NEW LIFE NEWS October 2014 / November 2014 New Life Chinese Lutheran Church From The Pastor s Heart For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:8,10 (ESV) REFORMATION DAY COMES ON OCTOBER 31 ST THE DAY WE CELEBRATE GOD S USING MARTIN LUTHER to help us once again understand the Good News from God s Word that we are saved totally by God s gift of grace simply through faith in God s only Son, Jesus Christ. To help us understand how Martin Luther was used by God (always good for us a Lutherans!), let s read a section from The Luther Legacy: T h e I n d u l g e n c e C o n t r o v e r s y 路德會新生命堂 The events which made Martin Luther, an obscure theology professor in a shabby little town in Saxony, into a famous reformer had a good deal to do with money. In the course of his Biblical studies, Luther had discovered the truth, "the righteous shall live by his faith" (Hab. 2:4). He thought, quite correctly, as most Christians would claim today, that this was the faith of the one holy, catholic, and apostolic church which had been obscured for him by his foolish endeavor to save himself by his own good works. Here the matter could have ended, if only a major advertising campaign promoting the sale of indulgences had not been launched in the neighborhood of Wittenberg. It was an effort to raise money to pay the debts of Albrecht of Hohenzollern, archbishop of Magdeburg, bishop of Halberstadt, and archbishop of Mainz. Since it was against church law that one man should hold more than one such position at a time, he needed a suspension of this law. The pope had the power to do that, and he was willing to oblige for a price. The situation was further complicated by the fact that Albrecht was only 23 years old, legally too young for such offices, and had no theological training whatsoever. Pope Leo X, a member of the Medici banking family, made all the necessary arrangements. He charged a huge sum, which Albrecht borrowed from the Fugger banking house, and arranged for the repayment by allowing the new multiple archbishop to pay his debts with money raised through the sale of indulgences in Germany. Continue on page 3 Editor & Designer Co-Editor Chinese Translator Photo Contributors Cindy Chan Justin Lum Henry Lee Cindy Chan INSIDE THIS ISSUE: From the Pastor s Heart.......... 1 From the Editor................ 2 Melissa s Journey with Intervarsity... 5 Letter from Christ Lutheran Church.. 6 New Life Pics..................6, 7 Calendars....................8, 9
New Life News P.2 From the editor The beginning of Advent November is the month of Thanksgiving, but it often also includes the beginning of a new church year. This year, November 30 is the first Sunday of Advent. The season of Advent is about Jesus, the Word, coming. It s about anticipating and preparing for Christ s arrival. Melissa s Journey with Intervarsity Many of you know about the California State University non-discrimination policy that requires a recognized student group to accept all students as potential leaders. As a ministry, we believe Christian student leaders are important in spreading the Gospel. InterVarsity welcomes all students to be members and participants. But we believe a Christian group should have the right to expect and require Christian leaders like any student group, club or Greek organization should be able to require their leaders to be like-minded. So what now? What do we do with God's Word? Treasure it, examine it, hold it close? Do we see it as an option to hide from the campus and not ruffle feathers or do we burst at the seams wanting others to know the Good News? We look to The Lord. He takes what our feeble hands offer and we believe He has a harvest waiting for us, with more on the way. In the midst of the derecognition, our student leaders have not been shaken. In just the first two days, 100+ people have provided contact information. In the last three weeks of the new semester, we have nearly 200 contacts! Praise God! In other news, my internship with InterVarsity has been wonderful. Before the semester started, our leadership team attended a three-day retreat for debriefing summers, training new and returning leaders, sharing meals together, and learning Continue on page 5 God comes to us in many and various ways. He speaks to us through the prophets and saints. He comes and speaks to us when we are listening. He comes in the beauty and mysteries of nature. Most of all, God comes in the person of Christ, speaking to his listeners face to face. That s what Advent is really all about: God visiting the earth in person to speak with anyone and everyone who is ready to do so. 將臨期的開始 十一 是感恩的 份, 然而這 份也常包括 教會年的 開始 今年十一 十日就是將臨期第一主日 將臨期 是關於耶穌, 聖道, 來臨 這是關乎期望並預備基 督的到來 帝 很多不 的方式來到 們中間 祂藉着先知和聖 徒向 們說 當 們聆聽着時, 祂便來與 們說 祂在美麗奧祕的大自然中來臨 最重要的是, 帝藉着 基督親身面 面來向祂的聽眾說 這真 是將臨期所關乎的 : 帝親身來到世 與任何 人, 每一位願意與祂溝通的人說 Special dates Columbus Day Observance October 13, 2014 Reformation Sunday October 26, 2014 Reformation Day, October 31, 2014 All Saints Day, November 1, 2014 Daylight-Saving Time ends November 2, 2014 Veterans Day November 11, 2014 Christ the King Sunday November 23, 2014 Thanksgiving November 27, 2014 First Sunday of Advent, November 30, 2014
New Life News P.3 From the Pastor s Heart page 1 Professor Bainton has called indulgences "the bingo of the sixteenth century." But the matter was really more serious than that. Most people who play bingo in church do it for entertainment. There may be some greed involved, but none believe that his or her eternal welfare is promoted by playing bingo. Indulgences were different. Whatever they had meant originally, in Luther's time many people believed that they could secure their eternal salvation, or even the liberation of loved ones who had departed this life and were now thought to surfer in the prison of purgatory, by buying letters of indulgence. Whether or not the church taught that indulgences had such power, many people believed it and were willing to spend their hard-earned money for these pieces of paper. The indulgence craze was promoted by high-pressure salesmen who used clever publicity, advertising jingles, and scare tactics to boost their sales. Bainton quotes one such sales pitch: "Listen to the voices of your dear dead relatives and friends, beseeching you and saying, 'Pity us, pity us. We are in dire torment from which you can redeem us for a pittance.' Do you not wish to? Open your ears. Hear the father saying to his son, the mother to her daughter, 'We bore you, nourished you, brought you up, left you our fortunes, and you are so cruel and hard that now you are not willing for so little to set us free. Will you let us lie here in flames? Will you delay our promised glory?' "The jingle that went with this plea was: "As soon as the coin in the coffer rings, the soul from purgatory springs." Luther heard about this promotion from his parishioners. He served a parish, listened to confession, and said Mass, The men and women who came to confess told him that, since they had purchased indulgences, they no longer had to worry about their relationship with God. They had not been able to buy these letters in Wittenberg, since Luther's prince, Frederick the Wise of Saxony, had prohibited their sale in his territory. But in those days Germans had only to walk a few miles to be in another state, under different rulers, where indulgences were easily available. Luther took action against the indulgence sales because he considered them a fraud and a danger to the spiritual welfare of Christians. He wrote 95 Theses short sentences which he wanted to debate to clarify the issue, call the attention of the authorities to these abuses, and, if possible, stop the nonsense. Today scholars argue whether he actually nailed the theses to the door of the castle church. He, himself, never said he did. In any case, they were widely circulated, and caused heated debates everywhere. They opened with the assertion that repentance must be a new attitude toward God and the life God has given us. This new attitude cannot be replaced by paying money. Luther insisted that the pope could not possibly be responsible for the nonsense the indulgence peddlers promoted, for every Christian who is truly sorry for his sins will receive God's forgiveness for Christ's sake, even without letters of indulgence. The pope, no more and no less than any other priest, declares God's forgiveness to those who repent. "Christians should be taught," Luther wrote, "that he who gives to the poor or lends to the needy does better than if he buys indulgences.... They should also be taught that a person who sees people in need and passes them by to buy indulgences is not purchasing the indulgence of the pope, but calls down the wrath of God upon himself." If the pope actually knew of the activities of the indulgence peddlers, he would rather see the basilica of St. Peter burned to ashes than that it should be built with the skin, flesh, and bones of his sheep. Luther quoted others who scoffed that if the pope had the power to release people from purgatory he should do it out of love, and not for money. Almost everybody who read these theses was impressed. Overnight, Luther had become an important voice people were heeding. Those who needed this money collected through indulgences were worried Indulgences involved big money, supporting all kind of good causes: churches, hospitals, universities, even roads and bridges. With his attack against indulgences Luther had kicked Humpty Dumpty off the wall, and it soon became apparent that neither kings nor pope nor emperors could put him back together again. From The Luther Legacy by George Wolfgang Forell, pgs. 34-39 May Jesus bless your gift from God of saving faith Jesus, and His finished work of the cross for you. And may His promised gift of the Spirit help you live a life that reflects radiantly what you know so well: Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Happy Reformation Day! In Christ s Love, Pastor Chip<><
New Life News P.4 From the Pastor s Heart page 3 牧師的心聲 你們得救是本乎恩, 也因著信 這並不是出於自己, 乃是神所賜的... 我們原是他的工作, 在基督耶穌裡造成的, 為要叫我們行善, 就是神所預備叫我們行的 以弗所書 2:8,10 十 十日是教會復原日, 這天 們慶 帝使用馬丁路德, 再次幫助 們明白 帝 裡的福音, 就是 們得救是完全因 帝的恩典, 單信 帝的獨 耶穌基督 為了幫助 們明白馬丁路德如何被 帝使用 路德信徒總是好的!, 讓 們閱讀 路德摘錄 的其中一段 : 贖罪券的爭辯 馬丁路德原先是德國薩克森一小鎮內的 學教授, 他本來藉藉無, 而使他 為著 的改教家的一些 件, 都與金錢 很大的關係 在他研讀聖經的時, 他發現了 義人因信得 的真理, 就如今日大部份基督徒所主張的一樣, 路德 確地認為這是使徒的和一聖基督教會的信仰 由於他自 的 昧, 嘗試 自 的善行來拯救自, 這項真理被 蔽了 沒 在威登堡附近舉行過大型的贖罪券促銷 動, 改教的 情就不會發 這一大型促銷會的舉行, 是為要籌募一筆巨款, 作為大主教何肯蘇倫的阿伯勒還債之用 這位大主教身兼梅因思 伯 德 馬德堡 個區的主教和大主教指職 但這與教會的法例不合, 依法例是不可 兼職 因, 他想設法 這條法律 教皇才擁 教會法律的權柄 如果 人能付 一筆可觀的 價, 教會願意 佈 這條 使這情況更為複雜的是, 這位大主教當時 十 歲, 依法律是未達可擔任主教職的法定年齡 況且他也從來沒 過任何 學訓練 當時的教皇利奧十世, 是梅迪西銀行家族的 員, 他在這件 作了一切必須的安排, 向阿伯勒索 一筆巨款, 作為交換他能兼任主教的條件, 而阿伯勒則從 富者 Fugger 銀行 款, 其還款方法, 就是從德國境內售賣贖罪券所得償還 班 教授稱贖罪券為 十 世紀的賓果 戲 the bingo of the sixteenth century 其 這是相當嚴肅的一件 而不是 戲 如今在教堂玩賓果的人是為了娛樂, 其中當然也 多少 念的 份, 但沒 人相信他的永 福份會與玩賓果 戲 關 但贖罪券的 賣則另當別論 不論它原來的意義是甚麼, 在路德的時, 很多人相信 贖罪券可 使人獲得永 和救恩, 甚 可 使 經 世的親人, 從煉獄的痛 中得釋放 不論教會是 教 贖罪券的功能, 當時 很多人卻相信它的果效, 並且願意用他們辛 賺來的錢去購 由於 銷贖罪券的人用非常聰明和高壓的 告手法, 善於利用人恐懼的心理, 所 造 購 贖罪券的熱潮 班 教授引用當時 銷員的誇張 喊說 : 聽聽你們去世親人的聲音, 他們在 喚你, 喊 著說 : 可憐 們! 可憐 們! 你 要花一點點小錢, 就可 救 們脫 這可怕的 刑 你 道不願意做嗎? 張開你們的耳朵, 聽父親向他兒 說, 母親向她女兒說, 們懷你, 你, 養你, 把你帶大, 又把 富留給你, 現在你們卻忍心不肯花少許金錢來釋放 們 你要讓 們躺在謊言火焰之中? 你要遲延 們得到應許的榮耀? 促銷員在 籲時又反覆地說 : 贖罪券的 錢幣往箱內丟的聲音一響起, 就 靈魂從煉獄裡跳出! 路德從他的教 們口中得知 銷贖罪券的 情 他在一個教區工作, 聽教 們告解和主持彌撒, 這些男女教 在告解時 路德說, 他們 了贖罪券之後, 就不需要再掛慮他們和 帝的關係 他們不能在威登堡 到贖罪券, 因為路德的君主, 撒克森的智者弗得烈 Frederick the Wise of Saxony, 禁 在他的轄區內 賣贖罪券 不過, 當時的德國人 需要 行幾英哩, 就可 到達由另一個君主統治的地區, 到贖罪券 路德採 行動反 贖罪券的售賣, 因為他認為這是一件欺詐的行為, 會 基督徒的靈 產 重大的傷害 於是他寫了九十五條, 佈他要澄清和辯論的題目, 引起當權者 這弊端的重視, 如果可能, 他希望最好能停
New Life News P.5 這項毫無意義的荒唐 賣 現 的學者們爭論路德是 確 將九十五條釘在城堡大教堂的門, 路德本人從來沒 提過這件 無論如何, 九十五條的文稿流通很, 並到處引起激烈的辯論 反 贖罪券的人, 他們開宗明義的指出 : 悔改是 帝的 態度, 是 帝將 賜給 們 這種 態度不可能用金錢 來的東面 路德強調, 教皇不可能 起 銷贖罪券的責任, 因為這是一件荒唐的 情 每一個基督徒, 如果他真心為他的罪痛悔的, 因基督的緣故, 他無需贖罪券就可 得到 帝的赦免 就和其他 父一樣, 教皇 認罪悔改的人宣告 帝的赦免 路德寫說 : 基督徒應 被教, 施捨給貧窮的人和借錢給 需要的人, 這樣的善行比購 贖罪券更 意義... 他們也當 教, 人看到別人的需要, 不去關心他, 反而去購 贖罪券, 這樣, 他不是 到教皇的贖罪券, 而是為自 招來 帝的憤怒 如果教皇確 知道 賣贖罪券者的所作所為, 他會 願讓聖彼得大教堂被燒 灰燼, 也不讓人 他羊群的皮 肉和骨頭去建造它 路德又引用一些諷 教皇的人 說, 假 教皇真的 權釋放煉獄的人, 他應 用 心去做, 而不是因為錢而做 每一個讀到九十五條的人幾乎都留 深 的印像 路德在一夜之間, 經 為人們留心聆聽的重要 言人 那些需要依賴贖罪券的收入作為 源的人們開始感到憂慮, 因為贖罪券的收入包括一筆龐大的錢, 這些錢 也用來支持各種善工, 如 : 教會 醫院 大學 甚 修理道路和橋樑 由於他 贖罪券的攻擊, 路德 經把這尊肥腫的布偶 倒了 從 無論是君主 教皇或皇帝, 他們很快就意識到, 誰也無法再把這又肥又腫的布偶放回原來的地方 願耶穌 福 帝給你得救信心的恩賜, 和祂在十架 為你所 就的救恩 並願祂所應許聖靈的恩賜, 使你一 反映出你所清楚知道的 : 耶穌, 知道, 因 聖經告訴 教會復原日快樂! 在基督 裡的, < 傅昌黎牧師 > Continue from page 2 what leadership roles are. And one of those days was held at our church! I led a session on face-to-face follow ups, and how we need to be creative with how we approach campus evangelism this year. We are not standing at a table. We are not merely passing out fliers and inviting people to events. My session drove home the truth that we are relational beings. Student leaders were challenged to go out and wear backpack banners. They walked around campus, were approached by people, and intentionally invited students to not just InterVarsity events, but to hang out and be in community. Follow ups ranged from getting coffee, to having lunch on campus, all the way to having a group of girls over for a nail polish party. Whatever it is, leaders are taking risks to host fun follow ups, and be intentional with relationships. Besides, Jesus never hid behind a table! In the midst of the CSU policy limitations, we believe God has promised abundance. God has the ability to multiply our nothings into much more in His Kingdom. God is not bound by the physical realities that we live in. We are excited to see how the Holy Spirit will empower our staff and student leaders with boldness, grace, and love on campus this year. Lastly, I would like to thank my New Life partners that are supporting my journey with this internship. Prayers are much appreciated and definitely needed. Please keep SF State students in your prayers - that they may experience Christ in ways unimaginable. And please continue to pray for the staff team - that we may be so filled with the Holy Spirit as to shine His light to our leaders, new students, core members, and non-believers. Your financial partnership has already allowed me to disciple a handful of students and the semester has just begun. I am grateful to God for your support, and I pray that our partnership faithfully serves you as well. Melissa Laureta Serving San Francisco State University InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA 415-710-0495 www.intervarsity.org
New Life News P.6 Happy 18 th Birthday, New Life!
New Life News P.7 Celebrating September and October Birthdays Language Student and Teacher Appreciation Day Joy Chinese Fellowship
October 2014 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Upcoming Events November 1 st November 2 nd November 23 rd 5 Proper 22 9am NL Joint Worship (English with Cantonese//Mandarin on Headsets) 10:30am SotH Communion Eng. Worship 11:45am Sunday Fun Day 2-3:30pm Life Chain Sun. New Life 18 th Anniversary Alan Xiao 12 Proper 23 9am NL Communion Chinese Worship 10:30am SotH English Worship 11:45am NL Communion English Worship Nuno Pereira 19 Proper 24 9am NL Communion Chinese Worship 10:30am SotH Communion Eng. Worship 11:45am NL Communion English Worship 26 Reformation Day (obs.) 9am NL Communion Chinese Worship 10:30am SotH Eng. Wors. 11:45am NL Communion English Worship Aft. Wor. SotH Cong. Mtg. 6 All Saints Day All Saints Day Observed Daylight Saving Time ends Thanksgiving Sunday Muoi Trinh 7 13 Columbus Day 14 Norma Lum 20 Peter Pang 21 Eva Ng 27 28 St. Simon & St. Jude, Apostles 7pm Nehemiah Mtg. at Bethel 1 8 7pm SotH Council Meeting Kevin Kwan 15 22 Jonathan Yee 29 2 Cheung Yeung Festival 9 Wendy Ho 3 Musician Youth/Young 10 Musician Youth/Young 16 17 10am Joy Chinese Fellowship 7pm Praisercise Musician Youth/Young 23 St. James of Jerusalem, Brother of Jesus & Martyr 24 Musician Youth/Young Kimberly Yee 30 31 Reformation Day Musician Youth/Young 4 8:30am Food Pantry Sing Along 9am Food Pantry (Tm1) 9:30am ESL 9:30am Shut-In Visitations 10:30am Language Sch. Recognitions 10:30am Ch Clean 11 9am Food Pantry (Tm2) 9:30am ESL 10am MMC 10:30am Church Cleaning 7:00pm Young Professionals 18 St. Luke, Evangelist 8:30am Food Pantry Sing Along 9am Food Pantry (Tm3) 9:30am ESL 9:30am Lag.Honda 10:30am Ch Clean 25 9am Food Pantry (Tm4) 9:30am ESL 10:30am Church Cleaning
November 2014 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 2 All Saints Day (Obs.) Daylight Saving Time ends 9am NL Chinese Worship 10:30am SotH Communion Eng. Worship 11:45am NL Eng Worship Rebecca Hou 9 Proper 27 9am NL Communion Chinese Worship 10:30am SotH Eng. Wor. 11:45am NL Communion English Worship 16 Proper 28 9am NL Chinese Worship 10:30am SotH Communion Eng. Worship 11:45am NL Eng. Worship Alyssa Yee 23 Thanksgiving Sunday Last Sunday of the Church Year 9am NL Chinese & English Joint Worship (Cantonese w. English & Mandarin on Headsets) 10:30am Thanks. Prog. 10:30am SotH Eng. Wors. 11am Thanksgiving Sunday Luncheon 12:30 pm Sun. Fun Day 30 1 st Sunday in Advent 9am NL Communion Chinese Worship 10:30am SotH Communion Eng. Worship 11:45am NL C.. Eng. Wor. Upcoming Events December 7 th Combined New Life & Shepherd of the Hills Worship (10am) December 13 th (20 th ) Christmas Program December 21 st Baptisms, Confirmations, Receptions into Membership December 25 th The Nativity of Our Lord Christmas Day December 31 st New Year s Eve 3 4 Emily Chen 10 Martin Luther s Birthday, 1483 Henry Ho 11 Veterans Day 17 18 Zhi Lan Huang 24 25 7pm Nehemiah Mtg. at Bethel 5 12 19 Bo Meng 26 27 Thanksgiving Day 6 7 Musicians Youth/Young Melissa Shih 13 14 Musicians Youth/Young 20 21 10am Joy Chinese Fellowship 7pm Praisercise Music. Youth/Young 28 Musicians Youth/Young Melicia Pereira 1 All Saints Day 8:30am Food Pantry Sing Along 9am Food Pantry (Tm1) Cl. 9:30am ESL 9:30am Shut-In Vis 10:30am Ch.Clean 8 9am Food Pantry (Tm2) Cl. 9:30am ESL 10am MMC 10:30am Ch.Clean 7:30pm Yng. Professionals Jason Ng 15 8:30am Food Pantry Sing Along 9am Food Pantry (Tm3) Cl. 9:30am ESL 9:30am Laguna H. 10:30am Ch.Clean Kwai Fong Lee 22 9am Food Pantry (Tm4) 9:30am ESL 10:30am Ch.Clean 29 9am Food Pantry (Tm4) 9:30am ESL 10:30am Ch.Clean Ivan Chen
New Life Chinese Lutheran Church Pastor Charles Chip. Fox Worship on Sundays 9:00 am (Chinese/English) & 11:45 noon (English) 395 Addison St. San Francisco, CA 94131 Phone: (415) 586-6525 Fax: (415) 586-6526 NEW LIFE NEWS is a semi-monthly newsletter, communicating the vision and mission of New Life Chinese Lutheran Church in San Francisco, CA. The VISION of New Life Chinese Lutheran Church is to bring the life-changing word of God to its community and to care for the nurture all those who hear it. As a spiritual family, we shall edify those in our fellowship and reach out to the unchurched. In so doing, we will teach, train, and equip new disciples to grow in their faith through Bible study, witnessing, service, and missions. E-Mail: newlifechinesesf@gmail.com We re on the Web! Visit us at: www.newlifechinesesf.org The MISSION of New Life Chinese Lutheran Church is to make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). Our primary mission is to proclaim the Good New of Jesus Christ to the unchurched community, disciple them in the body of Christ, and equip them for Christian service and spiritual leadership through Christ-centered worship and Bible study groups. New Life Chinese Lutheran Church PO Box 16648 San Francisco, CA 94116-0648 Name Street Address City, ST ZIP Code