2023.03.04/05

親愛的列宣家弟兄姊妹：

反思媽媽最近的離去，讓我想起傳道書這段經文。傳道書3:1-4「萬事都有定期，天下萬務都有定時：生有時，死有時…哭有時，笑有時…哀慟有時，踴躍有時…」

人幾時生，幾時死，不是人能控制及決定，是神定規的。

媽媽曾經對我說，想早點回天家，因為她自覺身體健康日走下坡，每天要活在病痛的折磨中，要繼續活下去是艱難的。當我聽到她這樣說時，心裡感到難過，但也明白她的想望，感覺十分矛盾。為人子女，那有想自己母親早日離世，但同時又不想她受苦。

還記得每次跟她在醫院或護老院進行視像探訪時，我們家人總是給她正能量。藉著聖經的話語，詩歌，給她安慰。也為她祈禱，祈求神賜下足夠的恩典，賜她力量、平安與喜樂渡過每一天。我沒有求天父把她早日接去，只求那憐憫的主賜她力量過每一天。

她最近的離世，讓我想到神有祂時間，使萬事各按其時，成為美好。

首先，她離世的日子(香港時間:二月八日)，正是發生在我們教會週二祈禱會後。我深信是神聽了我們眾人的祈禱，按著祂美好的旨意，讓她息去地上的勞苦，安息在主的懷中。祈禱會後，我收到家人的消息，說老人院通知我們，媽媽失去知覺，送到醫院已證實死亡。

她在院舍當天早上洗過澡，吃了午飯，就休息。她應該是在睡夢中被主接去。沒有人知道，院舍的員工不知道，家人不知道，她自己也不知道，唯有神知道。

第二，週二祈禱會後正是星期三，剛好是我休假的安息日，我一個人踏著單車，去到樹林海邊安靜默想，邊走邊哭，我把抑壓的情緒釋放了。神讓我有一整天哀哭，心情慢慢平復過來。

第三，當我預備下週講道信息時，我是一早安排了講拉撒路復活的故事。神讓我藉著預備信息時，用祂的話安慰了我，約翰福音11:25「耶穌說：“我就是復活和生命；信我的人，雖然死了，也要活著。」神親自抹乾我的眼淚。

第四，回想媽媽離世前一星期與她視像，當時她表現良好，比任何先前探訪時候更有反應，有問有答。於是我鼓勵媽媽念主禱文給我們聽，她竟然一字不漏的背出來。（以前她只是在我們引導下，斷斷續續地跟著我們讀出來。）當天結束視像時，我為她祈禱，她以阿們來回應。雖然現在已不能再跟她談話，但這次的對話讓我看到神的恩慈，我感覺到沒有遺憾。

最後，在回港參加母親的安息禮一事上，神已為我開路。三月18/19日原先是編排了我講道，但那週同心圓敬拜隊會負責敬拜和講道信息，減輕了我的負擔。我已安排了3月13-17日回港，在兩個主日之間，對教會事工的影響減到最低。再者，因中港兩地全面通關，我們的舅父舅母等親人亦能從內地到香港參加安息禮拜，這是一個好機會讓他們聽到福音信息。願神使用母親的安息禮拜，成為見證福音的機會。

傳3:11「神造萬物，各按其時成為美好，又將永生安置在世人心裡。然而神從始至終的作為，人不能參透。」

願一切榮耀歸給我們在天上的父，阿們！

主僕
龔敏光牧師

2022.12.31/2023.01.01

From the Pastor’s Desk: Rev.Collins Kung

Dear brothers and sisters of RCAC,

RCAC is an English/Chinese/Mandarin trilingual church. We have five worship congregations yet we share the same goal – to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ and fulfill the Great Commission. We demonstrate the unity of our church through our common theme and common preaching messages.

This weekend’s worship will cross two years, from 2022 to 2023. We will also start a new theme from the New Year:  “Deeper Life, Broader Vision”. I have chosen to use two words, “deeper” and “broader”, to emphasize our need for action, and not just slogans. We uphold the traditions of the Christian Missionary Alliance.  On the one hand, we believe that believers must grow in spiritual life and  Christ followers must learn His teachings and put His teachings into practice. Jesus Christ is our role model, we deepen our spiritual life through His words and deeds. On the other hand, we need to broaden our horizons and recognize who are our neighbors, so that we can embrace the world and obey the Great Commission declared by the Lord.

From January to April 2023, we will study the Gospel of John and take the life of Jesus as examples of life deepening:

Beginning with the incarnation of Jesus Christ, He humbled Himself from the position of God to the likeness of man. John 1:18 ” No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.”  Jesus Christ manifests a life centered on God. Wherever he went, he preached the gospel to the people he met and challenging their beliefs and lives.

• He spoke to the Jewish teacher Nicodemus about the need to be born again.
• He talked to the Samaritan woman about the living water and made her realize the Messiah in front of her eyes.
• He fed 5,000 people with the miracle of five loaves and two fishes, exhorting people to pursue the bread of life.
• How He treated a woman caught in adultery and declared Himself to be the Light of the world.
• He declared Himself a good shepherd, willing to lay down His life for the sheep so that the sheep could have abundant life.
• He raised Lazarus back to life, declared that He is the resurrection and the life, and gave hope of resurrection to the world.
• According to the date prophesied in the Scripture, He entered Jerusalem meekly on a donkey, showing that He is the King of Israel who came in the name of the Lord.
• He shared the Last Supper with His disciples, washed their feet, and instituted the Eucharist for the disciples to remember the new covenant with Him.
• When the disciples were sad, He comforted them He is the way to God the Father.
• He emphasized to his disciples that the relationship with himself should be connected like the true vine with its branches, and they should remain in the Lord.
• Before going to the cross, He offered the High Priest’s Prayer to intercede for the disciples.
• In the end, He fully obeyed, was delivered into the hands of the religious leaders, and died on the cross for us by laying down His life.
• The story is not over yet…He resurrected on the third day and defeated death according to His prophecy to the disciples.
• After His resurrection, He appeared to His disciples, strengthened Peter, and charged him to follow the Lord’s example and shepherd the flock.

Let us study the Gospel of John from a deeper life perspective, learn to imitate the life of Jesus as an example to a deeper life, and exhibit the beauty of Christ. May glory and praise be to our Lord Jesus Christ, amen!

Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Collins Kung

 2022.12.31/2023.01.01

親愛的列宣家弟兄姊妹：

列宣家是一間兩文三語的華人教會，我們有五個崇拜群體，卻有著一個共同的目標，傳揚耶穌基督的福音，實踐大使命。我們透過同一的全年主題，同一的講道信息，展現教會的合一。

本週崇拜將橫跨兩個年度，由2022年過渡到2023年，從新的一年開始，我們亦開始新的全年主題，就是「進深靈命，擴闊視野」。我選擇了以兩個動詞「進深」和「擴闊」，為要強調我們需要行動，盼望我們不是停留於口號。我們秉承宣道會的傳統，一方面，我們認定信徒要在屬靈生命上長進，信徒跟隨耶穌基督，就要學習祂的教訓，並且把祂的道理落到實處。以基督為靈命進深的榜樣。我們要從祂的言行學習進深。另一方面，我們要擴闊視野，認清誰是我的鄰舍，使我們能胸懷普世，遵行主頒佈的大使命。

2023一月至四月，我們從約翰福音，學習以耶穌之生命為進深的典範：

由耶穌基督道成肉身開始，看到祂從神的位分降卑到成為人的樣式。約1:18「從來沒有人見過神，只有在父懷裡的獨生子把他彰顯出來。」認識耶穌基督是怎樣彰顯一個以神為中心的生命。祂所到之處，向所接觸的人傳講福音，挑戰他們現有的信仰及生活。

• 祂與猶太人的拉比尼哥德慕談論重生的必要。
• 祂與撒瑪利亞婦人談論活水，讓她認識到眼前的彌賽亞
• 祂以五餅二魚的神蹟令5000人吃飽，勸告人要追求生命糧。
• 祂怎樣對待一個行淫中被抓住的婦人，宣告自己就是世界的光。
• 祂宣告自己是好牧人，願意為羊捨命，叫羊得著豐盛的生命。
• 祂叫拉撒路復活，宣告祂就是就是復活和生命，給世人復活的盼望。
• 祂按聖經預言的日子，騎著小驢謙謙和和地進入耶路撒冷，表明祂就是奉主名來的以色列王。
• 祂與門徒共享最後晚餐，為他們洗腳，設立聖餐要門徒記念與祂所立的新約。
• 門徒憂愁時，祂安慰門徒祂就是通往父神之路。
• 祂向門徒強調與自己的關係要像真葡萄樹與枝子這樣連結，要常在主裡。
• 在上十架前，獻上大祭司的禱告，為門徒代求。
• 最後，祂完全順服，被交在宗教領袖手裡，為我們捨棄生命，死在十字架上。
• 故事還未完結…按著向門徒的預告第三日復活，戰勝死亡。
• 祂復活後向門徒顯現，堅固彼得，囑咐他效法主的榜樣，牧養群羊。

讓我們一起從進深靈命的角度研讀約翰福音，學習以耶穌之生命為進深的典範，彰顯基督的榮美。願榮耀頌讚都歸與我們的主耶穌基督，阿們!

主僕
龔敏光牧師

2022.10.08/09

From the Pastor’s Desk:Rev.Collins Kung

Dear brothers and sisters of RCAC,

Recently, I saw on TV news that the storm battered the Atlantic Province, houses and roads were severely damaged and devastated, there are still power outages in many parts of the region. It was really appalling. Another storm hit Florida in the US which also caused severe damage.

When a reporter interviewed an owner of a tourist camp in Prince Edward Island, he said most of the holiday homes had been destroyed and all travelers who had booked the camp had to cancel. The reporter also visited the owner of an oyster farm, he told him that most of oysters in the bay were damaged and he suffered heavy losses!

Thanksgiving reminds me that God is the source of all His grace

When I see this news, I pray for them. At the same time, I am thinking what would I do if it happened to me? I am so thankful in my heart that God keeps me peace and calm every day.

These kinds of things remind me that things happen as planned should not be taken it for granted. You can come and go safely, you go to work and come home safely.  It is God’s protection!  We should be thankful for what God has done to us every day. When we are thankful, we acknowledge that God is the source of all grace. HE is the One controls everything in the universe, Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come.

We often think that everything is under our control. In fact, it is the grace of God that everything can be done according to our plan. I personally believe that God has done miracles on me. For example, if I want to travel abroad, there are actually many uncertainties. I may be infected with Covid-19 and cannot make the trip. May be the plane is delayed and is too late to make connection flight to the destination. May be the airport security check takes too long and I missed the flight. Maybe upon my arrival to the destination, my luggage is missing. To be able to go and return safely is actually God’s gracious hand upon me! James 4:13-15 gave me a great reminder: Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”—  yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.  Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”

Thanksgiving reminds us of God’s countless grace

Psalm 103:2 ” Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,!”

When we give thanks to God, we remember God has a lot of grace in us, we will not forget it so easily. When I started ministering at the beginning, an old pastor taught me to include thanksgivings in my prayer items, I am doing it until to date. In the Old Testament, when God gave the Ten Commandments to the Israelites,  Exodus 20:2 God said: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.” God told the Israelites to follow the feasts to remember the grace of God so that they can pass on their faith from generation to generation. When the Israelites forsook God, and didn’t even keep the Passover. They became ungrateful. Only when we always be thankful, we will remember that God has countless graces.

Thanksgiving keeps us connected to God and grace upon grace

When we have a thankful heart to God, we always look upon God, just like the relationship of the vine and the branches, be connected with God. John 15:5 The Lord Jesus said, “…whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit…”. When you experience the grace of God, you will trust Him more. The more you trust HIM, the more grace you will receive from God. John 1:16 “For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.”

May all brothers and sisters be a person who always be thankful to God!

Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Collins Kung

2022.10.08/09

親愛的列宣家弟兄姊妹：

最近從電視新聞畫面上，看到風暴吹襲大西洋省分，當地很多地方仍然停電，房屋及道路受到嚴重破壞，滿目瘡痍，真是慘不忍睹。另一風暴亦吹襲美國佛羅里達州，同樣造成嚴重破壞。

記者訪問愛德華王子島上一旅遊營地東主，他說大部分渡假屋已被吹毀，所有預定了營地的旅客都要取消。記者又訪問一位生蠔養殖場的東主，他在海灣中的生蠔大部分被破壞，損失慘重！

感恩讓我能想起神是神一切恩典的源頭

當我看見這些事件時，就為他們禱告。與此同時，我思想若這樣的事情發生在我身上，我又會怎樣呢？我心裡只有感恩，神賜給我平靜安穩的日子。

這些事件提醒我，很多日常事情能按預定計劃發生並不是必然的。你能夠出入平安，平安上班和平安下班不是必然的。其實是神在保守你！我們應當為每天神所成就在我們身上的事感恩。當我們感恩時，就是承認神是一切恩典的源頭。祂是那位掌管宇宙萬一切的那一位，祂是那位昔在，今在，以後永在的全能者。

很多時候，我們以為一切都在我們計劃之中，掌握在我們手中。其實，所有事能按我們的計劃成就，便是神的恩典。我個人認為神已在我身上行了神蹟。舉例來說，要出國旅行的話，當中其實有很多不確定的因數，我可能會感染Covid-19，不能成行，可能飛機脫班，來不及接駁往目的地，可能機場安檢時間太長，錯過了我的航班，又可能我去到目的地，才發覺我的行李遺失。能夠平安去平安返，其實是神施恩的手幫助我，讓我經歷神蹟，能出入平安！雅各書4:13-15給我很大的提醒：「嗐！你們有話說：今天明天我們要往某城裡去，在那裡住一年，做買賣得利。其實明天如何，你們還不知道。你們的生命是什麼呢？你們原來是一片雲霧，出現少時就不見了。你們只當說：主若願意，我們就可以活著，也可以做這事，或做那事。」

感恩讓我們想起神有數不盡的恩典

詩103:2「我的心哪，你要稱頌耶和華！不可忘記他的一切恩惠！」

當我們向神感恩時，就會不期然想到神實在在我們身上有很多恩典，令我們不會那麼容易忘記。曾經初為傳道時，一位老牧師教導我，祈禱事項需要加上感恩事項。直到如今，我都謹記在禱告中要有感恩。在舊約中，當神要向以色列人頒布十誡時，在出埃及記20:2神這樣說：「我是耶和華─你的神，曾將你從埃及地為奴之家領出來。」神要以色列人守節，就是要他們記念神的恩典，讓他們能將信仰代代相傳。當以色列離棄神時，連逾越節也不守。成為忘恩負義的人。唯有我們常常感恩，就會想起神有數不盡的恩典。

感恩讓我們常常與神連結，而且恩上加恩

當我們向神常存感恩的心，就會常常倚靠神，就像葡萄樹與枝子的關係一樣，與主連結。約翰福音15:5主耶穌說：「…常在我裡面的，我也常在他裡面，這人就多結果子…」。一個人越經歷神的恩典，越會信靠祂，當我們越信靠神，就會越得到神的恩典。正如約翰福音1:16從他豐滿的恩典裡，我們都領受了，而且恩上加恩。」

甚願弟兄姊妹做一個常存感恩的人！                                                                      

主僕
龔敏光牧師

2022.06.04/05

From the Pastor’s Desk: Rev Collins Kung

Dear brothers and sisters of RCAC,

Richmond Chinese Alliance Church was established on June 12, 1977. A group of brothers and sisters from Vancouver Chinese Alliance Church had the vision of planting a church in Richmond. By the grace of God, RCAC celebrates its 45th anniversary.

With the growing population of Richmond, today RCAC has developed into a trilingual church. Under the leadership of Rev. Simon Lee, we have 9 pastoral staff and 2 office staff. There are 5 worship congregations. As the pandemic gradually subsided, the number of people comes back to in-person services at church has gradually increased, and the number of newcomers joining our worship services has been increasing.

I came to RCAC 31 years ago in 1991. After the June 4th Incident in 1989, there was a crisis of confidence as to future of Hong Kong, and a wave of immigrants emerged. Under this atmosphere, I emigrated from Hong Kong to Canada and live in Vancouver.  RCAC is my spiritual home and I become a member of this big family. Later, I followed God’s calling, I dedicated myself and received theological training, and joined the pastoral team in 2008. In those days, the sanctuary was full of worshippers during worship services and fellowship meetings flourished. Later in January 1992, with the encouragement by our previous Senior Pastor Rev. David Ng, we started the Saturday Noon Worship Service and it continues until now.

By the grace of God, the church has continuously been growing, and the brothers and sisters has been very passionate for evangelism. During those days, I also received the Evangelism Explosion III training, and followed the evangelism team to visit the community from house to house to spread the gospel to them. I also witnessed the development of the church planting ministry of the RCAC family. Within the past 31 years, we witnessed four Alliance Churches established in Richmond.  We have planted North Richmond Alliance Church, Richmond Grace Alliance Church and Richmond Faith Alliance Church, and the North Richmond Alliance Church has further planted the Richmond Capstan Alliance Church.  We all adhere to the core value of The Alliance Family, i.e. Deeper Life and Evangelism & Mission. That’s what the church here for. On one hand, we praise and worship God; on the other hand, we witness the love of God, the grace of Jesus Christ, to bring the lost soul into the Kingdom of the Lord.

With the arrival of a new wave of immigrants from Hong Kong, the RCAC family is ready to welcome them. The attendants of our Saturday night AYAYA Worship Service has been increasing, as well as the children and young people, we ask the Lord to provide His servants to us to look after these people . In addition, the Mandarin ministries have started a disciple training ministry. During the outreach ministry on the last Mother’s Day, we found that there are many Chinese living in the Tsawwassen areas. We hope that we can plant a church in this area in the near future. Adhering to the vision of The Alliance Family, inheriting the past and opening up the future.

On this great day of the 45th anniversary celebration, may we all remember the Great Commission of the Lord Jesus. Don’t forget the purpose of our existence, let RCAC continue to be a bright lampstand, amen!

Your servant in Christ,
Pastor Collins Kung

2022.06.04/05

親愛的列宣家弟兄姊妹：

列治文華人宣道會於1977年6月12日成立，由當時的溫哥華華人宣道會一群有異象的弟兄姊妹來到列治文植堂，靠著神的恩典，不經不覺已踏入第45年了。

隨著列治文人口不斷增長，列宣家今天已發展成為一家兩文三語的教會。在李耀全牧師的帶領下，我們現在有九位教牧同工，兩位辦公室同工。現在有五堂崇拜，在疫情逐漸消退下，人數逐漸回升，並且不斷有新朋友來到聚會。

我是在31前，1991年來到列宣家聚會的。1989年六四事件後，香港前途出現信心危機，移民潮湧現，我就在這種氛圍下從香港移民到溫哥華定居，在列宣家成長，成為這個大家庭的一分子。後來，我在神呼召下，奉獻自己，接受神學訓練，在2008年加入教會的教牧團隊。在那些日子，教會崇拜座無虛席，團契興旺。後來在當時的主任牧師吳主光牧師推動下，我們在1992年一月開始了週六午堂崇拜，直到如今。

在神的恩典下，教會不斷增長，弟兄姊妹有傳福音的熱誠。在那些日子，我亦接受了三福訓練，也跟隨傳道部的事奉團隊逐家逐戶作個人佈道，也見證了列宣家的植堂事工發展。先後我們植了列治文城北宣道會、恩典宣道會、列治文仁愛宣道會。現在，城北宣道會已植了列治文使命宣道會。在短短的31年內，列宣文市到現在已有四間華人宣道會。我們都持守宣道會的核心價值，就是靈命進深，差傳佈道。這正是教會存在的目的，我們一方面敬拜事奉上帝；另一方面，我們見證神的愛，耶穌基督的恩典，把失喪的人帶進主的國度裡。

隨著新一波的香港移民潮到臨，列宣家已預備了迎接他們的到臨。我們週六晚上的AYAYA青崇人數加增，兒童與青年人也加增，求主賜下工人，收取莊稼。此外，列宣家的國語事工亦開始了門徒訓練計劃，在最近母親節的外展事工中，我們發現Tsawwassen這地區有不少華人居住，盼望在不久將來，我們能在這地區植堂，秉承宣道會的傳統，承先啟後，繼往開來。

在這45週年堂慶的大日子，求主幫助我們謹記主耶穌的大使命。切勿忘記我們存在的目的，讓列宣家繼續成為明亮的燈台，阿們!

主僕
龔敏光牧師

2022.02.12/13
From the Pastor’s Desk: Rev. Collins Kung

 Dear brothers and sisters of RCAC,

Beijing Winter Olympics finally opened on last Friday, the 4^th day of the Chinese New Year. China announced that it is a simple opening ceremony this time, the size and the time is greatly reduced, compared to the opening ceremony of 2008 Summer Olympics. The four great inventions of China were introduced in 2008 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony, and the 24 Solar Terms of the Chinese Calendar was introduced this time.

According to Wikipedia, the Chinese calculated the Solar Terms based on the movement of the earth around the sun, resulting in annual seasonal weather changes, and serving as a time-frame for agricultural activities. In 2016, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) included the 24 Solar Terms in the representative list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity.

As a Chinese city dweller, I certainly don’t know the 24 Solar Terms very well. It turns out that the names of the 24 Solar Terms reflect the changes in seasons and its weather. They consist of Beginning of Spring, Spring Equinox, Beginning of Summer, Summer Solstice, Beginning of Autumn, Autumn Equinox, Beginning of Winter and Winter Solstice. They are called the Eight Bits, and are the key nodes that distinguish the impact of revolution on the earth. The Solar Terms were further divided into sixteen categories: Rain Water, Awakening of Insects, Pure Brightness, Grain Rain, Grain Buds, Grain in Ear, Minor Heat, Major heat, End of Heat, White Dew, Cold Dew, Frost’s Descent, Minor Snow, Major Snow, which reflect the more subtle climate changes in the four seasons.

It is indeed the grace of God that allows us to observe this natural phenomenon from His creation. This is God’s revelation to enable us to properly manage what He has created.

• Genesis 1:14-19: God said: Let there be lights to divide day and night, for signs and seasons, for days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth. And it was so. God made the two great lights, the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. And God saw that it was good. There was evening and there was morning, the fourth day.

Although man sinned and rebelled against God, God saved human through Noah and made a covenant with man. The following are His promises to man in the Noahic covenant:

• Genesis 8:20-22: Noah built an altar to the LORD and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And when the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, the LORD said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man’s heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done. While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.”

When we look at the heaven and earth and all things created by God, we have a sense of eternity and we long for living forever:

• Ecclesiastes 3:11: God has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, He has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

Man must know God in order to be in His eternal embrace.  Because of this, God sent his only begotten Son into the world as a man, so that man can be saved by believing in Him.

• Hebrews 1:3: He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.

Brothers and sisters, while we learn the 24 Solar Terms, we should acknowledge our God who is the creator and redemptor behind the scene, and understand that He cares for us.

• Psalm 8:3-4: When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him?

Your servant in Christ
Rev. Collins Kung

2022.02.12/13
作者: 龔敏光牧師

列宣家親愛的弟兄姊妹：

上週五農曆年初四北京冬季奧運會終於開幕了，正如中國的宣傳，今次是一個簡約的開幕式，比起2008年夏季奧運會的開幕式，規模和時間都大大縮小。上一次介紹中國的四大發明，今次卻介紹中國農曆的二十四節氣。

按維基百科的資料，中國人是根據地球圍繞太陽運動的過程，隨之而產生每年季節的氣候變化而制定出節氣，為了方便安排農耕事務。在2016年，聯合國教科文組織將二十四節氣列入人類非物質文化遺產代表作名錄。

作為一個住在城市的中國人，我當然不太認識這二十四節氣。原來這二十四節氣的命名反映了季節和氣候的變化。立春、春分、立夏、夏至、立秋、秋分、立冬、冬至，又稱八位，是區分公轉運動對於地球影響的八個關鍵節點；雨水、驚蟄、清明、穀雨、小滿、芒種、小暑、大暑、處暑、白露、寒露、霜降、小雪、大雪、小寒、大寒等十六個則反映了四季中更細微的氣候變化。

神讓人能從祂的創造中觀測到這些自然規律，實在是恩典，這就神的自然啟示，使人能好好管理祂手所造的。

• 創1:14-19神說：天上要有光體，可以分晝夜，作記號，定節令、日子、年歲，並要發光在天空，普照在地上。事就這樣成了。於是神造了兩個大光，大的管晝，小的管夜，又造眾星，就把這些光擺列在天空，普照在地上，管理晝夜，分別明暗。神看著是好的。有晚上，有早晨，是第四日。

雖然人犯罪悖逆神，神仍然藉著挪亞施行救贖並與人立約，以下是祂在約中對人的應許:

• 創8:20-22 挪亞為耶和華築了一座壇，拿各類潔淨的牲畜、飛鳥獻在壇上為燔祭。耶和華聞那馨香之氣，就心裡說：我不再因人的緣故咒詛地（人從小時心裡懷著惡念），也不再按著我才行的滅各種的活物了。地還存留的時候，稼穡、寒暑、冬夏、晝夜就永不停息了。

當我們觀看神所造的天地萬物，便知道神讓我們有永恆的意識，人亦渴望能永遠存活:

• 傳3:11 神造萬物，各按其時成為美好，又將永生（原文是永遠）安置在世人心裡。然而神從始至終的作為，人不能參透。

人必須要認識神，才能回歸上帝永恆的懷抱，所以神差祂的獨生兒子降世為人，讓人可以因信祂的名得著拯救。

• 來1:3 他是神榮耀所發的光輝，是神本體的真像，常用他權能的命令托住萬有。他洗淨了人的罪，就坐在高天至大者的右邊。

弟兄姊妹，當我們認識二十四節氣時，更應認識背後創造及救贖的神，明白祂在顧念你與我。

• 詩8:3-4我觀看你指頭所造的天，並你所陳設的月亮星宿，便說：人算什麼，你竟顧念他？世人算什麼，你竟眷顧他？

主僕,
龔敏光牧師

Oct 09-10, 2021
龔敏光牧師

詩122:1人對我說：“我們到耶和華的殿那裡去”，我就歡喜。

這節經文正正道出我們眾弟兄姊妹從十月起回到列宣家實體敬拜的心情。昔日神要以色列人一年三次上到耶路撒冷聖殿敬拜祂，對很多以色列人來說，這是長途跋涉的旅程，當他們結伴同行，一起唱著這首朝聖之歌，一邊遙望在錫安山上矗立的聖殿時，他們的心又興奮又雀躍!

十月2、3日標誌著列宣家一個新里程–各堂崇拜從網上敬拜全面回復到實體敬拜。作為牧者，這是我心中的喜悅：

弟兄姊妹一起敬拜的喜悅

• 由於防疫關係，我們設定150人實體敬拜人數的上限，讓弟兄姊有寬敞的空間敬拜神。會眾都非常守秩序，預早到達登記，並安坐於神的殿中，靜默地預備自己的心敬拜神。他們在悠揚悅耳的序樂中默想神。當主席宣召，會眾同聲歌唱，同心合意地唱詩讚美神。歌聲響遍整個禮堂，大家都興奮雀躍，我也手舞足蹈起來。跟在網上敬拜不同，缺乏了集體敬拜的氣氛。

傳講神話語的喜悅

• 自從去年三月中起，我們牧者要透過預先錄影的講道信息，在網上播放。我們過了一些日子，才適應對著攝錄機，對著空氣講道。每一次都要想像有會眾在前面聽道。但現在重返實體，面對面與弟兄姊妹有眼神的交流。看見他們的反應，實在有說不出的喜悅。感謝神!讚美神!

同心合一事奉的喜悅

• 在這次恢復實體崇前，我們教牧團隊用了很多時間商討，預備技術升級，我們升級了我們的網絡及網速。增添影音器材，以方便未能參與實體敬拜的弟兄姊妹透過ZOOM平台觀看實體崇拜，同步敬拜。在技術上，英文堂的技術團隊支援中文堂的技術團隊，他們付上額外的時間在音響室幫助我們運用新器材，讓我們中文團隊能循序漸進地學習。這是一幅極美麗同心事奉、彼此幫助的圖畫。
• 我們亦小心翼翼，按照省衛生當局的規定，制定各項防疫措施，令弟兄姊妹安心回來敬拜。
• 此外，感謝國語崇拜及AYAYA青崇率先於9月18日試行實體崇拜，讓我們其他各堂崇拜能從他們身上學習，總結經驗，改良進出流程及防疫措施等等。
• 我們亦建立了各事奉團隊，彼此聯絡合一，讓整個實體崇拜的運作暢順，為他們忠心事奉感恩。
  • 接待團隊：提醒大家量體溫， 幫助登記。
  • 歡迎團隊：關懷部的弟兄姊妹送上問候。
  • 司事團隊：協助弟兄姊妹尋找寬闊的合適位置，預備敬拜，並協助會眾於崇拜後有秩序地離開。
  • 技術團隊：支援影音及ZOOM平台的運作。
  • 兒童事工團隊：讓成人敬拜時，兒童同步學習。
  • 敬拜團隊：帶領我們預備及進入敬拜。