23 April 2017
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 table 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.
A man of faith: The story of Abraham Abraham is a key figure in the Bible. God chose Abraham and made incredible promises to him, promises of land, people and blessing. Abraham took God at his word and became the father of all true believers. He is the father of the Israelites, because he was their biological and spiritual ancestor. He is equally the father of Gentile non-Jewish believers because, like them, he trusted God without circumcision or the law. Despite numerous obstacles he believed God and left his home to be a pilgrim in a foreign land. Throughout the Bible Abraham is held up as the ultimate example of living by faith, and we are encouraged to emulate him. Like Abraham, we are called to be spiritual pilgrims in this world whilst we wait for God’s promises to be fulfilled. But when we look more closely at Abraham’s life, we see that he is a flawed example, an example we can relate to. He made mistakes, sometimes big mistakes. Through it all, God was teaching him to trust him and not himself. By the end of his life Abraham was a different person, and he passed the ultimate test of faith. His life shows us that real faith is not about us and our abilities and certainty; instead it is about the God we trust in. We find that the real hero and example for us is not Abraham, but God. He is the one who is unshakeably faithful, extravagantly gracious and able to do the impossible. Revd. Alistair Gibbs Associate Minister
Upcoming
Enquiries or Sign-ups? Please go to the Hub or church website
TODAY WELCOME SUNDAY
Sunday, after every service (8:30am, 9:30am & 11:30am)
G/F Lounge, Christian Centre
If you are new to St Andrews, come and join us for a special morning tea, held in the G/F Lounge of the building beside the old church after each of the morning services. There will be yummy food, good drinks and a warm welcome to introduce you to our church.
25 APR - 13 JUN CHRISTIANITY EXPLORED
This is an informal course for anyone who wants to explore what life is all about, what the essential message of Christianity is and why it matters. It gives you time and space to ask plenty of questions or just simply listen. The course goes for 7 sessions, plus a daylong retreat. Tuesday, 7:30 - 9:30pm
1/F Hall, Christian Centre
No Christianity Explored on 30 May due to public holiday (Tuen Ng Festival). Registration: www.standrews.org.hk/christianity-explored Enquiries: explore@standrews.org.hk
5 MAY GENERAL PASTORAL CARE
Learn about empathy, sympathy, setting boundaries and listening skills. Excellent training for those who care for others and/or those leading small groups Friday, 7:15pm - 9:30pm
Old Vicarage
Registration: Free. Sign up online on the Church website. www.standrews.org.hk/practical-pastoral-care
6 MAY DEATH AND DYING, GRIEF AND LOSS (with a focus on cancer)
Learning about what happens with cancer treatment and how to care. What is grief and how to survive it. (Note we will be watching a movie about a cancer sufferer) Saturday, 9:00am -1:00pm
Old Vicarage
Registration: Free. Sign up online on the Church website. www.standrews.org.hk/practical-pastoral-care
16 MAY SCREENAGERS ‘MOVIE EVENT’ Tuesday, 7:15pm - 9:30pm
Life Centre Auditorium
$80 (Free seating, one ticket per person) Online ticketing: www.standrews.org.hk/screenagers Tickets also available at the HUB Admission time: 6:45pm Speaker: Dr. Delaney Ruston
20 MAY 20s & 30s YOUNG ADULTS’ DAY AWAY Saturday, 9:30am -4:00pm
Lutheran Theological Seminary, Tai Wai
HK$100 (includes lunch) Theme: Forgiveness Registration Deadline: 10 May (Wednesday) Registration: www.standrews.org.hk/forgiveness-full-free Enquiries: info@ambassador.org.hk
3 MAY MOVING PEOPLE ON TO GOD’S AGENDA Spiritual Leadership and Experiencing God Wednesday, 9:30am - 1:00pm
Life Centre, Auditorium
Organiser: CEO Forum Hong Kong Speakers: Dr. Richard Blackaby, Rev. Rick Fisher (Blackaby Ministries International) Language: English and Mandarin (Translator of honor: Dr. Hugo Chan) Registration: Free admission, https://ceoforumhk20170503.eventbrite.hk/ Enquiries: ceoforumhk@gmail.com
Bible Reading Genesis 11:27-12:9 11:27
This is the account of Terah’s family line.
Terah became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran. And Haran became the father of Lot. 28 While his father Terah was still alive, Haran died in Ur of the Chaldeans, in the land of his birth. 29 Abram and Nahor both married. The name of Abram’s wife was Sarai, and the name of Nahor’s wife was Milkah; she was the daughter of Haran, the father of both Milkah and Iskah. 30 Now Sarai was childless because she was not able to conceive. 31
Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-inlaw Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. But when they came to Harran, they settled there.
32
Terah lived 205 years, and he died in Harran.
12:1
The Lord had said to Abram, ‘Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. 2
3
‘I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.’
4
So Abram went, as the Lord had told him; and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy-five years old when he set out from Harran. 5 He took his wife Sarai, his nephew Lot, all the possessions they had accumulated and the people they had acquired in Harran, and they set out for the land of Canaan, and they arrived there. 6
Abram travelled through the land as far as the site of the great tree of Moreh at Shechem. At that time the Canaanites were in the land. 7 The Lord appeared to Abram and said, ‘To your offspring I will give this land.’ So he built an altar there to the Lord, who had appeared to him. 8
From there he went on towards the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the Lord and called on the name of the Lord. 9
Then Abram set out and continued towards the Negev.
Notes
Abraham and the Promise - Genesis 11:27-12:9
Next Sermon
Abraham and the Torch - Genesis 15:1-21
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
Council Appointments As delegated at the Annual Church Meeting, the Council had made the following appointments:Council Secretary: Eng-Lye Ong Treasurer: Agnes Tso Synod Representatives: Agnes Tso, Andrew Poon, David Chui, David Rainsford, Helena Chan, Ronny To Chairman of Finance & Management Committee: John Mitchell Chairman of Mission Committee: Jimmy Thong Chairman of Buildings & Ground Committee: Daniel Chow Auditors: Lui & Cheng CPA Ltd.es.
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WOMEN’S MINISTRY women@standrews.org.hk
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Sunday
Clergy
ST ANDREW’S CHURCH BUILDING 8:30am Early Morning Lord’s Supper* 11:30am Putonghua (Mandarin) Church
Alex McCOY, Vicar Ian HADFIELD, Associate Minister Sok Han YONG, Associate Minister Alistair GIBBS, Associate Minister
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