Unshaken Worship
Every day, rain or shine, tourist groups gawk across the street peering at the clinker bricks on our building. To our great surprise, John King of the SF Chronicle (April 5, 09) featured our clinker bricks and that our building was designed by architect, G.E. Burlingame. We are in tourist guidebooks as one good example of what happened when the 1906 earthquake and fire devastated our church building and the rest of the city. They come over to our sidewalk to read the bronze plaque installed in 1980 that shows a picture of our building before 1906 and how we have remained faithful in worshiping God even through the chaos from an earthquake.
The long history of our church has been defined by the series of earthquake calamities. On Sacramento Street, the marble marker reads, “Destroyed in 1906, Rebuilt in 1908.” After the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake, we retrofitted our building so that we can continue to have worship services and Sunday school classes. As earthquake watchers are anticipating when the next big one might come, the city is preparing for a possible natural disaster. On Oct. 15th, California will engage in a statewide drill called the “Big Rumble!” Being a member of the Chinatown community, we too are preparing for our role to assist when such an event might happen.
From our almost 130 years of service in Christ, we know first-hand that the things on earth can be shaken. But according to Hebrews 12:27-29, what can’t be shaken are the things in the kingdom of God. When our church was completely destroyed in 1906, American Baptists all over the U.S. raised funds to rebuild the “Chinese Baptist Mission.” After 1989, the City of San Francisco required all un-reinforced masonry buildings to be seismically retrofitted in order to remain opened. We hope and pray that an earthquake will not happen but if it does, like our ancestors before us, while the things on earth like our clinker brick building may be shaken, our faithfulness in God will never be.
All the things created in God’s kingdom like our worship in the Lord, our deep thanksgiving for God’s blessings, and our dedicated faithful discipleship to serve the Lord will be unshaken. Hebrews 12:28 reads, “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe; for indeed our God is a consuming fire.”
The theme of the 2010 Canvass is “Unshaken Worship.” God has blessed us and we believe God will continue to bless us and watch over us in the days ahead. To that end, we give thanks and will praise God in unshaken worship! You can be a part of that unshaken faith by giving to support the life and ministry of your church by making a pledge to the 2010 Budget. On Oct. 4th, you will receive the 2010 Proposed Budget followed by canvass materials sent to your home. Come to Pledge Sunday, Oct. 25th, 10:30 All-Church Worship at Four Seas to praise God in Unshaken Worship and submit your pledge to God’s kingdom work.
Tourists from around the world see only a clinker brick building; you and I see Unshaken Worship since 1880, after 1906 and 1989, and into the future because the things in the kingdom of God will be unshaken!
Pastor Don Ng
MIT Ashang Lolly
In partnership with the American Baptist Seminary of the West (ABSW), we welcome Middler seminarian Ashang Lolly to serve as Minister-in-Training from September, 2009 to May, 2010. Ashang was born in a Christian family in Manipur, India. He was baptized at the Kachai Baptist Church on June 7, 1998 and graduated from Patkai Christian College in Nagaland. Since childhood, he has been active in Sunday school and youth groups that led him to teach youth in his home church. Professionally, Ashang worked as the Youth Coordinator in Ukhrul HIV/AIDS Counseling Center under the theme, “Hope for the Hopeless.” Working mainly with HIV positive pregnant women and their children, the center provides free education, medicines, medical help, and baby formula. Ashang said, “Our main aim is to save one baby at a time.”
While serving and learning at FCBC, Ashang will assist in Sunday morning worship, learn about children and youth ministries, develop leadership skills, lead a Bible study, and practice preaching.
2010 Church Canvass
On the theme, “Unshaken Worship,” based on Hebrews 12:28, “Since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe,” our emphasis will be on worship. Our worship at FCBC is glorious with 3 services on Sunday, talented musical groups and gifted musicians, and a genuine joy to worship in the sanctuary. The Trustees have decided to clean, repair, and protect our sanctuary stained glass windows after the centennial windows were installed in 1980, 30 years ago. This project will greatly enhance our worship experience with work beginning in early 2010. 2010 is also our 130th Anniversary with plans to celebrate our historic ministry in Chinatown on October 10th.
Come to the Oct. 5th Membership Meeting, 1:30 to hear all about the life-changing ministries supported by the 2010 Proposed Budget. Pledge materials will be sent out to you for your prayerful decision. On Oct. 25th, you are invited to come to our All-Church Worship, 10:30, Four Seas for Pledge Sunday when pledges are due in. FCBC has been unshaken in our ministry for almost 130 years. Your financial support will enable our church to continue to praise God in Chinatown, the Bay Area and around the world!
One-Day Missions Conference
The Missions Committee wants you to know how God is changing the world through mission endeavors! It’s Missions Sunday on Sunday, Oct. 11th! American Baptist Missionary, Rev. Lauran Bethell who graduated from ABSW and actually taught at our Friday Night School while in seminary will bring the word of God at all 3 worship services. Lauran is a global consultant based in the Netherlands for ABC International Ministries with specialization on women’s and children’s issues and one of the founders of the New Life Center in Thailand. In the afternoon, the Missions Fair will feature the many missions programs that we are engaged in both through our direct involvement as well as through our mission giving. We will also be commissioning the 6 church members who will join the mission team to help erect a clean water project and teach VBS in northern Thailand in November. Make plans to join us for this very unique day of learning more about God’s mission through FCBC!
Senior Center Begins
The first session of the Senior Center this Fall is on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 12:00 on the subject, “Managing Your Medications” with Luyen Lai from Kaiser Permanente. When you may have a handful of different color little pills to take, knowing how each works to provide you with good health is important. Join your friends for an afternoon of a delicious lunch, birthday cake, and warm fellowship. Our Senior Center meets in the Fellowship Hall on the 4th floor accessible by an elevator. For more information and if you would like to volunteer to help coordinate our center’s programs, please contact Warren Lee or Gary Eng.
2010 Holy Land Pilgrimage
Pastor Don Ng will lead his second Holy Land Pilgrimage, May 1-13, 2010 to Israel and Jordan. Visit the major sites of our biblical story, experience the Bible coming alive, and create memories in the Middle East that will last a lifetime. Pre-reservation forms due on Nov. 1st—space is limited to 30 pilgrims; priority will be given to FCBC members and friends. For more information, contact Pastor Don Ng at revdonng@fcbc-sf.org.
Family News
At the All-Church Picnic on August 30th, the winners of the Dessert Contest were: Ani Sittig for best presentation for Blueberry Cupcakes; Sheryl Chan for Blueberry Lemon Tiramisu Cake; Lydia Lee and Pat Yee for their Chinese Desserts; Liane Wong for Marshmallow Fudge Brownies, and Gina Chew for Oatmeal Coconut Crispy Cookies. Thanks to the Social Committee and Sojourners for coordinating and preparing the delicious barbecue luncheon!
The Chuck Family celebrated the 80th Birthday of our Pastor Emeritus Dr. James Chuck on Sept. 27th with a luncheon at Far East Café. May God continue to bless Dr. Chuck with good health and joyfulness!
CBC Store
October
2 Installation of President Dr. Paul Martin, ABSW, 6:30
4 World Mission Offering
9—l
10—D
11—P
Membership Meeting, 1:30
Mass Choir Practice, 2:30
6-8 Adult Retreat, Redwood Glen
10 Semanons
EFG
The Married Life, Sausalito
11 Missions Sunday
9—Rev. Lauran Bethell
10—Rev. Lauran Bethell
11—Rev. Lauran Bethell
Fellowship Group Leaders Luncheon, 12:30
Missions Fair, 2:00
Adult Committee, 2:00
12 Holiday (Office closed)
14 Senior Center
16-17 ABC Asian Pastors Retreat, Redwood Glen
18 9—D
10—D
11—P
Deacons, 1:30
20 Church Staff, 10:00
24 Men’s Fellowship, 10:00
Sojourners
25 Pledge Sunday
All-Church Worship, 10:30, Four Seas
Pastor Don preaching
Trustees, 1:00