Chinese Choir
Chinese Sermon
English Sermon - "You Will Have Fun", Jonah 3: 1-5, 10, Derek Lang, Certified Lay Speaker
Monday, January 23, 2012
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Newness in the Midst of Routine
Are you the kind of person who needs routine, for life to be structured and ordered in such a way that you know what to expect, with no surprises? When I began teaching four-year-olds, I learned that routine was important because it gave the children a sense of security and safety, which then allowed for maximum learning to take place. So it meant starting the day the same way every day: greeting at the door, pledge of allegiance, a song, reciting poems, talking about the daily news. Then new lessons began.
Maybe our Christian journey of faith has some similarities. We attend worship, sing songs, read scripture listen to a sermon, hear the benediction, share fellowship hour, and leave ready to practice faithful living as Jesus taught . Routine is comforting. In fact, another name for the season of Epiphany, which occurs from January 6th until Ash Wednesday, is Ordinary Time. But within this Ordinary Time, are we making time for the “new lessons” to take place? Educating my students would have come to a standstill if I only relied on the daily routine to set the stage and then did nothing else. Likewise, to grow in our Christian walk requires that we look beyond the “routines” with new eyes, daily seeking where God is calling us to stretch, to grow, to learn, to bring the life of the Gospel to this sometimes chaotic world in a way that is transforming.
During the latter half of 2011, I was sensing the call of God to leave something familiar, something I really loved and felt blessed in doing: being the chair of the Missions Ministries Team. I can remember years ago Pastor Peter inviting me to consider this position, and I answered without hesitation because it was truly a ministry area that was in my heart to lead. But as I began to realize that new leadership was perhaps what the church needed, I informed Pastor Emily that the time had come to be looking for a new chairperson. While I still plan to be involved with missions, there was an emptiness in not knowing what I should be doing next.
Little did I suspect that Derek would soon be talking to me about the possibility of serving as EMC Chair/Lay Leader/ Member to Annual Conference. Holy smokes! I thought, those are huge shoes to fill! I began to pray and discern if this was indeed what God intended for me to do. It took a while to get over the initial fear (yes fear!) of doing something so different, but I began to look at it as an opportunity to grow, to stretch myself, and to offer my service to God and the church in a new, rather unexpected way. I know there is a great deal to learn, and I invite you all to pray for both Steve and me as we venture into new territory.
Today we celebrate Laity Sunday. You and I are the laity, the church, the body of Jesus Christ, whom we publicly proclaimed as our Lord and Savior at our baptism. We are daily being called by God to be God’s hands and feet and voice in the church and in the world. And sometimes that call comes in a way that may seem uncomfortable, implausible, or even impossible. But God knows us even better than we know ourselves, and God longs for us to stretch and grow, perhaps in ways quite different from the “ordinary”. In this continuing season of Epiphany, I invite you to intentionally look for ways to BE the church, to offer yourself and your gifts in service, perhaps trying something new in the midst of your ordinary routine. Shalom and God bless.
English Ministry News and Notes for 1-22-12
*Small Group Ministry Celebration & Lunar New Year Potluck - We will worship in parallel next Sunday, Jan. 29th at 9:30 a.m. with our CM brothers and sisters. Please enter through the Annex gates. Following worship, we will hold our annual lunar new year potluck. Please bring a main or veggie dish to share. No desserts, please!
*Please note: Pastor Emily will be away next weekend (Friday through Monday). In case of a pastoral emergency, please feel free to connect via cell phone.
*CCUMC Seeks Capable Custodian - SPRB is now accepting applications for a part time (10 hour / week) custodian. Please keep your eyes and ears open to someone who may need a job. To apply, please connect with SPRB Chair, Richard Fong, or Pastor Emily.
*Adventure in Faith (AiF) Monthly Chapel - AiF gathers this Wednesday to hear and explore the story of Daniel in the lion's den. Please hold our volunteers and the whole ministry in your prayers. This is an important outreach mission of CCUMC! You are invited to come and pitch in - by being a gentle presence, taking part in the chapel, or helping to prepare a snack. Please connect with Pastor Emily. We will gather at 2:00 p.m. on Jan. 25th.
*Jason (Hong Jun) Weng Graduates from Boot Camp - Jason graduates on Friday, Jan. 27th. He will be home for approximately 10 days following that before heading out again. You are invited to sign a congratulatory card for him during hospitality hour. Please hold him and his family in your prayers.
*Please note: Pastor Emily will be away next weekend (Friday through Monday). In case of a pastoral emergency, please feel free to connect via cell phone.
*CCUMC Seeks Capable Custodian - SPRB is now accepting applications for a part time (10 hour / week) custodian. Please keep your eyes and ears open to someone who may need a job. To apply, please connect with SPRB Chair, Richard Fong, or Pastor Emily.
*Adventure in Faith (AiF) Monthly Chapel - AiF gathers this Wednesday to hear and explore the story of Daniel in the lion's den. Please hold our volunteers and the whole ministry in your prayers. This is an important outreach mission of CCUMC! You are invited to come and pitch in - by being a gentle presence, taking part in the chapel, or helping to prepare a snack. Please connect with Pastor Emily. We will gather at 2:00 p.m. on Jan. 25th.
*Jason (Hong Jun) Weng Graduates from Boot Camp - Jason graduates on Friday, Jan. 27th. He will be home for approximately 10 days following that before heading out again. You are invited to sign a congratulatory card for him during hospitality hour. Please hold him and his family in your prayers.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Videos for 1-15-12
Chinese Choir
Chinese Sermon
English Sermon - "Have You Checked Your Voicemail Box Lately?", 1 Samuel 3:1-10, Rev. Israel Alvaran
Sunday, January 15, 2012
English Ministry News and Notes for 1-15-12
*Happy Human Relations Day! HRD is one of six Special Sundays in the UMC. The purpose of the day is to call "the Church to recognize the right of all God's children in realizing their potential as human beings in relationship with each other." The UMC began marking this special Sunday in 1972. We observe it on the Sunday closest to Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday in honor of his life, ministry and legacy for social justice and equality between peoples.
Your Human Relations Day offering supports vital community ministries that teach and advocate for justice, especially among people struggling to survive in the margins of society through ministries like the Youth Offender Rehabilitation Program, Community Developers Program and UM Voluntary Services Program. Thank you for giving generously.
*We Welcome the Rev. Israel Alvaran Today! Rev. Alvaran is a United Methodist clergy from the Philippines Annual Conference and works on economic justice and immigrant rights concerns in the Bay Area. Until recently, he served as interfaith and community outreach organizer for a statewide organization, Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice. He has served in various ministries: as pastor, university and youth chaplain, and seminary instructor. Rev. Alvaran finished the MDiv. and MTh. degrees at Union Theological Seminary in the Philippines, and a DMin degree at Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA.
*Do You Love Lent? Worship? Both? You are invited to imagine the season of Lent together at our worship planning retreat, Saturday, Jan. 21st, from 10:00 to 3:00 p.m. Lunch will be provided so please RSVP to Aeri or Pastor Emily.
*We Celebrate Laity Sunday Next Week. We will hear from our outgoing and incoming Lay Leader and EMC Chair and celebrate the ministry that we have ALL been called to through our baptism.
*Small Group Ministry Celebration & Lunar New Year Potluck - We will worship in parallel on Sunday, Jan. 29th at 9:30 a.m. with our CM brothers and sisters. Following worship, we will hold our annual lunar new year potluck. Please bring a main or veggie dish to share. No desserts, please!
*Have You Signed Up for Hospitality Yet? If so, thank you! If not, grab a friend and please do so today!
Your Human Relations Day offering supports vital community ministries that teach and advocate for justice, especially among people struggling to survive in the margins of society through ministries like the Youth Offender Rehabilitation Program, Community Developers Program and UM Voluntary Services Program. Thank you for giving generously.
*We Welcome the Rev. Israel Alvaran Today! Rev. Alvaran is a United Methodist clergy from the Philippines Annual Conference and works on economic justice and immigrant rights concerns in the Bay Area. Until recently, he served as interfaith and community outreach organizer for a statewide organization, Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice. He has served in various ministries: as pastor, university and youth chaplain, and seminary instructor. Rev. Alvaran finished the MDiv. and MTh. degrees at Union Theological Seminary in the Philippines, and a DMin degree at Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley, CA.
*Do You Love Lent? Worship? Both? You are invited to imagine the season of Lent together at our worship planning retreat, Saturday, Jan. 21st, from 10:00 to 3:00 p.m. Lunch will be provided so please RSVP to Aeri or Pastor Emily.
*We Celebrate Laity Sunday Next Week. We will hear from our outgoing and incoming Lay Leader and EMC Chair and celebrate the ministry that we have ALL been called to through our baptism.
*Small Group Ministry Celebration & Lunar New Year Potluck - We will worship in parallel on Sunday, Jan. 29th at 9:30 a.m. with our CM brothers and sisters. Following worship, we will hold our annual lunar new year potluck. Please bring a main or veggie dish to share. No desserts, please!
*Have You Signed Up for Hospitality Yet? If so, thank you! If not, grab a friend and please do so today!
Reflecting on Social Justice on Human Relations Day
By Steve Chan
"The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of doubt, what is laid before him." - Leo Tolstoy, 1897
I am unique and fall under the category of slow witted and not the most intelligent man; so you would think I could grasp the concept of what is social justice. So as usual I rely on the dictionary to give me a clue: Social means: of or having to do with human beings living together as a group in a situation in which their dealings with one another affect their common welfare. Justice means: the quality of being righteous, impartial and fair. So simply speaking we are talking about living together and treating each other with fairness.
I have always believed in social justice. It meant following the rules & taking responsibilities for our actions. That is why we have laws and insurance to make whole those who have been harmed. Growing up, I thought social justice was a simple concept: work hard, play fair and not harm others. As a slow witted and stubborn Christian this definition of social justice remained intact for me for most of my life. We had affirmative action back in the 60's and now they have Occupy Wall Street. The key concepts being batted around seem to do with issues of entitlement and redistribution of wealth. So what's it all about?
Thank goodness I am only slow witted and not stupid and also willing to listen and learn . Thanks to Sunday school, small groups, mission projects, staying awake for the sermons and all of you, I had an epiphany on what social justice really means. You guys probably understood already; but for me it was a journey. There is man's definition of social justice and there's God's definition of social justice. I always knew there was a difference; but adopting it as my own is the hard part.
Man's definition is based on protecting property rights. God's definition is based on treating everyone with dignity and love. God's definition of social justice does hold us accountable for the common welfare of all of his people. So when in doubt; always fight for the little guy, the homeless, the starving and the down trodden. You just might see the face of God when you help His people in need.
"The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow-witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of doubt, what is laid before him." - Leo Tolstoy, 1897
I am unique and fall under the category of slow witted and not the most intelligent man; so you would think I could grasp the concept of what is social justice. So as usual I rely on the dictionary to give me a clue: Social means: of or having to do with human beings living together as a group in a situation in which their dealings with one another affect their common welfare. Justice means: the quality of being righteous, impartial and fair. So simply speaking we are talking about living together and treating each other with fairness.
I have always believed in social justice. It meant following the rules & taking responsibilities for our actions. That is why we have laws and insurance to make whole those who have been harmed. Growing up, I thought social justice was a simple concept: work hard, play fair and not harm others. As a slow witted and stubborn Christian this definition of social justice remained intact for me for most of my life. We had affirmative action back in the 60's and now they have Occupy Wall Street. The key concepts being batted around seem to do with issues of entitlement and redistribution of wealth. So what's it all about?
Thank goodness I am only slow witted and not stupid and also willing to listen and learn . Thanks to Sunday school, small groups, mission projects, staying awake for the sermons and all of you, I had an epiphany on what social justice really means. You guys probably understood already; but for me it was a journey. There is man's definition of social justice and there's God's definition of social justice. I always knew there was a difference; but adopting it as my own is the hard part.
Man's definition is based on protecting property rights. God's definition is based on treating everyone with dignity and love. God's definition of social justice does hold us accountable for the common welfare of all of his people. So when in doubt; always fight for the little guy, the homeless, the starving and the down trodden. You just might see the face of God when you help His people in need.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Videos for 1-8-12
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