TFPC EM NEWSLETTER - JULY 3, 2024

Golden

Today July 36, 2024

Welcome to your mid-week!

History has given a title to the command of Jesus to ‘do to other what you would have them do to you’ as the ‘Golden Rule.’

The rule is simple, easy to understand, and elevates the dignity of all people while, at the same time, emphasizing empathy and reciprocity. It is a positive, pro-active rule that uses our own desires to promote godly behavior.

All of that in 11 words. No wonder it is called ‘Golden.’

However, contextually, the rule is about showing love as a father would show a child or a mother to an infant. The ‘Golden Rule’ is very much like ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’ And, for the Christian it is not supposed to be optional. The ‘Golden Rule’ is the narrow way.

John 13:35 tells us “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

1 John 4:20 tells us: “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.”

In the midst of such divisive times, it is this kind of love that shows the world who our God is.

And the beauty of trying to show this kind of love is that either we try and fail, thus appreciating the love of God for us more - leading to deeper worship; Or we try and succeed, thus God’s Spirit shines through, He is glorified, others are edified, and the world sees Christ in us.

Either way, the results are golden.

God’s blessing upon you as you mediate on the Golden Rule and who to show it to, 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

• Pastor Diana Kim Stepping Down

  Due to health reasons, our Elementary Pastor stepped down this past Sunday. Until a new Elementary Pastor is found, our Youth Pastors - Pastors Michelle and Pastor Moses - will rotate preaching duties for Sunday Elementary Service

• Church Sports Facilities Donation Drive

  “Along with relocating and remodeling the chapel for the next generation, an exercise facility will be built behind the education center. You can donate or make a designated contribution for basketball hoops, court floors, volleyball facilities (nets), etc. for your children to use. When making a designated donation, please write “Next Generation Sports Facility” or “Faith-Forward Playground.” Questions? Contact Elder Gye Byeong-cheol at 213-272-5831

• July 10 (Wed) - YP Cell Group

• July 14 (Sun) – YMF Women

• July 28 (Sun) – YMF Men

• July 27 (Sat) – YMF Outing to Seaside Lagoon

• Aug 4(Sun) – EM Urban Picnic

• Audio and Praise Team Volunteers Needed!

  Those interested please fill out an application found in the back and give it to Esther

• Education Volunteers Needed!

  The Ministry of Education is recruiting teachers and volunteers who are dedicated to faith education for the next generation. For more details, please contact the department pastors or the church office. (Pre-K, Elementary, Youth)

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 - JUNE 26, 2024

Our Lord’s Community

Today June 26, 2024

Welcome to your mid-week!

When we have disagreements with people at church, our current Christian culture says that it is okay to leave the church. That it is better to not argue and fight but to find another church in which to worship God. I mean, we are not losing faith - we are just choosing to worship elsewhere, right?

But such thinking goes against countless scriptural versus that tell us the opposite. Romans 12:10-16 alone tells us to

10 Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.

11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

13 Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.

15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn.

16 Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. Do not be conceited.”

There are two many influences that say a divided church is ok.

Community is not found, it is built. As the bible says, we are like ‘living stones…being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood… (1 Peter 2:5). We cannot say to someone that we don’t need them (1 Corinthians 12:21). Even the hardest of moments help us to become more sanctified and appreciative of the work of Christ (Proverbs 27:17).

So, in the midst of all the influences breaking apart the church, Apostle Paul’s appeal is an appeal to us. 1 Corinthians 1:10 – “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought.”

God’s blessing upon you as you wrestle with your place in the Lord’s Community, 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

• Church Sports Facilities Donation Drive

  “Along with relocating and remodeling the chapel for the next generation, an exercise facility will be built behind the education center. You can donate or make a designated contribution for basketball hoops, court floors, volleyball facilities (nets), etc. for your children to use. When making a designated donation, please write “Next Generation Sports Facility” or “Faith-Forward Playground.” Questions? Contact Elder Gye Byeong-cheol at 213-272-5831

• June 28 (Fri) - YMF Cell Group

• June 30 (Sun) – Ministry Council

• July 10 (Wed) - YP Cell Group

• Aug 4(Sun) – EM Urban Picnic

• Audio and Praise Team Volunteers Needed!

  Those interested please fill out an application found in the back and give it to Esther

• Education Volunteers Needed!

  The Ministry of Education is recruiting teachers and volunteers who are dedicated to faith education for the next generation. For more details, please contact the department pastors or the church office. (Pre-K, Elementary, Youth)

• Sunday Lunch Serving for the 11:30am worship, June 30

  Previously advertised as ‘need for volunteers for the 9:45am worship service’, the KM has asked that, instead of the 9:45am service, if EM can help serve lunch for the 11:30am. Please sign-up in the back.

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.   

TFPC EM NEWSLETTER - JUNE 19, 2024

A Friend of God

Today June 19, 2024

Welcome to your mid-week!

This week is our church’s VBS, and the theme for the VBS is ‘Scuba: Diving into Friendship With God.’

The bible tells us that a friend loves at all times (Proverbs 17:17a) and the greatest act of love is to lay down one’s life for a friend (John 15:13). Both of these is what God does for us. Therefore, what is often characterized as ‘God’s unfailing love,’ can be also said like this:

God is our true friend.

And every encouraging word from the bible or song from the Spirit or good act done by a Christian is God’s friendship showing.

God supports us from death to life, is loyal to us before we were even born to the present, and respects us by, both, giving us space and autonomy to make our own choices, and by acknowledging our worth; valuing us at the cost of his only son.

God is our true friend. The question is: Are you a friend of God?

Yes, in Christ Jesus we are now viewed as more than God’s friend. We are now adopted into sonship, part of the family of God. But, that does not mean we should not act like God’s friend.

Being called a friend of God should ask us the questions of how well do we know our friend? How much time do we spend with our friend? Do I care about what my friend cares about?

Because, the more we learn of God’s friendship and dwell in it and experience the joy and peace from it – the more that should compel us to act more like his friend. To get to know him more. To get spend time with him more. To care about what he cares about.

God’s blessing as you meditate on your friendship with God, 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

• June 18-21 (Tues-Fri) - VBS

• EM to cook the dinner for VBS on Friday, June 21

• Church Sports Facilities Donation Drive

  “Along with relocating and remodeling the chapel for the next generation, an exercise facility will be built behind the education center. You can donate or make a designated contribution for basketball hoops, court floors, volleyball facilities (nets), etc. for your children to use. When making a designated donation, please write “Next Generation Sports Facility” or “Faith-Forward Playground.” Questions? Contact Elder Gye Byeong-cheol at 213-272-5831

• June 28 (Fri) - YMF Cell Group

• June30 (Sun) – Ministry Council

• July 10 (Wed) - YP Cell Group

• Aug 4(Sun) – EM Urban Picnic

• Audio and Praise Team Volunteers Needed!

  Those interested please fill out an application found in the back and give it to Esther

• Education Volunteers Needed!

  The Ministry of Education is recruiting teachers and volunteers who are dedicated to faith education for the next generation. For more details, please contact the department pastors or the church office. (Pre-K, Elementary, Youth)

• Sunday Lunch Serving for the 11:30am worship, June 30

  Previously advertised as ‘need for volunteers for the 9:45am worship service’, the KM has asked that, instead of the 9:45am service, if EM can help serve lunch for the 11:30am. Please sign-up in the back.

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 - JUNE 12, 2024

Faith: Persistence Under Pressure

Today June 12, 2024

Welcome to your mid-week!

This past Sunday I was on vacation and our Youth Pastor, Pastor Moses, preached in my stead. And, in his message, Pastor Moses preached on the blind beggar that was healed by Jesus.

And, near the end of his message, Pastor Moses focused on the people who, at first, rebuked the beggar, but now who were praising God for the miracle. Pastor Moses took this and encouraged us to be persistent in our faith because, whether we see it or not, our faith impacts people:

“Maybe Jesus wanted to show through this man the mighty works of God that can happen through faith. Maybe he wanted to impress upon their minds (the people witnessing the miracle) what it means to have a relationship with God again, what it means to worship God, what it means to take God seriously.”

There will be times where we will feel like the blind beggar and the world will feel like the people who were rebuking him. But, just like the blind beggar, God uses our faith to impact others so let us strive toward being persistent in our faith.

God’s blessing upon you as mediate on how God is using your faith to impact others, and I look forward to worshipping with you this Sunday.

Youtube link from last Sunday’s worship: HERE

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Announcements

• VBS 2024 is Coming!

  Theme: Scuba       Dates: 6/18 (Tues) - 6/21 (Fri)

  Pre/K - 5th Grade

  Time: 5:30pm-8:30pm

  Registration Fee:  $45

  Register your students HERE

• Volunteers Needed! Register HERE

• June 12 (Wed) - YP Cell Group

• June 15 (Sat) - Men’s Bible Study

• June 18-21 (Tues-Fri) - VBS

• June 28 (Fri) - YMF Cell Group

• Audio and Praise Team Volunteers Needed!

  Those interested please fill out an application found in the back and give it to Esther

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 29, 2024

The Faith of the Early Church

Today May 29, 2024

Welcome to your mid-week!

Despite the reader of the book of Acts following Apostle Paul for ~21 chapters, the hero of the book of Acts is not Apostle Paul. The hero is Jesus Christ and the witnessing of who he is and what that means for those who believe in him to the ends of the earth.

And the message is more than just we are saved by Jesus Christ. The message is that God has restored his Kingdom in Jesus Christ. That God’s Kingdom is open to all who will receive him. Meaning, in Christ, God’s kingdom is realized as he comes to rule in the hearts of his people.

This is the message of Acts. It is the message that the good news of God’s Kingdom is the good news of Jesus Christ.

And the more we embrace our new identity in Christ Jesus - our new citizenship as children of God - the more we can do the many acts of faith we’ve been talking about this year.

And that is the faith that resonates.

God’s blessing upon you as you mediate upon your citizenship in Heaven, 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

• VBS 2024 is Coming!

  Theme: Scuba       Dates: 6/18 (Tues) - 6/21 (Fri)

  Pre/K - 5th Grade

  Registration Fee:  $45

  Register your students HERE

• Volunteers Needed! Register HERE

• May 30 (Thu) - Ministry Council

• June 2 (Sun) - PV Cell Group

• June 12 (Wed) - YP Cell Group

• Audio and Praise Team Volunteers Needed!

  Those interested please fill out an application found in the back and give it to Esther

• From the KM: Sunday tableware replacement

  To protect the environment and reduce costs, all tableware used for Sunday meals is disposable. Replace with stainless steel product. Tableware ban to be implemented starting from the first Sunday of June. We ask for your cooperation in the replacement.

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.