Move On
Earlier this year, our daughter, son-in-law, and three young grandchildren moved into the one-bedroom apartment downstairs from our flat. While they are renovating and rebuilding their house, they have moved almost in with us—connected by just a few steps between the two front doors. Since the one-bedroom apartment was my home office, I had to move the essentials upstairs so that I may continue to work. I moved my desk, my chair, lots of files, basic reference books and my printer. Now in a new space, what remains the same is that I still have a view out my new window looking across the bay over to Belvedere.
Moving from downstairs to upstairs was a very small move compared to the fact that in my career, my wife and I have moved across the country three times! But in any move, regardless of how small or huge it may be, I learned something new. Moving upstairs taught me that I really only need a few things to complete my weekly tasks. I plan to donate most of my many collected books to a needy seminary. I learned that the view upstairs is just as spectacular as the one downstairs and that God does create some beautiful things! I also learned that by being upstairs, I could spend more time with Joy rather than in my “man cave!”
When Jesus sent the seventy in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go, he said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest” (Luke 10:2). He instructed them to go into the houses, pay for what they ate and drank, cure the sick and then to move on especially if they encountered people who didn’t welcome them. Jesus wanted the disciples to move on because the harvest is plentiful; the work is out there for them to do.
In the Fall, many college students move back to their college dorms and apartments. They move their desks, chairs, books and printers with the goal of completing their studies with good grades. In the Fall, some of us perform Fall clean up to throw out the old and to welcome in the new. And when we arrive at that point in our lives when we may need to give up our independent living situations so that we might move in with loving family members or into a caring residential home, we find ourselves learning new and refreshing things even in the midst of change and disorientation.
As the summer changes to the Fall, it’s time to move on with the next chapter of our lives. What will change for you? What will be new for you that you might learn something that you have not known before?
Move on is a fact of life. None of us are here permanently but we are on a sojourner’s trek and when we are finished with this wonderful and blessed journey, we move on to be with the Lord. Pastor Don
Seminarians Scholarship Fund
The cost of seminary education discourages many promising men and women from answering God’s call for them to consider Christian ministries. Our church believes that unless we provide scholarship assistance to worthy students; devoted and qualified ministers, missionaries and professional church leaders would not be available to serve the church. The Deacons invite you to make a special contribution toward FCBC’s SSF on September 21 and 28 with the special envelopes in the bulletins. If you would like to make a donation by mail, you may write a check to: FCBC and mark it for “SSF.”
Biennial Mission Summit “Church Booster”
For the past two American Baptist Biennial conventions, FCBC has contributed $1000.00 toward the administrative expense of putting on a national event. By becoming a “Church Booster,” our church name is listed in the program book and on a large poster at the entrance of the plenary hall. The Deacons voted to become a “Church Booster” for the 2015 Biennial Mission Summit on June 26-28 in Overland Park, Kansas and invite you to contribute toward this project on Sunday, September 14th. FCBC, recognized in the American Baptist denomination as a vibrant and faithful church was founded by Baptist missionaries in 1880. Please make your contribution to: FCBC and mark it for “BMS.” Thank you.
Senior Center
The Senior Center begins its Fall events on Wednesday, Sept. 10th with Pastor Visal Sok, Associate Pastor of FCBC as the speaker. Pastor Visal leads the 10:00 English congregation and provides staff support for ministries such as Day Camp and Youth Camp. Come to hear the life-changing ministries that Pastor Visal is doing at our church! Every meeting begins with a hot healthy lunch at 12:00. We sing and celebrate birthday milestones every month. To register, contact Jimmy Yee, Anna Quan Wong or Dick Wong.
EFG 52nd Anniversary Luncheon
The Emmanuel Family Group is celebrating its 52nd Anniversary on Sunday, Sept. 14 by honoring the long and faithful legacy of Pastor Emeritus Dr. James and Marie Chuck. To help them celebrate, the entire church is invited to the luncheon beginning at 12:30 in the Fellowship Hall. Please see to sign up for lunch.
Church Membership Meeting
Plan to attend the next Church Membership Meeting on Sunday, Oct. 5, 1:00 PM when the Finance Committee will present the 2015 Proposed Budget for your information and support. After the meeting, the Canvass Committee will contact you to pledge toward the work of FCBC in 2015.
2014 Senior Retreat
This year’s retreat on the theme, Be Light of the World will feature Rev. Katie Choy-Wong, Senior Pastor of New Life Christian Fellowship in Castro Valley to lead our sessions. Katie grew up at FCBC and has served both in regional and national American Baptist positions. The retreat will include a variety of activities including interest groups, a field trip to local attractions, Qigong exercises, worship and healthy and hearty meals. The retreat will be at the Siden Center with motel accommodations at Redwood Glen beginning with lunch on Tuesday, Oct. 7 and concluding with lunch on Thursday, Oct. 9. Please register with Joel Jang.
ABC President’s Update
Serving as ABC President in the Fall means convening board meetings and attending annual regional gatherings. The Executive Committee of the Board of General Ministries will meet on Sept. 11-13 in the Seattle area to prepare for the full board meeting in November. While in Seattle, we will take this opportunity to meet and fellowship with local American Baptists friends and colleagues. This includes having dinner with former ABC officers and dinner with two of the regional Executive Ministers. At the end of our meetings, we’ll have lunch with local pastors meeting in Renton, WA. By scheduling the executive committee meetings in different parts of the country, we’d be able to listen and interact with many more of the ABC constituents.
The ABC has 34 regional organizations and most of them have a Fall annual meeting. Beginning with New Jersey on Sept. 26-27, I will be speaking at four of these regional meetings this year. The other regions are: Great Rivers (Illinois and Missouri), Evergreen (Seattle), and Philadelphia.
Please continue to pray for me for strength and focus as I serve the American Baptists as President in 2014-15 as well as to continue serving as your pastor. Know that wherever I go, I speak gladly about how God continues to bless the ministries and mission of FCBC.
Family News
In the past few weeks, our church family has experienced a season of sadness. Our deepest sympathy goes out to the families and friends whose loved ones have returned to the Lord: Thomas Carl Wong, Jr. on June 30th; Layton Doung on June 30th; (San San Yue’s mother?); Frederic Hee on July 13; and June You Lee Wong on July 15th. May God continue to lift up our hearts to know that in Christ, we have the promise of everlasting life!
God loves his human family to bless us with little ones. Blessings to Janey Chan and Daniel Chin for the birth of their son, Christian on July/August ?
September
- Family Camp
- Church Staff, 10:00
7 10—V
10—P
11—D
10 Senior Center
13 Semanons
Women’s fellowship
14 10—V
10—P
11—D
EFG Luncheon, 12:30
Deacons, 1:00
16-17 Staff Retreat
20 Sojourners
21 10—V
10—P
11—D
Gifts Planning, 12:30
CE, 1:30
28 10—V
10—P
11—D