December 2009 Newsletter<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Christmas Casserole Dishes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Many years ago, we brought our white Corning casserole dish to a church potluck dinner in Pennsylvania. When we came home with the cleaned casserole dish, we discovered that the glass cover wasn\u2019t ours. This one had a small but noticeable crack on the edge. Since we didn\u2019t think it was that important to recover our perfect cover, we have lived with the cracked one ever since.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We all have taped our names on the casserole dishes and their covers when we bring dishes for a church potluck dinner with the hope of getting our own dishes and covers back. You bought it and owned it, and it had your name on it because you do not want to lose it. When something belongs to us, we invest more than just the money it took to buy it. We invest a sense of ownership in it and sometimes even a special meaning and value, as for example, that casserole dish but now with a cracked cover was one of our wedding shower gifts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During the Christmas holidays, we celebrate the season with dinners prepared by each other. We bring our casserole dishes filled with goodies to share with family and friends. The meaning of Christmas is something like that too. God shares his peace, love, hope, and joy with the world in the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. You can say that while God employs Mary and Joseph, the shepherds and the angels to introduce the Christ Child to us, God\u2019s has his name taped on his Son. We get to enjoy the \u201cgood news of great joy for all the people\u201d (Luke 2:10). God shares his gracious love and blessings with the whole world in the Christ Child. Just like a delicious casserole dish, we are invited to partake of this new life with God whenever we receive the bread and the cup in the Lord\u2019s Supper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When I think about our cracked cover for our casserole dish, I can\u2019t help but to see the symbolism of wounded-ness and how God came as a baby experiencing all the physical pains and suffering that we do in order to bring us good news. At Christmas, we remember once again how God is with us in the flesh as real and \u201ccracked\u201d as we are to proclaim the good news that is about to happen in the whole world!<\/p>\n\n\n\n As we celebrate the Christmas holiday together, we\u2019ll share wonderful food with one another, grow together as a loving and caring Christian community, and with the hope to take home our own casserole dishes and covers. And when I use our casserole dish with the slightly cracked cover, I will think about the amazing news that God Almighty came into the world as a little baby in Bethlehem so that when God is with us and among us, we may finally come to believe that God is here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Merry Christmas to all! Pastor Don Ng<\/p>\n\n\n\n FCBC Christmas<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Christmas at FCBC is filled with carols, lights, and the joy of knowing Jesus is the reason for the season. We invite you to come and be with your church family for Christmas!<\/p>\n\n\n\n +Advent Sundays<\/p>\n\n\n\n Beginning on November 29th<\/sup>, the First Sunday of Advent, we will light an Advent Candle at Sunday worship until we light the Christ Candle on Christmas Eve. Come to Sunday worship to hear the Scriptures of Christ\u2019s coming.<\/p>\n\n\n\n +Christmas Craft Faire<\/p>\n\n\n\n On Sunday, Nov. 29th<\/sup>, 1:00, our Fellowship Hall will become a Santa\u2019s Workshop of craft projects for the holidays. Bring your children to bake sugar cookies, make an ornament for your Christmas tree, and buy Lanna Coffee gift bags to give as presents.<\/p>\n\n\n\n +Christmas Eve Service<\/p>\n\n\n\n On Thursday, Dec. 24, 7:30 PM, our All-Church Christmas Eve Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols will feature the reading of the scriptural lessons telling us of Christ\u2019s coming and the singing of the traditional Christmas carols concluding with candle-lighting while we sing, \u201cSilent Night, Holy Night.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n +Advent Bible Studies<\/p>\n\n\n\n Five groups around the Bay Area will meet to study The Best Songs Come at Night<\/em>, by J. Ellsworth Kalas as a way to prepare ourselves for Christmas. If you are interested in attending one of the groups, contact Pastor Don Ng for more information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alternative Christmas<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Think of the creative ways to give Christmas gifts to minimize our impact on the planet. A New England proverb says, \u201cUse it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.\u201d Before you buy, always ask yourself:<\/p>\n\n\n\n 1. Do I really need it? If not, do I really love it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n 2. Is it worth the time and money to dust, store, clean, otherwise maintain?<\/p>\n\n\n\n 3. How many hours will I have to work to pay for it?<\/p>\n\n\n\n 4. Could I borrow it from a friend, neighbor, or family member?<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5. Is there anything I already own I could possibly use instead?<\/p>\n\n\n\n 6. Are the resources that went into it renewable?<\/p>\n\n\n\n 7. Is the product socially and environmentally friendly (not made with child labor, or from virgin lumber)?<\/p>\n\n\n\n 8. Can I recycle it when I\u2019m through with it? Or will it clog a landfill?<\/p>\n\n\n\n (From FBC, Oakland Newsletter)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Membership Meeting<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The next Church Membership Meeting on Sunday, Dec. 6th<\/sup>, 1:30 requires your participation. You will have the opportunity to elect new officers, board and committee members for 2010, adopt the Proposed 2010 Church Budget, and to hear testimonies of those who are candidates for Believers Baptism and church membership. Come and witness God\u2019s work through the life-changing ministries of FCBC!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Unshaken Worship Canvass <\/strong>(Heb. 12:28)<\/p>\n\n\n\n When we believe that against all that may be troubling in the world today that God\u2019s kingdom cannot be shaken, we have no other response but to give thanks when we worship, when we witness, and when we return a portion of God\u2019s blessings to God\u2019s work. The life-changing ministries of FCBC depend on your giving to your church in 2010. We invite everyone to make a pledge to give toward our goal of $578,947. If you would like to receive this year\u2019s canvass materials and a pledge card, please contact our church office today. Thank you for your faithfulness to God\u2019s work through FCBC!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Farewell\/Appreciation Reception<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Come and share your appreciation of Pastor Lauren Ng and her ministry as Assistant Pastor on Sunday, Dec. 20th<\/sup>, 1:00, Fellowship Hall. After serving for the past five and half years in the areas of family ministry, young married couples, Mom\u2019s ministry, young adults, and the 9:10 English Worship, Pastor Lauren will take a break from church work to become a full-time mother for their two young daughters. Pastor Lauren will conclude her work with FCBC on Dec. 31, 2009.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Senior Center Christmas<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Join your friends for a joyous Christmas Party at the Senior Center on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 12:00! Along with a delicious hot lunch, there will be holiday cheer, carol singing, and birthday cake. Our Senior Center is located on the 4th<\/sup> floor accessible by the elevator. If you would like to participate in the holiday festivities, contact Warren Lee or Gary Eng to sign up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Composting<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n For the past 10 years after our church was retrofitted and renovated, we have actively strived to reduce climate change and our carbon footprint by recycling whenever we can. Recycling paper, glass bottles, and plastic containers in blue bins has become a part of life. Now in compliance with the City of San Francisco, we have begun composting in our church. All food scraps, leftovers, and paper towels now go into a green composting bin. In doing this, we significantly decrease our trash disposal fee as well. We invite you when you are at church to use the blue for recycled items, green for food scraps, and black\/trash for non-recyclables bins appropriately. Read the signs over the different bins to dispose properly. We are not accepting used batteries anymore since SF accepts them for recycling when you place them on top of your trash bins and all Walgreen\u2019s now accept used batteries. Thank you for your cooperation and commitment to a sustainable planet!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Disaster Drill<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Some say a major earthquake in the Bay Area is inevitable. Our church has been actively preparing for such an event to happen as responsible members of the Chinatown community and San Francisco. In cooperation with SF CARD (Community Agencies Responding to Disasters), we are planning for a \u201cdisaster drill\u201d on Sunday, Jan. 17th<\/sup>, 2:00-4:00. The purpose of the drill when many of our church members and friends may be present is to simulate what might happen when a disaster happens. We will learn more about the \u201cincident command system\u201d and how all of us can make a difference in rescuing and saving lives. Nelson Wong along with others are heading up this project and invite you to put this important date on your calendar and plan to attend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Family News<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n At the CA Interfaith Power & Light Energy Oscar Award Night on Nov. 10th<\/sup>, our church was nominated as one of the finalists in the category of \u201cEnergy Efficiency.\u201d While we did not win the award, our church was recognized as setting an example for other churches to emulate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Our church member, Moa Imchen<\/strong> was granted a \u201cLicense to Preach\u201d by the Deacons on Oct. 18th<\/sup> with plans for Ordination to the Christian Ministry in the future. Moa is serving as the full-time English Pastor at the Chinese United Methodist Church in Chinatown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n December<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n 2 Mom\u2019s Group<\/p>\n\n\n\n 5 Men\u2019s Fellowship<\/p>\n\n\n\n 6 Finance, 8:30<\/p>\n\n\n\n 9\u2014Ashang Lolly<\/p>\n\n\n\n 10\u2014Ashang Lolly<\/p>\n\n\n\n 11\u2014Peter<\/p>\n\n\n\n Membership Meeting, 1:30<\/p>\n\n\n\n 7 CCU Sports, 7:00<\/p>\n\n\n\n 9 Senior Center<\/p>\n\n\n\n 12 Sojourners<\/p>\n\n\n\n EFG<\/p>\n\n\n\n 13 Baptism<\/p>\n\n\n\n 9:30\u2014D<\/p>\n\n\n\n 11:30\u2014P<\/p>\n\n\n\n Deacons, 1:30<\/p>\n\n\n\n 15 All-Staff Meeting, 10:00<\/p>\n\n\n\n 16 Mom\u2019s Group<\/p>\n\n\n\n 18 Chinese Evangelism Event<\/p>\n\n\n\n 19 Xplorers<\/p>\n\n\n\n 20 Christmas Sunday<\/p>\n\n\n\n 9\u2014L<\/p>\n\n\n\n 10\u2014D<\/p>\n\n\n\n 11\u2014P<\/p>\n\n\n\n Reception for Pastor Lauren Ng, 1:00<\/p>\n\n\n\n 24 Christmas Eve Service, 7:30<\/p>\n\n\n\n 25 Christmas (H)<\/p>\n\n\n\n 26-1\/1 Urbana<\/p>\n\n\n\n 27 9\u2014C<\/p>\n\n\n\n 10\u2014C<\/p>\n\n\n\n 11\u2014P<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" December 2009 Newsletter Christmas Casserole Dishes Many years ago, we brought our white Corning casserole dish to a church potluck dinner in Pennsylvania. When we came home with the cleaned