Holiday Schedule

No group meeting on 12/25 and 1/1. Church's Christmas celebration is on 12/24 starting with potluck dinner at 6 PM and follow by a Christmas service at 7:30 PM.

Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Unity, Diversity and Division

I found an interesting article. I thought you might be interested. I thought we would change our discussion tonight (12/11/09) to this topic instead of the study of Mark. We will pick up the study of Mark next week.

The title is "Unity, Diversity and Division." Very often we hear about the discussion of unity and division. Rarely we hear it discuss with diversity.

http://www.the-highway.com/articleOct02.html

I hope you'll find the following excerpts insightful:
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Uniformity among Christians is not necessarily a good. When carried to extremes, it becomes an evil. It can be shown that complete uniformity within the church would not enhance its beauty but rather detract from it.

the term multiformity has often been employed to excuse schism within the church. Schism is sinful division.
Multiformity and schism are by no means synonymous.

Unity that comes to expression in uniformity may well be, and usually is, superficial. On the other hand, unity that constitutes the background of multiformity is necessarily deep. For us to be at one with those who are like us is easy; to be at one with those who are unlike us is possible only if a profound unity underlies surface differences.

When love rises above uniformity and embraces multiformity, the greatest of Christian virtues comes to glorious expression.
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I did not know who Dr. RB Kuiper is. It turns out that he was the president of Calvin Theological Seminary from 1952-1956.

http://www.calvinseminary.edu/aboutUs/presidents/kuiper.php

I hope we can learn from this article about the unity in Christ.

12/18 Study 12 - What Jesus Came to Do

Study 12 - What Jesus Came to Do
MARK CHAPTERS 8:31 -9:1

Study Leader - Daniel
Refreshments - Kenny and Lauren
Meeting Place - Kenny and Lauren's house.

December/January Schedule

Date   Leader  Refreshments
12/4   Steve     Cuong & Julie
12/11 Daniel    Steve & Sharon
12/18 Moses   Kenny & Lauren
12/25 Christmas TBD (Church celebration on 12/24)
1/1     New Year TBD
1/8     John       John & Siana
1/15   Greg      Greg & Judy
1/22   Daniel    David & Florence

1/29   Wai       Wai & Irene

12/4 Study 11 - You are the Christ!

Study 11 - You are the Christ!
MARK CHAPTER 8:1-30

Steve will lead. Refreshments - Cuong and Julie.