2023.02.04/05

From the Pastor’s Desk: Rev. Pastor Francis Chan

Dear brothers and sisters of RCAC,

On the first Wednesday of every month, AYAYA will hold a prayer meeting in Room 200. In the meeting, brothers and sisters sing hymns together to worship God; give thanks to God for his protection, guidance, and provisions; pray and intercede for one another. Brothers and sisters who did not know each other in the AYAYA community can get to know each other in the prayer meeting and watch out for each other. In the past February prayer meeting, 26 brothers and sisters participated. From their sharing, we clearly see the glory of God. Among them, three sisters used “miracle” to describe their recent experience in God.

A sister testified on behalf of her husband. Because they want to apply for immigration, her husband needs to take an English language exam. The result of the first exam was not good, mainly because the oral English examiner had a strong accent, and her husband could not hear clearly and could not respond well. But he didn’t give up, and he didn’t complain. He continued to pray, trusting in God’s grace. In the second exam, he encountered an examiner who he believed to be from Hong Kong. Since the examiner spoke with a Hong Kong accent, her husband could understand and respond well. This time he got a very satisfactory result: from 5.5 points last time to 7 points this time. His score for applying for immigration was met. The sister described it as a “miracle” because only God could have provided an oral English examiner with a Hong Kong accent for her husband.

A sister passed the driving test on her first attempt. She described it as a “miracle”. She is a very nervous person, and she has no talent for driving a vehicle. She bit the bullet and took the driving test because of family needs. On the day of the test, she herself knew that she had made many mistakes. After the exam, the examiner told her about her mistakes one by one, but gave her a pass, nonetheless. She thanked God for providing her with an understanding and kind examiner.

The sister who testified used to work as a registered nurse in Hong Kong. Now in Canada, she hopes to continue to work as a nurse and has taken a nursing license course. In the process, she needs to pass many exams. Recently, the school prepared a mock exam for its students, which require them to take more than 4 hours to complete. Many of these questions are not easy to answer. Although the sister studied very hard, she had no confidence in passing the exam. She said that even experienced nurses could not be sure of the correct answers to some of the questions in the exam paper. Consequently, she could only make guesses for many answers. After the exam, she thought she could only get about 350 points, but in the end, she got 1,000 points. She said it was a “miracle” because it was impossible for her to achieve it herself. The results of this mock exam have greatly increased her confidence in eventually obtaining a nursing license.

From the three testimonies above, we can understand that brothers and sisters who have just arrived in Canada face many difficulties and challenges in life and work. At the same time, because they are willing to trust God, they also experience a lot of grace and provision. In the prayer meeting, not only did God receive the glory He deserved, brothers and sisters were also strengthened in their faith because of the testimonies they heard. Glory be to God!

Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Francis Chan

2023.02.04/05

親愛的列宣家弟兄姊妹：

每個月第一個星期三，AYAYA 會在200號房舉行祈禱會。當中，弟兄姊妹一同唱詩敬拜上帝；為着上帝的保守、帶領與供應獻上感恩；為着弟兄姊妹的需要互相禱告代求。在 AYAYA 群體裏面本來互不相識的弟兄姊妹，在祈禱會中能夠互相認識，互相守望。在剛剛過去的二月份祈禱會，有26位弟兄姊妹參加。從他們的分享，我們清楚看見上帝的榮耀。其中有三位姊妹，都用「神蹟」來形容他們最近在上帝裏面的經歷。

有一位姊妹代表她的丈夫作見證。他們因為要申請移民，丈夫需要考英文公開試。第一次考試成績未如理想，主要因為在英語會話的環節，考官有很重的口音，他聽不清楚，也不能作出理想回應。但他沒有放棄，也沒有埋怨。他繼續祈禱，相信上帝有恩典。第二次考試，他遇上一個他相信是從香港來的考官。由於考官說話時有香港口音，弟兄聽得明白，也能作出好的回應。今次他得到非常理想的成績：由上次 5.5 分提升至今次 7 分。他申請移民的分數達到了。姊妹形容這是一個「神蹟」，因為只有上帝可以為她丈夫預備一個有香港口音的英語會話考官。

有一位姊妹第一次考車牌就合格了。她形容這是一個「神蹟」。她是一個非常緊張的人，而且自覺對駕駛車輛亳無天份，只是因為生活需要才硬着頭皮去考車牌。考試當天，她自己也知道犯了不少錯誤。考試完畢，考牌官將她的錯誤一一告訴她，但最後仍然給她合格。她感謝上帝讓她遇上一個既體諒又仁慈的考牌官。

有一位姊妹在香港任職註冊護士，來到加拿大希望可以繼續做護士，所以再讀書，預備考取本地護士執照。在過程中，她需要通過很多考試。最近，學校為學生預備了一個模擬考試，大家用了超過4小時才完成。其中很多問題，就算是經驗豐富的護士也無法肯定正確答案，她只可以靠估。考試完畢，她以為自己只能得到350分左右。結果，她得到1,000分。她說這是一個「神蹟」，因為她自己無可能得到這個分數。而這次模擬考試的結果，就大大增加了她對自己最終能夠考獲護士執照的信心。

從以上三個見證，我們可以明白新來加拿大的弟兄姊妹在生活和工作上，都面對很多困難和挑戰。與此同時，因為他們願意信靠上帝，也經歷不少恩典和供應。在祈禱會裏，弟兄姊妹同心禱告，彼此守望，不但上帝得着當得的榮耀，弟兄姊妹也因為所聽的見證，信心就得着堅固。你有參加祈禱會嗎？願一切榮耀歸於上帝！

主僕
陳榮基牧師

2023.01.28/29

Hello, brothers and sisters of RCAC. May you all have a blessed Chinese New Year. You may not celebrate the Chinese New Year.  But no matter which new year you celebrate, one thing is certain, we will send our best wishes to each other.  Behind these best wishes is the wish that this year will be better than last year.

In the past week, I thank God for allowing me to share with the Mandarin Congregation through the Gospel of John. In last week’s sermon, I talked about what a fulfilled life is through the miracle of Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand. First, this miracle is recorded in all four Gospels. Apart from the resurrection of Jesus, this miracle is the only one recorded in all four Gospels. Since each Gospel was written for a different purpose, and each Gospel writer decided to include this miracle in the respective book, there must be a significance to the miracle.

Jesus Christ broke our inherent logic through feeding the five thousand. How did the logic come about? Logic is accumulated through our life experiences. In other words, the foundation of logic has a historical background behind. And because of this, no matter who we are, we approach things according to a similar logic.

Through feeding the five thousand, Jesus wants to tell us that to follow Him, we must first let go of our inherent logic. Because He is the source of all power. There is no Jesus in worldly logic. However, as a child of God, the logic of dealing with things must first put Jesus Christ in the most important position. In the miracle of feeding the five thousand, Jesus fed the five thousand people (actually more than ten thousand people) with the five barley loaves and two fish that a child was willing to offer. Jesus can turn nothing into something, why would he rely on a child’s five barley loaves and two fish? It is logical that five barley loaves and two fish cannot feed five thousand people. But Jesus does not act with logic. Because God is above all, that is to say, logic cannot bind God’s deeds. When we face the present difficulties, we may all think logically. This is an inherent way of thinking, the apostles were like this, and so are we. However, Jesus told us that to rely on Him is to use a new perspective, a new logic, and this new logic is not taught by the world, but taught by Jesus. Everything starts with Jesus Christ.

In the new year, may we all put Jesus Christ first. May the Holy Spirit help us see that when we trust in Jesus, there is a life of fulfillment. This satisfaction is not given by the world, but by Jesus Christ. And this satisfaction can be obtained because Jesus Christ gave up everything in heaven, dwelled among us, and carried our sins.

May God bless you all. May God bless RCAC.

His servant,
Pastor Mark

2023.01.28/29

弟兄姊妹大家好。新年蒙福。新年的時候，我們都會向對方送上祝福的字句，用這樣的方法來向對方給予問候並祝賀。在新年的時候，我們都會希望今年比去年好。無論如何，新的一年的來臨都會給予我們一個機會，對今年有一個盼望。而這個盼望，無論是什麼內容，大部分都是希望今年比去年好。

在剛過去的一週，感謝神的恩典，讓我能夠透過約翰福音和大家分享。在上週的講道，我透過約翰福音的五餅二魚和大家分享什麼是一個滿足的人生。首先，這一個神蹟在四本福音書都有記載。除了耶穌復活之外，就只有這個神蹟在四本福音書都有記載。由於每一本福音書寫作的目的都不一樣，而每一個福音書的作者都決定把這個神蹟放在書中的話，一定有這個神蹟的重要性。

耶穌基督透過五餅二魚來打破我們固有的邏輯。邏輯是如何來的呢？邏輯是透過我們人生的經歷累積而來的。也就是說，邏輯的根基有著一種歷史背景在背後的。也因為這樣，無論我們是誰，都會依照類似的邏輯來處理事情。

透過五餅二魚，耶穌要告訴我們，跟隨祂就必須先把固有的邏輯放下。因為祂是一切能力的源頭。人類的邏輯中沒有耶穌。但是，作為神的兒女，處理事情的邏輯就必須先把耶穌基督放在最重要的位置。在五餅二魚的神蹟中，耶穌用一個小孩子願意奉獻的五餅二魚來餵飽五千人（其實應該是超過一萬人）。耶穌可以從無變有，為什麼要靠一個小朋友的五餅二魚呢？五餅二魚不能餵飽五千人，這個是邏輯。但是耶穌不會以邏輯來行事。因為神是在萬有之上的，也就是說，邏輯不能綑綁神的作為。當我們面對目前的困難的時候，我們都可能會以邏輯來思考。這個是固有的思考模式，使徒是這樣，我們也是。但是，耶穌告訴我們，倚靠祂就是要用一個新的眼光，新的邏輯，這個新的邏輯，不是世界教導我們的，而是耶穌教導我們的。一切都是以耶穌基督為先。

在新的一年，願我們一切以耶穌基督為先。讓聖靈幫助我們看見，當我們倚靠耶穌的時候，會有一個滿足的人生。這個滿足不是世界能給予的，而是耶穌基督所給予的。而能夠獲得這個滿足，是因為耶穌基督放棄天上的一切，來到我們的中間，並頂替我們的罪而成就的。

願神祝福大家。願神祝福列宣家。

主僕，
劉展權牧師

2023.01.14/15

From the Pastor’s Desk: Rev. Jason Cheung

Dear brothers and sisters of RCAC,

“For now we see in a mirror dimly…”
1 Corinthians 13:12

As a child, I listened as best I could to the preacher every Sunday.  The red cushioned pews of my childhood church, off Main St., was cushier than our blue ones here at RCAC.  Back then it was much easier to fall asleep.

God in his grace let the preaching words of people pierce my hard heart, over time.  I heard Him, and stepped in faith more than a few times, responding to a call to repent, to love him, to live for him, to serve him.

And yet, listening to a sermon is still difficult.

I am both a preacher, and a listener.  But my big head makes me think I am more important as a preacher.  God has shown me how foremost I am to be a listener.

The preacher is a person, and not perfect.  This is true of all of us, but when a person called, and trained, and even ordained, steps behind the pulpit, that person is still a person.  Called and made an instrument by God – yes! – but still a person like every other.  As a preacher preaches there may develop over years an ego that supersedes the task.  But (I speak as one called to preach) the moment I believe I have more to say than I have to listen, then I’ve lost my call to preach.

Most every vocation requires expertise and skill, a mastery of the task.  Coaches take charge of the team.  CEOs manage large companies.  Surgeons are captains of the operating room.  These are necessary for these roles.  Preachers, too, take years to hone the skill to preach, but preachers have a different aim.  Preachers are never meant to stand out.  The most faithful preachers are forgotten, because when the Word meets the hearer’s heart the lingering ache is for Christ.  When the preacher is remembered, he has failed.

And yet, for some reason, we’ve made pastors to be coaches of people, CEOs of churches and surgeons of souls.  That’s foolhardy because pastors are not called to be any of these.  Pastors are called to preach and get out of the way of the Spirit’s work in hearts.

Kneeling
by R.S. Thomas

Moments of great calm,
Kneeling before an altar
Of wood in a stone church
In summer, waiting for the God  
To speak; the air a staircase  
For silence; the sun’s light  
Ringing me, as though I acted  
A great rôle. And the audiences  
Still; all that close throng
Of spirits waiting, as I,
For the message.

                        Prompt me, God;

But not yet. When I speak,  
Though it be you who speak  
Through me, something is lost.  
The meaning is in the waiting.

In his poem, Kneeling, R.S. Thomas opens within the anticipation of a person in the pew, “waiting for God to speak.”  Every element described of the church is space readying for the Word.  Even the air is “a staircase for silence.”  Then the poem turns, and we learn the person in the pew is actually the pastor about to preach.  And this pastor says something profound:

When I speak,  
Though it be you who speak  
Through me, something is lost.  
The meaning is in the waiting.

These lines capture well the tension of the preacher as person and the preacher as conduit of God’s holy Word.

As a preacher, I have buckled under the pressure of conveying God’s Word to God’s people.  I have  tried various voices to “improve.”  Authority.  Humour.  Knowledge.  But, I used all these only to prove myself worthy.  These voices have a place, for sure, but they can also get in the way.  I was in the way.  When I stopped trying to prove, and rather trusted, paused, and waited, the Spirit worked his meaning into me.

Thomas’ poem reminds us, listeners, that the preacher is merely an interpreter, and every word that comes from his or her mouth will lose something of the divine meaning.  And that’s fine.  The temptation for listeners (as it is for preachers) is to take every word spoken as if it were God’s very Word.  But biblical authority is not transferable from Word to preacher.  The only person where this authority rests perfectly is Jesus – “the Word was God” (John 1:1).

So, listen to the Word.

By all means, listen to preachers.  But, listen with the aim of listening to God.  Discard the chaff, and be nourished by whatever truth comes through.  Be gentle and gracious to preachers who try, but communicate poorly.  Be thankful for faithful preachers who highlight the text for you, for the church, and then step aside.  Be wary of preachers who demand respect based on authority.  Be open, though, to the humblest of preachers who tremble as they step into the pulpit. Be wary of preachers eloquent in speech who gain followers to themselves.

Be open, though, to the Spirit’s voice between Sundays, in the silent and in your waiting.

Listen to the Word.

Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Jason Cheung

2023.1.14/15

親愛的列宣家弟兄姊妹：

「我們現在是對著鏡子觀看，模糊不清…」(哥林多前書 13:12)

小時候，我每個星期天都盡我能力去聆聽牧者講道。我兒時的教堂位於 Main St. 附近，我坐在紅色墊子的長椅，比我們列宣的藍色長椅更舒適，那時候入睡要容易得多。

隨著時間漸漸過去，上帝在祂的恩典裡讓牧者的教導刺穿了我堅硬的心腸。我聽到了祂的聲音，並多次憑著信心踏出，回應上帝的呼召，要悔改、要愛祂、為祂而活、服侍祂。

然而，聆聽一篇講道仍然很困難。

我既是一位牧者，又是一位聆聽者。但我腦袋裡讓我覺得作為牧者更重要。上帝已經向我展示作為一個聆聽者是多麼重要的。

牧者是一個人，並不完美。我們所有人也是，當一個人被呼召、接受訓練、甚至被按立，但離開講台，那個人仍然是一個人。他被上帝呼召成為祂一個器皿，但仍然是一個人，與其他人沒有分別。當一個講員不停講道，經年累月後或許會展現出一種自我而失去其講道的真義。對我作為講員而言，當我察覺到我要說的比我必須要聽的更多時，我就失去了被呼召去講道的真義。

大多數職業都需要專業知識和技能，可以精準地掌握其職務。教練負責他的隊伍，大公司主席管理公司，外科醫生是手術室的隊長，這些角色都是理所當然的。講員也一樣，需要時間磨練講道技巧。但講員有不同的目標，他絕對不是為了脫穎而出。最忠心的講員常會被遺忘的，因為當道觸及聽者的心時，那揮之不去的痛楚是為了基督。當講員會被人們記住時，他就失敗了。

然而，某些原因，讓牧者成為人的教練、教會的主席和靈魂的外科醫生。這是愚蠢的，因為牧者沒有被呼召成為任何的一個。牧者被呼召去講道是要讓聖靈在人心中的工作。

Kneeling《跪等》R.S. Thomas

大有寧靜的片刻，
跪在木頭祭台前，
一座石頭教堂裡，
夏日，等候上帝
發聲；空氣是樓梯
伸向靜寂，太陽的光
將我環系，倒像是我出演了
一場大戲。而觀眾們
止息；所有那些聚攏近前的
靈魂們等候著，像我一樣，
為那信息。
給我提示，上帝，
但還不急。當我開口，
雖將是你通過我發聲，
仍已有部分被丟掉了。
意義在這等候裡。

R.S. Thomas的詩《跪等》中，開始時是指向在坐長椅上的一個人的期待，「等候上帝說話」。所有描述教堂內的每一個元素空間都是為聖言而準備。甚至空氣也是「寂靜的階梯」。然後這首詩轉向，我們了解到坐在長椅上的人實際上是即將要講道的牧者。這位牧者說了一些震撼的話：

當我開口，
雖將是你通過我發聲，
仍已有部分被丟掉了。
意義在這等候裡。

這些詩句很清楚表達作為人的講道者和作為上帝聖言的管道的講道者之間的張力。

作為一位講員，我在向上帝的子民傳達上帝的話語的壓力下屈服了。我嘗試用各種聲音來“改進”。 權威、 幽默、 知識。 但是，我用這一切只是為了證明自己的價值。 這些聲音肯定有一席之地，但它們也可能成為障礙，我就是被這障礙擋住了。當我停止嘗試去證明，反而是相信、止息、及等候時，聖靈就將祂的意思賜給我。

Thomas的詩提醒我們聆聽者，講員只不過是一個傳譯員，從他或她口中說出的每一句話都會失去一些神聖的意義，這也沒錯的。對聆聽者的誘惑（就像對講員的誘惑一樣）是把所說的每一句話都當成是上帝的話。但聖經的權威不能從道轉移到講員身上。唯一完全擁有這種權威的人只有是耶穌－「道就是神」（約翰福音 1:1）。

所以，要聽道。

無論如何，聆聽講員的話。但是，要帶著聆聽上帝的目的去聆聽。丟掉糠秕，被真理去滋養。講員或許溝通不流暢，我們要以溫柔和恩慈的心對待講員。我們要感謝默默耕耘、忠心服侍的講員。要提防那些基於權威追求自己名聲的講員；要小心警惕那些口若懸河，為自己贏得追隨者的講員。要包容那些謙卑、戰戰兢兢地踏上講壇講道的講員。

每一天，我們都要安靜和等候，敞開我們的心被聖靈的聲音去充滿。

主僕
張志成牧師

January 7/8, 2023

From the Pastor’s Desk : Pastor Alex Poon

Dear brothers and sisters of RCAC,

May we pursue wisdom this new year. Grow to deepen your heart and mind knowledge of Christ our Savior. This is growing Christian maturity.

 “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom” – Proverbs 9:8-10

This is wisdom: to love God as God. Wisdom is the way we want to live and move towards Him.

And it takes the work of pursuing learning.

The Apostle Paul writes to his disciple Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:1-2…

 “¹ You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, ² and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.”

Then he continues later in chapter 3 in 2 Timothy 3:14-17…

“¹⁴ But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it ¹⁵ and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

Follow the train of thought: The source of strengthening is first the grace that is in Christ Jesus. Then the second source of strengthening is learning; “continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed”. And the source of this learning is the teaching of Scripture – which is God breathed, and good in every way. It is profitable for the equipping of every good work.

So, for us, as maturing children of God: It is good work to pursue God, to know him as Lord of all, and to continually grow in maturity in him through heart and mind. As we deepen our understanding, we deepen our experience. As he provokes our thoughts, as he tunes our attention, and refines our pondering – we will learn to commune with him deeper and deeper and be satisfied more and more.

Naturally, the question is “How do we start?”

I’m sure you already know how.

First through prayer. Prayers of dependence. And prayers which ask God to create in us a renewing mind, and heart which desires and matures.

Then, through diving in the deep strengthening teachings of Scripture. When do you read God’s Word to us? When do you dive into the depth of his love explained? What sources help illuminate your reading – so you see what you did not see at first? Who are your good teachers? And who are your conversational partners who help to strengthen and encourage your pursuit of wisdom? But the ultimate question is this: do you give priority to the Scriptures, so that you are formed and shaped in your thinking?

All of this, so we may praise our God, who came – as the embodiment of wisdom – to reveal to us the wisdom of the cross. That is, the wisdom of our suffering servant who is the righteous dying for the unrighteous, to bring us to God (1 Peter 3:18).

Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Alex Poon

2023.01.07/.08

親愛的列宣家弟兄姊妹：

 願我們在新的一年追求智慧，在心靈和思想行為上對我們的救主基督有更深的認識，成為一個越來越成熟的基督徒。

箴言9:10 「敬畏耶和華是智慧的開端」。智慧就是愛主，生活和行事為人要討主喜悅，這是需要學習的功課。

使徒保羅在提摩太後書2:1-2 寫信給他的門徒提摩太…

「所以，我兒啊，你應當在基督耶穌的恩典裡剛強起來，又應當把你在許多見證人面前從我這裡聽見的，交託給那些又忠心又能夠教導別人的人。」

然後，他在3:14-17 繼續…

「你應當遵守所學和確信的；你知道是跟誰學的，並且知道自己從小就明白聖經，這聖經能夠使你有智慧，可以因信基督耶穌得著救恩。全部聖經都是神所默示的，在教訓、責備、矯正和公義的訓練各方面，都是有益的，為要使屬神的人裝備好，可以完成各樣的善工。」

按經文教導：剛強的源頭首先是在基督耶穌裡的恩典，第二個是學習，「繼續你所學到的和堅信的」。而這樣學習的源頭是聖經的教導－聖經是神所默示的，在各方面都是好的。裝備各樣善工都是有益的。

至於我們，作為成長中神的兒女，要渴慕神，認定祂是萬有之主，並且心靈和思想行為要在祂裡面不斷地成長。隨著我們對神有更深入的認識，我們也加深對祂的經歷，祂會激發我們的思想，調整我們的專注力，煉淨我們的思考，當我們學會越深入地與祂交流，我們就越得到滿足。

好自然就會問「我們如何開始？」，我相信你已經知道怎樣做了。

首先是禱告，就是倚靠神的祈禱，祈求神更新我們的心思意念，賜我們渴慕神成長的心。然後，深入研讀聖經的教導。你什麼時候閱讀聖經？你什麼時候感受到祂的愛的長闊高深？有那些資源幫助你明白，讓你看到你最初沒有看到的東西？誰是你的好老師？誰是幫助你加強和鼓勵你追求智慧的夥伴？但最終的問題是：你有否把聖經放在首位，以致你的思想行為被祂塑造？

所有的一切，讓我們讚美我們的神，耶穌基督，智慧的化身，祂向我們展示十字架的智慧，也就是“我們受苦的僕人的智慧，就是義的代替不義的，為要領你們到神面前。（彼得前書3:18）

主僕
潘啟華傳道