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“Hope has Come”

CHAIRMAN:  CECIL MAR
SPEAKER:  PASTOR ANDY TSE
SCRIPTURES:  Isaiah 9:2

Sermon Notes:

• The Beginning
• The Problem
• The Anticipation
• The Hope

Discussion Questions:

1. According to the sermon, what kind of hope is the Bible speaking of?
2. How is Jesus’ story unique to other stories? (or is it not?)
3. Does it follow that if this story is true (i.e. happened in history), then we must put our faith in him? Why or why not?
4. What might be personal reasons that would prevent someone from putting their faith in Jesus even if this is true?
5. What might be objections to the story of Jesus? (i.e. What holes can you poke in it?) How would you respond to these objections?
6. How would you enhance the content and re-tell today’s story better? What other prophecies or points would you include?

News & Events:

• “Meet our King of Glory” PGC Joint Christmas Worship will take place 10:30am—12:30pm at PCA Big Gym.   Welcome to invite families and friends to celebrate and meet our King of Glory together.
• Christmas is coming. Let’s remember many missionaries who are away from their families and friends and serving faithfully overseas for God.  We encourage cell groups to prepare cards or gifts to share our care and support to them.
• All are welcome all to join English Fellowship Lunch on 12/10 (next Sunday), 11:15-12:30 at the Cafetorium. Feel free to bring your own food or pre-order food before 12/7 (coming Thurs) from this link: https://tinyurl.com/pgclunch.
• High school (HS) girls will gathering today 11:15-12:30 at Rm307. Also, all HS girls are welcome to join the Christmas Party on 12/16 (Sat) 5:30-9pm at Mina’s place.  Please RSVP through the sign-up sheet sent by email or contact Mina/Wendy for enquiry.
• English Retreat will take place on Feb 16-18, 2024 at Camp Shalom (1985 Beke Rd, Cambridge). All English congregants in Gr 6 and above are welcome to join with 2 options: $160 (2-night stay with meals) and $40 (day visit on 2/17 with lunch).  Please find more details and register here: https://forms.gle/4uzQgSeXBAtnsJ1G8 with payment made by Dec/31 to complete the registration.
• Elder Raymond’s father, Brother Mr Cheung, passed away on 11/29. The Funeral Service will take place on 12/9 (Sat) 9:30am at Elgin Mills Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Centres (1591 Elgin Mills Rd E).  Please pray for God’s comfort to the family.
• In the Dominican Republic (DR), as many as 76% of homes are inadequate for human health and well-being. Most dwelling are constructed from tejamanil (a mixture of soil and manure) or have been patched together using pieces of wood and empty oil drums.  Living in such poor conditions, children suffer from chronic respiratory illnesses and are highly vulnerable to hygiene-related illnesses like cholera, diarrhea and parasitic infections.  Four of Compassion’s frontline church partners in DR have identified 18 children, a total of 15 homes, need immediate aid to provide them with safe shelters essential to their holistic development.  Please remember the poor along with generous donation to improve their living standard.  Visit compassion.ca/shop/civ1246/ for project details and donation.
• Every year, PGC needs faithful response from brothers and sisters to God by making offerings to provide for PGC’s financial needs to develop and maintain the operation of our various ministries. We thank God for His guidance that, PGC had a steady growth of congregation size and development of different ministries over the year.  To achieve a better balanced budget for this financial year of 2023, please choose any one below that suits you best: (a) PAD Automatic Deposit (b) Online Offering (c) Cash/Cheque Offering.  Please find out more details here: PGCmarkham.org/pgc-offering.

Prayer & Praise Items

** Encourage use of PGC’s Prayer Card and be quiet, humble, turn back, seek and wait for God together (https://peoplesgospelchurch.org/files/2023prayercard.pdf) **

• Pray for the world now with many places suffering from political instability, armed conflicts and natural disasters. May God reveal His sovereignty, and save the sufferings with His mercy.
• Pray for PGC’s land to be developed in God’s time & according to His plan.
• Pray for PGC’s missionaries, as well as different missionary fields all over the world. May the gospel be widespread.