While Jesus was God, He was also fully man. Did Mary fully grasp the significance of who Jesus would be to all eternity? Did she worry about whether or not she had adequately prepared Him for a life of ministry? Jesus began His ministry at a young age. In fact, she encouraged His first miracle. After that, there was no turning back. Did she ever worry about whether or not she had done enough?

Every year as I read the Biblical account leading up to Christ’s birth, I try to put myself in Mary’s position. Surely she must have felt honored that God chose her to carry His Son and be the mother of Jesus. But as a mother who is preparing to send her sons out into the world, and wondering what I forgot or perhaps could have or should have done a better job at preparing them for, I wonder if perhaps Mary ever doubted herself and her capabilities as a mother.

First, being told she would give birth to a Son when she was still a virgin. And then knowing that she could be rejected by Joseph and the community if he refused to marry his pregnant bride. What fear and doubt that could have brought. Then on the night of Jesus’ birth, there was no room in the inn. Did it ever concern her that the King of kings was going to be born in such lowly conditions? Did she ever doubt her ability to provide adequately for Him?

And ultimately, she had to release Jesus into the world to perform His ministry, hoping, believing she had done all God expected of her as His mother to prepare Him. Yet as I read the account, Mary was given an assurance: “Gabriel appeared to her and said, ‘Greetings, favored woman! The Lord is with you!’…’Don’t be afraid, Mary,’ the angel told her, ‘for you have found favor with God!’” …“The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” (Luke 1:28, 30 & 35).

Mary was given a very important role to play, but after Mary’s obedient submission to the will of God, the ultimate responsibility rested with God.

As I parent my own sons, I take my responsibility as a parent quite seriously, as I know Mary did as well. But I also take solace in the fact that “Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from Him” (Psalm 127:3) and that just as Jesus, being God’s son, was loved even more by God than Mary could ever humanly love Him, my sons are also loved more by God than I can love them, and He is looking out for them.

Just as the angel encouraged Mary that she did not need to be afraid because the Lord was with her, neither do I need to fear because God is with me, to guide and direct me.

Just as the angel assured Mary that the Holy Spirit would be with her, and the power of the Most High would overshadow her, I too have the Holy Spirit within me every step of this mothering journey.

Just as Mary ultimately had to release Jesus back to God to fulfill His calling on earth, I too, prepare my heart and mind to release my sons to God to be used by Him for His service, in whatever way He sees fit according to how He has gifted them. (DR MICHELLE BENGTSON

CHURCH & CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED
The Church and church office will be closed until MCO is lifted. All staff will be working from home. If you need assistance, kindly call or whatsapp any one of them:
Pastor Gaurri @ 012-5594537
Chee Kai @ 012-2360457
Taeko @ 012-2360458
Pelita @ 016-6256188
Jane @ 017-6227226

WORSHIP SERVICE
Please log on to www.klangwesley.com to follow the weekend services.

YOUTH BAPTISM & MEMBERSHIP CLASS
Dates: May 8 & 9, 2021 (Sat & Sun)
Saturday at 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Sunday at 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Participants to attend either Saturday or Sunday Class. The Class is conducted via Zoom.

NEXT WEEKEND SERVICE
(MAY 15 & 16, 2021)
Speaker: Rev Gaurri Maniam
Sermon Title: A Prayer For The Ephesians
Scripture Text: Ephesians 1: 15-23

2nd OFFERING
The 2nd Offering for the month on May will go to TRAC MW Sunday Project (Haknook Jenang and TRAC Mission Fund). You may give through online banking to Wesley Methodist Church Klang, Account No: UOB 171-315-561-1

ONLINE BANKING
While we acknowledge that many people are affected by the current pandemic situation, we encourage you to continue giving your tithes/offering during this time through online banking. The details are below:

Pledge Payment can be done via Online to Wesley Methodist Church Klang Bank Account No: UOB 171-315-561-1

Sunday, (May 9) – Praise and thank God for all mothers on this Mother’s Day. Pray for all mothers to emulate Mary, the mother of Jesus, that like her, they will love God with all their hearts and respond favorably whenever God calls. As Mary offered a magnificent prayer to God not long after she became pregnant, pray that mothers will follow her example, and are deeply prayerful, and speak to God from their hearts day-by-day. As Mary presented Jesus in the Temple, pray that mothers will consecrate their children to God and do everything possible to help their children do what God wants in their lives. As Mary stood at the foot of the cross and suffered with her Son, pray that mothers will stand with their children throughout life, especially when things go bad, to offer love and support in whatever way they can.

Monday, (May 10) – The daily COVID-19 cases remained above 3,500 in the past week with nearly half of the infections recorded in the Klang Valley. Pray that the MCO reimposed in KL and various districts in certain states in the nation will help to bring down the daily cases. Pray that the authorities will give clear SOPs, and that the public will comply with all the directives. Mass screenings to detect COVID-19 infections among local communities in Selangor started last week. Pray that this will be effective in curbing the infections in Selangor which has the highest number of daily infections. Pray also that the vaccination roll-out will continue smoothly.

Tuesday, (May 11) – Pray for the CG ministries of Wesley Methodist Church Klang to thrive. Pray that through the CG ministries, each of our members would be able to experience love and care. Pray that through the CG ministries, we would be able to offer one another companionship as we navigate life through this season of the pandemic. Pray that God would help us, through our CG ministries, to learn to love and serve one another. Pray for our CG Leaders, that God’s wisdom would be upon them as they lead and guide their respective CGs.

Wednesday, (May 12) – Pray for the World: Since the military coup in Myanmar on February 1, 2021, more than 750 people have been killed, including children as young as six years old, several thousand activists, journalists, civil servants and politicians have been detained, and hundreds have disappeared. Pray for wisdom and courage for the UN Security Council to intervene in this situation and help protect civilians peacefully protesting the military coup. Pray for a peaceful solution and for democracy to be restored to the country.

Thursday, (May 13) – Pray for the Nation: Pray for the government, that the weakened foundations of good and stable governance be rebuilt and restored in all three branches of government, that is, the Legislature (Parliament), the Executive and the Judiciary. Pray for the upholding of the rule of law and justice to be done in all portfolios, departments and institutions of governance – from the Prime Minister’s office to the civil service and security forces, including the police, the immigration and the army.

Friday, (May 14) – Pray for TRAC: Pray for all TRAC Churches in Central District 2. Pray for the pastors and leaders of CD2 as they give guidance to their respective congregations regarding church ministries during this 3rd phase of MCO. Although many ministries would have to be put on hold, pray that nonetheless, our churches would be able to reach out and remain connected as one body in Christ. Pray for the leadership team of each of our CD2 churches to remain united in one heart and spirit. Pray that our leadership teams would stand in the gap and pray unceasingly for God’s intervention

Saturday, (May 15) – With the implementation of MCO 3.0, many businesses have been adversely affected. Pray for business recoveries, and protection from despair and stress for those who have lost their jobs. Pray that God will provide them with creative ways and resources to be able to continue to make a living. Pray that employers will be compassionate to all employees affected, especially for daily wage earners and migrant workers. Pray that business owners and operators will exercise caution, and adhere to the directives from the authorities at all times to prevent the spreading of the virus.

Sunday, (May 2) – Praise and thank God who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ: that we were chosen by God before the beginning of the world and viewed as holy and blameless in His sight; that we have been adopted into His family; that Christ paid a most costly price to redeem us from our sins; that the indwelling Spirit guarantees our inheritance of eternal life. Pray that we will respond with true hearts that honour God, humble hearts that depend upon Him, joyful hearts that worship Him, pure hearts that glorify Him, and faithful hearts that please Him. Pray too that we will commit ourselves to serve the Lord, and in every duty, great or small, we will serve Him cheerfully and wholeheartedly.

Monday, (May 3) – Pray for the World: Pray for God’s mercy upon India as the nation is in deep crisis, with hospitals and morgues overwhelmed by the pandemic, medicines and oxygen in short supply, its healthcare system at breaking point as infections surge, and strict curbs on movement in its biggest cities. Pray for wisdom for the government to make effective decisions to bring down the daily cases, and that there will be a sufficient supply of vaccines for the population. More than 40 countries have committed to sending vital medical aid, particularly oxygen supplies, Pray that these supplies will arrive quickly.

Tuesday, (May 4) – The daily Covid-19 cases in the nation are rising at an alarming rate, with over 1,000 daily cases in Selangor, and new clusters sprouting from the community, workplaces, schools and places of worship. The Health DG warns of a potential spike to 5,000 daily new cases if we let our guard down. Pray that the vaccination programme will not give people a false sense of security, and the public will stay very vigilant and strictly comply with the public health measures which are of paramount importance. Pray for physical, mental and emotional strength for health frontliners as the hospitals in several states are already nearing full capacity.

Wednesday, (May 5) – Pray for God’s continual protection to be upon each worshipper of Wesley Methodist Church, Klang. Pray that each one of us will be even more dependent upon God’s grace in our lives. Pray that the Lord will instill within our hearts the attitude of praising God despite the daily challenges that we face. Pray that we would learn to pray like we have never prayed before. For those of us who may be struggling, pray for God’s peace and comfort to be upon them. For those of us who are battling diseases, pray for God’s extra portion of strength and healing to be upon them.

Thursday, (May 6) – Pray for the Nation: The Ministry of Education has abolished the UPSR exam. Pray for God’s wisdom and guidance upon the education ministry as it looks into an effective way to evaluate the progress of Year 6 primary school students through a school-based assessment before they proceed to secondary school. Pray that the education system in the nation will be completely re-vamped from one of mediocrity to a system where wholesome education is everything from the students’ social, emotional and physical development besides academic achievement.

Friday, (May 7) – Pray for TRAC: Pray that all TRAC churches will answer the call of proclaiming the Gospel to the people in their respective cities seriously. Pray that our TRAC churches will constantly be ready to reach out to all who are in need, especially in this season of the pandemic. Pray for God’s wisdom to be upon the pastors and leaders of our TRAC churches as we navigate through this season of uncertainty. Pray for wise decisions to be made among our churches as we once again experience a spike in the total number of new daily cases of Covid-19. Pray that church leadership will remain united in one heart and spirit as we do what is needful in this difficult and challenging times.

Saturday, (May 8) – Pray for the Methodist Women (MW) ministry in our church, for wisdom and ways to do ministry during this time of the pandemic. Pray for God’s protection upon the MW ladies when they do visitations /outreach to the needy as and when the Covid-19 situation improves. Pray for those who have received Christ through MW evangelistic meetings during the CMCO /RMCO that they will continue to grow and not give up following online worship services or going to church for in-person services. Pray that they will experience personal encounters with Christ.

Let us remind ourselves of how blessed we are from the truth of God’s Word in Ephesians 1:3-14.

1. We are blessed because of spiritual blessings that far outweigh any earthly blessings. (Ephesians 1:3): No matter what we receive or don’t receive in the temporal form, we have been given every blessing through the complete work of Christ – His righteousness, resources, privilege, position, and power. But He often works these spiritual blessings into our lives through circumstances that most people would not consider to be blessings. Some of the greatest spiritual blessings of my life have come through undesired earthly circumstances.

2. We are blessed because, as chosen and adopted sons and daughters of the King, we will receive the riches, blessings, and very nature of Christ. (Ephesians 1:4-6): Could there be a greater blessing than this?! If you are in Christ, you have been chosen before the foundation of the world to be adopted as a beloved son or daughter of the King through Jesus Christ. Chosen and loved, we are blessed beyond measure as we are being made holy through His undeserved grace. There is no greater blessing than this!

3. We are blessed because we are redeemed and forgiven, receiving the riches of His grace as He has made known to us the mystery of His will, the Gospel. (Ephesians 1:7-10): The greatest blessing God can bestow on us is helping us to see our need for Christ, then growing in us an increasing spiritual understanding of the Gospel. Out of love, He sometimes does this through circumstances that take away the desired earthly blessings we are prone to seek, replacing them with the greater blessing of knowing Him more.

4. We are blessed because we have a guaranteed inheritance, and we have been sealed with the promised Holy Spirit until we acquire possession of it. (Ephesians 1:11-14): Buying your dream house, restoring your health, and experiencing loss and trials in this life all begin to pale in comparison as we grasp the eternal inheritance that we are guaranteed as a child of God. Our citizenship will be in the new Jerusalem, an unshakable, secure, and eternal Kingdom (Revelation 3:12, 21).

Let’s fix our eyes on the incredible inheritance that we are guaranteed whenever we start grieving over what we’ve lost, when we long for things to be made right, and when we groan in these earthly bodies. If that remains our focus, we will never have a reason to despair. The grieving we experience on earth will make our eternal inheritance all the more beautiful!

On the other hand, because we have far more, more blessings than we realize, we can become complacent. If you see this in yourself, go to the Lord in repentance and ask Him to stir up your heart with a greater zeal for Him than for comfort. Time is short and we do not want to be found asleep! So boldly pray for Christ to do what He must to set your heart ablaze for Him. For those who feel weary from a season of loss and pain, remember that because of the Gospel, our greater blessing is the holiness and character that Christ is working in us. So press on!                                                         (SARAH WALTON)

YOUTH BAPTISM & MEMBERSHIP CLASS

Starting Dates : May 1 & 2, 2021 (Sat & Sun)
Saturday at 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Sunday at 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Participants to attend either Saturday or Sunday Class. The Classes will be conducted via Zoom. Please contact Jane Amarasingham at 017-6227226 to register.

IMPORTANT NOTICE – NO IN-PERSON WORSHIP SERVICE

The Church will NOT be having in-person worship service on May 1 & 2, 2021. Please log on to the church website (www.klangwesley.com) to follow the worship service. The in-person worship service will resume on May 8-9, 2021.

CHURCH & CHURCH OFFICE CLOSED

The Church and church office will be closed until May 5, 2021. All staff will be working from home. If you need assistance, kindly call or whatsapp any one of them:
Pastor Gaurri @ 012-5594537
Chee Kai @ 012-2360457
Taeko @ 012-2360458
Pelita @ 016-6256188
Jane @ 017-6227226

NEXT WEEKEND SERVICE (MAY 8 & 9, 2021)

Sermon Title : Motherhood – The Journey
Scripture Text: Luke 1: 26 – 34 & Luke 2: 34 – 38
Speaker: Rev Lai Moo Him

2nd OFFERING

The 2nd Offering for the month on May will go to TRAC MW Sunday Project (Haknook Jenang and TRAC Mission Fund). You may give through online banking to Wesley Methodist Church Klang, Account No: UOB 171-315-561-1

LCEC MEETING

Date : Saturday, May 8, 2021
Time : 1:00 p.m.
The meeting will be via Zoom

THANKS & APPRECIATION

BK Lim and family wish to express their thanks and appreciation to Pastor and church members for their prayers and condolences during their recent bereavement of the passing of BK’s father.

ONLINE BANKING

While we acknowledge that many people are affected by the current pandemic situation, we encourage you to continue giving your tithes/offering during this time through online banking. The details are below:

Pledge Payment can be done via Online to Wesley Methodist Church Klang Bank Account No: UOB 171-315-561-1