Scripture Memory: Knowing God.
Jeremiah 9:23, 24 "Thus saith the LORD, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches: But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD."

* * *

O Worship the LORD in the Beauty of Holiness

20 May 2007
8.00 am Worship Service:
Eld Lim Teck Chye (The Greatest Knowledge)
10.45 am Worship Service:
Eld Khoo Peng Kiat (The Greatest Knowledge)
6:00 pm Rehoboth Evening Service:
Rev Tan Eng Boo (Rebellious Folks and Their Kids)

27 May 2007
8.00 am Worship Service:
Rev Colin Wong (Lessons from Ephesians)
10.45 am Worship Service:
Rev Charles Seet (Manifesting His Glory)
6:00 pm Rehoboth Evening Service:
Rev Colin Wong (Growing In Forgiveness)

* * *

The testimonies on the WARM programme which have been published over the past 8 months reveal that many of us are already getting to know more fellow members and worshippers in the church. However we are still far from being a church that is "United in Christ’s love, actively ministering one to another." This vision can only be reached through a concerted effort to reach out to unfamiliar faces in church and build the bond of perfectness (Colossians 3:14) in obedience to God’s will for His church.

While several initiatives have been launched to promote more interaction and fellowship in church, not all of them have been met with the same level of enthusiasm. We need to make adjustments when necessary. It obviously takes time to change a deep mindset that has prevailed for years and overcome the natural ‘discomfort’ in us to become more Christ-centred and others-centred. However, the difficulties should not keep us from pressing patiently toward the vision.

My plea to all Lifers is that we will all labour together to build a WARM church where Christ is honoured not only by the preaching and teaching of His Word, but also by the diligent application of His Word in our lives – particularly the new commandment to love one another as He has loved us (John 13:34). Since this has been set as the hallmark for His disciples can we do any less? Each of us must do our part to reach out and minister one to another, and so put Philippians 2:4 into practice: "Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others."

Is it unspiritual to suggest practical ideas for social interaction? Shouldn’t these things just ‘come naturally’ whenever we are obedient to God and filled with the Spirit? Not necessarily so. Consider this: Practical ‘do’s and don’ts’ were still given to the members of the early church, like, "Greet one another with a holy kiss," (2 Corinthians 13:12) and "Speak not evil one of another," (James 4:11) even though these would be the natural outcome of loving one another. In Titus 2:3-5 the older women in the church were told to teach the younger women to "love their husbands, to love their children, To be discreet, chaste, keepers at home…" and this probably included much valuable practical advice and training on how to be a good Christian wife, mother and homemaker!

We therefore welcome you to share practical suggestions on how to enhance the WARM programme, especially on the ‘R’ and ‘M’ parts (Reach out, and Minister). Instead of compiling them and the ideas on conversation openers into a booklet for the church camp as I had proposed earlier, we will include some of them in the WARM edition of the church weekly every month. The following are some suggestions that have already come in:

1. Give a smile to someone you greet at the church entrance or inside the church. Remember courtesy begets courtesy. This is friendly interaction. Our interaction with members of our congregation and those who are newcomers to our church matters a great deal. What you say and do can make a world of difference.

2. Make eye contact with the person you greet to show your sincerity. Give a firm handshake to show that he is warmly welcome. Make him feel very much a part of us because as a newcomer he may feel overwhelmed.

3. Make a point to come to church early to look out for early newcomers and speak to them. Try to befriend a newcomer by saying hello and sitting beside him. Look out for someone who is sitting all by himself because he often feels out of place and sometimes it is very hard to overcome shyness.

4. Leaders of the church can speak to one or two "regulars" each Lord’s Day for a year. This is to show that you are interested in their welfare: both physical and spiritual. By so doing, you will get to know him or her a bit better.

5. Be on the look out for absentees among the "regulars." Be such a person. Work in co-operation with other leaders. Make contact by phone and other means as soon as possible to show that his or her absence has been noted. Every one needs to be encouraged and to know that he is cared for.

6. Try to arrange for a visit, but before doing so, make a phone call to find out whether such and such a date and time is suitable. Exchange warm cards or personalized name cards to keep in touch with each other by phone, by e-mail, etc. Keep them in a name card holder for future reference. Pray for them by name.

1. Some of us do not know the Session members and their families, even those who chair our services. Perhaps the worship chairman can introduce his family at the end of the service. Other introductions can be made with publication of a family photo and write up. It can be in the form of inserts or other publications as space permits and can be done over a period of time.

2. I may know who my Sunday School teacher is but hardly anything else about him except when personal experiences are mentioned during the lessons. The teacher can spend part of the very first lesson for the introduction of his/her family, if applicable, to the class.

3. Even in the same class, especially in the large adults SS class, there is hardly any opportunity to get acquainted with each other. Students of the same class can be encouraged to sit together and get to know one another if they stay back for Sunday lunch.

4. Until today I am still greatly touched by the visit of a deacon who came after work and prayed for me during my hospitalization. Likewise members can provide much uplifting by writing encouraging notes to those listed in the prayer list although they do not know them. Visits would be even better. It will surely be WARM if such caring attitude can be shown.

5. A number of elderly members come to worship usually accompanied by family members. We can allot a special time for them once a month where some of us can be assigned to reach out to them.

6. Families tend to sit together and almost all worshippers are usually seated at or near the same pew every Sunday. Perhaps we can have a different seating arrangement once in a while and give them a few minutes at the end of the service to know their seated neighbors.

7. Allot a small column in the Weekly for poems, quotations, testimonies, articles contributed by Session members. But this should be done over a fixed period of time.

8. Introduce a writing competition for hymn with lyrics and musical notes based on WARM. The winning entry can be used regularly to remind and encourage WARM participation.

9. Worshippers with cars can contact those who live in their neighbourhood to offer lifts to and from church on Sundays. Even if this offer does not work out, it provides an opportunity to get to know each other.

10. Most people tend to be reserved when asked about personal life. So a general acronym S. E. L. F. introduction is suggested. Both parties can talk about S.E.L.F. S stands for self and it can be name, age, residential place, anything to disclose about self. E can be about the educational system, education overseas, and education of family members if appropriate. L stands for leisure activities or liking such as favorite hawker centre, favorite hymn, hobby, games, most liked verse or passage of the Scripture, etc. F stands for family – anything about the family.

May the Lord help us all to "consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works." (Hebrews 10:24)

— CS

* * *