Bulletin Announcements – 17 August 2014
Baptism: Those who believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour and desire to be baptised, please see Rev Noldt about commencement of baptism classes. The WS baptism service will be held on Sunday 23 November 2014.
Salt forums in August: This Wednesday (20 August) at CP10 from 7:30 – 9:30 will be our third Salt forum. Our focus for the evening will be ‘What’s Making News in Australia?’ If you plan to attend this forum, please put your name on the bright green pre-registration form at the entrance to our church hall. This is a free event.
Children Ministry Announcement: Play Group will have a ‘Free Gift’ Tuesday on 19 August. We will have a special movie about Jesus and his gift as well as games and crafts. Please invite friends with Play Group age children (under 5).
WSCCC will join the Moon Festival activities on 6th September organised by and for Rhodes community. We will run a Gospel Stall, and participate the community program for the day. This is a part of our Local Mission in the neighbourhood areas. We call for Mandarin, Cantonese and English congregations to join this event. For those who interested, please contact Pastor Andrew Bardsley. Please also remember this Local Mission Act in your prayers.
Announcements from Diaconate:
+ Diaconate Announcement: At the Annual General Meeting of the church on 5 October 2014, election of deacons for the next Diaconate term will take place (5 deacons per language group). Please reflect on 1 Timothy 3:1-13 and prayerfully consider whether you are moved to serve, or nominate someone amongst your congregation to serve in our church as deacon. If you do, please first contact a member of Deacon Nomination Committee (see the names below), and ask for the nomination form & related information. The closing date for nominations is 29August 2014. Please be prayerful and prompt. The English Deacon Nomination Committees are: Lydia Tan, Les Lee, Anthony Choong, Cerise Yeung.
+ Welcoming lunch and induction service for Rev Andrew Choy: The church is going to hold a welcoming lunch for Rev Andrew Choy and his family on 7th September 2014 Sunday 12:30pm at Strathfield church hall. Brothers and sisters please attend and bring a dish. Following the lunch there will be an induction service for Rev Choy at 2:30pm at the chapel. Let us be united in thanksgiving to God.
+ Serious Complaints from Neighbors: Recently the church again received serious complaints from our neighbors because our members parked cars blocking their driveways. Please be reminded that we should love our neighbors and be good witnesses for Christ.
+ A Part-time Position of ‘Ministry Assistant’: The diaconate invites application from members for a part-time position of ‘ministry assistant’ of the church. His/her main duties are to assist the ministers/pastors in taking up some of their ‘administrative’ workloads and at the same time, to expose in ministry experience for his/her future ministry opportunities. He/she should be proficient in both English and Chinese (Mandarin or Cantonese). Education background of a degree in university or equivalent is desirable but not essential. Applicants please contact Rev. Frankie Law (9746 6964) or chairman of the diaconate Joseph Chan (9642 2002).
Ariel writes – a weekly Scriptural devotion:
What shall we say, then? Is the law sinful? Certainly not! Nevertheless, I would not have known what sin was had it not been for the law. For I would not have known what coveting really was if the law had not said, “You shall not covet.” (Romans 7:7 NIV)
We tend to disregard the law yet Jesus constantly reminds us of it. We tend to distance ourselves from it yet Paul draws us closer to it. Why do they do this? Because of what the verse above teaches. Without the law we have no moral compass, no mirror to reflect our sin, and no standard by which to uphold God. Christianity without the law is cheap, hollow, and powerless. Grace has no pedestal on which to stand, pride has no rock on which to break, and love has no wings on which to fly. Without the law sweet sin would not leave a bitter taste in our mouth; and this we must never forget! It is the law which shows us our sin, which then draws us to Jesus. It shows us our need of him; the great comfort that he is and the great salvation that he provides. “Thank you Lord God for your laws which are perfect and just!”
from Pastor Ariel