WELCOME TO HWC ENGLISH SERVICE (7 December 2025)

Chairperson: Marco Yu

Speaker: ET Wong

Singspiration: Timothy Yeung

Committee on Duty: Vincent Chan

Proclamation
For from him and through him and for him are all things.
   To him be the glory forever! Amen.
(Romans 11:36)

Opening Prayer

Singspiration

The Lord’s Prayer

Bible Moments

Scripture Reading
Matthew 1:1–17

Sermon
Real People, Real Mess, Real Hope

Response Hymn

Holy Communion

Doxology

Benediction

Threefold Amen

Announcements


Announcements

1. A warm welcome to everyone who joined us this morning. We are delighted to see you all. 

2. Mission Offering – Gentle Reminder: Our church plans to send this year’s mission offerings to our frontline missionaries before Christmas. We would like to gently remind brothers and sisters who have made a faith pledge for M3 and M4 that, if you are able, please complete your offering in the coming weeks. Thank you for your continued support and dedication, which enable us to walk in love and be a support to our missionaries in their ministry. If you have any questions, please contact our pastoral team.

3. Summer Retreat: Registrations Now Open!

HWC English congregation Summer Retreat 2026 - get ready for a 1-day event focused around connecting and strengthening our relationships with fellow brothers and sisters! There will be food, activities, worship and time to reflect on our individual spiritual direction for the new year.

  • Happening on Saturday 24th January 2026, 9am-4pm.

  • Venue: Friends Building, Auckland Botanical Gardens.

  • There is a $15 fee to cover venue hire and food costs.

Please complete your registration here: https://forms.gle/9M1RnBqfPdNqavmJA

Registrations close Sunday 14th December 2025. Any questions contact Lilian Wong or Sally Che.

We hope to see you there!

4. Floral Offering - Those who would like to contribute flowers for next year’s Sunday worship services, please sign up at the ushers’ table. 

5. Starting from December, our church administrator, Stanley Yu, will take his regular days off on Monday and Tuesday. Please take note of this arrangement when handling administrative matters or contacting the church. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.

6. Special Overseas and Hardship Fund Financial Report for November 2025


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.


Prayer Items

  • Pray that we would receive the truth that God meets real people in real mess and brings real hope through Christ. Ask that we may recognise our own brokenness, trust in God’s grace to redeem our stories, and live out this hope by extending Christ’s grace to those around us.

  • Pray that our Christmas celebrations will remain centred on Christ and draw many to His light. Ask God to renew our hearts for the coming year, giving us wisdom, unity, and a deeper love for one another, so that our church may reflect the joy, peace, and generosity of Christ.

  • Pray for God’s healing, comfort, and strength for Steve and all who are unwell or recovering. Steve will be receiving his first round of targeted therapy and his third chemotherapy treatment on 17 December. Pray that the Lord would grant grace and strength, minimise side effects, and bring clear and effective results. Ask God to increase his faith and sustain him with abundant grace and courage, and that God’s Word would continually comfort, encourage, and bring healing and strength. Pray also for others who are unwell, that they may experience God’s nearness and peace in this season.


Last Week's Sunday Service Attendance (30 November 2025)

English Cantonese (East) Cantonese (North Shore) Mandarin
Sunday Service 63 160 22 58
Prayer Meeting 32 7/124 5 18
Children Sunday School 26 - 3 11

Next Week's Roster (14 December 2025)

Chairperson: Nixon Fong

Speaker: Herman Yeung

Singspiration: Edmund Wong

Committee on Duty: Sally Mok

WELCOME TO HWC ENGLISH SERVICE (30 November 2025)

Chairperson: Amy Tong

Speaker: Aaron Geddis

Singspiration: Boaz Wong

Committee on Duty: Vincent Chan

Proclamation
“You are worthy, our Lord and God,
    to receive glory and honor and power,
for you created all things,
    and by your will they were created
    and have their being.”
(Revelation 4:11)

Opening Prayer

Singspiration

The Lord’s Prayer

Scripture Reading
Zechariah 9

Sermon
Zechariah 9 and the incarnation 

Response Hymn

Closing Prayer

Doxology

Benediction

Threefold Amen

Announcements


Announcements

1. A warm welcome to everyone who joined us this morning. We are delighted to see you all. 

2. Mission Offering – Gentle Reminder: Our church plans to send this year’s mission offerings to our frontline missionaries before Christmas. We would like to gently remind brothers and sisters who have made a faith pledge for M3 and M4 that, if you are able, please complete your offering in the coming weeks. Thank you for your continued support and dedication, which enable us to walk in love and be a support to our missionaries in their ministry. If you have any questions, please contact our pastoral team.

3. Children’s Sunday School Christmas Picnic – Sunday 7th Dec
All Sunday School children and their families are warmly invited to a festive picnic after church at 12:30 PM!
Please bring a plate to share, and a secret gift exchange for the kids.
To help us plan, please register here if you can join us:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1217HBlMuLMY3JYFVkiDjJRLunE4jqVXXSLqX-9bAqDc/edit
If you have any questions, please contact Jeri or Emily.

4. Summer Retreat: Registrations Now Open!

HWC English congregation Summer Retreat 2026 - get ready for a 1-day event focused around connecting and strengthening our relationships with fellow brothers and sisters! There will be food, activities, worship and time to reflect on our individual spiritual direction for the new year.

  • Happening on Saturday 24th January 2026, 9am-4pm.

  • Venue: Friends Building, Auckland Botanical Gardens.

  • There is a $15 fee to cover venue hire and food costs.

Please complete your registration here: https://forms.gle/9M1RnBqfPdNqavmJA

Registrations close Sunday 14th December 2025. Any questions contact Lilian Wong or Sally Che.

We hope to see you there!

6. Secret Snack Santa: Bring a $10 snack to join our Secret Snack Santa this upcoming Friday 5th December. We will start with a shared Potluck Dinner at 6:30pm! Bring a plate and a secret snack to join!

7.The 2026 Rock House Calendars have arrived. All guests, friends, and brothers and sisters are invited to collect a copy at the main entrance after the service. Each family may take one copy, and single members and friends may also take one. In addition, some of the calendars distributed last week contain duplicate pages and are missing the month of March. If you received one of these calendars, please bring it back to church for a replacement


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.


Prayer Items

  • Give thanks for the message from Zechariah 9. Pray that we would truly grasp the humility and kingship of Christ, the promised King who comes to bring peace. Ask the Lord to help us respond with faith, hope, and worship as we reflect on His incarnation.

  • Pray that as we enter the Advent season, our hearts would be centred on Christ rather than busyness. Ask God to shape our families, gatherings, and ministries so that they reflect His love and point others to the Saviour.

  • Lift up brothers and sisters who are suffering physically, emotionally, or in their circumstances. Pray that the Lord would be near to the broken-hearted, provide strength and comfort, and remind them of the hope Christ brings into dark and difficult seasons.

  • Pray for the many lives lost in the tragic fire in Hong Kong — with at least 128 confirmed deaths — and for the hundreds who remain missing or injured. May the Lord grant protection and peace to survivors, bring deep comfort and hope to grieving families, and bring healing to all who are injured in body, mind, and spirit. May God’s mercy be especially near to those facing fear, loss, and uncertainty.


Last Week's Sunday Service Attendance (23 November 2025)

English Cantonese (East) Cantonese (North Shore) Mandarin
Sunday Service 53 151 22 53
Prayer Meeting - 4/112 4 18
Children Sunday School 26 - 2 13

Next Week's Roster (30 November 2025)

Chairperson: Marco Yu

Speaker: Rev ET Wong

Singspiration: Timothy Yeung

Committee on Duty: Vincent Chan