Ray shared a little bit about his work with Hope International.

Augustin then shared a sermon based on Mark 1:21-28, on how God calls us and “disturbs” us – to see what is wrong with the world – and give us the power and grace to go and be a “disturbance” for good and change to His glory.

Like rays of hope.

To learn more about what Rama shared, check out the notes on his blog here.

God’s Kingdom work is achieved through you and I, His followers.

“Sing for joy to God our strength! Sound the ram’s horn at the New Moon, and when the moon is full, on the day of our festival.” For the Lord says, “I removed the burden from their shoulders; … you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”  Psa 81: 1-3,6,16.

Gong Xi! Gong Xi!

As we step into a new Lunar New Year, my family and I wish all our pastors, members and friends a year blessed with God’s peace and joy. May your Chinese New Year also be filled with much happiness, good health, progress and prosperity!

I hope that all of us will take this festive occasion to renew and strengthen our relationships with God, family and friends. Learn to give and forgive, and be confident that, in this New Year, God will enable us ‘to do all things through Him who gives us strength.’

And don’t forget, drive safe when you ‘balik kampung’!

Bishop Philip Lok & Family CNY January 2012

“你 们 当 向 神 我 们 的 力 量 大 声 欢 呼 ， 向 雅 各 的 神 发 声 欢 乐，唱 起 诗 歌 ， 打 手 鼓 ， 弹 美 琴 与 瑟 。当 在 月 朔 ， 并 月 望 ， 我 们 过 节 的 日 期 ， 吹 角。” 神 说 ， 我 使 你 的 肩 得 脱 重 担 ， 你 的 手 放 下 筐 子 。他 也 必 拿 上 好 的 麦 子 给 他 们 吃 。 有 拿 从 磐 石 出 的 蜂 蜜 ， 叫 他 们 饱 足 。 诗81：1-3，6，16

恭喜！！恭喜！！

在这农历新年里，本人及家人愿各位教牧、会友及朋友满有神的平安及喜乐，大家在新的一年都欢喜快乐、健康、进步及兴盛。

期望我们能乘着这佳节更新及加强与神、家人及朋友的关系，学习付出及宽恕，在新的一年有信心神能让我们“藉着他所赐的力量凡事都能。”

提醒大家在回乡时小心驾驶！

陆爱平会督

This morning, we were blessed to have Tor play percussions with the worship team!

You did an awesome job, Tor – looking forward to have you play more often in church! Keep growing in your talents, too!

This, by the way, is a great example of today’s sermon message – about how each and every one of us has a calling from God. There is no distinction between a “higher” or “lower” calling – only that each of us have been given a call to respond to.

Edited by Joshua Woo & Soo-Inn Tan

ISBN: 978-981-07-0508-4

The Bible & The Ballot – Reflections on Christian Political Engagement in Malaysia Today is a joint effort between Friends in Conversation together with GraceWorks. We’re especially proud to have our very own Sivin Kit and Rama Ramanathan as contributors in this book!

Bangsar Lutheran Church is making this book available to members and attendees at RM13, with thanks to Gladsounds Bookstore.

1. If you would like to purchase a copy of the book, please fill in your name in the order sheet at church along with your immediate payment of RM13.
2. We will take orders after church service, over two Sundays – 15 and 22 January 2012.
3. You should be able to collect your books from the church from 29 January 2012 onwards.

Book overview:

How do we relate Christianity to political engagement in Malaysia today? This is the question that we, as part of the community of believers, are trying to answer in this book. It is our conviction that “if Jesus Christ is not Lord of all, He is not Lord at all”. We proclaim the lordship of Jesus over every aspect of life. Therefore, it is important for us to reflect on the relationship between what we confess on Sunday and what is happening in the country every day.

This compilation of articles has been produced within the context of a circle of friends who share a common concern over national issues and the importance of Christian engagement on those issues. Although all of us are Malaysians, some of us are located in Malaysia, some in Singapore, and one in Norway. We come from different traditions and denominations of the Christian faith, but are connected through Friends In Conversation, a network where we discuss relevant issues that concern Christian discipleship in the contemporary world.

Book Content:

Contributors to the book:

• Alwyn Lau is a member of Friends in Conversation. A lecturer in Marketing and Sociology at KDU University-College. He is also pursuing a Ph.D (Arts) at the University of Monash (Sunway). He blogs at wyngman.blogspot.com.
• Christopher Choong is a member of Friends in Conversation. He holds a doctorate in Political Science where his research interest lies in the interaction between religion and politics (with particular reference to Christians in Malaysia). He teaches at a private university and blogs at cacoescrib.wordpress.com.
• Joshua Woo Sze Zeng is currently reading theology at Trinity Theological College, Singapore. His writings are posted and referred to at various platforms such as the Singapore Daily, REACH.gov.sg, the Christian Post Singapore, Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs website, TheMicahMandate.org, World Reformed Fellowship website, and Australian National University’s New Mandala website. He blogs at szezeng.blogspot.com.
• Rama Ramanathan graduated in Mechanical Engineering in 1982 and has since worked in factories and in regional roles in operations and quality management. He blogs at write2rest.blogspot.com.
• Sivin Kit is a founding member of Friends in Conversation and one of the initiators of Micah Mandate. He served as the pastor of Bangsar Lutheran Church from 2000 to 2010 and has been actively engaged in civil society in Malaysia since 2007. Currently, he is pursuing his Ph.D in Religion, Ethics and Society at the University of Agder, Kristiansand, Norway. He blogs at sivinkit.net.
• Tan Soo Inn is a member of Friends in Conversation. He holds a Doctor in Ministry from Fuller Seminary. His doctoral project focused on how one discerns vocation in the context of community. Together with his wife Bernice, Soo Inn directs the works of Graceworks, a training and publishing consultancy committed to promoting spiritual friendship in church and society.

May God bless you with discomfort
At easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships,
So that you may live deep within your heart.

May God bless you with anger
At injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people,
So that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace.

May God bless you with tears
To shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger, and war,
So that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain to joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness
To believe that you can make a difference in the world,
So that you can do what others claim cannot be done,
To bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.

Amen

Our church has maintained a long-standing relationship with World Vision Malaysia, as a ministry partner and child sponsor.

This morning, Paul from World Vision Malaysia, came and shared with us about their work.

Speaking from Luke’s gospel about the Parable of the Good Samaritan, he asked three questions:

• What stops us from helping others?
• Why help others anyway?
• Are we able to help those who are different from us?

We also had our very own Michelle share about her experience, along with her family’s, as a World Vision child sponsor! She shared how, since discovering the Advent Conspiracy, her family has opted to spend their money on changing the lives of their child sponsorship recipients instead of on “useless gifts”.

For more information on World Vision and how you can get involved – whether as a Child Sponsor, volunteer, prayer partner or corporate partner – please click here.

This Sunday, our speaker will be from World Vision Malaysia.

Please come and hear about all the great work they have been doing and how you could participate in changing the lives of children from all over the world!

Child sponsorship opportunities will also be available during and after the service.