Welcome to SLPC English Ministry
Join Us for Worship: Sundays at 11 a.m.

Next Worship Service

Sunday, August 16, 2026
12th Sunday after Pentecost

Scriptures: Revelation 22:1-9
Message: Back to the Beginning God…
Preacher: Pastor Michael Lu

Recent Sermons & Services

Announcements

*** Announcements for the Week of August 16th ***

  • DEVOTIONAL BIBLE READING (DBR)
    Join us tonight at 8pm for our weekly Sunday Devotional Bible Reading.
  • UPCOMING EM WORSHIP SCHEDULE
    1. 8/23 Simplified EM Worship (11:00am-11:45am); 2. 8/30 EM Joint Retreat Worship Service (No service @ SLPC); 3. 9/13 SLPC Combined Mandarin/English Service (10th FL @ 9:00am).
  • SCHOLARSHIP AWARD APPLICATION
    SLPC is accepting financial scholarship applications for students to encourage them in their studies. For qualifications and details, please see Secretary Lo (羅靜婷幹事) in the 9F office. Deadline is September 20.
  • JAPAN EARTHQUAKE OFFERING
    SLPC is collecting disaster relief funds to aid in the recovery and rebuilding efforts in areas affected by the Kumamoto (熊本), Japan earthquakes. Please use the dedicated envelopes available at our EM welcome desk for the offering. Collection ends on August 30.
  • OFFERTORY RECORDS VERIFICATION
    SLPC encourages its congregation to verify his/her offertory records through SLPC’s Line OA member service. Contact James for help on access.
  • OFFERING ENVELOPES
    Please use the dedicated envelopes for different kinds of offerings: tithe, building fund, thanksgiving, seasonal, special occasions, and etc.
  • THE ELECTRONIC CONNECT CARD
    The electronic version of the Connect Card can now be accessed by scanning the new QR Code below.
    eConnectCard
    Or by clicking this link: https://forms.gle/AJqmNU2HkizjJXNH6
  • SCAN OR CLICK TO SIGN-IN EVERY SERVICE
    Please scan the service QR Code around the Chapel entrance or on the bulletin, or click the Sign-In link that will be posted in the EM Family Line group chat each Sunday morning for attendance.

***Special Notice***

Hello brothers and sisters in Christ! May the peace of Christ be with you!

The Taiwan CDC has loosened its policies on the COVID-19 restrictions. However, it’s an enclosed space inside the church. As a result, please observe the following guidelines when inside the church premises:

1. Please make sure you have your masks properly worn when entering and inside the church. Disinfect your hands with alcohol if necessary. Maintain social distancing whenever possible.

2. If you don’t feel well, exhibit symptoms of cold, or have been in close contact with people who are contracting COVID-19, please consider to stay at home and participate the online service instead.

3. Food and drinks are conditionally allowed inside the church compound.

Thank you and let’s worship God together on Sundays!

Electronic Sunday Bulletin
EM encourages its congregation to use the electronic version of the Sunday bulletin to save paper.  Please click the following link to access the eBulletin:

https://shorturl.at/R1UBt

Or scan the following QR code.

If you have any suggestion regarding the eBulletin, please let us know.  Thank you!

SERVE IN EM

Come and serve in EM!  You can join the Liturgy, the Audio/Video team, the Praise team, the EM Choir, the Homeless Ministry team, or the Kids Club.  Email: emcaresforyou@gmail.com for more info.

Bible Verse of the Week


Revelation 22:20-21
He who testifies to these things says, "Yes, I am coming quickly." Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.


WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL

THE GOODNESS OF GOD
(REFLECTIONS ON HOSEA 3:1-5)

Pastor Michael Lu

1 Then the Lord said to me, “Go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet an adulteress, even as the Lord loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes.”

Love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet an adulteress, and this represents Israel. Again, let me cut to the chase, Israel is loved by God, yet they chase after idols.

However, after a time, reconciliation and reformation will happen, not because of Israel, but because of the faithfulness of God. Throughout Hosea we will clearly see and understand why the Lord’s love is a steadfast unfailing love. It is a love that even in times of rejecting Him, will hold on to His people, no matter how thin the thread, and His Spirit will draw them back to Him over and over again.

The image that Hosea helps us to understand is that when we talk about mercy, grace, and love, that it has meaning not because they are terms that come out of nowhere and are meaningful just in themselves, but they have deep meaning because they come from rejection, judgment, betrayal.

It is because God continues to love Israel even as they chase after idols that we begin to understand His mercy, grace, and steadfast love.

5 Afterward the sons of Israel will return and seek the Lord their God and David their king; and they will come trembling to the Lord and to His goodness in the last days.

This is a powerful image of an utterly defeated Israel, trembling coming back to the Lord of judgment, but finding out that He is good, merciful, full of grace and love. That is the hope that we have in Christ Jesus as well. That is why when the Holy Spirit calls us back to Him, despite our feeling of guilt or feeling unworthy, if we do return, even while trembling, we will also find His goodness in our repentance.

Like Israel, we too have many things that compete for our love and devotion. These become the ‘lovers’ that continually tempt us away from wholehearted devotion to Christ.

Yes, we live in that tension, the push and pull, and our lovers often tempt us and beckon us to leave the feet of Jesus for something that may seem better, but may the Holy Spirit, His word, and our community of believers help us to return once again to Him.