10/01/10 THEME:” MAY THE LORD BAPTIZE YOU WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT”

PREACHER: REV. FIIFI FOH ARKHURST
Water is the most common for baptism. Its baptism is our power as Christians since it contains the Holy Spirit. At a time in Israel there were no prophets and everyone looked forward to the coming of the messiah. When john appeared people thought he was the messiah, but he replied as were the words in Luke 3:15-17.
John’s duty was to prepare believers as they waited for the coming of the messiah and his baptism was a message of repentance. Jesus Christ came to all believers as: i. Source of fire ii. Judgement on those who have decided not to change iii. To extend the idea of righteousness John’s purification was external while Jesus’ was internal.
REFLECTIONS: We have been baptized with water. Have we accepted the Holy Spirit? Our names are in the baptism registers. Do we have our names in the lambs’ book of life? We are members of the visible church. Are we a part of the mystical body?
Peter and john observed that the Holy Spirit was for all believers when he used them to convert over 3,000 unbelievers in Acts 1:8. In the first reading the going through water could drown or strengthen us but with Christ we would be strengthened.
Our prayer should be that the Holy Spirit would baptize us so we would be strengthened ,rooted and built up in the spirit as well as made poised and ready to do Gods word.

COVENANT SERVICE 3/01/2010 THEME:”ROOTED AND BUILT UP IN CHRIST” (COL. 2:6-7)

PREACHER: REV. SETH KISSI

The Old Testament was written in a time when people wanted to know. At that time so many philosophies where into being, to the extent that some threatened the existence of the church leaving Christians to battle them out. Platonic philosophy was one that had a great followership.

Paul reminded us of our power in Christ though today people have problems with some of these doctrines. He made it clear to us that we don’t be judged on the basis of our fellowship, food, festivals and celebrations.

In Christ we are assured of salvation, being our basis he is enough for us. Let’s continue to live in him that we may be nourished and rooted to face the winds. It is not easy to wait for GOD’s time, in such periods people abandon Christ but when we are rooted we won’t be afraid.

When we face problems in life we sometimes feel like giving up GOD’s word but by being steadfast, established and strong in the word we can overcome the year.

Live As if Christ is Coming Today

The Minister-in-Charge delivered this Sermon. Bible References: Is40:1-11; 2Pet3:8-15a and Mk1:1-8
We are in the period of Advent- a time of expectation of the coming of the Lord.
Isaiah's message was a message of hope, a clear departure from the earlier portion that was a message of condemnation, punishment and woes. God's instruction to him to cry out was to declare reward and forgiveness of sin; that God was coming with a strong hand to save his people.  He will come with reward for his faithful people and to lead them like a shepherd. This message of hope was to overcome the idea of man being like grass.
The coming of the Messiah was a message of hope for his people and a message of judgement for the oppressors of God's people.
John's Ministry was prophesied by Isaiah. Mark confirmes that Jesus is the Messiah. The Jews, however could not realise the kind of utopia or rest or peace the person of Jesus Christ brought- it eluded them and they still expect the Messiah. However, believers are expecting the 2nd coming and they are made up of people from all nations, not only Israel.
Believers have two Advents in view:
the first in which Christ came as a human being and grew as any other child; which we usually celebrate at Christmas and
the second coming- which 2Peter tells us will happen in a dramatic way- the earth and heavens will give way and there will be nothing to hold onto. Therefore we have to live a life of holiness and righteousness. But that day will bring relief and rest for God's people - a day of hope, not a day in which we bow our heads because of judgement. As believers we must look forward to that day with joy and blissful expectation because our redemption draws nigh. It is a time when our deeds of holiness and righteousness will come to light and we will be rewarded. It will be a time when we will enter into the joy of the Lord. The shame and reproach of the Saints will be removed - a time of glory for the people of God.
The early Church's daily prayer was 'Maranatha' meaning 'Come Lord'. But Rev'd Kissi asked' are we longing for the Lord's second coming? Is what we are enjoying in this world make us pray for the delay of His coming? -  the joy of a new marriage, a new car, celebrating important anniversaries etc. cannot be compared to the joy of His coming. How are we therefore supposed to be living if such is the joy we expect?
Rev'd Kissi gave 3 ways believers are expected to live:
1) Constant expectation and constant anticipation
2) Keep what we have - our holiness and righteousness; and what we are - 'without spot or blemish'  and
3) Endeavour to live in the Word of God and work with what he has given us until he comes. He has given us talents, skills, wealth and opportunities and we must use these for the work of the Kingdom.
Pilate found no sin in Jesus, therefore we must emulate him and receive the day of his coming with joy.

A Gift to the House of God

A member presented Flat Screen, projector and accessories to the Church. The Flat screen would enable those who sit at the back to be able to sing hymns displayed, see and read announcements etc. The Minister-in-Charge, Rev'd Seth Kissi , assisted by the other Ministers, dedicated the equipments to the Glory of God. Projecting Hymns on the screen helps especially visitors who might not have Hymn Books to fully participate in Worship.

The Reward Of Faithfulness to the Lord

Bible Readings : 2Sam 23:1-7; Rev1:4b-8; Jn18:33-37

Sis Rose Boadi preached the Sermon.
Here are the main points of the preaching:
*The reward of faithfulness is by Grace.
*Abraham and Ruth acted on their faith and were rewarded.
*Abraham's faith in God led him to offer his son Issac. His reward was that he became a friend of God.
* Ruth was widowed at an early stage and the mother-in-law she clung to was poor, but her faith in the God  she adopted through her mother-in-law, led her to Obed. Ruth's reward was that Jesus was a descendant
of Obed.
*The woman with the issue of blood acted on her faith and was rewarded with total healing for her sickness.
*The Centurion did not allow power, pride and position to stand in his way. He showed great faith and was rewarded with healing for his servant. MHB 758 2nd Stanza, last line says: 'Lord, speak and make me whole'.
*Only faith can free us from unnecessary anxiety. We can be sure God will provide our needs if only we have fath in Him.
*Paul's faith in God made him 'strong' when he was 'weak' for God's grace was sufficient for him.
* Let us remember that faith is always rewarded; and without faith it is impossible to please God.

BE ATTENTIVE AND ACTIVE AS WE WAIT FOR OUR REDEMPTION

1Sam1:4-20; Heb10:11-18; Mk13:1-8

Rev'd Fiifi Foh Arkhurst preached the Sermon. He defined redemption as the freedom obtained when the price has been paid - usually by a third party. During the time of the Israelites in Egypt, God redeemed the Israelites from slavery through the destruction of Egypt but Jesus is our Redeemer because he paid the price.

In Hebrews, the work of Christ is compared to the work of the priest. While the priest repeated his sacrifices very often - which could not remove sin - Christ offered one sacrifice and went up to heaven to sit at the right hand of God. He forgives and remembers our sins no more.
The blood of sheep and goats could not and cannot cleanse us. Only the blood of Jesus can.
In Mark, Jesus warned his followers about the future so that they can live in the present. We must be careful not to be deceived as we wait for his second coming.We must not relax but be attentive and active.
To be redeemed is to be forgiven, sanctified and made free; and so as we cannot redeem ourselves we must access the redemption Jesus freely offers.
It is a clarion call, Rev'd Arkhurst said, to all believers to remain focused, be available and useful.
Our Salvation, he continued, is closer than we think and we must work at it "with fear and trembling". There will be distractions as we seek it but we must remain focused. The redemption is a continuous process. God is redeeming his people all the time and we should not allow anything to stand in our way. In conclusion he said ' Jesus paid a debt he did not owe and we received freedom for which we did not pay"

Harvest & Thanksgiving Sunday

The Harvest Sermon was delivered by the Very Rev'd Prof  K. Asamoah Gyadu. the Bible Readings was from Psalm 116: 1-4; 8-14.
Thanksgiving Services are part of fundraising and part of worship. We use thanksgiving services to tell God we cannot pay for His Grace by giving our all. Thanksgiving Services are about
1. Acknowledging God for what he has done (Ps116:9) 2. Rededicating ourselves to Him not only as individuals but as a community, church and nation (Deut 26)
3. Fulfilling our vows to God; reminding Him everything we have is from Him.
The benefit we receive is the salvation He has given us (2Cor 8:9 & MHB 371)
God has emptied Himself for us.

Rev'd Seth Kissi Inducted as Minister-in-Charge of Trinity United Church

The Sermon was delivered by the Rev'd Dr J.O.Y. Mante, the Chairman of the Akropong Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church. Readings were from: Deut 6:1-9; Heb 9:11-14 and Mt 11:1-6 and the title was ARE YOU THE ONE WHO IS TO COME OR WE SHOULD LOOK FOR ANOTHER? Directing the whole Sermon to the new Minister-in-Charge,  Rev'd Mante traced the history of the question which forms his theme for the Sermon, when Obadiah asked the prophet Elijah a similar question when King Ahab wanted to see the Prophet on certain issues. John the Baptist was in prison and heard of all that Jesus was doing. Additionally, Jesus was John's cousin and John expected him to do something about his imprisonment, such as a miracle or something like that to get him released from prison; but Jesus did nothing and although John, at the baptism of Jesus, saw the Holy Spirit descend on Jesus like a dove, he still doubted and that was why he sent his disciples to Jesus to find out whether he (Jesus) was the one to come or they should wait for another. Jesus' response, according to Rev'd Mante, was not in terms of his qualifications or degrees obtained from any university, but his works: 'Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, and the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.' Rev'd Dr Mante's hope was that after a time of heading the Trinity United Church, Rev'd Kissi's spiritual profile will be that he had a greater impact on the congregation; and his 'classroom dynamics' will be the same as his 'Churchroom dynamics'; his morals and teachings will reflect in his lifestyle. Again Rev'd Mante said a pastor, apart from good education, must be able to spell the word 'pastor'.
P = Progressive: for no one wants to follow a leader who is retrogressive 1Tim 1:14 & Jer 29:7. God Himself has plans that will prosper us- morally and spiritually.
A = Availability: the church is too important for the pastor not to be available when the flock needs him, so the pastor must be available.
S = Sacrifice: The congregation will not sacrifice when they do not see the pastor making any sacrifices. Nothing great or important, Rev'd Mante said, is achieved without sacrifice. Anyone who sacrifices gets followers. No cross, no crown he concluded.
T = Teamwork: Allowing teamwork is difficult because there is the tendency, as a Minister-in-Charge, to think that one has all the skills and knowledge to do everything, but in the church are many gifts which must be allowed to operate. Rev Kissi should therefore play the coach's role in the United Church and allow members to play their respective roles.
O = Overcomer: Spiritually and morally to be able to help members to also become overcomers. To be an overcomer, the pastor must be prayerful; seeking God's face all the time.
R = Reverence: 1Tim 4:7 A pastor must train himself in godliness. This also is difficult but with meditation, prayer and fasting, the pastor will portray reverence.
The Rev'd Dr Mante concluded his sermon with a prayer for the new Minister-in-Charge for God's guidance and the power of the Holy Spirit to strengthen him.

Photo Gallery of Induction Ceremony

The Church Council Secretary, Bro Yaw Buaben Asamoa, set the ball rolling by telling us who Rev'd Seth Kissi was. He read his CV. His first station was Saltpond Presby Church...and many more which will be published here next week...








...while Rev'd Kissi and wife Mavis stand in readiness for the ceremony.
















Rev'd Dr Cyril Fayose and Rev'd Dr Mante and the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, the Rev'd Dr Frimpong Manso pray for Rev'd Kissi.










RIGHT: Rev'd Dr Fayose performing the Induction Ceremony. On his left is the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rev'd Dr Frimpong Manso and on his right, the Rev'd Dr J.O.Y. Mante.

The Moderator congratulating Rev'd Seth Kissi. Looking on and ready to do same are Rev'd Dr Cyril Fayose, the immediate past Minister-in-Charge and Rev'd Dr Mante.

Church, here is your new Minister-in-Charge!

Council Members congratulate their new boss.

TOP: A section of  Rev'd Kissi's students at church to lend their support.

RIGHT: Some Teacher-colleagues of Mrs Kissi were also there to share in the joy.

...his Fathers in Ministry were there to provide  the much-needed Spiritual help...
















...Mom and Uncles were also there.

Church was filled to capacity

Rev'd Kissi's Acceptance Speech

In a short but impressive 'speech',  Rev'd Kissi said the Head of the Church is Christ therefore he will rely on the Holy Sprit for 'it is not by might or  by power'. He said he is happy to be appointed the Minister-in-Charge, for Trinity United  Church is a 'sophiscated Church'  with a wide variety of gifts and skills. He said 'my hands will continually be in the hands of Christ that my steps will be ordered by Him'.
He paid a glowing tribute to his wife who 'was willing and able to make difficult and exacting sacrifices as a worker and mother and  as a father to their children when he was not there'. God, he said, will bless and bless her. He thanked his predecessor, Rev'd Dr Cyril Fayose for his help and guidance. He hinted that his last child is named Cyril, after Rev'd Fayose. Rev'd Kissi thanked his
Mother, the Presbyterian Hierachy and indeed the whole church for giving him this opportunity to serve. He asked for prayers from everyone so that he will receive wisdom and strength to do this work.

Trinity United makes a presentation to the new Minister-in-Charge

The idea was that usually a Minister is transferred after becoming an Assistant Minister at TUC for a while; but in Rev'd Kissi's case he is the first Assistant Minister to be appointed a Minister-In-Charge and so the Church presented him with a gift that he would have been given if he were going on transfer. Here the Council Secretary, Mr Yaw Buaben Asamoa makes a presentation on behalf of the Church to Rev'd & Mrs Kissi.

Mrs Kissi thanking the Church for the present with Rev'd Kissi looking on with intense admiration.

A Service of Hymns

Yesterday's Service was a Service of Hymns which was led by Bro Ofori-Karikari. In his exhortation before the start of the Service, he read Job 1:8  where God asked Satan whether he(Satan) has considered Job, that there is none like him on earth. and Daniel 6:5 where the other presidents and princes sought to find something against Daniel but they realised that "we shall not find any occasion against this Daniel, except we find it against him concerning the law of his God"
What will God say about you? was the question he asked us. Is our life pleasing to God? Can anybody tell from our lifestyle that we are followeres of Christ?

We began the Service with MHB 615 - Guide me O Thou great Jehovah - we need God to be our deliverer and our shield as we go through this life. His powerful Hand will protect us.

Our 2nd Hymn was MHB 516 - When we walk with the Lord - part of the 5th Stanza says 'what He says we will do; where He sends we will go...' In 1Sam 15:2~ God asked Saul to go to war with the Amalekites and kill everybody and every animal... we know what happened...Obedience is better than sacrifice. As Christians, do we do what God asks us to do, and do we go where He sends us?

MHB 538 - What a friend we have in Jesus - Prov18:24b ..and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother. Jesus is that friend who is closer to us than a brother. We have all been dispised or abandoned by friends before. The  only solution is to bring all these troubles to Jesus in prayer.

In MHB 371 (And can it be...), Charles Wesley was in church but had no peace in his heart until he boldly approached the Eternal Throne and claimed what belonged to him. He therefore wrote in the 5th Stanza
'No condemnation now I dread;
Jesus, and all in Him is mine!
Alive in Him, my living Head,
And clothed in righteousness divine,
Bold I approach the eternal Throne,
And claim the crown, through Christ my own.

MHB 822 - Onward Christian Soldiers - was our next hymn. In it we receive the assurance that God has given us the victory already in Jesus Christ, so we should just march on.

MHB 821- Stand up stand up for Jesus - which we sang sitting, goes with Eph 6:10 "finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might".
- The arm of flesh will fail us
- the strife will not be long
- all the troubles and pain will end and finally, victory will be ours.
- so let us stand up for Jesus:
This day the noise of battle
The next the victor's song.

MHB 701 - The Church's one Foundation
Mr Ofori-Karikari continued his exhortation and reminded us that God uses people to set up Churches; but the foundation is and must always be Jesus. He is the Lord of the Church.
In Is 61:1, Jesus has been anointed by the Father to 'preach the good news' etc 

Rescue the perishing -  MHB 338 was our penultimate hymn -  We must save the lost at all cost; but Jesus must live in our hearts before we can do that. Our lifestyles must be attractive to the lost.
PHB 161 was our last Hymn.

Christ Our Example - Selfless Service

Is 53:4-12; Heb5:1-10 and Mk10:35-45

Preaching the Sermon, with reference to the Readings for the day, the Rev.d Isaac Jackson said the prophecy of Isaiah took 700 years to  be fulfilled, it was God's purpose to let Christ die for the rest of the world. Christ was innocent but became the Lamb of God to die in our place to make us acceptable to God.  In fact Jesus gave up his life for the salvation of the world, and that should be our example as believers.
In Jesus' response to the request by the sons of Zebedee, James and John, for one of them to sit on Jesus' right and the other on his left in His Kingdom, Jesus emphasised the need for leaders or office seekers to first be servants.
Rev'd Jackson continued that because of Christ's selfless service, now at the name of Jesus every knee falls.
We should, as Christians, therefore give all we can for God's work. The selflessness of Christ has earned him the highest place in Heaven. He is indeed our example.

The Key to Fullness of Life (What must I do to inherit Eternal Life?)

A Valedictory Sermon by Rev'd Cyril Gershon Y. Fayose

The rich young ruler in the Bible was a hardworker and an achiever. He was religious and meticulous; but these could not earn him eternal life.
Rev'd Fayose identified three lessons that would help us understand what will earn us eternal life.
Lesson #1
Our best effort is not good enough and will not save us.
The rich young ruler was committed to religion and that led him to Jesus to find out from him what will earm him (the ruler) eternal life. With all his hardwork and wealth, he was empty and short of the mark. The things of this world therefore, cannot get us eternal life. In Lk10:3-8 Jesus told Martha what was important - the Word of God- which her sister Mary had chosen. See also Heb 4: 12-16

Lesson #2
Our spirituality will not grant us the fullness of life.
The rich young ruler had fulfilled the law since his youth but Jesus said to him, he still lacked something. Our ability to prophesy or speak in tongues, though good, will not gain us eternal life. In Amos 5, God told the Israelites He wanted them to uphold justice and not to take bribes. God is not impressed when we take bribes 6 days of the week and come to give offering on Sundays.

Lesson #3
The wealth of this world must not prevent us from gaining eternal life.
Wealth and treasure should not become our God 1Tim 6: 6+. Wealth and money is good; but the love of money will prevent us from entering the Kingdom of God.
Gaining eternal life is not something we do on our own, work for with our strength  or earn; but God by His grace, is ready to help us give up what we are holding on to.
Gaining eternal life is easy because the the grace of God to help us is free; but it is difficult because our hands are full of things we must give up.

Conclusion
Rev'd Fayose concluded his sermon with the assurance Jesus gave his disciples that everyone who has left home, parents, siblings and spouse to follow Him will get a hundredfold of what he has lost in this life.Touchung on how he became a Minister, he said in those days he thought he did not have what it took to become a Minister; but after being convinced and mentored by the Very Rev'd Livingstone Buamah, the current Moderator of the EP Church, he has not regretted and feel more blessed.
We should therefore look up to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

The Rev'd Cyril Farose ('Cyril' means young ruler or little master) has been with the Trinity United Church for 5 years and now hands over to the Rev'd Seth Kissi. He also celebtates 20 years of service in the Ministry. He asked for prayers for the work ahead of him. We wish him all the best

Trinity United shows Great Love to Out-going Minister-in-Charge, Rev'd Dr Fayose

Members and the various groups in the Church were full of praise for Rev'd Dr Cyril Fayose, the out-going Minister-in Charge at a send-off Service today, for his affable and outgoing nature. He has been with the TUC for 5 years and will hand over to Rev'd Seth Kissi sometime before the end of the year.

• Rev'd & Mrs Fayose receiving a present for their children

In attendance was the Wesleyan Symphony Group