November   20th,   2011  Vol.  27  No.  47  

SUNDAY WORSHIP COMBINED SERVICE  

Preparatory  Hymn   Heng  Lee  Ting Prelude   Winnie  Lim    Call  to  Worship   Dn  Adrian  Cheng/Kenneth  Chong  *Hymn     HOP  9  Come,  We  That  Love  the  Lord  *Invocation/Gloria  Patri1  

Responsive  Reading   Hebrews  12:23-­‐29  Hymn   HOP  237  It  Is  Well  with  My  Soul  Presentation  of  Tithes  &  Offerings  *Doxology2/Offertory  Prayer  Scripture  Reading   John  20:  1-­‐10  Hymn     HOP  285  He  Leadeth  Me

Pastoral  Prayer/Message     Elder  S.K.  Sim/Kong  Vui  Yip  

The  Evidence  of  things  not  seen  *Hymn     HOP  181  Faith  of  Our  Fathers *Benediction/Threefold  Amen  Announcements  *The  Lord  Bless  You  and  Keep  You3  

  *Congregation  Standing  1  &  2  RHC  Front  Inner  Cover  

    3  RHC  Back  Inner  Cover

PASTORAL CHAT My dear readers, 1. Israel in the News (touching on a news release in Straits Times November 14, 2011) Israel and her people are unique among the nations. No other people have gone through sufferings like Israel’s. Five years ago, in a continuing confrontation with the Palestinians, one Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit was abducted. This event has “consumed Israeli society for the past five years” (quoting Straits Times). As a result, the abducted young man endeared himself to the nation. He was “everyone’s son, everyone’s brother” and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to exchange him “a single Israeli prisoner for 1,027 Palestinians.” The act drew “gasps around the world,” so commented Straits Times. Gilad Shalit returned home to a hero’s welcome. This “prisoner exchange” is merely a “sideshow,” an incident in a broader con-flict between two peoples – the Arabs and Israelis. Such a lopsided “prisoner exchange” has happened before in Israel’s history. The stalemate drags on into the seventh decade (since 1948), with no signs of abating. Truly, such a “family feud” between two branches of Abraham’s descendants defies all diplomatic and human solution. Only the One who called Abraham to be “father of many na-tions” (Gen 17:4-5) can bring about a peaceful solution. This will come about during the millennial reign of Christ. Then, wars shall cease, and the Lord Jesus “shall judge among the nations … and they shall beat their swords into plow-shares, and their spears into pruninghooks …” (Isa 2:4). 2. Israel’s final salvation and restoration For their rebellion against God, and for killing their Messiah, the Jews are now paying the price. They have fallen from their position of blessing to rejection by God. Through their fall, salvation has passed to the Gentiles (Rom 11:11). As a nation, Israel has rejected Jesus. Their spiritual eyes are blinded, for “God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear unto this day” (Rom 11:7-8). It is a sad fact that the great majority of Jews today are in unbelief. Nevertheless God has not cast them away (Rom 11:1-2). The day of Israel’s final salvation and restoration is yet to come. The Apostle Paul felt for his own people “with great heaviness and continual sorrow” in his heart. He said, “I could wish that myself were accursed for my brethren, my kinsmen; according to the flesh” (Rom 9:2-3). With prophetic insight, the Apostle wrote, “For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery that blindness in part is happened to Israel,

until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. And so all Israel shall be saved. For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins” (Rom 11:25-27). Israel’s final salvation and restoration is assured when the Church is complete and our Lord returns to earth. The Jews’ blind eyes will be opened by the Lord, and they will be converted. Then God’s covenant blessings, originally promised to Abraham and confirmed to Isaac and Jacob, will be fulfilled. Israel will inherit the Land of promise, be-come a great nation, and be a blessing: in Israel all families of the earth shall be blessed (Gen 12:1-3). God’s Word is marvellous, His promises never fail. His covenant made with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is an everlasting covenant. One day, soon, it will be fully and perfectly fulfilled. “O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!” (Rom 11:33). 3. Israel’s final glory foretold Recall the original promise made by God to Abraham: “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed” (Gen 12:2-3). God’s promises stand. They are Yea and Amen (2 Cor 1:20). In the 4,000-odd years since God spoke to Abraham, those promises have seen only partial fulfil-ment. Only when our Lord Jesus returns to earth shall we see complete fulfil-ment. That will be in the Millennial age. For the present, Israel is the object of hatred and persecution because of her re-bellion. The promised blessing is therefore withheld. But in a future day the re-turning Christ will restore the nation. Then Israel will be a blessing, and in her shall all the families of the earth be blessed (Gen 12:3). The eventual conversion of Israel will be the greatest blessing for the world. The Apostle Paul said, “Now if the fall of them (the Jews) be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their ful-ness?” (Rom 11:12). When Israel has been converted, Jewish missionaries will be the most remarkable and effective missionaries. For the world, it will be like “life from the dead” (Rom 11:15). Jerusalem will be the Capital of the world. During the Millennium, the Lord will occupy the throne of David. Palestine will be the centre of the world, with Jeru-salem its Capital. Faithfully in the Lord, Dr SH Tow

ANNOUNCEMENTS, PRAISE & PETITIONS1. We thank God for the Ministry of Elder Siang Kok and Rina Sim here at BPCWA. They will be leaving for Singapore on Tuesday 22/11. If God willing, we pray that they are able to return and serve with us again in the future. 2. The BPCWA 25th Anniversary magazine is available today after the worship service. Please write down your name as you collect a copy of the magazine in the fellowship hall. If you would like to take a copy of the magazine for someone else, please write down their name as well. 3. Men & Sisters’ Fellowship: Tonight at 6pm (Dinner). Elder Sim will speak to the Men on the topic “Why Men Won't Serve”, Mrs Rina Sim will speak to the Sisters on “The Role of Christian Woman in the Church and Community”. Meeting will starts at 7:30 pm. 4. City Evangelism: In keeping with the Great Commission given by the Lord Jesus to the disciples, the church will be organizing an excursion on the 27th of November to head into the city to share the gospel with the people around Hay Street and Murray Street. It would start from 2 pm to around 5 pm. Further details will be given in the following week. If you are interested or would like to know more, please contact Doreen Lee (0415876033), Kenny Chia (0425568918), Zechariah Sim (0432798702) or Mark Heath (0450336440). 5. Thanksgiving & Prayer:

1. Thank God for the new elected Session, please pray for the Session Members as they lead the church.

2. Thank God that Brother Patrick Liow has overcome a complication that occurred following his operation. Pray that he will continue to have a speedy recovery.

3. Thank God for the publication of 25th Anniversary Magazine. 4. Pray that the students who are now on long summer break will use their

time wisely. 5. Pray for spiritual & physical well-being of all members and worshipers. 6. Pray that God will send a pastor to shepherd our church, a man who is

after God's heart and will teach God's Word faithfully. 7. Pray for those who are sick and weak. 8. Pray for safety and security in and around the church.

Service Duty (20/11) Combined (27/11) Combined (Fellowship Lunch)

Speaker Elder S.K. Sim/Kong Vui Yip Robert Wong/Sonny Lim Worship Leader Dn Adrian Cheng/Kenneth Chong Dn Michael Lee/Yew Jinn Chieng Prep Hymns Heng Lee Ting Claude Yiu Musician Winnie Lim Lydia Pui Welcomers Jason & Chen Shi Tey, Lily Liow Barry & Juanita Palm Offering Stewards To Help Counting Offering

Alex Luu Jason Tey Eddie Ho, Eugene Leong

Barry Palm Chi Fai Tang Caleb Cheng, David Law

Ushers Audrey Liow, Truc Pham Caleb Cheng, Rowena Cheng P.A. System Albert Ho Eddie Ho, Joel Wong

Kitchen Duties Lilian Yong, Julia Sun Margaret Ng, Michael Koo David Liu

Yi Min Chieng, Yi San Chieng Lime Chiang, Carey Tan

JSS Singspiration Hui Ling Cheng, Joel Wong Christina Soon, Rowena Cheng Toddler Class Assistant An Ning Valerie Wan Van Drivers Camilia (M) Caleb (C) Terry (U) Shie Tian (M) Leonard (C) Eugene (U)

Old Folks’ Home Ministry

Subiaco Mark Heath (Karen Yap) Robert Wong (Christina Soon)

South Perth Hall A: Caleb Cheng Hall B: Yew Jinn Chieng

Hall A: Mark Heath Hall B: Jason Tey

Bayswater Heng Lee Ting Barry Palm

APPOINTMENTS OF THE WEEK Tuesday 22/11 7:30pm Prayer Meeting

Mark Heath, Dn Michael Lee, Audrey Liow Friday 25/11 7:30pm Fellowship Meetings: Regen/Youth 180°/CYAF/CYPG

Sunday 27/11

8:30am Pre-Service Prayer Meeting 9:00am Sunday School/English Basic Knowledge Class 10:00am Combined Sunday Worship Service 12:00pm Mandarin Choir (In Recess) 12:15pm Church Van Depart

2:00pm Concorde (Nursing Home) – 25 Anstey Street, South Perth Onslow Gardens (Nursing Home) – 39 Hamersley Road, Subiaco

3:30pm Ben Ritcher Lodge (Nursing Home) – 480 Guildford Road, Bayswater

ATTENDANCE & OFFERINGS (13/11)Attendance: 172 (Combined-138; JSS-34); Prayer Meeting: 42 Offerings in Total: $3,532.20 General Fund: $3,532.20 (#3509-$132.55) Mission Fund: (10% of General Fund is set aside for missions)

VERSE OF THE WEEK John3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.