June 2009 Newsletter
Nothing Separates Us
There’s no good news these days! The global economy is in trouble with worldwide recession that has negatively affected our investments and retirement funds. With less demands for products and services, some of our church friends have lost their jobs. For the past few years, we believe that due to global warming that has affected our rainfall amount; we are now facing the challenge of using less water in a regional wide drought. And if these concerns were not already alarming, we are frightened by the H1N1 swine flu pandemic!
Our natural defensive response might be to just stay under the covers and not get up in the morning. We might want to just wish the bad news to go away. But wishful thinking is not a mark of faithful discipleship. When Christians were being persecuted by those who did not understand Jesus Christ, the Apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:18 that their present day sufferings are nothing that compares to the glory of God that is being revealed to them. Believing that everything in the world, both the good and the bad according to our thinking can still work together for good especially for those who love God, we can also affirm that with today’s problems, things will be all right.
Paul in Romans 8:35, 37-39 said,
Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will hardship, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
We can add, “Will economic turmoil, or drought, or swine flu separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”
The love of God in Jesus Christ is evident in our life as Christ’s church. While some may be unemployed, as caring and generous people, we will not allow our friends from receiving support and help to endure these hardships. While we may need to reduce our use of the valuable resource of water, we will strive to not be wasteful and conserve for others. While the H1N1 flu virus might still escalate into a pandemic, we do whatever we can to calm fears and to make available vaccines for those in need. Trials and travails will still face us in the future as they are in the present. But God’s love made known to us in Jesus Christ will never be separated from us. In Christ, we know God and God never disappoints.
As a community of Christ’s disciples, we can share the love of God in Jesus Christ with everyone who needs our help, our resources, and our love that has been made perfect in Christ. Pastor Don
Senior Center—Is Your Heart Happy?
We don’t see it but we can feel it beating ever since we were born. It never stops working day and night. And once a year in February, we even celebrate it as the endearing symbol of the love we have for each other. It’s the most important part of our body and when it’s happy, we are happy too! On Wednesday, June 10th, James Letchworth, RN with Cardiac Rehab at Kaiser Permanente will speak to us about keeping our hearts happy and healthy as he shares his knowledge and experience. The talk begins promptly at 12:15 followed by lunch. To register, contact our Senior Center Coordinators Warren Lee or Gary Eng.
The Senior Center will be taking the summer off and will begin again on October 14th with a program on “Managing Your Medications.”
2009 OGHS
We’re facing tough economic times now. But in the midst of these challenging times, there are still natural disasters, underdeveloped communities, refugees fleeing war trying to rebuild their lives. People around the world need assistance more than ever before. On the theme, “Where is your treasure?” (Matthew 6:19-21), we can demonstrate God’s love by giving to the One Great Hour of Sharing Offering this year. In June, we hope to raise $4200 for world relief. You can make a gift by using the special envelopes in the bulletins in Sunday worship or make a check to FCBC and mark it for “OGHS.”
In the rural communities of El Salvador, $100 provides the basic inputs (seeds and small animals) to break the cycle of food insecurity. Just $100 enables the family to plant vegetable gardens and raise small animals for food. In refugee camps all around the world, it costs about $380 to provide a family of five with a tent, blankets, water, latrines, and a month’s worth of food. Give to OGHS today.
Sports Ministry
Get ready for another fun-filled sports ministry season!
CCU Sports
FCBC will participate in CCU Sports by entering teams for basketball, softball, and volleyball. Check out the scheduled games and come out to root our teams on. On Saturday, June 6th, CCU Sports Kick-Off rally will start the season at El Camino High School, 1320 Mission Rd, South San Francisco, 6:30-8:30 PM. There’ll be door prizes, fellowship, worship with Pastor Don giving the message! Everyone is invited to come and support a successful summer season knowing Christ through sports! Go to: www.ccusports.com.
FCBC Sports
The 8th Annual FCBC Golf Tournament is Monday, June 15th at Monarch Bay Golf Course, San Leandro to benefit the church’s Day Camp to reach community children with scholarships and for team sports in CCU to help defray league fees and field rentals. If you don’t play golf but would like to “sponsor a hole for $50” or make a donation, please make out your check to FCBC and mark “Golf Tourney.” For more information and registration to participate, contact Butch Chan or Joel Jang.
The church Tennis Tourney is on Saturday, June 20th at the SF Tennis Club. Come and play a friendly round-robin game! More information available on the church website.
Family News
Welcome into the world, Ayla Jodi Young Chan on May 28th born to the proud parents of Stacey and Chris Chan!
On May 10th, the following babies were dedicated to the Lord by their parents: Charity Lam by Winnie and William Lam; Amais Tong by Maggie and Alvin Tong; Charlotte Liao by Yvonne and Deming Liao; and Evan Chen by Michelle and Philip Chen. May we as the family of God share in raising these children to know the Lord.
On April 26, the Deacons unanimously approved the licensing of Jane Lam for Christian Ministry. Jane is currently a seminarian in the M.Div degree program at Tozer Theological Seminary with plans to enter the ordained ministry. As the result of this joyous decision, we will now call Jane Lam, “Pastor Jane!” May God continue to bless Pastor Jane as she completes her seminary education and her faithfulness to serve as our church’s Community Outreach Pastor!
Our Say Amen! Gospel Ensemble directed by Joy Shih Ng was the featured choir at this year’s American Baptist Seminary of the West Commencement on May 16 at First Baptist Church in Oakland.
The proposed Partnership with the Chinatown YMCA to renovate the gym in order for us to have additional space for ministries in worship, Sunday school classes, and sports ministry continues to make progress. Estimated costs are being reviewed. Once there’s an actual proposal to approve the partnership, there will be a special Church Membership Meeting called to act on this. Stay tune and if you have any questions, please contact Pastor Don Ng.
June
3 Mom’s Group, 12:00
CCU Sports, 7:00
6 CCU Sports Kick-Off Rally, 6:30-8:30
7 Finance Committee, 8:30
9—L
10—L
11—P
Trustees, 1:00
SS Teachers Appreciation, 1:30
9 All Church Staff, 10:00
10 Senior Center
11 Gifts Planning, 6:00
13 Sojourners
EFG
14 9—D
10—D
11—Dr. James Chuck
Deacons, 1:30
15 FCBC Golf Tournament
17 Day Camp begins until 7/24
20 FCBC Tennis Tourney
21 Father’s Day
9—P
10—P
11—P
Christian Circle, 2:00
26-28 ABC Biennial, Pasadena
28 9—C
10—C
11—Rev. Dr. Esther Y. Lo Ng
CE, 1:00