07-2021 Newsletter 牧師家書

Dear Friends at 5C:

As you may already know, the deacon board decided to resume in-person worship on Sunday, August 8. Since the remodeling of the Student Union is still ongoing, we will hold worship in the gym for the time being. Hopefully, the Student Union will be ready in a few weeks. Please continue to pray for a smooth transition as church leaders have to make extra effort to set up the system. It is our intention to provide both online worship and in-person service at this time. Therefore, our members may choose whatever is best for them and for others. We encourage all our members to join our in-person service in the church.

The more contagious Delta variant poses a great threat to the US recovery from the pandemic. LA county reinstates some of the restrictions this week due to the rapid increase of infection numbers. Obviously, this pandemic continues to drag on through the year 2021, probably for a few more years. If someone thinks that he or she may get away from COVID-19 without vaccination, please have a second thought. It seems that this virus may stay with humans for a long time. It is God’s provision that scientists are able to develop such potent vaccines in a few months, so all church members should get vaccinated to protect yourselves as well as the people around you.

Praise the Lord for the answered prayers!  Cherry Lam’s mother is doing better in Hong Kong, and Bill Campbell reports the improving number as well. Thanks to those praying warriors in our midst, our church earns a good reputation because of their diligent service to this body of Christ. God is good and merciful, He continues to show His grace to our church. Indeed, we are small in number, but mighty in fighting spiritual warfare. Let us continue this good work and pray unceasingly as Paul encourages us (1The 5:17).

Annie Shi-Mu recently posted a few videos on YouTube. I find them quite good in teaching Christian beliefs, hoping that these presentations may reach many to solidify their faith. If you are interested, please check the church website for more information or copy the following link, https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN9USfrX90uxsaLFECQp3kA/videos

Church secretary Cheryl is leaving at the end of July. Before we hire a replacement, some of the church leaders offer their help for the office administration, special thanks to Chris Choi (Sunday bulletin), Bianca Lin (office purchase), Raymond Wu (website), Rachel Ma (flyers and videos), and Annie Shi-Mu (translation). Please pray that our church is able to find an office administrator soon.

Thank you for your love for the Lord and your support of the church ministry! Look forward to seeing you in person in three weeks.

Ministry Update:

  1. Bianca Lin will lead church prayer meeting (in Chinese) at 7:30pm this Thursday 7/22
  2. Pastor Chen’s office hours is scheduled from 10:00am-12:00pm every Friday
  3. Small group “Goodness” will meet at 7:30pm Wednesday 7/21 through Zoom
  4. Small group “Joy” will meet at 7:30pm Friday 7/23 through Zoom
  5. Small group “Grace Garden” will meet at 7:30pm Sunday 7/25 through Zoom
  6. Chinese Sunday school (Loan Duong) and English Sunday school (Rachel Ma)
  7. Pastor Ray continues the Genesis series this Sunday 7/25
  8. The deacon board decided to resume in-person worship on Sunday, August 8
  9. Our church will hold the annual BBQ in Laguna Park on Saturday, August 28. Please contact Meiling Lacson to purchase tickets
  10. Our church is looking for a church office administrator. Please see the church website for a job description. If you know someone who is interested in this position, please send the resume to apply@slo5c.org
  11. Three deacon positions are ready for election next year, Christian Education (Bianca Lin for re-election), General Service (new candidate), and Fellowship (new candidate). If you would like to nominate anyone, please contact Nomination Committee (Pastor Chen, Anderson Lin and Tim Wang)
  12. Our church prepares to launch discipleship training promotion in the summer

Prayer Requests:

  1. Pray for the Coronavirus outbreak in India and around the world
  2. Pray for physical and spiritual well-being of our church members
  3. Pray for the remodeling of Student Union and the church’s reopening plan
  4. Pray for small group ministry in our church
  5. Pray for the launch of disciple training program in the summer
  6. Pray for Lydia Anderson’s resurgent brain tumor
  7. Pray for Amy McGlenn who receives chemo treatment for ovarian cancer
  8. Pray for Cherry Lam’s mother in Hong Kong, Bill Campbell (ed Sherman’s friend), Annie’s sister and Anderson’s brother

Look forward to seeing you virtually on Sunday.
Blessings!
Jinchang

親愛的中岸教會朋友們:
如您所知,執事會決定於 8 月 8 日主日恢復線下敬拜。由於學生中心仍在裝修中,我們暫時將在體育館進行敬拜。希望學生中心在未來幾周內準備就緒。也請您繼續為順利過渡禱告,因為教會領袖須付出額外的努力為過渡期做足準備。我們打算同時提供線上及線下敬拜服務。這樣大家可以選擇對自己及他人最好的方式參加敬拜。我們鼓勵所有成員參加到教會的敬拜。

更具傳染性的德爾塔變異株對美國從疫情中的恢復,構成了巨大威脅。由於感染人數迅速增加,洛杉磯縣本週重新恢復了一些限制規定。顯然,此次疫情將持續至 2021 年底,甚至未來幾年。如果有人認為他/她可以在不接種疫苗的情況下遠離新冠病毒,請三思而後行。這種病毒可能會與人類長期共存。因著上帝的預備,科學家們才可能在幾個月內,開發出如此有效的疫苗,因此鼓勵教會成員接種疫苗,以保護自己和周圍的人。

為蒙垂聽的禱告而讚美主!林智慧姐妹在香港的母親及 Bill Campbell的情況都有所好轉。由於我們中間有許多祈禱的勇士,我們的教會也因為你們勤奮地對基督的身體服務贏得了良好的聲譽。上帝是良善和慈悲的,祂繼續向我們的教會展示祂的恩典。的確,我們人數雖少,但在屬靈爭戰上卻是大有能力的。讓我們繼續這項善工,並按照保羅的鼓勵不斷禱告(帖前 5:17)。

裴師母最近在油管上傳了不少視頻。這些視頻對了解基督教信仰很有幫助,也希望這些分享能影響更多人,並堅固他們的信心。若有興趣,請查看教會網站,了解詳情或點擊下方鏈接:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN9USfrX90uxsaLFECQp3kA/videos

教會秘書呂京瑤將於 7 月底離職。在聘請到新職員之前,教會領袖們將分擔辦公室的工作,特別感謝蔡達文弟兄(週日簡報)、張西齡姐妹(辦公室採購)、胡其健弟兄(網站管理)、馬若曦姐妹(傳單及視頻)以及裴師母(翻譯)。請祈禱教會能盡快找到合適的辦公室秘書。

感謝您對主的愛和對教會事工的支持!
期待在三週後與您在教會見面。

事工更新:
1. 張西齡姐妹將帶領本週四 7 月 22 日晚間 7 點半的中文禱告會
2. 陳牧師辦公時間為週五上午 10 點-12 點
3. 『良善』小組將於 7 月 21 日週三晚間 7 點半聚會
4. 『喜樂』小組將於 7 月 23 日週五晚間 7 點半聚會
5. 『恩典花園』小組將於 7 月 25 日週日晚間 7 點半聚會
6. 本週中文主日學將由謝嬌鸞姐妹帶領,英文主日學由馬若曦姐妹帶領
7. 本主日 7 月 25 日裴牧師將繼續創世紀講道系列
8. 執事會決定 8 月 8 日恢復線下主日崇拜
9. 教會將於 8 月 28 日週六在 Laguna Park 舉辦夏日烤肉聚會
10. 教會現招聘兼職行政人員,詳情請見教會網站的招聘介紹。若您認識對該職位感興趣的人,請將簡歷發至 apply@slo5c.org
11. 明年教會執事將有三個職位候選,基督教育(張西齡姐妹候選連任),總務(新的候選人)和團契(新的候選人)。您若想提名候選人,請與提名委員會聯絡(陳牧師、林恩深弟兄和汪天來弟兄)
12. 教會將於夏天開展門徒計劃,歡迎所有教會成員參加

禱告事項
1. 為印度及世界各地的新冠肺炎的爆發
2. 為我們教會所有成員的身體及屬靈健康
3. 為拿撒勒人教堂的裝修進度及我們的重返教會計劃
4. 為教會各個小組事工
5. 為教會開展的門徒訓練計劃禱告
6. 為馮慶芳姐妹復發性腦瘤及後續的治療祈禱
7. 為李紅姐妹卵巢癌化療祈禱
8. 為神醫治, 林智慧姐妹的母親、Ed Sherman 的朋友 Bill Campbell、裴師母在台灣的姐姐及林恩深弟兄的哥哥

期待週日線上見
主僕陳金昌

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