牧人心語

我今天和一個在機構服事的牧者午膳。他是牧師的牧師，專門幫助牧師維持身體、心靈和靈性的健康。他所安排的活動包括帶牧師上山祈禱、做運動、在營火前坦誠分享在事奉中的掙扎和創傷等。

他建議男同工要學互擁抱，坦誠分享傷害和彼此饒恕。正如歌羅西書所說的：所以，你們既是神的選民，聖潔蒙愛的人，就要存憐憫、恩慈、謙虛、溫柔、忍耐的心。倘若這人與那人有嫌隙，總要彼此包容，彼此饒恕；主怎樣饒恕了你們，你們也要怎樣饒恕人。（歌羅西書 3:12-13）

事實上，這個牧師的建議不單是給牧師、傳道人，保羅的勸勉和提醒是給每個被神揀選、蒙神所愛的人。如果我們相信自己已經是蒙神揀選和被愛的人，我們對人、特別是對主內的弟兄姊妹，就更應存憐憫、恩慈、謙虛、溫柔、忍耐的心。我們對這些勸勉都沒有太大問題，雖然並不是每一樣都做得很好。但當保羅提到人與人之間若有嫌隙，我們總要彼此包容，彼此饒恕。情況可就不一樣了。因為裡面包含有誤會、傷害和忿怒。

我就想起Charlie Kirk的妻子Erika公開說她會饒恕殺害她丈夫的兇手。我聽見時覺得不可思議。兇手有認罪嗎？有後悔嗎？在司法程序上到現時仍沒有。Erika怎麼可能在這個時候就饒恕Tyler Robinson？我相信她是實踐聖經所說的：主怎樣饒恕了你們，你們也要怎樣饒恕人。

主是怎樣饒恕了我們的？是在我們還作罪人的時候，是在我們還不知悔改的時候，是在我們還攻擊祂、污蔑祂、陷害祂的時候，主耶穌就已經饒恕了我們。這不是人可以靠意志可以做到的事。除非我們的生命被基督的愛填滿了，基督的愛淹蓋了一切怨恨、撫平了所有創傷，平息了一切忿怒。

主內的弟兄姊妹，我們對某些人，包括家人和主內的弟兄姊妹，心中是否仍有嫌隙？我們能存憐憫、恩慈、謙虛、溫柔、忍耐的心去對待他們、愛他們嗎？當我們受傷害、被污蔑和刻意攻擊時，我們仍能饒恕這些得罪自己的人嗎？願神幫助我們。

容旭輝傳道已於上週三通過按牧團審查其呼召及信德，現依會章公告全會眾。會眾若有任何意見，請於十月二十六日前以書面署名交教牧團隊跟進。謝謝。

招牧師

代禱事項

• 讚美感謝神讓容旭輝傳道順利通過按牧團查問信仰和全職事奉意願。請大家為其心志和恩賜得以完全發揮祈禱。
• 為我們能經常記念主愛，被祂的大愛充滿祈禱。求神讓我們能以耶穌為榜樣，有能力去寬恕那些得罪我們的人。
• 為十月十四日在Pleasanton分堂舉行的家庭同樂日祈禱。求神藉此增進教會與社區之間的關係，吸引更多人來追求認識基督的信仰。
• 為身體心靈有軟弱的弟兄姊妹代禱。求神在人的軟弱中彰顯祂的恩典，讓病患者得安慰和醫治。
• 為慶祝 25週年籌備委員會祈禱。求神的靈引領他們利用這特別時刻，幫助會眾學習如何數算神的祝福和恩典，並受激勵同心隨主引領作主工。

奉獻簡報

每月預算目標 $ 485,466.37 八月常費奉獻 $ 247,321.02 九月常費奉獻 $ 340,897.12   八月差傳奉獻 $ 685.87 九月差傳奉獻 $ 3,783.05   八月社區中心奉獻 $ 15,612.83 九月社區中心奉獻 $ 3,700.00

財政簡報

一月至八月總收入： $ 1,634,810.77 一月至八月總開支： $ 2,314,846.32 一月至八月缺欠： $ 680,035.55

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From the Heart of a Shepherd

Today I had lunch with a pastor who serves in a Christian organization. He’s a pastor of pastors, specializing in helping pastors maintain physical, mental, and spiritual health. His ministries include taking pastors on mountain prayer trips, exercise sessions, and candidly sharing their ministry struggles and wounds around a campfire.

He advised male ministers to learn to embrace one another, openly share hurts, and forgive one another. As Colossians says: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with one another and forgive one another if anyone has a complaint against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.” (Colossians 3:12-13)

In fact, this pastor’s advice is not just for pastors and preachers. Paul’s exhortation and reminder are for everyone chosen and loved by God. If we believe we are chosen and loved by God, we should be compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, and patient toward others, especially toward our brothers and sisters in Christ. I believe we do not have much problems with these exhortations, even although we may not be able to do it all the time. However, when Paul mentioned that we should always bear with one another and forgive each other if there are grievances against one another, the situation is quite different because it might involve misunderstandings, hurt, and anger.

I am reminded of Charlie Kirk’s wife, Erika, who publicly declared that she would forgive her husband’s murderer. I found it incredible when I heard this. Had the murderer confessed his guilt? Had he expressed remorse? He did not. How could Erika forgive Tyler Robinson at this point? I believe she was practicing what the Bible says: “As the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.”

How did the Lord forgive us? While we were still sinners, while we were unrepentant, while we were still attacking, slandering, and framing Him, the Lord Jesus forgave us. This is not something that can be accomplished by the will of man alone. Unless our lives are filled with the love of Christ, which is able to cover all resentment, heal all wounds, and calm all anger. Otherwise, we will not be able to achieve this.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, do we still harbor resentment toward certain people, including family members and fellow Christians? Can we treat them with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, loving them? When we are hurt, slandered, and deliberately attacked, can we forgive those who have offended us? May God help us.

Pastor Sam Yung passed the ordination review of his calling and faith last Wednesday. We now announce to the entire congregation in accordance with the church bylaw for his ordination. If any members have any concerns, please submit them in written form with signature to the pastoral team for follow-up by October 26th. Thank you.

Pastor Chiu

Prayer Requests

• Praise and thank God for Pastor Sam’s ordination confirmation for his willingness to become a full-time servant of God. Please pray for his determination and gifts to be fully realized.
• Pray that we will constantly remember the Lord’s love and be filled with His great compassion. Pray that we will follow Jesus’ example and have the strength to forgive those who have sinned against us.
• Pray for the Family Fun Day held at the Pleasanton campus on October 14th. Pray that this event will strengthen the relationship between the church and the community and attract more people to learn more about Christian faith.
• Pray for brothers and sisters who are weak in body and mind. Pray that God will manifest His grace in our weaknesses, so that those who are sick may find comfort and healing.
• Pray for the 25th Anniversary Celebration Planning Committee. Pray that God’s Spirit will guide them to use this special occasion to help the congregation learn to count God’s blessings and grace, and be inspired to unite our effort to do His work.

Offerings Summary

Monthly Budget Target $ 485,466.37 Aug. General offering $ 247,321.02 Sep. General offering $ 340,897.12   Aug. Mission offering $ 685.87 Sep. Mission offering $ 3,783.05   Aug. Community Center offering $ 15,612.83 Sep. Community Center offering $ 3,700.00

Finance Summary

Jan. to Aug. Income ： $ 1,634,810.77 Jan. to Aug. Expenses ： $ 2,314,846.32 Jan. to Aug. Deficit ： $ 680,035.55