Sunday, June 11, 2023
2nd Sunday after Pentecost

Scripture: Matthew 9:9-13, 18-26
Message: “Mercy, not sacrifice”
Preacher: Rev. Lian Chin-Siong

*** Announcement ***

• HOLY COMMUNION NEXT WEEK
  There will be a Holy Communion next Sunday (6/11). Please prepare ourselves to participate the service.
• HOMELESS MINISTRY OUTREACH NEXT WEEK
  The Homeless Ministry team will prepare meals in the 12^th floor kitchen starting at 13:30 next Sunday (6/11), and then distribute the food to homeless people around Taipei Main Station. Come and help if you are willing.
• BAPTISM IN AUGUST
  The next opportunity for baptism or confirmation is on 8/27. Anyone who wishes to participate, please register with Rev. Lian. Adults must attend 6 baptism courses first, which will take place on the following Sundays: 6/25, 7/2, 7/9, 7/16, 7/23, and 7/30. Please contact Rev. Lian for more details.
• SLPC’S YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SEMINAR
  On June 11^th, SLPC’s Young Professional Ministry (社青牧區) will host a seminar entitled: “Enter the New Digital Age (進入數位新時代)”. The seminar will take place in the 10^th floor Hall from 13:30 to 15:30. It is open to everyone who is interested.
  https://www.surveycake.com/s/alBwp
• SPECIAL SEMINAR
  The Gupozeng Bible Study (牛埔庄講義所) will host a special seminar in Mandarin in the 10^th floor Hall from 12:30 to 15:00 on Sunday, June 18^th. The speaker is Yaita Akio 矢板明夫, the Taipei Branch Director of the Sankei Shimbun (産経新聞社). The speaker will discuss the situation Taiwan is facing in the political power struggle between the US and China. If you are interested, you may register online on SLPC’s website. Light refreshments will be provided.
  https://www.slpctaipei.org/news_2/81
• 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 scan the following QR code to access the bulletin.

Or, click on this link for the bulletin:

https://reurl.cc/4QxLn2

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.

A COMMUNITY OF SHARING

2 Corinthians 13:11-13; Matthew 28:16-20

Today is Trinity Sunday—the day when we think about the way we understand who God is—as Three in One, One in Three. This is not an easy concept to get our heads around, and it is important to remember that the idea of the Trinity is actually a doctrine we use because we can never understand the whole reality of God. Many pastors, including me, feel inadequate to preach on the Trinity. The Holy Trinity is such a mystery. In eighteen years as a pastor, I do not believe that I have ever shared a satisfactory sermon about the Holy Trinity—which is probably a good thing for humility!

If we take a closer look at today’s text on St Paul’s second letter to Corinthians 13:11-13, we will see that they help us better appreciate the most important truth about the Holy Trinity. The letter concludes with a blessing proclaiming God’s grace, love and fellowship: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” This blessing suggests that to know God as Three and, at the same time to know God as One, has to do with responding to God’s invitation to be in a relationship with God as a community and not simply about having information or knowledge about God.

Blessing is perhaps the most unique way of experiencing God’s unifying grace, love, and fellowship. It reminds us that we have life and faith only because God is committed to us and is surrounding us always in the continuing embrace of the Spirit. Today, many are so exhausted that it is hard to find love and grace towards our neighbour. The late Catholic Bishop of Tanzania, Christopher Mwoleka, once said, “The mystery of the Trinity is not a doctrine dealing with a division of power in the Godhead, but a statement about the way in which God shares (God)self with the creation and calls us who believe not so much to explain as to imitate that sharing by sharing our own lives with the creation.”

That is the core message of the “Great Commission” in the Gospel of St Matthew 28:16-20. It is much more than a command to establish a few local missions in foreign countries. It is a call to discipleship and sharing the gospel of Jesus wherever we are. Making disciples has nothing to do with proselytising or increasing church statistics. It has to do with taking the message of Jesus in and through the grace, love and fellowship of the Triune God. We lovingly and inclusively share ourselves with all the people around us in the community: no one is excluded.

The Bible depicts God as communal, being in a relationship from the beginning and wanting to invite all into that relationship. As disciples of Jesus, we are also encouraged to welcome others and invite them to a place where they can enjoy their relationship with God as a community.

Sim Joo Yee (Julie),
Council for World Mission