TFPC EM NEWSLETTER - JANUARY 1, 2020

Always Resolution

Today is January 1, 2020

Happy New Year and welcome to your mid-week!

If Apostle Paul had a new year resolution it would be one thing: to know Christ. In fact, that would be his 'always resolution.'

In Philippians 3 he shares how everything he has worked for - his education, status, & wealth - is garbage compared to knowing Jesus Christ. To him, knowing Christ was the goal. Knowing Christ was the prize.

And he makes it clear in verse 13-14 that this would take mental and physical discipline. He writes:

"But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

For this resolution, there would be work that needed to be done. There would be opposition that needed to be overcome. And the temptation would be to stop when faced with these challenges. The temptation would be to take a step back or to quit. The temptation would be to stay in nostalgia and not move forward.

Well, Apostle Paul echoes the writers of Hebrews 12:1-3. When we look back, we should focus on what Christ did. When we look back, we should focus on Christ's actions. When we look back, we should focus on Christ's love and not on anything else. And that should motivate us to fix our eyes on Christ moving forward. To not stop or quit but to run with perseverance the race marked for us. To do our 'always resolution.' To know Christ more.

God's blessing upon you for the 2020 year and I look forward to seeing you all this Sunday.

- Frank Kim

Recording of the Sermon: HERE
Powerpoint Show: HERE
Opening Praise: HERE

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Upcoming Events

• Jan 5 (Sun) - New Church Service Times: 9:45am & 11:30am 
  • A new additional 9:45am Children's Service will be offered for 4 year old's-5th grade
• Jan 11 (Sat) – Early Morning Joint Service/Prayer for the New Year
• Jan 17-19 (Fri-Sun) - EM College Retreat
  • Registration Forms available in the EM Chapel
• Feb 9 (Sun) – Cell Group Open House/Mixer 

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Volunteers Needed!

• Youth Ministry FEMALE Teachers Needed!
  • "Youth Ministry needs more teachers to serve and minister to our youth! If you are interested in serving in the Youth Ministry as a teacher, please contact P.Edward Kim: shin.e.kim88@gmail.com​
• Skid Row Mission Leaders Needed!
  • Caroline and Phil (our current leaders) will be having their first baby early next year and need people to take over the mission. Responsibilities are one Friday night for a couple of hours and Saturday morning for the actual mission each month. Training is available. Questions/Interested please contact Caroline: ccshin@gmail.com
• ​Parking Ministry Volunteers Needed!
  KM is looking for  3 or more volunteers to help man the parking lot from 10:50 AM to 11:40 AM on Sundays. If interested please contact Elder Joy Chung at jc@towerescrowtorrance.com

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TFPC EM NEWSLETTER - DECEMBER 25, 2019

The Word Became Flesh

Today is December 25, 2019

Merry Christmas and welcome to your mid-week!

Christmas is about the incarnation - when the son of God became flesh. This incredible act of love was not just so that we would know that God knows us, but it was done so that the law of forgiveness and blood could be fulfilled.

As it says in Hebrews 9:22

Hebrews 9:22 
In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.

Meaning, without the incarnation, Christ could not really die. And, if Christ could not die, then the cross is meaningless. 

God, the omnipotent, made the change. He experienced all the hardship as a result of that choice so that we can once again be reunited with him, in love. And the harder it is for us to change and to experience change - whether oppositional, destructive, or for our good - the more we can empathize and appreciate what God did on Christmas.

Praise God for his great and wonderful gift! Praise God that the word became flesh!

God's blessing upon you this season and I look forward to seeing you all this Sunday.

- Frank Kim

Recording of the Sermon: HERE
Powerpoint Show: HERE
Opening Praise: HERE

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Upcoming Events

• Dec 26-29 - (Thu-Sun) - Youth Winter Retreat
  • Please pray for Pastor Shin, all volunteers, and students
• Dec 27 (Fri) – Skid Row Prep
• Dec 28 (Sat) – Skid Row Mission
• Dec 29 (Sun) - YMF Cell Group
• Jan 5 (Sun) - New Church Service Times: 9:45am & 11:30am 
  • A new additional 9:45am Children's Service will be offered for 4 year old's-5th grade
• Jan 11 (Sat) – Early Morning Joint Service/Prayer for the New Year
• Jan 17-19 (Fri-Sun) - EM College Retreat
  • Registration Forms available in the EM Chapel

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Volunteers Needed!

• Youth Ministry FEMALE Teachers Needed!
  • "Youth Ministry needs more teachers to serve and minister to our youth! If you are interested in serving in the Youth Ministry as a teacher, please contact P.Edward Kim: shin.e.kim88@gmail.com​
• Skid Row Mission Leaders Needed!
  • Caroline and Phil (our current leaders) will be having their first baby early next year and need people to take over the mission. Responsibilities are one Friday night for a couple of hours and Saturday morning for the actual mission each month. Training is available. Questions/Interested please contact Caroline: ccshin@gmail.com

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TFPC EM NEWSLETTER - DECEMBER 18, 2019

Shearing Comfort

Today is December 18, 2019

Welcome to your mid-week!

There is something intrinsic about the desire to be comfortable. From our Uggs to our Star Wars; from our food to our bad jokes. Give me familiarity. Give me nostalgia. Give me what I know. Give me comfort.

And yet, without discomfort, it is hard to grow. Every muscle built needs lactic acid to break. Every test passed needs that homework to study. Just look at the bible. Noah had the flood. David had Goliath. Jonah had a fish. Jeremiah had an exile. Esther had a genocide.

Discomfort. Discomfort. Discomfort. Discomfort is needed to grow and that is the point.

John 15:1-2 tells us that God is the one who prunes us so that we "will be even more fruitful."

Pruning is the taking away of things that we are attached to; things we might be comfortable having with us; but things that ultimately prevents us from producing the fruit God intended. And what is the fruit we are suppose to produce? Galatians says it like this:

Galatians 5:22-23a
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. 

People attached to the one who is the same yesterday, today, and forever, produce fruit that is the same - fruit not effected by the circumstances of this world or the opposition we face. This is why, sometimes, we need to endure our comfort being taken away...

God's blessing upon you as you experience discomfort in your life and I look forward to seeing you all this Sunday.

- Frank Kim

Recording of the Sermon: HERE
Powerpoint Show: of the Sermon: HERE
Opening Praise: HERE

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Upcoming Events

• Dec 20 (Fri) – Christmas Pageant, 7:30pm @ Main Sanctuary. Dinner is at 6pm
  • For our EM presentation, please come to the stage during our commercial (the lights will go out). We will sing “O Come, All Ye Faithful”, all 3 stanzas and the chorus twice, and then end with ‘Merry Christmas!’
  • Dinner is provided at 6pm for all participants. 
• Dec 21 (Sat) – CPG Cell Group, 6:00pm @ EM Chape
  • Come join us for great food and fun times! We will also have a White Elephant gift exchange. Please bring a wrapped gift ($20 max).
• Dec 25 (Wed) – Christmas Service, 10am @ Main Sanctuary
• Dec 27 (Fri) – Skid Row Prep
• Dec 28 (Sat) – Skid Row Mission
• Jan 5 (Sun) - New Church Service Times: 9:45am & 11:30am 
  • A new additional 9:45am Children's Service will be offered for 4 year old's-5th grade
• Jan 17-19 (Fri-Sun) - EM College Retreat
  • Registration Forms available in the EM Chapel

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Volunteers Needed!

• Youth Ministry FEMALE Teachers Needed!
  • "Youth Ministry needs more teachers to serve and minister to our youth! If you are interested in serving in the Youth Ministry as a teacher, please contact P.Edward Kim: shin.e.kim88@gmail.com​
• Skid Row Mission Leaders Needed!
  • Caroline and Phil (our current leaders) will be having their first baby early next year and need people to take over the mission. Responsibilities are one Friday night for a couple of hours and Saturday morning for the actual mission each month. Training is available. Questions/Interested please contact Caroline: ccshin@gmail.com

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TFPC EM NEWSLETTER - DECEMBER 11, 2019

Do Not Lose Heart

Today is December 11, 2019

Welcome to your mid-week!

How did Apostle Paul keep going in the face of attacks, beatings, and imprisonment? Well, by holding on to the all-surpassing power and enduring love of God.

For Apostle Paul, the gospel was a treasure. And the more he held on to it, the more strengthen he became.

It's the same experience that Horatio Spafford had when, in the mist of losing his 4 daughters, he was able to pen the hymn "It Is Well With My Soul."

Peace. Joy. Strength. All of that is experienced in the light of heaven.

And the more I experience this world and the more I am connected with other people, the more I yearn for that place of no curse or tears or pain or death. At the same time, the more valuable heaven becomes and the more grateful I am that it is a gift.

Heaven; salvation; the gospel message is God's treasure and it is in that hope that gave Apostle Paul the ability to keep going and not lose heart. And that is both our challenge and encouragement.

God's blessing upon you this week and I look forward to seeing you all this Sunday.

- Frank Kim

Recording of the Sermon: HERE
Powerpoint Show: of the Sermon: HERE
Opening Praise: HERE

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Upcoming Events

• Dec 14 (Sat) – Praise Team Cell Group, 4pm @ Benedicts
• Dec 15 (Sun) - SBT Lawndale School District Toy Drive
• Dec 15 (Sun) – Stewardship Appreciation Dinner, 4pm @ Youth Chapel
  • Please bring unwrapped toys, $10-15 in value by this Sunday
• Dec 20 (Fri) – Christmas Pageant, 7:30pm @ Main Sanctuary
• Dec 21 (Sat) – CPG Cell Group @ EM Chapel
• Dec 25 (Wed) – Christmas Service, 10am @ Main Sanctuary
• Dec 26-29 - (Thu-Sun) - Youth Winter Retreat
  • This Sunday is the LAST DAY to register
  • $120
  • Registration forms 
• Dec 27 (Fri) – Skid Row Prep
• Dec 28 (Sat) – Skid Row Mission
• Jan 5 (Sun) - New Church Service Times: 9:45am & 11:30am 
  • A new additional 9:45am Children's Service will be offered for 4 year old's-5th grade
• Jan 17-19 (Fri-Sun) - EM College Retreat
  • Registration Forms available in the EM Chapel

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Volunteers Needed!

• Youth Ministry FEMALE Teachers Needed!
  • "Youth Ministry needs more teachers to serve and minister to our youth! If you are interested in serving in the Youth Ministry as a teacher, please contact P.Edward Kim: shin.e.kim88@gmail.com​
• Skid Row Mission Leaders Needed!
  • Caroline and Phil (our current leaders) will be having their first baby early next year and need people to take over the mission. Responsibilities are one Friday night for a couple of hours and Saturday morning for the actual mission each month. Training is available. Questions/Interested please contact Caroline: ccshin@gmail.com

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TFPC EM NEWSLETTER - DECEMBER 4, 2019

Our Battle Cry

Today is December 4, 2019

Welcome to December and your mid-week!

By itself, Hebrews 13:8 is describing Jesus as God.

The phrase "is the same yesterday and today and forever" invokes what God describes of himself in Isaiah 44:6 as well as what Jesus declares of himself in Revelation 22:13. Jesus is God. He is never changing, eternal, and everlasting; the same yesterday, today, and forever.

And yet, in context, Hebrews 13:8 is more than just a creed, it is a battle cry.

With the persecution that the 1st century Jewish Christians were experiencing, the author of Hebrews writes his letter to encourage them to keep their faith and to run their race. Over and over he shows how Jesus is greater and, therefore, the best person to rely on. Why? Because he is

"the same yesterday and today and forever"

Challenges will come and go. Obstacles will come and go. People will come and go. But the love of Lord endures forever. So, run to him. Rally behind him. As Habakkuk says

Habakkuk 3:19
The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. 

God's blessing upon you this week and I look forward to seeing you all this Sunday.

- Frank Kim

Recording of the Sermon: HERE
Powerpoint Show:  of the Sermon: HERE
Opening Praise: HERE

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Upcoming Events

• Dec 14 (Sat) – Praise Team Cell Group, 4pm @ Benedicts
• Dec 15 (Sun) – Stewardship Appreciation Dinner, 4pm @ Youth Chapel
• Dec 20 (Fri) – Christmas Pageant, 7:30pm @ Main Sanctuary
• Dec 21 (Sat) – CPG Cell Group @ EM Chapel
• Dec 25 (Wed) – Christmas Service, 10am @ Main Sanctuary
• Dec 27 (Fri) – Skid Row Prep
• Dec 28 (Sat) – Skid Row Mission
• Jan 17-19 (Fri-Sun) - EM College Retreat
  • Registration Forms available in the EM Chapel

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Volunteers Needed!

• Youth Ministry Teachers Needed!
  • "Youth Ministry needs more teachers to serve and minister to our youth! If you are interested in serving in the Youth Ministry as a teacher, please contact P.Edward Kim: shin.e.kim88@gmail.com​
• Skid Row Mission Leaders Needed!
  • Caroline and Phil (our current leaders) will be having their first baby early next year and need people to take over the mission. Responsibilities are one Friday night for a couple of hours and Saturday morning for the actual mission each month. Training is available. Questions/Interested please contact Caroline: ccshin@gmail.com

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