Dear Members and Friends,
This year has, to say the least, been a difficult one for the ATLPC family. Among us are many who have lost jobs, are dealing with health issues, or have even lost a friend or loved one to the Coronavirus. Many more of us have simply had to deal with the stress of living in lockdown, being physically isolated from our communities and colleagues and being kept from the things that make our lives feel “normal.” As they say, not normal is the new normal.
These times remind us of the fragile nature of our lives, and that no matter what material comforts and wealth we may surround ourselves with, it could all be taken from us by a virus embedded in a drop of water, or by an ember carried by the wind. In the 21st Century, our physical lives still hang by a thread.
What do we have, then? If we are a part of God’s family, we know that, in spite of the terrors of this world, our eternal souls rest safely in the shadow of His wings, and that no disease or disaster can separate us from His love. And we have our own community of brothers and sisters to support, care and pray for us. It has never been more important for us to support and share God’s love with one another than right now.
This year, our Stewardship thoughts are this: If you are facing a personal or financial crisis this year, please don’t hesitate to contact any of our pastors or deacons. They can assist you from the resources of the church while keeping your concerns confidential. Our purpose as a community of believers is to build each other up, and helping one another through times like these is at the very heart of it.
If God has blessed you and sustained you materially this year, we hope you will prayerfully consider how you can further the church’s ministries through your financial gifts. With so many in our church family facing financial difficulties, and with our long physical separation from one another due to the Coronavirus, giving this year has dropped. Through God’s grace we have been able to limit the deficit so that, with the help of a forgivable Payroll Protection Program (PPP) loan, we may be able to come through 2020 without having to dip substantially into our reserves. However, as lock-downs and social distancing requirements appear to be continuing into the new year, we expect 2021 to be as challenging as 2020. In addition, we are still obligated to make a payment of $100,000 to PCUSA early next year from our Building Fund for the purchase of our church facility. So we hope that you will consider the financial support of our church ministries as a part of your calling, and look for ways to step forward, both in your giving for the remainder of 2020 and in making your 2021 pledge.
Enclosed you will find a 2021 pledge card with spaces for you to give your support to both the General Fund and the Building Fund. On behalf of Session and the Stewardship Committee, we ask that you prayerfully consider how God is calling you to support both funds. You can return the card to ATLPC by mail or by dropping it off in the church mail slot (at the Commonwealth entrance) any time before December 18. Alternatively, you can pledge online by filling out our Google Form at www.ATLPC.org/pledge2021/.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. May God bless and honor your generosity.
In His Service,
Elder Ken Wong
Stewardship Chair
Fill out the 2021 Pledge Card online by clicking the image below.
單擊下面圖片，在線填寫2021認獻卡。
好管家通訊
各位會友和弟兄姐妹，
對真光教會大家庭來説，這是艱難的一年。在我們當中，有許多人失業，或有健康問題，甚至因爲疫情而失去親友。我們中許多人需要處理居家生活的壓力，與我們的社區和同事保持隔離，遠離讓我們正常生活的一切事物。現在常聼說，“不正常” 是“新常態”。
這時代使我們想起了我們生命的脆弱性，無論我們周圍擁有什麼樣的物質舒適感和財富，都可以因空氣中或一滴水中攜帶的病毒或可就從我們手中奪走。活在21世紀 ，我們的生命竟可能如此地朝不保夕。
那我們有什麼呢？如果我們是上帝家庭的一員，我們知道，儘管這個世界充滿了恐懼，我們永恆的靈魂仍安全地安息在神的蔭蔽下，沒有疾病或災難能使我們與神的愛分開。我們有自己的兄弟姐妹的群體，彼此支持，關心和祈禱。對我們而言，相互支持和分享上帝的愛，從未像現在如此重要。
今年，我們的好管家理念是：如果您今年面臨個人或財務危機，請立即與牧師或執事聯繫。我們作為一個門徒群體的目的是相互扶持，在這樣的時代中互相幫助是教會核心的要務。
如果今年上帝保守了您，並為您提供了充足物質上的供應，我們希望您能虔誠地考慮如何通過財務奉獻來促進教會的事工。由於我們教會家庭中的許多人都面臨經濟困難，並且由于冠狀病毒使我們彼此之間長時間的隔離，所以今年的奉獻有所減少。靠神的恩典，我們有望可以減少赤字，經政府的薪資保護計劃（PPP）貸款部分抵消後，我們或可能度過2020財政年度而不需透支我們的儲備賬戶。然而，因疫情而未能重開教會可能會拖到明年，我們認爲2021年仍會是充滿挑戰的一年。此外，我們仍有義務明年年初從建築基金向PCUSA支付100,000（十萬）美元，用於購堂承諾。因此，我們希望您能夠將
教會各部門的財政支持作為您承諾的一部分，並尋求繼續您在2020年剩下時間內的認獻，也進一步對2021年的認獻作承諾。
隨函附上2021年認獻卡，上面有空格供您支持普通基金和建築基金。您可以在12月18日之前的任何時間通過郵件寄回或掃描並將其通過電子郵件發送給我們。我們還設置了網上表格www.ATLPC.org/pledge2021/。我們代表督會和好管家委員會，請您慎重禱告尋求上帝呼召您如何為這兩個基金奉獻。
如有任何的問題，都請與我們聯絡，願主祝福你。
管家委員會主席，
黃壽南長老