{"id":2792,"date":"2013-11-01T08:17:00","date_gmt":"2013-11-01T12:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.followgreg.com\/revdonaldng\/?p=2792"},"modified":"2020-12-16T08:18:35","modified_gmt":"2020-12-16T13:18:35","slug":"november-2013-newsletter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.followgreg.com\/revdonaldng\/november-2013-newsletter\/","title":{"rendered":"November 2013 Newsletter"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Light of Life<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sitting outside in Danville, while the church staff had lunch as a part of our Fall Staff Retreat to build teamwork and to make plans for 2014, we noticed the colorful autumn leaves against a dark blue sky. It was one of those glorious days that reminded us that this is a season of falling leaves and cooler temperatures. There\u2019s a natural rhythm to life and we come to expect it to happen year after year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Fall is the time when we give thanks for the abundance we have in life when we gather pumpkins and pick the remaining fruits and produce from our gardens. We gather together to ask for God\u2019s blessings as families and friends and especially when we join as a church family for our annual Thanksgiving Luncheon on Nov. 24th<\/sup>. We have such good times to eat turkey, sticky rice, pie and recognize our seniors whose long life and well-lived lives serve as sages and guideposts for us and especially for the next generations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this spirit of grateful thanksgiving, we realize that we absolutely have so much to share with others. To us who have received so much, we have much to also give to others. The Fall is also a season of giving. In the 2014 Canvass materials on the theme, \u201cWalk in the Light,\u201d that were sent to you, we talked about how Jesus invited people to come out of the shadows of darkness and to walk in the light. Jesus said, \u201cI am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life\u201d (John 8:12). As the longer shadows of the Fall season come upon us, we prayerfully consider making a pledge to the work of God through the First Chinese Baptist Church so that we may have the light of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Giving to God is having the light of life. When we give, we acknowledge that it\u2019s all about God and not about us. When we give, we trust our lives into the hands of God to care for us and everything works according to God\u2019s overarching plan for the world. When we give, we believe that things on earth fade and rust but the eternal light of Christ stays on and remains bright for eternity. When we give, we participate with others at FCBC and with other Christians around the country and in the world to proclaim that Jesus Christ is the light of the world and we choose to walk in his light. When we give, we would have the light of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Fall season is truly a time when we consider the rhythm of giving much for we have also received much. Come to church to give thanks to God. Come on December 8th<\/sup> when we\u2019ll have our Membership Meeting at 1:30 to adopt the 2014 church budget because you have given and pledged to the work of FCBC to live in the light of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let us walk in the light of Christ who is the Light of the World!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                                                                            Pastor Don Ng<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ABCUSA President Update<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As President-Elect to begin my 2-year term in January 2014, I\u2019ll write a monthly update about my service to the denomination to keep you informed and to invite your prayers for the ABC family and for me. I am grateful for your support of me to serve our ABC family and I hope that you would share with me in celebrating how God is working out his will through the American Baptists!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In June this year, we sent a group of delegates to the 2013 Mission Summit in Overland Park, Kansas to celebrate the 200th<\/sup> anniversary of the Judsons going to Burma (Myanmar) that began our foreign missions. We participated in \u201ctable conversations\u201d with hundreds of people from all over the country to explore ministry topics affecting the church today. At this meeting, I was also elected as the new president. In October, I again traveled to Overland Park to begin the planning of the 2015 Biennial Mission Summit. We hope that there will be many more people coming to celebrate the oneness we have in Christ. Perhaps you would consider attending in 2015!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In November, I\u2019ll be going to Green Lake, Wisconsin to participate in the \u201cMission Table\u201d along with almost 200 Baptist leaders. The goal is to receive the discussions from the June table conversations and to direct these priorities to become operational in the life of the denomination. This will be an exciting process. Later on that week, I\u2019ll be in Valley Forge to attend the Fall meeting of the Board of General Ministries which I preside along with current President Ruth Clark. And finally, to celebrate the historic ministry of Educational Ministries that was dissolved in 2006, I\u2019ll host an EM Staff Reunion to thank former employees for their faithful service to the denomination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Please pray for me and I hope that this update invites you to appreciate the wonderful and important work of the American Baptists in the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

                                                                                                President-Elect Don Ng<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gifts Planning Legacy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

One way to extend our contributions to the ministry of FCBC is to make a planned gift in our estate. By adding FCBC to your will, some of your assets would leave a lasting legacy that would strengthen the church\u2019s reach to bring Good News to others. Mary Ann Bartz who taught English at our church when Astrid Petersen was with us eventually blessed our church with her estate. You can do this too! On Sunday, Nov. 3rd<\/sup>, we\u2019ll have an emphasis on the benefits of gifts planning that supports the church as your legacy. If you are interested in this, please see Wendy Quan or Pastor Don.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Men\u2019s Retreat<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 2014 Men\u2019s Retreat is on the theme, \u201cWhat is God\u2019s Plan for Me after I Retire?\u201d Retirement today has changed drastically from past generations. Men are living longer and want to remain active making a difference in the world. How do we transition from a lifetime of work for pay to a lifetime of work for service? Join your brothers in Christ on Friday, Nov. 8th<\/sup> beginning with dinner to Saturday, Nov. 9 ending with lunch at Redwood Glen to explore these important topics for you. Contact John Tom to register.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All-Church Thanksgiving Luncheon & Seniors Appreciation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The annual Thanksgiving Luncheon sponsored by the Social Committee is on Sunday, Nov. 24th<\/sup>. Roasted turkey with all the trimmings and dessert and the warm fellowship around the tables celebrate God\u2019s wonderful abundance to us to which we are very grateful. And if you are 65 and older, you get to have lunch on us as we express our appreciation to the seniors in our church community! Luncheon tickets are available at church or by calling the church office for: $5.00 (Adults and Youth), $3.00 (Children 5-12); Free (Seniors 65 and older and Children under 5).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Senior Center<\/strong>\u2014Heart Health<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The November meeting of the Senior Center, Wednesday, Nov. 13th<\/sup>, 12:00 noon features FCBC member Dr. David Louie, MD from Kaiser who will share about maintaining a healthy heart and good living habits. It\u2019s never too late to make a significant change in your overall health by eating better, exercising, maintaining balance, and \u201cthrive!\u201d Come for a warm and healthy lunch and meet other friends at this month\u2019s Senior Center by calling Jimmy Yee to make your reservation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Membership Meeting<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The last Church Membership Meeting in 2014 is on Sunday, December 8th<\/sup>, 1:00 to conduct important church work. The Deacons will be recommending candidates for Baptism and church membership and you\u2019ll have the joy of hearing testimonies of how God is working in these friends\u2019 lives. The Finance Committee along with the Canvass Committee will propose to adopt the 2014 Church Budget that will support the ongoing ministries of your church along with supporting Redwood Glen Camp and Conference Center, ABC Missionaries Ivy and Emerson Wu in Macau, and sending another mission team to northern Thailand in the summer. And the Nominating Committee will present a slate of new officers, board and committee members for your election. Plan to attend and participate in Baptist life at FCBC!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christmas Workshops<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The traditional Christmas Workshops on Sunday, Dec. 1st<\/sup>, 12:30 in the Fellowship Hall will ring in the holiday spirit! Come make a Christmas craft to hang on your tree. Roll out and decorate sugar cookies and the Junior Highs will bake them for you to take home. Buy a lunch from the Senior Highs as they raise funds for their senior trip. Purchase Lanna Coffee in holiday bags from Thailand to give to your office associates and neighbors to say that, \u201cEvery Sip Saves Lives.\u201d Begin your Christmas season of celebration by coming to this year\u2019s Christmas Workshops!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Family News<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our deepest condolences to Betty Louis and her family in the passing of her husband, Eugene Louis<\/strong> on September 18, 2013. May God\u2019s grace grant us love and joy to know the Lord!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

November<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2          OYYAs<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Daylight Saving Time (Turn clocks 1-hour back)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3          Gifts Planning Sunday<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            10-V<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            10-P<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            11-D<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Redwood Glen Comm., 12:30<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            CE, 1:30<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4          LRPC, 6:00<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6          Church Staff, 10:00<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8-9      Men\u2019s Retreat, Redwood Glen<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            EFG<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10        10-V<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            10-P<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            11-D<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Missions, 12:30<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Children\u2019s Comm., 1:00<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Deacons, 1:30<\/p>\n\n\n\n

13        Senior Center<\/p>\n\n\n\n

15        Adult Fellowship<\/p>\n\n\n\n

16        Xplorers<\/p>\n\n\n\n

17        10-V<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            10-P<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            11-P<\/p>\n\n\n\n

20        Church Staff, 10:00<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            LRPC, 6:00<\/p>\n\n\n\n

23        Sojourners<\/p>\n\n\n\n

24        10-V<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            10-P<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            11-D<\/p>\n\n\n\n

            Thanksgiving Luncheon, 12:30<\/p>\n\n\n\n

28        Thanksgiving Day (H)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

30        2013 Youth Camp Retrospect<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Light of Life Sitting outside in Danville, while the church staff had lunch as a part of our Fall Staff Retreat to build teamwork and to make plans forContinue readingNovember 2013 Newsletter<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[101],"tags":[11],"class_list":["post-2792","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-donald-ng-newsletters","tag-fcbc"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.followgreg.com\/revdonaldng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2792","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.followgreg.com\/revdonaldng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.followgreg.com\/revdonaldng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.followgreg.com\/revdonaldng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.followgreg.com\/revdonaldng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2792"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"http:\/\/www.followgreg.com\/revdonaldng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2792\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2793,"href":"http:\/\/www.followgreg.com\/revdonaldng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2792\/revisions\/2793"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.followgreg.com\/revdonaldng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2792"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.followgreg.com\/revdonaldng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2792"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.followgreg.com\/revdonaldng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2792"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}