Chairperson: Amy Tong
Speaker: John Tucker
Singspiration: Charlie Mak
Committee on Duty: Nixon Fong
Proclamation
When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, “Surely the Lord is in this place, and I was not aware of it.”
He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven.”
(Genesis 28:16-17)
Opening Prayer
Singspiration
Ten Commandments
Scripture Reading
Mark 10:35-45
Sermon
The Way Up is Down
Response Hymn
Closing Prayer
Doxology
Benediction
Threefold Amen
Announcements
Announcements
A warm welcome to everyone who joined us this morning. We are delighted to see you all.
Deacon Board News — AGM Update: The 2026 Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Saturday, 25 July at 1:30pm. AGM documents have been sent by email to all members. If you have not received them, please contact the church office. Members without email may collect printed copies at the usher's desk today.
Any questions or motions must be submitted by Thursday 23 July to db@holywordchurch.org.nz.
If you are unable to attend in person, you may authorise a proxy voter by completing a proxy form and returning it by Friday 24 July at 1:30pm (by hand, post, or email to hwc@holywordchurch.org.nz). Each member may hold a maximum of 3 proxies. We encourage all members to attend and participate in this important gathering of our church. Please pray for the preparation and proceedings of the meeting, that the Lord would guide everything to a smooth and fruitful conclusion.
3 Strands — The next 3 Strands event, "Careers 2.0", is happening at 10:45-12:00 on Sunday 19th July. Join us to hear some more of our sisters share their career journeys and God's guidance along the way.
HWC X CACC Quiz Night - We are hosting a combined small group quiz night with our brothers and sisters at CACC on Friday, 7 August, from 7:30-9:30pm. Come for an exciting night of quizzing, laughs, and an opportunity to meet new people in the church community!
Sign up is available here https://forms.gle/vmicZfWesBwFNya48
Giving
Let us remember the joy of giving and the blessings it brings to both the giver and the receiver. Tithe offering is a duty of all Christians. By giving, we honour God and fulfill His work through our church. May God bless the offering we willingly give. For more details on how you can give, please visit our church website: https://holywordchurch.org.nz/en/giving.
Mission News (July 2026)
Please continue to pray for our Sri Lanka Short-Term Mission Team as they serve in Sri Lanka alongside Rev Janet Tam. Give thanks for God's protection and the opportunities to worship, share testimonies, serve in children's ministry, and encourage local believers across different language and cultural settings. Pray that the Lord will give the team boldness, wisdom, and love as they step out of their comfort zones, and that the seeds of the gospel being sown will bear lasting fruit in the lives of those they meet.
Pray that God will continue to use S & C in their life and ministry, helping them build deeper relationships and trust with the people around them. May their lives bear a faithful witness to Christ, and through them, may many come to know the hope of the gospel.
Pray for H & P as God continues to open new ministry opportunities through the growing community language classes, university outreach, and church ministries. Ask the Lord to provide more faithful co-workers for the harvest, and to bless the upcoming church camp, giving H wisdom and confidence as he preaches in Thai for the first time. Pray also that the young people joining them for short-term ministry will be encouraged and grow in their vision for cross-cultural missions.
Pray for Rev Janet as she continues to serve and lead the Sri Lankan Chinese Church during this season of transition. Give thanks for God's faithfulness in sustaining the church and raising up believers to serve together. Pray that God would continue to draw seekers to Himself, especially those exploring the Christian faith, and provide faithful workers to shepherd the church and strengthen its cross-cultural ministry.
Pray for H & Y as they continue this season of waiting and preparation. Ask God to use this time to equip them for future ministry, granting them wisdom in their studies, peace as they plan ahead, and confidence that He is preparing the way for His calling in His perfect timing.
Pray that God will continue to raise up a new generation of student leaders through Nic's ministry. Ask the Lord to give these young believers hearts that love Christ, courage to share the gospel with their peers, and a lifelong passion for serving His kingdom.
Mission Month (August): Pray that God would prepare the hearts of our whole church for Mission Month. As we reflect on the theme, "This Changes Everything" (John 20:21), may we grow in our understanding of God's heart for the nations and embrace our identity as a people sent by Christ. Pray that the Holy Spirit would transform our lives, deepen our commitment to God's mission, and unite us as a church to faithfully live out the gospel wherever He has placed us.
Prayer Items for this Week
Pray that we would take to heart Jesus' call to servant leadership — that in His kingdom, greatness is not measured by power or position, but by humble service to others. May we look for opportunities this week to serve those around us with love and without expectation of recognition.
Pray for our church as we approach the AGM next Saturday. Ask God to guide the proceedings, grant wisdom and unity to all who attend, and use this gathering to strengthen the church's vision and direction for the years ahead.
Pray for Rev. E Ting Wong as he continues his visit to Vanuatu. Ask God to use his presence and ministry to encourage and equip the local churches, and to bring him home safely at the end of July.
Last Week's Sunday Service Attendance (12 July 2026)
| English | Cantonese | Mandarin | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East | NS | |||
| Worship | 64 | 158 | 23 | 47 |
| Prayer Meeting | 35 | 3 / 112 | 8 | 13 |
| CSS | 21 | -- | 5 | 12 |
Next Week's Roster (26 July 2026)
Chairperson: Marco Yu
Speaker: Tim Sze
Singspiration: Edmund Wong
Committee on Duty: Sally Che