Newsletter 2018/12/15

Newsletter for Church in Sydney   Dec. 16, 2018

 

 

Messages: Acts 27

Paul Sails for Rome

¹And when it was decided that we should sail for Italy, they delivered Paul and some other prisoners to a centurion of the Augustan Cohort named Julius. ² And embarking in a ship of Adramyttium, which was about to sail to the ports along the coast of Asia, we put to sea, accompanied by Aristarchus, a Macedonian from Thessalonica. ³ The next day we put in at Sidon. And Julius treated Paul kindly and gave him leave to go to his friends and be cared for. ⁴ And putting out to sea from there we sailed under the lee of Cyprus, because the winds were against us. ⁵And when we had sailed across the open sea along the coast of Cilicia and Pamphylia, we came to Myra in Lycia. ⁶ There the centurion found a ship of Alexandria sailing for Italy and put us on board. ⁷ We sailed slowly for a number of days and arrived with difficulty off Cnidus, and as the wind did not allow us to go farther, we sailed under the lee of Crete off Salmone. ⁸ Coasting along it with difficulty, we came to a place called Fair Havens, near which was the city of Lasea.

⁹ Since much time had passed, and the voyage was now dangerous because even the Fast was already over, Paul advised them, ¹⁰ saying, “Sirs, I perceive that the voyage will be with injury and much loss, not only of the cargo and the ship, but also of our lives.” ¹¹ But the centurion paid more attention to the pilot and to the owner of the ship than to what Paul said. ¹² And because the harbor was not suitable to spend the winter in, the majority decided to put out to sea from there, on the chance that somehow they could reach Phoenix, a harbor of Crete, facing both southwest and northwest, and spend the winter there.

The Storm at Sea

¹³ Now when the south wind blew gently, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, they weighed anchor and sailed along Crete, close to the shore. ¹⁴ But soon a tempestuous wind, called the northeaster, struck down from the land. ¹⁵ And when the ship was caught and could not face the wind, we gave way to it and were driven along. ¹⁶ Running under the lee of a small island called Cauda, we managed with difficulty to secure the ship’s boat. ¹⁷ After hoisting it up, they used supports to undergird the ship. Then, fearing that they would run aground on the Syrtis, they lowered the gear, and thus they were driven along. ¹⁸ Since we were violently storm-tossed, they began the next day to jettison the cargo. ¹⁹ And on the third day they threw the ship’s tackle overboard with their own hands. ²⁰ When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned.

²¹ Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. ²² Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. ²³ For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, ²⁴ and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ ²⁵ So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told. ²⁶ But we must run aground on some island.”

²⁷ When the fourteenth night had come, as we were being driven across the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors suspected that they were nearing land. ²⁸ So they took a sounding and found twenty fathoms. A little farther on they took a sounding again and found fifteen fathoms. ²⁹ And fearing that we might run on the rocks, they let down four anchors from the stern and prayed for day to come. ³⁰ And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, and had lowered the ship’s boat into the sea under pretense of laying out anchors from the bow, ³¹ Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” ³² Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the ship’s boat and let it go.

³³ As day was about to dawn, Paul urged them all to take some food, saying, “Today is the fourteenth day that you have continued in suspense and without food, having taken nothing. ³⁴ Therefore I urge you to take some food. For it will give you strength, for not a hair is to perish from the head of any of you.” ³⁵ And when he had said these things, he took bread, and giving thanks to God in the presence of all he broke it and began to eat. ³⁶ Then they all were encouraged and ate some food themselves. ³⁷ (We were in all 276 persons in the ship.) ³⁸ And when they had eaten enough, they lightened the ship, throwing out the wheat into the sea.

The Shipwreck

³⁹ Now when it was day, they did not recognize the land, but they noticed a bay with a beach, on which they planned if possible to run the ship ashore. ⁴⁰ So they cast off the anchors and left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes that tied the rudders. Then hoisting the foresail to the wind they made for the beach. ⁴¹ But striking a reef, they ran the vessel aground. The bow stuck and remained immovable, and the stern was being broken up by the surf. ⁴² The soldiers’ plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any should swim away and escape. ⁴³ But the centurion, wishing to save Paul, kept them from carrying out their plan. He ordered those who could swim to jump overboard first and make for the land, ⁴⁴ and the rest on planks or on pieces of the ship. And so it was that all were brought safely to land.

Message Next Week: Acts 28

Announcements:

1. We welcome all the new ones who are joining us today. May God bless you and lead you into the family of God.

After the meeting we will have a love feast lunch. We do hope that everyone can stay to enjoy the fellowship and love of the Lord with us.

2. We thank God for the gospel meeting last week. We had 30 gospel friends or new ones joining us. May the Lord bless each one of them.
3. There about 50 copies left for the 2019 Gospel Calendars. We encourage all the brothers and sisters to use them at home or as gifts to the gospel friends. Every copy costs $6. Please put the money into the offering and mark “Gospel Calendar” on the envelop.
4. Next Saturday (22/12) we will have a one day trip to Port Stephens. If you want to join, please register with Sisters Lamee and Lian today and submit $30 per person for the bus. The expenses for lunch, Reptile park, boat to see dolphins and winery are extra.
5. Next Lord’s day, two sisters (Han Hunag & Arinna Chang) are going to be baptized. If any gospel friend is also willing to be baptized, please contact Brother Yulin Wang.
6. On 30/12 and 6/1 we will have two consecutive combined meetings. On 30/12 all the brothers and sisters can share the grace Lord has given this year or what have gained in the church life. On 6/1 brothers will share the plan for 2019 and the introduction of Romans.

The breakfast on 30/12 will be prepared by English speaking young people and 6/1 by Chinese speaking young people. The lunch on both days will be prepared by all the saints.

7. There is a conference on Feb. 11-15 2019 in Shanghai. If you can join, please contact Brother Yulin.

Church Meetings/Time/Place

Home Meetings

Chinese Speaking Young People: 17/12 Mon. 7:00pm, Richard & Flora (w/dinner)

@ Chatswood: 20/12 Thu. 8:00pm, Ming Pan

@ North Region: 22/12 Sat. 7:30pm, Bill & Christine’s

Pursuing of Uni Students:

18/12 Tue. 7:00pm, Yulin’s (w/ dinner)

Sisters Meeting: 19/12 Wed. 10:00am, Megan’s

Prayer Meeting: 19/12 Wed. 7:45pm, Meeting Hall

Highschooler Meeting: 21/12 Fri, 7:30pm, Yulin’s

Pursuing for Ministering: 21/12, 8:00pm, David’s

Intercession:

1. May the Lord bless our gospel friends so that they can know how precious the Lord is and become willing to believe in Him.
2. May the Lord bless brothers Thomas Wu, Vincent Tai and sister Sarah Wang who will join the Vision Week and pursuing in Cleveland Ohio US on December. May the Lord bless them to gain more of His riches, and become the blessings in our church life.
3. Pray for the new believers (6 brothers: Yuan Liu, Yuan-Pei Zhao, Chao Ma, Lyon Yang, Jack Zhou and Joe Zhou as well as 13 sisters: Ariel Chen, Lu Gan, Lan-Xiu Zhang, Li-Fang Ge, Kelie Wei, Li-Yuan Xu, Jean Hu, MinFang Wu, XiuQing Chen, Heidi Li, Tracy Lin, Sophie, AnJie Lin. May the Lord establish them in the church life and bless their growth in life.
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. Please pray for Brother Michael Lin and Sister Ah Seng Chow

Serving This Week: (Dec. 16)

1. Message: Patrick Li & Yulin Wang (Downstairs)

Thomas Wu (Upstairs)

2. Breaking Bread: Richard Chen & Richard Cui
3. Serving Bread & Cup: Chuan Ma, MengQiang Lin, Ash Li & Kevin Zhu
4. Food: Group 4
5. Cleaning: English Speaking Saints
6. Children: Hannah, Christine & Fiona

Serving Next Week: (Dec. 23)

1. Message: Yulin Wang (Downstairs)

Benjamin Lim (Upstairs)

2. Breaking Bread: Shanwon Chow & Patrick Li
3. Serving Bread & Cup: Peter Zhang, MengQiang Lin, Michael Qiu & Patrick Li
4. Food: Group 1
5. Cleaning: Chinese Speaking Young People
6. Children: Flora, Chris, Berry & Betty

 

 

 

 

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