Getting to the End
As I look out my home office window near the end of October, the strength of the fog coming off the ocean is stronger than the air front keeping it at bay. It looks like autumn with the leaves turning slightly orange and red but nothing like what I’m used to in Boston. But nevertheless, it is still autumn and soon the warm days of summer will end and all the leaves will fall off the trees. At this time of the year, we are getting to the end.
I like the ending of a novel. When I pick up a book, I like to read the last chapter first to see how the story ends and then go back to start at the beginning. This way, I would be able to see how all the characters play out their roles in the story to get to the end. For me, the ending does not necessarily need to be a surprise but what’s even more interesting is how everyone got there in the end.
In the life of the church, the church year ends on Sunday, November 23rd and the first Sunday of the new church year is the First Sunday of Advent on November 30th. Contrary to our 12-month calendar, the Christmas season is the beginning of the new church year when Christ is born!
We know how the Good News story of Jesus Christ ends. He conquers death and rescues all who have strayed. We come making a joyful noise to God because his steadfast love is real to us. Today, we see the reign of Christ in our sight. What a great ending to this Good News story! But before we get to the end of the story, we who are characters in this redeeming story still have parts to play.
For the chapter on giving, we are invited to make “footprints for Christ” when we make a pledge or a contribution to the 2009 stewardship canvass. For our church to have a good ending, we would need everyone, members and friends alike, to give sacrificially especially in such economic times to support the life-changing ministries of our church. When you play out your role as givers to the church, you become the eyes, ears, noses, mouths, hands, and feet of Jesus in the world! With that kind of role, you would be one of the lead characters in this wonderful story of our church!
At the end of all good stories, we have much to be thankful for. The acknowledgement page of this book contains ways that we have much to thank God for in 2008. We just had one of the largest numbers in attendance at Youth Camp in recent years. God has led a new servant, Rev. Peter Lee to become our new Pastor of Chinese-speaking Ministries to FCBC. Our young families are continuing to add more babies and children in our nursery requiring us to prepare more room for them. When we join together as the whole church for our annual Thanksgiving Luncheon on Sunday, Nov. 23rd in the Fellowship Hall, we’ll have much to which to give praise and thanks to God!
Before we get to the end of the 2008 story, let’s continue to play out our roles as good stewards of God’s blessings by making a pledge/contribution to the life of the church. Let us continue to feed the hungry, welcome the stranger, and liberate the prisoner from life’s problems. Since we all know how this Good News story will end, I can’t wait to see what all of us will be doing before we get to this wonderful and marvelous ending!
Pastor Don
New Sunday Morning Worship Times
On Nov. 2nd, we begin our new Sunday Morning Worship times in the church sanctuary. The schedule incorporates the 9:30 English Worship that has been meeting in Cameron House to move to the sanctuary. This decision lessens the setting up and tearing down tasks of preparing for weekly worship and takes into consideration the challenges of many young families arriving to church on time. We appreciate everyone’s cooperation and look forward to strengthening the experience of inspiring worship at FCBC. The new hours are:
9:10-10:10 English Worship (Formerly 9:30 Worship at Cameron Hs.)
10:20-11:20 English Worship (Formerly 10:05 Worship)
11:30-12:45 Cantonese Worship (Formerly 11:15 Worship)
Youth who have been attending the 9:00 English Youth Worship will now be attending the 9:10 Worship before going up to Sunday School classes in Cameron House.
“Footprints for Christ”
The 2009 Canvass materials on the theme, “Footprints for Christ,” have been sent to you. If you would like to receive a pledge card, please contact the church office. For us to reach our budget goal, we would need a 4.9% increase in giving next year. As we look forward to welcoming Pastor Peter Lee as our new Pastor of Chinese-speaking Ministries to come in 2009, we would need everyone’s support to achieve our financial goal. If you have not yet sent in your pledge card, we encourage you to do so. On Sunday, Dec. 7th, the Church Membership Meeting will hear from the Canvass Committee on the progress of our pledging and recommend to the membership to adopt the proposed budget for 2009. Your pledge is important to us and we pray that you would prayerfully give to support FCBC’s effective ministries in 2009. For more information, contact Nelson Wong, 2009 Canvass Chair.
Rev. Peter Lee, Pastor of Chinese-speaking Ministries
At a special Church Membership Meeting on Oct. 26th, the congregation officially extended a call to Rev. Peter Lee as our new Pastor of Chinese-speaking Ministries to begin in January 2009. Successfully using a video conferencing connection, Pastor Lee while in Hong Kong shared his Christian testimony and his commitment to serve the Lord at FCBC. In a unanimous decision, the congregation voted to call Pastor Lee to our church.
Rev. Lee is currently one of the pastors at the historic Kowloon City Baptist Church in Hong Kong specializing in family ministry, couples groups, and men’s ministry for the past 7 years. In his Doctor in Ministry degree program, he focused on outreach to men in the Chinese culture that led to the publication of his study. Pastor Lee received his Master of Divinity from the China Graduate School of Theology (1993) and his D. Min at the Alliance Bible Seminary (2003). He also has other local church experiences as well as work experience in the textile industry.
Pastor Lee is married to Lydia for 18 years and they have two teenage daughters. As Pastor Lee and his family prepare to join us in ministry, we invite you to pray for their smooth transition and to welcome them into the warm fellowship that our church is best known for!
Gift Planning
Have you been praying about how you might want to support your church in a significant way that goes beyond your annual giving? FCBC is prepared to work with you in making a planned gift when that time comes to give all your earthly resources away that God has blessed you with during your lifetime. You can learn about the variety of ways to set up your estate that will provide you with a regular income as well as to give the rest in benefiting the church. On Sunday, Nov. 2nd, our Gifts Planning Committee led by Joel Jang will host a luncheon at Utopia Restaurant, 12:30 to explore any of these options with you. Please contact Joel if you are interested. What we can give in this generation will enable new generations for faithful ministries.
Baptism & Church Membership Classes
This Fall, classes will be jointly taught by Pastors Chris, Lauren and Don beginning on Sunday, Nov. 2nd, 11:30-12:30 and continuing for the next 5 weeks. Baptism is scheduled on Dec. 14th. If you are interested in learning more about the meaning of discipleship and membership at FCBC, please see one of the pastors.
Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes
The Missions Committee invites you to participate in this year’s Operation Christmas Child shoebox project. You can bring joy and hope and share the Good News of God’s love with less fortunate children around the globe through the simplest of gifts – shoeboxes! Brochures with packing instructions, gift suggestions and shoebox labels are available at the vestibule table and 3rd floor bulletin board. Please pick up one brochure per shoebox. If you need a shoebox, please pick one up underneath the vestibule table. Dr. Wes Chan is again generously donating toothbrushes and toothpastes for all the boxes. Bring and drop off the gift-filled shoeboxes at the vestibule area on November 16th. Contact Steven Ng or Genevieve Yow if you have any questions.
Thank You Offering
Every year, our church receives the Retired Ministers and Missionaries Offering (RMMO) to provide a much-appreciated Thank You gift to American Baptist servants who have given much of their lives to the cause of Jesus Christ. Some retired pastors and missionaries with meager pension funds are reminded each year that their service has made a difference in the lives of others whom they have ministered. Our 2008 goal is $3800. You can give at Sunday worship during the month of November or send in your check marked “RMMO.” Thank you for your generous gift!
Advent Bible Studies
As we prepare for the coming of Jesus Christ, Savior of the world, we invite you to attend a weeknight Advent Bible Study group. The book, What Do You Want for Christmas? by James W. Moore explores the question of what people really want for Christmas, which only Christmas can give—peace, joy, love, and forgiveness. You will have 6 groups to choose from that meets your particular needs: Women’s Group (Pastor Chris Otani); Men’s Group (Rodney Tom); Couples (Pastor Lauren Ng); East Bay (Pastor Emeritus James Chuck); South Bay (Wes Chan); and San Francisco (Pastor Don Ng). Contact the group leader for the beginning date, time and place of your group and to obtain a study book.
Holiday Events
One of our festive autumn all-church events is the annual Thanksgiving Luncheon sponsored by the Social Committee. On Sunday, Nov. 23rd, beginning at 12:30, there will be roasted turkey, sticky rice, cranberry sauce, pie, and all the trimmings. Tickets are $5 (Adults and Youth); $3 (Children 6-12). Seniors 65 and older are complimentary because we want to honor them and appreciate them for their faithfulness. Buy your tickets from the Social Committee following Sunday worship or call the church office.
On the First Sunday of Advent, Nov. 30th, the CE Board will sponsor our annual Christmas Craft Faire featuring a variety of craft projects for people of all ages to prepare for the Christmas season. The Junior Highs will once again lead a Cookie Bake that sends a waft of delicious home-bake cookies throughout the church building. The Lanna Coffee Project will offer a “coffee-tasting” table and invite annual renewal subscriptions and the purchase of one-pound Premium and Espresso Coffee for giving as Christmas gifts that supports American Baptist missions in Chiang Mai, Thailand. All the fun begins at 1:00 in the church Fellowship Hall.
More Chinatown Stories of Life and Faith
The first volume of Chinatown: Stories of Life and Faith published in 2002 has been a huge success. Many readers have discovered the significant role our church has had in the lives of people and how growing up in America has been filled with hope, challenges, and promises. Volume II is in development and available in December this year. We have recently begun work on Volume III of Chinatown Stories of Life and Faith. This third volume will contain about 60 stories of people connected with our church, both past and present, talking about parents, growing up, schooling, work, marriage and family, and faith and values. If you are age 40 and up and would like to be included, please contact Dr. James Chuck at Jaschuck@juno.com for details.
Family News
Congratulations to Allison Chan and Jason Ng who were married on Oct. 11th! May their new life together bring God’s joy and happiness!
On Oct. 7th, Winnie and William Lam welcome Charity Lam into the world! May God bless this new one into the life of this family and our church.
November—RMMO Offering
2 9—L
10—D
11—
Gift Planning Luncheon, 1:00
CE, 1:30
Lanna Coffee for sale
8 EFG
9 9—L
10—D
11—
Deacons, 1:30
10-11 Chinese Pastors Conf, San Damiano
12 Church Staff, 10:00
15 Xplorers
16 9—C
10—C
11—
Baptism Candidates Luncheon, 1:00
Live in Harmony, 2:00
22 Sojourners
23 9—D
10—D
11—
Thanksgiving Luncheon, 12:30
25 Pastoral Staff, 10:00
27 Holiday
29 Youth Camp Retrospect
30 First Sunday of Advent
9—L
10—D
11—
All-Church Prayer, 12:45
Christmas Craft Faire, 1:00