主日崇拜~獻詩

#2025-1026A

主日崇拜（札記）：

Time really flies! It’s been three months and two days since Jean and I came to Hualien for our “long stay.”

On this last Sunday of October, we celebrated the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church. How grateful we are that this morning—just like on many other days—Jean, our grandson James, and I could be together in the chapel, worshiping Almighty God, praising our Lord Jesus Christ, and receiving the rich grace of the Holy Spirit.

James served as the acolyte this morning. Jean joined the choir performance on violin, and I read the collects and prayers privately in both languages—using the English version of The Book of Common Prayer and the detailed Chinese bulletin provided by the church. I always find it helpful to read and compare two or more versions of the same prayers or Bible lessons. When I do that, I seem to understand more deeply the truth revealed in them.

Thank you, Lord, for your abundant love and countless blessings. May You continue to guide and guard us, and all our relatives and friends, whether we are awake or asleep.

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學習資料（摘錄）：

Regarding the Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

The Gospel reading for this Sunday is Luke 18:9–14, which tells Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector. It contrasts two men at prayer: a self-righteous Pharisee who boasts of his good deeds, and a humble tax collector who pleads, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!”

Jesus concludes that it was the tax collector—not the Pharisee—who was justified before God, for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

• The Parable: Jesus tells this story to those who trusted in their own righteousness and looked down on others.
• The Pharisee: Standing apart, he thanks God that he is not like other people, especially the tax collector. He lists his religious deeds—fasting twice a week and giving a tenth of his income.
• The Tax Collector: Standing at a distance, he won’t even look up to heaven. Instead, he beats his breast and prays, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!”
• The Lesson: The tax collector went home justified before God, while the Pharisee did not. The point is simple and profound: those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.
• Key Themes: This passage reminds us about the right attitude in prayer, the danger of self-righteousness, and the saving power of humility and God’s mercy.

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2)  Our Way to Hualien     (2025)

3)  浜辺の歌 (Hamabe no Uta)     (2025)

4)  Welcome Back to Hualien, Rev. Minglong Wu!     (2025)