April 2012 Newsletter
Easter is Easter
The days before Easter are not hectic and busy. We are not hurrying to purchase last-minute gifts. There are some decorations up but unlike what we see at Christmas when the Christmas holiday begins right after Halloween. Easter is not the holiday that everyone regardless of faith or family history or background enjoys in one form or another or rails against. From a commercial point of view, Easter is nothing close to the importance of New Year’s Day or the Super Bowl. And for most of us, this is fantastic! We get a true holiday—a true holy day to ourselves.
Easter is not Christmas. Easter is Easter. Just like how Easter moves around in the calendar year after year, the meaning of Easter changes for us depending on where we might be on our faith journey. There are some years when we may be facing deep sadness in the loss of a beloved one. Easter takes on the powerful meaning that when the disciples were facing the loss of their Lord Jesus Christ, they were able to see that he arose from the tomb. There are some years when we may be searching for direction for our lives—where should I go? Easter calls you to go into the whole world and make disciples of Jesus Christ. And there are times when all of us have experienced the relentless weight of sin and mistakes that we have made and wonder if anyone would ever forgive us. Easter proclaims to you and me that on the cross, Jesus took all of our sins and we are forgiven and given a second chance. Easter is pure joy!
Easter is truly a holy day when we find a few moments to celebrate the joy of knowing and loving a God that loves to turn the world upside down. When Mary Magdalene went to the tomb where they laid Jesus’ body, she found it was not there. She started to weep and the person she thought was a gardener who may have moved the body, it was actually Jesus. Mary recognized Jesus and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord” (John 20:18). The world has been turned upside down—death has no sting anymore!
Easter is that moment when we realize that there is more to this life we live beyond birth, death, and taxes. Easter is a brief glimpse like Mary Magdalene’s, in which we know there is something beyond this life. Easter starts with the resurrection of Jesus Christ and suddenly we see how God works and the wonderful things God give each of us.
Happy Easter—a true Holiday!
Pastor Don
Easter Services
We invite you to the services in Holy Week. May this sacred time lead you to a closer walk with God.
Palm Sunday, April 1
Jesus enters triumphantly into Jerusalem when the people lay down palm leaves for him to pass. We will celebrate Believers Baptism at the Joint 9:30 English Worship and the 11:30 Cantonese Worship both meeting in the sanctuary.
Maundy Thursday, April 5
Joining our sisters and brothers at the Chinese Congregational Church, celebrate the Last Supper by reading the passion stories in a candle-lit upper room in the hope of Easter. The service will be at the Congregational Church at 21Walter Lum Pl. at 7:00 PM.
Good Friday, April 6
The Chinese Christian Union of SF will sponsor a Cantonese Service at the Presbyterian Church at 925 Stockton St. at 1:00 PM and an English Service at FCBC at 7:00 PM. This service will feature 7 pastors who will each share a devotion on the Last Seven Words of Christ.”
Easter Sunday, April 8
The CCU will sponsor a Sunrise Service on the outdoor patio of the Chinatown YMCA at 7:00 AM. The Y will be serving their annual Easter Pancake Breakfast following this service at 8:00 AM. At FCBC sanctuary, come to 9:00 English Worship, 10:20 English Worship and 11:30 Cantonese Worship to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord!
2013 Lands of Luther Tour
After walking where Jesus walked in Israel and following the footsteps of the Apostle Paul in Turkey and Greece, Pastor Don Ng will lead a tour to Germany to visit the Lands of Luther. As Protestant Christians, we trace our roots to the Reformation movement when Martin Luther opposed the misuse of the indulgence system in the 1500s. The tour will be 11 days beginning on April 29 and returning on May 9, 2013. The total tour price is approximately $3600 including round-trip airfare from SFO. Limited to 32 participants, please indicate your interest to Pastor Don at your earliest convenience. We invite you to come on this tour to grow in your faith in Christ.
Senior Center
“Can you hear me now?” Hearing is one of our valuable senses that we have to interact with each other. We want to hear what the conversation is so that we can also participate in what’s going on. On Wednesday, April 11, 12:00 noon, Juvy Lee from Kaiser Permanente will share with us how we can enhance our hearing and what are the latest tools and equipment available for us to maintaining our hearing abilities. Come for a delicious hot lunch and warm fellowship with new friends! Register your attendance with Dick and Anna Quan Wong.
Family News
Our deepest sympathy to the family of John Sig Yee, a former church member who returned to the Lord on March 4, 2012. Mr. Yee was a martial arts master who influenced the lives of many young people and gave them a purpose for life.
Our condolences to the family of Melvin Ang, Pastor Don Ng’s first cousin who returned to the Lord on March 6, 2012. He recently retired from serving in the foreign service with the U.S. State Dept. Memorial gifts can be made to FCBC.
Raising our children to know Jesus as their Lord is the responsibility of both parents and the church family. On March 18, Cindy and Tony Tang presented Michelle Tang to be dedicated to the Lord!
April
1 Palm Sunday & Baptism
9:30 Joint English-D
11:30-P
CE, 1:30
4 Staff Meeting, 10:00
5 Maundy Thursday, 7:00
6 Good Friday
CCU Cantonese Service, 1:00, Presbyterian Church, Chinatown
CCU English Service, 7:00, FCBC
7 CCU Cemetery Service, 11:00
8 Easter Sunday
CCU Sunrise Service, YMCA, 7:00
YMCA Easter Pancake Breakfast, 8:00
9—D
10—D
11—P
11 Senior Center, 12:00
15 9—D
10—D
11—P
Deacons, 1:30
17 Staff Meeting, 10:00
21-23 Yosemite Trip
22 9—Pastor Jane Lam
10—Pastor Jane Lam
11—P
29 9—D
10—D
11—P
CE, 1:30