2022.08.20/21

From the Pastor’s Desk:Rev. Simon Lee

Dear brothers and sisters of RCAC,

We had an amazing three weeks of vacation. Special for Lydia and myself, because the 10^th anniversary of our ministry at RCAC occurred during our trip away. Ten years ago, Lydia and I boarded our flight CX 8 from Hong Kong on the 8^th of August and arrived on the same day in Vancouver. I started my ministry on August 9, 2012. It has been 10 years of blessings for us and our family.  Because of the amazing vacation, we also feel refreshed and ready to run towards the finishing line at the end of the year. The vacation was amazing for many reasons:

1. Joy: Joy in visiting Ottawa, Montreal, and Quebec City.

We took a three day bus tour to these cities. We especially like Quebec City because of its history and culture. After so many years in Canada, visiting Quebec City for the first time was a lesson in itself. We visited several old and grand cathedrals and it was interesting to find out their glorious history. For me, my experience was special because I just had to sit back and enjoy the trip, and not worry about anything. For one who is used to planning and directing everything, this was a very refreshing and enjoyable experience. For once, I was truly a tourist enjoying each moment totally carefree. Also, at the end of our time in Toronto, my classmate from the University of Manitoba even managed to take us to revisit the Niagara Falls, and we were awed again by the wonder of God’s creation.

2. Encouragement: Enjoying participating in some local ministries in Greater Toronto.

Our hosts in Greater Toronto gave us the privilege to participate in a few meaningful preaching opportunities. I spoke at a weekend in-person Church Summer Day Camp, a breakthrough for the Church after suspending the camp for the past 2 years due to Covid. It was so encouraging to see all of their three congregations, English, Cantonese and Mandarin, sharing in unity at the wonderful get-together at the Church. I was encouraged to find out that the Mandarin pastor had a prayer meeting online on Zoom with members of his congregation every morning. I was totally impressed with the English congregation serving the rest of the Church with a BBQ lunch on Saturday.

Apart from that, I also had a small part to play at a meaningful Expository Preaching Devotional Meeting. At first, we were disappointed to see the low in-person attendance but later found out that there were over 1600 who attended online. Praise be to God.

On a final Sunday I preached twice. First, I was taken to a newly established Church north of Toronto in the suburb, bought and newly renovated by the Scarborough Chinese Alliance Church (SCAC). On that early Sunday morning there were over 160 people attending with many newcomers! Finally I spoke at the Mandarin service of SCAC and was overjoyed to see one of my former doctoral students doing a fantastic job there.

3. Thankful: We thank God in meeting with many ex-Winnipeggers and past Church members.

We were blessed in meeting up with some of the Winnipeg UM “oldies” who have remained faithful to the Lord all these years. Also, we met with the younger generation of Winnipeggers and thankful to see they have all matured in their faith. Many of them were young students in our Church when I pastored there in the 80’s. Some of them are in fact serving as leaders or pastors of the Churches in Toronto.

4. Grateful: We had a fantastic family retreat on Bowen Island

Our vacation was capped by a four day restful retreat time with the family (18 in all) on Bowen Island. The place where we stayed overlooks the beautiful cove where the ferries come in and out. It was such a lot of fun to spend time with the family and to play with the grandkids. Our children again took care of all the meals and we had a wonderful time.  Praise be to God. MAY God bless you all also.

Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Simon Lee

2022.08.20/21

列宣家親愛的弟兄姊妹,

我們剛剛享受了一個三週美滿的假期。師母和我亦在這旅途中度過我們列宣事奉的十週年紀念。十年前，我和師母於 8 月 8 日從香港登上 CX 8 航班同日抵達溫哥華，我於 2012 年 8 月 9 日便開始在教會事奉，如今已經是 10 年的祝福。因為這個美滿的假期，我們感到精力充沛，準備好在年底跑到終點。這個假期的美滿，原因有很多：

1. 喜悅：遊覽渥太華、滿地可和魁北克市的喜悅

我們參加了一個三天貫穿三市的巴士遊覽團。我們特別喜歡魁北克市是因為它的歷史和文化。在加拿大這麼多年之後，第一次遊覽魁北克市本身就是一個學習。我們參觀了幾座古老而宏偉的大教堂，對於它們的輝煌歷史很感興趣。對我來說，這次旅遊很特別，因為我只需要坐下來享受這次旅程，不用擔心任何事情。對於我這個習慣於策劃和領導一切的人來說，我非常享受這次輕鬆愉快的經歷。這一次，我真的是一名遊客，我享受每一刻！另在多倫多旅程接近結束的時候，我的溫尼伯大學同學還帶我們重遊了尼亞加拉大瀑布，我們再次被上帝創造的奇蹟所震撼。

2. 鼓勵：參與大多倫多地區事工的鼓勵

有幸在大多倫多的東道主給了我們一些參與有意義的講道機會。我在周末於一所教會的實體夏令營分享信息。這是教會在過去兩年因新冠疫情而暫停活動後重開的一項突破。看到他們英語、粵話和國話的會眾，在教會的聚會中同心分享，真是令人鼓舞。我又親眼目睹他們的國話牧者每天早上都在 Zoom 上與他的會眾舉行網上祈禱會，我很受鼓舞。週六中午的時候，更見英語部的弟兄姊妹為全會眾預備燒烤午餐，這給我留下了深刻的印象。

除此之外，在另一週末我還有份在一個有意義的「聖言」釋經培靈會中服侍。頭一晚我們對實體出席的人數很少感到失望，但後來發現在線出席的人數竟超過1,600人。讚美歸於上帝！

在最後一個主日，我講了兩場道，首先在多倫多北部郊區一個新成立的教會，教會是由士嘉堡華人宣道會買下並重新裝修的。在那個週日的清晨，有超過160人及許多新來賓一起敬拜！最後，我在士宣的國話崇拜中講道，很高興看到我以前的一位博士學生在那裡的事奉非常出色。

3. 感恩：感恩能與許多前居溫尼伯及前溫尼伯宣道會的成員(Winnipeggers)重聚

我們很感恩能遇到這些年來一些一直忠於主的溫尼伯“老友”。很高興還見到了年輕一代的“溫尼伯友”(Winnipeggers)，他們的信仰都成熟了，其中許多是我在八十年代在那裡牧會時的年輕學生，他們中的一些人已是多間多倫多教會的領袖或牧者。

4. 感激：感激能在博文島(Bowen Island)有寧靜的家庭退修

我們的假期高峰是與家人(共18人)在博文島度過的四天退修時間。我們住的地方俯瞰著渡輪進出的美麗海灣。與家人共度時光並與孫子孫女玩耍同樂真是太幸福了！我們的孩子再次負責所有的膳食，讓我們度過了愉快的時光。讚美歸於上帝。願上帝也祝福你們。

主僕,
李耀全牧師,
主任牧師

2022.07.30/31

From the Pastor’s Desk: Rev. Simon Lee, Senior Pastor RCAC

Dear brothers and sisters of RCAC,

Last issue: Pastoral Reflections on July 1 (1)

On July 1, we celebrated Canada Day here. I know, as I enjoyed a statutory holiday. This year is the 155^th Anniversary of Confederation. But for those of us who are from Hong Kong, we know that July 1 this year was also the day to commemorate the 25^th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR).

In reflecting on these two anniversaries, the question that comes to mind is: What is there to celebrate? In Canada, in the past year we have been reminded again and again of the horrific history of mistreatment and injustice to the children from the First Nations at the Residential Schools and the trauma of their survivors. Furthermore, in the very place we are living in, there are so many other social problems such as the drug overdose crisis and the rising crime rate, just to mention a few.

In Hong Kong, we know that ten of thousands of HongKongers, on both sides of the political spectrum, had decided to leave Hong Kong, looking for a better haven for themselves and their families, many in such a hurry that they did not even say good-bye to their relatives and friends. The anxiety and fear of these people are compounded by the difficulties of finding and settling into a new home in Canada and elsewhere. Yes, “what is there to celebrate”?

The truth of the matter is whether in the birth and development of a nation as in Canada from over 150 years ago, or in the return of a colony to its motherland, as in Hong Kong, in the last 25 years till now, we witnessed prosperity mixed with upheavals, progress mixed with injustice, hope mixed with disappointments, bringing anxiety and tears to all looking for a better future. This is the sad history and geography of the migration of people since the beginning of times, repeated over and over again around the world. If there are achievements to celebrate, then there are also disappointments to grieved about. Again, what is really there to celebrate?

Abraham and the people of faith come to mind. We read in Hebrews 11 these words: By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place he would later receive as an inheritance, and he went out without understanding where he was going. ⁹ By faith he lived as a foreigner in the promised land as though it were a foreign country, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, who were fellow heirs of the same promise. ¹⁰ For he was looking forward to the city with firm foundations, whose architect and builder is God… ¹³ These all died in faith without receiving the things promised, but they saw them in the distance and welcomed them and acknowledged that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth. ¹⁴ For those who speak in such a way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. ¹⁵ In fact, if they had been thinking of the land that they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶ But as it is, they aspire to a better land, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. (8-10, 13-16) Yes, Abraham and many others “aspire to a better land,” and ultimately it is “a heavenly one.” Those words ring true even today.

The truth is there is no place on earth that does not have its share of unrest and problem, because we are all sinful people living in a sinful world. The church does not and cannot offer any solution to political problems, but the church is where true faith, ultimate hope, genuine love can be found. Lasting peace (shalom) and total redemption are found in the church because “In God we trust.” People of all background, race or political background can come to Christ, the Prince of Peace. This is what we can truly celebrate.

Your servant in Christ,
Rev. Simon Lee

2022.07.30/31

列宣家的弟兄姊妹，

上期：教牧反思(一) ：7月1日，我們在這裡慶祝加拿大國慶。今年是加拿大聯邦成立 155 週年。但對於我們來自香港的，7月1日也有另外一個含義：因為這一天也是香港特別行政區成立25週年的日子。兩個背景截然不同的周年紀念日喚起了我截然不同的感受。

回顧這兩個七1週年紀念日時，我在想:有什麼是值得慶祝的？在加拿大，在過去的一年裡，我們一次又一次地讀到有關於寄宿學校中原住民兒童遭受虐待和不公正待遇的可怕歷史，以及那些倖存者所遭受的創傷。此外，我們也看到很多社會問題的出現，例如藥物濫用和犯罪率上升等等。

在香港，我們知道數以萬計的香港人選擇離開香港，為自己和家人尋找更好的避風港，許多人急得連向家人好好說聲再見的機會都沒有。這些人又因為來到加拿大或其他國家而面對不同適應及定居的問題而不能釋懷。是的，“有什麼值得慶祝的呢”？

事實是，無論是加拿大或是像香港，無論什麼時候，我們都可以看到繁榮背後夾雜著動盪，進步中夾雜著不公義，希望中夾雜著失望，一心為了要尋求更美好未來的人卻經歷了焦慮和淚水。這是人類自古以來遷徙時會遇到的，在世界每一個角落重覆地發生。“有什麼值得慶祝的呢”？

此時，亞伯拉罕和有其他信仰的偉人浮現在腦海中。我們在希伯來書11 章讀到：

8因著信，亞伯拉罕在蒙召的時候，就聽命往他將要承受為業的地方去；他出去的時候，還不知道要往哪裡去。9因著信，他在應許之地寄居，好像是在異鄉…。10因為他等待那座有根基的城，就是神所設計所建造的…。13這些人都是存著信心死了的，還沒有得著所應許的，只不過是從遠處看見，就表示歡迎，又承認他們在世上是異鄉人，是客旅。14因為說這樣話的人，是表明他們在尋求一個家鄉。15如果他們懷念已經離開了的地方，還有可以回去的機會。16但是現在他們所嚮往的，是一個更美的、在天上的家鄉。所以神不以他們稱他為神而覺得羞恥；因為他已經為他們預備了一座城。(8-10, 13-16)是的，亞伯拉罕和其他許多人都“渴望有更美好的土地”，其實唯有“天上的家鄉”才能夠真正滿足他們。

地球上沒有一個地方是真正的樂土，因為我們都是罪人。教會不可亦不能為政治問題提供任何解決方案，但是教會是一個地方讓人能夠找到終極盼望和永恆的愛，可以找到真正的平安(shalom)和完全的救贖，因為“我們信靠的是上帝”(In God we trust)。無論是什麼背景、種族或政治立場的人，都可以投靠這一位「和平之君」耶穌基督。而這個才是值得我們慶祝的。

主僕，
李耀全牧師

2022.07.23/24

From the Pastor’s Desk:Rev. Simon Lee, Senior Pastor RCAC

Dear brothers and sisters of RCAC,

July 1, 2022 was a special day to me, thought-provoking, as one born in Hong Kong but who has for years made Canada my home. On July 1, we celebrated Canada Day here. I know, as I enjoyed a statutory holiday. This year is the 155^th Anniversary of Confederation. But for those of us who are from Hong Kong, we may know that July 1 this year was also the day to commemorate the 25^th Anniversary of the Establishment of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). These were two anniversaries with very different background, evoking in me very different feelings and emotions.

I still remember when Canada celebrated the 150^th anniversary of the confederation, my wife Lydia and I took a trip to the Maritimes Provinces in Eastern Canada, together with my daughter Hannah and my son in law Eugene as tour guides. One place we visited was Charlottetown, P.E.I., where the conferences on the confederation of “Canada” all started in 1864. It ended in the birth of Canada in 1867, marked by the proclamation into law of the Constitution Act, 1867 (British North America Act).  On that trip, I learned a lot about Canada and its history, both the glorious and the ugly, of the treaties with the First Nations, colonialism, confederation, and history of immigrations.

One thing I learned was the name “Canada” comes from aboriginal roots, the Huron-Iroquois word “Kanata,” meaning “village” or “settlement,” the name given to the French explorers and settlers of the day, referring to the village of Stadacona, the site of the present-day City of Quebec. Canada was previously also referred to as a Dominion (part of the British Empire) by the British. But interestingly, it was New Brunswick’s Sir Leonard Tilley who suggested the use of the word “Dominion” of Canada, reportedly inspired by Psalm 72:8, “He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.”  C&MA of Canada uses the 5S’s to denote its span of ministries, and the 5^th S, refers to “sea to sea” (Dominion of Canada). As an Alliance pastor, my prayer on July 1 in recollecting this was: May the Lord truly have dominion over Canada, which once had a lots of Christian roots!

My mind wandered to Hong Kong. As you know, on July 1, 1997, China regained control of the British colony of Hong Kong after 156 years. It was in 1839 that Britain invaded China to crush opposition to its opium trade and in 1842 the unequal Treaty of Nanking was signed ending the First Opium War, and the Island of Hong Kong was ceded to the British.   In September 1984, after years of negotiations, the British and the Chinese signed a formal agreement approving the 1997 turnover of the island, Kowloon and the New Territories back to China. One of the major concepts was “one country, two systems.”

On July 1, 1997, Hong Kong was orderly handed over to China in a ceremony attended by numerous Chinese, British, and international dignitaries. I was in Hong Kong, and still remember being glued to the TV, watching each event of the handover, and wondering what will happen to Hong Kong and whether the concept of “one country, two systems” will work. For us as a family, in 1994 we had decided to leave Vancouver to move to Hong Kong to serve there because of the tremendous need there. Little did we know Lydia and I would be there for 18 years till coming to serve at RCAC in 2012. I am amazed at how time flies and 25 years had gone by since the handover. Memories of the City and its development, both its prosperity and upheavals, flood back to my memory. Nowadays we are constantly reminded of the changes in Hong Kong because of the influx of newcomers from Hong Kong in the last year or so. Now half of the period of the promise of “50 years with no change” has passed, with all the many changes, nothing is certain except change itself. As someone who is from Hong Kong, I keep asking on July 1, what will Hong Kong be like after another 25 years?      (Next issue: Pastoral Reflections on July 1 (2))

Christ’s servant,
Rev. Simon Lee