Sunday Service on March 1, 2026

Church News

1. Today is Communion Sunday. We invite all brothers and sisters to prepare their hearts to receive the bread and cup; we do this to remember our Lord Jesus who died for us. We welcome everyone to worship this eternal Lord, who was, is, and always will be; we also extend a warm welcome to new friends and visiting brothers and sisters from afar, hoping you will become a part of our spiritual family. We thank Brother Chi for his sermon today, and may the Lord bless his ministry and family. After the service, please join us in the fellowship hall for refreshments and to connect with one another.

2. Fellowship Activities: Every Friday evening from 7 to 9 PM, we hold fellowship activities at the church. We welcome all brothers and sisters to come and participate, to share, build relationships, and strengthen our bodies. Activities include badminton, table tennis, and more.

3. Hebrews 10:25 says, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching

4. Prayer for the Church:

5. Pray for the Church:

6. We ask God to grant the power of the Holy Spirit, so that Grace Church in Tauranga may continue to be a spiritual family, leading more people to know Christ and experience the renewal of life and the joy of the gospel.

7. Pray for the church to have a clear vision and unity in its mission of "making disciples, caring, and evangelism," that all members may work together in one accord to faithfully fulfill the ministry entrusted by God.

8. We seek God's guidance in all church ministries (such as Sunday services, care groups, youth fellowship, and children's Sunday school), that they may bear spiritual fruit, love and support one another, and manifest the love of Christ.

9. Pray for the spiritual well-being, health, and families of the church leaders and workers, asking God to grant them wisdom and strength, so that they may find renewal and fortitude in their service.

Pray for the Believers:

We ask God to help each believer grow continually in their relationship with Him, to have a longing for prayer and the study of the Bible, and to establish an intimate relationship with the Lord.

• Pray that believers may have humble and teachable hearts on the path of discipleship, relying on the Lord's strength to grow in faith and live abundant lives.

• We pray that believers may care for one another in community, love and support each other in their daily lives, and together experience God's grace.

• Pray for the faith growth of our youth and children, that they may come to know God from a young age, rooting His words in their hearts to guide them throughout their lives.

• Pray for the New Zealand Chinese Methodist Church Annual Conference:

We ask the Lord to lead and watch over the service of Bishop Chen Liliang of the New Zealand Chinese Methodist Church.

• Pray for all the pastors and their families in the Methodist Church:

• We pray that God strengthens the spiritual lives and ministries of our pastors. We ask the Lord to grant them daily time alone with God, so that their spirits may continually be filled with the Holy Spirit, and that they may possess heavenly wisdom to guide the church in accordance with the Lord's will.

• We pray for the peace and safety of our pastors and their families: We earnestly ask God to personally protect our pastors and their families, granting them physical, mental, and spiritual health. May they experience the Lord's presence and comfort in times of spiritual warfare and pressure, and be kept away from all temptation and allure, finding victory in the Lord.

• Pray for the relationships between pastors and co-workers in ministry: We ask God to anoint the messages and ministries of our pastors, that their service may reflect the truth and love of Christ. We also pray for unity among pastors, co-workers, and the congregation, working together to advance the gospel.

From nature, we "see" the marvelous Creator / The creation of all things by God, Huang Zhixi, is a perfect system. If we pay close attention, we will surely discover the principles by which He created the earth.

1. As the pandemic continues, Hong Kong residents, who once loved to travel, find themselves unable to go abroad freely. Hiking and boating have become popular leisure activities. When stepping into nature, do we see only the grass, trees, mountains, and waters? In the eyes of Dr. Huang Zhixi, who writes under the pen name "Uncle Stone," what he sees and feels is a completely different "scenery."

2. With a professional background and life insights, Uncle Stone, a second-generation believer, experienced a period of exploration in his youth before truly coming to faith at around 18 years old, dedicating himself to a life of faith and service. Captivated by a column in Reader's Digest about the work of geologists, he chose to major in the less common field of geological science in Taiwan after his high school graduation. Upon returning to Hong Kong, he worked as a secondary school teacher and a co-worker in a Christian training organization, later pursuing further studies in applied geological science in the UK. After returning to Hong Kong, he worked in engineering contracting and consulting firms, and eventually served as a geotechnical engineer at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, responsible for the design, execution, and management of geotechnical engineering on campus. While working at the university, he needed to observe slope conditions and discovered that cracks and loose stones, which usually go unnoticed, become apparent during heavy rain. The fast-paced life of Hong Kong residents often leads to neglect of their own communities, especially environments near slopes, due to a lack of awareness about how to prevent accidents. Thus, he resolved to promote earth science education to the public. He firmly believes that all things created by God form a perfect system, and with careful observation, one can discover the principles by which He created the earth. Grace. Changli states, "All things in nature have their order, with hosts and guests, mutually assisting and coexisting. These relate to our understanding of God's attributes, and grasping this will deepen our faith experience. Because of this understanding, after my contract at the university ended, I decided to establish an Earth Science Resource Center." The center is named "Enli," which means "the Lord's grace stands firm." Its English name, "Franwall," is derived from his (Francis) and his brother's (Wallace) names, symbolizing the hope to spread God's love and grace through brotherly unity and familial relationships. In its early days, they primarily operated from Hong Kong, promoting various training programs and organizing guided tours, lectures, and boating activities. By 2013, the center further developed into an institute, organizing various exploratory trips in Hong Kong, Taiwan, and several cities in mainland China, as well as offering different levels of thematic courses. The aim is to help and train more Christian parents and teachers to explore the transcendent mysteries hidden in nature and God's intentions for

• We will introduce the various stones of Hong Kong during our boat journey, followed by a time for sharing and interaction. For our brothers and sisters in Christ, we will sing hymns and discuss our feelings. Afterward, we will head to the top deck to enjoy the beauty of nature. As we pass through the Chik Mun Strait, we will see a stone that resembles a hand. The tourism industry refers to it as the "Ghost Hand," but I prefer to call it the "Prayer Hand." This name better reflects the mysteries and wonders of nature and conveys the message of the gospel—God's grace is ever-present. The stone, known as the "Prayer Hand" by Uncle Stone, has been shaped over many years by weathering and erosion, forming between the rock's joints.

• One year, Uncle Stone served as a guide on the boat during a time when the SARS epidemic had just passed, and many people felt a sense of sorrow over the fleeting nature of life. He felt that, despite the difficulties we face, there are still people around the world praying for peace and seeking God in prayer for everyone's circumstances. "When the boat stopped at the Prayer Hand, I shared with everyone: usually, we see it as a 'hand,' but when the water recedes, there are actually many more 'hands' beneath the surface; because more people are silently praying for Hong Kong, we need not worry or feel alone. In that moment, many participants resonated with this and were deeply moved." As believers, when we travel, we can do more than just enjoy the scenery; we can also take the time to observe the landscapes and understand God's character. Uncle Stone mentioned that a prominent theme in the Bible is God's redemption—humanity has sinned, and the consequence of sin is death. Yet, Jesus, through the incarnation, lived among us and was crucified for our sins, redeeming us from our transgressions. However, this central theme is just one aspect. "God not only possesses majesty, upholding fairness and justice, rewarding good and punishing evil, but throughout the biblical narrative, we can also see that His grace transcends time and space. For example, prayers from two or three thousand years ago are still applicable to our current situation; in the past, during natural disasters, plagues, wars, and internal strife, people prayed to God, and He listened to their prayers, guiding them on how to respond. Today, He still hears our prayers and teaches us how to handle our challenges, for as the Bible says: 'There is nothing new under the sun.'" Nature also imparts wisdom to us, revealing similar principles across different landscapes around the world. For instance, in Iceland, Alaska, Scotland, South Korea's Jeju Island, and even in Hong Kong, the cooling and contracting of magma can form columnar stones. "Who created the principles governing the formation of rocks? It is God! He has already placed these 'formulas' within the magma. This principle applies to humanity as well. Regardless of any nation, our structures are largely similar. Even things we usually overlook can reveal underlying principles upon careful examination." "Indeed, since the creation of the world, God's invisible attributes, such as His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse." (Romans 1:20, New Chinese Version)

• This article is sent by the National Certificate Network and authorized for publication by the Hong Kong Chinese Christian Mission. We encourage readers to share this testimony with brothers and sisters in Christ or with friends and family who have yet to believe, so we can together share God's love and grace.