Grace Hanin Community
Church
– our LPD Church of the Week
In 2018, we welcomed Grace Hanin Community Church (“Hanin” is a reference to Korean) into our LPD/EFCC Family. They are a blessing to many, and we are thankful for their partnership with us in ministry. Their mission is to be, “A Church that transforms the world in the Name of Jesus.”
Grace Hanin Community Church has given birth to several other churches, in our region and in Korea. It is the largest church in the EFCC, and is a reflection of the changing demography of our district and the EFCC. We celebrate them and what God is doing through this church!
Karen and I have recently been with this church family for the ordinations of several of their pastors, and we are thankful for the visionary leadership of Lead Pastor Shinil (Hyojin) Park. Please pray for this church family as they ministry to Korean-Canadians and beyond, and as they trust the Lord to provide a location for a new church building in the Langley area. Their website is: https://www.gracehanin.com/
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Peace – with or without God
Let’s face it – these past weeks have been rough… We have endured unprecedented rains, flooding and damage to highways in southern BC. Just when we thought we were getting a handle on the “Delta Variant” of COVID-19, we have been hit by the “Omicron Variant.” (this is beginning to sound like seminary Greek class). To top it off, no sooner did we enter Advent, than we have been served with new restrictions on religious gatherings, and we must choose between limiting our gatherings to 50 or less, or requiring proof of vaccination for all who gather to worship. It can be discouraging, and people might ask, “Where is God in all of this?” You might have asked this question too. Yet, the Advent theme for this Sunday is peace!
What do we as Christians have to offer in this season of “natural disaster” and hardship. How does the picture of the Christ-child in a manger relate to our circumstances today?
Philosophers have for millennia discussed what has been termed, “The Problem of Evil.” Originally attributed to Epicurus, it was summarized by the Scottish Philosopher David Hume in 1799 in this way, “Is [God] willing to prevent evil, but not able? then is he impotent. Is he able, but not willing? then is he malevolent. Is he both able and willing? whence then is evil?” (Dialogues Concerning Natural Religion).
It is a good question, and we can ask it both personally and globally. Though we trust God, we are humbled, as we do not understand all of God’s ways and purposes. In the midst of COVID and flooding, our society looks more within themselves and to government than God to address our plight.
National Post columnist Jonathan Kay raised this point in a column written in 2017. It was titled, “In a largely godless world it’s hard to know what to say when tragedy strikes.” He writes in the context of a terrorist bombing at a concert in England. It claimed a number of lives, including school children. He ponders how he should speak to his daughter about such a tragedy, and his thoughts are applicable today. He writes:
We have preserved a few pale echoes of this religiosity — such as in editorial cartoons that mark the passing of famous politicians and athletes by showing them making jokes with Saint Peter. But otherwise, God is now excluded from public grieving. Even as early as 1998, Christian clergy who spoke at a memorial service for the 229 victims of a Swissair Flight that crashed off the Nova Scotia coast were instructed by federal protocol officials not to mention Jesus or the Bible in their remarks, lest the audience become uncomfortable.
Sad, but true… Here is a link to his article: in-a-largely-godless-world-its-hard-to-know-what-to-say-when-tragedy-strikes
Kay makes a good point. To those grieving the terrorist attack to which I refer above, the principle of the school which some of the victims attended, “…urged everyone “to hold on to the love among us.” Somehow it seems awfully unhelpful to tell those grieving to simply, “hold on to the love among us,” however well-intentioned the thoughts might be.
Kay adds, “The memorial Facebook pages for other Manchester Arena victims also reflect this vague, but admirably humane idea that we should respond to tragedy by loving one another more. It is sentimental and unsatisfying. But without God by our side, it’s the best we can do.”
In contrast, we know that at the end of the day we are in the care of the God who sent His Son to rescue and redeem us by dying on the cross, who raised Him from the dead, and promised all who believe, forgiveness and adoption as His children with eternal life in his presence. God has nothing to prove in terms of His love and care for us.
While the journey of life can be both difficult and unpredictable, the destination is certain – because of God’s love for us and the initiative He has taken.
We are able to enjoy this peace of God in the midst of the circumstances of life. We may not know the “whys” of life, but we trust the One who does. As Paul writes,
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. (Romans 5:1-5)
Knowing that we are beloved of God and in His care, we are not paralyzed by doubt or fear, but are freed to serve others in Christ’s Name. You may be encouraged by to following interview with Christianity Today and N.T. Wright, where Wrights states, ”
There’s a fascinating passage in Acts 11, where the disciples in Antioch hear from a prophet that there’s going to be a famine (v. 28). They don’t respond: Oh dear, what can this mean? Is God angry with us? Does this mean the Lord is coming back? No, they’re very practical. They ask: Who is going to be most at risk? What can we do to help? And who should we send? The result is that Paul and Barnabas are sent off to Jerusalem with money for the poor church there (v. 29–30).
It’s similar at the start of John 9, the story of the man born blind. Jesus is relentlessly practical and discourages his disciples from asking whose fault this was or whether some sin was to blame (v. 3). It wasn’t actually anybody’s fault. The important question is what God would have us do in response.
Here is the link: god-pandemic-nt-wright-coronavirus-aftermath.html
As I spoke with Pastor Darryn Botha this week, and with other pastors and people of our local churches, I hear over and over, “How can we help?” and stories of how our churches are reaching out in the Name of Jesus – not just to fellow believers, but to all who need help. Please see below for how you can assist!
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COVID UPDATE
This has been an eventful week with COVID Policy for Churches:
On Nov 30th, 2021 Dr. Bonnie Henry announced a change to the Mask and Gathering and Event orders, due to the new Variance of Concern, Omicron.
Mask Mandate: Masks are required for all indoor settings including faith services. The mask can be removed is everyone is seated and social distanced. The mask is required for everyone 5 years of age and older, and includes choirs. Masks can be removed to speak or pray upfront.
Gathering and Events: Faith Services must now limit capacity to 50% of seating capacity unless the church decides to require everyone in attendance to provide proof of vaccine. In calculating seating capacity it would be wise to use the load occupancy of the facility in which the service will be held. (This number is the seating capacity, as determined by the Fire Marshal, and posted in your church). This number will in most cases be higher than the number of seats you have set up in your church.
Here is the information from the BC Centre for Disease Control: bccdc.ca/health-info/faith-based-spiritual-and-worship-practices
Please check our LPD Website to keep up to date with the latest regulations and protocols: https://www.lpd-efcc.ca/covid-19/
For personal assistance regarding COVID Policy and the Canadian Recovery Hiring Program (CHRP) and COVID Protocols, please contact Josephine at our district office.
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Upcoming LPD Events:
LPD Annual Conference
March 4,5 2022
– at Mill Lake Church in Abbotsford
please mark your calendars – details will follow–
