Sunday Morning Hours
For people of the Christian faith, Sunday morning is the time when we gather for worship and study. Many churches have their services at 11:00 AM which some have said is either the holiest or most hypocritical hour of the week! We pray that our services are the former!
FCBC has three Sunday worship services and Sunday school classes for all ages that take place in two locations. Scheduling all of these events to happen on Sunday mornings can be challenging. For some time now, both worshippers and pastors have requested longer worship times that creative and participatory worship requires. While the worship services are in session, the Sunday school classes for children from preschool to 5th grade have gotten extended so long that it has been difficult to staff. Therefore, for the past year, the Boards of Deacons and Christian Education along with many church leaders have been studying and reviewing what may make the best Sunday morning schedule for our whole church family.
For the past 4 weeks, Questions & Answers Forums have been held to understand the proposed Sunday Hours schedule. The key points of the proposal are:
*Every worship service will be 1 hour and 10 minutes long with a 10-minute transition time.
*The Cantonese service will be at 10:00 AM making it possible for the two English services to be back-to-back meeting at two different locations—the current 9:00 English will be at 10:00 at the YMCA and the 10:20 English will be the 11:20 in the sanctuary. This would permit pastors to preach at both services when necessary.
*The Children’s Sunday school classes will be shortened to 2 hours 30 minutes.
*Youth and adult classes along with musical group practices will happen before and after the services.
If the church membership approves, the church leaders believe this would benefit all the services and Sunday school programs.
Worshipping on Sunday is a Christian practice that is found in the New Testament. In Acts 20:7, we see Paul having a discussion with his friends when it was mentioned, “On the first day of the week, when we met to break bread” (Acts 20:7). Then in 1 Corinthians 16:2, Paul writes, “On the first day of every week, each of you is to put aside and save whatever extra you earn, so that collections need not be taken when I come.” On Sundays, the church celebrates the Lord’s Supper and hospitality as well as to receive offerings to meet needs. When we come to church on Sundays, we too are called to gather to worship the Lord by the giving of our resources and to celebrate the grace and love of God in Christ in word, deeds, prayers and singing.
We invite everyone to engage in the discussion to consider the proposed Sunday morning hours schedule that would offer inspiring worship, engage in knowing the Bible, and to interact in Christian fellowship! The Deacons have called for a Special Membership Meeting on Sunday, November 4, 1:30 to vote on the Proposed Sunday Morning Schedule. Pastor Don
2013 Canvass—“E-F-G”
Each year over a four-year cycle, FCBC focuses on twin emphases that lift up significant aspects of a healthy and vibrant church. In 2013, Evangelism and Fellowship will be highlighted in the sermons, programs, as well as the themes for our 2013 Canvass. The Canvass Committee comprised of Wes Chan and Milton Dong has adopted “E-F-G” to represent “Evangelism, Fellowship, and Go.” It just happens that our Emmanuel Family Group is celebrating their 50th Anniversary this year and they have the original use of “EFG!” God always works to bring his Kingdom work together!
In 1 John 1:3, we see the apostle writes, “We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.” As today’s disciples, we too have seen and heard the life-saving power of Jesus Christ in the lives of others and in ourselves that we want to have warm and strong fellowship with one another as with God. When we give and contribute to the annual budget of FCBC, we are reaching out to those who have not yet known Jesus in their lives. We will become a beloved community of people who are in fellowship for personal needs as well as to do mission together.
On Sunday, at the October 7th Membership Meeting, 1:30, the Finance Committee will present the 2013 Proposed Budget for your prayerful giving. Will you help us to reach out to others with the love of Christ? Will you be ready to have meaningful fellowship with new friends in Christ’s name? Will we go out into the world to proclaim, “what we have seen and heard?” Come to Pledge Sunday All-Church Worship on Oct. 18, 10:30 AM at the YMCA gym when we’ll invite you to bring in your pledge for 2013.
(((Hear the Call))) 2012 World Mission Offering
(((Hear the Call))), the theme for the 2012 International Ministries (IM) annual World Mission Offering (WMO), is based on 1 Samuel 3:1-10. This classic “call” story contains surprises: God chooses Samuel, despite his inexperience and inability to recognize the call. God uses Eli, despite his failing vision and failing leadership. Despite our limitations or failings, God is still able to use us in the work of mission. In October, we’ll receive this offering to reach our goal of $4300.00.
IM supports over 100 missionaries and workers in other countries including Mike and Becky Mann with the Integrated Tribal Development Program in northern Thailand. Our Lanna Coffee Project is in partnerships with the Manns and IM to stop human trafficking by investing in village economies. Next June, we’ll be sending a mission work team to Thailand to develop a long-term relationship with a village for development and education. For more information, contact Janey Chan and the Missions Committee.
Senior Center
Living in the SF Bay Area, the potential of a powerful earthquake is a real possibility. Most of us have the sense that we should be prepared but only a few of us actually have done something to be ready. The next Senior Center on Wednesday, Oct. 3rd, 12:00, you will have the chance to get ready for the next big one! On the topic, “EQ Prep IQ,” our own fire fighter, Doug Manguiat will share practical ways to survive a natural disaster. Contact Dick and Anna Quan Wong to register your attendance. Every Senior Center features a hot and healthy lunch, celebrating birthdays, and tremendous Christian fellowship!
Inquirers/Baptism/Church Membership
Every Fall, the pastors offer classes for inquirers who are praying about Baptism and church membership at FCBC. If you are one who is seeking to understand the love of Christ, we invite you to contact one of the pastors to join a Fall class. Pastor Don Ng’s class will begin on Sunday, Oct. 21, 11:30-12:30 in his office. He will also be leading an “online” class with college students who are away from home. If you are interested in becoming a member of that class, please contact Pastor Don. We pray that God will continue to direct your life for the purpose that you have been created to be!
Baptist Gathering and “Youthquake”
On Oct. 19-21, you have a special opportunity to meet, learn, worship and fellowship with American Baptist sisters and brothers from Oregon and Northern California! The ABC of Oregon will be holding their annual gathering at the First Baptist Church, Alameda on the theme, “Serving as His Hands, His Feet, His Voice” (2 Cor. 5:18-21). For a full weekend of worship, great food, mission updates, reports, practical workshops, and fellowship, special speakers include: Dr. Jeffrey Johnson, ABHMS National Coordinator of Evangelism and New Church Planting, ABC Missionaries Dr. Ingrid Roldan-Roman to Panama and Rev. Mike Mann to Thailand, and Dr. J. Alfred Smith, Sr. who will be preaching on Sunday.
While the Annual Gathering is happening a few miles away in Alameda, American Baptist youth and college students will be having their own event, “Youthquake” at the Oakland Burmese Mission Baptist Church in Oakland. This will be the first time in many years that ABC youth and college students will fellowship together in Northern California. Highlights include speaker Rev. John Polite, doing mission projects in Oakland and SF, youth praise teams and great food.
See Pastors Don and Visal to register! We are hoping to have a large delegation of FCBC people present!
Church Nursery
When the water heater leaked this Spring and heavily damaged the floor of the church nursery, the Trustees decided to take this opportunity to resolve the problem of noise traveling from the nursery down to the back of the sanctuary. This made it difficult for people to hear in worship. Some years ago when this problem was identified, a sound company completed an acoustical study to come up with a solution. When the cost was prohibited, the study was shelved.
Jonathan Ng was pulling wires to install speakers in the nursery ceiling in order to remove the stand-alone speaker that took up space and could cause a liability. When he started to remove the floor, he discovered that there was no insulation in the floor. From his own experience of soundproofing businesses that he has, he recommended the Quiet Wood product. Coincidentally, when we retrieved the acoustical study from the files, the consultants also recommended installing Quiet Wood. So the decision was made to rectify the noise problem once and for all!
The contractors removed the old floors down to the joists. Standard insulation was laid between the joists. The rebuilding of the floor began with a new floor, glued Quiet Wood foam, glued Quiet Wood floor that features a sheet a metal in the middle, a sub-floor and another sub-floor to receive the linoleum. The bright commercial grade linoleum is clean and perfect for infants and toddlers. We now have technically a “floating” floor that eliminated the possibility of noising traveling downstairs. See this picture of how many layers the nursery floor now has!
(Put in a picture of the sample.)
While we received payouts from the insurance company, we also received a generous gift from the Edmund and Helen Chan estate of $25,000. With such a generous gift, we are now able to renovate the nursery the way we should. New furniture was also purchased to divide up spaces for infants and toddlers. Without the Chan gift, we would not have been able to complete this wonderful project! On Sept. 16th, we rededicated the church nursery with Chan family members present. Come and see how God in his grace continues to bless us beyond our imaginations. We pray that many young children at FCBC will grow up to know Jesus as their Friend and Savior!
Family News
After faithfully serving as the church’s Community Outreach Director for 10 years, Pastor Jane Lam resigned to pursue God’s new calling for her. On Sept. 16, we celebrated her ministry at FCBC with gifts and prayers.
The Emmanuel Family Group celebrated it’s 50th Anniversary as a fellowship group by having over 100 people for a banquet at the Basque Cultural Center in South SF. May God continue to watch over the EFG in the years to come.
John Tom’s mother Shuk Han Tom at the age of 90 returned to the Lord on September 4th. Thank God for a long and productive life!
October
2-4 Senior Retreat, Redwood Glen
7 9—V
10—D
11-P
Membership Meeting, 1:30
12-14 Young Adult Retreat, San Rafael
13 EFG
14 9—D
10—D
11—P
Fellowship Group Leaders Luncheon, 12:45
CE, 2:00
18 Staff Meeting, 10:00
19-21 ABC Oregon Annual Convention, FBC, Alameda
Youthquake Regional Youth Gathering, Burmese Baptist, Oakland
21 9—V
10—V
11—P
Deacons, 1:30
26 Lanna Coffee Team
27 Sojourners
28 Pledge Sunday, 10:30 All-Church Worship, YMCA
SS Teachers Training, 1:00
31 Staff Meeting, 10:00