Zion Bishan Bulletin 24 May 2020 Livestream

24 May 2020
10.30 am Livestream

Call to Worship

Meditative Hymn: Be Still, for the Presence of the Lord

Scripture Reading: Acts 1.1-11 ESV

Message: " Ascension: Jesus Absent, Spirit Present”

Response Hymn: Holy Spirit, Living Breath of God

Corporate Life & Prayer

Offering

Benediction

Announcements

We are pleased to welcome you to worship with us! If you are new to Zion Bishan, do drop us a note on our contact form and our hospitality team will get in touch with you in the coming week. Please use the same contact form if you want to find out more about our faith, or about our activities and programmes.
http://www.zionbishan.org.sg/about/contact-us/response-form/

Our Sunday services at a glance

Speaker: Pastor David Wong
Worship Leader & AV: Vernon Quek

Songs for personal worship and reflection:
www.zionbishan.org.sg/songs-for-reflection

Looking Ahead

Friday, 29 May
8 pm Zoom Prayer Meeting (Registration required):
www.zionbishan.org.sg/friday-prayer-meeting

Sunday, 31 May
10.30 am English Livestreaming Service
"Whatever It Takes"
Speaker: Rev Dr Tan Soo Inn

Speaker: Pastor David Wong

Ascension: Jesus Absent, Spirit Present
Acts 1:1-11

Crucifixion: the end?
Resurrection: no, only the beginning
Ascension: then, beginning of the end

1. Jesus Absent
John 16.7 Jesus goes, the Spirit comes
Earthly ministry comes to a close (mission accomplished, Luke 24.45-46)
Physical presence comes to an end
(preparation completed, Acts 1.3)

2. Spirit Present
“…you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1.5)
Symbol becomes Reality
“…you will receive power” (Acts 1.8)

Words become Deeds

Wait, Witness, Watch

Reflection Questions

1. What is one thing you took away from the sermon about Jesus, about the Holy Spirit?
2. How did Jesus prepare His disciples for His absence?
3. How does the Spirit “come alongside” us in our lives? The “Helper” (ESV) or “Counsellor” (NIV) in John 14-16 means “Someone who comes alongside”

Our Church

Ascension – Before our Lord Jesus was carried up to heaven He said to His disciples “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations... You are witnesses of these things.” (Luke 24:46-48) Pray we will be faithful witnesses of Christ.

ZB COVID-19 Mission Relief Fund — In the light of the recent announcements on extended measures post-Circuit Breaker, Session has approved the continuation of meal deliveries to our community and the housing of the five S3P guests from 2 June to 31 July. We thank God that the number of people we are able to engage with through the meals has gone up to almost 160. Do pray for God's love to touch them and the guests in our church. Also, please pray for God's continued enabling to be upon our ministry partners in Lebanon, India, Indonesia, and Nepal as they persevere in food relief projects which are growing in demand because of extended lockdowns.

Our People

Paul Yeo – Praise God for seeing him through his Graduate Diploma in Christian Studies at BGST! He graduates with honours and two other awards. Thank God for his faithful service and diligent studies. Pray for Paul as he continues to the next level of theological education. Pray that he will be further equipped for his work in ministry.

Bereavement – Pray for our families who have lost loved ones this past week. Especially in this time of the Circuit Breaker, it is difficult to be physically present to share in their time of sorrow. May the church surround those bereaving by praying for our God to bring peace and love into their hearts.

Our World

West Asia – Our ministry partner reports that the pandemic has allowed Christians in his country to demonstrate the love of Christ through the distribution of food. The very few Christians there face great discrimination from the majority religious group. Pray for more Christians from the global Church to come, live and work in this country. Pray that citizens of this country will encounter the love of Christ and understand how Jesus is the living water to their thirsty souls.

Ipoh Tamil Fellowship – Thank God for Ps Ebi and Priya who have been nurturing the faith of this group for the past few years. Pray for continued growth in faith of the 25 Tamil-speaking Christians and seekers. Due to travel restrictions, Ps Ebi has been unable to meet with them since March. A Zoom Bible study has been started for those who can attend. Praise God for the help also of Ps Zadok, a local Tamil Pastor in Ipoh.

1. Condolences to Keven Ang and Ng Weiling for the passing of Weiling’s brother, Mr Ng Wei Cong on 9 May 2020.
2. Condolences to David Tock and Mabel Ong for the passing of David’s mother, Mdm Choo Siew Hong on 16 May 2020.
3. Condolences to Eld Roland Low and Carol Tham for the passing of Carol’s mother, Mdm Choy Wah Yin on 16 May 2020.
4. Congratulations to our Ministry Staff Dn Paul Yeo on his graduation with a Graduate Diploma in Christian Studies (with Hons.) from BGST on 23 May 2020. He was awarded with the Principal’s Prize, and the History and Theology Prize.

Clean Hands, Pure Hearts, and Beautiful Feet

Written by Ng Zhi-Wen

The Circuit Breaker has had a terrible effect on human relationships: silence and distance (“keep your droplets to yourself”). But at the same time, we’ve seen new opportunities open up for discipleship and mission.

We’ve gone door and door to distribute care packages to the vulnerable elderly at Golden Jasmine. We’ve been delivering food to needy families in Bishan and in Shun Fu; We are providing hospitality to a few guest stayers on our church premises. The Living Room continues to serve guests (takeaway only), and regularly contributes food for the programs described above.

All this is possible because of the many volunteers who have stepped forward, and the generous contribution of members to the Mission Relief Fund. Imagine the thanksgiving that this is generating to the Lord! (2 Cor. 9:12)

What about our Home Missions ministries pre-Covid19? They are actively exploring ways and means to continue. For example, our soccer ministry has been having online training sessions; our Domestic Helper Fellowship zoom meetings have also been registering a good turnout! Thanks be to God!

I’d like us to consider how all these activities are more than just mission taskings to fulfil. They are an exercise in discipleship. If we have been discipled rightly, convicted by the Word, we would (as much as we are able) be on the look out for opportunities to serve. The ministry of service and hospitality will be “in our DNA”.

Then at various points in our lives, many of us would have heard the Spirit’s prompting in our lives – “You see that person over there? Go speak to him. Go offer your help.” Everything depends on whether or not we will obey. Each decision makes us either more responsive to the Spirit, or more hardened. Then down the rabbit hole we go.

And as we step forward to serve, be open to all that God will teach you. Here are some ‘lessons’:

• We may learn how blessed we are.
• We may realize how impatient and selfish we are.
• We may grasp more of the depth of sin – personal and systemic sin.
• We may discover how human our neighbour is. And that it will not do to see them as ‘projects’, or to help them in a ‘one off’ manner. Because they are human too.
• We may grow in compassion for the last, the lost and the least.
• Our prayer life may be deepened, as we persevere for the ones we are reaching.
• God may open our eyes to see how loving He is (and patient with us!).
• God may give us insight into the heart of God… as we practice being His hands and His feet, the word made flesh.

All of this is discipleship, the God-appointed journey of life where His abiding interest is to shape us to become more like Him, reflecting the beauty of Jesus. Perhaps we should not be surprised at how God can do glorious things even in the midst of a pandemic. Even in us.

Notice of Postponement of Annual Congregational Meeting

The Session has sent out the notice of postponement for the annual ACM to all members on 15 May. If any member has any queries or clarifications, please email office@zionbishan.org.sg by 30 May.

Rest Day for Pastoral Staff
(A Request from HR Committee)

We thank God for our team of dedicated pastoral staff who are readily accessible to members for pastoral care and counselling matters throughout the week. Most of our pastors have their off-day on Mondays except for one on Wednesday so that at least a pastor is available on Monday. The arrangement is to allow the pastors to have their proper rest and time with their own families during their day off. Please be mindful to allow our Pastors to rest on their off-day, except for very urgent matters.

Quarantine and Lockdown:
What on Earth is God Doing?
ADC by Ps David Wong
8.00pm – 9.15pm, Thursdays

This ADC has 2 sessions remaining, held on Thursdays 28 May & 4 June.
Zoom invite will be provided via email
Sign up here: www.zionbishan.org.sg/adc-QnL

Quarterly Prayer and Praise
29 May, Friday, 8.00-9.00pm

The bi-weekly Overseas Ministry Partner (OMP) Prayer meeting and Friday Prayer Fellowship will be combined this week at our quarterly prayer and praise.
Featuring OMPs from Lebanon and India, we will be hearing and praying for them.
Do sign up at this link to receive the Zoom invite: www.zionbishan.org.sg/pray-omp

Under the Wings of God:
Lessons from Ruth for Troubled Times
6 Free BGST Videos

BGST has produced specially for this season a video study on the book of Ruth: How it was then, and how we can apply the lessons to our local context in our times.
The videos can be accessed here: https://www.bgst.edu.sg/the-ruth-series

Zion Bishan Kindergarten
Reopens 2 June

ZBK will be commencing on their 3^rd term in June. Students may return by cohorts as follows:
K1 and K2 children from 2 June
N1 and N2 children from 8 June
Do pray for a smooth process for the reopening.