26 June 2016
Welcome to
ST ANDREW’S Thanks for coming along to church today. At St Andrew’s, we want to welcome everyone; Christian believers, those seeking faith, skeptics, all who are looking for a spiritual home in Hong Kong. At each Sunday service we seek to learn more about the truths of God from the Bible, and encourage one another in our faith in Jesus. If you’re new, come along to the red welcome tables (in the north entrance foyer) after the service. We’d love to be able to meet you, welcome you personally, and answer any of your questions.
Health Check: habits of the vibrant Christian life The new sermon series is about spiritual disciplines. On first reading, that doesn’t sound too interesting. It may even sound unpleasant, because disciplines are, well…. difficult. Most of us would be interested in living a vibrant Christian life – a life characterised by growth in our understanding of God, increased obedience, readiness to share the gospel with others, and deep joy that’s always present regardless of circumstances. But how is this possible, especially when life’s responsibilities are so demanding, and progression in the Christian life often seems so slow? John Menear used to use this illustration frequently. If you felt unwell and went to the doctor, the doctor will often ask you some general diagnostic questions. How are you sleeping? Are you getting regular exercise? What’s your diet? If you were doing all these habits properly, there is a much higher probability of good physical health. It’s the same thing in your spiritual life. The probability of a healthy spiritual life is much higher if you keep up certain habits or spiritual disciplines: regular prayer and bible reading, Christian fellowship and community, confession, and remembering the gospel through the Lord’s Supper. It’s these habits – these spiritual disciplines – that we will talk about over the next few months. Today, we begin with worship. We begin here because the worship of God is not something that should be compartmentalised into different sections of our lives. It should permeate everything and shape all our habits. Worship is the engine for our spiritual disciplines. It ought always to be in response to our understanding of the gospel – what God has achieved for us in the death and resurrection of Jesus. Yours in Christ, Rev Alex McCoy Vicar Elect
Upcoming
Enquiries or Sign-ups? Please go to the Hub or church website
TODAY SERVING OPPORTUNITIES AT ST ANDREW’S We invite everyone who comes to St Andrew’s to be partners in serving, using the gifts, time, and resources that God gives each of us. We rely on volunteers to make our Sunday ministries possible. Please prayerfully consider getting involved with our welcome ministry, or youth and children’s ministries. Today, you can ask questions or sign up after the services in the north lobby of the Life Auditorium, or the covered area of the Christian Centre.
TODAY OLD VICARAGE PLAYGROUND RE-OPEN We are very pleased to announce that the replacement of safety mats and minor repairs of the Old Vicarage Playground have been completed. The work was done within the sum we raised last October of HK$290,000. Thank you to all who donated towards it. The playground will be opened every Sunday from 9:00am to 2:00pm. The facilities are for children aged under 8 with adult supervision.
30 JUN 2016 HK TRANSFORM OUR WORLD CONFERENCE - 2 JUL Harvest Evangelism (HK) Ltd. Thursday - Saturday,
Life Centre
Registration & details: www.harvestevan.org.hk Ekklesia - Bring the Presence and Power of God to the Marketplace A team of international and local faculty led by Dr. Ed Silvoso
4 JUL CHURCH BUILDING TEMPORARILY CLOSE AND SUNDAY SERVICES VENUES - 3 AUG The Church building will be closed temporarily from 4 July to 3 August for renovations including the replacement of air-conditioners and lighting. On the four affected Sundays (10, 17, 24 and 31 July), the Early Morning and Mandarin services will take place in the YouthWorX Centre in the 1/F of Christian Centre. The youth will meet in the Amphitheatre on 10 and 17 July. The work has been long due as we continue to care for this beautiful heritage building. Please pray that the renovation will go smoothly.
21 AUG CONFIRMATION Bishop Andrew Chan will lead Confirmation services at the 9:30am and 11:30am services. Confirmation is a service in which a previously baptised person confirm the promises made during baptism. For more information, or to apply email alex@standrews.org.hk
Bible Readings PSALM 96 1
Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. 2 Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. 3 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. 4
For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. 5 For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. 6 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary. 7
Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. 8 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts. 9 Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth. 10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.” The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity. 11
Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it. 12 Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them; let all the trees of the forest sing for joy. 13 Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his faithfulness.
ROMANS 12:1-2 1
Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Notes
Worship - Psalm 96, Romans 12:1-2
A prayer for those not taking the Lord’s Supper Lord God, guide me and give me wisdom to understand you and how to please you. Your Son Jesus claims to be the way, the truth and the life. Help me to understand his claims, and to comprehend why he said to his followers that his body was broken and his blood was shed for them. If you created the earth, you have the power to help me understand and believe. Please guide and teach me, and help me to know the eternal life with you that you promise in the Bible. Amen
Next Sermon Singing - Psalm 98, Colossians 3:15-17
Contact NEWCOMERS
ENQUIRIES
welcome@standrews.org.hk
info@standrews.org.hk
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
HOME4U
PASTORAL CARE
children@standrews.org.hk
home4u@standrews.org.hk
pastoral@standrews.org.hk
YOUTH MINISTRY
MEN’S MINISTRY
MISSION
youth@standrews.org.hk
men@standrews.org.hk
mission@standrews.org.hk
GROWTH GROUPS
WOMEN’S MINISTRY
PUTONGHUA MINISTRY
grow@standrews.org.hk
women@standrews.org.hk
pthministry@standrews.org.hk
Sunday
Clergy
ST ANDREW’S CHURCH BUILDING
Alex McCOY, Vicar Elect Sok Han YONG, Associate Minister
8:30am Early Morning Lord’s Supper* 11:30am Putonghua (Mandarin) Church LIFE CENTRE - AUDITORIUM 9:30am Mid Morning Church 11:30am Late Morning Church 5:00pm Evening Chunch *All other services - Lord’s Supper 2nd & 4th Sundays
FACEBOOK You can also find us on social media.
facebook.com/standrewkln
www.standrews.org.hk 2367 1478 / info@standrews.org.hk 138 Nathan Road, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong