April 1999 CBC Newsletter
HE IS RISEN!
On the first day of the week, the women went to the tomb. What they discovered sent a chain of emotions throughout the community of disciples. They were afraid and terrified to experience an earthquake that rolled away the stone. They were amazed to talk with an angel in a white robe who told them that Jesus was not there. They were perplexed and weeping because they thought that someone stole Jesus’ body. And all these fears and confusion which accompany any tragedy quickly turned to joy when Jesus called Mary by her name. Mary Magdalene said, “I have seen the Lord!”
Jesus Christ is risen! When our Lord defied the finality of death in his resurrection by unsealing the tomb, Jesus sealed his promises to us that there are many rooms in God’s house for all of us. The Good News of Jesus Christ is that we are on “this side of the cross.” When we accept Jesus Christ as our savior, we will also have eternal life in heaven. Jesus guarantees it! We know that Christ has opened paradise for all of creation. Alleluia!
The reason why Christians worship every Sunday morning is that every Sunday is Easter Sunday! Every Sunday we proclaim the resurrection of Christ for all to hear, follow his teachings, and to bear witness of his life for us. This is good! But once a year, churches give special attention to dramatize and celebrate the salvation story of Jesus Christ by sponsoring special events and programs. At First Chinese Baptist and at Sunset Ministry, you are warmly invited to come and engage in experiencing the powerful presence of God in our midst! The risen Christ lives among us in the Holy Spirit when Jesus said, “Peace be with you.” Come and share with us the Peace and Joy of Christ in our hearts and our discipleship to make the Peace of Christ alive in the world.
Pastor Don Ng
Easter Services
We are looking forward to seeing you at our Easter programs and services!
March 28 Palm Sunday
10:05 AM Joint English Service (English Youth & Adults)
11:15 AM Chinese Worship Service
April1 Maundy Thursday Tenebrae
7:30 PM A bilingual service of Scripture readings, sacred music, and the
Lord’s Supper remembers Jesus’ trials toward the cross. All pastors and choirs will be participating.
This is a new service for our church. We hope that you can attend.
April 2 Good Friday
1:00 PM Chinese Service at the Presbyterian Church in Chinatown,
925 Stockton St. sponsored by the Chinese Christian Union
6:00 PM Good Friday Pot-Luck and Worship at Sunset Ministry,
3010 Noriega St.
7:30 PM English Service at the Cumberland Presbyterian Church,
865 Jackson St. sponsored by CCU. Members of our
CBC Choir will participate in a Combined Choir and Pastor
Don Ng will share a message on one of the Seven Last Words
of Christ on the Cross.
April 3 8th Annual Easter Egg Hunt & Picnic
10:30 AM- All children and parents are invited to attend a day of hunting
2:00 PM for Easter eggs, singing songs, playing games, and sharing a
picnic lunch. The place is Lindley Meadow in Golden Gate Park.
April 4 Easter Sunday
6:30 AM Easter Sunrise Service, Portsmouth Square sponsored by CCU
6:30 AM Sunrise Service at Noriega Beach and Easter Breakfast from
8:00-10:30 AM sponsored by Sunset Ministry
9:00 AM & Easter Sunday Services at Sunset Ministry
11:00 AM
All services in Chinatown will feature special music from the Bells Quartet, CBC Choir, and our sanctuary will be filled with Easter flowers symbolizing that Jesus Christ is risen!
9:00 AM Youth & Young Adult Service
10:05 AM English Adult Service
11:15 AM Chinese Worship Service
24-Hour Prayer Vigil
When we trust God with all of our worries and seek God for guidance and plans for our church, we discover that God is with us. God’s power is making a difference in the world. Beginning at 6:00 PM on Friday evening, April 2 and ending at 6:00 PM on Saturday, April 3, you are invited to be a part of a large group of people praying for a full twenty-four hours! Come when your church fellowship group is assigned to pray for an hour. There will be an outline of topics to pray for and a leader will be assigned for each hour. The Prayer Vigil is in the sanctuary at Waverly Place. Free parking is available from the church at St. Mary’s Garage. For more information, call Derek Chan at 650-878-1607 or Roger Tom at 510-799-0352. Let’s all make our church shine brightly throughout the night and day to show that Jesus Christ is risen!
Daylight Savings Time
Be mindful to turn your clocks one-hour forward before you retire for bed on Saturday night, April 3rd. We want to see you at church worship on Easter Sunday on time!
Care Ministry
When we care for each other, we extend Christian love to our sisters and brothers. Almost 50 people have signed up to serve as “Care Partners.” They will be trained to pray and maintain connections with a small group of church members and friends. The hope of this network of Christian friends is to strengthen our church family as the Body of Christ. The Care Ministry is a lay pastoral care program sponsored by the Deacons. Milton Dong is heading up this much needed emphasis. If by chance, you would like to be assigned to a different Care Partner from the one selected by the Deacons, please speak to either Pastors Mak or Don. The Care Ministry is a program to care and support you! You will be hearing from your Care Partner real soon!
Baptism and Church Membership Classes
If you feel that the Lord is stirring inside of you to ask questions about the meaning of your life or perhaps you have discovered that the warmth of the love of Christ at First Chinese Baptist is a source of joy for you? You may be opened to Baptism and becoming a member of this church.
The church receives members in several ways:
+By PROFESSION OF FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST as a candidate for Baptism
+By LETTER OF TRANSFER from another church that practices believer’s baptism by immersion
+By STATEMENT OF CHRISTIAN EXPERIENCE (You are a former Baptist or have been baptized by immersion.)
+ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP (You will be in our community only for a brief time and do not wish to transfer your membership or you are a member of another
denomination which did not practice believer’s baptism or baptism by immersion.)
Membership classes for you who are considering baptism and church membership are offered by the pastors. A Service of Baptism is scheduled on April 25th. Please speak to one of the pastors following worship or call the church office.
Family News
On March 1, our beloved friend, Helen Young Chan passed after suffering a massive stroke three weeks earlier. Our entire congregation plus hundreds of friends from her public teaching career, ski and dancing clubs, and her El Cerrito neighborhood gathered to celebrate her life and to give thanks to God for the many blessings she shared with others. As the result of Helen’s sacrificial giving in Christian service and love of life, we were generously inspired to do our part in bringing care and love in the world. Our prayers of support and comfort continue to go to Ed and their three daughters, Susan, Barbara, and Beverly and their respective loved ones.
Albert Lee, James Chuck, and Don Ng represented our church at the Visioning Meeting for the Asian American Baptist Caucus of Northern CA on March 13 in Richmond. Participants affirmed priorities in encouraging more Asian Americans to consider entering the Christian ministry, training in evangelistic and outreach ministries, and training in stewardship education.
Congratulations to Florence Choy and Jonathan Jang who announced their engagement for marriage! (Anna, Larry may have more details to add.)
Continue the Legacy
Contributions to the campaign continue to come in to support the rich legacy of our church and the daring vision of effective ministries in the years to come. Toward the Faith Goal of $1,350,000, we have now received pledges totaling $1,3——— from —-people! From your faithful giving, we have received $——— to pay off our campaign expenses and the initial design and consulting fees for the architectural firm. If you have not yet made a pledge/contribution and would like to, please pick up a pledge card in the vestibule or contact John Tom, chair of the Legacy Follow-up Committee at 415-387-8157.
The tremendous success of the All-Church Banquet last November was enough of a reason to do it again! So, mark your calendars to attend this year’s banquet on October 3rd at Patio Espanol Restaurant. The OYYAS and friends have agreed to plan this event.
Praise and thanksgiving to God who have blessed us so much that we are able to give generously to God’s work in San Francisco.
Retrofit Task Force Update
(Anna, see Nelson Wong.)
Serving God’s Family Training Conference
(See Richard.)
April 1999 Calendar
- Maundy Thursday Tenebrae Service at Waverly, 7:30 PM
- Holiday
CCU Chinese Good Friday Service, 1:00 PM at Presbyterian Church, Chinatown
CCU English Good Friday Service, 7:30 PM at Cumberland Presbyterian, Chinatown
Beginning of 24-Hr. Prayer Vigil, 6:00 PM at Waverly
- 8th Annual Children’s Easter Egg Hunt & Picnic, Lindley Meadow, 10:30 AM-2:00 PM, GGP
Adult Fellowship
OYYAS
Conclusion of 24-Hr. Prayer Vigil, 6:00 PM at Waverly
- Easter Sunday
CCU Sunrise Service, 6:30 AM at Portsmouth Square, Chinatown
All Services
6 10:05 Music & Worship Committee
- CBC Choir Practice, 7:45 PM
- College Fellowship
Emmanuel Family Group
11 Congregational Prayer, 1:00 PM
Joint Sojourners & Christian Circle
- Pastoral Staff Meeting, 10:00 AM
- CBC Choir Practice, 7:45 PM
- Yosemite Trip (17-19)
YoungFolks
Genesis
UPS
- Adult Committee, 7:30 PM
- Assembly of May Newsletter
CBC Choir Practice, 7:45 PM
- OYYAS Sponsored Israel Trip (23-5/8)
- Baptism at Waverly
Earth Day Sunday
- Pastoral Staff Meeting, 10:00 AM
- CBC Choir Practice, 7:45 PM
- Serving God’s Family Training Conference, (30-5/1)
Anna, if you have some small space, you might want to add this:
The Bible in 50 Words!
God made,
Adam bit,
Noah arked,
Abraham split,
Joseph ruled,
bush talked,
Moses balked,
Pharoah plagued,
people walked,
sea divided,
tablets guided,
promise landed,
Saul freaked,
David peeked,
prophets warned,
Jesus born,
God walked,
love talked,
anger crucified,
hope died,
Love rose,
Spirit flamed,
Word spread,
God remained.
–source unknown