Peace to all the members of Early Rain Covenant Church, as you are called by God.

We have much to appreciate this week. In our covenant groups, brothers and sisters are memorizing passages of Scripture. What better way to commemorate Christ’s coming by letting His words dwell in our very memories? Without His words in our hearts, can we truly say He’s come to us? It would be like a helicopter hovering overhead while we refuse to clear a landing zone.

We remember so many things–even an insult hurled at me over a decade ago remains vivid in my mind. Yet, I struggle to recall the words of the Lord. Our capacity for grace seems so small. As the year draws to a close and businesses take inventory, perhaps we too should take stock of our souls. Let’s remove the extraneous, eliminate the unhelpful, and distribute the better shared.

Thanks be to God! Some members of our Word and Youth Fellowships have been making visitations. They go out to see patients affected by the earthquake at West China Hospital and those seeking shelter under the South Gate Bridge. Only when we step outside ourselves do we realize how small our world truly is. Only when we reach out in love do we discover how barren the fields of our hearts have become. When we visit the physical needs of strangers, the Holy Spirit visits our souls. You may be tempted to object, “No one from church has come to see me.” But when has the Holy Spirit visited you?

To visit is to be seen by and see one another. Being visited is a blessing; visiting is even more so. A brother, recently returned from abroad, asked me, “Is your church monitored by the government?” I replied, “We are not monitored by the government; we are seen by the members of the Body.”

The Word became flesh so that He might be seen. The Father gave His only begotten Son so that the Father might be seen by us. Christ’s birth in a manger allowed the Son to be seen. Light appeared in darkness to be visible. Christ was hung on the cross so that love and justice might be seen. The Holy Spirit descended at Pentecost so that the Church might be seen. The house church emerges, visiting this world; the house church steps out of the home, worshiping God openly, so that the Gospel might be seen.

In “Early Rain’s Blessing,” a hymn of our church, we sing, “We are the salt, we are the light.” Salt’s purpose is to be tasted; light’s purpose is to be seen. Our weekly bulletin contains information and arrangements regarding Church Governance, finances, fellowship, and gatherings. We desire to be seen. Not us alone, but as the body of Christ, let His words be heard.

Let’s not wait for the world to notice us. Let’s instead venture out and explore the world. What is ‘being monitored’ anyway? Those who hide or refuse oversight are the ones that get monitored.

With the weekly bulletin, who needs monitoring? Just read the bulletin. Have you noticed that our church’s Sunday bulletin is a great gospel tract, the best way to introduce your church to those you know? Recently, I’ve noticed some brothers and sisters taking extra copies of the bulletin each week to share with others. I hope you will do the same. Take an extra bulletin, take an extra blessing. Keep it with you, ready to give to those whom the Lord brings your way.

Christmas is approaching, our joy is made complete, for the Bridegroom has come, and we are His friends.

Hallelujah! The Lord Himself says, “Praise the Lord!”

Your brother and servant in Christ,

Wang Yi

December 19, 2009