Speaker Rev Oh Boon Leong

For internal circulation only

18 November 2018

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As soon as the ‘ber’ months hit, and

malls get decked out in decorations

and carols, you know that it’s that time

of the year again. It’s a time of

anticipation but also a time of

busyness: drawing up the shopping

lists for presents, decorating the tree,

the annual family overseas trip,

planning the various meetups and

celebrations. The festivities easily

crowd out space for reflection and

solitude and I often find myself

struggling to fully appreciate and enter

into the season of Advent. Advent is

the four weeks prior to Christmas – a

season of anticipating the coming of

Jesus Christ into our world. This year,

Advent officially begins a fortnight from

now, on 2nd

December.

For me, lately it feels like this season

of Advent and Christmas feels different

from past years. Life feels like one big

mess. Maybe it’s because my

grandma was called home to the Lord

earlier in the year. Maybe it’s the

ominous SG Secure messaging of

“not if – but when”. Maybe it’s the

daunting trade war between America

and China. Maybe it’s because climate

change is hastening to a point of no

return. Maybe it’s the refugee crisis

that the world is turning a blind eye to.

Maybe it’s my own struggles with

adulating and being saddled with a

mortgage for the first time in my life.

Maybe it’s the busyness of life that just

seems to accelerate with each

coming year. Maybe it’s a

combination of all of the above and

more and I’m left wondering, “In the

brokenness of this modern world,

how do I make sense of the hope of

the birth of Christ?”

Contrary to the festivities depicted

on Christmas cards and the

sterility of nativity scenes,

something feels missing in our

world. The Santa-Claus-like

depiction of a God who is ever-jolly,

ever-provident doesn’t match up

with the God I experience in my

everyday life and in the world

around me. That one-dimensional

image of God is leaves a gaping

hole in my understanding and in

my heart.

I recall first century Palestine. The

Jews were struggling under the

oppressive regime of the Romans

– the last in a long line of world

superpowers that had dominated

them. They were waiting for an

anointed one, a king and liberator who

would free them from the political

domination and return the Kingdom

to the golden age like in the time of

David. They had undergone years

and years of pain, suffering, even

exile, how could they hold on to the

hope that the anointed one would

deliver them to a time where God’s

righteousness, mercy and justice

would reign? Their world offered

little evidence that a saviour was

coming. Did they also ask, “Where is

God now?”, like we ask today?

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Enter Jesus. A baby. Born to a poor

family. In a dirty stable. Under

suspicious martial circumstances. A

refugee family fleeing a leader out to

take their lives. Is this the anointed

one? Is this the one who will liberate

us out of oppression to freedom? Is

this the saviour we are seeking to fix

our messy world? It’s hard to believe.

Our world isn’t so different from Mary

and Joseph’s. Just as God entered a

world of strife, oppression, pain,

brokenness and sorrow 2000 years

before, God enters again this Christmas

in a world that sees political upheaval,

religious radicalisation, racial oppression,

gender-based violence, environmental

chaos and widespread pain.

Jesus’ birth reminds us that God is not

limited by our expectations, but our

expectations can limit our understanding

of his work. In the 33 years that Jesus

walked the earth, he never shied away

from mess. Instead, he gravitated

towards them. Promiscuous women,

lepers, tax collectors, and broken

people of all kinds found Jesus’ love

and grace readily extended to them.

And also to us.

I’m convinced that we’re theologically

incorrect whenever we sing Away in a

Manger’s “no crying he makes”. Jesus

was fully God but also fully human.

Baby Jesus would have experienced

everything a human baby experienced,

including crying. If Jesus was only

divine, then he would not have been

able to truly understand our experience

of life. But because he is both human

and divine, He truly experienced all

that we experience and we can trust

that he knows our mess and he’s not

afraid of it. Jesus wept.

It’s easy to wear the expected happy

holidays mask and allow the busyness

of the season to distract us from

brokenness in us and around us. But

Scripture attests to the paradox that

God is both present and absent at the

same time. Jesus came once, and with

that, ushered in the Kingdom. But

even as he left us the Holy Spirit, the

Kingdom is still not come fully. There

is still much brokenness, pain,

suffering and injustice in our world.

Already but not yet. This leaves us

with much unmet longing. Advent isn’t

just a season to remember the

historical occurrence of God becoming

human and dwelling among us. Advent

is also a reminder that we look forward

to a time of Jesus coming again,

dwelling again with God face-to-face

and the Kingdom reigning in all of the

earth. Advent embraces that all of our

life is an active waiting for God to

return. Advent embraces a God who

enters into the mess of our ordinary

life. Advent embraces a God who is

present and working in his seeming

absence. Oh come, let us adore him

this Advent.

Marianne Wong

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Next Wednesday (21 Nov)

Chairperson: Marianne Wong

Come, join our prayer warriors in

Room #03-06 on Wednesday, 7.45pm!

THANKSGIVING

1. Give thanks for our Men’s Retreat and Heart2Heart Retreat which were held last weekend. All the participants returned safely and renewed in spirit after a good time of bonding.

2. We are thankful for God’s guidance over our O-level students who have finished their exams while the A-level students are at the tail-end of theirs. Thank God for the year-end school holidays and long break for our school-going children. May they spend the holidays wisely and be rejuvenated for the year ahead.

PRAY FOR THE CHURCH

Overseas Missions Ministry: Ps Ki ran — We thank God that our mission partner, Kiran Das from Nepal, was able to submit the first draft of his doctoral dissertation (SBC) in time. Pray that the oral defence next February will go well. Recently, Ps Kiran underwent surgery to remove stones in his gall bladder. Pray for his complete recovery.

Cambodi a mission — Ps Peter and Hoi Lai are currently in Andaut, Cambodia, for ministry work. The church at Andaut needs constant encouragement because of the continuous outflow of younger members seeking educational and job opportunities

in bigger cities. Pray that God will use Ps Sokha to serve faithfully as a shepherd who will earn the trust and respect of her members.

Session leaders: Pray that our Session leaders will continue to provide team leadership and set godly examples as they lead our church towards Carmel@60. As they do so, pray that they will also maintain a good balance between work, family and ministry.

Children Ministry: Thank God that more than 90% of ministry positions have been filled. We still need some class assistants and worship leaders, but we are thankful that more of our younger members and parents have stepped forward to serve. Praise the Lord!

FatherSon Camp: Eight father-and-son pairs are currently at the camp. Pray for safety, good health, bonding and building/strengthening of father-son relations. May God bless Ps Jabez with wisdom and strength as he facilitates the camp.

PRAY FOR PERSONAL NEEDS

1. Bereavement: Pray for God’s comforting presence and peace upon Peter and Serena Yeo, their daughters Janelle (& Andrew Ong) and Jolene, and their son, Darrell. Peter’s mother passed away on 11 Nov.

2. Safety in travels: Many families will be travelling during the school holidays. Pray for safe journeys wherever they are going. Pray also that they will not only enjoy themselves, but also remain in good health during their travels.

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If you are a parent who would like to register your infant(s) for this year’s Christmas Infant Baptism, please inform Angie Leong (67795077, angie@carmel.sg) at the church office. A class for parents will be held on Saturday, 24 Nov, from 2–4pm, at room 03-07. Registration closes on 19 Nov.

ANNOUNCEMENTS/UPDATES

Copies of “Our Daily Bread” for December 2018, are available at the EFU Welcome Corner today.

Date Speakers Topic Text

25 Nov Rev Daniel Chua Life in the Spirit Romans 8:1-17

2 Dec Dr Lai Pak Wah Groaning & Glory Romans 8:18-27

9 Dec Rev Oh Boon Leong Trusting God in the Worst of

Times Romans 8:28-39

16 Dec Mr Michael Tan Advent/Free Topic

Heartfelt condolences to Peter Yeo, Serena Yeo, Darrell Yeo, Jolene Yeo, Janelle

Ong-Yeo, Andrew Ong and family. Peter’s mother passed away peacefully on

Sunday, 11 November 2018.

of all Kidsparks and Sunday School children:

If you would like your child(ren) to switch sessions in 2019 (e.g. from 9am to 11am Sunday School or from Sunday to Saturday), please inform the respective co-ordinators of the session your child(ren) will attend:

Kidsparks (Sat): Cindy 9am Pri SS : Stephanie 11am Pri SS: Aileen 9am and 11am Preschool: Shi Ning

We would appreciate it if you could inform us as early as possible for our forward planning. Thank you!

Congratulations to Joshua Lim and Kai Ling on the birth of their 2nd child, Kaylyn

Lim Kai En on Wednesday, 14 Nov 2018.

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Please make all cheques, including those for the Development Fund, payable to Mount Carmel BP Church Ltd (payee name must be stated on the cheque).

Please note that NO receipts will be issued for cheques received by the Church below $5,000 except upon request.

All offerings and pledges to Mount Carmel BP Church Ltd are not tax-deductible.

NEXT SUNDAY 25 November 2018

MINISTRY INVOLVEMENT 1ST SERVICE

MINISTRY INVOLVEMENT 2ND SERVICE

Ushers Suyen & Friends West Bay CG

Refreshment Clementi Woods CG

Worship Leaders Benedict Leow

Congregational Prayer Rev Jabez Chia

Musicians Week 4 Band

Welcome Corner Tan Choon Kiat/John Chua Dn Jonathan Lum/Sunny Yap

Scripture Readers Joyce Go Kim Kjin

AVA Crew Timothy Chiam/Fiona Chee Daryl Tan/Loh Kum Hoe

Librarians Baet Yeok Lin/Baet Kwee Chin

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Christians face a tension in their lives: living under the law, in sin, or in the freedom of the Spirit

Romans 7 teaches us:

I. Attitudes towards the Law

II. Purpose of the Law

III. Freedom apart from the Law

Romans 7:1–25

Discussion questions

Paul describes the tension in the Christian life (vv. 15-20). How is this true in our own experience?

The good news is that whilst our sinful nature will never be eradicated in this life, it can be overcome by the Spirit of God living in us. How can we yield ourselves more to the Holy Spirit's control?

Romans 7 is about being "married" to Mr. Law or to Mr. Grace (vv. 1-6). What can we draw from this for us today?

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Worship Leader Chew Leong Ho Speaker Rev Oh Boon Leong Prayer Eld Kelvin Teo Scripture Readers Serene Lim Cynthia Wee Ushers Clementi Woods CG Covenant CG Refreshment Jennifer Lim/Peck Har AVA Michael Teo Alan Tan Low Ek Yong Tan Chay Hoon Andrew Ong Thanksgiving Flowers Verlyn & Vince Tan Jacqueline Lim Betty Chew & family Stanley & Mui Hong

Worshippers are invited to come forward to the front

pew for personal prayer with our elders/pastors.

To God Be the Glory

Gloria Patri

Psalm 42

Living Hope As the Deer I Cast All My Cares One Day

Doxology

Romans 7:1–25

Married to Mr. Law or to Mr. Grace?

Wonderful Grace of Jesus

Three-Fold Amen

For a digital copy of this bulletin:

http://www.carmel.sg/wordpress/

wp-content/uploads/2018/11/

Weekly-112518.pdf

For recordings of past sermons,

visit www.carmel.sg

Welcome! A warm welcome to all

newcomers and visitors with us

today. We hope that you will

have a meaningful time of

worship this morning. Do join us

for tea at the fellowship hall

after the service.