親愛的弟兄姊妹平安，
「你不要害怕，因為我與你同在；不要驚惶，因為我是你的神。我必堅固你，我必幫助你；我必用我公義的右手扶持你。」以賽亞書四十一10
本來以為十一月政府下令的「輕鬆封鎖」（light lockdown）可以控制疫情，讓人們有個可以見面的聖誕和新年假期。可是疫情還是不斷上升，現在還來一個「嚴重封鎖」，限制見面的人數與家庭。持續九個月的疫情生活，若不是有網上聚會，漸漸地連弟兄姊妹也開始接受不了。有一位年長姊妹，自疫情後便與她一起讀經禱告，但是最近她都覺得有點抑鬱，因為除了與我讀經禱告大約一個小時之外，一天其餘的時間只有她自己一個人在家裡，現在連看電視劇都失去興趣了。可能跟陰冷的冬天天氣有關，最近都很少陽光！也因為這一個嚴重封鎖的措施，本來約好一個住在鄉下地方又有抑鬱的姊妹在聖誕節來我家小住，現都要取消了。
雖然疫情限制我們實體聚會，但是吉森團契的弟兄姊妹反而有一些靈命成長的突破。大家在網上有更多的分享與彼此鼓勵，兩個月前還全體同意一起背經文。起初有弟兄姊妹說不行，但是到了第二個星期，就有姊妹開始背多過原先指定的經文。大家都看到背經的好處，就很願意去背，因為神的話語賜下力量，讓之前對疫情還是有點害怕的姊妹願意信靠神的保護，放下自己的憂慮。又有姊妹信主和去教會多年，但之前並不是很熱心，現在卻發現神的話語太寶貴了，要開始建立靈修生活。負責學生團契的姊妹也做了很多關懷的事奉，最近發送一些掛曆的時候，得到一些回饋；因為每年聖誕節來參加聚會的人，平時都不會來參加查經聚會。今年沒有聖誕聚會，但是他們還是很感恩，團契藉著送掛曆記念他們。
藉著網上聚會，參加廣東話查經班的成員就不受地理距離限制，有來自法蘭克福以北和以南的城市，甚至有來自英國的弟兄姊妹參加。由於疫情的緣故，聚會改到網上後，我們就增加多一次聚會，即一個月兩次聚會。年底剛好查完一卷書，我們明年開始將每週聚會，因為可以讓一些初信的弟兄姊妹參加初信造就班。有外城的姊妹擔心如果我們實體聚會之後，會取消網上聚會。我們考慮到她們的需要，將不會停止網上聚會，因為到時候就是在法蘭克福附近居住不能出席實體聚會的長者，也能參與。因這疫情，改變了我們將來的聚會模式。
雖然嚴重封鎖措施實行，但在法律允許之下，有兩位弟兄和我將會發送掛曆和小餅乾，還有差會（中福團）寄來的口罩，給廣東話團契裡的弟兄姊妹和慕道朋友。我們只能在門外與他們見面，希望一點心意能在這寒冷天氣帶給大家有點溫暖，讓主的愛充滿他們！
感恩與代禱事項：
- 求主憐憫這地上的人，讓疫情能早點受控制，人們可以恢復一點正常的日子！求主憐憫那些在陰冷的日子下開始抑鬱的弟兄姊妹！求主賜給她們心中的光明，有能力與忍耐去面對這些封鎖的日子！
- 感謝主的恩典，在疫情中激勵吉森團契的弟兄姊妹在屬靈的生命上有成長，藉著神的話語得著力量，心裡得著平安！感謝主醫治好一對得到新冠病毒的夫婦，兒子也沒有受感染！
- 求主憐憫吉森的學生們，因為疫情，以前來過團契的學生都很久沒有出現，他們也不愛參加線上聚會！求主保守他們心靈健康！
- 感謝主，藉著線上聚會，讓一些年長說粵語的人來參加廣東話查經班！她們好幾位都是自己生活，所以很開心能參加查經班。求主帶領明年的聚會時間，透過初信造就的課程來堅固初信者的信心！
- 求主保守我們出去派發禮物時有平安！求主讓接受禮物的人體會神的愛，在封鎖的日子裡得到從神來的平安與喜樂！
感謝主，在這特別的一年裡，有你們的代禱與支持！求主也保守你們與家人平安、健康！在這聖誕與新年的日子裡，歌頌讚美我們的救主已經降生，願榮耀頌讚歸給至高的神！願主保守你們出入平安！
主的使女
鄧秀珍
二零二零年十二月二十三日
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Dear brothers and sisters,
“Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isa. 41:10
The German government originally thought that the “light lockdown” ordered in November could control the Covid-19 pandemic and give people a Christmas and New Year holiday where everyone could meet. However, the pandemic situation continues to rise, and now there is a strict lockdown, restricting the number of people and families meeting. We have been living under “lockdown” situation for already 9 months. If it weren’t for the online meetings, even some sisters could not bear it. I have been reading the bible and praying with an older sister since the pandemic, but she feels a little depressed recently. The reason being that apart from reading and praying with me for about an hour, she spends the rest of the day alone at home. She said that now she lost the interest to watch TV series which she loved before. It may be related to the cold winter weather, and there has been little sunshine recently! Because of this strict lockdown, a sister who lives in a rural area and has some depression also had to cancel her trip to come to my house for Christmas.
Although this pandemic restricts our physical gatherings, the brothers and sisters of the Giessen Fellowship have made some breakthroughs in their spiritual growth. Everyone has more sharing and encouragement during the online meeting and they all agreed to memorize the scriptures together two months ago. At first, some brothers and sisters said that it was difficult. But in the second week, some sisters began to memorize more than the specified verse. Everyone sees the benefits of memorizing scriptures, and they are willing to do so, because God’s words give them strength. A sister who was a little afraid of the pandemic before was willing to trust God’s protection and let go of her worries. Another sister who has believed in the Lord and has been going to church for many years, but not very enthusiastic. Now she finds that God’s words are too precious, and she wants to start a quiet time. The sister in charge of the student fellowship has also done a lot of caring ministry. Recently, she got some nice feedback when sending out some calendars. These people only come to our annual Christmas meeting but never come to the Bible study meeting. There is no Christmas meeting this year, but they are very grateful for the fellowship for remembering them after they received our calendars.
Because of the online meeting function, the members participating in the Cantonese Bible study are not restricted by geographic distance. Some join us from cities north and south of Frankfurt, and even brothers and sisters from UK. Due to the pandemic, our bible study was changed to online meeting and we added one more meeting, that is, twice a month. At the end of the year, we have just finished studying a book. We will have weekly meeting starting next year, because we can let some new believers participate in the new believer training class. A sister from another city worried that if we meet physically, we will cancel the online meeting. We will not stop the online meeting because even our elderlies living near Frankfurt will not be able to attend physical gatherings. So, because of this pandemic, we will also change our mode of meeting in the future.
Although strict lockdown measures are implemented, as permitted by the law, two brothers and I will visit our brothers and sisters, as well as non-believers in the Cantonese bible study group to pass out calendars and biscuits, as well as masks sent by my mission (CEM). We can only meet them outside the door. We hope that a little gift may bring them some warmth in this cold weather and that God’s love will fill them!
Thanksgiving and prayer items:
- Pray that the Lord will have mercy on the people on this earth, so that the pandemic can be brought under control as soon as possible, and people can return to a little normal life! May the Lord have mercy on those brothers and sisters who have become depressed during the cold days! Pray that the Lord will give them light in their hearts, the ability and endurance to face these lockdown days!
- Thank God for His grace for encouraging the brothers and sisters of the Giessen Fellowship to grow in their spiritual lives during the pandemic, gaining strength and peace in their hearts with the words of God! Thank God for healing a couple who had been infected with the Coronavirus and his son was not infected!
- Pray for God’s mercy on the students in Giessen. Because of the pandemic, those students who have been to our fellowship have not appeared for a long time and they don’t like to attend online meetings! May our Lord keep them healthy!
- Thank God for the older Cantonese speakers who join our Cantonese bible study through the online meeting! A few of them live on their own, so they are very happy to participate in the bible study. Pray that God will lead our next year’s program so that the new believers’ faith will be strengthened through the basic course!
- Pray that God will keep us safe as we go out to distribute our gifts! May the Lord give them peace and joy in these days of lockdown so that they may understand the love of God!
Thanks to our God for your prayers and support in this special year!
May the Lord also keep you and your family safe and healthy!
Let’s sing praise to our Lord and Savior in this Christmas and New Year season!
May the glory and praise be given to the Most High God!
Merry Christmas and a happy New Year to you all!
Serving Him,
Karen Tang
