Noteworthy Events

The Annunciation, by Henry Ossawa Tanner

• IMPORTANT – PLEASE READ: In 1989, Friendship Presbyterian Church’s building was rebuilt. 30 years have passed since then and we are thankful to the Lord for continually adding to our numbers. Now, in order to comply with new building regulations requiring both interior and exterior renovations to strengthen the building structure, the leadership of the church has decided to temporarily relocate our offices and worship services. In January, 2020, we will move our staff offices to the old China Evangelical Seminary building at 101 Tingzhou Road, Sec. 3 (about a 5-minute walk from the current building). Sunday services will begin there starting on February 16th. We ask that all our brothers and sisters face this challenging time together, working as one to support the renovation of the building, and praying for the Lord’s protection and guidance through it all.

• FPC Line News Group: Be sure to join our FPC LINE news group, where you can get all the latest information about FPC. You will only receive messages from FPC. You can also send questions and prayer requests which will be received by the church leaders. To join, search for "@osv3181q" or scan this QR code:

• FPC Members Luncheon – Sunday, Dec. 15, 1:00 – 3:00pm: All active church members who have signed up are invited to join us for our special catered lunch on the 7th floor of the building at 261 Roosevelt Road. The cost is NT250 per person, and NT100 for members’ children under 10 years of age. Please prepare the correct amount to pay at the door. Attendance is limited to those church members and their children who have already signed up.

• Christmas Caroling – Friday, Dec. 20, 7:30 – 9:30pm: Come and join the T.G.I.F. community group as they go caroling in the Shida night-market area. Gather at Pastor Kim’s apartment at 7:30pm.

• All-Church Christmas Fellowship – Sunday, Dec. 22, after service: We will be having a special fellowship to celebrate Christmas in the fellowship hall following the worship service. All are welcome!

• Christmas Eve Service – Dec. 24, 7:30 – 9:30pm: Join us in the 4th floor chapel for readings from Jesus’ birth narrative, a brief message, and then up to the rooftop for candle-lighting, carols, and refreshments.

• Youth Gift Exchange – Dec. 27, 6:30 – 9:30pm: All FPC teens (and their friends!) are invited to a White Elephant gift-exchange party, with snacks provided by the church, at the weekly Friday evening youth meeting on the 6th floor of 261 Roosevelt Road, Sec.3. No permission slip is required, but you must bring a wrapped present costing no more than NT150 (this can also be an item from your home). Please let youth leaders Sam Huang, Anna Wang, or Asst. Pastor Brown know that you are coming so that we know how many snacks to get.

• Spotlight on Service: Did you know that each Sunday Church Service at FPC takes an average of 28 individual acts of service? We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the 62 individuals who served FPC during a Sunday Service or special event in November. If you would like to join our team of volunteers, please email deacons@friendshiptaipei.com

• FPC Sanchong Church Plant (“New Blessings”): Support our Mandarin-language church plant in Sanchong by “Liking” their Facebook page. Search this
phrase:三重祝福教會 or scan this QR code:

From the Desk of Pastor Kim

Advent – Expectations

by Pastor Peter Kim and Asst. Pastor Peter Brown

December is already here, and we are coming to the close of 2019. It is a great time of year for believers all around the world as we look forward to celebrating Christmas.

Ah, yes—Christmas. Christmas is a time, at least in advertising, when there should be snow falling gently, with lights and decorations, mistletoe, and, of course, gifts. But Christmas can also be a time, if you live in the Southern hemisphere, to go swimming! In any case, people all around the world look forward to Christmas in their own ways.

As believers in Jesus Christ, the reason why we look forward to Christmas is different. We look forward to celebrating the day that our Savior was born. It is the day when “…though he was in the form of God, [he] did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:6-7). Jesus Christ was in heavenly glory without lacking anything. But out of God’s love for us, Jesus was willing to become a man and was born as a baby. It was because He was willing to do this that we have our Christmas story today.

The story, of course, does not end there. Jesus Christ grew up (Luke 2:52), lived a perfect, sinless life (Hebrews 5:9), and died on the cross for our sins (1 Corinthians 15:3). He then rose from the dead and appeared to many people (1 Cor. 15:4-8). He ascended into heaven (Acts 2:9) and will one day return (1 Thessalonians 4:16) to bring the final judgment (Revelation 20:11-15).

So, Advent is a time when we wait and look forward to two things. We wait not only for Christmas, the day when we celebrate our Savior’s birth, but we also wait and look forward to his return as Lord and Judge of all the earth who will make all things new (Rev. 21:5).

Perhaps some of us wonder, “But why do we have a holiday about waiting? Isn’t that what we already do, all year long, all our lives? Wait for the return of Jesus? Why do we need a special time for it?”

We need a special time for it because we need to remember that we are…waiting. Do you see the important implication, here? The fact that we are waiting means that the world, as it is, is incomplete. This world, this life, is not all there is. From time to time, all of us get distracted by the cares (and the attractions) of this world, and do not remember that we are still in the middle of the story. This world, both at its best and at its worst, is not the final chapter. The great, glorious conclusion is still coming. In the day of Jesus’ return, all people will stand before the throne of judgment. Those who have believed in Jesus Christ will find their names in the book of life because of Jesus’ righteousness (1 John 1:9; 2 Corinthians 5:21), and we will experience being with the Lord who “will wipe away every tear…death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Rev. 21:4).

So, although waiting is a big part of the season of Advent, it is not the only part. The other equally important part of Advent is coming. The word “advent” itself comes from the Latin word adventus, which means “coming” or “arrival.” The reason we are waiting in the first place is because something—someone—is coming.

Some may still wonder, “Okay, but why now? Yes, it is good to remember that the ‘story’ of the world is not over yet. But why focus on it in the weeks leading up to Christmas in particular? Why not in, say, the middle of July?”

Because Christmas reminds us that our waiting is not in vain. Two thousand years ago, our spiritual ancestors also waited (and waited) for a long-promised Savior to come from God to rescue them from the ravages of a world of pain and temptation—and he did. Not in the way most people were expecting. But God’s promise was fulfilled. The waiting was over. With the birth of Jesus of Nazareth, the final chapter of the first great volume of redemption history was completed, and the first chapter of the second, and final, volume was begun. The people were not left waiting endlessly. Neither shall we be.

May this season be a time when we learn to wait on the Lord together with hope, with faith, with joy, and with peace.

5 Questions with...Grace Brown

1. How did you first get involved with Friendship Presbyterian?  I am from Taipei and attended the Mandarin congregation for several years. Then, once I got married to a non-Mandarin speaker, it was natural for me to join the English section. 

2. What do you do Monday through Saturday? I work for the Taiwan Bible Society. I am currently working on a commentary for the book of the Old Testament prophet Hosea. I can arrange my time freely, and only need to enter the office for two weeks every other month. 

3. What is something people might be surprised to learn about you? I have eaten snakes and worms.

4. What do you find most challenging about being a Christian today?  In the New Testament, the majority of believers are lower-class and marginalized. Lots of the New Testament letters speak comfort to them and offer a vibrant hope during their suffering. I feel that I, on the other hand, am living a comfortable middle-class life, and often feel the temptation to conform to the world. How to keep the radical calling of Jesus Christ is the most challenging thing. 

5. What is one of your favorite books of the Bible?  Ecclesiastes. The teacher struggles with the tensions of this life. Very real, yet full of wisdom.