10 December 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.
THE LONG LEAD TO CHRISTMAS It is a truth-oft spoken by Christians at this season that Christmas is not primarily about trees, food, presents, Santa or even family. Rather it is about the celebration of God sending his son. At St Andrew’s we make a big fuss about advent for it is our lead up to Christmas. Our advent series ‘Why Christmas? The Reasons Jesus Came’ is helping us to think and prepare properly in thus often noisy lead up. Isaiah 9.1-5 reminds us of this lead, that a King was going to come. A descendant of David whose reign of justice and righteousness would bring light and peace (9:6-7) But, who is this King? At Isaiah’s time, it was far from clear. Isaiah had previously spoken of a child called ‘God with us’ whose birth seemed imminent (7:14-17), but he then turns to speak of a King whose reign will be wonderfully positive and shortly afterwards (11:1) he speaks of a descendant of David whose reign will be nothing short of paradise. What earthly king, however good could fulfill these promises? However, things went from bad to worse when the Israelites were taken to Babylon where there was no King and as Psalm 89 asks ‘what now for god’s promise?’ But the people hoped that God’s promise would be fulfilled. They looked for a future son of David, an anointed one that would fulfill Isaiah’s amazing words. Then one day, over seven hundred years after Isaiah spoke, a son of David was born to reign on his throne (Luke 1:32-33) the anointed one, The Messiah, the saviour, the Lord (Luke 2:10-11) and God with us (Matt 1:23). Gods promise had truly been fulfilled in his King no matter how long the lead up. Rev. Darren Pollock Associate Minister
Upcoming
Enquiries or Sign-ups? Please go to the North Lobby or church website
17, 24 & 25 DEC CHRISTMAS SERVICES 2017 (Sun 17 Dec) Carols by Candlelight 5:00pm (English) Auditorium, Life Centre (Sun 24 Dec) Christmas Eve services
Christmas Eve Carols by Candlelight services
8:30am (English), 11:30am (Putonghua)
7:00pm (Putonghua)
9:30am & 11:30am (English)
9:00pm & 11:00pm (English)
Church Building Auditorium, Life Centre
(Mon 25 Dec) Christmas Day services 8:30am (English), 11:30am (Putonghua) 9:30am & 11:30am (English)
Church Building
Auditorium, Life Centre
SERVING AT CHRISTMAS - VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
We still need volunteers for our Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services. Find out more from the church website or sign up. Sign up: www.standrews.org.hk/serving-at-christmas/
CHRISTMAS CARDS
Christmas cards handmade by a church member are on sale in the south lobby after the morning services. All proceeds go to support the ministry of the Church. Limited stock!
ELDERLY VISIT TEAM
Recently, we have started a new Elderly Visit Team in partnership with SKH Lok Man Alice Kwok Integrated Centre. The team will go regularly to visit some disadvantaged elderly who live on their own in To Kwa Wan district. If you are interested to join this team, please sign up online www.standrews.org.hk/elderly-home-visit Enquiries: volunteer@standrews.org.hk. The next visit is on Saturday 23 December in the afternoon.
NEW LADIES GROWTH GROUP We are planning to start a new ladies growth group in the New Year, at 9:30-11:30 on Tuesday mornings at St Andrew’s, led by Narelle Hadfield. Email grow@standrews.org.hk if you are interested.
GOLD COAST GROWTH GROUP
The growth group that meets at the Gold Coast on Thursday evenings has had some people move away and is looking for more members. If you live in the area, it could be the perfect group for you to join. Email alistair@standrews.org.hk if you are interested.
14, 21 & 28 JAN 2018 otLIVE - WALK THRU THE BIBLE 11:30am -1:00pm
G/F Lounge, Christian Centre
HK$100/per person with refreshments (3 weeks) otLIVE is a fun and interactive way for all ages to learn the content of the whole Old Testament in a few hours. It is being held on the 14, 21, 28 January 2018 Sign up: www.standrews.org.hk/otlive
18, 20-21 JAN 2018 TNT CONFERENCE (Parents, Youth & Children Training)
Parents, do you sometimes feel tired and inadequate in your role as parent? Youth and Children’s Workers, do you wonder how to engage children’s hearts during lessons especially boys or how to teach those tough passages? We’ve invited Rory Bell, director of Teaching and Training (TnT) ministries to better equip us in our roles of shepherding our young people. For over twenty years TnT ministries has been resourcing and equipping people to teach the Bible more faithfully, creatively and effectively. For more information go to church website www.standrews.org.hk/tnt-conference
Bible Reading Psalm 2 1
Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the LORD and against his anointed, saying, 3 “Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.” 4
The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. 5 He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, 6 “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.” 7
I will proclaim the LORD’s decree: He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father. 8 Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You will break them with a rod of iron; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.” 10
Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling. 12 Kiss his son, or he will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
Notes
To bring His Kingdom - Psalm 2
Next Sermon To fulfill the Scriptures - Luke 1:46-55
Are you interested to find out more about... CHRISTIANITY
explore@standrews.org.hk
ST ANDREW’S CHURCH
info@standrews.org.hk
JOINING A BIBLE STUDY GROUP
grow@standrews.org.hk
Contact NEWCOMERS
ENQUIRIES
NEED PRAYER?
welcome@standrews.org.hk
info@standrews.org.hk
prayer@standrews.org.hk
CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
MIGRANT WORKERS MINISTRY
PASTORAL CARE
children@standrews.org.hk
home4u@standrews.org.hk
pastoral@standrews.org.hk
YOUTH MINISTRY
MEN’S MINISTRY
VOLUNTEER
youth@standrews.org.hk
men@standrews.org.hk
volunteer@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 Ian HADFIELD, Associate Minister Sok Han YONG, Associate Minister Alistair GIBBS, Associate Minister Darren POLLOCK, Associate Minister
(Weekly Communion) 8:30am Early Morning Lord’s Supper 11:30am Putonghua Lord’s Supper LIFE CENTRE - AUDITORIUM (Lord’s Supper 2nd & 4th Sundays) 9:30am Mid Morning Church 11:30am Late Morning Church 5:00pm Evening Church
Directors Juliana WONG, Community Relations Director Carol STRYDOM, Children’s Ministry Director Ryan RUDOLPH, Youth Ministry Director Evan BROWN, Creative Ministry Director
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