2021 04 13
作者 Article by Bonny Kwok
網上退修會感受
再重溫李思敬牧師的講道，他提醒我們更新是神的工作，祂從沒有停止過祂的更新。我們要在神面前謙卑、求聖靈開我們的眼睛去看，去默想神在我們生命當中，就在這階段，祂在更新什麼？在個人、家庭、下一代、朋友、工作丶教會、事奉...？
在默想的時候，回想在人生順境的時候，當然感受到這是上帝的禮物! 但當人生遇到逆境，在苦難、死亡、疾病、恐懼、茫然不知所措... 這些仍是上帝的禮物嗎？上帝在這逆境更新了什麼？
我回顧，我便認識自己更深，也認識神更深。祂使我軟弱，讓我知道，支持我生命的，是上帝。成就我生命的，也是上帝；固此，我可以安然的依賴祂豐富的恩典和憐憫，而不用惶然的靠自己能力。祂使我缺乏，讓我體驗生命的富足，在於與別人分享。祂使我無能，讓我發現祂的無所不能，並在祂的大能中，重新尋找自己的角色。我實在深深地感動，上帝在逆境當中不斷更新我，對身邊的事物、朋友及家人的關係，更學習珍惜上帝給我的恩典。
在籌備今次的網上退修會期間，因疫情變化及其他因素，需要作出調整，但是上帝的恩典不斷臨在，當我邀請各組長參與時，他們的積極回應，給我們很大的鼓勵；報名人數比預期中理想，出席率更是百分百。我更有機會在分組討論的時間，走訪所有組別，看見所有的組員積極參與、分享及期望教會日後事工的發展，確是令人鼓舞的，不由自主地想，神不就是在更新我們的教會嗎？
大家認同因為疫情，生活上有所改變，教會事工模式，也有不能逆轉的改變，但是大家都希望在等候疫情過去之前，教會應繼續拓展事工，鼓舞的是大家都願意更多參與、投入教會新模式的事工方向，嚮往以往大家透過事工發展，同心協力，見證到上帝的恩典臨在頌主堂當中。
我們籌委會及各組組長將在這星期開檢討會，會透過大家分組討論的意見分享，商議日後教會廣東話事工發展方向及模式。
如你在這次退修會當中，有所得著，鼓勵你在 "疫中情" 與我們分享。願上帝繼續祝福大家，在疫情中有從上而來的平安，面對每一天。
“凡事謙虛、溫柔、忍耐，用愛心互相寬容， 用和平彼此聯絡，竭力保守聖靈所賜合而為一的心。”
(以弗所書 4:2-3)
My Reflection on Our Online Retreat
Rev. SK Lee reminded us that renewal is God’s work, and God has never stopped His work of renewal. We must humble ourselves before God, ask the Holy Spirit to open our eyes to see, and to meditate on His Words in our lives. How is God’s work of renewal present in my life today? In my own life? In my family and children? Friends? Career? Church and ministry?
When I meditate on the sweet moments of my life, I naturally view these as gifts from God! But when I encounter suffering, death, sickness, fear, or loss, I ask “Are these still God’s gifts?” What can God renew during adversity? When I look back, I can see that through these experiences, I have learned more about myself and I have gained a deeper relationship with God. He made me weak to let me understand that He is constantly supporting me. It is God who fulfils me. Through this, I can rely on His grace and mercy instead of my own ability. He made me lack, and allowed me to experience the abundance of life, which lies in sharing with others. He made me incompetent to let me discover His Almighty and to understand the purpose of my life. I am deeply moved. God continually renews me in adversity. Because of this, I am learning to cherish the things around me and my relationship between friends and family by the Grace of our Lord.
During the preparation of our online retreat, we were forced to make some adjustments due to various reasons including government policy changes regarding the pandemic. However, His Grace was abundant. When I invited people to be group facilitators, the positive responses we received gave us lots of encouragement. The number of participants exceeded our expectations and the attendance rate was 100%. I had the opportunity to listen in on all the groups during group discussion time. It was exciting to see all the participants actively sharing and looking forward to the future development of the church’s ministry. Don’t you agree that God is not just renewing us individually, but collectively as a church?
Everyone agrees that the pandemic has changed our daily lives tremendously. Indeed, there will be some irreversible changes in our church ministry. However, we are all hopefully looking out for new opportunities to continue our ministry amid the pandemic. Together, we remember his abundance in the times we have we served together in the past and we look forward to excitedly participating in new forms of ministry moving forward.
The retreat organizing committee and the group facilitators will hold an evaluation meeting this week. Through group discussion, we will discuss the future direction and the new model of Cantonese ministry. I encourage you to share with us your reflection from our online retreat through "Love in Pandemic" updates. May God continue to bless you and keep you, from above, to face your daily challenges during the pandemic.
“With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”
(Ephesians 4:2-3)