TRANSIT: July 2007

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

Sticks and Stones May Break My Bones But Words Can Break My Spirit

Negative comments often drag down our spirit. And words spoken in anger are often regretted but seldom repairable. But a gentle word turns away anger and kindness is a balm that heals. Love covers a multitude of sins.

Let's encourage one another with our words. Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. No wonder that in our fallen world; it is more common to find people speaking with sarcasm, envy, bitterness, and gossip rather than words of encouragement and healing.

Instead, let us speak words of love, encouragement, healing, comfort. Words to build us up, to draw us close, to magnify God, to praise Him.

I apologize to anyone if i've ever hurt anybody unintentionally with my words. I never meant to do so, and truly feel sorry if it has ever happened. Please forgive me.

Lord, keep watch over the gate of our mouths, that nothing will displease you from our speech, that we will not cause anyone to stumble.

Sunday, July 22, 2007

Report of Transit Montly Committee Meeting (July)

Introducing: the Transit Note Book a.k.a the TNB
No more inefficiency!
No more mistaken communication!
No more forgetting dates!
No more uncertainty!
No more indecisiveness!

We now have a system to achieve more effecient Transit planning and conducting of activities. Every leader has a notebook in which all information is noted down. There are tabs for each important section, and in future we may even have color codes.

We are updating our system to bring you more efficient service. We are restructuring our priorities as God changes our heart. He is leading us in a new direction.

From now on, there will be more emphasis on:

1. System

2. Integration

We will achieve better results if we're organized. God is a God of order, as you can see from how He created the world, gave instructions for building the temple, the 10 commandments, etc. So, we try to be more systematic in future, without going overboard into being rigid.

Although flexibility and spontaneity is one of our strongest points, we strive in future to be more systematic. This involves:

Planning ahead of time
Consistency in sticking to the plan
Communication of the plan between each other and to others

Integration is also high on our list of priorities. In Psalms it says "how good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity". God is pleased when there is integration between people, He commanded "love one another, in this way others will know that you love me". When we show our love and care to our neighbour, we are being Christ-like. Remember, this includes loving ALL kinds of people.

The church is the only organisation which exists for its non-members. Transit activities are ongoing in order to attract non-members, not to please current members. Outsiders are the priority, not insiders.

There are a large group of existing members or those who join us occasionally, who need to be tapped in to. We seek to draw them in to our group and not keep Transit as an exclusive club for a few friends. Being friendly and open is the first step to a real relationship with the people we target. How can we impact the world for Christ if we can't even smile and greet a stranger? Would an outsider want to share their lives with us if we're not even paying them attention after Sunday service?

Thinking back, what was it that made us get involved? Were there people who cared for us and befriended us? It makes so much difference to have a friend in church ratehr than just attend service. So let's take that extra effort to make newcomers feel welcome, so that they can become a part of us.

We must learn to accept all kinds of people, even those we find it hard to get along with
We take the first step, not wait for the other person
Being friendly is everyone's duty, not just the ushers

Please pray for us as we continue to seek the Lord and seek to do right. Pray for Transit leadership as we move into a new phase of upgrading our system and integrating with the new wave of people. May God shine through in all we do.

Thursday, July 19, 2007

paradigm shift!

Is friendliness something that you're born with?
Who are FRIENDS?
How to talk to shy people?
How does Personality Analysis help your PR skills?
Is body language a factor in people's impression of you?
Whose job is it to be hospitable?
Can I be an Ambassador?
Where does the offering go to?

Find out answers to these questions... and more...at

usher's training

This Saturday

3pm

5th Floor

Up Ahead

Hello all!

Im pleased to announce that the worship training held on Tuesday was most succesful ! It was a breakthrough in terms of attendance.... give yourselves a pat on the back - most of you attended! Hooray to all of you to overcame all obstacles to turn up on a weekday night! We were very encouraged by your presence and hope you were as blessed as we were :)

For those who couldnt make it, we understand, and we'll be organizing more training in future to cater to the growing needs.

Praise God that He makes all things beautiful in His time. It was great to have all LIFE and Transiter worship team members gather together and also the younger ones. This is GROUNDBREAKING!

I'm so excited at how things are shaping up and know that this is the beginning of something amazing! Great things lie before us, we must move forward to achieve what is ahead of us!

As we approach changes with a spirit of unity,

As we seek to form an effective system in our ministry,

As we raise our standard,

As we reach out to new people,

As we bridge the age gap between our generations,

God is doing a new work in us! We look forward to witnessing His awesome changing power at work in our midst. Stay tuned, and keep praying :)

Love,

Hosanna

Monday, July 16, 2007

Dear all,

TAKE NOTE OF DATE CHANGE

Worship Training and Cell

Tuesday 17th July

8pm

5th floor church

contact Yaw or Bern or contract Xana.. haha

Wednesday, 18th July 2007

Worship Cell and Training

5th Floor, church

8pm

All worship team and those interested to join the worship team, please be present.

Contract Yaw or Bernice for further details.

When we worship Him in spirit and truth, breakthroughs will happen!

Sunday, July 15, 2007

07.07.07

For those of you who wondered what happened to us last week... we were down in JB.

Sydney's sister Cassandra got married to Samuel on 7th July 2007 (7.7.7) in Pulai Springs Resort, JB. Sydney and Cassendra are from Church of Praise JB, so were Aubry, Chloe, Justin, Ah Jing, Shannon, Sean, Bernice, Eunice, Uncle Kevin, Auntie Lillian... etc. So, a whole big bunch of us went down to JB for the ceremony. At special request... i've decided to put up some photos.. since everyone loves a wedding :)

It was a beautiful spot for a garden wedding! The atmosphere was casual and laid back, the dress code was "East India", and the weather was perfect.

The bride's father giving her awayThe cake made a nice photo against the backdrop of the golf greens...

After the ceremony, the newlyweds made their exit with the joyous crowd throwing confetti and blowing bubbles

Everything was so pretty... it was the attention to details that made it all exquisite.

We caught up with Ah Jing! He's doing well in Singapore.

Since the wedding was at a golf resort... they used a golf buggy... Sydney drove this.
Nice? This is the specially erected tent which housed the wedding dinner. Fully air-conditioned and carpeted, you wouldnt even know it was a tent.

Of course, Missing Mercury performed. You should hear the song they wrote for the wedding.... ooh la la romantik!!!!

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

hey guys

how is everyone?

just dropping by to say hi.
-Shannon has returned from China
-Lydia Lamit is back from Kuching
-Most of us attended Samuel & Cassandra's wedding in JB on 7/7/7 (photos coming up)

2 EVENTS ARE COMING UP!!!!

GET READY!!!!

The Lord is with us always, so be encouraged!

love,
Hosanna.

Monday, July 02, 2007

Thoughts from a workforce newbie

After years of anticipation, I was very enthusiastic to join the workforce. I was pleased to get accepted into my dream company. I had an mentor worth respecting, a close friend-cum-colleague, and the exact control over my job scope I wanted. I was so prepared and ready to do it -so I thought.

The night before my first day, reality hit me hard. From being a carefree student who got away with last minute work, I now had to be a consistent and reliable source of information. I could go to jail if I make a mistake! This was serious stuff, and there would be no friends or lecturers to fall back on. I began to panic, I felt so unprepared, I felt so alone... no amount of pre-planning was adequete to overcome those nerves.

The waters covered my head, my feet could touch no bottom. How could I, a barely competent swimmer, navigate this vast unknown ocean, and survive the waves and sharks? But I cried out to God, and He answered me.

I praise God that in the midst of my panic attack, there was the comfort of prayer support just a phone call away. The prayers of my family and cell members gave me great strength. I know those prayers helped me fall into a fitful sleep, and awake with courage to face the new beginning.

Much to my surprise, the first day was not terrible. There was an orientation to help me find my bearings, and my friendly new colleagues even prepared a goodie bag to welcome me. I was able to fit in, and knew it was God's favour. I felt so blessed to survive what I thought would be a terrifying day.

God is wonderful to lift us up when we are weak. In our despair, we realize our frailty, in relying on His stength we learn to trust Him to shatter our fears. How amazing that He always sends us guidance when we need it most.

Isaiah 30:21
Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it"

I pray that all of you too will find strenght in your new beginnings.