TFPC EM NEWSLETTER - March 1, 2018

Christ Foundation?

Today is March 1, 2018

Welcome to March and your mid-week!

In the face terrible situations Apostle Paul was still able to see the good.

In Philippians 1:15-18 Paul had people who would be considered Brothers in Christ, lying and gossiping about him. And yet, when faced with personal attacks, Paul was still able to find the joy.

In Philippians 4:11 Paul was in jail, hungry, and potentially facing death. And yet, when faced with this situation, Paul was able to be content.

In 2 Corinthians 12:7b-9 Paul was asking God to take away 'a thorn' from his life. And yet, when God says no, we see that Paul is able to find rest in the Lord.

Paul does not show resentment, nor does he fall into self-pity, nor does he blame God for his situation. Paul is able to see the other side of his situation and find joy, contentment, and rest. How? Because 

Jesus Christ is his foundation.

If his foundation had been his social life, then being gossiped about and lied about would have been devastating. If his foundation was his home, then his imprisonment would have been catastrophic. If his foundation was himself, then his thorn would have been unbearable.

And yet, because Paul's foundation was Jesus Christ - the unchanging, everlasting, rock and redeemer of his soul - Paul was able to to change his perspective, renew his mind, as it says in Romans 12:2, to see the will of God, and see the good.

And that is our challenge.

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

- Frank Kim

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Upcoming Events

• March 1 (Thurs) – YMF Small Group, 6:45pm
• March 10 (Sat) - CPG Bible Study. 6pm. 
• March 17 (Sat) – Baptism/Confirmation Interviews
  • Registration form due Sunday, March 11. Please fill out the form and turn it into the Main Office. Parents must be Christian and a member of TFPC.
• March 30 (Fri) – Good Friday Service with SBT. Location/Time: TBD
• April 1 (Sun) – Joint Worship

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Service Opportunity

• TFPC Sunday Lunch Serving Volunteers Needed! 
  15min each week for a month after service (from 12pm-12:15pm) Please sign-up in the back of the EM Chapel!
• TFPC Elementary Teachers Needed!
  The Elementary Department has requested the need for teachers. Questions about responsibilities and commitment, please see Young Hong or contact Pastor Judie at yuilkimlee@yahoo.com

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Additional Announcements

• TFPC Elementary and Youth Orchestra Recruitment!
  TFPC’s Elementary and Youth Orchestra is accepting new recruits! They meet every Sunday from 1:15pm-3pm. If interested, please contact Deacon Ruth Chon at ki.ruth37@gmail.com. Also, they are looking for a volunteer conductor so please contact Ruth if you are interested.
• Offering Request Form for Tax Purposes
  To get your offering tax information from the 2017 year, please fill out the request form that is in the back of the EM Chapel (also found in the Main Office) and turn it into the Finance Office. Please allow 2 weeks for turn around.

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Matthew 7:24 - “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock."

TFPC EM NEWSLETTER - February 21, 2018

Motivation to Pursue

Today is February 21 2018

Welcome to your mid-week!

The word 'pursue' is an active, intentional word that invokes urgency and importance. It is the word that is connected with our vision for 2018 - 'A Community that Pursues Holiness.' Our vision isn't a community 'stumbling' or 'moping' or 'being dragged' to holiness. No. Our vision is that we will 'pursue' holiness.

Now, how can we get the motivation to do that? 

Well, in Philippians 1:22-28, we see Paul's motivation. It comes from his experience with Christ and from the need of those he saw around him.

For Paul, relationship with Christ was so good that he had to share it. In writing to the church of Philipi, Paul was in jail and was not sure if he would live or die. And yet he was courageous and confident and joyful because of Christ Jesus. In Christ he was experiencing peace through that storm, contentment in the face of opposition, and joy in the mist of hopelessness. 

At the same time, Paul also saw the need of those in the community of God and he knew that his experience could directly help. For the sake of their joy and faith Paul wanted to be with the community of God. And that is where our motivation should come from. 

To be holy is to obey the commands of God; to be set apart and to love Him and others. For Paul, Christ's love and the needs he saw in others was so overwhelming that he wanted to be holy. It was what motivated him and what should motivate us as a community.

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

- Frank Kim

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Upcoming Events

• Feb 23 (Fri) - Skid Row Mission Prep. 5:30pm at the kitchen
• Feb 24 (Sat) - Skid Row Mission. Van leaves at 6:20am from church
• Feb 24 (Sat) - Hike with Mike! 
  • Feb 24, Saturday 9am. Meet at the church parking lot. We will hike to the top of Rock peak in Simi Valley. 3 to 4 hour of moderate hiking. Please contact Mike Lyu if you have any questions.
• Feb 24 (Sat) - CPG Small Group @ Elim Cafe. 5pm. Dinner is provided.
• Feb 25 (Sun) - Ministry Council Meeting

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Service Opportunity

• TFPC Sunday Lunch Serving Volunteers Needed! 
  15min each week for a month after service (from 12pm-12:15pm) Please sign-up in the back of the EM Chapel!
• TFPC Elementary Teachers Needed!
  The Elementary Department has requested the need for teachers. Questions about responsibilities and commitment, please see Young Hong or contact Pastor Judie at yuilkimlee@yahoo.com

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Additional Announcements

• TFPC Elementary and Youth Orchestra Recruitment!
  TFPC’s Elementary and Youth Orchestra is accepting new recruits! They meet every Sunday from 1:15pm-3pm. If interested, please contact Deacon Ruth Chun at ki.ruth37@gmail.com. Also, they are looking for a volunteer conductor so please contact Ruth if you are interested.
• Offering Request Form for Tax Purposes
  To get your offering tax information from the 2017 year, please fill out the request form that is in the back of the EM Chapel (also found in the Main Office) and turn it into the Finance Office. Please allow 2 weeks for turn around.

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1 John 4:19 - 'We love because he first loved us.'

TFPC EM NEWSLETTER - February 14, 2018

Meeting Together

Today is February 14, 2018

Welcome to your mid-week!

The author of Hebrews wrote to the early church about the importance of meeting together. He says in Hebrews 10:24-25 

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

His words were in the face of persecution that would see the loss of a home or the blocking of access to schools and markets. However, for the author of Hebrews, meeting together was more important than those losses. For the author of Hebrews, meeting together was a necessity for the Christian faith. 

And, if you read the bible, you can see why.

Meeting together gave the early church the ability to obey God's command to love one another. Meeting together is where they could honor and encourage; serve and forgive; be kind and compassionate and give instructions in the lessons that life had given them.

Meeting together was a necessity for the Christian faith.

So then, if it is so important, why is attendance dropping in churches across America? Why have people substituted the local church with the internet or the radio or their favorite author? Why is disloyalty and a sense of isolation, effectively privatizing Christianity, increasing?

It is because we have forgotten the gospel message; we have forgotten our salvation and who Christ died for.

This is why one of the most important things we are commanded to do – what we are to participate in when we meet together - is communion. Communion helps us to remember the gospel message and what God has done for us. It is a reminder of why we meet, why we love, and what should drive every action we do as Christians.

So, this past Sunday, that's what we did. We remembered the cost of our salvation and rededicated ourselves to not giving up meeting together. I pray God's blessing upon you and I look forward to seeing you all this Sunday.

- Frank Kim

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Upcoming Events

• Run TFPC! 
  • Is an exercise fellowship that will meet each Sunday at 1pm unless notified differently. Meet at the church parking lot. We will walk or jog around Wilson park for up to 1 hour depending on your ability. See Mike Lyu after church for more information.
• Feb 23 (Fri) - Skid Row Mission Prep. 5:30pm at the kitchen
• Feb 24 (Sat) - Skid Row Mission. Van leaves at 6:20am from church/
• Feb 24 (Sat) - Hike with Mike! [Date Updated]
  • Feb 24, Saturday 9am. Meet at the church parking lot. We will hike to the top of Rock peak in Simi Valley. 3 to 4 hour of moderate hiking. Please contact Mike Lyu if you have any questions.
• Feb 24 (Sat) - CPG Small Group @ Elim Cafe. 5pm. Dinner is provided.
• Feb 25 (Sun) - Ministry Council Meeting

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Service Opportunity

• TFPC Sunday Lunch Serving Volunteers Needed! 
  15min each week for a month after service (from 12pm-12:15pm) Please sign-up in the back of the EM Chapel!

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Additional Announcements

• Offering Request Form for Tax Purposes
  To get your offering tax information from the 2017 year, please fill out the request form that is in the back of the EM Chapel (also found in the Main Office) and turn it into the Finance Office. Please allow 2 weeks for turn around.

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Hebrews 10:25 - not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

TFPC EM NEWSLETTER - February 07, 2018

Member of A Body

Today is February 7, 2018

Welcome to your mid-week!

When we think of 'membership' we usually think of dues and perks and privileges. Think of your gym membership or your Costco card or your political affiliation. You register, become a member, and then gain access. Whether that is to use equipment or to purchase items or to vote, membership means

getting something.

This is not what church membership is.

The book of Acts shows us what church membership is nothing short of making a covenant. It is making a promise to be devoted to the local body of believers.

The purpose was to grow spiritually; to learn and to have fellowship, to break bread and to pray. It was a place where the gifts and talents of the members were used to support and help the body. It was a place where people submitted to those in authority; to those gifted in teaching and leadership and pastoring. It was a place of accountability, support, and, when needed, discipline.

Church membership was not about perks or privileges, but a covenant; a blood-bought gift of God’s grace given to us so that we may be able to fulfill our responsibilities, grow spiritually, and follow the commands of God to love Him and to love one another.

And all throughout the New Testament we see that union with Christ is expressed with union with the local body of believers. That to be excluded from the church is to be excluded from Christ.

Yes, the church is the body of Christ, but to be part of the body you must be a member of a body.

So then, the challenge is clear, depending on your situation.

If you are not a member of a local body of believers, become a member. If you are already a member of a local body of believers, then be more active. If you left a local body because your sin was exposed and, instead of accepting discipline and repenting, instead of asking for accountability and being restored, you came here to TFPC, maybe you need to go back.

In either case, I pray God's blessing upon you and I look forward to seeing you all this Sunday.

- Frank Kim

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Upcoming Events

• Feb 7 (Weds) - Generation Small Group
• Feb 11 (Sun) - Run TFPC!  
  • Exercise fellowship to start this Sunday, Feb 11. Meet at church parking lot every Sunday by 1pm.  We will walk or jog around Wilson park for up to 1 hour depending on your ability. See Mike Lyu after church for more information.
• Feb 17 (Sat) - Hike with Mike!
  • Feb 17, Saturday 9am.  Meet at church parking lot.  We will hike to the top of Rock peak in Simi Valley. 3 to 4 hour of moderate hiking. Please contact Mike Lyu if you have any questions.
• Feb 24 (Sat) - CPG Small Group @ Elim Cafe

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Service Opportunity

• TFPC Sunday Lunch Serving Volunteers Needed! 
  15min each week for a month after service (from 12pm-12:15pm) Please sign-up in the back of the EM Chapel!
• Korean Medical Ministry Volunteers Needed!
  The Medical Room at the back of the fellowship hall has recently been re-opened. The KM Medical Ministry is seeking doctors and nurses willing to man rotationaly each week from the 9:30am service to the 11am service. If interested please talk with Dr. Kim Daiyoung (David) before or after service in the Medical Room at church.
  
  

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Additional Announcements

• Offering Request Form for Tax Purposes
  To get your offering tax information from the 2017 year, please fill out the request form that is in the back of the EM Chapel (also found in the Main Office) and turn it into the Finance Office. Please allow 2 weeks for turn around.
• Spanish Classes at TFPC!
  Registration: Main Office (310 – 618 – 2222)
  Spring Term: Jan 27 – April 28, 2018
  Fee: $75
  Spanish Level I  : Saturday, 9:am to 10:30 am.
  Spanish Level II : Saturday,  11am to 12:30 pm.
  Text: Realidades : Level I, II, III, & AP.
  * Classes taught in English & Korean.
  
  

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Acts 2:42 - "They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer."

TFPC EM NEWSLETTER - January 31, 2018

Choosing Holiness

Today is January 31, 2018

Welcome to your mid-week!

When talking about holiness in 1 Peter 1:3-16, Peter first emphasized the importance of the gospel message. Holiness is not what we work for, it is what we do in response to God's act of love for us. 

The second thing he emphasized was the importance of the mind; that we needed to 'gird the loins of our mind' and 'sober' it up. This meant we needed to ready our minds for action and awaken our minds from the attractions of this world.

For Peter, the mind was crucial in remembering the grace of God, choosing hope, and avoiding conformity with the world. Once the mind was set then holiness would be our natural response. 

Our vision for this year is 'Real Church; True Christians: A Community That Pursues Holiness.' And, to pursue this vision, we need to do what Peter is telling us to do. We need to set our minds straight. And, as much as I want to talk about reading and studying and understanding and meditating and memorizing, the first thing we need for our minds to do is to wake up and see the urgency; to not be lazy or distracted or apathetic.

We need to gird the loins of our minds and sober it up if we are to pursue holiness as a community.

So then, let us remind ourselves of the gospel. Let us remind ourselves of what we talked about last week, that in this world there is trouble. Let us remember God's power and grace and love and rescue and let us choose to set our minds right before the Lord.

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

- Frank Kim

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Upcoming Events

• Feb 2 (Fri) - 7 Week Woman’s Bible Study to be led by Anna Benedict
  • The study will go through “Anointed, Transformed, Redeemed: A Story of David” which is a 6-week Women’s Bible Study created by speakers Priscilla Shirer, Beth Moore and Kay Arthur. The bible study will meet 7 Friday nights which includes the first night of introduction to the Bible Study.  It will begin on Friday, Feb 2 and will continue to meet on Fridays at 7:30pm at the Elim Café. Questions please contact Anna Benedict at kongbenedict@yahoo.com
• Feb 2 (Fri) – Elementary Ministry Friday Night Starts
• Feb 4 (Sun) – Church’s 39th Anniversary, Free Lunch!
• Feb 4 (Sun) – PV Small Group. 2pm @ the Hong's
• Feb 7 (Weds) - Generation Small Group
• Feb 24 (Sat) - CPG Small Group

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Service Opportunity

• TFPC Sunday Lunch Serving Volunteers Needed! 
  15min each week for a month after service (from 12pm-12:15pm) Please sign-up in the back of the EM Chapel!
• Korean Medical Ministry Volunteers Needed!
  The Medical Room at the back of the fellowship hall has recently been re-opened. The KM Medical Ministry is seeking doctors and nurses willing to man rotationaly each week from the 9:30am service to the 11am service. If interested please talk with Dr. Kim Daiyoung (David) before or after service in the Medical Room at church.
  
  

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Additional Announcements

• Offering Request Form for Tax Purposes
  To get your offering tax information from the 2017 year, please fill out the request form that is in the back of the EM Chapel (also found in the Main Office) and turn it into the Finance Office. Please allow 2 weeks for turn around.

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Prayer Requests

• Please pray that God will lead the right Elementary Pastor to join TFPC and please pray for all teachers and students during this transition.

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Romans 8:5-6 - "Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace."