Monthly Archives: January 2025

1/26/25 牧者之言

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我们生命中的属灵标记

魏师母

•    经文：诗篇77:11-14
•    2025年1月16日晨祷会
1 月 10 日是我父亲的忌日，1982 年他去世了，享年 55 岁。今年和每年，我和姐妹们都会分享爸爸，分享他和妈妈对我们的意义，分享我们多么感激在一个基督徒家庭中长大！我以前在晨祷会上分享过一些这方面的事情。对我们所有人来说，失去父母是我们生命中意义重大的时刻，也是悲伤的时刻。1979 年 6 月 17 日，父亲节的第二天，我和魏牧师离开了美国。我们家乡的教会举行了一次差遣礼，我们将被差遣到台湾担任传教士。后来，当我要和父母道别的时候，我给了爸爸一张父亲节贺卡。在那张贺卡里，我告诉他，正是通过他的愛，我才意识到天父的愛是什么样的。我告诉他，在我成长的过程中，他一直愛着我、关心着我、引导着我，并为我祈祷。
我的父母总是带我去教会，我决志信靠耶稣，并在 9 岁时受浸礼。我在父亲节卡片上说了更多的话来表达我对爸爸的感激和愛。我告诉他我的祈祷是希望我的生命能反映出他对我的愛！这让我爸爸哭了。直到那天我 31 岁，我才第一次看到爸爸哭。听到我对他说出这些感受，爸爸很高兴。他为我感到骄傲，但也为我们即将离开很长一段时间而感到难过。
上周，当我想起我的父亲时，我开始思考我们生命中都有的“属灵标记” 。它们并不常见。这些属灵记忆在我们的基督徒生活中至关重要。我们生命中的这些时刻确定了我们知道上帝以圣灵的力量清楚地引导我们，或给我们一个明确的呼召服侍的时刻！属灵标记提醒我们上帝的力量！（当我们回顾他过去如何引导我们时），它们给我们信心去面对今天的争战。（当我们与孩子们分享上帝在我们生命中的工作时），它们给我们的孩子信心为明天争战！它们见证上帝大能的手！记住上帝所做的一切有助于我们将所有的荣耀归于他！我们从这些经历中走出来，成为一个比以前更强大、更好的人。我们可能不会在某个事件或某个阶段结束后立即感到更强大，但随着时间的流逝，我们回首往事，发现上帝在我们的生活中用它来加强我们对他的信仰和信任，为此我们赞美他！
我和魏牧师经常和我们的孩子和孙辈分享我们的属灵标记，因为我们认为这样做很重要。他们需要听到这些故事，并受到挑战，自己去信靠上帝。我们希望他们看到与主紧密同行的价值和祝福！在向他人讲述属灵标记的过程中，我们自己获得了对今天的信心和勇气以及对未来的盼望！这些标记具有属灵意义，就像以色列人的逾越节和我们的主餐礼、保罗在去大马色的路上、摩西和燃烧的荆棘。我和魏牧师分享过，我们自己的属灵标记包括我们对罪的认识和得救的经历、我们的婚姻、我们对传教服侍的呼召，以及我们与所认识的一切和每个人分离……在另一个国家生活 30 多年。
我们刚到台湾两年半时，我爸爸就得知自己得了癌症，之后他只活了四个月。我无法回到美国支持我的母亲、姐妹和其他亲人、以及参加葬礼。我们当时正在台湾参加一个中国教会，牧师想为我们一家举行一场礼拜。他们唱了“耶稣的胜利”这首歌，因为在美国的礼拜仪式上唱过这首歌。他们准备了一幅爸爸的大画像，并在教堂前面放了一个用真花制成的十字架。牧师以《创世纪》第 12 章讲道，上帝告诉亚伯兰“离开本地，本族和父家，往我要指示你的地去”…… 他继续读到第 3 节…… “地上的万族都要因你得福。”我知道他讲了很多话来安慰我，所有人都一个接一个地来握住我的手，我看到了他们的眼泪！他们根本不认识我的父亲，但他们愛我们一家人，我们只在那间教会待了两年。我深受感动。我们的传教士家庭也为我们举行了一场礼拜。它让我们如此亲密地聚在一起，分享这份悲伤，我的悲痛。在那些日子和几个月里，我心中建立了更坚定的信心。这些可愛的弟兄姐妹们用他们的愛心、他们的关怀、他们自己的属灵标志和他们的祈祷建立了我的信心……我们在日常生活中一起前行和工作……时间就这样流逝着。
当我们彼此分享属灵标记时，我们都会得到坚固并充满盼望！你知道，尽管我很伤心我的父亲去世得很早，但我学会了无论发生什么都要信靠上帝。我拥有上帝奇妙的平安和同在。上帝从不无情。他用他的愛厚待我们。他的道路比我们的道路更高。也许你们中的一些人还记得在另一次晨祷中我分享了我在成为传教士初期与家人分离的挣扎。在这种艰难的悲痛和伤心中，主告诉我，在他呼召侍奉他的地方他为我准备了另外两个美好的家庭……我的传教士同胞家庭和我的中国教会家庭！回首往事，我被他的信实所折服。在爸爸离开我们的同一年，上帝赐给我和魏牧师另一个儿子。我们非常激动，并感谢上帝对我们的仁慈，他在我们生命中的那段时间拯救了我们。
今天在晨祷中，我分享了我生命中的一个属灵标记！你的属灵标记是什么？想一想！我们是一家人，所以让我们一起分享我们的生活、我们的祷告、主对我们祷告的回应，并得到祝福和鼓励！！！
亲愛的上帝，请帮助我们识别我们生命中的属灵标记，这样，在我们这样做的同时，请帮助我们在与你同行的过程中建立属灵的记忆。当我们记住生活中的这些事件帮助我们持续增强我们的信心，并让我们持续走在正路上。帮助我们与他人分享，以便我们相互鼓励。谢谢天父，你一直在我们生命中工作，这些标记提醒我们，我们属于你，我们的未来在你那里是安全的！谢谢耶稣赐予我们基督的身体……我们的教会大家庭！ 奉耶稣的名，阿门。

Spiritual Markers in our Lives
Elinda West

  • Scripture: Psalm 77:11-14
  • Early Prayer meeting January 16, 2025
         January 10th is the anniversary of my father’s death in 1982.  He was 55 years old.  This year and every year my sisters and I talk about daddy and what he and mother meant to us and how thankful we were to grow up in a Christian home! I’ve shared a little about this event before in Early Prayer meeting.  For all of us losing our parents is a significant time in our lives and a sad time. Wei Mushr and I left America the day after Father’s Day on June 17, 1979. There was a Commissioning Service at our home church for us to be sent out as missionaries to Taiwan.  Later, when it was time to say good-bye to my parents I gave daddy a Father’s Day card. In that card I shared with him that it was through his love that I realized what the love of God the Father must be like. I told him he had loved and cared for my needs and guided me and prayed for me as I grew up.
My parents always took me to church, and I professed my faith in Jesus and was baptized at 9 years old. I said more things in that Father’s Day card expressing my gratitude and love to my daddy and I told him my prayer was that my life might reflect the same love that he had shown to me!  It made my daddy weep. I had never seen my daddy cry until that day and I was 31 years old. It was good for my daddy to hear me say those feelings to him. He was proud of me but sad we were going away for a long time.
As I was thinking about my dad this past week I began to think about the “Spiritual Markers” we all have in our lives. They don’t happen often. These Spiritual memories are crucial in our Christian life. These times in our lives IDENTIFY A TIME we know God clearly GUIDED US by the power of the Holy Spirit or gave us a CLEAR CALL to service! SPIRITUAL MARKERS REMIND US OF THE POWER OF GOD!  THEY GIVE US CONFIDENCE TO FACE TODAY’S BATTLES (as we look back on how He led us in the past). THEY GIVE OUR CHILDREN CONFIDENCE TO FIGHT TOMORROW’S BATTLES! (as we share with them God’s work in our lives). THEY WITNESS TO THE MIGHTY HAND OF GOD! REMEMBERING WHAT GOD HAS DONE HELPS US GIVE HIM ALL THE GLORY!  We go away from these experiences as a stronger and better person than we were before.  We might not feel stronger immediately after the event or season, but with the passing of time we look back and see that God used it in our lives to strengthen our faith and trust in Him AND FOR THAT WE PRAISE HIM!
Wei Mushr and I often share our Spiritual Markers with our children and grandchildren because we think it is important for us to do that. They need to hear these stories and be challenged to trust God themselves. We want them to see the value and blessing of walking closely with the Lord!  In the process of telling others about Spiritual Markers we ourselves receive confidence and courage for today and hope for the future! These markers have spiritual significance, like the Passover for the Israelites and The Lord’s Supper for us, Paul on the road to Damascus, Moses and the burning bush. Wei Mushr and I discussed that our own spiritual markers include our conviction of sin and salvation experience, our marriage, our call to missionary service and separation from everything and everyone we knew… to live in another country for 30 plus years.
We had been in Taiwan for only 2 1/2 years when my dad learned he had cancer and only lived 4 months after that. I could not return to the U.S. to support my mother and sisters and other close family members and attend the funeral.  We were attending a Chinese Church in Taiwan and the pastor wanted to hold a service for our family. They sang the song “Victory in Jesus” because it was sung at the service in America. They prepared a large portrait of daddy and had a cross of real flowers at the front of the church. The pastor preached from Genesis 12 where God told Abram to “leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you”… and he read on through verse 3… “and all the peoples on earth will be blessed through you.” I know he shared many words to comfort me and all the people came one by one to take my hand and I saw their tears! They didn’t know my daddy at all but they loved our family and we had only been in that church 2 years. I was touched so deeply. Our missionary family also held a service for us. It brought us so close together to share this sadness, my grief. A stronger faith was established in my heart in those days and months. These loving brothers and sisters built up my faith by their love, their care, their own spiritual markers and their prayers…. as we walked and worked together in daily life… and time went on.
When we share our spiritual markers with each other we all are strengthened and have hope!  You know, even though I was so hurt that my daddy passed away so young I learned about trusting God no matter what. I had God’s wonderful peace and presence.  God is never unkind. He lavishes us with His love. His ways are higher than ours.  Maybe some of you remember another time in Early Morning Prayer I shared about my struggle with separation from my family in the early days of being a missionary.  The Lord showed me during this difficult grief and sadness He had prepared 2 other wonderful families for me in the place he called me to serve Him……My fellow Missionary Family and My Chinese Church family! I look back and am overwhelmed with His Faithfulness. In the same year daddy left us.. God gave Wei Mushr and I another son. We were so excited and grateful for God’s Goodness to us which He saved for that time in our life.
Here in Early Prayer today I’m sharing a Spiritual Marker in my life! What are your Spiritual Markers? Think about it!  We are FAMILY so let’s share together our lives, our prayers, our answers to prayers and be Blessed and Encouraged!!!
Dear Lord, help us to identify the spiritual markers in our lives and as we do that help us develop spiritual memory in our walk with you. As we remember these events in our lives help them to continue to strengthen our faith and keep us consistently on the path. Help us share with others so we can encourage each other. Thank you Father that you are constantly working in our lives and that these markers are reminders to us that we belong to You and our future is secure in You! Thank you Jesus for the Body of Christ ….Our Family! In Jesus’s Name Amen.

1/19/25 牧者之言

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 1/19/2025

欢迎新朋友

 
希伯来书13:2 不可忘记用爱心接待客旅，因为曾有接待客旅的，不知不觉就接待了天使。教会要对每位新朋友热情友好，使他们感受到家的温暖。

近日我在一个偶然的机会读到一封信。这封信是一间达拉斯教会牧者写给我们教会一位弟兄全家人的，弟兄一家人去年曾于复活节到他们教会参加过一次崇拜。信的内容大致是这样的：

“当有人选择加入我们敬拜上帝时，我们 xx （教会）总是认为自己是受祝福的。所以非常感谢你们在过去的复活节赐予我们这些祝福。你们走了这么远的路。希望你们回家时安全愉快。我们希望你们与我们在一起的时间能帮助你们度过这一周，帮助你们将上帝赐予你们的祝福带给所有与你们相遇的人。下次来达拉斯时，请再次与我们分享对上帝的赞美。愿他的平安与你们同在。我，在主的爱中属于你们……”

这封信给我很大启发，让我看到这位牧者和他所牧养的教会重视每个新朋友，并将新朋友的到来视为上帝对他们教会的祝福。他在复活节后第二天专门花时间给新朋友写信这一举动也提醒我和我们教会需要更多关爱新朋友。

我在网上搜了“七句话帮助教会留住新朋友”的信息，转引自生命之道基督徒资源中心（LifeWay）主席Thom S. Rainer博士所说的话。以下是我们可以对新朋友说的七句话：

1.“谢谢你来！” 这是最基本的，我听过无数的新朋友愿意再度造访教会，只因为有人对他们的莅临表示感激。

2.“让我来帮你吧。” 如果你看到有人雨伞打不开、小孩在哭闹、手上拿了很多东西，伸出援手帮助他们吧！当然弟兄姐妹之间彼此这样互相帮助也是很重要的。

3.“你要不要坐这个座位？” 当我去一间教会讲道时，我听到这句话两次。其中一次是有一个五人的家庭正在找位子坐，有位会友对他们说的。

4.“这是我的Email，如果有什么可以帮得上忙的，都可以联络我。”当然不能随便给任何人自己的Email，总要谨慎。但这样的动作能让新朋友感受到我们的热情和温暖。

5.“需要帮你带路吗 ？”就算在小教会里，新朋友也可能找不到幼儿室、厕所或大堂等地方。而如果我们看到有人在东张西望，通常也猜得出来他正在找路。

6.“让我介绍这位给你认识。”新朋友回访率通常会因为他有认识教会中其他人而提高。会友如果有机会，就可以介绍牧师、全职同工或其他会友给新朋友认识。

7.“要不要和我们一起吃午餐？” 这句话被留到最后一点有两个原因。第一，说这句话要视情况而定，如果状况合宜才提出邀请。第二，比起其他方法，这个方法对于提升回访率是最有效的。而且邀请新朋友一起吃饭负担其实没有很大，又能带出效果。

假设一个教会每周有两位新朋友，一年大约就会有100位新朋友。如果大部分的基督徒都能真诚地欢迎新朋友，搞不好一半的新朋友就会愿意留下来。突破教会人数瓶颈重要的第一步，正是和新朋友的良好互动（参https://blog.creaders.net/u/7254/201506/223279.html）

注意：千万不要向新朋友推销你个人产品或卖东西给他们，更不能搞传销。若有新朋友是来自异端（比如“耶和华见证人会”）或异教（比如“法轮功”），我们则要捍卫真道，指出他们教义上的错误，确保福音纯正，以免教会受到不必要的搅扰。

我们期待新朋友再来我们教会的目的并非为了多拉一个人入教，而是为了使我们能有更多机会与他们分享主的恩典和慈爱。愿主赐福带领我们教会今后在欢迎新朋友上能做得更好！

1/19/25 Pastor’s Word
Welcoming New Visitors

Hebrews 13:2 Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

The church should be warm and friendly to every new friend, so that they can feel the warmth of home. Recently, I read a letter by chance. This letter was written by a pastor of a church in Dallas to the family of a brother in our church. The brother and his family went to their church to attend a worship service at Easter last year. The content of the letter is as follows:

“We of  x x (church) do always consider ourselves blessed when others choose to join us for the worship of God. So thank you ever so much for bestowing this blessings upon us this past Easter Day. You came such a long way. Do hope your return home was safe and enjoyable. And we hope that your time with us is providing to be an aid for you as you journey through this week, helping you to be a blessing from God to all those others with whom He is crossing your path. When next in Dallas, please share with us again in God’s praise. His Peace be with you. I am, yours in the love of Our Lord…”

I searched online for information on “Seven words to help the church retain new friends” and quoted from Dr. Thom S. Rainer, president of LifeWay Christian Resource Center. Here are seven words we can say to a new friend:

1. “Thank you for coming!” This is the most basic. I have heard countless new friends willing to visit the church again just because someone expressed gratitude for their presence.

2. “Let me help you.” If you see someone with an umbrella that can’t be opened, a child crying, or holding a lot of things in their hands, lend a hand to help them! Of course, it is also important for brothers and sisters to help each other like this.

3. “Do you want to take this seat?” When I went to a church to preach, I heard this word twice. One of the times was when a family of five was looking for a seat, and a member said to them.

4. “This is my email. If there is anything I can help you with, you can contact me.” Of course, you can’t give your email to anyone casually, and you must always be cautious. But such action can make new friends feel our kindness and warmth.

5. “Do you need help finding your way?” Even in a small church, a new friend may not be able to find the nursery, bathroom, or lobby. If we see someone looking around, we can usually guess that he is looking for his way.

6. “Let me introduce this friend to you.” The return rate of a new friend is usually higher because he knows other people in the church. If a member has the opportunity, he can introduce the pastor, full-time staff or other members to the new friend.

7. “Would you like to have lunch with us?” This word is saved for the last point for two reasons. First, it depends on the situation. Only make an invitation when the situation is appropriate. Second, compared with other points, this point is the most effective in increasing the return rate. Inviting new friends to eat together is actually not a big burden, and it can bring results.

Assuming that a church has two new friends every week, there will be about 100 new friends a year. If most Christians can sincerely welcome new friends, maybe half of the new friends will be willing to come back. The first important step to break through the bottleneck of church attendance is to have good interactions with new friends (see https://blog.creaders.net/u/7254/201506/223279.html)

Note: Never sell your personal products to new friends and never engage in pyramid selling. If new friends come from heresy (such as “Jehovah’s Witnesses”) or cult (such as “Falun Gong”), we must defend the truth, point out their doctrinal errors, and ensure the purity of the gospel to prevent the church from being disturbed unnecessarily.

The purpose of expecting new friends to come to our church again is not to attract more people to join a religion organization, but to give us more opportunities to share the grace and love of the Lord with them. May the Lord bless and guide our church to do better in welcoming new friends in the future!

1/12/25 牧者之言

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《路得记》中人名与地名意思参考

Reference to the meanings of names and places in Ruth

 

  • Bethlehem: Beth-lehem = “house of bread (food)”, a city in Judah. 1. birthplace of David; 2.a place in Zebulun; 3. birthplace of Jesus Christ 

伯利恒：“面包（粮食）之家”，在犹大的一座城。1.大卫的出生地，2.西布伦的地方；3.耶稣的出生地

  • Ephrathite = “ashiness: fruitfulness.” 1.an inhabitant or descendant of Ephraim, 2. an inhabitant of Bethlehem

以法他人：“灰白：丰收”。1. 以法莲的居民或后代; 2.伯利恒的居民

  • Moab: “of his father.” 1.a son of Lot by his eldest daughter, 2.the nation descended from the son of Lot, 3. the land inhabited by the descendants of the son of Lot

摩押：“他父亲的”。1. 罗得和他长女所生的儿子，2. 罗得儿子的后代，3. 罗得儿子后代居住的土地

  • Elimelech: “my God is king.” Naomi’s husband

亚比米勒:“我的上帝是王”。拿俄米的丈夫

  • Naomi: “my delight”

拿俄米：“我的喜乐”

  • Mara: “bitterness,” a name that Naomi called herself due to her calamities

玛拉： “苦”，拿俄米因所遭受的灾难自称的名字

  • Mahlon: “sickness,” “weakness,” or “man of sickness”

玛伦：“生病”、“软弱”或“病人”

  • Chilion: “pining,” “completion,” “ending,” or “wasting away.” Chilion’s name suggests a sense of finality or completion, perhaps foreshadowing the tragic events that befall him and his family. The name’s connection to “wasting away” could also be interpreted as reflecting the family’s decline and struggles in Moab.

基连：“渴望”、“完成”、“结束”或“消逝”。基连的名字暗示着一种终结或完成的感觉，也许预示着他和家人将遭遇的悲惨事件。这个名字与“消逝”的联系也可以解释为反映了这个家族在摩押的衰落和挣扎。

  • Orpah: “gazelle” or “back of the neck.” Some say the name implies “stiff-necked” because Orpah chose to leave Naomi after her husband died.

俄珥巴：“羚羊”或“后颈”。有人说，这个名字暗示着“硬着脖子”，因为俄珥巴在自己的丈夫死后选择离开拿俄米。

  • Ruth: “friend,” “friendship,” or “compassionate friend”

路得：“朋友”、“友谊”或“富有同情心的朋友”

  • Boaz: “strength” or “swiftness.” 1. ancestor of David, kinsman-redeemer to Ruth, daughter-in-law of Naomi; 2. name of the left of two brazen pillars, 18 cubits high, erected in the porch of Solomon’s temple

波阿斯：“力量”或“敏捷”。1. 大卫的祖先，路得的近亲救赎者，路得是拿俄米的儿媳；2. 所罗门圣殿门廊上竖立的两根铜柱左侧的名字，高 18 肘尺    

       参：https://www.blueletterbible.org/ 等

1/5/25 牧者之言

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1/5/25 牧者之言

“喜乐事奉”：同工们的分享

诗100: 2 你们当乐意事奉耶和华。

         保罗说：“就如身子是一个，却有许多肢体；而且肢体虽多，仍是一个身子；基督也是这样”（林前12：12）。上周日（12-29-2024）是同工分享日，我们教会有10位同工热情洋溢地分享了教会各项事工的进展及代祷需要。

         承慧讲到：“主的话是我脚前的灯，是我路上的光”（诗119：105）。教会周日主日学查考《使徒行传》，周五晚查考《出埃及记》，新旧约共同学习相得益彰、光中见光。“路灯读经微信小组”每日打卡读经，弟兄姐妹互相监督、共同长进。每周三晚6点的“赞美操”既可敬拜主，又可操练身体。

         魏师母概括儿童事工时提到，王艺颖是儿童事工联络人，王雪、魏师母、莎莎师母是老师。她强调这项服侍值得投入时间和精力。她特别祝贺小朋友们圣诞演出成功！2025年我们需要为更多人加入服侍，以及暑期圣经学校（VBS）祷告。她挑战说，“上帝是否呼唤你担任VBS联络人？弟兄或姐妹都可以。上帝是否呼唤你今年在 VBS 服侍？上帝是否呼召你教导儿童主日？你可以直接问上帝。不要害怕或觉得自己没有资格以这种方式参与教会服侍。上帝呼唤谁……他就有资格！你将获得巨大的祝福，你也将成为祝福！”

          宏岚总结食物组的服侍：教会每年6-7次大型聚会，每次弟兄姐妹踊跃带美食来，使大家有丰盛的宴席。青少年们积极服侍，家长教导有方。同时，每周日弟兄姐妹轮流带茶点，如有人不在名单里而愿意参与者，可以告诉她。2025年马上来临的中国农历新年和复活节，大家若有好的建议欢迎提出来。

          张琨分享教会晨祷和举牌事工。对于晨祷会他说：“曾经的晨祷会也逐渐变成了中美合一祷告会，众弟兄姐妹一起从清晨到晚上，将我们的忧虑交托给主，口也被神打开，可以说出赞美神的话。在为肢体的代求中，我自己渐渐体会到了别人的痛苦和挣扎，也体会到了代祷蒙应允后与肢体一起体会到的喜乐和平安。个人主义当道的今天，这一点点的信徒之间的相同（圣徒相通）带来的喜悦显得尤为宝贵”。对于举牌，他说：“圣诞前教会在华人超市门口进行了3次为主举牌传福音活动，大人孩子一起，给陌生人讲解福音，为他们祷告。出乎意料，神赐给了一些孩子们特别的勇气和爱心，追着陌生人发礼物，给他们讲福音，使大人蒙激励。神可以使不愿出头的华人把脸舍去为主举牌，神一样可以引领处在属灵低谷中的信徒重新抬起头来仰望为我们信心创始成终的耶稣基督。求主带领我们在新的一年里能有更多举牌服侍”。另外，他祈祷盼望能有更多人兴起爱主，教会能安排更多领主餐，使众肢体藉主餐礼更深对付罪、更多经历十字架救恩。他引用潘霍华的话结束：“廉价恩典是教会致命的仇敌。今日我们得为昂贵的恩典而战。廉价恩典像把恩典拿到旧货摊上贱卖。廉价恩典就是传扬不须悔改的饶恕之道，传讲不须遵守教会纪律的受浸之道，传讲不须认罪的擘饼仪式，传讲不须个人忏悔的赦罪之道。廉价恩典就是不须要作门徒的恩典，是缺了十字架的恩典，是没有复活和道成肉身的耶稣基督之恩典。”

       磊宏在分享青少年事工时提醒大家：1. 家长不能只是孩子的朋友，而是主安排的带领者，他们有责任带领孩子走神的道路。2. 同工和家长要保持沟通。家长不是只把孩子托付给他人，而是要与同工配合，一同做主工。3.多鼓励孩子们参与教会活动和事奉。

       财务方面，史保罗（Paul Spann）代表教会感谢每位家人通过教会奉献给主的每一分钱。奉献是敬拜的行动。在过去一年里，尽管有一个月出现赤字，但圣诞月奉献很好。关于有人提出建堂基金的问题，他解释到：教会有建堂基金。教会普通收入的所有结余都将归于建堂基金。若弟兄姐妹在十一奉献之外有感动作建堂奉献，欢迎在支票备注或信封左下角处注明：“Building Fund”。

       魏牧师说：“希伯来书告诉我们，不可停止聚会，祷告和团契。我们每日清晨在Zoom上见面，但我们千万不要忘记周三晚上祷告会，我们可以面对面分享代祷需要，彼此祷告。当我们一同祷告时，我们在基督里真正成为弟兄姐妹。祷告是教会合一的关键”。他特别要感谢教会为Sweetie姐妹的代祷和奉献支持，感谢上帝已为Sweetie预备了助教工作，使她可以明年顺利毕业，荣耀归主名！

       12岁的吴天柔小姐妹说：“我最喜欢的经文是约翰福音3：16节。当我第一次在教会司琴时，我心里非常兴奋。心想，我终于可以在教会司琴了。在轮到我第2和第3次司琴时，我心里想，怎么又轮到我弹琴了。但当我想到上帝为了爱我们，将他的独生儿子都为我们舍弃了生命时，我就甘心乐意地服侍主了”。

       慕道班/基础班是由Vivian和凌雯带领。Vivian说：“这个班介绍信仰基本要道，学习基本专题，包括：神(三位一体)、耶穌、圣灵、人、罪、救恩、圣经、教会，为信仰打好基础”。她请大家祷告有更多慕道友愿意来学习, 求圣灵帮助她们的带领, 也求圣灵挪开慕道友的一切的拦阻、使他们早日决志接受耶穌为救主和生命的主。同时，她感谢帶領崇拜的领詩和献詩的弟兄姐妹。她鼓励弟兄姐妹：“务要坚固, 不可摇动, 常常竭力多做主工, 因为知道你们的劳苦在主里面不是徒然的”（林前15：58）。

       最后，子钧分享学生学者团契，尽管这个团契的人数不太多，但主却看为宝贵，因为“若有人服侍主，主就必尊重他”。他希望新的一年里能有更多人参加，并愿意在事奉上更加竭力。

       此外，还有许多事工没有提到，比如每周主日教会提供同步英文翻译，耳机设备等。“麻雀虽小，五脏俱全”。感谢主赐福教会，感谢主兴起那么多同工一同服侍，求主兴起更多同工服侍。愿在新的一年里，教会不是依靠势力、不是依靠才能，乃是依靠神的灵方能成就大事！以基督之名，阿门！

 

1/5/25 Pastor’s Word

“Joyful Serving:” Sharing from Co-workers

Psalm 100: 2 Worship/Serve the Lord with Gladness.

        Paul said, “For just as a body is one and has many members, and all its parts, though many, are one body, so also is Christ” (1 Cor 12:12). Last Sunday (12-29-2024) was our Co-worker’s Sharing Day, and 10 co-workers from our church enthusiastically shared the progress of various ministries in the church and the need for prayer.

        Chenghui said: “The word of the Lord is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Ps 119:105). The church is studying the Acts of the Apostles on Sundays and Exodus on Friday evenings. The New and Old Testaments complement each other and light shines in the light. The “Street Light Bible Reading WeChat Group” checks in every day to read the Bible, and brothers and sisters supervise each other and grow together. The “Praise Exercise” at 6 pm every Wednesday night can both worship the Lord and exercise the body.

        When summarizing the children’s ministry, Mrs. Elinda West mentioned that Wang Yiying is the children’s coordinator, and Wang Xue, herself, ad Mrs. Shasha Li are teachers. She emphasized that this service is worth investing time and energy in. She especially congratulated the children on their successful Christmas performance! In 2025, we need to pray for more people to join the service and the Summer Bible School (VBS). She challenged, “Has God called you to serve as a VBS coordinator? Either a brother or a sister can do it. Has God called you to serve in VBS this year? Has God called you to teach children on Sunday? You can ask God directly. Don’t be afraid or feel that you are not qualified to participate in church service in this way. Whoever God calls… He is qualified! You will receive a huge blessing, and you will be a blessing!”

         Honglan summarized the service of the food committee: The church held 6-7 large gatherings every year. Every time, brothers and sisters brought delicious food, so that everyone could have a rich feast. The young people actively serve, and the parents teach them well. At the same time, brothers and sisters take turns to bring refreshments every Sunday. If someone is not on the list and is willing to participate, you can tell her. In 2025, the Chinese Lunar New Year and Easter are coming soon. If you have any good suggestions, please feel free to let her know.

         Zhang Kun shared the church’s morning prayer and sign-holding ministry. Regarding the morning prayer meeting, he said: “The morning prayer meeting has gradually become a China-US United Prayer Meeting. Brothers and sisters come together from early morning to night, entrusting our worries to the Lord, and our mouths are opened by God to speak words of praise. In interceding for the members, I gradually experienced the pain and struggle of others, and also experienced the joy and peace that I experienced with the members after my prayers were answered. In today’s world where individualism is prevalent, the joy brought by this little bit of similarity between believers (the communion of saints) is particularly precious.” Regarding holding signs, he said: “Before Christmas, the church held three sign-holding evangelism activities in front of the Chinese supermarket. Adults and children explained the gospel to strangers and prayed for them. Unexpectedly, God gave some children special courage and love. They chased strangers to give gifts and shared the gospel to them, which encouraged the adults. God can make the Chinese who are reluctant to stand up put down their faces and hold signs for the Lord. God can also lead believers who are in a spiritual trough to raise their heads and look up to Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith. May the Lord lead us to have more sign-holding services in the new year.” In addition, he prayed that more people would be raised up to love the Lord, and the church could arrange more Lord’s Suppers so that all members could deal with sin more deeply and experience more of the salvation of the cross through the Lord’s Supper. He concluded by quoting Bonhoeffer: “Cheap grace is the deadly enemy of our church. We are fighting today for costly grace. Cheap grace means grace sold on the market like the cheap jackwares. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession, absolution without personal confession. Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.”

        Leihong reminded everyone when sharing about youth ministry: 1. Parents cannot just be a friend to their child, but leaders arranged by the Lord. They have the responsibility to lead their children on the path of God. 2. Co-workers and parents should maintain communication. Parents should not just entrust their children to others but cooperate with co-workers to do the Lord’s work together. 3. Encourage children to participate in more church activities and services.

       In terms of finance, Paul Spann thanked everyone for every penny they gave to the Lord through the church. Giving is an act of worship. In the past year, although there was a deficit in one month, the Christmas month giving was very good. Regarding the question of the building fund, he explained: The church has a building fund. All surpluses from the church’s general offering will go to the building fund. If brothers and sisters are moved to give to the building fund in addition to their tithe, please write “Building Fund” on the check memo or in the lower left corner of the envelope.

        Pastor Ron said: “The book of Hebrews tells us we should not avoid meeting together for worship, prayer and fellowship.  We are meeting together on Zoom in the mornings, but we must not forget our Wednesday night prayer meeting where we can meet face to face to share prayer needs and answers to prayers.  As we pray together, we become true brothers and sisters in Christ. Prayer is the key to unity in the church.” He especially wanted to thank the church for our prayers and support for Sister Sweetie and thank God for having prepared teaching assistant job for Sweetie so that she will be expected to graduate successfully next year, glory to the Lord!

        12-year-old sister Tina said: “My favorite scripture is John 3:16. When I played the organ for the first time in the church, I was very excited. I thought to myself, I can finally play the organ in the church. When it was my turn to play the organ for the second and third time, I thought to myself, why is it my turn to play the piano again? But when I think about how God loves us so much that he gave up his only Son for us, I am willing to serve the Lord.”

         The Seekers/Basic Class is led by Vivian and Ling Wen. Vivian said: “This class introduces the basic doctrines of faith and learns basic topics, such as: God (Trinity), Jesus, Holy Spirit, man, sin, salvation, the Bible, and the church, to lay a good foundation for faith.” She asked everyone to pray that more gospel seekers would be willing to learn, and asked the Holy Spirit to help them teach, and also ask the Holy Spirit to remove all obstacles from the seekers, so that they can decide to accept Jesus as their Savior and Lord of life soon. At the same time, she thanked the brothers and sisters who led the worship and sang offertory songs. She encouraged the brothers and sisters: “Be steadfast, immovable, always striving to do more in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Cor 15:58).

       Finally, Zijun shared about the student and scholar fellowship. Although the number of people in this fellowship is not large, the Lord considers it precious because “if anyone serves the Lord, the Lord will honor him.” He hopes that more people will participate in the new year, and he is willing to work harder in serving.

       In addition, there are many ministries that have not been mentioned, such as the provision of simultaneous English translation and headphone equipment every Sunday. “Although the sparrow is small, it has all the necessary organs.” Thank the Lord for blessing the church, thank the Lord for raising so many co-workers to serve together, and pray that the Lord will raise up more co-workers. In the new year, may the church not rely on power or talent but rely on the Spirit of God to accomplish great things! In the name of Christ, Amen!