Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 2 December, 2012
“Those that be planted in the house of the Lord
shall flourish in the courts of our God” (Ps. 92:13)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM
John the Baptist’s Birth and Preparation (5)
John’s Godly Upbringing [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Luke 1:57-80
Text: Luke 1:66-80
I. His Spiritual Instruction
II. His Personal Growth
Psalms: 1:1-6; 18:14-19; 34:11-18; 132:11-18
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
Our Prayer for Daily Bread [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Philippians 4
Text: Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 50
I. The Necessities
II. The Purposes
Psalms: 147:12-20; 18:20-27; 4:1-8; 62:1-2, 5-8
For CDs of the sermons and DVDs of the worship services, contact Stephen Murray
If you desire a pastoral visit, please contact Rev. Stewart or the elders
CPRC Website: www.cprc.co.uk • Live Webcast: https://cprc.co.uk/live-streaming/
CPRC YouTube: www.youtube.com/cprcni
CPRC Facebook: www.facebook.com/CovenantPRC
Quote to Consider
J. Feather:“The Hebrew people have always been strong upon the poetic side, and there is much in the story of their race that spontaneously lends itself to this treatment,—much of heroic faith; of walking with God, not knowing whither they walked; of sublime victory or pathetic captivity; and above all, there is that religious truth and those observances around which their highest aspirations and deepest reverence clung,—the presence of Jehovah among them, and the sanctities of His worship. Loved and prized by all were ‘Those strains that once did sweet in Zion glide.’ And as children naturally fall to poetry, for the world to them is still poetic, John would certainly store in his memory those psalms and poetic compositions in history and prophecy which still form a large part of the choicest and most valuable spiritual heritage of mankind”(The Last of the Prophets: John the Baptist, pp. 25-26).
Josephus (a first-century Jew):“Our principal care is this, to educate our children well; and we think it to be the most necessary business of our whole life, to observe the laws that have been given us, and to keep those rules of piety that have been delivered down to us … [The law] also commands us to bring the children up in learning, and to exercise them in the laws, and make them acquainted with the acts of their predecessors, in order to their imitation of them, and that they may be nourished up in the laws from their infancy, and might neither transgress them nor yet have any pretence for their ignorance of them.”
Matthew Poole on Zacharias’ prophecy (Luke 1:67-79): “In this prophecy there is both predictions of what should come to pass concerning John and concerning Christ, and also applications of what was before spoken of them by the prophets; and it is observed by some, that it is an epitome of all those ancient prophecies, and that there is in it a compendium of the whole doctrine of the gospel.”
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
Since it is the first Sunday of the month, the second offering will be for our building fund.
Colin Buchanan was hospitalized this past Wednesday. He remains in Antrim Hospital while they run tests. May the Lord uphold the Buchanan family during this difficult time. Please remember them and all those struggling with illnesses in your prayers.
Rev. McGeown and Marco Barone were involved in a car crash on Wednesday morning. Rev. McGeown hit black ice on the motorway and his car spun off the road. No other vehicles were involved. We are thankful to God that neither were injured.
Monday Catechism:
6 PM – O.T. Beginners (Bradley, Alex & Kirstin)
6:45 PM – N.T. Juniors (Nathan, Jacob & Joseph)
7:30 PM – Heidelberg (Timothy & Jackie)
The Tuesday morning Bible study will be held this week at 11 AM. We will look at the last battle in Ezekiel and Revelation.
The Belgic Confession Class will meet this Wednesday, at 7:45 PM, to continue article 18 on Christ’s sinlessness and temptations.
The council meets this Thursday at 7:30 PM.
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s Day (Gospel 846MW at 8:30 AM) will be “The Mystery of Marriage” (Eph. 5:31-32) by Rev. Bruinsma.
The congregational dinner will be held this year at Leighinmohr Hotel in Ballymena at 7 PM on Friday, 11 January. A sign-up sheet is on the back table.
Offerings: General Fund – £598.00. Donation: £10 (pamphlets).
Website Addition: 1 Italian translation.
PRC News: Hope PRC’s (Walker, MI) new trio is Revs. Haak (Georgetown, MI), N. Langerak (Crete, IL) and D. Overway (Doon, IA).
