Neighbors Without Borders
For the most part, there’s never been a problem for us to care for those who are closest to us. We watch over our family members and if we are really daring, we may even watch over our neighbor’s house when they are away with the hope that they would do the same when we are away. But to say that all the people in the whole world are our neighbors, that’s a nearly impossible thought to comprehend.
When a group of physicians go out of their respective countries to bring medical care to others, they are “Doctors Without Borders.” When Jesus commissioned the disciples to be his “witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth,” (Acts 1:8b) he is telling them that Samaria is beyond their comfortable borders and definitely it would be uncomfortable to the ends of the earth! Our newspapers are divided up between US news and world news because we are often more interested in what’s happening at home than at the “ends of the earth.” And as our annual theme question, “Who Is My Neighbor?” suggests, do we really know who lives across the street from our church building? Can we be as neighborly with others in Chinatown as we are neighborly with each other?
Mission Sunday is October 9th when Rev. Lauran Bethell, ABC missionary who have served in Prague and Thailand will preach on the theme, “Neighbors Without Borders,” at all three worship services followed by a Questions & Answers Session and Luncheon sponsored by the Missions Committee in the Fellowship. You are invited to attend this complimentary luncheon to meet Lauran and to explore ways that you can become active in missions.
During the 5 Sundays in October, we’ll be receiving the 2011 World Mission Offering on the theme, “Live the Word, Proclaim the Word, Be Transformed,” that will support American Baptist mission work to the ends of the earth. Our goal is $4300. Go to the website: internationalministries.org for more information. You may give on Sundays when we receive the morning offering or send in your contribution and marking it for “WMO.” When it’s not possible for us to be away from home, we can faithfully support and pray for our missionaries who are serving on our behalf to the ends of the earth.
And as we vigorously raise needed resources to support Baptist missions overseas, we will also be inviting you to pledge your support for the mission work that we do as a faithful community of Christ disciples in Chinatown. After the Oct. 2 Membership Meeting when you will hear from both the Finance and Canvass Committees on the 2012 Proposed Church Budget, you will be encouraged to make a pledge to support and sustain the work that we do together to reach out to our neighbors with no border barriers, to raise up more laborers, workers and missionaries because the harvest is plentiful and ready to hear God’s word of love and grace. On Oct. 30th when we meet in our All-Church Worship Service at the YMCA gym, we’ll invite you to bring in your pledges and commitments to participate in the mission of God’s church known as the First Chinese Baptist Church in San Francisco, in the United States, and to the ends of the earth. There are no borders when God calls us to be good neighbors with one another. Pastor Don Ng
Harvest Time!
The autumn season is the time to pick the ripened fruit, the bright orange pumpkins, and give thanks to God for the abundance that we have on our tables. This is also the season when we pray for how God is working through us as his laborers, workers, and disciples to proclaim Good News of Jesus Christ and God’s love in the world. When Jesus “appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest’” (Luke 10:1-2).
Jesus commissions us to go out into the world to bring in the harvest because God has already produced people who are ready to hear and know the Good News of Jesus Christ. It’s harvest time!
The 2012 Proposed Budget features our emphasis on Missions just as Jesus sent out the seventy in pairs to go out into the towns and places. Highlights include a mission trip to Xian, China, long-term commitment to partner with Mike and Becky Mann and the Integrated Tribal Development Project in Thailand to adopt a hill tribe village for economic development, and to continue in exploring new ways to engage in missions outside our front doors.
After the Oct. 2nd, Membership Meeting when you would have an opportunity to learn about the 2012 Proposed Budget, you will receive the “Harvest Time! canvass materials with a pledge card to submit on Oct. 30th Pledge Sunday All-Church Worship, 10:30 at the YMCA Gym. Come to worship in October when you will hear more about how we plan to be faithful in God’s harvest. Join us in being one of God’s laborers and workers because the harvest is indeed plentiful!
For Our Seniors and Young in Heart
*Senior Retreat, Redwood Glen
Join this annual gathering of fellow seniors on the theme, “Finishing Life Strong—Suggestions for the Home Stretch” with guest leaders, Dr. John Chuck and Dr. Ray Tom. Held at the Siden Center at Redwood Glen, beginning with lunch on Oct. 4 and concluding with lunch on Oct. 6, you can register with Joel Jang. The cost is $240 per person in a double.
*Senior Center, Fellowship Hall
The October meeting Wednesday, Oct. 12th is on “Optimal Healing with Chinese Medicine” with speaker Patricia Tsang. Beginning at noon, the meeting includes a healthy hot lunch, birthday celebrations, and tai chi exercise. Sign up with Dick and Anna Quan Wong for the lunch count. Bring your friends!
Overview of Christian Faith
We never stop learning. And if you would like to have a stronger foundation of the Christian faith, Pastor Emeritus Dr. James Chuck is leading a 3-session course, 9:00-12:00 including lunch on Saturdays, Oct. 1, 15, 29 at the Berkeley Chinese Community Church, 2117 Acton St. Berkeley. The topics are: Church History, Christian Faith and World Religions, and the Life and Mission of the Local Church. As one of the sponsoring churches, you can register for all 3 sessions ($20) or single sessions ($10 each) and the Board of CE will cover your fees. Register with Robert Mah or Shung Lam.
Inquirers/Membership Class
Would you like to learn more about Jesus Christ and what church membership is all about? The next Inquirers Class begins on Sunday, Oct. 16, 11:30-12:30 led by Pastor Don Ng. For the next 7 weeks, we’ll explore topics such as salvation, Trinity, Baptist history, the local church, and the responsibilities of being a church member. If God is calling you to seek out the meaning of baptism and church membership, see Pastor Don to attend this class.
Family News
God’s blessings on the birth of Jonas Ng to Joyce and Jon Ng on August 31st! God bless the families who raise their children to know the Lord.
On Sept. 11th, a film crew sent by American Baptists to report on how our church effectively adapted to our changing times when we partnered with the Chinatown YMCA to renovate their gymnasium and in return have the privilege to use the gym for worship and classes on Sunday mornings for 30 years. When the video is out, we’ll have a premiere showing! Thanks to everyone who cooperated in this project.
October
1 Sojourners & Ashira Trip to Angel Island
2 9—D
10—D
11—P
Membership Meeting, 1:30
Nominating Committee, 2:30
3 Pastoral Search Committee, 6:30
4-6 Senior Retreat, Redwood Glen
8 EFG
Semanons
9 Mission Sunday
9, 10, 11—Rev. Lauran Bethell
Luncheon with Lauran Bethell, 1:00
Deacons, 2:00
12 Senior Center, 12:00
15 Xplorers
16 9—D
10—D
11—P
Fellowship Group Luncheon
Inquirers Class begins, 11:30
18 CCU Sports
20 Great CA Shake Out Drill, 10:20
Church Staff, 10:45
21-23 Sojourners Retreat, Sacramento
23 9—P
10—P
11—P
28 Lanna Coffee, 7:30
30 Pledge Sunday
10:30 All-Church Worship, YMCA
Pastor Don preaching
Trustees, 1:30