兒童主日學 Children Sunday School

Lemon Choi 蔡林文詩姊妹

Praise the Lord for His abundance grace and the in-time provision on the needs of Children Sunday School. Through these, we deeply experience how God, as a potter, is moulding us so that we can be drawn closer to Him and be more like Him.

The Core Team, which includes Rev. Hiram Lau, Lemon Choi, Emily Dou, Miriam Kwong, Holly Hui and Deanna Or, continue to administer the day-to-day operation of Children Sunday School. There are over 70 brothers and sisters serving in the teaching fleet with about 20% of the total are the youths of our church.

As the teaching fleet is comprised of brothers and sisters from different congregations and generations of church, there are regular formal and informal meet up of the teaching members within each stage to build up the bonding as well as discussing any matter of concerns. The prayer time before class on each Sunday that was started at the beginning of year 2024 provides another platform for the teaching members to support each other, the children and parents through prayers. In addition, a Teaching Fleet Fun Day was organised in Apr 2024 for teaching members to get along in a casual atmosphere.

To root the Word of God in the heart of our children, there were different special programs to share the Gospel with them on top of the usual teaching. We had a puppet show from QuizWorx for our Christmas celebration in Nov 2023 and a musical from the Youths of our church for the Easter celebration in Mar 2024. Also, an online scheme called “Bible Reading Challenge” was initiated in May 2024 for the children of senior classes to read the bible together every night on weeknight during school term. The aim of the scheme is to build up the bible reading habit and love the Word of God from young age. It is encouraging to see that children who participate enjoy the time of reading Bible together.

Apart from the foundation of biblical truth, children are taught the heart of worship through the resumption of Senior Singspiration in Sept 2023 and Junior Singspiration in Jul 2024, and they are able to taste the sweetness of worship God together.

Besides, the message of serving God, caring and serving the people around us was delivered on different occasions. During the Mission Week Special Program in Oct 2023, Yakim and Grace’s family shared with us about children with disability in East Africa. Children were taught how they can support the missionaries to share the good news of Jesus with the unreached people. In our annual Children Sunday Service in Aug 2024, a kids talk on “Be the uplifting salt” was delivered by Rev. Hiram Lau. Some of the children were being invited to be the serving team in the Service and the children were really devoted in their serving roles. We are truly thankful for their serving hearts.

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.“ Proverbs 22:6

Bringing the children to God so that they can build a lifelong relationship with our Heavenly Father is one of the most important visions and missions of Children Sunday School. We are blessed with a supportive community, which includes the teaching team, parents and all other brothers and sisters at church. Through the hard work of the community, pray that the seed of gospel will slowly grow in the hearts of our children in His time.

May we also invite you to keep the following in your prayers:

  1. The wisdom from Above to collaborate with other parties of church on the most suitable arrangement for another potential Children Sunday School / Kids’ Church
  2. The transformation of current Children Sunday School to Kids’ Church which will support our children for a smoother transition at the youth stage
  3. The teaching team is trialling on teaching materials from 2 different organisations. Pray that we are able to acquire a gospel centred teaching materials which is suitable to the children of our church and enable our teaching members to deliver the gospel message effectively

Our God is faithful, and we trust that He will continue to guide us through.

多加姊妹團 Dorcas Women’s Fellowship       

Mei Mak   麥陳秀美姊妹

感謝神的帶領和保守,讓多加姊妹團蒙神眷顧31年了。

今年的主題仍沿用上年度的「悅主活人生

本年度團契週會內容主要有: 查經, 戶外郊遊, 專題講座, 盆栽製作。

查經方面, 今年繼續選用了葉福成牧師和師母合著的「給她讚賞」, 藉聖經中婦女的經歷, 加深我們更認識神的愛和看顧, 學習她們的信心及勇氣和順服。還在四月初的週會裏, 請姊妹們分享書中想學習的對象。

今年二月和六月份, 分別有兩個專題講座。邀請了Ida Yip 姊妹,她是「家庭更新協會」資深導師,內容是關於人際關係,如何改善與人相處的方法及學習應用。而六月份的講座, 講員是Elsie Chan姊妹,內容是關於平安紙。歡迎任何人士參與,了解平安紙的詳情, 也有詢問環節。

來年的展望,願神繼續帶領多加姊妹團的方向,加添我們力量,使我們更深認識和愛耶穌 、學習主的愛! 讓我們成為一群合神心意的婦女, 榮耀主名!

長青團 Evergreen Fellowship

Catherine Lo 盧汪美莉姊妹

長青團今年踏入第30個年頭,許多現任職員已經事奉多年,各人都忠心事奉,非常難得。

適逢今年教會主題是「更新」,我們團契也定立了新的主題「學效基督·愛人如己」,新團歌及新團訓,希望增添團契的氣氛。

團契聚會內容是多原化的,每次聚會都有運動及唱詩,除了每個月一次查經,還有特别講座、見證分享、電影、遊戲、旅行、欣賞音樂表演等等,之後我們也一起午膳,彼此溝通。

由於人手短缺,盼望有更多主內弟兄姊妹加入我們的團隊,我們需要你們的支持及代禱。求主賜福給我們長青團各人,及預備足夠的事奉人員,希望有更多新朋友來聚會,阿們!

早堂詩班 Choir

Catherine Lo 盧汪美莉姊妹

很感恩!今年增添了一些經驗豐富的新人加入詩班團隊。雖然我們大部份詩班員都不是音樂專業,但指揮很體諒我們,每一首新歌他會親自預備各個聲部的錄音傳給詩班員,讓我們可以私下練習,減少集體練詩的時間,很有幫助。

此外,謝謝國語堂李傳道邀請我們與國語堂詩班分别在教會35週年聯合崇拜及國語堂10週年感恩崇拜一起獻詩,使我們的事奉成為教會主裡合一的美好見証!

儘管我們在詩班已事奉多年,但没有減退我們對詩班事奉的熱誠,唱詩是永恆的事奉,將來在天家仍要繼續讚美神!願神悦納我們同心的讚美和敬拜,並得着當得的榮耀!哈利路亞!

雅歌團 Song of the Songs Fellowship    

Allan Wong 黃旭麟弟兄

隨著歲月的流逝,雅歌團契成員逐漸邁向樂齡的人生階段;弟兄姊妹應該都帶著又驚又喜的心情,開始思考、探索往後的人生規劃,當中可能包括子女學成畢業、工作遷出、談婚論嫁、又或是自己的退休安排等等。為此需要,團契今年開始舉辦一些「夫婦關係」、「準退休」及「準空巢」的交流分享聚會;好讓弟兄姊妹可以相互扶持。

當弟兄姊妹思考、憂心的同時,請不忘數算神在我們人生路上的恩典和祝福;再求問神如何安排我們下半場的崗位。不僅能容讓我們優雅的老去,更讓我們能繼續榮神益人;享受樂齡的蜕變。

国语事工 Mandarin Ministry

回顾和展望                                Ps. Brock Li 李新宁传道

感谢神的恩典和带领,国语堂于去年7月16日正式搬至Roselea Public School 主日崇拜,但同时面临设备搬运、影音设置、年长弟兄姊妹接送、总务安排等诸多的要求,感谢神带领弟兄姊妹们以爱心彼此关顾,搭配服事,使得新场地的崇拜和各项事工得以顺利进行。不但首期“塑造主生命”门徒培训经过一年学习,于去年年底顺利结业;九月份的中秋晚会,十月份的“青苹果节”福音外展,以及参与十二月圣诞平安夜的圣诞颂唱会,都不断激励弟兄姊妹们同心合意,为主作工,生命成长,活出见证。去年底今年初,我们还新开展了每周三的“佳美脚踪”福音外展,学期间每周五的英文班及周二的英语角,接触服务社区,传扬福音。今年,正值国语堂感恩十周年,我们不但以二月底的第二届“福杯满溢新新春晚会”拉开了感恩庆祝活动的序幕,更以每周三的“佳美脚踪”福音外展,学期间每周五的英文班及周二的英语角,接触服务社区,传扬福音,五月份的感恩月暨多场香港基恩敬拜聚会,七月初的十周年感恩崇拜,九月初的Murray Farm嘉年华福音外展,九月底的感恩踏青之旅,七月到十月每月一次的健康系列讲座,以及十一月份即将推出的十周年感恩纪念特刊以及感恩视频等活动,数算神的恩典,激励弟兄姊妹为主而活,生命更新。

展望未来,求主亲自施恩带领国语堂的各项事工,行走在祂的旨意中;求主赐下智慧、能力和勇气,带领国语堂的弟兄姊妹生命成长、不负使命、深入社区,传扬基督,成为社区的金灯台,以及周边国语同胞的祝福。

以下是国语事工过去一年的总结:

主日崇拜

一年来,国语堂通过信息宣讲,查经团契,集体灵修等方式,鼓励弟兄回到神的殿中进行崇拜,崇拜聚会人数稳步上升。此外,还通过「清晨颂歌」,「清晨甘露」,「活水甘泉」等事工开展,鼓励弟兄姊妹渴慕神的话语,学习委身服事。此外,中秋、圣诞、春节等各项外展活动,也吸引了不少慕道朋友参加崇拜。感谢主的恩典,现在,平均参与国语崇拜的人数大约维持在61人左右。

崇拜场地方面,去年底我们突然被通知,学校因为假期装修一月份无法使用,感谢神的恩典和预备,在此之前就已预备Alan Walker Retirement Village礼堂为我们租用,在短时间内奇妙地供应解决了崇拜场地的需要。

在讲道方面,为配合教会今年主题:「更新」,国语堂分别以「约翰壹贰叁书」和「何西阿书」、「以弗所书」作为讲道和小组查经的内容,从而加深弟兄姊妹对这些书卷的认识和应用,帮助弟兄姊妹学习更加认识上帝的慈爱和公义、彼此相爱,生命更新成长!

小组团契

   感谢主的恩典,今年国语堂继续保持马太小组(夫妻),约翰小组(夫妻)、以斯贴小组(姊妹)、雅各小组(长者)、安德烈小组(职青)、彼得小组(弟兄)六个团契小组。并且小组团契聚会逐步开始进入网络与实体结合的模式。

    今年小组查经的内容都是以讲道系列的「约翰壹贰叁书」、为「何西阿书」、「以弗所书」「何西阿书」、「以弗所书」中心。现在,小组出席人数平均为:5人(雅各小组)、12人(马太小组)、11人(约翰小组)、6人(以斯帖小组)、5人(安德烈小组)和5人(彼得小组)。

    此外,为了帮助小组领袖的生命成长,并提高他们带领小组的能力,国语堂于今年每个季度,对小组团契领袖举行跟进培训工作坊,帮助大家透过实操练习,对于小组事工及带领,有了进一步的深入认识和了解。

祷告会

    自疫情以来,国语堂在主日晚上7:30开展网上祷告会。感谢神的感动和带领,越来越多的弟兄姊妹愿意踊跃参加。每次祷告会,弟兄姊妹都会一同为神的恩典(感恩事项)献上感恩,为彼此的身体和心灵需要(神的子民),为教会和教会所支持的宣教士(神的教会),为世界和未得之民(神的国度)祷告。弟兄姊妹们在祷告中,彼此守望、彼此鼓励、彼此扶持;现在,参与祷告会的人数平均大约有21人左右。

探访关顾

    目前,国语堂已成立由专人负责的迎新关顾小组,负责跟进新人的关顾探访,以及国语堂现有的弟兄姊妹的探访,透过分享交流,了解关心新朋友及弟兄姊妹们生活和属灵上的需要,加深彼此认识,主内建立美好关系,分享经历神的爱,并鼓励他们面对疫情挑战,坚守信仰,活出生命见证。此外,去年国语堂还成立了专门的探访小组,对于面临身心软弱、家庭困境等方面的弟兄姊妹进行探访关顾。感谢主的带领和弟兄姊妹们的爱心,过去一年中,国语堂有不少弟兄姊妹身体软弱、或历经重大手术,在此期间的关心探访,爱心代祷,给予弟兄姊妹很大的温暖、安慰和鼓励,并在一位弟兄罹患癌症晚期的几个月期间,透过牧者、探访小组及弟兄姊妹们的探访、关顾、代祷,帮助该弟兄以信心仰望神恩,平安渡过人生的最后阶段。

新事工开展

   自去年九月份以来,国语堂在原有的事工基础上,开展了一系列新的事工活动,不但充分利用Roselea Public School早上的时段,也鼓励弟兄姊妹在积极参与的过程中,增加对教会和国语堂群体的认同感,凝聚力和主内的彼此关顾,彼此相爱。一年来国语堂开设了以下新的事工:

 事工名称时间频度
1活水甘泉主日9:30am-10:30am每个主日
2幸福人生/丰富人生主日 9:30am-10:30am每个主日
3佳美脚踪周三早上10:00am-12:00pm每个周三
4来跟我学(英文班)周五早上 09:30am-11:30am学校学期
5英语角周二早上10:00am-11:30am每个周二
6假期亲子活动(心的启蒙,爱的算法)周一早上9:30am-11:30am学校假期  
7“塑造主生命”   门徒培训一年内完成,每周二晚上及实体相结合学校学期每周一次

福音外展事工

    一年来,国语堂于每月第一个主日后举行爱宴欢聚,弟兄姊妹及亲友品尝主内“爱的温暖,家的味道”。不但使弟兄姊妹在主内有美好团契,更给予新来的慕道朋友,参与其中,加深彼此认识,宣传基督福音。感谢神的恩典和同工,一年来分别有超过十余位弟兄姊妹接受洗礼和转会成为北宣会员。

    去年9月30日晚举行的「追月·团圆」中秋晚会,吸引众多兄姊妹及亲友参加,晚会上别开生面的节目、福音信息分享、温馨丰盛的爱宴以及灯笼制作评比和月饼分享,使大家不但一同在浓郁欢乐的气氛中,庆祝传统中秋佳节,更使所有来宾感受到了在主爱中家庭般的温馨,和谐和团圆,给他们留下了美好深刻的印象。去年10月21日国语堂有超过20位弟兄姊妹参加Eastwood「青苹果节」,我们配合华澳浸信会展爱堂,举行了街头派发福音单张活动,弟兄姊妹学习街头布道,与人分享福音。之后12月24日的「圣诞诗歌颂唱会」上,国语堂诗班参与献唱,同贺圣诞!

    今年2月17日国语堂的第二届「福杯满溢新春晚会」吸引了近百人参加,不但一同包饺子、贴春联,也在丰富多彩、载歌载舞、精彩纷呈、妙趣横生的节目中,在福音信息分享里,带给大家新春的喜庆,属灵的思考。之后的爱宴欢聚则把活动推向高潮,使前来参加的慕道朋友,感受到在主里浓浓的爱意,满满的祝福。此外,国语堂新开展的佳美脚踪英文班(英语角)都旨在接触社区,服务社区,分享福音,国语堂还将于07/09参加Murray Farm小学嘉年华活动,并摆设摊档,传扬福音。

       此外,国语堂的弟兄姊妹还积极参加两个月一次的Dubbo短宣事工,以及Maitland乡村短宣事工,激励弟兄姊妹肩负福音使命,踏上短宣之路。

儿童事工培训

       感谢神的恩典和预备,感动弟兄姊妹投入位于Roselea Public School中的国语堂儿童看顾事工。并带领何茵传道带着异象和负担,义务帮助国语堂儿童事工的培训,并在今年内每两个月举行一次,对参与儿童事工的弟兄姊妹进行培训和装备,为着国语堂未来儿童主日学的发展,打下坚实基础。

十周年感恩活动

    今年,国语堂将五月份设立为十周年感恩月,每个主日透过感恩颂赞、感恩敬拜、感恩回应等方式,数算神恩,激励会众;此外5月17日、5月19日特邀香港基恩敬拜音乐事工,前来举行的多场聚会,不但带领弟兄姊妹诗歌敬拜,更透过生命见证、诗歌分享,带给教会内外的弟兄姊妹以生命的感动和属灵的奋兴!此外,7月7日举行的国语堂十周年感恩崇拜,不但由粤语堂诗班部分弟兄姊妹和国语堂诗班组成的联合诗班献唱,更有感恩视频和感恩信息讲道,包括特邀牧者嘉宾、教会牧者、长老执事及各堂会弟兄姊妹超过110人参加,一同见证神的恩典、作为和荣耀。国语堂还于七月至十月每月一次举行健康系列讲座,并将于28/09举行蓝山植物园感恩踏青之旅一日游,且计划于11月初推出十周年感恩纪念特刊及视频。也感恩弟兄姊妹在主里的同心合意,搭配服事,求主继续施恩带领国语堂,在Epping和Carlingford社区传扬福音,荣耀主名。

Words from the Senior Pastor

Rev Andrew Choy

Church Direction

The church’s overall direction has been focused on providing space for renewal. With the growing awareness surrounding mental health in modern times, one aspect of renewal is emphasised through plans to raise awareness and promote mental and emotional well-being within our church during 2024. The pastoral team has benefitted from and sought out external speakers and ministries, inviting some to deliver seminars and workshops in the hope of making the church more informed about mental health. Another aspect of renewal centres around corporate worship and individuals’ relationships with God.

As a diverse, multilingual church, we have been working on promoting unity within the One Body (Eph 4:1-6). On the one hand, the church has been actively revising its By-Laws to align with the denomination’s focus on empowering individual congregations of multilingual churches like ours to make ministry decisions more autonomously, ultimately benefiting the entire church. On the other hand, the leadership has been mindful of the challenges and has been addressing concerns about maintaining unity amid separate services and meetings for different congregations. Key events such as the 35th Anniversary Service, the year-end combined church lunch in 2023, and the planning for other combined events, including July’s combined church prayer meeting, November’s baptism service, December’s combined church Christmas event in 2024, and the 2025 combined church camp, highlight a focus on a united body.

Leadership Teams

Renewed and vibrant leadership teams are indispensable for church growth. Training for elders (and potential elders) was provided by Dr Peter Laughlin in the last quarter of 2023. The Board of Elders (BoE) has been reading and reflecting on the book Emotionally Healthy Spirituality since the beginning of 2024, with the goal of integrating spirituality with emotional health. Additionally, regular fellowship gatherings between the BoE and the Board of Deacons have been planned for 2024 to enhance collaboration among the top leadership teams.

At the pastoral team level, there are ongoing reviews and evaluations of pastoral staff, with discussions on renewing ministry calls and addressing leadership transitions. We were saddened to receive the news of the retirement of Rev Leo Kwan and the resignation of Rev Andrew Tibbs, both of whom have served our church faithfully for the past eight years. Although we feel a great loss, we trust in God’s timing to provide His committed servants to shepherd His people in due course.

As part of the denominational initiative to ensure our pastors are empowered and supervised in their pastoral ministry, all pastors will begin receiving ongoing professional supervision starting in the fourth quarter of 2024. Additionally, our church is blessed to be able to serve the wider C&MA movement through Rev Hiram Lau’s role as the treasurer of the Australian Chinese Alliance Churches Committee, and Ps Eric Lai’s participation in the coordinating team for the Chinese Alliance World Fellowship youth missions conference to be held in Taiwan in 2025.

Training and Education

Training and education have been emphasised across multiple levels. The pastoral team participated in the Mental Health First Aid course in the second quarter of 2024, with plans to extend similar training, in a laity-friendly way, to the wider church. Workshops and seminars held in our church, featuring local speakers like Rev Ming Leung and various Christian psychologists, as well as those from overseas such as One Circle (Hong Kong) and Amazing Grace Worship Music Ministry (Hong Kong), have been a tremendous blessing to our leaders and general members.

Renewal without God’s word will not come to fruition. We echo the psalmist’s words, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” (Ps 119:105). In His perfect timing, our gracious God initiated a Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) group on our church premises for Mandarin-speaking ladies. It is a small Bible study group, but it has been over a year in the making. We are praying and waiting on God to open more doors so that different congregations and groups in our church can engage more systematically with His word for life transformation.

Other Ministries

Ministries across the English, Mandarin, and Cantonese congregations remain active, with many brothers and sisters wholeheartedly devoted to serving our gracious God and one another in growth/fellowship groups, visitation & outreach endeavours, prayer meetings, and various other church events and activities.

In 2024, our Mandarin congregation celebrated its 10th anniversary with honoured external guests, and leaders from our church’s other congregations joining together to count the Lord’s blessings. The church also collaborated with various organisations to hold events for equipping and outreach purposes, including those from Hong Kong, such as One Circle in April, Amazing Grace Worship Music Ministry in May, and HaDavar Yeshiva in September; as well as the local Australian Chinese Missions for Christ in August. Through the Mandarin congregation’s connections, the church also participated in the annual Murray Farm Public School Carnival in September to reach out to the community.

For more information on other ministries, please read the remaining report with gratitude, acknowledging God’s loving care and guidance for our church.

本年度會友小統計 Church Membership Statistics

受浸者名單 Baptism List

(26/11/2023)Verity蔡靈新姊妹、Rachel余鳳恩姊妹、John邱頌恩弟兄、
Hua李華姊妹、XiuXia梁秀霞姊妹、XueQin程學琴姊妹、
Elim張以琳姊妹、Hudson陳向輝弟兄、David孫龍軍弟兄
(26/05/2024) Bonnie陳偉冰姊妹、鄧基成弟兄、Mandy葉珊珊姊妹

轉入會友名單 Transfer-in Membership List

(26/11/2023)Ida范佩霞姊妹、Roger鄧浚業弟兄、吳敦德弟兄、Betty 關翠兒姊妹、
Andy范亦軍弟兄、Cathy吳雅萍姊妹、Grace 叢桂芬姊妹、Yanni 褚柏豔姊妹、
Michael張玉清弟兄、Lynn姚玲琍姊妹、Queena周晴姊妹、陸文燕姊妹
(26/05/2024)  Cindy程穎姿姊妹、Justin周錦泉弟兄、Vivian樓紅梅姊妹、Johnny古俊熹弟兄

本年度結婚會友名單 Newly Married Member

(20/04/2024)         *Evan黃智聲弟兄與 Winnie何詠妍姊妹

* 非本會會友Non-NSCAC member

本年度安息會友名單  Member be with the Lord

(15/06/2024)        魯興傑弟兄

Minutes of AGM 2023

Minutes of the 2023 Annual General Meeting (AGM)

Date日期              : 17 September 2023

Time時間                  2:00pm to 3:30pm

Quorum法定人數    144 out of 284 voting members had voted, which was above the required quorum of 143 (>50% of 284).

Co–Chair主席         : Rev Leo Kwan, Elder Wayne Ng

Secretary文書       : Elder Jack Cheng

Resolutions議決事項 : 

  1. Adopted the minutes of 2022 AGM
  2. Adopted the Church Business and Ministry reports for 2022/23
  3. Adopted the auditor’s report and financial report for 2022/23.
  4. Adopted the budget for 2023/24.Elected Alex Lei, Andrew Lam, Betty Tu, Chris Tu, Gary Chang, Iris Chung, John Leung, Michael Du, Pal Dou, Ricky Choi and Ricky Li as deacons for a 1-year term from Jan 2023 to Dec 2023.  They all received more than 83 votes which was above 50% of the attendance.
  5. Elected Andrew Lam as elder (a 3-year term from Jan 2024 to Dec 2026).  This is above the required 75% to pass the motion.
  6. Elected Deacons (Jan 2024 to Dec 2024) – all candidates received at least 104 votes which is well above the minimum requirement of 73 votes (>50% of 144): Elected deacons are Chris Tu, Gary Chang, Iris Chung, John Leung, Matthew Lo, Michael Du, Pal Dou, Ricky Choi and Ricky Li.
  7. Elected church members to join 2024 Nomination Committee.  MES – Alex Lei, Mandarin – Carol Du, CS1 – Betty Ho, CS2 – Errol Law.
  1. 通過接納二零二二年度會友大會會議記錄。
  2. 通過接納二零二二/二三年度的會務及事工簡報。
  3. 通過接納二零二二/二三年核數師報告及二零二二/二三年財務報告。
  4. 通過接納二零二三/二四年財務預算。
  5. 通過選出林建隆弟兄出任長老,任期三年由2024 至2026。他獲得超過出席會友人數四份之三的支持。
  6. 通過選出以下九位弟兄姊妹成為二零二四年度執事:徐承志弟兄、張幹元弟兄、鍾李翠霞姊妹、梁偉勤弟兄、羅均顥弟兄、杜昳漓弟兄、杜駿驊弟兄、蔡宏基弟兄及李家俊弟兄。他們全部都獲得多過73票,超過出席會友人數半數的支持。
  7. 通過選出以下四位弟兄姊妹加入二零二四年度提名委員會:
    早英崇~雷隽弟兄、國崇~杜陳秩如姊妹、粵一崇~何婉華姊妹及粵二崇~羅嘉成弟兄。