TFPC EM NEWSLETTER - MAY 10, 2023

Jesus' Siblings

 Today is May 10, 2023

Welcome to your mid-week!

In the gospel of John, Jesus' brothers encourage him to risk his life by going to a festival. The reason they do so is because they do not believe in him. In fact, their actions show that they have no respect for his ministry or for who he says he is at all.

We get similar animosity shown to Jesus by the community of Nazareth, the place where Jesus grew up.

For both Jesus' brothers and Jesus' hometown community, it was a shock to see what Jesus had grown up to become. Both had made judgement on what they thought he would become and never envisioned that he would be this kind of teacher showing this kind of power.

And, because they could not get over their previously held judgements of Jesus, they did not believe in him or follow him during his ministry. 

In many ways, our sinful self is like Jesus' brothers to our spiritual potential. As children of God we have the potential to be leaders and teachers and miracle workers but, because of how we grew up or the mistakes we did in the past, we discourage ourselves and cannot believe that we can be more than what we are now.

But, in Christ, we can be more. We can do greater things than what we are doing now.

Before Jesus, Apostle Peter was just a fisherman. 
Before Jesus, Apostle Paul was just a Pharisee.
Before Jesus, C.S. Lewis was just a professor.
Before Jesus, Billy Graham was just a teenager who was questioning his faith and considering atheism.

And Jesus' brother James? Before knowing the risen Lord, James was just a doubter who wanted to send his brother to a dangerous situation. But, after Jesus, he would become one of the pillars of the early church.

In Christ our potential is greater than what we think it is.

God's blessing as you meditate on what it means to be a child of God in context of the larger church family, and I look forward to worshipping with you this Sunday.

- Rev. Frank Kim

Youtube link from last Sunday's Worship: HERE
Cell Group Discussion: HERE

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Announcements​

• Compassion International Presents: The Compassion Journey
  • This free event connects visitors to some of the realities faced by children growing up in extreme poverty. Step into a new culture, see life from a different perspective and participate in thought-provoking conversations with the rest of your group during this audio-guided journey through a series of interactive exhibits.
  • Dates:
    • May 27(Sat) - 9am ~ 3:40pm (For church members, we need to register to attend on this day)
    • May 28(Sun) - 9am ~ 2pm (For church members, we do not need to register if we come 2pm ~ 3:40pm on this day)
  • Registration and more information: HERE ​

• Ministry Calendar
• May 14 (Sun) – Mother’s Day
• May 16 (Tues) - YP Fellowship Dinner
• May 21 (Sun) - Church Picnic
• May 27 (Sat) - The Compassion Journey
• May 28 (Sun) - The Compassion Journey
• May 30 (Tues) - YP Small Group

• Education Announcements
• VBS Registration
  • Theme: “Twist & Turns”
  • VBS is from June 20-23 (Tues-Fri), 5:30pm-8:30pm
  • $40 per child 
  • Register here:
  •  ​

• Finance Office Announcement
  • ​For Online Offering (found HERE) please make sure to select 'English Ministry' and to scroll down and type in where you would want your offering to go in the 'Note / memo' area.   

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TFPC EM NEWSLETTER - MAY 3, 2023

Judging Correctly

 Today is May 3, 2023

Welcome to your mid-week!

Jesus does not tell us to judge the way God judges. Jesus tells us that to judge correctly we need to do the will of the Lord.

To do the will of the Lord means we are obeying the Lord.
To obey the Lord means we are trusting the Lord.
To trust in the Lord means we know the Lord.

This means we cannot judge correctly without obedience and trust and knowing who the Lord is; we cannot judge correctly unless we have a relationship with God. For, the more we know someone, the more we know how that person would respond to situations and what choices they would do.

There is a reason that God says the he desires mercy over sacrifice.
There is a reason that God tells us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.
There is a reason that God sent his son to die for the whole world.

The more we know and trust and obey the Lord, the more we will be understand those reasons and can, in turn,

judge correctly. 

God's blessing upon you as you meditate on what it means to do the will of the Lord and on judging correctly, and I look forward to worshipping with you this Sunday.

Youtube link from last Sunday's Worship: HERE
Cell Group Discussion: HERE

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Announcements​

• Ministry Calendar
• May 5 (Fri) – Beach Cities Small Group. 6:30pm
• May 7 (Sun) – Ministry Council
• May 14 (Sun) – Mother’s Day
• May 21 (Sun) – YMF Cell Group

• Education Announcements
  • Children's Day Volunteers Needed!
    • "Sunday May 7th is Children's Day!
      
      We want to celebrate the gift of children! As we have done so in the past several years, we will be serving grilled hamburgers following the 11:30 a.m. worship service for all students and families in our Education Department.  We would love your help in bringing everyone together to make it a special day for children and families.
      
      We need a few hands to help pick up the food, prep on Saturday 5/6th, set up and serve on Sunday 5/7th.
      
      Thank you so much! God bless you all!"
    • Sign-up HERE

• VBS Early Bird Registration Starts TODAY!
  • Theme: “Twist & Turns”
  • VBS is from June 20-23 (Tues-Fri), 5:30pm-8:30pm
  • $35 per child by May 7. $40 per child afterward.
  • Register here:
  •  ​

• Finance Office Announcement
  • ​For Online Offering (found HERE) please make sure to select 'English Ministry' and to scroll down and type in where you would want your offering to go in the 'Note / memo' area.   

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TFPC EM NEWSLETTER - APRIL 26, 2023

Seeking the Thunderstorm

Today is April 26, 2023

Welcome to your mid-week!

When God's people were freed from Egyptian slavery, God brought them to himself at Mt. Sinai via Moses. However, when they got there, God's people were afraid of the Lord because he felt like a thunderstorm. Instead of drawing near to God, they drew near to Moses.

Considering everything God did to bring them there, I'm sure their decision was heartbreaking to the Lord.

Fast forward to the time of Zechariah. When God's people were freed from the exile and God wanted them to return to him, God made it clear through Zechariah that, when they draw near to him, he will draw near to them, and he will feel like a thunderstorm.

God preps them in advance.

However, through Zechariah, he also makes it clear that when you are in a relationship with God, there will be tremendous blessing. There will be peace and security and victory and salvation and honor. From death there will be life. From winter there will come the spring.

This is why, through Zechariah, God asks his people to not pray for spiritual flowers to bloom in their lives, but to, instead,

ask for the rain.

Only when we return to the Lord - only when we seek he who is the thunderstorm - will we experience springtime in our lives.

God's blessing upon you as you mediate on returning to the Lord and springtime, and I look forward to worshipping with you this Sunday.

Youtube link from last Sunday's Worship: HERE
Cell Group Discussion: HERE

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Announcements​

• Ministry Calendar
• April 30 (Sun) - TFPC Lunch Serving - All 3 Services
• April 30 (Sun) – PV Cell Group
• May 5 (Fri) – Beach Cities Small Group
• May 7 (Sun) – Ministry Council
• May 14 (Sun) – Mother’s Day
• May 21 (Sun) – YMF Cell Group

• Education Announcements
  • Children's Day Volunteers Needed!
    • "Sunday May 7th is Children's Day!
      
      We want to celebrate the gift of children! As we have done so in the past several years, we will be serving grilled hamburgers following the 11:30 a.m. worship service for all students and families in our Education Department.  We would love your help in bringing everyone together to make it a special day for children and families.
      
      We need a few hands to help pick up the food, prep on Saturday 5/6th, set up and serve on Sunday 5/7th.
      
      Thank you so much! God bless you all!"
    • Sign-up HERE

• VBS Early Bird Registration Starts TODAY!
  • Theme: “Twist & Turns”
  • VBS is from June 20-23 (Tues-Fri), 5:30pm-8:30pm
  • $35 per child by May 7. $40 per child afterward.
  • Register here:
  •  ​

• ​VBS Volunteers Needed!
  • 1st Meeting is TODAY at 1:30pm in the Children’s Chapel
  • 

• Finance Office Announcement
  • ​For Online Offering (found HERE) please make sure to select 'English Ministry' and to scroll down and type in where you would want your offering to go in the 'Note / memo' area.   

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TFPC EM NEWSLETTER - APRIL 19, 2023

Spiritual Taxes

Today is April 19, 2023

Welcome to your mid-week!

The bible makes it clear that we should pay our taxes because that is what good citizens do, and being good citizens is how people can see the glory of God (Matthew 5:16, 1 Peter 2:12).

But, by Jesus answering "[give] to God what is God's" to a question about taxation, Jesus is also implying that we need to be giving a spiritual tax to the Lord.

Now, since everything was created by God and we are God's stewards, our spiritual tax could be our financial offerings and how we use the money God entrusts to us.

However, as Caesar minted his coins with his image, so God minted his image on us. Meaning our
spiritual tax is also offering our bodies to the Lord. Our tongues, our eyes, what we think about, what we choose to endure through, who we show humility toward, and how we love and pray can be our spiritual tax.

And, like our federal and state taxes, maybe we do not fully understand the purposes or see the results of where those taxes go. But, who we pay tax to shows who we identify with and the nation we claim as our own. And, as Christians, our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20). So, as much as we render to the USA our taxes, so should we render unto God what is God’s.

God's blessing upon you as you mediate on your spiritual taxes, and I look forward to worshipping with you this Sunday.

- Rev. Frank Kim

Youtube link from last Sunday's Worship: HERE
Cell Group Discussion: HERE

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Announcements​

• Ministry Calendar
• April 20 (Thu) – YMF Cell Group
• April 22 (Sat) – Running Ministry – Wilson Park
  • We’ll meet at 10am in the church parking lot in front of the main building entrance. We’ll run/walk at each one’s pace. Bring your own lunch or buy food at the Farmer’s Market. Family members/ friends are welcome!
• April 30 (Sun) - TFPC Lunch Serving - All 3 Services
• April 30 (Sun) – PV Cell Group

• Education Announcements
• VBS Volunteers Needed!
  • VBS runs from June 20-23, 2023
  • Volunteers’ Meeting Schedule:
    • 4/23 (Sun) – 1:30pm – 1st Meeting: VBS Intro
    • 4/30 (Sun) – 1:30pm
    • 5/20 (Sat) – 10am
    • 6/4 (Sun) – 1:30pm
    • 6/11 (Sun) – 1:30pm
    • 6/17 (Sat) – 10am
    • 6/18 (Sun) – 1:30pm
  • Please check out the booth outside of the Children’s Chapel!

• Finance Office Announcement
  • ​For Online Offering (found HERE) please make sure to select 'English Ministry' and to scroll down and type in where you would want your offering to go in the 'Note / memo' area.   

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TFPC EM NEWSLETTER - APRIL 12, 2023

Easter Sunday

Today is April 12, 2023

Welcome to your mid-week!

This past Sunday was our Easter Joint Worship where our entire church - from EM to the Love Ministry to the Education Ministries - all worshipped together in the Main Sanctuary in our biannual, bilingual, multi-generational, multi-ethnic service.

And, on top of the message of Easter - that we have a life after this life; that there is a living hope that we have in Jesus Christ because he is risen - for me the next highlight would have to be how mixed and varied and yet together our church is because of Jesus Christ.

I mean, to have our new KM Worship Pastor lead bilingually a joint worship team made up of 4 different departments. To have EM members spread out amongst all those serving that day - from welcoming to the congregational prayer to the time of offering. To have our PTA Director translate the message next to Pastor Ko. 

I couldn't help but think that only in Jesus Christ could this happen.

As Galatians 3:28 says, "There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus"

That unity in that service in the midst of so much difference is the power of Christ who makes us one in him.

And the baptisms that were done at the end of that service serve as reminder of that unity and the hope that we have in Christ. How, through baptism, we are reminded that we are reborn into a new family as children of God, heirs to the Kingdom of Heaven.

And so, as we look back on Easter, let us remember our living hope, the unity we have in Christ, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. God's blessing upon you and I look forward to worshipping with you this Sunday.

- Rev. Frank Kim

Youtube link from last Sunday's Worship: HERE
Good Friday Service: HERE

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Announcements​

• Ministry Calendar
• April 14 (Fri) – Beach Cities Cell Group
• April 16 (Sun) – New Members Lunch [Postponed]
• April 20 (Thu) – YMF Cell Group
• April 22 (Sat) – Running Ministry – Wilson Park
• April 25 (Tues) – YP Cell Group
• April 30 (Sun) – PV Cell Group

• Education Announcements
• VBS Volunteers Needed!
  • VBS runs from June 20-23, 2023
  • Volunteers’ Meeting Schedule:
    • 4/23 (Sun) – 1:30pm – 1st Meeting: VBS Intro
    • 4/30 (Sun) – 1:30pm
    • 5/20 (Sat) – 10am
    • 6/4 (Sun) – 1:30pm
    • 6/11 (Sun) – 1:30pm
    • 6/17 (Sat) – 10am
    • 6/18 (Sun) – 1:30pm
  • Please check out the booth outside of the Children’s Chapel!

• Finance Office Announcement
  • ​For Online Offering (found HERE) please make sure to select 'English Ministry' and to scroll down and type in where you would want your offering to go in the 'Note / memo' area.   

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