God? Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper Scripture Reading Proclamation of the Word The Call to Renew our Covenant Covenant Prayer Chorus of Response Benediction Ministry Roster 1/1/2023 Preacher LP Chris Ting Worship Leader Daniel Ha Song Leader Zoe Ha Backup Isaiah Smith & Siew Lian Muk Pianist Sarah Smith Accompaniment Faith Ha, Ming Zhe Lim & En Cajon - Sing Lim Bible Reader En Sing Lim Multimedia Esther Yee Live Stream/PA David Ha & Gerald Wong Ushers Jamilyn & Jacklyn Wong Floral - HC Prep Evelyn Koh Ministry Roster 8/1/2023 Preacher Rev. Meng Tee Gan Worship Leader Jimmy Kong Song Leader Diana Kong Backup Jennifer Yap Pianist Jason Ting Accompaniment Steven Yek & Dennis Yong Cajon - Bible Reader Maddie Tiong Multimedia Yew Fong Lim Live Stream/PA Evan Kong & Jin Loong Wong Ushers Chloe & Claudia Hii 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 3. P ray 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 4.1 P ray for Jimmy Kong, Ken Hii, Clarence worship with limited seat capacity due Yek, Aunty Su King Ting, Christina (Boon to social distancing; Koh’s sister, Canada), Flora (Singapore) and Ben (USA). Thank you all for 2.3 Pray for the small groups, and upholding them in prayer. fellowships continue to connect with each other, and reach out to other; 4.2 P ray for our brothers and sisters who contracted Covid and those in close 2.4 Pray for God’s break through in contact. Let us continue to uphold all that church is doing so that we them in prayer as well as showing our may experience renewal in the life of care and support to them. community and ministry. 4.3 P ray for the world situation, may the 2. P ray for LCEC 2023-2024 and English war end and peace be restored. Ministry Committee that they may work together to reach out to families, our 4.4 P ray for the Federal Government in young people, and our community. Australia to govern with wisdom. 4.5 P ray for those affected by the natural disasters and the rescue effort. 4.6 P ray for Bishop Milton Nee, all chairpersons and members of AC boards for 2023-2026. 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 Church Announcements Happy and blessed New Year Family Devotion Wishing you a happy and blessed New Year. May we We encourage families to start a regular family devotion continue to count God’s blessings and draw closer to each week. It is our main thing for our church because God. we will grow stronger, closer, and more love for God and one another. Let us not waste this time of being Welcome together…. explore every opportunity to play, to read, to do something together, to pray and to sing together. We welcome everyone who join our worship service. May the peace of God be with you! If you are a new Friendship Evangelism friend to the church, please introduce yourself and leave your contact details. There will be no Sunday’s Basketball session on 01/01/2023. Gentle Reminder 1st Local Conference The church strongly recommends facemask to be worn indoor together with frequent washing of hands. 1st Local Conference of Camberwell Methodist Church for 2023 will be on 07/01/2023 (Sat) at 9.30AM at the Prayer Meeting church Annex. We invite the pastoral team, stewards, retired pastors, and local preachers to attend. Notice Thursday (05/01/2023) 7.30PM via zoom and will be led and Agenda of the 1st LC have been sent out. Please by Ps. Allan Quah. We invite all brothers and sisters to submit your report to LC Secretary (Star Guo), serve in prayer ministry. Chairperson (Daniel Ha) and Minister-in-charge (Rev. James Kong). Pastoral Needs If you have any pastoral needs, please do not hesitate to contact Rev. James Kong (0413 953 238), Ps. Allan Quah (0402 675 219) or local preachers: Lina Lim, Chris Ting, Joo Soo Lim or Michael Fung. If you need the pastor to pray for you, do approach Rev. James Kong or Ps. Allan Quah after the service. 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. Please take note that Camberwell Methodist Church has a new bank account. Here is the bank detail for your reference: Account name: Camberwell Methodist Church Inc.; BANK: ANZ; BSB: 013 225; Account Number: 647177624. We have prepared an Offering Box in the Lobby for envelope offering. Offering: $8,752.01 (18/12-23/12/2022) 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…...... 5

a WEEKLY BIBLE VERSE f Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (ESV) Family Devotion 2023-01-01 Interceding for the Generations: Our Prayer SCRIPTURE: Nehemiah 1:1-11 The generations of God’s people were discipled in sin. Yet God in His mercy raised up Nehemiah, a leader for His people. The cupbearer to the Persian king, weeping on his knees, cried out to the Lord to free and restore the generations. Nehemiah saw that what broke the heart of God was not broken walls, but God’s broken people who wilfully broke His laws. The generations were chained to sin and prisoners in a foreign land. Yet, even as they lived in exile, the Lord desired that they would return to Him. For the generations to return fully into God’s hands, they had to humble themselves and repent. Repentance is the antidote to spiritual rebellion. It is the prayer of our chief intercessor, the Lord Jesus Christ (Heb 7:25), that the generations of His people are found in His lifegiving hands today! That they would be totally surrendered to Him and be completely willing for the Lord to transform them in whatever way He desires. And when we have that spiritual posture, that we will see as He sees and do as He says. In these last days before Jesus’ return, the generations live in uncertain and trying times. As disciples of Christ, it is paramount that we become the generations in His hands, different from the world because we have a certain hope in Christ, and able to see God’s world through the eyes of His compassion and love. Would you be willing to be the Nehemiah of this generation, be watchful and interceding for the generations? OBSERVATION How did Nehemiah pray for the generations who were far from God? APPLICATION Will you place your life back into God’s hands? PRAYER Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures. PRAYER POINTS • Give thanks and praise • Pray for pastors and staff: To live lives of surrender and devotion unto the Lord • Pray for those in need • Pray for self SONG I Pray https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SRbnxAX0Aw 6