Special Sunday & Workshop-The shelter from Storms and Rain of Life

Nov 20, 2022

(1) The Preaching

This round in our Life Series, we touch on Stress and challenges which are things we have to face daily in our lives. Do you share it and walk through it with bros and sisters? How can we continue to have joy and hope while walking through the storms of life.

Pastor Gavin shared from the bible verse Isaiah 4:4-6 The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion; he will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire. Then the Lord will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over everything the glory will be a canopy. It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.

Pastor Gavin shared that we are facing stress from work, exams everyday and the prediction about coming recessions, inflation of goods add on to our daily stress. Through it all, God promise us that He has a shelter for us to protect us in Isaiah 4:4-6. The shelter that God has for us is the Church. Once we come into church we will be under protection.

The Church is not a building but it is actually Jesus. In Acts 9:4 Jesus actually spoken to Saul who have been persecuting His people. Instead of saying that Saul persecute the church, he says, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” Here we can see that Jesus is the church.

God wants us to be together to be in the ark instead of struggling on our own. It is the place where we comfort, encourage and build up each other. Through the communion it reminds us that we are redeemed and justified by God, we see hope in our lives again. A divine hope that comes from God. God wants us to build our faith to Him, give all our burden and stress to Him through prayers especially in the midst of the storm! Making the decision to go to Jesus!

(2) The Workshop

Following the morning session, about 50 brothers and sisters joined the afternoon workshop chaired by sis Elaine.

At the start of the workshop bros and sis were invited to join in the following, holding their breath and then blow into the balloon handed to them until they could not hold it anymore.

It is great to see bros and sis shouting put their stress and hitting the balloon to one another.

Pastor Gavin shared about how he managed stress all these years. 30 years of serving in the church and having a full-time job at the same time .it was through grace and understanding and that these ten years he felt less stressful. He has gathered a few points :

First, we need to believe in God that He will help us to do differently.

Second, our health is important. Exercise will help us to feel better and relax.

Thirdly, diet helps our body strong including our brain to make better decision

Pastor Arlene learns to take a thing at a time

Sis Arlene uses prayer and seeks God when challenges arise
She felt happy after praying and she will worship on her way to the break
She will preach and feel joyful after the preaching.
Your Will I Will

In the Q&A session bros and sis have the opportunity to ask each other. Pastor also asked the PLT to share about their stress and how they managed it.

As a conclusion, Pastor gathered all the responds and came up with

“How to release Stress in the House of God”

The 10 “E”s