January/February 2014 Newsletter
Light of Life
At Christmas, we celebrated once again that Jesus Christ is the Light of the world and this light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. Amid life’s chaos, the world belongs to God. Christ is always with us even when we sin and it has been God’s intention from the start to love the world.
At this time of the year when we live in the Northern Hemisphere where it is cold and dark, Christ’s light shines. In the midst of the worries of the world in this brand New Year where we still see illness, sickness, and doubts, Christ’s light shines. How do we see and show that light to others? It may be as simple as welcoming the stranger upstairs to eat breakfast with us. It may mean buying a cup of coffee for a homeless person on the street or it may mean protesting an injustice against God’s people at a rally. It may mean sending a smile of kindness to a stranger across the room.
The church theme for 2014 is Light of Life. What does it mean for us to have known Jesus Christ who is the Light of the world to live in the Light of Life? In John 8:12, Jesus said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.”
Now that Jesus who is the light has overcome darkness, where in our darkened world today that needs the light of Jesus? After making hopeful and renewed New Year’s resolutions, we still see wars, illnesses and crimes that represent some of the darkness in our present world. As Christ’s disciples, is there something going on in your life right now that needs the Lord’s light? Unless we have some sense of what darkness looks like to us, we won’t realize that we need the light of Christ. Then we won’t be living the Light of Life.
The Light of Life is to put Christ first in your life above everything else. It is Christ who lights your path to worship God and to follow him daily.
The Light of Life is to live with integrity and transparency so that what you say and do is truly consistent to walking the talk.
The Light of Life is to be a beacon of light in the lives of others to bring light to shadows of sin and mistakes for the purpose of reconciliation and wholeness.
The Light of Life is to stand up for righteousness when evil is trying to overcome our society and communities, our laws and regulations, our relationships and love for one another.
Living the “Light of Life” is to be in Christ as we serve God in 2014 with the hope that in our faithfulness in worship and in discipleship that we will overcome the darkness in the world as the hands and feet of Christ. Join me and your church to light up all the darkness in the world with your life as Jesus Christ is the Light of the world!
Pastor Don
All-Church Leaders Launch
Every year on the first Saturday of the New Year, we invite all church officers, board and committee members along with church staff to launch the church’s ministries. This is an important meeting to hear about the church’s annual theme, “Light of Life,” review the church calendar, and to begin our work by meeting in separate boards and committees to set meetings for the year. Come on January 4th at 8:30 for coffee and pastries and we begin with a time for worship and prayer at 9:00. Please let Wendi Lin at the church office of your attendance.
New Reception Ministry Begins
For the past few months under the able leadership of Pastor Peter Lee, people have received training and orientation to become hosts to the neighbors, visitors, and tourists who come by our church home on a daily basis. They have learned how to greet people, invite them to come inside our church home, and when it’s timely and God’s is working through us to share God’s love with others. The new Reception Ministry will begin on Saturday, January 18th at 3:00 PM. If you are interested in becoming a member of the team, please contact Pastor Peter. We invite you to come on January 18th to officially begin reaching out and welcoming in all of God’s people in the name of Christ.
2014 Church Annual Meeting
On Sunday, February 2, 1:00, we’ll have our 2013 Annual Meeting to celebrate God’s activity in the world through FCBC! In a Baptist church, this is a time of church fellowship and remembrance. We’ll receive the annual reports from the various groups and ministries in our church, new church directory, hear the State of the Church Report, dedicate the new officers, board, and committee members and to remember loved ones who have returned to the Lord. Make plans to join us for this time of church gathering!
ABC President Update
On January 1st, I officially become the President of the ABCUSA comprising of 5300 churches with a total membership of 1.3 million members in the US and Puerto Rico. For me to serve faithfully, I seek your prayers and support for the next 2 years. In each issue of the church newsletter, I’ll inform you about my service to our American Baptist denomination.
As your pastor, I have a passion to support the health and vitality of other pastors. On January 6-9, I’ll be co-directing EMERGE—Baptist Witness in the 21st Century, a continuing education for ministers and an orientation to American Baptist Life for seminarians and new pastors. Pastor Visal Sok will be attending as a new pastor with me in Orlando. There will be prophetic messages, workshops, Bible studies, and an opportunity to learn more about what it means to lead Christ’s church as American Baptist church leaders.
In the beginning of February, I will also have an opportunity to attend a continuing education experience for myself at the 2014 Colloquium where by invitation, I join with 25 other senior pastors of large ABC mission-giving churches for the purpose of sharing ideas and best practices. This will be my 6th year and this year’s colloquium will again be in Ft Lauderdale, FL. Since I have been attending this event, I have learned more about church fundraising, church conflicts, pastoral team ministry, worship styles and a host of relevant subjects that enable and equip me to become a better pastor at FCBC!
2014 Senior Center
If you have Wednesday afternoons free, you are invited to attend the Senior Center even if you don’t think you are that senior! Once a month, friends gather together to hear a thought-provoking topic, enjoy a hot lunch, celebrate birthdays, and most of all enjoy Christian fellowship. Join your friends on Jan. 8th to hear Paley Pang talk on the place of banking in the world and in your personal livelihood. On Feb. 12, Pastor Peter Lee will share about his recent trip to the churches in China where Christianity has become one of the fastest growing religions. The center meets in the Fellowship Hall on the 4th floor accessible by elevator. To register, contact Dick and Anna Wong or Jimmy Yee. We are looking forward to seeing you there!
Family News
On Dec. 15th, we welcome 7 new members to our church; by Baptism: Choi Ha Wong Chan, Wan Zhen Chen, Koon Wai Cheng, Andrew Ko, Xing Liang, and Mizuho Yamamoto and by Transfer of Letter: Christine Ko. May God continue to bless these new friends and for them to serve Christ faithfully in the years to come.
Congratulations to Corey Chan and Kristine Yee who married on Nov. 30th and to Ian Heung and Alexa Wan who married on Dec. 7th. May God bless the love that these new couples share for the rest of their lives!
January
1 New Year’s day (H)
3 Lanna Coffee Team
4 All-Church Leaders Launch, 8:30
5 10—P
10—V
11—D
8 Senior Center
12 10—P
10—V
11—D
15 Staff, 10:00
18 Reception Ministry, 3:00
19 10—P
10—V
11—D
Italy Orientation #2
20 MLK, Jr. (H)
LRPC, 6:30
25 Sojourners
26 10—P
10—V
11—Moa Imchen
31 Chinese New Year
February
2 10—P
10—V
11—D
Church Annual Meeting, 1:00
3 LRPC, 6:30
4-5 Staff Retreat
9 10—P
10—V
11—D
12 Senior Center
16 10—P
10—P
11—
17 Presidents Day (H)
22 Sojourners
23 10—P
10—V
11—D
24 LRPC, 6:30
25 Staff, 10:00