• Welcome! If you’re new to our worship service, welcome to our church!  You are invited to stay for snacks and refreshment at the Fellowship Hall after today’s service.  If you like us to connect with you, please email us at hello@vcefc.org so that someone from the care team can reach out to you.
• Reminder that Easter / Baptism Celebration Lunch is today at 12:45pm in the fellowship hall.
• Children Worship and Sunday School:
  Parents with children, our children ministry team is still working on how to implement the sign-in and sign-out procedure. More information and the starting date to do this will be informed later. Thank you for your patience.
• Neighbourhood Free Garage Sale: April 21, 2024 (Setup @1pm / “Sale” @ 2-3:30pm) Bring used items in good condition from home (eg. clothes, toys, kitchenware, etc, but no appliances) or just come browse and take items that you want or need for free. Everyone who bring items must take back whatever does not get taken.  Sign up to bring in items at the church website. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1J-PwRnv2ZdtOZ2-KrI1X9dLf1BdEA2EuHSLQ3FP_hVI/viewform?edit_requested=true
• Certificate of Baptism and Membership (Baptism / Membership – Ian Marr. Membership Transfer – Erico Chan, Teresa Liu, Tommy Kin Hang Chan)
  Testimony of Ian Marr
  Hello, if you don’t know me my name is Ian Marr. Most people know me as Ian. I’m a student currently studying Psychology at Capilano University. Usually on Sundays you see me with my family. My brother, mom and dad.
  There wasn’t a time where I didn’t believe in God especially our God, my contemplation as a kid was mostly about my own desires, rather than realizing what God wanted for me in my journey. It’s only natural as a kid as I want to say some of us hadn’t matured enough to realize there’re people with thoughts and feelings like us on earth, so it wasn’t out of the ordinary. However I always realized growing up alongside my desires I found myself always alone or feeling lonely. Wanting someone to talk, listen, or be beside me. Not until recently where I have found people I can start to trust, but there was only one person that was besides me this entire time, and like every answer to bible study. It was God.
  The feeling of loneliness controlled me to times where my loved ones worried, or misunderstood my feelings. So in dark times I prayed, I had always believed God was there and did all these great things, but I never wanted to rely on him. So for once, I opened up to someone, to God. I poured out my heart during those long prayers, 5 minutes turned into 10, 10 into 15. I had so much to share because at the time I didn’t want to rely on those close to me. My biggest wish I had, was just to have a friend in the world, that would listen to me as he did. The loneliness was still present but I’m glad God stood behind me every step of the way, and when I didn’t have the strength to stand, he would life me up as I prayed to him during those long nights of prayer. There’s no better comfort in the world.
  His support through my life only made more attentive to the different lessons he taught through the bible, and more and more I believed his answers to be absolute. At times when I feel overwhelmed and stuck, I pray for long periods of time to share my worries as I did those long, dark nights.
  And for that reason I would like to be baptized, to take the next step to commit in a better relationship with God.
  Testimony of Teresa Lui
  My name is Teresa. I was raised in a Christian family, and I grew up at another church in Vancouver. I currently work for the provincial government.
  I was “a good kid”, the one at church who knew all the Bible trivia and Sunday School answers. I learned about the gospel early on, that God is holy and perfect, and that I am a sinner and fall short of God’s standards. I was always afraid of doing wrong and getting into trouble. When I was 10, it really sank in how God loved me so much, He gave His life and rose from the dead, to atone for my sin and make a way for me to be in relationship with Him. I wanted to respond to His love, and I got baptized when I was 11.
  Looking back, I feel like I was quite young to make such a decision. In grade 10, after learning about more difficult subjects in school, I secretly planned to leave home for university so I could explore other religions without my parents knowing. But during a philosophy class in grade 11, when we discussed belief and knowledge, I realized that following anything would require faith. I thought over my Christian walk with God, and ultimately decided to keep all my eggs in this basket.
  Life went on and various things happened. I remember visiting this church during a Good Friday service, when one of my high school friends got baptized, and then whenever another friend came back from out of town. Some years later—more than five years ago now—I was praying about finding a home church. I wondered where God wanted me to be, since technically I could be serving Him anywhere. My friend told me I was welcome here, and on the following Sunday, when Pastor Joe came up on stage for pastoral prayer, he said to us: “We welcome you, and we hope you find a spiritual home here and experience God’s love with us.”
  I almost couldn’t believe it, and I don’t think I can remember him ever saying exactly that again. Afterwards, I asked God, “Is this really You?” and felt Him impress on me, “Stay here.” So, I told Him, “OK… but two things: I never want to go up on stage, and I never want to touch the piano again.”
  …and the rest is history.
  Testimony of Tommy Kin Hang Chan
  Hi everyone, I’m Tommy. I accepted Christ at 2021 and got baptized at North Shore Pacific Grace MB church at 2022, and I became a member in this church. Here is my short testimony.
  I first learned about Christianity in church when I was three, but I lost faith in God since he didn’t reply me and help me achieve a high score in English Exam after I prayed.
  After enrolling in a Christian secondary school, I often discussed and even argued controversial and challenging Christianity topics with natural science and philosophical aspects with my classmates and teachers who are Christians, however I was never satisfied with their answers. I became known as an nonbeliever in my class. Despite reading the Bible, attending fellowship meetings, participating in sermons, and engaging in preaching and evangelistic events, I thought the moral teaching in verses were shallow such that I didn’t need to it in order to be a nice person. Fellowship was just about playing games and connecting each other. There was no difference between social events. The content of sermons were not completely logical. I always found some mistakes in those logic implications. Preaching was a way to persuade people in an emotional way by sharing personal story.
  When I was studying in university, the desire of going to church again as joining a small society grew in my heart after there was a time that I realized I lost my sentiments, which is not a human, when my thought was too logical. It was just like a death. But, I couldn’t convince myself to be a christian without knowing God is existed, which was my baseline.
  After serval years, I prayed to understand the foundations of Christianity a bit better one day. Initially, nothing happened. Then, at the midnight, I woke up and there was thunder and lighting outside the house I lived. I prayed again, and within moments, I suddenly understood that all the bible stories I learned are actually linked together one by one to convey a singular message. I also understood the Jesus’s salvation which I didn’t get it twice before. In the meanwhile, I connected to God and experienced his holiness, love and power. I knew that he is unique and who I am craving for. I knew that he is the top of all gods because I compared this spiritually experience compared to other religious experiences I had encountered. It also fulfilled Matt 7:7, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” I shared my experience with Pastor Peter from NSPG, and he joked around and said “Tommy, you can’t escape from God. Let do an accepting Christ payer now.” So I accepted Christ.
  Testimony of Erico Chan
  I first learned about God when I was in elementary school, which is a catholic school. We had Bible lesson every week and were required to pray every morning assembly. For some reason, I would continue to pray to God every night before I go to bed as well. My family then immigrated to Canada when I was 12. I met a friend from school who invited me to a Christian church. I went to church with her and thought church was nothing more than a place to have fun and hang out with friends. At the age of 14, my family underwent a major financial crisis. They decided that our family should return to Hong Kong. At the very same time, my Mom was brought to a church and quickly accepted Christ as her savior. Our family started to attend church regularly. I have no doubt in the existence of God and I believed that God so loved us that He died on the cross for us. I believed that He rose from the dead 3 days later so we can reconnect with God and have eternal life. I accepted Christ and got baptized at that time. However, I was having a difficult time fitting in the small group and my faith remained shallow. Until I return to Canada for university, where I began to seek God earnestly. I was heavily involved in Chinese Christian Fellowship on campus. The fellowship provided a platform for Christian students to learn about God together, to support each other spiritually and academically. I was also very grateful that I had found a spiritual home in a small church in Richmond. People are very welcoming and their teaching sparked my curiosity to pursue a deeper understanding of God’s word. In retrospect, I believe God has planted His seed in me since I was young and He has been walking with me throughout my ups and downs so I can establish a deep root in Him.
• Two new Sunday School
  Spiritual Leadership in the Books of Moses (Hansel Wang) – While most of the textbooks on leadership in general and church leadership in specific focus on the organizational aspects of goal, objective, mission, relationally, span of control, team and teamwork, etc., this course will explore the significance of spiritual leadership in the Divine Presence that develops an individual of Abraham to the nation of Israel and from a group of slaves wandering in the desert to a generation of free people ready to take possession of the Promised Land in the first five books of the Bible.
  Acts of the Apostles (Y. C.  Ip) – The book of Acts is a continuance of all that Jesus began to do and teach (ch 1:1). The Lord is not on this earth bodily now, but those who are believers are here in His stead for the spread of the gospel. However, before they can ever be effective in the spread of the gospel, there must be the empowering by the Holy Spirit.
• The Church Board is pleased to announce that Mr. Joseph Li has accepted the position of Custodian of our Church. Joseph started his work with the church on Monday March 4, 2024 and you will see him at the church on certain weekdays and night time on weekends. Please offer him your warmest welcome.
• We will be sending a short term mission team to Panama this Summer to help run an English Camp in support for the local churches. It is an overnight English youth camp that also focuses on the gospel. The English lessons will be VBS style, using Bible stories, songs and sharing of the gospel. The chance to improve one’s language skills is the draw for many non-Christian parents and youths.
  Mission Dates (June 7-17) and Fees*
  Camp Dates: Mon to Fri, June 10-14 *
  On-site Training: Sat to Sun, Jun 8-9 (STMs to arrive by Fri, June 7)
  Local Outreach Event: Sun, June 15

• Please note that the underground parking is reserved for seniors and families with babies/toddlers on Sundays. And to make sure you do not park at the back lane or on our neighbours’ property.
• Open Gym for the church: 3pm-5:30 every 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month at Vancouver Christian School (Entrance through the front garage gate).
• As the church continue to grow, we have noticed that more and more brothers and sisters in church may share the same first and last names. Please make sure to include your phone number (or mailing address) on the Offering Envelop or on the Remarks Section for e-transfer to avoid confusion on your Donation Slip.
• In the event that your contact information has changed (i.e. address, telephone number, or email address), please contact the church office to update the directory.
• Based on the recommendation from the VCEFC Critical Response Team and the approval from the Church Board, the mask mandate is changed from mandatory to recommended starting on April 1. Due to the health and comfort of the others, please consider wearing a mask when there is a mass gathering. Continue to stay at home if you are not feeling well.
• Are you looking for ways to exercise your gifts and to serve the Lord in our church community? We invite you to go to our church’s website to take a look at the descriptions of the various service opportunities available and instruction on how to get involve in our ministry teams. The direct link is https://vcefc.org/1033/serve
• You can download our bulletin and reflection questions for today’s service either through the QR code on screen or through the church’s website at VCEFC.org.
• For ministries, fellowships and small groups to have meetings in Church, please inform the office by email at least one week ahead to book rooms. Room availability can be checked in our website. Please click “Room Booking” under “Contact Us” in the main menu.
• In addition to the regular prayer meetings on Wednesday, we invite you in praying for Mission and Evangelism on the first Wednesday of the month at 7:30 to 8:30pm.
• Community prayer time will resume back to meeting every Wednesday night at 7:30. Join us in praying as a community for our church, our city and the world. https://zoom.us/j/446506289
• Small groups and Fellowships are available for all ages and life stages, from teens through college, adults and career, all the way to retired seniors. For more information on our various fellowships and small groups please visit our church website under the “Get Connected” section on the menu tab, or email us at hello@vcefc.org .
• Welcome Team for Hong Kong Newcomers has been established in order to welcome and show hospitality to both fellow Christians and friends who immigrate or return to Canada from Hong Kong. If you have family or friends who have recently moved to or are planning to move to Vancouver, looking for church or some assistance, please feel free to contact Pastor Job Chan (jobchan@vcefc.org) or Yeda Hong (vcefc.welcome@gmail.com). Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/100847038934841/
• ONLINE OFFERING: Now you have the option to give your offering through Interac e-transfer. You can still mail your cheques, or drop off your offering at the church. For further instruction on how to  give online, click here.
• CONTACT US: We know that this can be a difficult and distressing time for some. If you have any needs, concerns or prayer requests, we want to hear from you.  You can connect with the church through email at admin@vcefc.org or by phone at (604) 254-1242.
• WEEKLY OFFERING UPDATE:

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• Please pray that during the application review process that the PSC continues to be sensitive to the guiding of the Holy Spirit.
• Please also pray for the pastoral candidates themselves as they undergoing the application review process that they continue to receive discernment and encouragement to where God is leading to serve next.

1. Please email your prayer requests to Pastor Joe (josephyu@vcefc.org) indicating if they are private or to be posted.
2. Join us every Wednesday night at 7:30 pm to pray as a community for our church, our city and the world. https://zoom.us/j/446506289