Warsaw International Church

Mobile +48 601 331 032

Worship every Sunday at ul. Miodowa 21 (near Old Town) at 11:00 AM

Entrance from Schillera Street

Email: pastor@wic.org.pl

Website: http://www.wic.org.pl

A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR READERS!

WIC WEEKLY 1 JANUARY 2023 FROM PASTOR HARRY

May the Lord lead and bless you in this New Year, dear Reader!

Spiritual Nourishment

A New Year’s Covenant For Christians,

who are those willing, if so led, to covenant with each other and with God to enlist for life for daily prayer as God enables for the following objects:

1. A revival in my own heart – complete personal surrender to the will of God, and the daily infilling of the Holy Spirit for personal soul winning service.
2. A revival in my own home – the establishment and maintenance of the family altar and the salvation of every member of my family.
3. A revival everywhere among humanity – in my church, in my neighbourhood, in the home land and in foreign lands – a worldwide revival.

Heart, Home and Humanity – All for Christ!

Every Christian Should Have a Prayer List

Going to God for sinners must precede going to sinners for God. It would be well for every Christian to have a prayer list and to ask the Holy Spirit very definitely for the names of those whom God would have him put on that list.

Almost every revival, and even conversion, could probably be traced to someone’s prayer list, or to several prayer lists. There is no surer way than this to start a revival, whether in the home, or church, or community.

Will not you, dear friend, ask the Holy Spirit for the names of those whom He would have you place on your list, then pray daily for them in the Spirit, claiming definitely God’s promises: 1 John 5:14-15; Matthew 6:6; John 15:7-8; Psalm 126:5-6; James 5:16-20, and other similar promises. If you are faithful, you may be sure that in God’s own time results will follow.

Originally published by the Great Commission Prayer League

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Our News

Praise the Lord for a blessed Christmas Day service! The attendance was wonderful, the singing excellent and multi-cultural, and many newcomers and also old friends joined us, including Brother Thomas and Sister Alicja from Sierpc, and Brother Olusegun who recently arrived from Nigeria. Sister Marilyn sang carols in the Filipino language, and an Ethiopian worship group performed their songs in Amharic, all making for a heavenly atmosphere.

Among our newcomers at last Sunday’s service was a whole group from Ethiopia; a lady from Tajikistan; Ali from Iran; Edward and Lilia from Bucha, Ukraine; Loini from Namibia; Lidia from Belarus; Svetlana from Kazakhstan; Brother Edwin’s brother from Mozambique; and an Indian family: Iswarya, Thangaraju, and their son Thanish Prasanna.

My wife Ania and I would like to warmly thank all worshippers, especially including the youth group meeting at Sister Nadia’s place, for so many wonderful presents. It is such a great grace from the Lord for me to be able to serve you as your pastor while in Warsaw. Loving you all and hoping for even greater attendances, fellowship and spiritual awakenings in the year to come!

A family in Warsaw is seeking a full-time nanny as of the New Year, for a child aged two-and-a-half and a baby of four months. It would involve 9 hours of care per day, and maybe sometimes also weekend care. If you are interested in this well-paid post, please contact me at this email address: harry.irrgang@wp.pl

Another sister is seeking to rent a house or apartment for herself and her child as of early January, if possible in the Ursus district of Warsaw. Maybe you know someone who will be out of the country for a while and wishes to entrust their home to our Christian family? If so, please contact me at: harry.irrgang@wp.pl

I extend a warm invitation to our New Year’s Day service this coming Sunday (1 January), with Communion, at our usual time of 11 am. Please also feel free to participate online and prepare bread and wine or grape juice at home. We are still singing our beautiful Christmas carols!

Prayer Requests

Please continue to pray for a sister at WIC who must unfortunately have further surgery for cancer. We pray for the Lord to be with her, lift her spirits and bring her healing.

Quite a few people associated with our church are not yet believers. Please pray for regeneration, that they may repent of their sins and receive Christ as their Saviour. Let us also resolve to pray for revival from the Lord to visit Warsaw International, and for many souls to come to Christ. We plead for the latter rain!

Let’s continue to pray for the people of Ukraine, that peace may come to them as the Russian leaders see sense and stop their brainless invasion. May the Ukrainian spirit never die, and may spiritual revival come to Ukraine, Belarus and Russia, ending all the tyranny and oppression.

Finally, on behalf of the Church Council, my wife Ania and myself, I wish all our Readers every blessing in the New Year, and especially God’s guidance in whatever circumstances He gives us to experience. Whatever we may go through, He is still our Lord and Saviour!

Last Sunday’s sermon was preached by Pastor Harry on the poverty, innocence and majesty of Jesus lying in the manger (based on several Gospel readings)

As I look through the words of the carols and the readings in today’s program, I see three themes that are repeated in connection with the birth of Jesus: poverty; innocence; and majesty. They contrast with people’s expectations of Christmas today, when we think of commercialism, spending money, and reducing Jesus to just a name that appears in some of the Christmas songs, which are usually sung without any spiritual feeling whatsoever.

Jesus was born in poverty. When His parents got to Bethlehem, to register for the population census, they couldn’t find any accommodation – and Mary was going to give birth any moment. There was no maternity hospital in Bethlehem! She must have given birth in a stable or cowshed, because the bed in which they laid Jesus was a manger: a long box from which farmyard animals eat their food. That is poverty! No heating, electricity, cleanliness or pleasant smells.

Secondly, Jesus – like every baby – was resting in innocence: sleeping snugly, wrapped in strips of cloth to keep Him warm. This innocence of childhood was brought home to me the other week in a moving way, by one of our sisters who works in a pre-school. The little children get tired in the middle of the day, and have a sleep in their little beds that are provided for them. During that time, our sister goes round to each bed, gently touching each sleeping child as she prays for them. That’s my picture of innocence.

And finally: majesty surrounded the birth of Jesus. This innocent little child, sleeping in an animal shed, is the great I AM. The God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The One who will bring salvation to all the nations of the world. The One who will be murdered by religious hypocrites whom He Himself created! The One, concerning whom a sword will pierce the soul, not only of His mother Mary, but of every single follower of His, because the One we love so much is rejected or ignored by others whom we also love, but who do not recognize His majesty.

Isn’t it amazing how this little child, born over 2,000 years ago in such humble surroundings in Judea – born to reconcile people and bring peace – continues to divide the world today? Some might say that’s a bad thing, to cause division. But in that case, what would the world be like without Jesus? Can you imagine such a world? We would either have no hope of an after-life at all; or else we would just have a world full of religions teaching “salvation by good works”. We would be back in the dark ages. We would be imprisoned by our fears; our guilt; and our ignorance of God’s grace. We would be born to live and die in mental and spiritual bondage, with no hope of release. For me, that would be hell on earth. But sadly, so many of our friends and loved ones actually prefer such a life. That amazes me too.

So has the world moved forward spiritually? Not at all. People still can’t grasp how there can be a primitive invasion of another European country, today in the 21st century. People thought we’d left all that behind, and that now we have progress. But nothing has changed in the history of the world. The world continues to be evil, and spits on Jesus and His peace. The world still crucifies Jesus. The world still thinks it is free to do whatever it wants. But it isn’t free. It’s in bondage to Satan. That’s what a world without Jesus is. A world full of sin and unbelief, from which man cannot be released, unless Jesus releases him or her.

Dear Friends, Jesus is our only hope of release. If you’ve doubted or rejected Him, it’s not too late – you can still turn back from the cliff you are heading towards. But this Christmas, let’s not focus on the presents, the food, the Christmas tree or the nice songs. Let’s not even focus primarily on the charming poverty of Jesus sleeping sweetly in the manger, surrounded by animals and Joseph and Mary with smiles on their faces. That’s a nice picture of Jesus, but still just a picture. This Christmas, let us focus on Jesus’ majesty, and His power to deliver us from all our sins and unbelief. Christmas is not about a little baby. Christmas is about God’s message to you and me: Jesus was born, so that you and I could be born again. Amen.

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The New Year’s Day Worship Program (1 January)

Welcome

Verse for the week: [Jesus prayed to His Father:] “I do not ask that You take them out of the world, but that You keep them from the evil one” (John 17:15).

Prayer

Music – The Virgin Mary Had A Baby Boy The virgin Mary had a baby boy, The virgin Mary had a baby boy, The virgin Mary had a baby boy And they say that His name was Jesus.

[chorus] He come from the glory, He come from, He come from the glorious kingdom. He come from the glory, He come from, He come from the glorious kingdom. Oh, yes! believer! Oh, yes! believer! He come from the glory, He come from, He come from the glorious kingdom.

The angels sang when the baby was born, The angels sang when the baby was born, The angels sang when the baby was born And proclaimed Him the Saviour Jesus.

The wise men saw where the baby was born, The wise men saw where the baby was born, The wise men saw where the baby was born And they worshipped the Saviour Jesus.

Psalm 148: selected verses: 1 Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens! Praise Him from the skies! 2 Praise Him, all His angels! Praise Him, all the armies of heaven! 3 Praise Him, sun and moon! Praise Him, all you twinkling stars! 6 He set them in place forever and ever. His decree will never be revoked. 7 Praise the Lord from the earth, you creatures of the ocean depths, 10 wild animals and all livestock, small creeping things and birds, 11 kings of the earth and all people, rulers and judges of the earth, 12 young men and young women, old men and children. 13 Let them all praise the name of the Lord. For His name is very great; His glory towers over the earth and heaven! 14 He has made His people strong, honouring His faithful ones— the people of Israel who are close to Him.

Praise the Lord!

May the peace of the Lord be with you in this New Year! (“And also with you!”) (Let us greet one another with New Year greetings)

Music – The Angel Gabriel From Heaven Came The angel Gabriel from heaven came, His wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame; "All hail," said he to meek and lowly Mary, "Most highly favoured maiden." Gloria!

"I come from heav'n to tell the Lord's decree: A blessed virgin mother you shall be. Your Son shall be Immanuel, by seers foretold, Most highly favoured maiden." Gloria!

Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head; "To me be as it pleases God," she said. "My soul shall praise and magnify His holy name." Most highly favoured maiden, Gloria!

Of her, Immanuel, the Christ, was born In Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn, And Christian folk throughout the world will ever say, "Most highly favoured maiden." Gloria!

Gospel reading, part one: Matthew 2:1-12:

Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the reign of King Herod. About that time some wise men from eastern lands arrived in Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw His star as it rose, and we have come to worship Him.”

King Herod was deeply disturbed when he heard this, as was everyone in Jerusalem. He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”

“In Bethlehem in Judea,” they said, “for this is what the prophet wrote:

‘And you, O Bethlehem in the land of Judah, are not least among the ruling cities of Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for My people Israel.’”

Then Herod called for a private meeting with the wise men, and he learned from them the time when the star first appeared. Then he told them, “Go to Bethlehem and search carefully for the child. And when you find Him, come back and tell me so that I can go and worship Him, too!”

After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with His mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped Him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.

This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Music - We Three Kings We three kings of Orient are; Bearing gifts we traverse afar, Field and fountain, moor and mountain, Following yonder star.

[chorus] O star of wonder, star of light, Star with royal beauty bright, Westward leading, still proceeding, Guide us to Thy perfect light.

Born a King on Bethlehem's plain, Gold I bring to crown him again, King forever, ceasing never, Over us all to reign.

Frankincense to offer have I; Incense owns a Deity nigh; Prayer and praising, voices raising, Worshipping God on high.

Myrrh is mine; its bitter perfume Breathes a life of gathering gloom; Sorrowing, sighing, bleeding, dying, Sealed in the stone-cold tomb.

Glorious now behold Him arise; King and God and sacrifice: Alleluia, Alleluia, Sounds through the earth and skies.

Gospel reading, part two: Matthew 2:13-18: After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and His mother,” the angel said. “Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill Him.”

That night Joseph left for Egypt with the child and Mary, His mother, and they stayed there until Herod’s death. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “I called my Son out of Egypt.”

Herod was furious when he realized that the wise men had outwitted him. He sent soldiers to kill all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, based on the wise men’s report of the star’s first appearance. Herod’s brutal action fulfilled what God had spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:

“A cry was heard in Ramah— weeping and great mourning. Rachel weeps for her children, refusing to be comforted, for they are dead.”

This is the word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.

Sermon – Pastor Harry

“Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?”, declares the Lord (Jeremiah 23:24). [Jesus said:] “My house shall be a house of prayer” (Luke 19:46).

Music – Once In Royal David’s City Once in royal David's city Stood a lowly cattle shed, Where a mother laid her baby In a manger for His bed: Mary was that mother mild, Jesus Christ, her little child.

He came down to earth from heaven Who is God and Lord of all, And His shelter was a stable, And His cradle was a stall; With the poor and mean and lowly, Lived on earth our Saviour holy.

And our eyes at last shall see Him, Through His own redeeming love, For that child, so dear and gentle, Is our Lord in heav'n above, And He leads His children on To the place where He is gone.

Not in that poor, lowly stable With the oxen standing by We shall see Him, but in heaven, Set at God's right hand on high. Then like stars His children crowned, All in white, His praise will sound.

Offering verse: Deuteronomy 8:18: “Remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you the ability to produce wealth”.

The Offering (followed by the Doxology): Praise God from Whom all blessings flow, Praise Him all creatures here below, Praise Him above, you heavenly host, Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen.

Prayers of intercession (after each 'Lord, in Your mercy', please respond with: 'Hear our prayer')

Holy Communion

Communion liturgy: Christ our Lord invites to His table all who love Him, who earnestly repent of their sin, and seek to live in peace with one another. So let us confess our sin before God, firstly in a moment of silent prayer. [...]

Let us now confess our sins together: Merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against You in thought, word and deed. We have not loved You with all our heart. We have failed to be an obedient church. We have not done Your Will. We have broken Your law. We have rebelled against Your love. We have not loved our neighbours, and we have not heard the cry of the needy. Forgive us, we pray. Free us to be joyfully obedient to You, through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.

Almighty God our heavenly Father has had mercy on us, and has given His only Son to die for us, and for His sake forgives us all our sins. To those who believe in Him, He gives the power to become children of God, and has promised them His Holy Spirit. He that believes shall be saved. Grant this, O Lord, to us all, Amen.

On the night in which Jesus Christ gave Himself for us, He took bread, gave thanks, broke the bread, gave it to His disciples and said: “Take, eat, this is My body which is broken for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.”

When the supper was over, He took the cup, gave thanks, gave it to His disciples and said: “Drink from this, all of you; this is My blood of the new covenant, poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”

All: Christ has died; Christ is risen; Christ will come again.

The Lord’s Prayer: Our Father, who art in Heaven, hallowed be Thy name; Thy Kingdom come; Thy Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven; Give us this day our daily bread; And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil; For Thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory; For ever and ever, Amen.

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. (Communion in church and online) (After Communion) May you all be at peace; and may the Lord be with you. Amen.

Let us pray. Lord God, we thank You that, through our Communion with You, You are bringing us into a deeper fellowship with You, and into a greater experience of Your love for us. May each one of us be renewed in body, mind and spirit, that in our daily life we may reflect Christ in us, our hope of glory. Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Notices:

1. Tea/coffee/refreshments in the foyer after the service.
2. Next Sunday: service at 11 am, preceded by prayer from 10 to 10:45 am. Alternatively, follow the livestream on YouTube. Also next Sunday: New Year potluck dinner – please bring something to eat or drink to share with others. And please sign the potluck list on table at back to indicate what you will bring, to help the organizers

Please be informed that your Data Administrator within the meaning of Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council (EU) 2016/679 of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation, ”GDPR”), is Warsaw International Church with its registered office in Warsaw (00-789) at ul. Willowa 1.