December 2014 Newsletter
Christmas Once Again
The Christmas holiday overwhelms us. Some jump into the festivities by shopping early for gifts on their lists. Others dread the frenetic pace of scurrying here and there. Some of us make sure we celebrate the true meaning of Christmas by the retelling of the coming of Christ, the Son of God in the world. Some of us are mesmerized by the lights and magic of the Nutcracker on stage. We all enjoy the holiday tunes whether they are religious or popular playing in the background. Christmas comes once again in 2015.
There’s an internet story of a woman who was trying to get ready for Christmas. The woman was out Christmas shopping with her two children. After many hours of looking at row after row of toys and everything else imaginable; and after hours of hearing both her children asking for everything they saw on those many shelves, she finally made it to the elevator with her two kids. She was feeling what so many of us feel during the holiday season time of the year. Overwhelming pressure to go to every party, every housewarming; taste all the holiday food and treats; get that perfect gift for every single person on our shopping list; make sure we don’t forget anyone on our card list; and respond to everyone who sent us a card.
Finally the elevator doors opened, and there was already a crowd in the car. She pushed her way into the car and dragged her two kids in with her and all the bags of stuff. When the doors closed, she couldn’t take it anymore and stated: “Whoever started this whole Christmas thing should be found, strung up and shot.” From the back of the car everyone heard a quiet calm voice respond, “Don’t worry we already crucified him.” For the rest of the trip down the elevator it was so quiet you could have heard a pin drop.
At Christmas, we proclaim the Good News for all people that Jesus Christ is born and in his crucifixion died on the cross for the forgiveness of our sins. The shepherds heard from the angels, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11). When Christmas comes again, let us remember the true meaning of Christmas because our world surely is in need of good news.
Winston Churchill’s Christmas Eve message in 1941 said, “Let the children have their night of fun and laughter. Let the gifts of Father Christmas delight their play. Let us grown-ups share to the full in their unstinted pleasures before we turn again to the stern task and the formidable years that lie before us, resolved that, by our sacrifice and daring, these same children shall not be robbed of their inheritance or denied their right to live in a free and decent world.”
May this Christmas that is coming again be your commitment to proclaim the peace of Jesus Christ in our world bringing reconciliation and restoration so that we may continue to have Christmas once again in the years to come.
Pastor Don
FCBC Christmas
There’s no better place than FCBC to celebrate Christmas!
Advent
The 4 Sundays of Advent (Nov. 30, Dec. 7, 14, and 21) prepare us for the birth of Jesus when we light the advent candles and hear the Scripture lessons read by church friends.
Christmas Sunday
On Dec. 21st, we’ll have a 10:00 Cantonese Worship and a 10:00 Joint English Worship followed by the whole church attending a Christmas Pageant by our Sunday school children at the YMCA at 11:15. This is our church family gathering filled with surprises and smiles!
Christmas Eve
On Dec. 24th, 7:30 PM, the annual Christmas Eve Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols will feature the story of Jesus’ birth both in readings and in songs. Sidewalk luminaries will light your path and after the service, come upstairs to the Fellowship Hall for cookies and coffee.
Believers Baptism
On Sunday, Dec. 14th, we’ll be welcoming new members to our church by Believers Baptism and the Transfer of Membership. There will be 2 services: 10:00 Cantonese and 11:20 Joint English both in the church sanctuary. Between the services at 11:10, there will be a Sidewalk Tea to welcome our new friends.
Senior Center
Come to a Holiday Get-Together with your friends at the Senior Center on Wednesday, Dec. 10th, 12:00, in the Fellowship Hall. In addition to the delicious and healthy hot lunch, we’ll have caroling and perhaps a Christmas visitor (only if you have been nice!). The Senior Center is where you can meet friends who are on life’s journey with you. Register for the Senior Center by contacting Dick Wong, Anna Quan Wong or Jimmy Yee.
Ministry Opportunity—Community Outreach Minister
FCBC is seeking for a regular part-time staff person whose primary responsibilities are to reach out to the residents in our Chinatown community. The plan is to first develop a fellowship group that may lead to a core group in launching a new worship service for our neighbors. If you know of someone who may have a passion for reaching people for Christ, please encourage them to apply for this position. For more information, please contact Pastor Peter Lee.
Pastor Don Ng Retires
At the Nov. 30th Church Membership Meeting, Senior Pastor Don Ng announced his retirement to be effective on June 30, 2015. By next June, he would have completed 17 years at FCBC when he came in 1998. In his letter of resignation to the Deacons on Nov. 9th, he expressed his gratitude for the church membership in their trust in his leadership in which he has been truly blessed. He believes that all the positive things that have happened have wholly come from God’s grace and the commitment that the church members have in Christ. He is thankful to be a part of FCBC’s faithful witness and history.
While Pastor Don is retiring from paid ministry, he looks forward to continuing to serve the ABC as its president until the end of 2015 and then as past president for another 2 years. He has some personal projects such as writing his family history that he plans to complete. He plans to spend more time with Joy who has been the one who has sacrificed the most being a pastor’s wife. And since he has never celebrated Christmas with his son and family in North Carolina, he plans to do that in 2015.
The Board of Deacons has appointed a “Staff Transition Sub-Committee” comprising of Deacons Diana Lee, Ben Man, and Jon Ng and Search Committee members Becky Lessler and Che Chiu Yee, and Church Moderator Nelson Wong to identify the issues related to staff transition, to bring recommendations to the Deacons and eventually to the church membership. The Deacons have also tasked Pastor Don to serve as the “pastoral consultant” on this sub-committee to integrate his years of experience in pastoral changes.
Family News
In response to the Ebola crisis devastating the countries in West Africa, we received the Nov. 2nd Communion Offering and a special One Great Hour of Sharing Offering on Nov. 9th to help alleviate the desperate human needs of food, shelter, and basic human services. Our gifts of $1200.00 is a part of the ABC larger effort to stop this virus. ABC has already donated $140,000.
December
7 2nd Sunday of Advent
10—V
10—P
11—V
Christmas Workshops, 1:00
Deacons Interviews
10 Church Staff, 10:00
Senior Center, 12:00
13 EFG
Sojourners
Xplorers
14 3rd Sunday of Advent & Baptism
10—P
11—Joint English Worship—D
Deacons
CE
Semanons
19 Chinese Christmas Evangelism
21 4th Sunday of Advent & Christmas Sunday
10—P
10:00 Joint English—D
11:15-Christmas Pageant, YMCA
24 Christmas Eve Service, 7:30
25 Christmas (H)
28 10—V
10—P
11—D