親愛的弟兄姊妹平安：
「 你當預備迎見你的神 。」(摩4:12)
感謝神的看顧和帶領，上主日的崇拜順利在YouTube直播進行，弟兄姊妹都可以各自在家中把10:45至12:15的時段，分別為聖，奉獻給主。
我們各自在家中唱歌敬拜主，不能跟其他肢體合唱，很不習慣。讓我們學習突破自我，旁若無人地獨唱， 夫婦合唱， 一家人一起唱，不管是走音或跑調，只要真誠地口唱心和，主都悅納。
讓我們把文本聖經拿出來，握在手裏，放在桌上，在讀經時段，好好地打開聖經，隨着台上讀經的節奏默讀或頌讀。神的話語曾刻在石版，羊皮，蒲草，木片上 ; 我們的時代是記錄在紙張上和手機裏。但最重要是讓神的話語刻在我們每一個人的心版上。
奉獻金錢是敬拜主的一個重要環節，「每逢七日的第一日，各人要照自己的進項抽出來留着，免得我來的時候現湊。」(林前16:2) 「各人要隨本心所酌定的，不要作難，不要勉強，因為捐得樂意的人是神所喜愛的。」(林後9:7)
講道時段，讓我們學習被擄歸回耶路撒冷的猶太人，「在水門前的寬闊處，從清早到晌午，在眾男女一切聽了能明白的人面前讀這律法書，眾民側耳而聽。」(尼8:3)
主日崇拜中有公禱有私禱。公禱時，帶領禱告的肢體稱頌神，向神感恩，為我們向神認罪和呼求，我們同感一靈，在結束時就同聲說出「阿門」。在禱告中可以說「阿門」嗎 ? 可以的，也贊成，這表明我們留心聆聽禱告的內容，但不要流於形式，這不是屬靈的指標。
主餐的安排，我們暫時不能回到教會同守主餐，但我們靈裏相通，就按照我們教會的習慣，在每月的第一個主日，受苦節，一起各自在家中拿起餅和杯紀念主。在最後的晚餐，主耶穌所拿起的餅和杯，是猶太人家常飯餐的食物，飲料和器具。我們三位牧者討論，認為不必從教會給每一位會員發放「聖餅」和「聖杯」，會友們請各自在家中準備餅乾或麵包，若果有葡萄汁，這是最好，但不需強求，清水一杯，也是可以。「唯有一個兵拿槍扎祂的肋旁，隨即有血和水流出來。」(約19:34 ) 我們每逢吃這餅，喝這杯，為的是記念主，是表明主的死，直等到祂來。(林前11:23-26)
我們祈盼疫情早退，讓我們盡早「教會重聚」敬拜神。更切切呼求：「主耶穌啊，我願祢來。」
主內
王 興 2020年3月26日
26th March, 2020
Dear brothers and sisters,
‘Prepare to meet your God.’ (Amos 4:12)
Praise the Lord for His care and guidance, the live streaming of last Sunday’s Service went smoothly. Brothers and sisters could worship the Lord at home.
We are not used to sing and worship the Lord at home on our own. Let’s learn to have some break-through. We can sing solo or as a couple or with the family. It doesn’t matter even if you sing out of tune, it’s the sincere heart that is pleasing to the Lord.
Let us take out our Bible, either hold it in hands or put it on the table. During the Bible reading time, let us open the Bible and read together silently or aloud. God’s Word was engraved on stone tablets, sheepskin, papyrus and wood. Nowadays it’s recorded on paper and on mobile phones. But most importantly, let the Word of God be engraved in our hearts.
Money offering is an important part of the Worship. ‘On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made.’ (1Cor 16:2) ‘Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.’ (2Cor 9:7)
During the Sermon, let us learn from the Jews who went back to Jerusalem from exile. ‘He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.’ (Neh 8:3)
There are public and private prayers in the Sunday Service. In public prayer, the leader will lead us in prayers to praise God, to give thanks to God, to confess and plead with God for us. Let’s say ‘Amen’ at the end. Can we say “Amen” during the prayer? Yes, it shows that we listen carefully to the content of prayer, but this is not a spiritual indicator.
We cannot observe the Holy Communion together in church for the time being, but we are one in Spirit. We observe the Holy Communion on the first Sunday of each month, also on Good Friday in the remembrance of the Lord. At the last supper, the bread and cup that the Lord Jesus used were ordinary Jewish food, drinks, and utensils. Our three pastors discussed and agreed that it was not necessary to give each member a ‘holy bread’ and a ‘holy grail’ from the church. The members of the church please prepare biscuits or bread at home. It’s best to use grape juice, but it’s not essential, water is fine. ‘one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water.’ (John 19:34) Whenever we eat this bread and drink this cup, we do so in remembrance of the Lord, and we proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.’ (1Cor 11:23-26)
We pray that the pandemic will die down soon, so that we can meet again in church to worship God.
‘Come, Lord Jesus.’
In Him,
Sam Wong