Newsletter 2017/3/12

Lord’s Day Message: Eph.2:11-22

¹¹  Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands– ¹²  remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. ¹³  But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

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, ¹⁶  and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. ¹⁷  And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. ¹⁸  For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

¹⁹  So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, ²⁰  built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, ²¹  in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. ²²  In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.

Message Outline:

• Status before salvation

1. Gentiles, the uncircumcision
2. Separated from Christ
3. Having no hope and without God in the world

• The salvation makes us

1. Near to God by the blood of Christ
2. Become one new man because Christ is our peace and He has broken down the dividing wall of hostility
3. No longer strangers and aliens, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God
4. Be built up into a holy temple in the Lord and dwelling place of God

Application and Discussion

1. In the world, there are always dividing walls between men, nations and races. In this paragraph how did the Lord Jesus break down the dividing wall of men? What is the difference between the ways of human efforts to make peace and the salvation which was accomplished by the Lord?
2. The church is a big family, so please share your feeling and experiences before and after you entered this family. Please also compare your experience with the Bible verses.

Message Next Week: Eph.3:1-13

Church Meetings/Time/Place

Home Meeting/Chinese Speaking Young People:

12/3 Sun. 7:30om., Patrick & Lily’s

13/3 Mon., 7:30pm,  Richard & Flora’s, (Dinner @ 7pm)

Pursuing of Uni Students: 14/3 Tue. 7:30pm, Yulin’s

Sisters Meeting: 15/3 Wed. 10:00am, Pauline’s

Prayer Meeting: 15/3 Wed. 8:00pm, David Tan’s (Combined)

Pursuing of Words: 17/3  Fri. 8pm, Yulin’s

Young People Meeting/Home meeting for Adults：

18/3 Sat. 7:30pm, Olsen & Likun’s (Gospel group)

Yulin & Jessica’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. To deal with the need of recent children service, may all supervisors of children service come to the prayer room for fellowship after the meeting.
3. Today after the meeting there is a lesson for baptism to understand the meaning of salvation and baptism. We welcome all gospel friends who are interested to be baptized to join.
4. On March 28-30 the senior group plans to have a camp near The Entrance. If any senior brothers, sisters or friends are interested to join, please contact Brother Benchu Guo.
5. 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 minimum number for the camp is about 100.)

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.

6. On April 23 there will be an English speaking gospel meeting. We welcome the brothers and sisters to invite friends to join.
7. On July 9-15 the church plans to join the Chinese speaking conference in Cleveland, USA. If any brothers and sisters are interested, please register with Brother Yulin Wang.

<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. 19)

1. Message: Yulin Wang & Richard Chen
2. Serving before Meeting: TBA
3. Breaking the Bread: Yulin Wang & Richard Cui
4. Serving Bread and Cup: Olsen Yu, Richard Cui, Patrick Li & Sean Dong
5. Cleaning: Sam & Hannah Family, Tina & Fiona Jiang, Patrick & Lily Family, Baolei
6. Kitchen: Anne & Likun
7. Children: Supervisor –Lydia, Singing – Fiona & Angela, Teachers – Vasya & Lian (&Grace)

 

2017 Church Activities

1. Collaroy Conf. (Apr.14-17)
2. Mother’s Day / Special lunch (May 14)
3. US Visit and training (July 9-15)
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.)