SUMMER 2014 8 South Bay Close

REPULSE BAY, HONG KONG

AND OFF THEY GO...
Those leaving Hong Kong (or who have already left) are:
! Bair Family
! Michelle & Sandro Cagnin
! Ben Gavlik (graduate)
! William Johnson
! Bruce & Wendy Kelsh
! Pat Klekamp
! Hannah Kroonblawd
! Tami & Anna Sanders
! Christa Schmidt
! Debbie Schwartz
! Mary Charles Stowe (graduate)
! Steve, Chanin, Ian, Mackenzie Sucher
We give thanks to the Lord for the precious time we spent together at CAN, and for the gifts you have shared with
us. We pray that you will continue to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and
carry on the work of God wherever you go. We will still remember your value to the parish as we think of you as
Members Abroad. We also plan to keep you informed about whats happening in Hong Kong particularly in the
way of mission and ministry. We hope at the very least that you will keep us regularly in your thoughts and
prayers, as we will you.
Snapshots from Sending Sunday
Pastoral Letter
Dear Christian Friends:
On this Sending Sunday, I am reflecting on the many changes that will take place this
summer. God is sending many in our community to new lives and adventures around the
world. God will bring new people to Hong Kong, and also introduce us to others already
here. Young children will prepare to enter school for the first time, and all of us experience
changes of getting a little older.
There will be changes in the Church Staff this summer.
We give thanks to Karen Ng for her incredible service
this past year as Church secretary even as she continues
to serve CAN in many other ways. In the fall, we will
welcome a new Church Secretary. We will celebrate as
our Director of Family Ministry, Megan Birney
transition from being a missionary sent to us into being
a servant sent alongside our community by CAN
ourselves. Finally, I will also transition from the LCMS mission to serving as your pastor.
There are several bittersweet environment changes that will take place. We have said
goodbye to the HKIS Lower Primary building which will come down over the
next few months to make way for a the next building dedicated to
Gods work of training children and proclaiming Christ. Also, my
family and I will be moving out of Kowloon to the South Side!
In the middle of all this change, there stands the cross- the biggest
change of all. On the cross, the God of the Universe who had
become a human being allowed himself to die in our place. By the
cross, he changed our lonely, broken, and hopeless future into a
forgiven, holy, and blessed present. By the proclamation of the cross,
he changes our lives, gives us a relationship with himself and with
others.
Look to the cross. Pick up a few name cards from Church of All Nations and carry the
CAN cross in your pocket through this summer: to share a cross with others or just to
remember the cross in the middle of all the changes. The cross is a constant reminder of
Christs love for and relationship with you. The cross is also a constant reminder of a
changed life you can give to others.
Grace and Peace to you through all the changes,
Offering Figures
GENERAL OFFERING DESIGNATED OFFERING
May 11 $36,146 -
May 18 $33,746 -
May 25 $79,914 $3,900
Jun 1 $82,318 $8,600
Jun 8 $54,580 $7,300
Worship Attendance Figures
9 AM 11 AM TOTAL
May 11 41 107 148
May 18 40 104 144
May 25 46 103 149
Jun 1 37 115 152
Jun 8 9:30 AM - 129 9:30 AM - 129 9:30 AM - 129
June 8 - August 10
9:30am
Summer Bus Schedule
8:15 AM Tai Wai MTR station
8:20 AM Festival Walk (Taxi Stand),
Kowloon Tong
8:25 AM 12 Wiltshire Rd, Kowloon
Tong (LCMS Building)
8:40 AM Happy Valley
8:55 AM Arrive at CAN
Now there were in Jerusalem, devout people from every nation under
heaven. (Acts 2:5)
On the day of Pentecost, people gathered from all around the world to
worship God at the temple. In his wisdom, God had gathered them just
at the moment of sending the Holy Spirit on the disciples of Jesus. By
the words of the disciples, God also poured out the Holy Spirit upon the
people from every nation. The Gospel of Christ was then carried
around the world to gather people into his church.
Church of All Nations in Repulse Bay is here because Christ has sent us his Spirit in this place. We gather from
many nations to hear his word, receive his body and blood, and to live out our baptismal callings in service to
others. What a blessing it is to worship in the knowledge that the message of Jesus Christ has gone out around the
world and has gathered us into a community!
As we say goodbye to a number of people from our community here, it is with great joy that we know we remain
connected in the Gospel. Just as the Holy Spirit was poured out at Pentecost on people of every nation who carried
it home with them, we are aware that the Holy Spirit is carried out by those who we send to new homes and
adventures this summer.
That early church grew in many and various ways around the world. The message of Christ is unique in that it is
spoken fully in any language. The Church of Christ is unique in that it remains one in him even as it is uniquely
local wherever it is found.
For those who are traveling away from Hong Kong, the coming months are lled with expectations and
adjustments. For those of us who remain in Hong Kong at Church of All Nations, the coming months are lled with
expectation as we gain a new pastor, a new church secretary, and reach into the lives of new people. All of us are
held within the same Gospel of Jesus Christ and lled with the same Holy Spirit to speak his word of blessing to each
other.
Peter said to the whole assembly gathered from every nation: Repent and be baptized every one of you in the
name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise
is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself. (Acts
2:38-39)
Joined Together in Christ
Credit: photobucket
by CAN Stewardship Board

As Summer approaches and our congregation
fans out around the globe, we remember:
!
God's far-reaching love for us shown through
His son Jesus;
!
wherever we are, we are sent in that love;
!
we are sent with blessings and gifts
from God, by which others can
encounter God's love.
We are joined together as a church to nurture
each other in God's love and share it with others.
What can you do to show Christ
to others? How are you joined
together in God's love?

Our church continues its ministries over the
summer to share God's love and care in Hong
Kong and abroad. If you will be traveling, please
consider how you can support our ministries
while you are away. Offering envelopes are
available in the church entry, and CAN can
receive post-dated cheques.
If you are staying in Hong Kong, please extend
your hand in fellowship and active ministry. The
other side of this sheet outlines just a few ways to
get involved. Your participation is especially
important as we all pitch in to prepare for our
new pastor, build on existing ministries, and
explore fresh opportunities.
Wherever you are sent, please join with us as
God continues to bless CAN with minds to
understand needs, hearts to care, and hands to
give.
In God's love,
CAN Stewardship Board
Vincent Li, Thom Garetson, Paul Strecker
"...you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but...members of His household, built on the
foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In
him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord.
And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His
Spirit."
Ephesians 2:19-22 (New International Version)
Can You Share Your Talents and Time?
Sharing Your Financial Gifts in Ministry
CAN is blessed with extraordinary opportunities for ministry, and needs your continued gifts of time, talent and
nancial support to realize them.
This year our congregation planned ministries and programs based on nancial gifts of HK$2.752 million (weekly
average of HK$52,920). We are taking on as full-time contract staff Megan Birney, our Family Life Director, who
continues to grow our ministry to children, youth and families. We support and participate in service ministries in
Hong Kong, Macau, China and the Philippines.
As of 1 June, general gifts for this scal year totaled about HK$466,000-- or HK$11,000 below our target of HK
$477,000. Designated Gifts for special projects totalled about HK$14,500.
CAN's ministry is funded solely by current congregational giving. It does not receive funding from HKIS or any
external sources. Thanks to all for your gifts from the heart!
32%
25%
15%
28%
Education and Fellowship
Worship and Music Ministries
Social Ministries
Operations, Supplies and Staff
Here are just a few current opportunities to share in the life of our church. Check the yellow weekly service
bulletin for more!
CHURCH OFFICE
Are you willing to assist with
bulletin folding and
administration work in the
ofce? If interested, please
contact the church ofce at
VBS 2014
11-15 August. Interested in
registering or in volunteering?
(Contact Megan Birney
6904-3908).
CHILDREN'S/YOUTH MINISTRY:
Adult leaders and assistants.
(Contact Megan Birney
6904-3908; Robyn Steuernagel
2552-5464)
MUSIC MINISTRY
Musicians in contemporary or
traditional styles. (Contact Dave
Werner 2553-0499; Robyn
Steuernagel 2552-5464)
ALTAR CARE
Prepare and care for the altar for
specic worship services.
(Contact Church Ofce
2812-0375)
SOCIAL MINISTRY BOARD
Help plan and coordinate CAN
social ministry projects.
(Contact Megan Kincaid
6304-2296)
CAN COMMUNICATIONS
Graphic Design help is welcome! (Contact Church
Ofce)
PRAYER CIRCLE
Participate in the informal, heartfelt, and essential
petitions and intercessions of our community.
(Contact Church Ofce 2812-0375)
End of the Year Sunday School Party!
We wrapped up the school year with a fun party following
early worship service on May 25 at the Blue Room, where
kids dug into scrumptious pies, cookies, and all kinds of
delicious snacks provided by various families, as they took
a break from exciting games including twister, Bible
character quizzes and puzzles. The arts and crafts station
was populated with kids who were eager to make rubber
band crosses and decorate their own crowns. Every kid
left the party with a big smile :)

Childrens Ministry / Youth Ministry
Have a gift for sharing the
Gospel with kids?
CAN Childrens Ministry can always use
more willing hands and hearts! Contact
Megan if you interested in using your
gifts to enrich the spiritual nurture of
children in our community!
canfamily@hkis.edu.hk
KIDS PRAISE TEAM
Last Kids Praise Team practice for the 2013-2014 school year! Celebrated
with songs and popsicles
Childrens Ministry / Youth Ministry
Congratulations
and Gods Blessings
to Our Confirmands
Meredith Wang
Morgan Zee
Maddy Zee
VBS 2014
Vacation Bible School (VBS) is a fun way to connect with
friends new and old, learn new songs, engage in creative
experiments and explore Gods love through exciting Bible
stories. Children ages 3 years old through the Fifth Grade
will gather on the HKIS UP Campus to experience
fellowship, crafts, songs, Bible stories and fun games.
Weird Animals: Where Jesus' Love is One of a Kind!
Dates: August 11-15
Time: 9a-12p
Location: HKIS Repulse Bay Campus
Registration Cost: $250HKD/child
Cash or checks can put dropped at the CAN ofce on the 4/
F of UP or put into the offering plate on Sundays labeled
"VBS" along with the child's name.#Checks can be made
payable to "Church of All Nations" with "VBS" along with
the child's name in the memo.
Register online at:#https://www.groupvbspro.com/vbs/ez/
CAN
Crossroads 2014
Thank you to the 16 Church of All Nation's members and to the 6 LTS
Seminarians for volunteering for a day of service on May 17th. It was great
working together the entire day at Crossroads for the benet of others.
We have been on a number of Crossroads service trips in the past and they
normally involved a lot of packing, lifting and moving materials around to load a
container for shipment to needy people around the world. On Saturday, May
17, our group was split into several teams:
!
One team worked on sorting/packing clothing into boxes and then spent
the afternoon working in the Crossroads ofce.
!
A second group worked on maintenance, with a site that covers 600,000
square feet of area and several buildings theres is a lot of maintenance needed.
!
A third group participated in recycling. There were many bins of cans,
cardboard, plastic bottles as well as plastic wrap and plastic bags. This
group completed the task of compressing all the plastic wrap and
plastic bags into bundles to be sold to recycling companies.
!
A fourth group worked in the kitchen to feed 120 of the volunteers that
day.
!
The professionals loaded the container with building materials for the
Philippines. A donation from CAN went to pay for part of the shipping.
It was a great experience and we learned a lot about the plight of millions of
people around the world. Crossroads is looking beyond their ability to
provide material assistance to people in need and looking to build on all of
our social consciousness and enlist us in the work of bringing justice to
people around the world, as well as working on alleviating poverty.
We accomplished many tasks together at Crossroads. A formidable team
from Church of All Nations and the Lutheran Theological Seminary!
With appreciation,
Beth Hall
Continued on next page...
Dear Beth,
How thankful we are for Church of All Nations! Not only have you given of your time to help in the warehouse, but
you have also donated funds. We are doubly grateful to you, then, and cannot begin to express the impact that
donations such as yours can have.
Please nd your receipt enclosed.
You are already familiar with the work but we though you might be interested in the story of Katya - one who has
been touched through the generosity of people like you. The events of her life should probably have been a death
sentence. She lost her mother when alcohol led her to abandon her child. She lost her older brother when he was
killed in a car crash. She lost all her career, and lived, alone, in a lthy small village house.
What she could have lost have been one step further. She could have lost her freedom, had she not been found by
people who refused to let that happen. Girls like Katya are easy pickings for human trafckers who do good
business in Moldova. Ofcial statistics estimate there are 25,000 Moldovan victims of human trafcking, and 40%
of them are children. Girls like Katya simply disappear, without a trace, and no one comes looking for them. They
are tragically at risk.
A local schoolteacher, Eva, however, made sure Katyas life went in another direction. She found the young girl,
infested with lice, living in squalor. Eva and her husband took Katya into their home as a foster daughter.
Today, Katya is a bright, well-dressed, articulate teenager, loving life with her foster parents. Her new family,
though, struggles to make ends meet in a place that has been classied as Europes poorest nation. In this area,
many families battle poverty at a depth which may make them wonder about giving up their children to state-run
institutions.
Crossroads was delighted to send a shipment to this part of the world to help foster families like Katyas. We
shipped household goods, stationery, toys and a large quantity of educational items for use in the families and
support centres, partnering with those on the ground who can give them the care, support and respite they need
to keep their children within the family home.
Our hearts grieve when we hear some of the stories of those we serve. So many in this word face situations that
can only be described as desperate. What a joy it is, then, to be able to touch their lives and, in a small way, make
this world a better place for them and for their families.
With our thanks for your kindness, once again,
Crossroads Foundation
Malcolm & Sally Begbie
A reection on meeting Amal
at Crossroads
by Shawn Krause

Our team of 5 entered the kitchen to
help prepare lunch for 120
Crossroads volunteers. Work was well
underway and we pitched in where we
saw need and when we were given a
task. Unsure what to do at times, I
relied on one of the other workers to
give me guidance. She was tall, condent and had a
beautiful smile. She wore a #purple and leopard print
sari, covered her hair in a purple scarf and each time I
nished a job or was unsure what the next step was, she
appeared and provided it #kindly and in excellent
English. Had I guessed her age, I'd have said 28 years
old. My greatest privilege that day at Crossroads was to
meet her and talk with her when the lunch preparations
were nished. She is Amal, an 18 year old refugee from
Somalia. She has only been in Hong Kong for 3 months.
She arrived alone after her parents and family were
killed in Somalia's clan war. Her condence and shine
belong to that of a college student embarking on a
promising future. Instead, she is supported in Hong Kong
by the UNHCR. Though provided for, she is unable to
work or attend school. She volunteers at Crossroads 5
days a week. When asked what country she might hope
will give her citizenship, she replied "I don't want to go
anywhere else, I only want to go back to my country."
Amal is Muslim and is grateful to Crossroads for
providing her and her friends with a room where they
can say their prayers and rest during their volunteer
days.
Thank you from Crossroads