Chairperson: Mr Nixon Fong
Speaker: Pastor ET Wong
Worship: Steve G, Enoch M, Fay O, Kenny P, Kinson L, Calla W, Violet Y, Herman Y
Proclamation
How lovely is your dwelling place, LORD Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints,
for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.
Psalm 84:1-2
Opening Prayer
Singspiration
The Ten Commandments
Scripture Reading
Sermon
Title: A Time of Hope
Response Hymn
Closing prayer
Doxology
Benediction
Threefold Amen
Announcements
Church expansion update: Praise the Lord! The Resources Consent has been approved and construction dates will be confirmed soon. An expansion executive team is set up to replace the previous team which manages the progress of the project. Members: Franklin Fung and Royden Tsui.
An End-of-year thanksgiving prayer meeting will be held on New Year’s eve at 7:30 pm. Brothers and sisters are encouraged to attend and testify God’s grace.
Farewell Party: Pastor Kelvin Tong will step down from his position next year. In order to thank him for his service, a farewell dinner party will be held on Sunday 6th Jan , from 6:30 to 8:00 pm, at church. Ticket for dinner is $10, under 5 are free. All brothers and sisters are welcome to join by signing up at the front desk. The deadline is 30th Dec. We also have a farewell card for Pastor Tong at the front desk. All are welcome to leave a warm message to send him off.
Pastor ET will be on annual leave between 1 Jan and 9 Jan 2019.
Mission News
Praying for Turkey:
A mix of antiquity and innovation, the nation of Turkey combines modernized industry with traditional agriculture to be the sixteenth largest economy in the world. Simultaneously one of the poorer nations of Europe yet also the most developed of the Turkic countries in Central and Western Asia, Turkey has acted as a bridge between these two worlds while remaining separate from either.
In spite of growth, the economy continues to be hindered by a high deficit and is dependent on unreliable, short-term investments. The Kurdish people, who compose nearly one fifth of the total population within Turkey, are in dispute with the Turks over ethnic recognition. Although the Kurdish language can legally be used in print and spoken in public settings, the government will often prosecute Kurd speakers and confiscate publications under the guise of prohibiting separatist propaganda. In response, the Kurds have sometimes violently demanded cultural rights, resulting in conflicts that have taken the lives of over thirty thousand people since the early 1980's. Security forces are also fighting narcotics trafficking from Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan into Europe.
Turkey is a secular state without an official state religion. The Turkish Constitution provides people with the right to religious freedom. According to 2016 data, Islam is the main religion of Turkey 83% of the total population. Secondly, 13% are non-religious. Christianity is 2%.
Even though it was one of the earliest mission fields and home to many New Testament churches, hostility and persecution of Christians is strong in Turkey. It is culturally accepted that to be a Turk, one must be Muslim, even if nominally so, and over 98 percent claim the faith. Muslim extremists, government intimidation, and family pressure discourage many from coming to Christ and there is a deep national resentment towards Christianity, making evangelism more difficult. Even in the midst of persecution, God still stands, and He is calling out to His people of Turkey to accept the love and peace that only comes from him.
Mission Prayer Items:
• A radical change in deep-seated prejudices and biases against Christianity
• Wise leadership to peacefully navigate the tense rivalry between staunch nationalists and radical Islamists
• The work of evangelism to go forth in power despite increased hostilities and bitter persecution toward believers
For more information on Turkey, go to the website: https://prayercast.com/turkey.html
Prayer Items for the Week
Pray for brothers and sisters’ heart to apply the church motto in their life – Having the same mind as Christ.
Pray for the recruitment of an English pastor. May God prepare a suitable pastor to minister the English congregation.
Pray for the church expansion executive team and the contractor. May God keep the construction safe.
Pray for a prepared heart to testify at the New year’s eve thanksgiving prayer meeting.
Pray for Pastor Kelvin Tong. May God remember his great effort at the Holy Word Church, and bless his ministry in the future.
Pray for the pastoral team, deacons, church committee, and all leaders’ togetherness and unity, to build up believers and evangelise the gospel by their ministry.
Last Week's Service Attendance
Cantonese Service: 105, Pre-Service Prayer Meeting: 9
English Service: 57, Prayer Meeting: - , Children Sunday School: 9
Mandarin Service: 40, Prayer Meeting: 6, Children Sunday School: 17
Next Week's Roster
Chairperson: Mr Fung Lam
Speaker: Pastor ET Wong
Worship: Sharon C, Daniel H, Justin L, Charlie M, Lilian W, Marco Y, Edward G