Covenant Protestant Reformed Church
83 Clarence Street, Ballymena BT43 5DR
Rev. Angus Stewart
Lord’s Day, 23 July, 2023
“And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed,
and heirs according to the promise” (Gal. 3:29)
Morning Service – 11:00 AM
Nehemiah, a Man Who Sought the Welfare of Israel (14)
The Levitical Prayer on the Day of Fasting [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Nehemiah 9:1-10, 26-38
Text: Nehemiah 9
I. Its Spiritual Preparations
II. Its Redemptive History
III. Its Covenant Plea
Psalms: 78:12-19; 72:15-19; 106:16-21; 135:8-15
Evening Service – 6:00 PM
The Church God Blesses [youtube]
Scripture Reading: Psalm 102
Text: Psalm 102:13-17
I. Its Characteristics
II. Its Blessedness
Psalms: 87:1-7; 73:1-9; 74:1-6; 102:13-18
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: www.cprc.co.uk/live-streaming
CPRC YouTube: www.youtube.com/cprcni
CPRC Facebook: www.facebook.com/CovenantPRC
Quote to Consider
Matthew Henry on Psalm 102:12-22: “Poor Zion is now in distress, but there will come a time for her relief and succour (Ps. 102:13): Thou shalt arise and have mercy upon Zion. The hope of deliverance is built upon the goodness of God—‘Thou wilt have mercy upon Zion, for she has become an object of thy pity;’ and upon the power of God—“Thou shalt arise and have mercy, shalt stir up thyself to do it, shalt do it in contempt of all the opposition made by the church’s enemies.” The zeal of the Lord of hosts shall do this. That which is very encouraging is that there is a time set for the deliverance of the church, which not only will come some time, but will come at the time appointed, the time which Infinite Wisdom has appointed (and therefore it is the best time) and which Eternal Truth has fixed it to, and therefore it is a certain time, and shall not be forgotten nor further adjourned. At the end of seventy years, the time to favour Zion, by delivering her from the daughter of Babylon, was to come, and at length it did come … When the temple was ruined, yet the stones of it were to be had for a new building, and there were those who encouraged themselves with that, for they had a favour even for the dust of it. Those who truly love the church of God love it when it is in affliction as well as when it is in prosperity; and it is a good ground to hope that God will favour the ruins of Zion when he puts it into the heart of his people to favour them, and to show that they do so by their prayers and by their endeavours; as it is also a good plea with God for mercy for Zion that there are those who are so affectionately concerned for her, and are waiting for the salvation of the Lord.”
Announcements (subject to God’s will)
A letter from the Philippines is on the back table.
Rev. & Mary Stewart leave on Tuesday for a holiday in the US. They will away for 3 weeks, returning on 15 August. May the Lord watch over all of us while we are apart.
Prof. Doug & Teresa and Daniel Kuiper arrive on Friday morning. Prof. Kuiper will be preaching for the CPRC on the next three Lord’s days. He can be contacted by e-mail ([email protected]).
The Reformed Witness Hour broadcast next Lord’s day (Gospel 846 MW at 8:30 AM) by Rev. Bruinsma is entitled, “Nation Against Nation” (Matt. 24:6-7).
Tuesday Bible study will meet again on 22 August at 11 AM.
Offerings: £1,020.79. Donation: £15 (Hertfordshire).
Translation Additions: 1 Afrikaans, 1 Dutch, 2 Polish, 1 Russian, 10 Spanish and 1 Tagalog.
PRC News: Rev. D. Kleyn (Philippines) accepted the call to Doon PRC.
Dearest brother and sister in Christ in our sister churches [in N. America, N. Ireland and the Philippines],
Greetings in our gracious Lord who alone gathers preserves and defends His elect people found in all lands, nations, tribes and tongues.
We would like to share with you a recorded video presentation given by our missionary pastor, Rev Emmanuel Singh, given in Singapore in October 2022 on the current work in Kolkata [or Calcutta], India.
The reason for this is threefold.
First, to covet your prayers for the kingdom work and saints in that land and for our missionary pastor. We hope that this presentation will give the saints in your churches a better understanding and appreciation of God’s glorious, irresistible and sovereign grace upon the people there. With this presentation, we also hope that many in our sister churches will join us in thanksgiving and supplication unto our God.
Second, after having laboured in this mission field for some 7 to 8 years, it appears that the Lord is showing us that the time for instituting the fellowship into a church is drawing very near. The Council of CERC has interviewed and approved 2 native men to serve as elders, and 1 native man to serve as deacon. The group has grown much in their understanding of the Reformed faith over the years leading to this point when they are, we believe, ready to be instituted as a Reformed church. We believe that this timely video presentation will help your members better understand the peculiar challenges and persecution the saints in Kolkata face, their life as a church and answer some questions your members may have about this work God has given us.
Third, should the fellowship be instituted as a church, it is our prayer that CERC-Kolkata, India, would establish a sister relationship with us in Singapore, and with your churches, if the Lord wills. We hope that the sharing of this presentation may be a seed planted in that direction.
There is still much work to be done. Satan does not stop in his relentless assaults in the kingdom work there. We need the wisdom and grace of God. Please feel free to disseminate this video to your churches and keep us in your prayers as we keep you in ours too.
Psalm 96:10a “Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth”
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Tan
Chairman of FMC of the Covenant Evangelical Reformed Church (CERC), Singapore.
