March 2009 Newsletter
Stations of the Cross
Last summer when I was on sabbatical in Jerusalem, I traced the last steps of Jesus Christ from where he was tried to Calvary, where he was crucified, and the tomb in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where it is said that he had been buried. This route known
as the Via Dolorosa meaning “Way of Sorrows” has no historical basis for it has changed over the centuries. However, the tradition is so strong that countless pilgrims walk the route, identifying with Jesus’ suffering as they stop at the 14 Stations of the Cross, each connected with a particular event in the story. I particularly remember the Second Station at the Franciscan Monastery of the Flagellation where Jesus takes up the cross, after being flogged, and crowned with thorns. On the floor of this chapel, you can still see etchings of board games on the stones that the Roman soldiers must have done.
As the days lengthen in spring, the Season of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 25 and lasts for 40 days (not counting Sundays) until Easter. Some Christians place ashes on their foreheads on Ash Wednesday to symbolize repentance and remorse, a practice that was started in 1099. During this time, the sermons will emphasize the meaning of sacrifice, repentance, suffering and death, and the disciplines of prayer, fasting and giving.
For those who wish to engage in a devotional Bible study on the themes in Lent, you are invited to attend one of the Lenten Bible Study groups that will be studying, Watching the Disciples—Learning from Their Mistakes by Mary Jane Gorman. You will see how the disciples missed the mark and at times stumbled. Examining the mistakes of the Twelve can help us to assess our own discipleship in order to see where it may need strengthening. Contact Rodney Tom, Wes Chan, Dr. James Chuck or Pastor Don for beginning dates.
Lent is also the time when the pastors offer an Inquirers/Baptism/Church Membership class to prepare candidates to make a believer’s decision to take on a new identity and become a new person in Christ. Classes are offered on Sunday mornings with Believers Baptism scheduled on Palm Sunday, April 5th. If you are realizing that your life is meaningful and fulfilled when you believe in Jesus Christ in your life, we hope and pray that you will contact one of our pastors to attend the class.
Beginning the week of April 5th, we invite you to attend church and trace the steps of Jesus as we remember when he enters Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, April 5th, when he leads his disciples in the Passover meal and instills new meaning in the bread and the wine on Maundy Thursday, April 9th, when he is crucified on the cross on Good Friday, April 10, and when he rises from the grave as he promised and in so doing grants us all eternal life on Easter Sunday, April 12th.
You may have not have had the opportunity to walk the Via Dolorosa as I did last summer, but you do have the opportunity to actively observe Lent this year at FCBC and become a more faithful disciple of Jesus Christ. Pastor Don Ng
Lenten Bible Studies
Here’s an opportunity to walk with fellow disciples over the weeks of Lent to better understand the cost of discipleship today. Using Watching the Disciples—Learning from Their Mistakes: A Lenten Study for Adults by Mary Jane Gorman, you will examine the mistakes of the Twelve that can help you to assess your own discipleship in order to see where it may need strengthening. As we join the Twelve in their on-the-job training to become disciples of Jesus, we can find guidance for our own pilgrimage. There will be 4 groups: Rodney Tom (SF), Wes Chan (South Bay), Dr. James Chuck (East Bay), and Pastor Don Ng (SF). Contact the leader for beginning date.
Looking toward Holy Week
We invite you to experience the meaning of the cross and the promise of the empty tomb by coming to worship this Easter season.
April 5 (Sunday) Palm Sunday & Believers Baptism
9:30 AM Joint English Worship
11:30 AM Cantonese Worship
April 9 (Thursday) Maundy Thursday Tenebrae Service
7:30 PM Remembering the Last Supper
April 10 (Friday) Good Friday
1:00 PM CCU Cantonese Worship, Presbyterian Church in Chinatown
7:30 PM CCU English Worship, FCBC
April 12 (Sunday) Easter
7:00 AM CCU Sunrise Worship,
Chinese Congregational Church
9:10 AM English Worship
10:20 AM English Worship
11:30 AM Cantonese Worship
Spring Cleaning
The Trustees invite the whole church to come on Saturday, March 28, 8:30-12:00 to spruce up our church home before Easter! Beginning with coffee, tea and donuts, you will be given all the necessary cleaning supplies to dust, scrub, and rub off all the dirt so that everything will sparkle. Following a morning of work, there’ll be free lunch for everyone. This is a great opportunity to work together for the Lord! Contact Trustee Co-chairs Liane Wong and Vincent Chan for more information.
Installation of Rev. Peter Lee
When a pastor begins a new ministry, the church marks this happy occasion of giving thanks and praise to God for calling a dedicated servant to serve. On Sunday, March 1, 2:00 PM, we invite you to attend a Service of Installation for Rev. Peter Wai Ming Lee as our Pastor of Chinese-speaking Ministries. We will welcome Pastor Lee into our church, charge him with his duties, and present him with gifts for ministry. Following the service, there’ll be a Reception in the Fellowship Hall. Come and join us in installing Pastor Peter Lee at FCBC!
Do You Remember the Senior Center?
Some memory loss is to be expected as we mature in life but we can actually do something about it! Eating right, exercising daily, sleeping well, being with friends, and participating in activities that utilizes your mind are ways to keep your memory sharp and working for you. On Wednesday, March 11, 12:00, Dr. Everett Austin, M.D., in Neurology at Kaiser Permanente will speak about “How to Enhance Your Memory.” Now don’t forget to write this down on your calendar or put this on a post-it on your refrigerator door! And try to remember to call either Warren Lee or Gary Eng that you’ll be coming.
2009 America for Christ Offering
In March, we receive your generous support for home missions in our American Baptist Churches. On the theme, “With Willing Hands, Serve, Sacrifice, Surrender,” your gifts support ministries that transform lives, churches and communities across the United States and Puerto Rico—bringing hope to children living in poverty and equipping leaders to share the Good News of Jesus through evangelism, discipleship, congregational transformation and prophetic justice. Our goal is $4100. You can make a gift made out to “FCBC,” marking your check for “AFC” and sending it to the church. Thank you.
Membership Meeting
On Sunday, March 29, 1:30, you can witness God working in our lives through the testimonies of faith that candidates for Baptism and church membership will be sharing. Come and see the Living Christ calling us into faithful discipleship!
Family News
Congratulations to the Rev. Gerald R. Mann as he was installed as the new Lead Pastor of Sunset Ministry on Feb. 8th! Sunset Ministry was a church plant of FCBC and is now in its 11th year of faithful witness and ministry in San Francisco.
In recognition of his community service and in memory of our late member, Gordon N. Chan, the Main Lundy Post Office on 1750 Lundy Avenue in San Jose was renamed the Gordon N. Chan Post Office on Feb. 18th. Public and community leaders along with many church friends attended the festive ceremony.
We are saddened over the passing of Nellie Hee on Feb. 7th but we also know that she is reunited with the Lord in eternal life.
March—America for Christ Offering
1 9—C
10—D
11—P
Trustees, 1:00
Installation Service—Re. Peter Lee, 2:00
5 Gift Planning, 6:00
BASS Convention, Castro Valley
6 Lanna Coffee, 7:30
8 9—L
10—L
11—P
Deacons, 1:30
CE Board, 1:30
9-11 ABSW Pastoral Leadership, Berkeley
11 Senior Center
13-15 Women’s Retreat, San Damiano
14 Men’s Fellowship, 8:30
EFG
15 9—D
10—D
11—D
Christian Circle, 2:00
17 Office Staff, 10:00
18 Mom’s Group
22 Finance Committee, 8:30
9—L
10—D
11—P
Music, 2:30
28 All-Church Clean-Up, 8:30
Sojourners
29 9—C
10—D
11—P
Membership Meeting, 1:30
31 Pastoral Staff, 10:00