ST PAUL'S CHURCH - Webflow

ST PAUL'S           CHURCH

      5 & 6 February 2022

Epiphany Five
O God, you know us to be set in the midst of so
many and great dangers, that by reason of the
frailty of our nature we cannot always stand
upright: grant to us such strength and protection
as may support us in all dangers and carry us
through all temptations; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen.
             Contemporary Service
                     Saturday, 5pm
                    Second Sanctuary
                     Sermon Topic
      Do your best to present yourself to God
               2 Timothy 2 : 14-26
            Pastor Jason Karthikasen
                    Sunday Service
                        8.45am
                     Main Sanctuary
                 Scripture Readings
           First Reading: Isaiah 37 : 10-20
          Second Reading: Mark 9 : 17-29
                     Sermon Topic
              Only God Can Lift a Siege
              by Revd. Jeremy Ponniah

        Bishop Rt Rev Titus Chung Vicar Rev Jeremy Ponniah
        Clergy Rev Choo Cheng Leong , Rev Ezra Sivakumar

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                          ltim r
                      e U     tte
                             e
                    Th e L
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                     Lo

It is that time of the year again where many of us usher in the Lunar New
Year. It’s a time of gathering with family members, friends, and
colleagues. Despite the limited social interactions that are in place, I do
believe many of us have adapted to these measures and we are still
grateful that we can gather albeit in a smaller number. After all, we have
fifteen days to celebrate the occasion.
I remember during my primary school days; my classmates and I would
spend the whole day going to visit many of our friends’ homes to collect
as many “Hong Baos” and see who could collect the most money. While
doing so, we would be feasting on the many different goodies that were
served from Pineapple Tarts, “Bak Kwa” (dried roast pork), “Kueh
Bangkit” (a type of cookie), “Kueh Lapis” (layered cake) and many other
delicious goodies. By the time the day was over, we would be so full that
we could hardly walk.

There is one particular snack that I use to be intrigued with and that was
the “Love Letters”, a thin wafer like snack that looks like a scroll. I always
wondered why it was called a “Love Letter” and I found out eventually
that legend has it that in ancient times in China, these pastries were
believed to be like letters that enabled romantic couples to
communicate. The edible nature and consumption of the messages
which were supposedly embedded within ensured that the message was
also seen as a sign that the lover’s words had been taken to heart.”*
There is another “Love Letter” that is available to all of us not just on
festive occasions but twenty-four hours a day – The Bible. This is and will
always be the greatest “Love Letter” from God to us men and women. In
it we find His grace, mercy, love and promise of how much He loves us.
There are many verses that tell us of His wondrous love for us and I
would like to just quote the most famous one that many of us are
familiar with -
  “For God so loved the world, that He gave his only Son, that whoever
    believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. – John 3:16
As we continue to celebrate the Lunar New Year for the next few days,
let us take this opportunity to share the gospel of Jesus Christ to our love
ones, friends and colleagues who may not know who He is and what He
has done for us. I believe the “Love Letters” are not just delicious to eat
but they can be used as a conversational tool as you start your
conversation and prayerfully the Holy Spirit will empower you and the
conversation which will lead your love ones, friends and colleagues to
experience the love of Jesus Christ and His ultimate “Love Letter” for
them.
Blessed Lunar New Year!
Pastor Leon Stewart
  * Zayne Seah, “The Historic Origins of Chinese New Year Goodies,” Medium, June 9,
 2018, accessed February 3, 2022, https://medium.com/@seahyi.official/the-historic-
                 origins-of-chinese-new-year-goodies-71f51a3e662d.

QUESTIONS
             For individual reflection,
               family devotion or
              cell group discussion

In Isaiah 36:4-20, the Rabshakeh used psychological
warfare to demoralise the people of Judah and to
get them to surrender. What strategies did the
Rabshakeh adopt? How has Satan used similar
strategies in your life to try to move you away from
trusting solely on the Lord?

From Isaiah 37:1-4 and 14-15, what lessons can we
learn from King Hezekiah when we are faced with a
difficult and dire situation?

Reflect on King Hezekiah’s prayer in Isaiah 37:15-20
and share areas that can be applied to strengthen
our own prayer life.

NEXT SUNDAY'S SERMON
 Mrs Yee Peng Ponniah

            Comfort
           and Hope
           in the darkest
               of times
             Isaiah 40 :1-11, 27-31

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Please click here for the

                                 PDF Prayer Pointers for

                                    Provincial Sunday

            Provincial Sunday Free-will offering

If you wish to make a free-will offering, you may contribute

    via the church. Cheques can be made payable to

       ‘The Diocese of Singapore’. Please indicate

‘Provincial Sunday 2022’ as a reference for your offering.

C E S S A T I O N
        SATURDAY
     COMTEMPORARY
         SERVICE
    FROM 12 FEBRUARY
        With the new Vaccination-Differentiated Safe
Management Measures taking effect from 1 Feb as well as
  the need for us to review our Youth Ministry programme,
        we have decided to cease the Saturday 5pm
         Contemporary Service from 12 Feb onwards.
     Please pray for the plans we are putting in place to
                          separately:
- connect with and minister to those who are unvaccinated
     - engage our youth and better facilitate their spiritual
                    growth and formation

Pastoral Care
For those who require prayer or pastoral
care, do drop us an email at
contact@stpaulschurch.org.sg or contact
the respective pastoral staff directly.

Rev Jeremy: 9477 5476
Pastor Leon: 9199 3815
Pastor Leroy: 9710 2900
Pastor Jason: 8786 0811

ST PAUL'S CHURCH

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