Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Love Your Neighbor


"Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold." - Acts 28:1-2

The above verse isn't usually used to tell Christians about the need to be active in caring for others.  It is still good, however, because it describes the caring of non-Christians to others and is a reminder that unbelievers will care for others, and certainly we should do no less.  Have any of us not benefited from the care of a non-Christian at one time or another?  The Bible, however, tells us to be different by, um, caring for others.  That should make it clear that a bit of caring now and then isn't quite what is intended. May we have a greater commitment.
 

HIGHLIGHTED PRAYER

Continue to remember Haiti.  May God grant relief and healing to those effected.  May those who are working to provide the relief have strength for the effort.

PRAY FOR OUR CONGREGATION

Please pray for our Winter Retreat which is coming up on President's Day Weekend (Feb 12-14).  Pray that it will be a spiritually meaningful experience.


Our youth group will be experimenting with holding meetings at Ben & Angela's house starting in February.  The hope is to provide an environment where more of the youth's non-Christian friends will be willing to come to "church."  Please pray for them as they try this out.

We've been praying about the next project with Snow Elementary and the possibility of starting a Kid's Club, a moral training class on school campus.  However, the Chinese congregations are looking to start an Awana, a church club for kids, which is similar but different.  Please pray that God will help us discern which path to take.

PRAY FOR THE REST OF OUR CHURCH

AWANA: pray for God's guidance, preparations of coworkers, classrooms and space. The first AWANA meeting has started, so give thanks to the Lord for this new ministry.

Pray for the planning and preparation of the activity to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New year and the Valentine's day on Feb 13th, sponsored by the Good Friend Fellowship.

Stephen Wong has resigned from Cantonese co-worker chairman position due to job difficulty. Please pray for Stephen and the Cantonese congregation for God guidance. Pastor Lai will work directly with the co-workers who are responsible for different church functions.

PRAY ABOUT HOW GOD IS LEADING YOU ON HIS MISSION
    
PRAY FOR THREE(3) OF YOUR UNCHURCHED FRIENDS/FAMILY
    
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
    
Amen

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Greater Things Are Still To Be Done In This City


"As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it." -  Luke 19:41

Certainly Jesus loved the city of Jerusalem and the people in it to weep over it.  This year's winter retreat will be in San Francisco.  Please pray over this event as those who are planning prepare something for us and we consider our participation individually.  May the Lord challenge us to a closer relationship with Him, even as we seek to reach out to others around us.


PRAY FOR OUR CONGREGATION

Please pray for our Winter Retreat which is coming up on President's Day Weekend (Feb 12-14).  Pray that it will be a spiritually meaningful experience.

Our youth group will be experimenting with holding meetings at Ben & Angela's house starting in February.  The hope is to provide an environment where more of the youth's non-Christian friends will be willing to come to "church."  Please pray for them as they try this out.

Please pray as we start looking into the next project with Snow Elementary and the possibility of starting a Kid's Club.

Thanks to the Lord that the Christmas Game Fair on 12/12 was held successfully. There were over 65 kids and a lot of them from the neighborhood.

PRAY FOR THE REST OF OUR CHURCH

Mandarin:  Continue to pray for our worship team, which needs new members and piano player, pray to the Lord that we will establish a strong Worship team to lead our Sunday morning singing inspiration.

2010 goal for the Cantonese ministry is to develop a children ministry. The congregation can only attract younger generation of worshiper by having a children Sunday school. Please pray to God for His guidance.

PRAY ABOUT HOW GOD IS LEADING YOU ON HIS MISSION
  
PRAY FOR THREE(3) OF YOUR UNCHURCHED FRIENDS/FAMILY
  
In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
  
Amen

Saturday, January 2, 2010

A Fresh Start!


January 1 Hiking


Please click the above link for more photos.