Dear Friends at 5C:
The world is in a mess! As COVID-19 continues to inflict millions around the world, people take their anger onto the street against government policies. No matter what happens in Hong Kong or in Los Angeles, many realize that something is seriously wrong in our society. In another word, the situation we are witnessing reveals that human rebellion against God has reached the climax. We are so proud of medical advances in the last centuries, boast about space exploring achievements, and trust the technology solving all our problems. Now it is a wake-up call! Unless humans change the course of how they treat nature and how they relate to each other, nothing can save the human race from the doomed destruction. However, Christians should have no fear in such challenging times. Remember what Jesus said on the Mount of Olive, “But when these things begin to take place, straighten up and lift up your heads because your redemption is drawing near.” (Luke 21:28)
It is wonderful to see many brothers and sisters on Sunday through Zoom. Pastor Ray delivered a good message on the first verse of Genesis, so the grand picture of God’s salvation becomes much more clear as we compare the first and the last books in the Bible. Thanks to Pastor Ray for his thorough study and faithful teaching among us! Church prayer meetings were well attended last week, especially a group of brothers and sisters faithfully supporting church ministry during this pandemic crisis. Praise to God for all of you who have demonstrated God’s love through supporting the church as well as caring for people in need. This coronavirus may slow down our daily movement, but it certainly cannot stop us from growing our love for God and for one another.
Ministry Update:
- Virtual prayer meetings at 7:30 pm Monday and Thursday.
- Pastor Chen’s virtual office hours, 10:00 am-12:00 pm every Friday.
- Chinese Sunday school (Pastor Chen) and English Sunday school (Bianca Lin)
- “Love” Small Group will meet through Zoom at 7:30 pm on Sunday 6/7.
- “Bible Study Methods” begins at 9:30 am on Sunday, June 7, and a make-up session is scheduled at 11:00 am on Wednesday, June 10.
- We will continue the sermon series on the Book of Ruth on June 7.
- Raymond and Bianca are working on church reopening guidelines.
- Chris Choi is working on the Good Samaritan Committee guideline.
Prayer Requests:
- Pray for Coronavirus outbreak in the US and around the world.
- Pray for the physical and spiritual well-being of our church members.
- Pray for God’s protection for people who have to work outside home.
- Pray for Bianca’s fully recovery after hand surgery last month.
- Pray for Annie Shi-Mu’s sister who suffers Parkinson’s disease.
- Pray for Ed Sherman’s son Lane who undergoes treatment for brain cancer.
Look forward to seeing you virtually on Sunday.
Blessings!
Jinchang
親愛的中岸教會朋友們:
现在世界是異常混亂!隨著新冠病毒繼續在全球造成數以百萬人的感染,人們對政府的政策表示憤怒。無論在香港或在洛杉磯所發生的事,許多人都意識到,我們的社會存在嚴重的失誤。換句話說,我們所看到的情況表明,人類背叛上帝已經達到了無以復加的地步。人類為上個世紀的醫學進步感到驕傲,为探索太空的成功而自豪,並相信依賴科學技術的發展,能够解決我們所有的問題。現在是應該清醒的時刻了!除非人類改變對待自然以及彼此相處方式,否則沒有任何方法能夠拯救人類免於在劫難逃的毀滅。但是,在這樣一個充滿挑戰的時代,基督徒應當毫無恐懼。請牢記耶穌在橄欖山上所說的:“一有這些事你們就當挺身昂首,因為你們得贖的日子近了。”(路 21:28)
很高興週日通過 Zoom 看到教會兄弟姐妹。裴牧師研讀創世紀第一節經文
傳達了美好信息,當我們比較聖經中的第一本和最後一本書卷時,上帝救贖計
畫的全貌變得更加清晰。感謝裴牧師的深入研究和忠實教導!上週的禱告會依
然有很多人參加,尤其有一群弟兄姐妹固定地支持教會事工。感謝主,通過支
持教會以及幫助疫情中有需要的人,大家表達了對上帝的忠誠。這次新冠病毒
可能會放慢我們日常生活的腳步,但它無法阻止我們追求屬靈生命的成長。
事工更新:
- 線上禱告會於週一和週四晚間 7 點半舉行。
- 陳牧師的線上辦公時間為每週五的上午 10:00-12:00。
- 中文主日學將由陳牧師帶領,英文主日學由張西齡姐妹带領。
- “仁愛”小組週日 6/7 晚間 7 點半將通過 Zoom 聚會。
- “讀經法”將於週日 6 月 7 日上午 9 點半開始,同樣的課程 6 月 10 日
週三上午 11 點進行。 - 本週主日信息我們將繼續學習『路得記』。
- 胡其健弟兄和張西齡姐妹正在起草回歸教堂的指南
- 蔡達文弟兄正在起草好撒瑪利亞人委員會的草案。
禱告事項
- 為美國及世界各地的新冠肺炎的爆發
- 為我們教會所有成員的身體及屬靈健康
- 為那些必須在外工作的人們祈禱上帝的保護
- 為張西齡姐妹的術後恢復
- 為裴師母正在遭受帕金森困擾的姐姐
- 為 Ed Sherman 的兒子 Lane 祈禱,他正在接受腦瘤治療
期待周日线上见
主僕 陳金昌