Good Neighbors, Now Partners
The Chinatown YMCA and our church have been good neighbors for a long time. When many of our church members were growing up in Chinatown, they shared memories of learning how to swim and play basketball at the Y and learning about the Bible and Jesus Christ at the church. They spent weekdays at the Y and Sundays at the church. As good neighbors, the Y has been gracious in making available classroom space when we have the greatest space needs on Sundays and in turn, we have welcomed the Y when they needed space during the weekdays. Today, the Y’s tutorial program uses our Fellowship Hall every weekday afternoon.
As our church continues to grow both faithfully and numerically, we have even greater space needs on Sundays. On Feb. 7th at the church’s Annual Meeting, we approved the Deacons recommendation to enter into a long-term partnership with the Chinatown YMCA to help renovate their gymnasium as suitable space for us to offer additional worship services, Sunday school classes, and other Sunday activities. With a contractual user agreement, FCBC will contribute $250,000.00 to help renovate the gymnasium and in return, we would have use of the gym for 10 years with an additional four 5-year periods totally 30 years from 8:00 AM to Noon. There will be two exceptions on Sunday usage—the Y’s annual Easter Breakfast and annual run. The YMCA also acknowledges the fact that our church’s sports ministry has used the gym in the past and will therefore grant priority to our sports teams to use the gym on Sunday afternoons.
Our contribution of $250,000.00 will come from previous years’ cash surpluses and special gifts. The Finance Committee has reviewed this decision and believes that our financial health is strong even in light of the current economic situation facing the world. In the event, that either the YMCA or the church decides to end this partnership, the unused amount of the contribution will be refunded back to the church. This is a safe investment to expand our ministries to reach people with the Good News of Jesus Christ!
The 2010 church theme is “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.” Unshaken in the Lord, we invite you to pray with us as we partner with our good neighbors at the Chinatown YMCA to expand our ministries in worship, discipleship, and service. We thank God and for all of you to have the courage and confidence that God’s kingdom is unshaken and therefore we will be unshaken in our word and deeds! Pastor Don Ng
Holy Week & Easter Services
We invite you to attend the special services this year to strengthen your relationship with the Lord.
Palm Sunday, March 28
9:30 Joint English Worship and Believers Baptism
11:30 Cantonese Worship and Believers Baptism
Maundy Thursday, April 1, Fellowship Hall
7:30 PM Tenebrae Service and The Lord’s Supper
(This year the Chinese Congregational Church will join us.)
Good Friday, April 2
1:00 PM CCU Cantonese Service, Chinese Methodist Church
7:30 PM CCU English Service, FCBC with Reception afterward
Easter Sunday
7:30 AM CCU Easter Sunrise Service, Chinese Congregational Church
9:10 English Worship
10:20 English Worship
11:30 Cantonese Worship
For more information, contact the church office. We look forward to seeing you at these special services.
Church Home Improvements
Work is underway on two projects at the church. The Sun Light & Power of Berkeley has started installing the 81 solar panel collectors on top of our roof to generate the estimated 107% of our electrical needs. We estimate that in about 9 years, we would recoup our investment from this solar energy project. The panels have a warranty for 25 years of operation. After the installation, there will be a time to test the system and PG&E to sign off. This may take about 6 weeks to complete. With the hope to serve as a model church for other houses of worship considering installing solar energy, the Sun Power & Light Company is donating a “monitoring meter” that will be installed in a public place for us to see the amount of electricity we are using and when we may be contributing energy to the power grid. We thank Sun Light & Power for this generous gift and to the Diana Ming Chan Memorial Fund and special gifts that are making this “green” project a reality.
After 30 years, our 6 beautiful stained glass windows in our sanctuary need restoration, cleaning, and new protection from the elements. The Bovard Studio of Fairfield, Iowa are erecting scaffolding to perform this work. Bulged sections will be flattened and straightened. Every piece of glass cleaned and sealed. Steel rods will reinforce the glass and prevent warping and sagging in the future. After the old metal grates and dulled plexi-glass coverings are removed, new Lexan protective coverings will protect the windows with no obstruction to view the windows from the inside. We will be able to enjoy the windows and their brilliance as they add to the spirit of worship. This project is largely funded by special gifts given for improving our church facilities. We invite you to come and see these new developments at FCBC!
America For Christ
In March, we receive the America for Christ gifts that support Christ-centered ministries that are transforming lives across the United States and Puerto Rico—from addressing Children in Poverty initiatives and resettling refugees violently driven from their homelands to providing evangelism training, developing discipleship resources and leading ministry workshops and conferences. The 2010 theme is “With Willing Hands: Connect. Care. Celebrate.” For more information, go to: nationalministries.org/GIVE/Serve. Our 2010 goal is: $4100. Please help us to be faithful to Christ’s call to transform lives and communities.
Senior Center
Our Senior Center meets the second Wednesday of each month beginning at 12:00 with a hot, healthy lunch followed by a speaker. The March 10th event will be on the Chinatown YMCA—“The Y”—Then and Now, led by Alan Wong and the “Y Boys.” Now that our church has approved the partnership with the YMCA to help renovate the gymnasium and in return have use of the space for Sunday morning use, this is a great opportunity to learn more about the history of the YMCA. After the program, there’s time for tai chi exercise. Please sign up by contacting Dick and Anna Quan Wong.
Spring Cleaning
Whenever Spring comes, we think about “cleaning!” To prepare our church home for Easter, you are invited to join your friends to clean up the church on Saturday, March 27, 8:30-Noon. There are windows that need washing, kitchen stove and fridge need scrubbing, tables and chairs need wiping, carpets need spot-cleaning, and walls touching up with fresh paint. Come for coffee, tea and pastries at 8:30, roll up your sleeves to work and end with a great lunch together in the Fellowship Hall. Cleaning can’t be more fun than this; especially when we are working as sisters and brothers in Christ!
Family News
Congratulations and God’s blessing on Brian Heung and Ani Sittig who were married on Feb. 6th in our church sanctuary!
May God watch over the families whose loved ones are now with the Lord: Ben Fong on December 12, 2009; Yoot Sun Chew Chin on January 25, 2010; and Ruby Low on February 3, 2010.
March
4-6 BASS Convention
7 9—C
10—D
11—P
CE, 1:30
130th Anniversary, 1:30
Live in Harmony, 2:00
10 Senior Center
11 Staff Meeting, 10:00
12-14 Women’s Retreat, San Damiano
13 Men’s Fellowship
14 9—D
10—D
11—P
Trustees, 1:00
Deacons, 1:30
20 Sojourners
21 9—C
10—D
11—P
Membership Meeting, 1:30
Holy Land Orientation, 3:00
25 Staff Meeting, 10:00
27 All-Church Clean-Up
28 Palm Sunday
9:30 Joint English Worship & Baptism—D
11:30 Cantonese Worship & Baptism—P
Live in Harmony, 1:00