SERMON SERIES
14 January 2018
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.
GROWTH GROUPS Growth groups are an essential part of church life here at St Andrew’s - we encourage all regular members to join one. A growth group typically consists of 8-12 people who meet every 1-2 weeks to share their lives, to study the Bible and to pray for each other. From a practical point of view it can be hard to get to know people on Sunday mornings and so growth groups provide a smaller set of people for us to form community with. However, they are more than just a way of making friends, they are also the main way we do discipleship and pastoral care at St Andrew’s. This is because growth groups are Christ-focused communities. The group members are there to help each in periods of hardship (such as sickness or bereavement) and to point one another to Christ in those times. The group members regularly share their lives and pray for each other so some problems can be addressed before they become more serious. Issues like family breakdown, work stress, addictions and mental health problems can be prevented from becoming a disaster. This is because the group cares for the individual, prays for them, speaks Scripture into their lives and directs them towards more specialised care if they need it. But growth groups are more than simply a Christian support group, they also spur us on to love and good deeds. Members should encourage each other to persevere with evangelism, to press on with fighting sin and to make bold and courageous decisions for Christ. If you are not in a growth group yet why not think about joining one? It’s never too late and the New Year is a good time to start. To join a group, sign up for Partnership - a free four-week course that runs on Sunday afternoons from 2:30-4:00pm. Partnership will introduce you to life at St Andrew’s and will help you to choose the best growth group for you. Sign up at: www.standrews.org.hk/st-andrews-partnership/ Rev. Alistair Gibbs Associate Minister
Upcoming
Enquiries or Sign-ups? Please go to the North Lobby or church website
18, 20-21 JAN PARENTS, YOUTH & CHILDREN TRAINING TnT conference has something for everyone! Are you a parent, youth or children’s worker? Parents, rather than feeling tired or inadequate come and learn how to parent with purpose. Youth and Children’s Workers, rather than feeling disheartened or wanting to throw in the towel, come learn how to teach the Bible to children and teenagers that will keep them coming back for more! For more information go to the church website www.standrews.org.hk/tnt-conference
21 JAN 8:30AM & 9:30AM CONGREGATION TEA A good opportunity to get to know others who come to the same service. We especially welcome newcomers to join. A simple breakfast and tea will be served. A donation of HK$20 towards the tea is welcomed. Mark your diary now and come on the day! Sunday, after 8:30 & 9:30am services
Seeds Garden, Life Centre
21 JAN WELCOME TEA FOR THOSE WHO ARE NEW TO 11:30AM SERVICE If you are new to St Andrew’s, come and join us for some light refreshments after the service today. Sunday, after 11:30am service
North lobby, G/F Life Centre
There is an option to join Rev. Ian Hadfield for lunch after the welcome tea.
28 JAN & 4 FEB MANAGING CHRISTIAN HOMES WITH DOMESTIC HELPERS Join this 2-week seminar to explore some biblical principles and practical advice on how best to select and integrate your foreign domestic helpers in your homes, especially homes with young children. Spaces are limited, first come first serve. Sunday, 9:30-11:00am
G/F Lounge, Christian Centre
Registration: www.standrews.org.hk/mch_dh Deadline: 21 January 2018 Our pastoral worker Diana Barnett, a mother of four young children and with over 12+ years experience in employing foreign domestic helpers, will be leading this interactive seminar.
4 FEB PRISON MINISTRY INTRODUCTION & TRAINING Conducted by HK Christian Kun Sun Association, our global partner Sunday, 2:30-5:30pm
G/F Lounge, Christian Centre
Our Prison Ministry teams (Stanley & Lai Chi Kok) are looking for MALE mature Christians who can speak Cantonese or English or Spanish to join their monthly visit. It’s a very rewarding and meaningful ministry. To find out more or to join the Introduction & Training, please write to volunteer@standrews.org.hk by 29 January 2018.
NEW LADIES WEEK DAY GROWTH GROUP If you are interested in joining a Tuesday 9:30-11:30am Growth Group on site at St Andrew’s, then speak with Narelle Hadfield who will be in the North Lobby after all the services this Sunday. (after 8:30am service: in the M/Tea area) or Email grow@standrews.org.hk.
CHINESE NEW YEAR RED PACKET FOR SALE Chinese New Year is just over a month away. A great way to communicate the gospel at this time of year is through our red packets. There are 7 designs to choose from, each with bible verses. Each set contains 12 packets. Available from the South Lobby, Life Centre.
Bible Reading Esther 4:1-17 1
When Mordecai learned of all that had been done, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and ashes, and went out into the city, wailing loudly and bitterly. 2 But he went only as far as the king’s gate, because no one clothed in sackcloth was allowed to enter it. 3 In every province to which the edict and order of the king came, there was great mourning among the Jews, with fasting, weeping and wailing. Many lay in sackcloth and ashes. 4
When Esther’s eunuchs and female attendants came and told her about Mordecai, she was in great distress. She sent clothes for him to put on instead of his sackcloth, but he would not accept them. 5 Then Esther summoned Hathak, one of the king’s eunuchs assigned to attend her, and ordered him to find out what was troubling Mordecai and why. 6
So Hathak went out to Mordecai in the open square of the city in front of the king’s gate. 7 Mordecai told him everything that had happened to him, including the exact amount of money Haman had promised to pay into the royal treasury for the destruction of the Jews. 8 He also gave him a copy of the text of the edict for their annihilation, which had been published in Susa, to show to Esther and explain it to her, and he told him to instruct her to go into the king’s presence to beg for mercy and plead with him for her people. 9
Hathak went back and reported to Esther what Mordecai had said. 10 Then she instructed him to say to Mordecai, 11 ‘All the king’s officials and the people of the royal provinces know that for any man or woman who approaches the king in the inner court without being summoned the king has but one law: that they be put to death unless the king extends the gold sceptre to them and spares their lives. But thirty days have passed since I was called to go to the king.’ 12
When Esther’s words were reported to Mordecai, 13 he sent back this answer: ‘Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. 14 For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?’
15
Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: 16 ‘Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.’ 17
So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.
Notes
The courage of the Queen - Esther 4:1-17
Next Sermon Sorrow turned to joy - Esther 7:1-10, 9:20-23
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
TRAFFIC ARRANGEMENTS: Nathan Road closed on Sunday 21 January 2018 Please be aware that Nathan Road, (many roads between Tsim Sha Tsui and Jordan and all the way north to Mong Kok) will be closed on Sunday 21 January early morning affecting all morning services due to the 20th Anniversary edition of Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon. Cars will not be able to come in to the church grounds during that time. Please check if the traffic diversion will affect the transportation route you normally take to come to Church. Transport department website: http://www.td.gov.hk/en/home/index.html
Church website: www.standrews.org.hk/traffic-arrangements
Are you interested to find out more about... CHRISTIANITY
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ST ANDREW’S CHURCH
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ENQUIRIES
NEED PRAYER?
welcome@standrews.org.hk
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CHILDREN’S MINISTRY
MIGRANT WORKERS MINISTRY
PASTORAL CARE
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YOUTH MINISTRY
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youth@standrews.org.hk
men@standrews.org.hk
volunteer@standrews.org.hk
GROWTH GROUPS
WOMEN’S MINISTRY
PUTONGHUA MINISTRY
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women@standrews.org.hk
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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