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親愛的弟兄姊妹：

好高興2023年11月張傳道提出牧函這個建議，並身先仕卒地在12月發出教會的第一封又是年度最後的一封牧函。接下來的每月，牧者們將會輪流寫他們和他們事工的牧函，盼望這舉動能加深各語言會眾對其他語言群體和事工的認識，好讓頌主堂作為一個三語群體，我們能有好的溝通渠道，促進彼此的認識和了解，也讓大家在禱告中彼此守望，一同連於元首基督。

我運用了主任牧師的權力，成功爭取於2024年1月發出2024年的首封牧函 (希望沒有人指控我濫用權力)，原因是要向大家介紹教會2024年的主題和事工。教會今年的主題是「與主同行，踐行真道」。而主題經文是「小子們哪，我們相愛，不要只在言語和舌頭上，總要在行為和誠實上。」(約壹3:18) 教牧團隊希望，透過講壇信息和事工的配合，能幫助信徒在真道上自建，且能活出信仰。當我們鼓勵會眾努力活出信仰時，我們要好明白地告訴會眾，我們不是憑己力去實踐，而是要常常在基督裡與主同行。基督與聖靈永遠都是我們能力的源頭，因為離了祂，我們便不能做什麼 (約15:5)。維真學院靈修學大師畢德生曾說：「看似忙碌的領袖，其實不是委身的象徵，而是背叛的徵兆；它不代表忠心，而是變節 。」傳士德更尖銳的指出，「忙碌不是屬魔鬼的，它本身就是魔鬼 。」基督信仰從來都是憑「祂力」，而不是靠「己力」，可惜華人太受儒家思想影響，總是喜歡立志修身、齊家，然後治國、平天下，且日盼夜盼賢君的出現。但基督的信仰是尊主為大，只有祂是公義和平的賢君智者，我們倚靠祂，便從祂得著智慧生活行事。有能力的人更容易掉入靠「己力」做事和忙碌，而按世界的標準，忙碌是成功和成就的標記，怎麼會是變節？屬魔鬼呢？只有當我們看見神統管萬有，我們才能享受安息。

2024年，我希望會眾能學習多禱告和倚靠神，在工作、家庭、事奉中經歷神的同在和恩典，並透過我們的工作、家庭和事奉讓人看見神的恩典。「與主同行」是我們一生的學習，當我們愛主並願意與主同行時，我們便有力量「踐行真道」。請千萬不要靠自己「與主同行，踐行真道」，務要把自己先交託主，仰賴祂的大能大力，「與祂同行，踐行真道」。

愛你們的牧者，
胡志雄牧師

 

Dear brothers and sisters,

I am glad that in November 2023, Pastor Peter proposed the idea of publishing “Pastoral Corner” at Bethel. And he took the lead in writing the first and last “Pastoral Corner” to the church in December, 2023. In the coming months, pastors will take turns writing “Pastoral Corner” about themselves and their ministries, hoping that this will deepen the understanding of other language groups and ministries among us, so that as a trilingual congregation, we can have a better communication channel to promote mutual sharing and understanding, and also to keep watch over each other in prayer and connect with Christ, the Head of the Church.

I used my authority as Senior Pastor to successfully secure the first “Pastoral Corner” of 2024 in January (hopefully no one accuses me of abuse of power) to inform you about the church's themes and ministries for 2024. This year's theme is "Walk with Jesus, with actions and in truth" And the main scripture is, "Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth" (1 John 3:18. NIV). The pastoral team hopes that through the scheduled preaching of pulpit and other’s ministry, we could build ourselves in the faith and live out our faith. As we encourage our congregation to strive to live out our faith, we need to make it very clear that we are not doing it on our own, but that we are always walking with Jesust. Christ and the Holy Spirit are always the source of our ability, because apart from Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). The Regent College Faculty of Spirituality Eugene Peterson once said, "A seemingly busy leader is not a sign of commitment, but a sign of betrayal, and it does not represent loyalty, but apostasy." Foster pointed out more sharply, "Busyness is not of Satan, it is itself Satan." Christianity has always relied on "His power" rather than "my power", but unfortunately the Chinese are too influenced by Confucianism, and always like to aspire to self-control, family harmony, and then govern the country and rule over the world, and look forward to the emergence of a virtuous king and lord day and night. But the faith of Christ is that we confess Jesus as the Lord and that He alone is the King who is righteous and peaceful, and from whom we trust we receive wisdom and power to live and act. Capable and smart people are more likely to fall into relying on "their own strength and wisdom" to do things and be busy, and by the standards of the world, busyness is a sign of success and achievement, how can it be an apostasy and devil? Only if we can see God's rule over everything we might seek to rest in Him.

In 2024, I hope that we will learn to pray and trust God more, experience God's presence and grace in our work, family, and ministry, and let people see God's grace through our work, family, and ministry. "Walk with Jesus" is a lifelong learning that gives us the strength to "walk with actions and in truth." When we love Him then we will walk with Him. Don't "walk with Jesus, with actions and in truth" on your own but commit yourself first to the Lord and rely on His power.

Sincerely yours,
Rev. Woo

 

亲爱的弟兄姊妹：

好高兴2023年11月张传道提出牧函这个建议，并身先仕卒地在12月发出教会的第一封又是年度最后的一封牧函。接下来的每月，牧者们将会轮流写他们和他们事工的牧函，盼望这举动能加深各语言会众对其他语言群体和事工的认识，好让颂主堂作为一个三语群体，我们能有好的沟通渠道，促进彼此的认识和了解，也让大家在祷告中彼此守望，一同连于元首基督。

我运用了主任牧师的权力，成功争取于2024年1月发出2024年的首封牧函(希望没有人指控我滥用权力)，原因是要向大家介绍教会2024年的主题和事工。教会今年的主题是「与主同行，践行真道」。而主题经文是「小子们哪，我们相爱，不要只在言语和舌头上，总要在行为和诚实上。」(约壹3:18) 教牧团队希望，透过讲坛信息和事工的配合，能帮助信徒在真道上自建，且能活出信仰。当我们鼓励会众努力活出信仰时，我们要好明白地告诉会众，我们不是凭己力去实践，而是要常常在基督里与主同行。基督与圣灵永远都是我们能力的源头，因为离了祂，我们便不能做什么 (约15:5)。维真学院灵修学大师毕德生曾说：「看似忙碌的领袖，其实不是委身的象征，而是背叛的征兆；它不代表忠心，而是变节。」传士德更尖锐的指出，「忙碌不是属魔鬼的，它本身就是魔鬼。」基督信仰从来都是凭「祂力」，而不是靠「己力」，可惜华人太受儒家思想影响，总是喜欢立志修身、齐家，然后治国、平天下，且日盼夜盼贤君的出现。但基督的信仰是尊主为大，只有祂是公义和平的贤君智者，我们倚靠祂，便从祂得着智慧生活行事。有能力的人更容易掉入靠「己力」做事和忙碌，而按世界的标准，忙碌是成功和成就的标记，怎么会是变节？属魔鬼呢？只有当我们看见神统管万有，我们才能享受安息。

2024年，我希望会众能学习多祷告和倚靠神，在工作、家庭、事奉中经历神的同在和恩典，并透过我们的工作、家庭和事奉让人看见神的恩典。 「与主同行」是我们一生的学习，当我们爱主并愿意与主同行时，我们便有力量「践行真道」。请千万不要靠自己「与主同行，践行真道」，务要把自己先交托主，仰赖祂的大能大力，「与祂同行，践行真道」。

爱你们的牧者，
胡志雄牧师