Cross Fellowship Church ministers primarily to recent Korean immigrants in Coquitlam BC. It was a joy to welcome this church into our LPD/EFCC Family at our 2019 LPD Conference.
Please pray for the pastoral team of Pastors Hong Gun (Joshua) Lee, David Hong, Peter Yang and Hokun Kang, and for the congregation, as they minister to first and second generation Koreans in our region.
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Truth and Reconciliation
Next Thursday, September 30, Canada will celebrate our first National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. While this has been declared a statutory holiday nationally, our province has left it to the discretion of employers as to whether or not to provide their employees with a day off.
Like many of you, my knowledge of residential schools for our First Nation children, the racism that justified these and the abuse that many experienced has grown greatly in recent months.
I have always wanted to believe that there was good intent behind the residential school program. Some saw these schools as a means of providing an education so that Indigenous people could participate in and “prosper” from the growth of our economy and enterprise. While insensitive and perhaps “wrong-headed,” there were some who no doubt had good intentions.
The more I have learned, however, the more I have needed to acknowledge that there was more to these schools than to provide opportunity for “success” as we defined it. There was also the intention of, “taking the Indian out of the child.” Traditional culture was devalued. Families were torn apart. Children were often abused. Being raised in institutions, generations of First Nation parents have not had the benefit of a positive model of parenting and family.
Here is the link to a short video by Justice Murray Sinclair, who chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: https://vimeo.com/25389165
This provides a powerful summary of the legacy of residential schools and their impact on our Indigenous neighbours.
Our Friends at the Christian and Missionary Alliance have provided a helpful “Truth and Reconciliation Prayer Guide” for churches and individuals. I encourage you to download this informative resource, and to take this opportunity to learn, to reflect, to pray and to take positive steps to reach out to those around us who are marginalized in one way or another. Here is the link: cmacan.org/trc-prayer-guide/
Additional resources can be found on the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada (of which we in the EFCC are members) Website: Here is the link: Four-ways-churches-can-observe-the-National-Day-fo
Please join me in reflecting, praying and taking positive steps to reach out to those around us who are marginalized in one way or another on the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. May we humbly learn and listen and may we be moved with compassion to reach out in the love of Christ.
As I have reflected on our need for Truth and Reconciliation as a nation, I have come to appreciate that both truth and reconciliation are equally important. Before both knowing and acknowledging the truth I did not appreciate our need for reconciliation. Now, having a better understanding of the wrongs done, I value and support the priority for reconciliation.
In thinking about this, I could not help but draw the parallel need for truth and reconciliation in relationship to God.
Romans 5:10,11 states:
For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
The truth is that my sin has separated me from Holy God. I am left in the predicament that Paul describes as “being without hope and without God in the world.” (Eph. 2:12). You are in the same plight.
God, however, initiated and provided a means of reconciliation through His Son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ. Paul writes in Romans 5:6-8:
You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
In our contemporary world, we have a depreciated the need for reconciliation between mankind and Holy God simply because we refuse to acknowledge the Truth that our sin separates us from God. In our “enlightened” thinking, sin has become out of fashion, and what the Bible states and we know in our hearts is sin has become both acceptable and legal. Until we come to grips with the truth of sin, we will not appreciate our need for reconciliation.
The beautiful thing is that we can be truthful in acknowledging our sin, because the very one who has the right to condemn us is the same one who has loved us enough to provide the means of reconciliation – and at His expense. Paul writes in Romans 8:31-34:
What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
Truth and Reconciliation – Thanks be to God for His provision of reconciliation through His Son!
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BC COVID-19 Policy Updates:
(Current Information – No new updates for this week)
The BC Centre for Disease Control and BC Ministry of Health states:
“Worship services are exempt from both the provincial mask mandate that requires mask use in indoor public spaces and the requirement to provide proof of immunization against COVID-19 to access some events, services and businesses. However, faith leaders are supported to implement these additional measures in their in-person services should they desire to do so.”
Here is the full document: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/community-settings/faith-based-spiritual-and-worship-practices
In short, while wearing a mask is considered to be good medical practice and considerate of others, there is not a legal requirement for people to do so. We will welcome all who attend. Please be both considerate and mindful of those who are either compromised and/or specially cautious regarding COVID. Wearing a mask can be an act of servanthood to brothers and sisters who feel vulnerable to COVID.
In light of this, please also note and utilize the recommendations provided in the document “Guidance for Holding Low Risk Worship Services.”
COVID_public_guidance/COVID-19_Guidance_Faith_Based_Organizations.pdf
Children’s Ministries (K-Grade 12) are exempt from vaccine requirements: covid-19/vaccine/proof
Please also check current policy and resources on our LPD Website at: https://www.lpd-efcc.ca/covid-19/ Thanks to Josephine for keeping us up to date!
