Chinese Presbyterian Church

Download the October 2011 Newsletter

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Notes from the Pastor                  

 For several years we have been seeking God's will for our congregation.  With the work of the Transformational Ministry Team, we have gathered many wonderful ideas and begun working on some of them, including:

• Teaching kitchen for both Chinese and American foods
• Greater participation in children's Sunday School
• Work group addressing use of A-V in worship and other church events
• Mission speakers for adult Sunday School (January-February)
• Quarterly "Mission Field Trips" to Frist Presbyterian Homeless Ministry, Ronald McDonald House, and others
• More Fun Nights, including invitations to immigrants and international students

Now, with the Session's leadership, we are focusing out vision on three groups:

IMMIGRANTS, STUDENTS, and "OCCASIONAL MEMBERS" who have drifted away.

Our English camp for Mandarin-speaking children is a bold first step.

More information about the camp is on the inside pages.  What I want to emphasize here is that there are opportunities for all of us to be involved--for the whole three weeks or just one day or just one hour.  Please pray about this and talk with me or a member of the planning team!  (Mary Bliss, Earle Brown, Hui Dickinson, Anna Chin-Lai, Lillie Gee, Ed Lee, Samantha Lee, Cathy Li, Jenny Murphy, Diana Ng)

                                                                       ---  Pastor Claire

A SPECIAL EVENING--BOB AND JANE MALSBARY AND THE DUCKS!!!

On Thursday, May 26, beginning at 6:30 pm, we will enjoy a dinner featuring:

• Special guests Rev. Bob and Jane Malsbary, soon to head back to North Carolina for the summer
• Fellowship with guests from Metairie Ridge (where Bob is currently Interim)
• Ducks provided by Garland Rolling.

Come and enjoy this time with Bob and Jane before they  move! 

To help with planning, please reserve your spot—see bulletin board for sign-up!!!

Happy Summer English Camp

Goal: to help Mandarin-speaking school children improve their English through instruction, games, crafts, music, and hands-on activities.

Ages: 4 groups (K– grade 2, grades 3-5, grades 6-8, and grades 9-12)

Dates: Mondays-Thursdays the first three full weeks of June (June 6-9, 13-16, 20-2

Times: 9:00 am to noon

NEEDED: Teachers and helpers that are willing to join from one day to the full three weeks. Curriculum and materials for each group will be provided. Panda Express staff will do an English/Mandarin cooking demonstration. Kathy Lee will bring Thomas for the unit on pets. We hope to have someone from Jazzmen Rice. We are looking for people who have interesting hobbies; for people who can be role models; for someone to cook hamburgers and hot dogs outside on a grill; for people to lead music; for people who have three weeks or just one morning! THIS IS A BIG PROJECT.  IF YOU CAN HELP IN ANY WAY, PLEASE TELL PASTOR CLAIRE!

 Highlights from the Session

At the      

stated Session meeting on April 18, we:

• Concluded that, 2525 Bienville is no longer a blighted property and expressed our appreciation for the work done by Lila Crotty and Peter Verhoeven to take care of the problems.
• Expressed appreciation for the clean up work done by Deacon Nellie Underwood
• Approved purchase of a fish fryer to use (outside) in the preparation of our large meals
• Heard a report on the progress of our Happy Summer English Camp
• Returned to our mission planning: who is God calling us to serve?  And how do we serve them?  At our last meeting we identified three groups: recent Chinese immigrants; students and scholars studying in New Orleans; and members of the local Chinese community who attend only rarely.  We focused on the last group.
• We brainstormed re: a “CPC Reunion” event to be held sometime in the fall.  A list of people previously involved is being compiled.  If there are people you would like to invite, please leave the name and contact information on the secretary’s desk (with your own name). We will return to this topic at our next meeting (May 16). 

Workshop Rotation REENACTS HOLY WEEK

We began our lessons on Lent by learning about the events that lead up to Easter. The children dressed up like biblical characters and recreated the scene, where Jesus entered Jerusalem on the colt of a donkey. Also, the kids portrayed the Last Supper, the Garden of Gethsemane, and the Empty Tomb. All the children did an excellent job, and we had a lot of fun. Things are going great, however we still need teachers, especially a teacher and helper each week for the K-3rd grade. We also need a Mandarin speaker each week to join Jian Hui Guo and Jeff Chow in a rotation to help translate.  The curriculum is written or adapted by our own Emma Wood, who will help you gather any necessary supplies. For 7-8th grade, we need teachers for four week segments. Thank you to the members who have given their time and talent to teach so far in our new model. Remember, “So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:10).

WHAT A GREAT DAY BEFORE EASTER!

A wonderful crowd of children came for the Easter story (thank you, Emma!), the egg hunt, cookie and cupcake decorating (thank you, Jennifer!) and many other activities (thank you, Susan and Samantha!)  The choir (after a morning’s hard work rehearsing) joined the group for a great lunch.  Thanks to all who helped!

 Women’s Retreat—A GRACE-FILLED MORNING! 

On April 9th, 21 women from 4 different churches took time to seek God’s voice in the silence.  (No, we did spend the whole morning without talking—after the blessing of silence in the retreat we shared a wonderfully noisy lunch!)  Thanks to the planning  committee: Lila Crotty, Jeanette Hew, Rose Hoy, Jane Wilderotter and Emma Wood—and to Maurice Hew for handling registration and other tasks.

 Save the Date(s)!!!

• June 6-23, Happy Summer English Camp
• June 27-July 1, Vacation Bible School
• Sunday, June 19, Father's Day

 Mandarin Women’s Bible Study

 The group is taking a break for the summer and will begin again in the fall.

Teaching Kitchen —WHAT NEXT?

It's time for YOUR ideas!  What recipe are you willing to demonstrate?  What would you like to learn?  Talk with Susan Wilson!

Pizza and Games Night

Next event--JUNE 20th!  Mark your calendars and come for a relaxed evening of ping-pong, Blok-us, Pit, Life and other games.  We will have pizza and soft drinks.  Activities for all ages!

 The race takes place on the Tchefuncte River in Madisonville, across Lake Pontchartrain.  Take a drive out on that Saturday and cheer the rowers on to victory! 

牧師簡訊…多年來本堂一直尋找上帝給我們的旨意。透過事工改變小組的工作，我們收集了很多好見意，一些見意現在已開始執行了，其中包括：1）中美式廚房烹飪課程；2）增加兒童主日學的人數；3）工作小組研究使用『聲-影』工具輔助崇拜；4）一月和二月的成人主日學的神工講員；5）每年四次的『神工旅行探訪』和6）增加遊樂晚會，包括邀請移民和國際學生參加。隨著會議會的領導，本堂現在聚焦我們的抱負在以下三個小組：移民，學生和疏遠了教會的『偶爾會員』。目前計劃針對講普通話的小孩的『暑期英語營』是一個大膽的步驟。關於英語營更多資訊在本月刊內頁。我想在這裡強調的是各位都有機會協助，無論是一小時，一日，一星期或整個三個星期。請為這工作祈禱和與籌劃小組的組員交談！（首次開會會員包括﹕Mary Ann Bliss，厄．布朗，Hui Dickinson，薜奇芳，譚金鳳，李顯權，李恩明，李敏菲，何麗英，郭衛群）。布牧師  

會議會摘要… 在4月18日的會議會會議，長老：1）通過舊教堂再不是一座『枯萎的財產』。向陳麗坤長老和Peter Verhoeven執事完成處理這問題的工作表達我們的感謝。2）向葉月蓮執事作清理的工作表達感謝。3）批准購買一個室外用的油炸鍋來準備大量的聚餐。4）接受關於『暑期英語快樂營』的進展報告。5）返回教堂的神工計畫：上帝呼召我們為誰事奉？以及我們如何事奉他們？在上一次會議，我們識別了三個團體：最近從中國來的移民；在本市學習的學生和學者；和疏遠了教會的本地『偶爾會員』。我們決定針對於最後的一組。6）教會希望在秋季籌劃一項『重聚』會。現在正在編輯一份以前在本堂涉及人的名單。如果有任何你想邀請的人，請留下名字和聯絡資訊和（你的自己的名字）在秘書的桌上。5月16日的會議會會議，我們將繼續這個主題。

一個特別晚上：莫伯仂牧師夫婦和野鴨…5月26日，星期四晚上6時30分開始，我們將享受一頓晚餐和交誼，包括：1）特別客人莫伯仂牧師夫婦。他們很快就返回北卡羅萊納州渡暑假；2）Metairie Ridge Church的一些會員，和3）由Garland Rolling煮的野鴨子。來享受這次跟莫伯仂牧師夫婦送別！請在佈告欄簽名保留你的席位，以便幫助計畫！

暑期英語快樂營…目的﹕協助說華語的兒童對英文感覺更舒適，透過學習，遊戲，藝術，手藝，體育和親手操縱來增加他們的英文詞匯。年歲﹕由年歲分開四小組（幼稚園至二年班，三年班至五年班，六年班至八年班和九年班至十二年班。日期﹕六月六至九日，十三至十六日，二十至二十三日（每星期一至星期四）。時間﹕上午九時至中午。需要﹕教師和輔助者願意從某一日至整三個星期幫助。教堂將提供每組的課程。活動包括﹕熊貓快餐的職員將用英語/國語講述烹飪示範，李敏菲將帶來『托馬斯』作寵物示範。我們希望從『Jazzmen』米公司有代表來示範。我們也需要尋找有『業余癖好』的人；能做好模範的人；能在外面烤漢堡包和熱狗的人；能引導音樂的人；能花三個星期或只是一個早晨幫助的人！這是一個大的計劃。如果你可以用任何方式幫忙，請通知布牧師！  

主日學重演耶蘇受難週！我們開始齋節期的課程透過學習復活節前所發生的事件。兒童盛裝打扮像聖經的人物一樣和重建當時的場景，耶穌騎在一隻驢進入耶路撒冷。此外，兒童扮演最後晚餐，客各西尼的花園和空墳。所有兒童都做了一份極好的工作和非常開心地玩著。事情雖然通順，但我們還需要教師，特別是一名幼稚園至三年級的教師和幫手。課程由胡艾瑪編寫或適應，她將幫助你收集任何必要的供應品。7至8年級我們需要每四星期交換的教師。感謝所有會友迄今為止提供時間和教書的才能。記著，「所以有了機會、就當向眾人行善．向信徒一家的人更當這樣。」（加拉太書6:10）

一個精采的復活節活動！感謝胡艾瑪講述復活節故事給一大群兒童！故事後他們尋復活蛋，裝飾杯形小餅，雞蛋很多其他的活動。詩班在早晨排練之後，跟團體一起享受一份午餐。多虧譚碧霞，陳慧怡，李恩明和各人的幫忙！

 婦女沉默退修…在4月9日，21個婦女從四個教堂參加本堂舉行的沉默退修尋求上帝的聲音。我們度過一個沒有會談的早晨。經過沉默的祝福，再後我們分享一頓喧鬧的午餐！多虧計畫委員會：陳麗坤，葉月明，陳金梅，劉慕貞和胡艾瑪。更感謝邱任華處理註冊和其他的工作。 

保留日子…六月二至二十三日是暑期快樂英語營。六月十九日，星期日是父親節。六月二十七日至七月一日是暑期聖經學校。

復活節長歌…感謝詩班在4月24日合唱復活節長歌『救贖之愛』。透過閱讀和歌曲，上帝的恩典真正地被讚美 。

學生重建﹕為日本摺紙鶴… 貝佐斯家族的基金會（The Bezos Foundation）捐獻二十萬美元來協助日本的重建。全美國的學生目前摺紙鶴。每隻紙鶴，基金會會捐兩美元。本堂的兒童摺了197隻紙鶴。所有紙鶴將被組成一件精心傑作，是美國兒童和青年人對日本人擔憂的一個標誌。我們的紙鶴已在途中了！

烹飪廚房課程… 現在需要各位的意見！甚麼菜譜你願意示範？甚麼菜譜你想學習？請與譚碧霞聯絡。

意大利薄餅和遊樂晚…下一次的遊樂晚將在五月二十日，星期五晚上六時半舉行。上次有很多海外學生和最近的移民家庭參加。請來一起歡樂！

五月八日 毋親節…齊來崇拜，吃午餐和享受簡短節目。由教會男士主持供給可口膳食。歡迎自由帶來您喜愛的沙拉菜或點品。

龍舟比賽…午餐籌款和售賣汗衫已完了。比賽將在4月30日在Madisonville舉行。如果你不能參加龍舟比賽，這是你支持教堂小組參加的機會。你也可能駛車過湖參觀比賽，為小組喝采！

慰問…陳朱秋月女士三月十七日在夏威夷去世歸主。當我們懷念她的一生時，同時請為她的親人和朋友祈求安慰。 

買舊物…年度買舊物日定期在五月十四日舉行。今年的收入將全部捐贈給長老會的災難協助基金，指定為協助日本地震和海嘯的重建。感謝朱美蓮長老再次籌備春季賣舊物。請各位開始收集良好狀態的舊物，可以在母親節聚餐後帶來教堂。如果你能幫助定價，分辨物品，請在4月26日那星期來教堂幫助。買舊物當日和售物後也將需要幫助。

祝賀…Julia Trieu和楊米高，在4月16日慶祝他們的婚禮。Julia 是 Phong Hoa Trieu 先生和Cathy Vo Trieu太太的女兒。米高是楊王雪美太太和已故楊建華先生的兒子。願他們一起受到上帝提供很多充滿喜樂的時光！