Newsletter 2017/3/5

Lord’s Day Message: The Oneness of the Church and the Testimony of Zinzendorf

¹  A Song of Ascents. Of David. Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity! ²  It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! ³  It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the LORD has commanded the blessing, life forevermore. (Psm. 133)

²⁰  “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, ²¹  that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. ²²  The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, ²³  I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. (Jhn 17:20-23)

¹⁴  For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility ¹⁵  by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, (Eph. 2:14-15)

¹  I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, ²  with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, ³  eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Eph.4:1-3)

Message Outline:

• The oneness of the church

1. It’s a beautiful testimony
2. It’s the work of the Spirit and the expression of the resurrection power
3. It’s what the Lord has prayed for and it’s God’s will
4. It’s what is accomplished on the cross of the Lord
5. It’s what the brothers and sisters should keep

• Can we experience the oneness of the church in today’s church life?
• The testimony in the church history – Zinzendorf and Moravians Brethren

1. A real experience of Lord’s salvation, treasuring the Lord’s great love and desire for men to be saved
2. Willing to consecrate himself to the Lord and to live for Him
3. Willing to give up his status and humbly serving others
4. Pure to the Lord and desirous for Him as well as living a godly life
5. Opening to Christians with different background and seeking fellowship with them in the Lord
6. Praying hard with tears while facing all difficulties

Application and Discussion

1. It is God Himself who make (create) the oneness of the church, however, on human’s side, what does Eph 4:1-3 teach us? For yourself, what do you need to experience or to keep the testimony of the oneness?
2. In Zinzendorf’s life, what are you impressed and what character do you desire to have?

Message Next Week: Eph.2:11-22

Church Meetings/Time/Place

Home Meeting/Chinese Speaking Young People:

5/3 Sun. 7:30om., Patrick & Lily’s

6/3 Mon., 7:30pm,  Richard & Flora’s, (Dinner @ 7pm)

Pursuing of Uni Students: 7/3 Tue. 7:30pm, Yulin’s

Sisters Meeting: 8/3 Wed. 10:00am, Pauline’s

Prayer Meeting: 8/3 Wed. 8:00pm, David Tan’s (Combined)

Pursuing of Words: 10/3  Fri. 8pm, David Tan’s

Young People Meeting/Home meeting for Adults：

11/3 Sat. 7:30pm, Olsen & Likun’s (Gospel group)

Bill & Christine’s (YP & other adults)

Announcements:

1. We welcome all the new ones who are joining us today. May God bless you and lead you into this family of God.
2. This year the Collaroy conference will be held on April 14-17. Brothers Michael Samulak and Benjamin Sheu will be the speakers and they will cover the book of Jonah. This year all the brothers and sisters, young people and adults, can all join together.

The invitation card is ready for us to pick up and use it. The cost of the conference is $350 for adults and $300 for children (the real cost is $415.80/adult, $331.80/child for hotel room; and $327.60/adult, $315.00/child for cabin). The difference may be made up by offering. However, if anyone has financial difficulty, please fellowship with Brother Richard Chen or Yulin Wang that the cost can be waived in portion or in full amount. Please do not lost the chance to have Lord’s blessing just because of the financial need.

The registration forms are already prepared and please register with Sister Hannah Cui. The deadline is March 29. For details please contact Sister Hannah Cui or Brother Yulin Wang.

3. From next week we have two lessons for baptism to cover the meaning of salvation and baptism. We welcome all gospel friends to join.

<Reminder>

1. During the meeting, please turn off your mobile phone or put the volume on silence and not to walk around or to wonder/talk too laud in the kitchen.
2. When you prepare the love feast for Lord’s Day lunch, please do not prepare any food containing nuts as someone may have food allergy.

Please refrain from bringing uncooked food for the love feast so we may lighten the work for the serving ones in the kitchen.

Intercession:

1. May the Lord bless the gospel friends among us that they can know how precious the Lord is and are willing to believe in Him.
2. Pray for the new believers (15 brothers and sisters in 2016). May the Lord establish them in the church life and bless their growth in life.
3. May the Lord bless the Collaroy conference so that the brothers and sisters can desire to participate and joyfully receive the supply of God’s word and love of brothers and sisters.
4. Pray for the brothers and sisters or their relatives who are weak in body or spirit. May the Lord care for them and give them sufficient grace.
5. Please give thanks to the Lord that Sister Lena had delivered a son, Oliver. May the Lord care for her recovery and bless the growth of Oliver.

 

 

Serving Next Week: (Mar. 12)

1. Message: David Tan & Patrick Li
2. Serving before Meeting: John & Jessie
3. Breaking the Bread: David Tan & John JI
4. Serving Bread and Cup: Richard Cui, Jason Wang, Sam Li & Chuan Ma
5. Cleaning: Sam & Hannah Family, Tina & Fiona Jiang, Patrick & Lily Family, Baolei
6. Kitchen: Baoling & Terri
7. Children: Supervisor –Richard, Singing – Vasya & Christine, Teachers – Christine & Fiona (&Leonie)

 

2017 Church Activities

1. Collaroy Conf. (Apr.14-17)
2. Mother’s Day (May 14)
3. US Visit and training (July-Aug.)
4. English speaking Gospel Meeting (Aug.)
5. Church conference (Sep.30-Oct.2)
6. Gospel Meeting with Hymns (Dec. 3)
7. US church conference (YP) (Dec.)