25 Febraury 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.
BAPTISM TESTIMONY I believed in God from the time I went to Christian primary school. In the past I was in a growth group and went to church. However, due to various reasons, I quit. In this ‘black-out’ period, I still kept praying every day; however, I did not have any intension to either move forward nor start over. Then God had a surprise for me! Our daughter started to study in a Christian Kindergarten 2 years ago. The school encouraged her to go to Sunday school at their church. She is extremely fond of bible stories and she kept asking us to bring her to Sunday school. Of course, we did. My husband Gary and I felt surprised that we could restart church again after the years of absence. Last May, we were invited by my friends, to join the church service at St Andrew’s. We felt relaxed and enjoyed being at church. At the end of the year, we came up against the stressful and at times disappointing, P1 application process for our daughter. We felt helpless until we joined the P1 Support group at St Andrew’s. We met Diana and the parents in the group. They let us know that praying to God really helps. We learnt to believe that God will work and he will lead us to what He has prepared for us. Finally, we got a P1 offer; however, by now our focus was not on the result but on how God showed us his relief. We praise God for His work. Also, last August. Gary’s sister suffered a stroke and unfortunately died the next day. The church where she attended held a Christian funeral for her which brought us great comfort to learn that Gary’s sister’s death was just the end to her physical body. Her spirit was with God in His eternal land. To Gary and me, we realise now that we all live in God’s big, powerful and caring hands and that He accepts our hesitations, our sins, and excuses. He also wants us to grow and move forward. We also realise that the Christian community offers wonderful care to its members. Because of what has happened to all of us, we believe the God whom we trust and count on. Our family is now willing to make a step forward to God, to be baptised, and to develop our faith further. Meiyee Ng (Meiyee and Gary and their children Constance and Lucas will be baptised at the 11:30am service)
Upcoming
Enquiries or Sign-ups? Please go to the North Lobby or church website
4 & 11 MAR otLIVE - WALK THRU THE BIBLE Sunday, 2:30 - 4:30pm
1/F Hall, Christian Centre
HK$100/per person (2 weeks) otLIVE is a fun and interactive way to learn the content of the whole Old Testament in a few hours. It is for all ages. Registration: www.standrews.org.hk/otlive
4 -11 MAR PEACE BOX CAMPAIGN 2018 Peace Box Campaign is organised by the Hong Kong Church Network for the Poor and others to celebrate the peace and love of God with the underprivileged in the community at Easter. We are hoping to collect 200 gift boxes. For acceptable dimensions of each gift box and suitable items to put in please refer to the Peace Box posters or visit www.standrews.org.hk/peace-box-campaign-2018. Collection dates: 4-11 March, covered area of Christian Centre.
10 MAR MARRIAGE IN THE FIRST FIVE YEARS – A MEAL & DISCUSSION
In the first 5 years of your marriage many changes have occurred and there are a few more to come. St Andrew’s is inviting all those who have been married between 0-5 years to share a meal together and talk about the joys and the struggles in this early period of ‘marital bliss’ Saturday, 7:00 - 9:00pm
1/F Hall, Christian Centre
HK$150/couple (pay at the door)
Registration: www.standrews.org.hk/marriage-in-the-first-five-years
14 MAR - 25 APR MARRIAGE ENRICHMENT – ALPHA MARRIAGE
Every marriage needs to be worked on and every 5 years is a good point to put some extra work in. The Marriage Course is designed to prepare, build and even mend marriages, so sign up for this 7 week course. Wednesday, 7:30 - 9:30pm
1/F Hall, Christian Centre
HK$1100/couple (which includes a light meal and workbooks) Registration: www.standrews.org.hk/marriage-enrichment-2018
17 MAR HOT CROSS BUN BAKING PARTY
Saturday, 9:30am - 1:00pm If you love baking or are an experienced bakers, we invite you to join this party to bake hot cross buns for our Good Friday Service. You may bring your children who are over 6 years old. Sign up online by 11 March. www.standrews.org.hk/hotcrossbun-baking-party
17 MAR ST PATRICK’S DAY CEILIDH
Oxygen growth groups invites you to put on your dancing shoes. Ceilidh dancing with the Hong Kong Ceilidh Band. BBQ provided and a short Easter Talk. Saturday, 7:00 - 10:00pm
1/F Hall, Christian Centre
HK$150/1 Ticket, HK$250/2 Tickets Ticketing & Registration: www.standrews.org.hk/ceilidh2018 Registration deadline: 11 March Casual dress preferable. Comfortable shoes for lively dancing.
5-6 MAY COMBINED 20s & 30s WEEKEND AWAY
St Andrew’s, Shatin and Ambassador International Church are getting together to host a ‘Combined 20s & 30s Weekend Away’ event. It will be a great weekend to meet people, unwind and relax, and learn from the bible. Saturday (9:30am) - Sunday (2:00pm)
YWCA, Lantau Island
Cost: HK$450 early bird rate (closes 6 April) / HK$550 standard rate (closes 31 April) *Includes transport, accommodation & food Theme: ‘Forever, For Real, For Sure’ - All about the life changing truth of the future – Christ’s return, judgement, hell and heaven Registration: www.standrews.org.hk/2030forever Enquires: alistair@standrews.org.hk
Bible Reading Exodus 14:11-31 11
They said to Moses, ‘Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? 12 Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, “Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians”? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!’
13
Moses answered the people, ‘Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again. 14 The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.’
15
Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Why are you crying out to me? Tell the Israelites to move on. 16 Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. 17 I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them. And I will gain glory through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. 18 The Egyptians will know that I am the LORD when I gain glory through Pharaoh, his chariots and his horsemen.’
19
Then the angel of God, who had been travelling in front of Israel’s army, withdrew and went behind them. The pillar of cloud also moved from in front and stood behind them, 20 coming between the armies of Egypt and Israel. Throughout the night the cloud brought darkness to the one side and light to the other; so neither went near the other all night long. 21
Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, 22 and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. 23
The Egyptians pursued them, and all Pharaoh’s horses and chariots and horsemen followed them into the sea. 24 During the last watch of the night the LORD looked down from the pillar of fire and cloud at the Egyptian army and threw it into confusion. 25 He jammed the wheels of their chariots so that they had difficulty driving. And the Egyptians said, ‘Let’s get away from the Israelites! The LORD is fighting for them against Egypt.’
26
Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Stretch out your hand over the sea so that the wa27 ters may flow back over the Egyptians and their chariots and horsemen.’ Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and at daybreak the sea went back to its place. The Egyptians were fleeing towards it, and the LORD swept them into the sea. 28 The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen – the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived. 29
But the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. 30 That day the LORD saved Israel from the hands of the Egyptians, and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the shore. 31 And when the Israelites saw the mighty hand of the LORD displayed against the Egyptians, the people feared the LORD and put their trust in him and in Moses his servant.
Notes
The Great Escape - Exodus 14:11-31
Next Sermon The God Who Provides - Exodus 17:1-7
ABOUT THE ANNUAL CHURCH MEETING Nomination of Trustees & Council Members closes 7:00pm, 28 February. Electoral Roll enrolment by 4 March. Submit any motions to the Chairman by 28 February (alex@standrews.org.hk) The Church Council has revised the 2017 Electoral Roll at the February meeting. The revised ER with the proposed deletion and new ER enrolment is posted in the lobbies of the Life Centre and covered area of the Christian Centre.
• • • •
A flyer with full information about the Annual Church Meeting, Electoral Roll cards and nomination forms can be found in the Information racks.
Community News
19th ANNUAL HONG KONG CHRISTIAN WOMEN’S CONFERENCE 10 March 2018 (Sat), 9:00am - 4:00pm Hong Kong International School For all women of faith of all cultures and walks of life across Hong Kong. Theme: Seize Eternity https://cwchongkong.weebly.com
Are you interested to find out more about... CHRISTIANITY
explore@standrews.org.hk
ST ANDREW’S CHURCH
info@standrews.org.hk
JOINING A GROWTH 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