Scripture Memory: Not Grudging.
VERSE: James 5:9 "Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door."

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O Worship the LORD in the Beauty of Holiness

8 October 2006
8.00 am Worship Service:
Rev Charles Seet (Don't Hesitate, Investigate), Lord's Supper
10.45 am Worship Service:
Eld Khoo Peng Kiat (I Will Fear No Evil)
6:00 pm Rehoboth Worship Service:
Rev Colin Wong (Sexual Purity Ain't Theoretical)

15 October 2006
8.00 am Worship Service:
Rev Colin Wong (Don't Be Paralysed, Get Organized)
10.45 am Worship Service:
Rev Colin Wong (The Secret Place of the Most High)
6:00 pm Rehoboth Worship Service:
Rev Wei En Yi (Yes To Brotherly Love, No to Busy Bodies)

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What the WARM Programme means to us

We would like to share some thoughts about the WARM Programme.

1. The WARM Programme - It needs me!

You will notice that in the WARM Programme logo, Programme is spelt with “me” at the end, and the “me” is also part of the phrase “It needs me!” The word programme was intentionally chosen to better convey what is needed - “me”! The WARM Programme is our programme.

These two attributes are generally associated with warmth: approachability and a smile. Approachability is a quality where others can approach you and feel comfortable, and here we also include the ability to approach others easily and put them at ease. Many things have been said about the other attribute of warmth, the smile. To us, it is what  must inevitably show on our face when we radiate the joy of Jesus from our heart. Christians are told to “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.” (Philippians 4:4)

Some people are blessed with the gift of relating warmly to everyone, whether young or old. For others, this has to be learnt, and can be learnt. Whichever the case, we can each do our part actively. By God’s grace, we can each say: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13)

There is a “me” in the WARM Programme.

2. The WARM Programme is a MINISTRY

Is the WARM Programme an icebreaker to you? It is NOT an icebreaker. The objective is that we are “united in Christ’s love, ministering one to another”. Hence the WARM Programme is a ministry, not an icebreaker.

The name cards are an initiative to help us implement the WARM Programme. This WARM issue of the Weekly is another initiative. Each month, there will be one issue of the Weekly devoted to WARM, and like this issue, it will be printed on pink paper. Testimonies will be printed for the edification of the saints. By submitting our testimonies, we can minister one to another. Other initiatives will be launched later.

The Christians in the early church ministered to one another often, as recorded in Acts 2:42-27, and Paul exhorts us in Hebrews 10:24-25 to “consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works …exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”

The WARM Programme is a ministry. Pray for this ministry of our church.

As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. (1 Peter 4:10)                                                                                 —The WF family

WARM Planning and Alignment Meeting for Fellowship Groups

Fifty-one members from the various Fellowship groups (FG), PA team and Children’s Ministry participated in the meeting which was held at the Metropolitan YMCA on Sunday 17 September 2006 from 2.30 to 6.00 pm. Rev Seet, Rev Wong, Dn Victor Loo and Dn John Ching were also present to lend support to the members. The objectives of the meeting were to consider the relevance of WARM, its implementation and the role FGs can play in furthering WARM.

The participants agreed that it was important and urgent for Life Church to be a warm church. However, there were obstacles to overcome and the main hindrances were identified to be our Asian culture, lack of time and cliques.

The church has provided opportunities for its members to get to know one another through the monthly Sunday lunch, Church camps, combined fellowship meetings and WARM.

WARM is a means of actively engaging and reaching out to other brethren in the church. There was no lack of suggestions to promote the use of WARM name cards. The participants were of the opinion that leaders of the church and FG leaders should walk the talk and take the lead in using WARM name cards. The campers, which form a big base group, could be enlisted to energise the rest of the church to start on WARM. Time could be set aside for worshippers to exchange cards after the service. The general consensus was that there must be a conscious effort put in by all concerned parties to reach out to others out of Christian love.

Besides being willing to make a genuine effort themselves, within and across FGs to promote WARM, the FGs reiterated the need for much prayer as well as obedience to the prompting of the Holy Spirit in the implementation of WARM.

Personal testimonies from worshippers would go a long way to encourage others to come on board and be part of WARM. These would be featured on a monthly basis in the church Weekly.

Other ideas to promote fellowship were inviting those not in the FGs to informal get-togethers and starting a “Technical Interest group” in areas such as Church history, abortion and Christian education.

There was also concern that the exchange of WARM name cards might become a mechanistic card-collecting exercise. But it must not and need not be so, if each one of us bears in mind that we, as the children of God are “united in Christ’s love, actively ministering one to another”. If we truly love Christ and His church, and sincerely want to effect a change in the church, we must first get involved through prayer. This should be followed by action. Are we serious about our love for the church? Let us be proactive and do something about the malaise. Let us cast aside our Asian inhibitions. Start with a smile. Get to know more fellow believers each time we are in Church. Use the WARM cards as a means to break the ice and reach out to others, for in so doing we fulfill the teaching of our Lord to “Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others” (Philippians 2:4). We are further exhorted “to consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works” (Hebrews 10:24).

If Life Church is to be a warm church, it is imperative that both leaders and members are committed to play a part. May the Lord help us to radiate His love to those around us, bless our humble efforts and multiply the fruits of our labour.                                         —Jennifer Goh

From the E-Mailbox:

From: Sek Sau Toh

Sent: Monday, 11 September, 2006 10:09 am Subject: Re: Launch of Life Church WARM     Programme 

Dear Pastor Seet,

I’d like to express my thanks to Life Church for this initiative. May the Lord bless this effort to knit our ‘large’ church of many disparate members into one Body that is “fitly joined together” and which are actively and earnestly engaged in “making increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

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1) Infant Baptism on Anniversary Sunday, 22 Oct 06, 9.30 am. Please register with the Church Office (tel: 6256-9256) or email Yin Chan giving child’s name, date of birth and parents’ names and address by Friday.

2) Combined Anniversary Service: 9:30 am on 22 Oct. This will be followed by a catered buffet lunch for all worshippers. Offerings to defray the cost of the lunch are welcome.

3) Thanksgiving & Gospel Meeting organised by the Chinese Service on Sat, 21 Oct (Deepavali) at 6 pm (dinner will be provided at 7.30 pm.) Venue: Sanctuary. There will be song items presented in Mandarin, Cantonese and Hokkien. Invite your friends and loved ones.

4) Fellowship Leaders’ Prayer Retreat, 24 Oct (Tue, Public Holiday), 5 - 7 pm, at Chinese Service Hall. All are welcome.

5) Family Worship 2007. Those who wish to open their homes for family worship from Jan to Nov 2007, on the 4th Friday of the month,  kindly contact Rev Wong at cwong at lifebpc dot .com or 6256-4312.

6) Children’s Camp ’06: 20-22 Nov (Mon-Wed). Theme: Growing in Christ. Speaker: Pr Ho Chee Lai. Venue: Aloha Changi. Calling P3-P6 children who are attending PJWS/JWS. 40 vacancies only! Closing date: 29 Oct. Contact Keng Khwang at 9829-3292 or email quekkk at lifebpc dot com.

7) The Library: Lifers are encouraged to visit the Library which is open every Sunday, 12:15 - 12:45 pm. There are about 3,000 Christian books for all ages!

8) Grace & Moriah Combined Event at Moriah B-P Church, 31 Simei Rd. on 11 & 12 Oct.  Details were given out last week. RSVP by today. Call Grace BPC, 6442-2440 or Moriah BPC, 6788-4770.

9) Gospel Sunday: Invite your friends and loved ones to the Gospel Sunday on 29 Oct 06. Please pray for:

(1) Rev Tan Eng Boo (English) and Rev Lim Jit Thye (Mandarin) who will speak on the topic, “True Peace” at 10:45 am service; and

(2) Mark Chen who will speak at Rehoboth Evening Service on the topic, “The Anxiety of Man” at 6:00 pm (Reformation Gospel Message).

10) Congratulations to Patrick & Vilynn Loo on the birth of a baby girl on 29 Sep 06.

Preaching appointments: Rev Wong at Life Chinese Service, 10.45 am and Rehoboth Evening Service, 6.00 pm.

Reformation Seminar

Sat, 28 Oct 06. 3-6 pm. Church Sanctuary.

Theme: O for a Closer Walk with God – Lessons from the Reformation.

Speaker: Rev Jack Sin, Maranatha BPC.

Short synopsis :

A devotional message targeting at personal reformation which is needful in our walk with God. The speaker will be drawing lessons from the Protestant Reformation and examine how these lessons can impact us and draw us closer to God.

Programme:              

3.00 pm to 3.20 pm - Welcome & Singspiration
3.20 pm to 4.15 pm - Message
4.15 pm to 5.00 pm - Q & A
5.00 pm to 6.00 pm - Fellowship + Refreshment