St James' Church

17 discipleship groups are starting on Phase 2 of our Teleios programme in Sept. The next round will start sometime in March next year. I trust that some of you will consider joining in then.

We are in the midst of planning our move to make way for the construction of our new building. The date projected for our Services, JYM and SPK to be held in Harding is 1st February 2009. As for office space, St George’s Church (Minden Road) has offered us some facilities. We appreciate their generosity. However, the space alloted may not be large enough. The Chinese Congregation is still scouting for a place to worship on Sunday morning (second choice time slots being Saturday evenings). If you have any openings, do inform the office.

The construction costs in the building industry continue to fluctuate. The Architect is advising us on the next steps now that the PP has been secured. We are preparing for the tendering phase. Do continue to pray for the Lord’s favour.

The Lims (Michael, Bee Yong, Daniel and Peace) will be leaving for France for a year on their Sabbatical. Michael will be doing his MBA studies, while Bee Yong will have her well deserved rest after their four years of intense work. Our deanery and SJC will continue to supervise the work in Hanoi. Do pray for the Lims, that they will continue to experience His love and rest during this next phase of their lives. If some of you can provide assistance in any way, that will of course be appreciated.  Once again, as Vicar and on behalf of staff and PCC, we want to communicate our deepest appreciation for the example and sacrifice the Lims have made in the past four years. When we started out, we did see it as a learning experience. What a journey it has been, for them and the church! There is so much more we need to learn to be effective channels of His love in a cross-cultural situation and I sense that the Lims’ experience will add significantly to future involvement by others. 

We welcome Peter Hsu to the pulpit this morning. He and his wife, Geri and kids, Charis and Zachary, have been worshipping with us since early June. Due to Peter’s invovement in outreach to migrant workers here, I thought that it would be good to hear about the needs in society, especially as we talk about our role in the community and society at large.

Next week, Glenn Lim will be sharing his testimony with us in all three Services of how God rescued him from his life of delinquency. Do bring your friends.