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

Next Worship Service

Sunday, February 8, 2025
5th Sunday after the Epiphany

Scriptures: Hebrews 9:23-28
Message: “Follow Him to Heaven Itself”
Preacher: Pastor Michael Lu

Recent Sermons & Services

Announcements

*** Announcements for the Week of February 1st ***

  • HOLY COMMUNION
    There will be Holy Communion next Sunday. Please prepare your hearts for the service.
  • WORD & BREAD FELLOWSHIP
    The Word & Bread fellowship will meet in Room 702 at 12:30 PM next Sunday (2/8). We will meet and then decide where to eat or what to buy for lunch.
  • ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING
    SLPC’s annual Congregational meeting will take place after the end of the second Taiwanese worship on Sunday, February 8. All SLPC members should attend.
  • LUNAR NEW YEAR SUNDAY SERVICE
    There will only be ONE joint Sunday worship in Taiwanese / Mandarin in the 10F Hall starting at 10:30 AM on Sunday, February 15. EM and the Kids Club will be back on February 22.
  • SAVE THE DATE “EM JOINT RETREAT”
    EM will have a joint retreat with Tainan International Community Church (TICC) and Chuan Ai Baptist Church (民雄傳愛教會EM) 8/28 – 8/30. Please save the date. Details and pre-registration to follow.
  • 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


Hebrews 7:23-24
"Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood."


WEEKLY DEVOTIONAL

DO NOT IGNORE IT
(REFLECTIONS ON DEUTERONOMY 22:1-12)

Pastor Michael Lu

1 If you see your fellow Israelite’s ox or sheep straying, do not ignore it but be sure to take it back to its owner. 2 If they do not live near you or if you do not know who owns it, take it home with you and keep it until they come looking for it. Then give it back. 3 Do the same if you find their donkey or cloak or anything else they have lost. Do not ignore it. 4 If you see your fellow Israelite’s donkey or ox fallen on the road, do not ignore it. Help the owner get it to its feet.

Today’s Scripture, reminds us of the responsibility we have to God and to our community of believers. Just as the Israelite’s were to look out for their neighbors when their ox or sheep strayed away, so are we as a church community to look out for each other as God’s family. Do not ignore it means that we don’t just look the other way when we see a brother or sister in need, but do what we can to lend a helping hand, to live out a life of brotherly and sisterly love.

Do not ignore it is one of the core responsibilities of a church community, because it is at the foundation of what makes a community.

We are a family of God, and do not ignore it reminds us that we should look out for one another. It also reminds us that we are not to discriminate and only care for those that we get along with, that we like, or that are similar to us. Do not ignore it challenges us to care for one another no matter what.

In the Gospel of Luke, we read the story of the Good Samaritan (Ref. Luke 10:30-37). In the story, a Jewish man is beaten and left half dead. Both a Jewish priest and Levite pass by ignoring him. The shocking thing about this story, was that it was a Samaritan, a cultural enemy of the Jew, that was the one that stopped and helped him.

Do not ignore it reminds us of our responsibility as a church community to one another, but the story of the Good Samaritan challenges us, because it shows us a shameful image of the outsider, the enemy, the least likely person being the neighbor of the Jewish man, while his own community ignored him.

Brothers and sisters, do not ignore it, for if we ignore it, then the world, and those outside of our faith community may end up showing more love than we do for our own, and that should be to our shame.