The Shepherd’s Voice

SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 1723 Park Lawn Road

Hacienda Heights, CA 91745 First Service English (626) 965-7056

Second Service Taiwanese (626) 810-2609

________________________________________________________________________________

January 2009

Thank You, Rev. Huang

New Years is a time to look back at the past year and consider how things have gone. What has gone right and what needs correcting. It is also a time to look to the future. What are our plans and what do we need to be doing to achieve those plans? At this New Years we have a special opportunity to do both in regards to our relationship with Rev. David Huang. In January, Rev. Huang will be leaving the post of Director of Taiwanese Ministries which he has held at Shepherd of the Valley for the Past five and one-half years. Looking back on Rev. Huang’s service to SOTV, we can easily see how God has used him in wonderful ways to help this church grow. When Rev. Huang first started with us five and one-half years ago, the Taiwanese service was averaging between 30-40 attendees each Sunday. Today, the Second Service has reached an average attendance of 85 people. Under Rev. Huang’s leadership we have seen the inclusion of wonderful programs like the Annual Thanksgiving Concert and Thanksgiving Dinner. Our relationship with other churches has also grown through our participation in the Taiwanese Presbyterian Council. Rev. Huang is leaving Shepherd of the Valley in order to spend more time on his other obligations as the Director of the Taiwanese Presbyterian Council in Southern California, the Chairman of the Ministerial Association for the National Taiwanese Presbyterian Council and his work with the Chino Hills and Las Vegas Taiwanese churches. Rev. Huang’s departure also highlights our New Year’s responsibility of looking forward to the future of SOTV. Our Co-Pastor Nominating Committee continues to do their job of looking for a co-pastor for the Taiwanese service. In the mean time, local Taiwanese pastors, myself and elders of the church will be filling in to provide the preaching and leadership for the Taiwanese service during this time of transition. Please keep the Pastor Nominating Committee and the church leaders in your prayers. And come to the special pot luck dinner celebration that we will be having on Saturday, January 17, 2009, at 6:30 P.M. to honor Rev. and Mrs. Huang. We want to once again thank Rev. Huang for his faithful service to SOTV and we pray that God would continue to use him and bless him in his ministry. Thank you, Rev. Huang.

WELL DONE, THOU GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT!

In Christ’s Love,

Pastor Bruce

January 2009 Page 2 Shepherd’s Voice

謝謝您, 黃牧師

新年總是用來回顧過往的一段時光, 想想過去的一年曾經做過那些事, 那些是對的？ 那些需要修正？

新年也是前瞻未來的一段歷程, 我們有那些計劃？ 要建立那些目標？時逢又是新的一年, 正可以利用

這個機會來回顧與前瞻黃牧師與我們的關係。

黃德利牧師即將於一月中, 離開他事奉了五年半的牧谷長老教會台語事工牧師的職位。回顧黃牧師在

牧谷的服事, 我們可以清楚看到上帝如何奇妙地使用他來讓教會有所增長。五年半前當黃牧師剛來到

我們當中的時候, 台語崇拜的參加人數每週只有平均 30 至 40 人左右。時至今日, 第二堂的參加人數已

達到每週平均 85 人。在黃牧師的帶領下, 我們又增加了幾個很棒的節目, 如每年舉辦的感恩音樂會和

感恩節晚餐等, 而我們與其他教會的關係也藉由參與台灣人長老教會總會而有所延伸。

黃牧師離開牧谷教會, 以便有更多的時間來投入他在南加州台灣人長老教會總幹事、以及奇諾崗, 維

加斯台灣人教會等各職務的服事與事奉。黃牧師的離開也讓我們明瞭未來牧谷教會的責任：聘牧委

員會正為台語堂尋找一位合適的牧者, 在這段過度時期, 本地的台語牧師、我本人、與教會裡的長老

們都會加入講道與帶領台語堂的責任。

請將聘牧委員會與教會領袖們放在你的禱告當中, 同時也邀請你來參加 2009 年 1 月 17 日晚上 6 點半

的每家一菜特別晚餐歡送會來歡送黃牧師與黃牧師娘。

我們衷心感謝黃牧師過去在牧谷忠心的服事。祈求上帝繼續使用他, 並祝福他的事奉。謝謝您！黃牧

師！

做得好！神忠心又良善的僕人！

Bruce 牧師

黃牧師的話 A Brief Message From Rev. David Huang --

這是我最後一次在月刊上寫牧師的話, 心中有無比的感觸。5 年 6 個月很快的過去

了, 當初我只答應短時間來幫忙牧會, 沒想到一下子 5 年過去了。這期間經歷教會快

速的成長和茁壯, 我心中有說不出的感謝和安慰。教會的成長最大的原因是兄姊們彼

此之間所培養出來的認同和相愛, 同心合一的配搭事奉, 並以祈禱和聖靈同工, 上帝就

大大的祝福我們。

是我離開的時候, 雖有太多的不捨, 但你們的愛護和支持, 將永遠記在我心, 我會繼

續不斷地為你們祈禱, 求上帝差遣一位忠心愛主的牧者來牧養你們, 帶給教會更大的

復興。

最後, 我衷心地希望你們意念相同, 愛心相同, 有合一的心, 彼此相愛, 彼此接納, 彼

此尊重, 每一個人扮演好自己的角色, 真心與上帝同工, 如保羅說：「我栽種了, 亞波

羅澆灌了, 惟獨上帝叫他生長。 可見栽種的算不得什麼, 澆灌的也算不得什麼, 只有那

叫他生長的上帝, 因為我們是與上帝同工的。」〈林前 3;6-7,9〉

This is my last time writing article on newsletter. I have something that I would like to share. I have come to this church for five and a half years, time flies. I promised at the beginning to just help for a short period of time and now it has past for five years. I felt ineffably comforted and thankful for our church has experienced a rapid growth and become stronger than ever before. The biggest reason brought to such result was that our brothers and sisters have nurtured and loved each other with identification. You complement each other with one heart to serve the Lord, and work with Holy Spirit with prayers. So God bless us abundantly. It is the time I have to leave, although I am reluctant to let go. Your love and support will always be in my heart. I will continue to pray for you having a pastor who is sent by God and is faithful and loving God to bring revival to our church. Finally, I sincerely wish you all are always in one unity on thoughts and ideas, be benevolent, with one heart, love, accept, and respect each other. Everyone plays a good role on his part, and working with God with true heart. Just like what Paul said on the Bible:” I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. For we are God’s fellow workers.” (1 Corinthians 6-7, 9)

January 2009 Page 3 Shepherd’s Voice

Shepherd of the Valley January 2009 Page 4 Presbyterian Church

Preschool News 幼稚園簡訊

January is a nice calming month after the hectic hustle and bustle of the holidays. We always enjoy celebrating the holidays with our children, but it’s nice to settle back into our normal routine again. In addition to being closed on January 1st and 2nd for New Year’s, we will also be closed on January 19th for the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. Yours in Christ, Carol Ridings

經過了一陣忙碌又混亂的假期, 一月份總是顯得特別

安詳寧靜。雖然在假期裡與孩子們一同慶祝是如此開

心, 不過能夠回到正常的生活軌道也是一件不錯的事。 除了元月一、二日放假以外, 我們也在元月十九日馬

丁路德金生日那天放假。 主內，

Carol A. Ridings 園長

THE BELL I KNOW WHO I AM

I am God's child (John 1:12) I am Christ's friend (John 15:15 )

I am united with the Lord (1 Cor. 6:17) I am bought with a price (1 Cor 6:19-20)

I am a saint (set apart for God). (Eph. 1:1) I am a personal witness of Christ. (Acts 1:8)

I am the salt & light of the earth (Matt 5:13-14) I am a member of the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27) I am free forever from condemnation ( Rom. 8: 1-2) I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant (Phil 3:20)

I am free from any charge against me (Rom. 8:31 -34) I am a minister of reconciliation for God (2 Cor 5:17-21) I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph.. 2:18) I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6) I cannot be separated from the love of God (Rom 8:35-39) I am established, anointed, sealed by God (2 Cor 1:21-22 )

I am assured all things work together for good (Rom.. 8:28 ) I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16 )

I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph. 3: 12 ) I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13)

I am the branch of the true vine, a channel of His life (John 15: 1-5) I am God's temple (1 Cor. 3: 16). I am complete in Christ (Col. 2: 10)

I am hidden with Christ in God ( Col. 3:3). I have been justified (Romans 5:1) I am God's co-worker (1 Cor. 3:9; 2 Cor 6:1). I am God's workmanship (Eph. 2:10)

I am confident that the good works God has begun in me will be perfected. (Phil. 1: 5) I have been redeemed and forgiven ( Col 1:14). I have been adopted as God's child (Eph 1:5)

I belong to God And so do you

Church Work Day Saturday, January 3rd – 8:00 A.M.

教會工作日

Let’s have a good turn out and get things all cleaned up, repaired, etc. Choose your job! It will be a great time for fellowship while getting much needed things done.

1 月 3 日是每月固定的清潔修繕日(頭

一個星期六), 請大家儘量挪出時間來

參加۪ 教會是我們共同的家,讓我們齊心

維護,並享受攜手同工的喜樂。

Combined Worship Sunday, January 11th

聯合禮拜

On Sunday, January 13, 2008, we will have a combined worship service. The first service will begin at 10:00 a.m. to hear a sermon in English. The second service will join us at 10:30 for worship and communion. During this time we will also install the new officers for year 2008. At 11:00 the first service will be excused and the second service will hear a sermon in Taiwanese.

訂 於 1 月 11 日 主 日 上 午

10:30~11:00 聯合禮拜, 舉行新任

長老和執事按立及就任典禮, 請兄

姊參加和代禱。

Annual Congregational Meeting Sunday, February 1st

年度和會

Our Annual Congregational Meeting for the purpose of receiving the Annual Reports and reviewing the budget will be on Sunday, February 1st at noon. All Committee Chairs, please have your annual reports in to the church office by Sunday, January 18. Thank you.

訂於 2 月 1 日主日午饍時間舉行

和會, 接受教會 2008 年年度報告

及 2009 年預算, 請全體會員參

加。各委員會主席請於 1 月 18 日

前將年度報告交給祕書，謝謝。

“Count Your Blessings ” ~~ Author Unknown ~~ *************************************************

Count your blessings instead of your crosses;

Count your gains instead of your losses.

Count your joys instead of your woes;

Count your friends instead of your foes.

Count your smiles instead of your tears;

Count your courage instead of your fears.

Count your full years instead of your lean;

Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.

Count your health instead of your wealth;

Love your neighbor as much as yourself.

“ ” 英文作者佚名 ~

;

;

。

;

。 ;

。

Shepherd of the Valley January 2009 Page 5 Presbyterian Church

Shepherd of the Valley January 2009 Page 6 Presbyterian Church

Celebrating Our Big Family We became a family when God’s love link us together, now we are all enjoying the happy days in January --- 我們因神的愛而成為一個大家庭, 讓我們共同慶祝家人的快樂日子 ---

生日快樂!

結婚紀念日快樂!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Special Blessings 聖經金句

01/01 Jane Tanng 劉碧雲 01/04 Dan Kao 高重典 01/08 Rev. Bruce Stahmer 01/14 Mary (Chen) Yang 陳瑪莉 01/24 Gil Cardenas

01/01 P.K. and Sue Li 01/15 Huei Long & Catherine Huang 黃輝隆夫婦 01/28 Simon & Emma Huang 黃永全夫婦

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

「惟有你們是被揀選的族

類， 是有君尊的祭司，是

聖潔的國度，是屬 神的子

民，要叫你們宣揚那召你

們出黑暗入奇妙光明者的

美德 。」

-1 Peter 2:9 - 彼得前書 2:9

Shepherd of the Valley January 2009 Page 7 Presbyterian Church

Ministry Unit Meetings 本月份會議時間表

01/07 7:00 P.M. Preschool Board Meeting 幼稚園董事會 01/13 7:30 P.M. Taiwanese Committee 台語同工會 01/14 7:30 P.M. Deacon’s Meeting 執事會

7:30 P.M. Mission Outreach/Christian Ed. 宣教委員會 7:30 P.M. Stewardship Committee 財務委員會 7:30 P.M. Music/Worship Committee

崇拜/聖樂委員會 01/28 7:30 P.M. Session Meeting 小會