31 2012
www.slpcenglish.org
Newsletter
Happy Moon-day! INSIDE THIS ISSUE//
to govern the night.” [Gen1:16]
P.1/ - Top News: “Happy Moonday!”
2.
God made the moon to be a sign so humanity can learn the days, months, and seasons. “The moon marks off the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down.” [Ps 104:19] Humanity got the point almost universally as many civilizations named the seven days of the week after the sun, moon, and planets, e.g., “Sunday” for the “sun”, “Monday” for the “moon”.
3.
God made the moon to be a sign of stability and security. “It [David’s line] will be established forever like the moon, the faithful witness in the sky.” [Ps 89:37]
4.
God made the moon to be a symbol of beauty. “Who is this that appears like the dawn, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, majestic as the stars in procession?” [Song 6:10]
- TYBS Intro’s P.2/ - September Review - Retreat’12 “Grace” - Free English Bibles P.3/ - CareCell Corner - TKO’12 & XO’12 - October Preview P.4/ - Calendar / TYBS - Pastor’s Desk
Above: A reddish full moon over the horizon.
Got a glimpse of the full moon recently during the Mid-Autumn Festival (9/30)? Well, know that God has many purposes for the moon besides a holiday for us. Here are four such reasons: 1.
LEARN MORE// What do the acronyms TKO and XO stand for?
What does a carecell do? When can I get a free English Bible?
How should I understand Revelation?
What is “more than we deserve, greater than we imagine”?
Where and when is EM’s retreat this year?
What time is the EM Choir rehearsal on Sundays? www.slpcenglish.org
OCT
God made the moon to give light to the earth at night. “God made two great lights—the greater light to govern the day (sun) and the lesser light (moon)
TYBS: Revelation, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah Three more months to complete the Two-Year Bible Schedule! Keep it up! Revelation: This “revelation of Jesus Christ” to the seven historical churches in Asia Minor warns against spiritual indifference and encourages Christians under persecution. Revelation is filled with symbolism, but the key theme points to the ultimate victory of Jesus. Joel: The prophet Joel prophesized the outpouring of the Spirit and was the kind of man who could see the eternal in the temporal. He calls upon the people of Judah to repent, promising that their repentance will bring God’s blessings, both material and spiritual. -1-
Amos: A shepherd and native of Judah, Amos is called by God to prophesy to the northern kingdom of Israel. The prophet fearlessly announces the impending judgment of God while his final words promised the restoration of a righteous remnant. Obadiah: The prophet predicts doom for Edomites and ends with the promise that “the kingdom shall be the Lord’s.” Jonah: Jonah had refused God’s call to preach to the people of Nineveh, but later does so after being inside a big fish! In this book is the universality of God’s love embracing even pagan nations (i.e., neither of Israel nor Judah).
www.slpcenglish.org
SEPTEMBER REVIEW Outreach: (i) On 9/2 Jeremy Linsanity testimony via live broadcast at SLPC 10F; (ii) On 9/21-22 SLPC’s annual Outreach Night w/Rev. Wang Wu Cong “Honor Ancestors, Worship God”. Worship: (i) On 9/2 Praise Team led worship; (ii) From 9/9-27, Ps. Peter will be on holiday in USA. In the meantime, we were blessed to hear God’s Word preached by Rev. Xiong, Dr. Rev. Yates, and Ps. Liao; (iii) Sermons available on EM website (www.slpcenglish.org). Fellowship: (i) Many people have joined carecells and are finding an edifying time with brothers and sisters in Christ. Make sure you visit
one soon and see for yourself the rewards of a church family; (ii) EM’s CARE team is available to help and assist your daily needs. (iii) On 9/30, everyone received a “moon cake” after worship to celebrate the Taiwanese holiday. Remember to join us for lunch fellowship. Discipleship: (i) “Basic Bible Reading in English” Sundays 9:30 AM in 702; (ii) “TYBS” worksheet due 9/30; (iii) Mini-binder of 100 Bible Verses available while supplies last at Welcome Table.
Above: Many church members showed up at SLPC 10F to see and hear Jeremy Lin’s live testimony via the Internet on 9/2. Praise God for what He is doing in Jeremy’s faithful living as he glorifies God in the NBA.
Service: EM works as a team ministry. If you’re gifted or want to explore your gifts, join the team!
Retreat’12 (11/3-4): “Grace” Do you know grace? No, we don’t mean Grace, the EM Choir conductor (although she is a wonderful person to know). We mean saving grace, the most wonderful gift from God! Above: The new book from Max Lucado will help us better understand God’s grace, and draw us closer to God in our relationship with Him.
At this year’s retreat 11/3-4 at LIFE Resort in Hsinchu County, we will be using a video series from a popular Christian author Max Lucado to learn more about God’s amazing grace. Here’s an ex-
cerpt from the materials: We talk as if we know what grace means. But do we really understand it? Have we settled for wimpy grace? It politely occupies a phrase in a hymn, fits nicely on a church sign. Max Lucado asks a deeper question: Have you been changed by grace? Grace is the voice that calls us to change and then gives us the power to pull it off. Let’s make certain grace gets you.
Free English Bibles Thanks to EMers who have donated to the Bible Fund, 120 people in the last few years have received free English Bibles, and only in recent months have we run out. Nevertheless, the demand for God’s Word remains as many are requesting on Connect Cards to receive Bibles. That’s good news! Hallelujah! Thank you for your patience, but the wait will soon be over. This time, 240 Bibles have been ordered and are waiting for safe passage from the USA to Taiwan so more Good News about Jesus Christ can be shared in this land. In particular, thanks to Fair Lawn Community www.slpcenglish.org
Church in New Jersey that church members are willing to bring back the boxes of Bibles in coming months as they travel to Taiwan. Because of extremely high shipping and handling fees, we were unable to ship them directly from the book publisher, and thus, the delay. Because of God’s grace, we have found a way. As a note, these Bibles are the 2011-NIV (New International Version) translation, which is slightly different from the previous ones based on the 1984-NIV translation. Nevertheless, both will lead us to eternal life in Jesus Christ.
-2-
Above: One of the cover designs of EM’s outreach English Bibles. If you’d like to help support the Bible Fund, please speak to Ps. Peter.
www.slpcenglish.org
Carecell Corner: “A Blessing to Me” by Ralph Li
Above: Ralph (second from right) and his carecell members visiting Rose at Mackay Hospital.
"Carecell has been such a blessing to me this past summer, and even with so many people coming and going at EM, carecell has allowed us—believers of different cultures and backgrounds—to share our experiences and struggles with one another. I'm grateful for the brothers and sisters in 1Way and for their desire to spur one another on to grow in Christ. It's also wonderful to see community and fellowship in action. Some of us were able to visit our fellow carecell
sister Rose in the hospital and to see her newborn child! The baby seemed healthy and we are so happy for both her and her husband Jimmy. We're awaiting your return to us, Rose! We've also been able to do a lot of joint fellowship activities with Chosen which has been a tremendous blessing. I'm looking forward to seeing how God will use our carecell in the next few months and may both 1Way and Chosen continue to glorify God in genuine fellowship and worship."
Coming soon… TKO’12 (11/18) & XO’12 (12/23) Actually, it’s only October so it’s a bit too early for both the turkey and Santa to be appearing on the scene. Nevertheless, it’s not too early to start praying about whom you’d like to invite to EM’s holiday outreach events. In November, EM celebrates Thanksgiving in the great outdoors beginning Above: The holidays are meant to be fun and meaningful. So bring everyone you know and with worship, lunch, and group activities in the park. It’s amazing how the join us at EM! Lord clears up the skies each time we plan for it. This year, Thanksgiving Out-
reach (“TKO”) is set for Sunday, 11/18. Soon after TKO is Christmas Outreach (“XO”) on Sunday, 12/23. Each year’s program is a little different since we started “The First Christmas” in 2007, but each year’s message is about Jesus Christ, and there’s no message more important than that! EM’s outreach events are as bilingual as possible so don’t limit yourselves to whom you invite! Come and enjoy the fun, food, and friends together.
OCTOBER PREVIEW Outreach: (i) Pray that God will send more missionaries and “missionaries at heart” to be part of EM as we evangelize in our community; (ii) Pray for upcoming TKO and XO events—we need involvement both for putting the program together, as well as inviting guests to join us. Worship: (i) Praise Team will lead worship 10/7 and Choir will sing on 10/21; (ii) Ps. Peter will preach with emphasis on generous giving on 10/7.14, and then follow TYBS for the last two Sundays; (iii) Past sermons are online. Fellowship: (i) Sign up for the EM retreat before it’s too late! It will be a great time as we grow together in God’s grace; (ii) We believe carecells are a key way to build up the church body and so we pray and make it our goal that 100% of EMers will be com-
mitted in a carecell; (iii) EM cares for you through our CARE team—do let us know if you have needs or prayers. Discipleship: (i) “Basic Bible Reading in English” Sundays 9:30 AM in 702; (ii) “TYBS” worksheet for September readings are due 10/28; (iii) The 100 Bible Verses mini-binder is available while supplies last at Welcome Table; (iv) English Bibles will be available at Welcome Table soon. Service: Looking for a church to call your “home church” in Taipei? An important consideration is how God can best use you in the church body. At EM, there are many areas that need faithful and committed coworkers so pray and see if God brought you to belong in EM’s family. Let us serve one another and serve together.
-3-
Above: “You were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.” Galatians 5:13
www.slpcenglish.org
www.slpcenglish.org
OCTOBER 2012 Join us for Sunday worship at 11 AM (7F) and lunch fellowship afterward in the café area.
Sun
Our Vision Evangelistic & Nurturing Church Our Mission Love God & Love Others as Ourselves
7
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
1 Hos 5-6
2 Hos 7-8
3 Hos 9-10
4 Hos 11-12
5 Hos 13-14
6 Pr 19
7:30P Chrysalis CC 7:30P Agape CC
7:30P Chosen CC 7:30P 1Way CC 7:30P Music Team
9 Rev 3-4
10 Rev 5-6
11 Rev 7-8
12 Rev 9-10
13 Pr 20
7:30P Chrysalis CC 7:30P Agape CC
National Day 7:30P Chosen CC 7:30P 1Way CC 7:30P Music Team
16 Rev 13-14
17 Rev 15-16
18 Rev 17-18
19 Rev 19-20
20 Pr 21
7:30P Chrysalis CC 7:30P Agape CC
7:30P Chosen CC 7:30P 1Way CC 7:30P Music Team
23 Joel 1-3
24 Am 1-2
25 Am 3-4
26 Am 5-6
27 Pr 22
7:30P Chrysalis CC 7:30P Agape CC
7:30P Chosen CC 7:30P 1Way CC 7:30P Music Team
30 Am 9-Ob
31 Jnh 1-2
7:30P Chrysalis CC 7:30P Agape CC
7:30P Chosen CC 7:30P 1Way CC 7:30P Music Team
8 Rev 1-2
9:30A BBRE 11A English Worship 1P Choir Rehearsal
14c
15 Rev 11-12
9:30A BBRE 11A English Worship 1P Choir Rehearsal
21
22 Rev 21-22
9:30A BBRE 11A English Worship 1P Choir Rehearsal
28
29 Am 7-8
9:30A BBRE 11A English Worship 1P Choir Rehearsal
c: Communion BBRE: Basic Bible Reading in English
TYBS Readings: Hos: Hosea Pr: Proverbs Rev: Revelation Am: Amos Ob: Obadiah Jnh: Jonah
From the Pastor’s Desk MAIL TO
FROM SLPC English Ministry 雙連教會英文牧區 111 Zhong Shan North Rd, 9F Sec 2, Taipei, Taiwan 台北市中山北路二段 111 號 9 樓
slpcenglish.org
Email: emcaresforyou@gmail.com Tel. 02-2541-5390 Fax. 02-2523-1361 SLPC-EM
As much as I love EM, I have to confess it’s also great to get away once in a while. In fact, my family and I took a 2 week+ holiday and went as far as we could go—halfway around the world to New Jersey, where it’s a 12-hour time zone difference. As I have come to observe and experience, Taiwan is a very hardworking culture, which is good, but I believe God did not make us just to work, but also for rest. It’s hard to do good works when you don’t get good rest. As Hebrews 4:9-11 says, “There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience.” That’s right,
even God rested on the seventh day after six consecutive days of creating the world and all that is in it. Work hard, but don't work so hard that you leave out Rev. Peter Chen time for God and 陳道南牧師 forget to trust in the Lord. After all, why did an Almighty God rest? Did he get tired? No, I believe he wanted to spend time with his creation, namely, us. Learn to work hard for the Lord, but also learn to find rest in the Lord. When you start to do so, you’ll find your life to be much more relaxed, worry-free, and simply more enjoyable. That’s how life tends to be when God is in it.
Articles in this edition of EM News reflect the opinions and personalities of the English Ministry at Suang-Lien Presbyterian Church.
www.slpcenglish.org
-4-