Thanksgiving dinner, outreach 07 in Canaan

pictures are posted:http://www.flickr.com/photos/12171574@N04/?saved=1

Thank God! By His blessing, we had a wonderful outreach with neighbors, new friend and members (11 people) on Thanksgiving dinner. Praise Lord!

Praise Lord! Neighbors followed with us in praising songs, sharing, and praying.

No cultural limitation: Basically, neighbors quietly accept Asian food and enjoy it very much. Through conversation, we have a cultural exchange in language. For example, how to say, “Spasibo” with Rasian meant “Thank you!” Moreover, one of neighbors shows where their country - “Kiev, Ukraine” is with earth plate (ball). They gave us feedback what the top 3 of Asian food we prepared last night.

Praise songs: we sang “How Great Thou Art and Amazing Grace” together. They enjoy it and one of neighbors said, “Amen!” with me. It is awesome 

Testimonies: We prepare personal testimony that I adopt Pastor Dan’s suggestion to use pictures, slide show to present them how God grow me in Canaan to the neighbors. For examples, I shared how God arranges me in Canaan by CGs, friends and how God through me be a blessing to bless other people. Besides, I try to show the Gospel sort of while I am presenting God’s love and grace. Thank God! Another is from new friend, Paul Chen in CSJ, whose testimony shows how he becomes Christian, and how he used to experience things in the past by God’s healing and love, touchable sharing. Finally, we encourage neighbors to share how they want to thank this year. They do. One of neighbors shared that they never go to church, but this is first time in Church. Thank God!

Praying together: After dinner, praise songs, testimony, we pray them in person.
One of neighbors, Ohga told me who could feel “warm” after we pray for her. I knew it is “Immanuel.” I am certainly sure that God has dinner with us because the circumstance is extreme warm as we are in garage. I can see the joy on each of us’s check with blush. Thank God! It is about Him!

God’s good work:
Romans 8:28 “28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

At the beginning, as starting to invite neighbors for Thanksgiving dinner, we lack of people to help due to holidays. However, by God’s grace, our father still arranges several good brothers and sisters to help out for this event. Thank God.

Thank God through Melody (CSJ) to call neighbors sharing time with me in preparation for Thanksgiving dinner. Thank you!

Thank God through Hanlin’s girlfriend, Christine who gives me a ride in Marina Supermarket, Farley and my place. Thank you!

Thank God through Paul Chen to lend me kitchen utensil, pick Turkey up, prepare fruit, testimony, talks to neighbors, and clean it up. Thank you!

Thank God through Eon to prepare rice and help out many things in details and talk to neighbors, and clean it up. Thank you!

Thank God through Syeffy’s faith to work out everything. Thanks William! Thanks Syeffy’s mom. Thank you! a

Thank God to give me extreme passion: I could finish over 100 dumplings for neighbors and friends until mid-night. Thank God to be with me when I cook alone. I thank God to encourage me often as I prepare materials. I thank God to protect me when I got bike accident without frustration. Thank Lord in everything.

It is wonderful and touchable Thanksgiving in Canaan 07. May the seeds have been planted to grow in His timing. Praise You, Lord! Happy Thanksgiving! Amen and Amen

God bless you ALL!
Summer Chen

Sharing and Hang out in CSJ

Hey CSJ,

Tomorrow, Bob will be leading discussion for our CG.  So please read
the questions below and come with comments and more questions.  Bob is
a member of our Shepherding team and would like to get feedback on CGs
and Canaan.  Hope you're having a good week so far!

Spiritual and Relational Vitality (Great Commandment: Love God, Love
People)
In the absence of a unified, authentic community (Acts 2:42-47, Jn
17:23) the church cannot become the salt and light to the world that
God has called it to be.
- What is the vitality of your personal relationship with God?  Is it
duty-based or delight-based?  Are you able to listen to His voice?
- What is the vitality of your horizontal relationships, starting with
the inner circles and branching outwards ( e.g: spouse, family,
community group friends, general churched friends, non-churched
friends, coworkers?
- Are you experiencing: God's holiness, God's grace, Christian
community, and unity of the Holy Spirit in your personal relationship
with God and in your relationships with others?
- What is God currently doing in your life?  Where does it look like
He is taking you?
- What is God currently doing in the lives of those around you?

Ministry
High level list:
- Sunday worship
- Sunday school
- Community groups
- Discipleship
- Evangelism
- Missions
- Children's
- Youth
- Compassion/Mercy
- Private/Corporate prayer (Intercessory)
- Private/Corporate prayer (Listening)

- What is working?  How?
- What isn't working?  Why?
- What is there a need for?  Why?
- What are some of the unique gifts that we have as a church?
- What are some of the unique circumstances that God may have placed
us in (local community/workplace, life stage connectedness, for e.g.)?

My Supervior Anita _ Cancer Center of Stanford Hospital

Hang out with Lisa

Dear Lord,
Thank you to give Lisa and Kailtine and me wonderful time when we hang out together. Lord, I pray them that you may protect Lisa when the labor day is coming soon. Thank you, Jesus. In Your name, Amen

Happy Halloween in Canaan 07