Pastoral Staff Rev Lee Kien Seng Mobile: 9815 2589 / Ext 104 kienseng@trueway.org.sg Rev Edwin Wong Mobile: 9477 0727 / Ext 115 edwin@trueway.org.sg Rev Ronnie Ang Mobile:9736 5145 ronnie@trueway.org.sg Pr George Ang Mobile: 9657 4460 / Ext 105 george@trueway.org.sg Pr Loliro Sani Worship Director Mobile: 9129 7546 / Ext 116 loliro@trueway.org.sg Pr Png Eng Keat Mobile:9819 8901 / Ext117 keat@trueway.org.sg Ms Chan Suet Fong Children Ministry Director Mobile: 9870 6048 / Ext 112 suetfong@trueway.org.sg Ms Suttiporn Radeerat Thai Service Mobile: 8862 3457 / Ext 111 suttiporn@trueway.org.sg Church Manager Mr Ray Hsu Tel: 6474 3527 / Ext 122 ray@twpc.org.sg Facility Coordinator Mr Chee Hock Guan Tel: 6474 3527 / Ext 122 Fax: 6474 6572 hockguan@twpc.org.sg Administrative Assistant Mr Alvin Yip Tel: 6474 3527 / Ext 114 Fax: 6474 6572 alvinyip@trueway.org.sg

July Memory Verse

Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were

called in one body. And be thankful.

Colossians 3:12-15 (ESV)

5 Jul 2020 11am Online Service

12 Jul 2020 8.30am Service &

11am Online Service Sermon Seeing What God Sees Ezekiel 8:1-9:11 Rev Edwin Wong

Sermon What Is Important Is What God Thinks Ezekiel 11:1-25 Rev Lee Kien Seng

Worship Leader Gideon Low

Worship Leader Dn Charles Lee

Band Charis Leong/Nicolas Chan/ Joash Ang

Band Samuel Liu

Holy Communion Servers Count Offering Eld Lek Siang Hwa Eld Corinne Liu

PA Eld Lek Siang Hwa Paul Soon

Computer Lee Kien Meng

Ushers Soon Chong Guan Serene Khee

Online Service Crew Eld Peter Goh Jeremy Goh Sally Chng Gracia Lee Amos Hoe

Online Service Crew Eld Peter Goh Jeremy Goh Sally Chng Gracia Lee Amos Hoe

*11am Online Service

5 July 2020 Ordinary 5 11am Online Service

ORDER OF WORSHIP Prelude Call to Worship Opening Song: O Praise The Name* Prayer of Praise & Confession* Song of Praise & Adoration: Speak, O Lord* PROCLAIMING THE WORD Scripture Reading: 1 Corinthians 10:6-22 Sermon: Seeing What God Sees Ezekiel 8:1-9:11 RESPONDING TO THE WORD Intercessory Prayers Offertory / Doxology* Offertory Prayer* SENDING FORTH INTO THE WORLD Closing Song: Be Thou My Vision(TH382)* Benediction & Threefold Amen* Postlude * Please stand as you are able

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Welcome We welcome all our worshippers who have tuned in.

Condolences We extend our condolences to Susan Ang and family on the home-calling of Susan's late brother Ang Keng Yeow Ernie on 1 Jul (Wed).

Congratulations We rejoice with Kevin Chua and Alisa on the birth of their second child, Benjamin Chua Yue Yi on 2 Jul (Thu).

Resuming of worship service We will resume our 8.30 am service on 12 July 2020. We are going to conduct Holy Communion every Sunday over the next few weeks or for as long as we remain in this phase. We will have a ticketing system which is on a first-come-first serve basis. We appeal to you not to reserve tickets every week so that others can have a chance to come. The link for the reservation of tickets will be made available to you via email/WhatsApp on 6 July (Mon).

Synod Sunday (12 July) Next Sunday is Synod Sunday. A separate offering will be taken for the purpose of supporting Synod's ministry and work in the Presbyterian schools and mission fields.

Church Advisory All worshippers are encouraged to check their emails for Senior Pastor's weekly church advisories sent out latest by Friday night. As the local situation surrounding COVID-19 evolves, we will update the congregation concerning changes pertaining to our church so kindly check every week. If you have not received anything from him thus far, please contact Pr. George so that your email address can be updated. All church advisories may also be found on the church website.

Digital Giving of Tithes & Offerings There are 3 ways to give our tithes and offerings:

1) PayNow

• Launch your mobile banking app

• Scan the QR code using the app or key in UEN: T12SS0173B

• Indicate whether it is ‘tithe’ or ‘offering’ in the narrative field “Enter UEN / Bill Reference No.”

2) Internet Transfer to DBS 1629002650. Kindly indicate your name and purpose (tithes/offerings) while making the transfer.

3) Write a cheque payable to "TWPC - English Congregation". Kindly indicate your name, contact number and purpose (tithes/offerings) behind the cheque. Mail the cheque to 156B Stirling Road Singapore 148947.

40.Day Prayer Guide (Online Version) Due to the current COVID-19 situation, LoveSingapore will be publishing this year's 40.Day Prayer Guide online on a new website. This year's theme is In The Long Run, a journey through the Letter to the Hebrews.

The Link to the 40.Day Prayer Guide is: https://lovesingapore.org.sg/40day/2020/. Those who would like to pray, using the 40.Day Prayer Guide, running towards the 55th National Day can access to this Link.

Church Prayer Calendar Please note that the Church Prayer Calendar at True Way website has been moved under "Resources" tab.

Pray Singapore @ 12 noon Let's join Christians all over Singapore at 12 noon to pray for our nation, especially for the Coronavirus situation. Wherever you are, whatever you are doing, just stop and pray for as long as the Spirit leads. The prayer pointers have been circulated through the DGs. If you need them, you can request from Pr. George.

Look for a Discipleship Group (DG) If you have been worshipping at True Way for a while, we would like to encourage you to consider joining a Discipleship Group (DG). If you would like to join or visit a DG, please email to Pr George Ang.

Online Outreach Resources For online outreach resources, you are encouraged to browse these resources from Our Daily Bread (ODB) Ministries Singapore as follows: a. God’s Care amidst Fear and Danger (English Edition) https://www.bible.org.sg/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Gods-Care-amidst-Fear-and-Danger-tract-English-edition-lowres.pdf b. Hope in the Storm (English Edition) https://www.bible.org.sg/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Hope-in-the-Storm-tract-English-edition.pdf c. The Gift of Peace (English Edition) https://www.bible.org.sg/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Gift-of-Peace-English-edition-low-res.pdf d. Thea and the Shepherd (English Edition) https://www.bible.org.sg/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Thea-and-the-Shepherd-English-edition.pdf

All Colours Matter

An incident on the 25th of May in the US changed the attention of many

people from the fight against COVID 19 to something else. It spilled over the

streets, nations and into the whole world. “Black Lives Matter” has become

the logo, the cry, the reason for many incidents happening across America

and many other nations. Where we are, we may observe that many of us are

not black or white either. We are more like beige - different shades of beige.

Are we spared from what is happening in the west? And why does it evoke

such reactions and protests?

In India, there is a famous facial cream known as Fair and Lovely. The

obsession with fair skin is a known secret among many Indians. The influence

of media in perpetuating this obsession has cost companies billions of dollars.

It cost many lives, career, livelihood and even marriages. As a result of what

happened on that day, rumour has it that now there are plans to change the

name of the cream. I wonder what it will be. Dark and Lovely?

Recently in Singapore, it was reported that a Malay man, posing as a

Chinese woman was charged over offensive tweets against racial harmony.

Some of his tweets were against his own people and against the Indians. The

government was quick to address the situation and deal with it. In a small

country like Singapore where people from different walks of life converge, it is

not surprising to find such sentiments. Perhaps this is the reason the founding

fathers found it crucial to inculcate a sense of unity among the people of

Singapore. It was stated that the ‘wording of the pledge was based on the

belief that Singaporeans could overcome the divisions caused by differences

of race, language and religion.’

(https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/infopedia/articles/SIP_84_2004-12-13.html) The pledge reads

“We, the citizens of Singapore, pledge ourselves as one united people,

regardless of race, language or religion, to build a democratic society,

based on justice and equality, so as to achieve happiness, prosperity

and progress for our nation.”

As a foreigner living in Singapore, I find this pledge very moving. How

this pledge will become a reality is beyond me. The leaders of Singapore

have done a tremendous work in trying to make this pledge a reality. As with

many things, it demands a lot of hard work and a change in our mindset and

attitude. To truly see others as ourselves, we will need to go beyond the

words and check our hearts and thoughts.

The words of our Lord Jesus Christ in the sermon on the mount reminds

us that our thoughts are as important as our actions (Matthew 5). While many

of us may not post our opinions or thoughts online, or even say it out loud,

perhaps it is also time for us to look at our hearts and what is happening in

our homes.

Many years ago, I was invited to my friend’s place. She lived with her

mother. As we neared her block, my friend turned to me and said, “No matter

what my mother says or ask, don’t let her know you are Indian.” I went and

greeted her mother and tried my best to avoid picking up a conversation for

fear of stoking my nationality. It was very awkward having to pretend to be

someone else. But in order to maintain the peace and friendship, I had to

comply.

A small child once told me “You are Indian? My mother told me never to

talk to Indians.”

These are just some examples of what I have experienced. I know that I

do not fit into the stereo typical Indian look and hence all these interesting

encounters. As an Indian, I belong to the slightly fairer category so I am also

guilty as charged.

As believers, we will need to see what the Bible has to say when it comes to

such a burning topic. When we we become believers, it does not change our

race, colour, gender, our vocation, or our ethnicity, but it does relativize all

these things.

The Bible records for us two important events. In Gen 11, a group of

people wanted to build a name for themselves. They were united and spoke

one language. They wanted to stay put and build a tower that would reach the

skies and make their own name great. Ironically, the Bible tells us that God

had to come down to see the city and tower that the people were building

then. The Lord confused them and scattered them from all over the earth.

The city and tower failed. The story of the Tower of Babel is a reminder that

not all forms of unity is good. It can turn otherwise.

In Acts 2, we have a group of people from different backgrounds

gathered for the Jewish festival of the Pentecost. In fact, verse 9 tells us

these people were Parthians, Medes, Elamites, residents of Mesopotamia,

Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt and

parts of Libya near Cyrene, visitors from Rome, Cretans and Arabs! The Holy

Spirit enabled them to understand each other despite their differences and

disperse into the world for a very different cause. They went out not to make

a city or a tower but to make the name of the Lord great. They were united for

the gospel.

The power of God is such that it cannot be confined to one colour, race,

tribe, language or country. The Holy Spirit deepened the unity of the global

church at Pentecost and today we are recipients of that incident. If we ever

find ourselves inclined towards the mentality of our own kind (a name for

ourselves, our city, our tower), may the story of the Tower of Babel be a

reminder that God does not delight in it. His plan is truly unity in diversity.

As believers of our Lord Jesus Christ, let us be reminded of the many

passages in the Bible about our unity in God so that we may continue to be

salt and light in this city of many races.

1. We are commanded to love one another (John 15:12)

2. We are all made in the image of God (Gen 1:27)

3. We are all one in Christ Jesus, neither Jew nor Greek (Gal 3:28)

4. We are all sinners (Rom 3:21)

5. We are made one through Christ who broke the wall of hostility (Ephesians

2:14)

6. We are to love our neighbours as ourselves (Mark 12:31)

7. We are not to hate our brothers and sisters (1 John 3:15)

8. We (every tribe, people, language and nation) will be represented in

heaven (Rev 5:9-10)

May this be our pledge as Christians:

‘We are one in Christ Jesus, all one body

all one spirit, all together.

We share one God, one mighty Lord,

one abiding faith, one binding love,

one single baptism, one Holy Comforter,

the Holy Spirit, uniting all.’

(Authors: Anonymous; tr. Alice Parker, Anonymous; arr. Phillip W. Blycker)

Pr Loliro Sani

5 July 2020