Living Hope
Now that the holidays are over and the rainy season of a California winter has begun, some of us may find ourselves at a low. What can we look forward to now? Before you sneak back into bed with your comforter over your head, let me tell you how God is continuing to bless our church. Exciting things are happening so fast that we can’t be lulled back to sleep!
By year-end in 1998, we have seen increased attendance in all of our worship services and a vigorous commitment to support the overall mission of the church. At the Christmas Eve service in Chinatown, there were 146 people participating in a candlelight service of lessons and carols! On Christmas Sunday at Sunset, our church plant started offering two worship services every Sunday to accommodate the growing congregation! First Chinese Baptist was originally organized as a “mission” church of the denomination. Today, it is able and actively participates as a partner with the American Baptist family in support of missions. Our church successfully reached its goal of $4000 for the World Mission Offering and surpassed the goal of $3500 for the Retired Ministers and Missionaries “Thank You” Offering. Praise God for the faith that we have in our passion for ministry at home as well as overseas!
Another exciting event was the Joint Board Meeting of both the Deacons and the Christian Education boards meeting for collaborative planning and envisioning. Over 25 people committed a whole day on January 9th for this work even while the Forty-Niners were playing! We reviewed the 1999 church calendar, discussed the proposed timetable for Sunset Ministry’s self-governing status, became reacquainted with the Waverly Place strategic plan, and met as separate boards to organize our work for 1999. I can say that you and I are in good hands with the capable leadership we have this year.
Looking ahead for this month, the Christian Education Board is sponsoring a special program, “Celebrating Chinese New Year” on Sunday, February 14, 1:30-3:00 PM. Rev. Dr. Gordon Lew, noted lecturer on Chinese American history and a friend of our church will be the guest speaker. For children, there will be a program on making and learning about Chinese New Year’s arts and crafts. Many of our church members, particularly families with young children have expressed the interest of sharing the meaning of the various practices and traditions surrounding this annual celebration with their families. Knowing our cultural heritage is important for our church to value and live out the strengths of being a “bilingual, bicultural, and multigenerational church.” We are so excited about this program that we are inviting sister CCU and ABC Asian American churches to come.
The writer of Hebrews in 3:6 said, “Christ…was faithful over God’s house as a son, and we are his house if we hold firm the confidence and the pride that belong to hope.” As God’s house, we need to hold fast to our faith in Christ and not drift away from our commitments. At First Chinese Baptist, we are “living hope” of God’s everlasting presence in the world. It’s time to “Get up!” Let’s live with confidence that God is using us as “living hope” to all people. Pastor Don
Articles
Deacons Reorganized
On January 9th, the Deacons, striving to minister more effectively, reorganized themselves around sub-committees. There are presently seven Sub-Committees with the following chairpersons:
1. Pastoral Care Ministry Milton Dong
2. All-Church Retreat Che Chiu Yee
3. Prayer Development Roger Tom
4. Worship Development Maxine Fong
5. Cross-Congregational
Collaboration & Partnerships Pauline Chin
6. Sister Church Relations &
Programs Florence Choy
7. Waverly Ministry Strategic
Plan Implementation Edward Cheng
Each Deacon serves on 2 or more sub-committees. Other church members are invited to serve on the committees to share their ideas and to offer leadership to carrying out programs. Pastoral staff will provide administrative partnership in support of these efforts. Roger Tom was unanimously elected board chair and Milton Dong as vice chair. The whole board will now meet quarterly. Future meetings are Mar. 20, Jun.12, and Sep.11.
Annual Meeting
On Sunday, February 7, at 2:00 PM, our church will hold its annual meeting. You are encouraged to attend this important meeting in the life of our Baptist church. Highlights will be the presentation of the Mrs. J.S. Chu Christian Education Award, the “State of the Church” report from our senior pastor, the adoption of the annual reports, and the distribution of the new 1999 church directories. Come for fellowship and celebrate God’s blessings on our lives!
40 Days of Prayer & Fasting
The positive and meaningful testimonies that we received last fall during the stewardship campaign’s emphasis on prayer and fasting has led the Deacons to sponsor a “40 Days of Prayer and Fasting” beginning on February 17, Ash Wednesday. There will be materials for you to focus on your prayer life and an invitation to fast. We will complete the forty days on Easter Sunday. Pray for this commitment to the power of prayer in our lives and in the life of the church.
Sunset Ministry
Family News
On January 17, Shem Cheng, new son of Gem and Edward Cheng was dedicated at the 11:15 worship service. A luncheon and reception followed to celebrate God’s blessings on the Cheng family.
Arnold Mew was inaugurated as the new president of the Wa Sung Service Club on January 22 at the Scottish Rite Center in Oakland. A scrumptious buffet followed by a program marked the occasion. Congratulations!
Thanks to Mike Wong who committed one whole day on January 4th working with a professional carpet cleaner to shampoo all of the carpets in the nursery/balcony and in all the classrooms on the second floor. Mike and Bill Leong also built new “Passenger Loading” signs for Sacramento St. Thanks for all your time in maintaining our church home!
We welcomed Anna Lee on January 19th as our church’s new full-time Administrative Secretary. She will be responsible for maintaining the ongoing systems of running a church such as producing the weekly bulletins and monthly newsletters, ordering supplies, scheduling meetings and facility use, and translating materials for distribution to the membership. Anna is a member of our church and is married to Howard. They have three children. Welcome to the staff team!
As a part of the Deacons’ commitment in equipping lay persons to offer pastoral care, a total of eight persons attended the “Tend the Flock” workshop in Stockton on January 25-26. Sponsored by the ABCW region, Dr. Melvin Steinbron from Minneapolis was the leader. Those who attended were: Pauline Chin, Milton Dong, Maxine Fong, Albert Lee, Steve Lessler, Laura Pang, Roger Tom, and Don Ng. Pray for this team as they teach others in our church to learn how to augment the pastoral staff in being caregivers to every member in our congregation.
Leina & Bill Leong, Joy Ng, and Wendy Quan attended the “Fellowship Jubilee Worship Arts Celebration” in Pinole, sponsored by the United Methodists on January 23rd. The focus was on integrating worship with choral reading, sacred dance, and visual-liturgical art.
The Emmanuel Family Group celebrated Astrid Peterson’s 98th Birthday on January 23rd with singing and cake at Piedmont Gardens. Astrid was the founder of this fellowship group, one of the longest ongoing fellowships in our church.
Pastors Richard Chung, Kin K. Mak, and Don Ng attended the first Pastoral Leadership Conference sponsored by the American Baptist Seminary of the West, January 11-13 in Danville. This was a wonderful fellowship time with 75 other pastors and church leaders from the west coast to become recharged after the holiday season. We also had an opportunity to hear our own church members, Keith Russell and James Chuck preached great messages!
February Calendar
4 CBC Choir Practice, 7:45 PM
- OYYAS
- 10:05 Service—Dr. James Chuck preaching
Church Annual Meeting, 2:00 PM
9 Pastoral Staff Meeting, 10:00 AM
- Retrofit/Renovation Committee
CBC Choir Practice, 7:45 PM
- No City College classes
- Emmanuel Family Group
- Celebrating Chinese New Year with Gordon Lew
& Children’s Program, 1:30-3:00 PM
- Presidents’ Day Holiday—Church Office closed
No City College classes
- Chinese New Year Holiday—Church Office closed
- Beginning of 40 Days of Prayer & Fasting
- CBC Choir Practice, 7:45 PM
- Adult Fellowship Luncheon
- Youngfolks
Genesis
UPS
- Semanons
- Pastoral Staff Meeting, 10:00 AM
- CBC Choir Practice, 7:45 PM
27 Sunset Shepherding Staff Team Retreat, 9:00 AM-4:00 PM
28 CE Board Meeting, 2:00 PM