Harvest Time!
The world is big!
Last week, I visited the planetarium at the California Academy of Science and was once again reminded of how huge the world is! While the earth is just a very small planet in our Milky Way solar system in the universe, there are still countless places on the earth that I have yet to visit and will most likely never have the chance to do so.
In these different countries and continents on earth, there are literally millions of people who live, work, and play and have not yet heard of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Since the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry, disciples and evangelists have gone out to tell others what they have seen and heard from Christ. This missionary movement started in Jerusalem and soon spread to Samaria and Judea and into the known world and beyond. Finally, when missionaries came to San Francisco Chinatown and started a Baptist mission in 1880 that eventually became our church today, we are now called to continue this missionary work today. There are still so many places that God is calling us to go to missions.
Next year, 2012, our emphasis will be on Missions. The Missions Committee is making plans to send a short-term missionary team to Xian, China to lead a Bible school and visit with church leaders. In our work with the Lanna Coffee Project, the proposal is for our church to engage in a long-term partnership with ABC Missionary Mike Mann and the Integrated Tribal Development Project to adopt a hill tribe village in Northern Thailand to build a clean water system, teach Bible school, develop an agri-business, possibly help build a health clinic as examples of such a partnership. There are so many opportunities to do God’s work in our big world that we believe it’s “Harvest Time!”
Before sending out the seventy disciples, Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go on your way” (Luke 10:2-3a). By now, you have received your 2012 Canvass materials inviting you to make a pledge/contribution to support the 2012 church budget. There is, indeed, much work to do to advance God’s work through FCBC because it’s “Harvest Time” for you to serve as one of the laborers. If you would like to receive the Canvass materials, please contact the church office.
At the December 4th Membership Meeting, we are praying that all pledges would be in and we would be able to adopt the 2012 Proposed Budget to continue to be God’s witness in Chinatown and in the world. If you would like, you can also make your pledge commitment by visiting our church website. Below is a copy of the Pledge Card for your use.
I invite you to join me to be God’s laborers in the field of missions because the harvest is plentiful and it’s Harvest Time!
Pastor Don
9:10 is Now 9:00 English Worship
On Nov. 6th, the 9:10 English Worship which primarily uses guitars and drums will be relocated to the Chinatown YMCA gym where we would have more time and creative space to worship the Lord! Beginning at 9:00, the service will end at 10:15 giving us one hour and fifteen minutes of worship and singing. The Y gym right across the street from the church on Sacramento St. is set up with audio, video, chairs and risers that are conducive for a worshipful experience. Come and help us celebrate our new worship space to sing to the Lord a new song! Senior Pastor Don Ng will be giving the message and our worship leader Ian Heung will lead the praise team.
The Deacons’ decision to relocate the service to the Y is the first step in an overall commitment to create more enhanced worship by having more time for each of the three Sunday morning services. During this time, the 10:20 English and 11:30 Cantonese will continue to be meeting at their respective times in the church sanctuary. We invite you to come to worship the Lord at FCBC that will help you to know that God’s love is real and his presence is powerful in the world!
Fall Highlights
*Gifts Planning Sunday, Nov. 6th—If you are interested in making a planned gift to support the endowment of the church in estate planning and/or creating a charitable gift in memory of a loved one, our Gifts Planning Committee members can assist you. Please contact Wendy Quan.
*Senior Center, Nov. 9th—Maintaining the health and use of our hands enables us to continue to perform our daily chores, hug our grandkids, and to shake the hands of a new friend. Nancy Chee, Occupational Therapist with California Pacific Medical Center will teach us best practices for the use of our hands. Come for a time of fellowship, learning, and a delicious hot lunch. Sign up with Dick and Anna Quan Wong.
*Fall-Clean-Up, Nov. 19th—The Trustees invite representatives from all church fellowship groups to do your part in cleaning up the church home before the holidays! Our windows need cleaning, the sanctuary needs dusting, and the kitchen needs degreasing! Join your friends to make God’s house bright and beautiful beginning at 8:00 with coffee and donuts and ending with lunch with lots of cleaning in-between. Contact Trustee Norman Chin.
*Thanksgiving and Seniors Appreciation Luncheon, Nov. 20th—Our annual festive luncheon will once again feature roasted turkey and all the trimmings. Tickets can be purchased after Sunday worship or by calling the church office: Adults & Youth–$5; Children 6-12 –$3; and Children under 6 & Seniors 65+—Free.
*2011 Youth Camp Retrospect, Nov. 26th—Reunite with your cabin mates and counselors to see how you have lived out the commitments you made this year at Youth Camp! Contact our Camp Directors Kenneth Tom and Jon Wong for more information.
*Christmas Workshops, Nov. 27th—To get us into the Christmas spirit of giving and receiving, come and make an ornament to give to a neighbor, cut out sugar cookies to share with your family, buy a bag of Lanna Coffee to give as Christmas presents as well as to support the mission work in Thailand. There are fun things to do with your whole family and bring a friend!
Advent Bible Studies
As we wait for the coming of Christ, we invite you to attend 4-session Advent Bible Studies around the Bay Area. Using the book, Shine! Light for All People by Patricia Farris, the groups will focus on light as both a symbol of the birth of Christ and the ways in which our actions influence the lives of others. For the South Bay, contact Wes Chan; San Francisco, contact Pastor Don Ng for the date and place for the first session. The First Sunday of Advent is Nov. 27th.
Family News
Congratulations and God’s blessings on the marriage of Anthony Liu and Joy Wong on September 24th!
November
3 Staff Meeting, 10:00
5 Men’s Fellowship
OYYAs 50th Anniversary
6 Gift Planning Sunday
9—D
10—D
11—P
CE, 1:30
9 Senior Center
12 No. CA Asian Caucus, 10:00
EFG
Semanons
13 9—Jane
10—Jane
Deacons, 1:30
15 Staff, 10:00
19 All-Church Clean-Up
Xplorers
Sojourners
20 Thanksgiving Sunday
9—D
10—D
11—P
Thanksgiving & Seniors Appreciation Luncheon
24 Thanksgiving Day (H)
26 Youth Camp Retrospect
27 First Sunday of Advent
9—D
10—D
11—P
Christmas Workshops