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親愛的弟兄姊妹：

好快便踏入2024年的下半年，我感謝神各語言群體的崇拜人數均有些微的增長，且會眾的投入亦有增無減。在剛過去的會友大會中，我更感謝財政蘇錦棠執事提出的挽救赤字方案。原來我們只要在恆常奉獻以外，再額外的多付10元一星期，或40元一月，財赤問題便可迎刃而解。在此我特別鼓勵未曾做恆常奉獻的會眾，憑信心嘗試每主日10元，或每月50元的奉獻，學習體驗一下仰賴神的供應和恩典，你會訝異，神的信實和供應是何等豐富。在過去的兩季中，我們從希伯來書十一章學習信心的功課，並聖經中有關盼望的應許和教導，我好盼望我們的信心和盼望都在真理和愛中一同增長，更因愛神和愛教會的心而盡上奉獻的本分，榮神益人。盼望在2024年底，我們能看見教會財政向好的一面進展。

自從崇拜時間更改後，粵語部可以在粵語崇拜前有45分鐘的主日學。感謝神，一共有25位肢體上課。由於課室空間所限，每班最多只能擁擠18人，對於一些渴望報名而未能上課的會眾來說，實在是可惜得很。與此同時，兒童事工也因課室空間的問題而限制了發展。為此，執事會於6月成立了一個特別委員會去處理教會空間如何有效善用。感謝神，委員會一致認為改建廚房是最理想的方案。有關改建的建議和圖則、費用，稍後執事會將會向會眾公佈，並會為此項計劃進行諮詢及籌款，請大家切切為此禱告，也為兒童及家庭事工半職傳道的空缺能儘快補上禱告。當我們禱告，神便會在我們中間行奇妙的事，讓我們一同在財政赤字、空間限制，和人手短缺上，經歷「與主同行」的恩典。

2024年下半年，我們除了已計劃的事工和聚會，另外加增了粵語事工退修日(8月10日)和中秋晚會 (9月16日)。國語 (MM) 和英語 (EM) 群體都有他們的事工委員會，偏偏是最大的粵語群體(CM)，我們沒有專責的粵語事工委員會。為此我於5月成立了CM委員會，並安排8月10日有一日的退修，好讓委員們能加深彼此的認識，並清楚教會的目標和異象，以致能同心合意地建立粵語群體和教會整體事工。教會一直以來都希望未信者及街坊能多認識我們，趁著中秋佳節，我們希望能籍此機會，開放教會予未信者及街坊認識我們，好讓我們的親切和關懷能讓他們看見神的愛。舉辦中秋晚會，是外展部希望會眾能多帶未信親友前來，一同在神的家團聚並享受節慶的歡樂。頌主堂是我們第二個家，我們希望更多人能成為這家的一員，好在冷漠的世代裡，我們在此栽種愛心，帶給世人溫暖和盼望，讓世人知道，耶穌是愛與真光。讓我們在下半年繼續與主同行，活出及傳揚信、望、愛。

愛你們的牧者，
胡志雄牧師

 

Dear brothers and sisters,

As we quickly step into the second half of 2024, I thank God for the slight increase in attendance across all language groups and for the continued dedication of our congregation. In the recent AGM, I am especially grateful for the financial deficit solution proposed by Deacon Wallace So. It turns out that if each of us contributes an additional $10 per week or $40 per month beyond our regular offerings, the budget deficit can be resolved. Here, I particularly encourage those who have not yet committed to regular tithing to try, in faith, donating $10 each Sunday or $50 each month, to experience relying on God's provision and grace. You will be amazed at how abundant God's faithfulness and provision are. Over the past two quarters, we have learned lessons of faith from Hebrews 11 and about the promises and teachings related to hope in the Bible. I sincerely hope that our faith and hope will grow together in truth and love, and that our love for God and the church will lead us to fulfill our tithing responsibilities, glorifying God and blessing others. I hope that by the end of 2024, we will see positive progress in the church's finances.

Since the change in worship time, the Cantonese congregation now has 45 minutes of Sunday school before the Cantonese service. Thank God, a total of 25 members are attending two classes. Due to limited classroom space, each class can only accommodate a maximum of 18 people, which is unfortunate for those who wish to register but cannot attend. Meanwhile, the children's ministry is also constrained in its development due to space limitations. Therefore, in June, the Deacons' Board established a special committee to address the effective use of church space. Thank God, the committee unanimously agreed that remodeling the kitchen is the best solution. The proposed remodeling plans, costs, and details will be announced to the congregation by the Deacons' Board later. Consultations and fundraising for this project will also take place, so please pray earnestly for this, and also pray for the quick filling of the part-time position for children's and family ministry. When we pray, God will do wonderful things among us, allowing us to experience the grace of "walking with the Lord" in overcoming financial deficits, space limitations, and manpower shortages.

In the second half of 2024, in addition to the already planned ministries and programs, we have added a Cantonese ministry retreat day (August 10) and a Mid-Autumn Festival party (September 16). The Mandarin (MM) and English (EM) congregations have their ministry committees, but the largest Cantonese congregation (CM) does not have a dedicated Cantonese ministry committee. Therefore, I established the CM Committee in May and scheduled a one-day retreat on August 10 so that committee members can deepen their understanding of each other and clearly understand the church's vision and mission, enabling us to build the Cantonese congregation and overall church ministry in unity. The church has always hoped that non-believers and neighbors would get to know us better. Taking advantage of the Mid-Autumn Festival, we hope to use this opportunity to open the church to non-believers and neighbors, allowing them to see God's love through our warmth and care. The Outreach Department hopes that by hosting the Mid-Autumn Festival party, the congregation can bring more non-believing friends and family to gather in God's house and enjoy the festive joy. Bethel is our second home, and we hope more people will become part of this family. In a cold and indifferent world, we want to plant seeds of love here, bringing warmth and hope to the world, letting people know that Jesus is love and true light. Let us continue to walk with the Lord in the second half of the year, living out and spreading faith, hope, and love.

Sincerely yours,
Rev. Woo

 

亲爱的弟兄姊妹：

好快便踏入2024年的下半年，我感谢神各语言群体的崇拜人数均有些微的增长，且会众的投入亦有增无减。在刚过去的会友大会中，我更感谢财政苏锦棠执事提出的挽救赤字方案。原来我们只要在恒常奉献以外，再额外的多付10元一星期，或40元一月，财赤问题便可迎刃而解。在此我特别鼓励未曾做恒常奉献的会众，凭信心尝试每主日10元，或每月50元的奉献，学习体验一下仰赖神的供应和恩典，你会讶异，神的信实和供应是何等丰富。在过去的两季中，我们从希伯来书十一章学习信心的功课，并圣经中有关盼望的应许和教导，我好盼望我们的信心和盼望都在真理和爱中一同增长，更因爱神和爱教会的心而尽上奉献的本分，荣神益人。盼望在2024年底，我们能看见教会财政向好的一面进展。

自从崇拜时间更改后，粤语部可以在粤语崇拜前有45分钟的主日学。感谢神，一共有25位肢体上课。由于课室空间所限，每班最多只能拥挤18人，对于一些渴望报名而未能上课的会众来说，实在是可惜得很。与此同时，儿童事工也因课室空间的问题而限制了发展。为此，执事会于6月成立了一个特别委员会去处理教会空间如何有效善用。感谢神，委员会一致认为改建厨房是最理想的方案。有关改建的建议和图则、费用，稍后执事会将会向会众公布，并会为此项计划进行咨询及筹款，请大家切切为此祷告，也为儿童及家庭事工半职传道的空缺能尽快补上祷告。当我们祷告，神便会在我们中间行奇妙的事，让我们一同在财政赤字、空间限制，和人手短缺上，经历「与主同行」的恩典。

2024年下半年，我们除了已计划的事工和聚会，另外加增了粤语事工退修日(8月10日)和中秋晚会 (9月16日)。国语 (MM) 和英语 (EM) 群体都有他们的事工委员会，偏偏是最大的粤语群体(CM)，我们没有专责的粤语事工委员会。为此我于5月成立了CM委员会，并安排8月10日有一日的退修，好让委员们能加深彼此的认识，并清楚教会的目标和异象，以致能同心合意地建立粤语群体和教会整体事工。教会一直以来都希望未信者及街坊能多认识我们，趁着中秋佳节，我们希望能籍此机会，开放教会予未信者及街坊认识我们，好让我们的亲切和关怀能让他们看见神的爱。举办中秋晚会，是外展部希望会众能多带未信亲友前来，一同在神的家团聚并享受节庆的欢乐。颂主堂是我们第二个家，我们希望更多人能成为这家的一员，好在冷漠的世代里，我们在此栽种爱心，带给世人温暖和盼望，让世人知道，耶稣是爱与真光。让我们在下半年继续与主同行，活出及传扬信、望、爱。

爱你们的牧者，
胡志雄牧师