Advent reflection #3: Joy (Jordan Tang)

By Jordan Tang

Psalm 14:5-10

5 - Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord their God.

6 - He is the Maker of heaven and earth,
the sea, and everything in them—
he remains faithful forever.

7 - He upholds the cause of the oppressed
and gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets prisoners free,

8 - the Lord gives sight to the blind,
the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,
the Lord loves the righteous.

9 - The Lord watches over the foreigner
and sustains the fatherless and the widow,
but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

10 - The Lord reigns forever,
your God, O Zion, for all generations.
Praise the Lord.

I often ask myself what does it mean to be blessed. In some translations, it uses the word happy instead of blessed. When Jacob is mentioned, this conjures up images of Jacob as he wrestled with God in Genesis 32 until daybreak. Jacob would not leave until he was blessed. This blessing was “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” Being blessed by God completely changed the course of Jacob’s life and he became the father of the nation of Israel.

The greatness of God is praised as he is the Maker and is faithful forever. He cares for the oppressed, feeds the hungry, sets prisoners free and gives sight to the blind. He lifts up those who are bowed down, watches over the foreigner, orphans and widows. Before Jesus, these references may not have had the same meaning. Jesus healed the blind in Matthew 9:27-29. He made a woman straight who had been bent down in Luke 13:11-13. In Luke 7:10, Jesus heals the centurion’s servant without even needing to see the servant. In Luke 7:14-15, Jesus raised a widow’s dead son to life. In Matthew 21:12, Jesus overturned the tables of money changers and those selling doves that were turning a house of prayer into a den of robbers.

The passage concludes with praise of the Lord with a proclamation of the Lord reigning forever. In 2 Samuel 5, David conquers the fortress of Zion. Zion becomes the city of David and marks a transition of Jerusalem becoming the centre of Israel.

Questions

• Where do we search for help and place our hope?

• What does it mean to be blessed and does this blessing affect our life?

• How do we praise God in our daily lives?

• When we pray the Lord’s prayer, we ask for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. Looking at this passage, what can we see about God’s will and what steps can we take to help it manifest on earth?

Matthew 11:2-11

2 - When John, who was in prison, heard about the deeds of the Messiah, he sent his disciples 3 - to ask him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”

4 - Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 - The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor. 6 - Blessed is anyone who does not stumble on account of me.”

7 - As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8 - If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. 9 - Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 - This is the one about whom it is written:

“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’

11 - Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet whoever is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

This passage makes me reflect about the expectations of the people and what the Messiah should be. John or perhaps his disciples might be even in need of bigger assurance because John was in jail after speaking out against Herod and his unlawful marriage to his brother’s wife after dismissing his own wife. With the Hebrew people being conquered and controlled by Romans, the expectation might be for a great warrior to lead the people out from under Roman rule. Instead, Jesus described “The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.”

Jesus goes on to speak about John as a prophet who will “prepare your way”. He also describes John as being greater than anyone born of women. At the end, it provides a great reassurance for those who will be in the kingdom of heaven that they will be greater than John. This foreshadows what would later happen with Jesus’ love and sacrifice.

Questions

• What expectations do we have? Do expectations for God and for others in our life cause us to be disappointed what’s actually happening?

• John was a prophet who acted as the herald to prepare the way for the Messiah. What are we prepared for? What does being prepared mean for a child of God?

ETCBC office hours during the holidays

Please note the church offices will be closed during the holidays — from Dec. 24 afternoon to Jan. 2, and will reopen on Jan. 5. The staff will be working remotely with a more flexible schedule. Please rest assured that pastoral care continues to be available over this end-of-year period.

Research survey participants needed: perspectives on MAiD

If you have the capacity, please consider completing a 15–20 minute anonymous survey for an undergraduate research project in McMaster University’s Life Sciences program, which aims to understand how Chinese Baptists view euthanasia.

This survey is open to Christians aged 18 or older who attend a Chinese Baptist church in Toronto, Peel Region, or York Region.

For more information on the research study, please refer to the below poster and document:

• Recruitment Poster (PDF)

• Letter of Information / Consent (PDF)

Advent reflection #2: Peace (Rowena Erb)

By Rowena Erb

Isaiah 11:1-10, NIV

1 - A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse;
from his roots a Branch will bear fruit.

2 - The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him—
the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and of might,
the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the Lord—

3 - and he will delight in the fear of the Lord.
He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes,
or decide by what he hears with his ears;

4 - but with righteousness he will judge the needy,
with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth.
He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth;
with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.

5 - Righteousness will be his belt
and faithfulness the sash around his waist.

6 - The wolf will live with the lamb,
the leopard will lie down with the goat,
the calf and the lion and the yearling together;
and a little child will lead them.

7 - The cow will feed with the bear,
their young will lie down together,
and the lion will eat straw like the ox.

8 - The infant will play near the cobra’s den,
and the young child will put its hand into the viper’s nest.

9 - They will neither harm nor destroy
on all my holy mountain,
for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord
as the waters cover the sea.

10 - In that day the Root of Jesse will stand as a banner for the peoples;
the nations will rally to him, and his resting place will be glorious.

This is now week 2 of Advent when we focus on Peace.

Soon we will be celebrating Jesus’ birth and are in the time of “watching and waiting” for him. In the passage from Isaiah 11, we believe that Jesus is the “shoot from the stump of Jesse”. We long to become more like Jesus ourselves and see the characteristics as listed in this passage, displayed in Jesus’ life: wisdom, understanding, might, righteousness, faithfulness and justice.

This Christmas season, how could we display more wisdom or understanding to those around us? How could we embrace righteousness and justice for the poor?

A Google search of the phrase “delight in the fear of the Lord” offered these responses:

• Find joy and satisfaction in reverent obedience and worship of God

• Have a profound respect and awe for God

• Recognize His power and holiness

• Find fulfillment in honouring God

• Be in intimate relationship with God, trusting Him fully

As I reflect on each of these statements, it causes me to pause and long for this to become true of me. May I indeed delight in the fear of the Lord this Christmas season and always. Peace be to each of you.

Romans 15:4-13, NIV

4 - For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

5 - May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 - so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

7 - Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. 8 - For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the Jews on behalf of God’s truth, so that the promises made to the patriarchs might be confirmed 9 - and, moreover, that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written:
“Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles;
I will sing the praises of your name.”

10 - Again, it says,
“Rejoice, you Gentiles, with his people.”

11 - And again,
“Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles;
let all the peoples extol him.”

12 - And again, Isaiah says,
“The Root of Jesse will spring up,
one who will arise to rule over the nations;
in him the Gentiles will hope.”

13 - May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

In this passage, I see a message of hope and of giving glory/praise to God. We are to accept one another, in the same way that Christ accepts us.

Christ came, as the “root of Jesse”, both for the Jews but also for the Gentiles (which is me and most of us!) We Gentiles are to “glorify God for his mercy” and to put our hope in Him.

I put my hope and trust in Jesus: I trust in his love for me and I rejoice and sing.

This Christmas season, may my celebration of Jesus’ birth reflect my hope and trust in him.

Reflect on the words of this Christmas hymn:

O Holy Night

Placide Cappaeu 1808-1877

O holy night, the stars are brightly shining;
it is the night of the dear Savior’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,
for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!
Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!
O night divine! O night when Christ was born!
O night divine! O night, O night divine!

Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother,
and in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
let all within us praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! O praise His name forever!
His pow'r and glory evermore proclaim!
His pow'r and glory evermore proclaim!

How can I strive to break the chains, to “treat the slave as my brother” and to be more accepting and loving toward others?

How can I allow the Holy Spirit to “fill me to overflowing” with hope in the midst of all that is going on in our world these days?

Christmas potluck

We are celebrating Christmas this year on Sunday, December 21 with a potluck after our Sunday service. Please sign up for a nut-free item to bring!

Last day to donate for your 2025 tax receipt

Thank you for your commitment and generosity to our church this year. The last day for donations to be included in your 2025 tax receipt will be:

• December 28 for cash and cheques, and

• December 31 for EFT (by 1 p.m.) & Tithe.ly (by 11:59 p.m.)

Advent reflection #1: Hope (Gavin Yeung)

By Gavin Yeung

Isaiah 2:1-5

1 - This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:

2 - In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.

3 - Many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.

4 - He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.

As we approach the season of remembering the birth of Jesus, we should also remember the hope that our Lord and Saviour brought. It was a hope foretold from long ago. Many would fear the “last days” but those who have believe in Christ rejoice at His Kingdom. This passage offers hope to all people regardless of background. God’s word promises a time of peace led by God Himself. 

Much of the commentary on the mountain of the Lord’s temple talks of the millennial reign of Christ (Revelation 20). Viewed another way though, we should remember that those resurrected in the first resurrection believed in Him; that He is in us and we are in Him that we are His temple and if we ask He will “teach us His ways” and lead us to “walk in His paths”. God’s word through Isaiah reminds us to believe that Christ can work through us today to bring peace in His name through His word.

Longing for God’s justice

Many courthouses and places of justice in the world depict the principals of how to “judge” and “settle disputes”. There are statues showing:

• scales of justice being held by a blind judge showing the principal of impartiality, or a picture of justice holding a sword

• the ability of justice systems to dole out justice or a balanced scale with a lion on one side and a lamb on the other side

• that justice is not only for the rich and powerful but equally for the poor and weak.

However, despite our best human judgements, we do not have to look far to see injustice all around us.

Isn’t it wonderful to believe that God will judge us? One who knows what is in our hearts, whom anyone can approach and who holds ultimate power? Because of this, we groan as we eagerly await Christ’s return (Romans 8:18-25); when Christ will reign and justice will flow like a river and righteousness like a never failing stream (Amos 5:24). 

Living in anticipation for Christ’s return

Matthew 24:36-44 speaks to Jesus’ return as well and to “be ready”.

How can we be ready?

Micah 6:8 reminds us to “act justly to love mercy and walk humbly with our God”. The most dangerous thing we can do is to believe that there is still time before He returns. Believing in Christ means to believe in His return and obey His command to love one another as He has loved us (John 13:34).

Lastly, Isaiah 2 reminds us of the injustice of this world. We need not look far to see injustice all around us. But we should remember that any small debt that is owed to us, cannot compare with the insurmountable debt we owe to God; in this case, all debt is owed to God. So instead of using the gifts, resources, tools, and talents that God has given us to destroy, we should instead use them to grow fruit for His kingdom, “swords” and “spears” into “plowshares” and “pruning hooks”.

Hash run: Dec 7

Hash Run is a workout group that brings people together for movement, motivation, and mutual encouragement. Whether it’s using bodyweight, lifting weights, or going for a run, it’s less about performance and more about taking care of our bodies, our health, and each other.

All fitness levels are welcome and there’s no pressure to keep pace. It’s a great way to care for the body while building community along the way. While typically geared toward adults, on certain occasions, family friendly and age-appropriate workouts are facilitated.

For more information, please contact Alvin Vane (alvin.vane@etcbc.org).

December session: Sunday, Dec 7 (family friendly)

Time: 4 p.m. with potluck / dinner afterwards

Where: ETCBC Inner Court (22 Carnforth Rd., Toronto)