Salem Community Church

Happy New Year!
In my last communication, my thoughts were for the year that had passed. Now, I want to direct our attention forward, to the things that God has in store for 2012. Here we are, hardly two weeks into the year and already much has transpired.

Last Friday, we had a night of praise and prayer with the Youth Group. The message was about prayer, what is it, how do we do it, and why bother if God already knows what we need? The answer revolved around what we understand prayer to be about, which is to get us to look in the same direction that God's love is looking, to help us remember the world to God so that our focus does not remain solely on our personal needs and desires.

Our goal this year is to really connect to God through our worship. This will be done by attending to the Means of Grace. Generically speaking, the means of grace are practices that orient people towards faithful discipleship to God. Prayer, study of scripture, acts of mercy, social justice, are all means by which we encounter and share, God's grace.

Particularly important for our worship, are the sacraments of Christian Baptism and Holy Communion. This year, as we make our worship a vital experience that forms us in discipleship, we will reclaim our identities as children of God as we deepen our understanding of how baptism and Eucharist empower us to live authentically as Christians.

Sunday, we remembered our baptism in a service of Baptismal reaffirmation followed by a Eucharistic love feast. I pray that the significance of our actions, in conjunction with what God's Holy Spirit blesses us with, will give us the impetus to charge into the new year with vigor and great hope.

And for anyone who thinks this sounds churchy and boring, let me add that these activities are only boring when they are unconnected to the true and vital worship of God, who is truly amazing and, dare I say it, lots of fun.

On that note, my thanks go out to Dae for doing such a great job of coordinating our ski outing. Let me assure you that without him, this ski trip would have been a flop (because of the poor planning skills of a pastor who shall remain unnamed, ahem).

The Lord Be With You,
Pastor Kyungsu

Posted by Pastor Park at 07:10 PM | Permalink

Happy Old Year!*
With 2012 about to begin, thoughts of 2011 are occupying my mind like protesters seeking to be heard. 2011 has been a year in which awareness has been a key theme. From self-awareness to global events, our eyes have been opened by the torrential flood of information that has inundated our lives. As a race, humanity is beginning to feel the effects of the information age that has arisen from the ubiquitous internet.

Facebook points us all to each other, for good or ill. I am amazed at the myriad ways in which it has changed the way we interact and spend our time. I enjoy catching up with old friends and keeping in touch with new ones, yet, in spite of the messiness of social encounters in the analog world, I still prefer to give hugs and shake hands instead of clicking the "like" button on someone's status.

The 2011 Egyptian revolution was, for me, an inspiring call to action for people around the world to unite, against the principalities and powers of oppression that try to usurp the rightful authorities on this earth. I love the fact that people came together, peacefully, to effect a change in their government, even if it was at great personal cost.

The Occupy Wall Street movement has just as many detractors as supporters yet it raised awareness over the state of finances in the world. Certainly, many of the people engaged in the OWS movement are not starving, and I agree that complaining about our standard of living is something like the cry of a spoiled child, but deeper than that are the questions being raised about the disparity between the uber-rich and the other 99.9% of us who have to pay taxes, repay loans, and generally have the bulk of our income wrapped up in keeping out of debt. Why do we continue to fill their pockets as we empty ours?

To focus on the disparity of income is a mistake, at issue is the disparity in the way our laws work to protect and give advantages to a class of people who need little protection and have great advantages already. Before we get critical of the iPad carrying, SUV driving occupiers of Wall Street, lets take a careful look at what is going on in the world of finance and government. How is it that so many working class people are becoming homeless as I see hundred million dollar payouts being made to CEO's of companies that underpay, and underinsure their employees as they avoid taxes and receive a light scolding when they are caught?

Natural disasters have also played a huge role in the way 2011 has shaped up. Tsunami in Japan created a nuclear disaster in Japan and the pollution and debris from the tsunami has reached the shores of the U.S. and will continue to turn up over the next decade. What is happening to our planet? We still haven't recovered from the BP Deepwater Horizon spill in 2010.

On the religious front, there was a Coptic Christian church in Egypt who were protected by thousands of Muslims during their celebration of mass. Several days later, the Christians responded in kind to form a protective circle around Muslim men who were praying.

Closer to home, our little congregation has increased our presence at Wayside Cross Ministries in Elgin. We helped to keep the facility open on Christmas Eve so that the clients could keep warm and comfortable until PADS, an overnight shelter, could open its doors. Our congregation also continues to provide food and spiritual care for the people there. We also assembled 50 UMCOR health kits and have an opportunity to continue this ministry throughout the year, for there will always be a need for them.

Lastly, the bulk of our congregation is engaged in some form of service or ministry at the church and I am heartened to see such dedication and love for God.

As I get ready to leave 2011 behind me, I look forward to 2012. What impact will Christians have on the year to come? How will we embody Good News to and for the world? How will we be the body of Christ this year?

With eyes to see and ears to hear, I pray that we would open our hearts to promptings of the Holy Spirit in all of us,
Pastor Kyungsu

*Please note: This post is from December 30, 2011

Posted by Pastor Park at 02:40 PM | Permalink

I can't wait....
Do you hear it?
Can you taste it?
Christmas is coming. You know what that means.  That's right, for all you students out there, it's an end to final exams, papers, and sleepless nights strung out on coffee! For those in the working world, You get to look forward to an end of running out to get all those gifts, in addition to all the errands that need to be run! Whew! The holidays can be pretty rough! With the Advent season in full swing, in the midst of all the activity, the tension, the frustration, and the disappointment (and that can be just our commute in the morning), it can be easy to lose sight of what our preparations are for.

For all of us, there is good news. We know that all this preparation has a purpose. We are all looking forward to something, a sought after gift, time with the family, maybe something as simple as waking up late on Christmas morning. Whatever it is, remember, all good things are worth waiting for. Just as a child waits for Christmas morning, we also wait for Jesus to return. Please, make some time for yourself, make some time for God. Be intentional about making peace, hope, joy, and love during the holidays. And on that note, I want to call our attention to a few things coming up.

First, remember our brothers and sisters who are not able to attend worship with us. Those who are away at school still, or those who are separated from us by time or geography. Please pray for their safe return to us.

Second. The EM Christmas party is this Sunday at my home at 4pm. I am looking forward to a time of fun and fellowship. Don't forget to RSVP!

Third. Tomorrow night we will assemble the UMCOR health kits for delivery. Please join us at Salem at 8pm.

Fourth. Save the date. The EM winter retreat will be January 7-8. That's a Saturday and a Sunday. Worship will be held at the retreat so if you can't make it to the retreat, please attend either the Youth worship service or the KM service (translation is available for any who need it) at 11am.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15.

Pastor Kyungsu

Posted by Pastor Park at 11:16 AM | Permalink

When you come to church and see the entrance area of the building, you will see our brand new water mill - yes, a water mill! The water mill was made and donated to the church by Mr. Lim, Jae Hyuk, Joey’s grandpa. It looks amazing! It all began when I was visiting Joey’s house earlier this year and saw a water mill in their family garden. Mike, Joey’s dad, told me that his dad made it. So, half-jokingly I ask Mr. Lim if he could build a water mill for our church, too. When he said yes, I expected a small one like the one I saw at Joey’s house. However, he built something that was beyond my imagination! When my daughter saw the mill, the first thing that she said was “Wow! Our church is really upgrading!” I am sure you would be saying the same thing when you see it, too. With the help of Mr. Rebledo, Jason’s uncle, the water mill is now completely set, with nice accompanying water fall and garden. Now, I can’t wait till spring when we can plant more flowers and put out chairs around it. Not only the outside of the building, but also the inside has been seeing some upgrading as well. Last week a member of our congregation gifted us with an offering for setting up a new Salem Café library. You will also see its beginning at the Café area this Sunday. I was very thankful for the completion of our educational building back in July, but did not really anticipate this continuous giving and upgrading of our church. It has been a unexpected source of real joy. I realize that we, indeed, have many things to be thankful this coming Thanksgiving day. Indeed, we do!

Posted by salemem05 at 03:06 PM | Permalink

This past week I have received some phone calls regarding our Church’s Spiritual Campaign series “One Month to Live” and was pleasantly surprised to see how God was working through this series. One person from out of state called to say that he picked up my sermon CD from a grocery store while he was visiting Chicago and wanted to hear the rest of the series.  He called to ask if we can mail the rest of the CDs as they become available.  Another person called and said that she was going through a very difficult time in her life, but this campaign helped her to re-focus on her life’s purpose.  She wanted to share how much this spiritual campaign was helping her to “want to live again.”  It is my sincere prayer that this campaign is also helping some of you, in bringing new meaning, hope and strength in your life.
 
For the next three days, I will be attending a small group leadership seminar sponsored by The United Methodist Council on Korean American Ministries and North-Central Jurisdictional Caucus of Korean American United Methodists.  As you know, a small group, where God’s words are intimately shared by one another, is the most effective way of bringing changes in people’s life.  This seminar is designed to help pastors to implement and improve small group ministries in their churches.  I am hoping that the seminar will help me implement more fruitful small group ministries at our church.
 
As you know, for the past month, the “One Month to Live” campaign has also tried to use the small group gatherings to make the messages of the campaign come alive for the members.  As I am thankful to many of you for your participation in these small group meetings, I would also like to encourage all of you to take advantage of this opportunity, for we have only a couple of more weeks before the campaign is over.  I hope that through the “proclaimed” and “shared” words, you will be able to find new hope and new strength that God has in store for you.  Amen!
 
Pastor TJ Kim

Posted by salemem05 at 02:38 PM | Permalink

This past Friday my father had a surgery to open up clogged blood vessels in the back of his neck.  He went to his routine health check-up on Wednesday and his doctor sent him to get some more tests done, because he couldn’t get my father’s pulse.  The tests showed that at least 95% of blood flow on his left side was blocked!  However, because of this early discovery, my father was spared from having another stroke!  I am very grateful that the problem was found before any major damage could have occurred.  (I know that you are young but I want to encourage everyone to get a complete physical regularly!)

 

As I look back on the past week, I can’t help but be reminded of the main message of our spiritual campaign “One Month to Live.”  When I found out that my father had never been to Niagara Falls, after having lived here in the States for more than 30 years, I planned to take a car trip with my father to Niagara this past September.  However, I got busy and the trip was postponed to sometime this month.  I realize now that I almost lost that chance to have that trip with my father!  As I prepare myself to begin the “One Month to Live” campaign, I am loudly reminded that this campaign is really for me.

 

Also, it is my sincere prayer that during this month you are challenged to really think about what is and should be important in your life.  More than ever, I believe that NOW is the time to set our priorities right and change the way we live.  Indeed, NOW is the time to be renewed in God’s grace.

 

 

 “One Month to Live”
 To get the full benefit of this campaign ...

1. Please get a copy of the book “One Month to Live.”  Each copy is $20 ($ 10 for students) and is available in the lobby.  The first chapter should be read on October 1st, thence, a chapter a day. At the end of each chapter there are some study/discussion questions; please spend some time to reflect upon those.
   
2. Make sure you attend the worship service for the next six weeks for the fullest benefit of this spiritual campaign. Sermons will give you a bit of different and helpful perspectives on the topics dealt in the book. When you combine the sermon messages with your reading, you will reap a deeper understanding.
   
3. Also, attend the small group meetings. The time spent sharing different thoughts and reflections will be eye opening.
   
4. Pray for our EM and for one another.  If you can come to the early morning prayer at least once a week during the next six weeks, it would be great!  If you cannot physically come to the church, please pray wherever you may be. The early morning services are held Tuesday through Saturday, at 6 AM.
   

Pastor TJ Kim

 

Posted by salemem05 at 12:55 PM | Permalink

Beginning today our church will begin a new spiritual renewal campaign “One Month to Live” by authors Kerry and Chris Shook. During the next thirty days we will read a chapter a day from the book, and through sermons and small group meetings, share how Jesus has shown us how to live an “abundant” life.
 
To get the full benefit of this campaign I would like to ask you to do the following:
 
·  First of all, please get a copy of the book (and put your name on it!)  Each book is $20 ($ 10 for students) and is available to you in the lobby.  The first chapter should be read on October 1^st, thence, a chapter a day. At the end of each chapter there are some study/discussion questions; please spend some time to reflect upon those;

· Please attend the worship service for the next six weeks for the fullest benefit of this spiritual campaign. Sermons will give you a bit of different and helpful perspectives on the topics dealt in the book. I believe when you combine the sermon messages with your reading, you will reap a deeper understanding;

· After the worship please attend the small group meetings. The time spent sharing different thoughts and reflections will be eye opening. The time allocated for this small group is thirty minutes; however, you may certainly spend more time!· Please continue to pray for our EM and for one another.  If you can come and join us for early morning prayer at least once a week during the next six weeks, it would be great!  If you cannot physically come to the church, please pray wherever you may be. The early morning services are held Tuesday through Saturday, at 6 AM.
 
Through this spiritual campaign I hope you will able to set and follow the ways to a more “plentiful” life!  Let us together embark on this journey with renewed convictions to an “abundant” Life!

 

Posted by salemem05 at 03:56 PM | Permalink

The weather has been turning cooler day by day.  The children have already been in school for a couple of weeks, and the college students one by one have returned to their classes.  The silent hallways and classrooms of our church that were once filled with the sounds of our summer school program once again are being filled with the sounds of the kids attending our Schaumburg Korean School.  As I hear the vibrant noise again, I am feeling a renewed sense of anticipation. 

 

This evening Pastor Zhao is having his launching service for the first Korean-Chinese Church in Chicago.  I can’t help but to be thankful as I look back at the past two years during which Pastor Zhao has worked together with our church to begin this important ministry.  As The Korean-Chinese Church of Chicago begins a new ministry, we at Salem will also move forward with a new dedication toward our 30th anniversary.

 

This afternoon the Parent Teacher Association will have a special planning meeting.  This meeting is not a regular PTA meeting.  This meeting is to dream and set goals, not only for our church's needs, but for the whole Schaumburg area as well as the Chicago land.  As we look toward our 30th anniversary, I would like for us to dream, once again, the dreams of God, which are "many and big."

 

In the month of October, we will begin a Spiritual Renewal Campaign titled “One Month to Live.” We will be contemplating the question of, “If you had only thirty days to live, how would you live those last days of your life?”  Through the means of QT, early morning prayer, small groups, and sermons we will together look at how this question can help us draw closer to a relationship with God and what he desires for our lives.  I hope this spiritual campaign will help us to re-prioritize things in life, and in turn help us re-prioritize  together the ministries and mission works of our church.

 

Lately I have been introduced to many wonderful and talented people.  I met a talented Line Dance instructor and a traditional Korean Dance instructor.  Through our Korean School, I also met a choir director with a passion to direct a children’s choir and a professional ESL teacher who desires to teach English to our congregation members.  This past week I heard wonderful news of our KM and EM members getting a new job!  I feel that God has begun to bless our church in a new way in this coming season.

 

Please join me in praying and encouraging one another for this fall to be a season of wonderful new blessings.  Thank you!

 

                                                                                                Pastor, TJ Kim 

 

Posted by salemem05 at 05:15 PM | Permalink

Time to time, I encounter an event which makes me proud to be a Methodist pastor.  The Bone-Marrow Donation Campaign in Chicago is one of those events.  This campaign has begun by Pastor Young Min Paik at Glenbrook Korean United Methodist Church in Northbrook.  He found out that one of the members at his church was a leukemia patient and wanted to do something about it.  Realizing that the only hope for those patients is bone marrow transfer, he and his church members have launched a campaign to collect 3,000 bone marrow registrations from the Korean community in the Chicago area.  It is indeed a very ambitious plan.  When told by the director of Bone Marrow Association of Asia that it is an impossible goal, Pastor Paik replied, “Yes, I know it is almost impossible.  But I believe that God’s people can do this together!”

My heart is “strangely warmed” by his remark.  I was told that there are 3,000 leukemia patients of Korean decedents.  And if we have 500,000 bone marrow registrations, the chance is that 90 % of them can be cured.  However, we have only 160,000 registered donors so far.  This campaign will help increase chances of someone receiving a life again.  If you are over 18 years old, you can be part of this worthy campaign.  Would you be a proud Methodist today by being willing to share your life with someone in desperate need?  Thank you!

Pastor TJ 

(Thanks to you, we had close to 40 new registered donnors last Sunday!  Thank you!)

Posted by salemem05 at 09:56 AM | Permalink

 

A couple of Sundays ago, I spotted Henry squatting in the playhouse in the Children’s chapel.  I later found out that he spent quite some time there sitting next Vincent who got upset about something that happened during the children’s time.  When we remember that ministry is being with people at where they are, our brother Henry showed us what it really meant to serve others.  As a minister, it was heartwarming to see him in that playhouse.  

That could have been why he got lucky to win the first prize for the “Thanksgiving” bingo that we played at our last downtown small group gathering at Holly’s apartment.  As we took turn to share what we are thankful for, Eugene, another recent comer to our church, shared that he was thankful for the Salem community, where he found love and care, which meant a lot for him as he was about 300 miles away from home.   As the minister, it was heartwarming to be able to hear that about our church.

As we played the “Thanksgiving” bingo, I was reminded that it was the season of thanksgiving.  And I am truly grateful for so many things that I see around me that bring heartwarming thanksgivings.  Yesterday, I saw Annie, a youth group member who began coming to our church a few months ago with her friend Mira, working all day with other youth members, for the preparation of the Fun Fall Fest.  I was really glad to see that our church became a place where she could feel at home.
 
For these and many many more, I am truly thankful.  Hallelujah!
 

Posted by salemem05 at 07:48 PM | Permalink

When John Wesley began the Methodist movement in 1740s, one of the cleverest things he did was organizing small groups.  He called them “Classes”.  Each Class consisted of 12 people, led by a leader who was required to visit each member at least once a week.  They met weekly for the purpose of fellowship, support and discipleship.  The attendance to the Class meeting was so emphasized that the members were issued a membership card every three months to verify their active participation, without which they could not participate in the weekly Class meeting and the quarterly Love Feast.

 

The success of the Methodist movement was credited to the structure of the Classes which organized tens of thousands Methodist into a system where the continual care and support were possible.  The Class system existed for about 100 years in the Methodist Church and slowly died out around 1850s.

 

However, the Class meetings, called “Sok” in Korean, are alive and well in the Korean Methodist churches.  Presently our KM is organized into 7 different “Sok”, which meet once a month, usually on the first weekend of the month.  The Class is led by a class leader, called “Sok-Jang”, whose ministry is to care for his or her Class members, by calling them and visiting them.  They attend the monthly Class leaders’ meeting on the last Saturday of the month and are asked to come to at least once a week to a morning prayer meeting to pray for their Class members.

 

Sometimes we also have a class teacher, who is gifted in teaching and assists the Class leader in the monthly Class by leading the Bible study portion of the meeting.  The monthly gathering begins with a simple meal, after which they gather for a time of worship, which include Bible study.  We use the inductive Bible study method, in order to encourage the members’ participation.  The Class meeting also includes a time of intercessory prayer and offering.  The offering collected during the Class is used for the mission project that the Class has decided to support.  We are hoping to have more frequent Class meetings, at least every other week, but this hasn’t come true yet. 

 

As you have heard many times, the small group meeting has become very prominent in today’s church ministry.  It is because the small group meeting is the most effective setting for nurturing and life-changing transformation,  If you look at the Methodist Class meeting, you’ll find that there are all five elements of the church’s ministry, namely worship, fellowship, discipleship (Bible study), mission (offering)  and service (providing meal).  Therefore, whatever that needs to and should happen at church can happen in the Class, only at a more intimate and personal level.  Because they happen at the more personal and intimate level, its effectiveness is augmented.

 

I know that the EM has been trying to establish healthy small group ministries, yet has not seen that happen to our satisfaction.  May it be that re-establishing the “good old” system of the Class might prove to be helpful for us?

 TJ Kim, Pastor

Posted by salemem05 at 08:34 PM | Permalink