Dear Sisters and Brothers of the LCMS,
“Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy
that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour
has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.” (Luke 2:11-12)
Looking back the past 12 months, it is unfortunate that many have
allowed fear to infuse their lives. They were overwhelmed by the fear
of extremism and terrorism, the fear of economic recession, the fear of
natural disasters and diseases, and the fear of future uncertainties.
But in the midst of these life perplexities, my hope and prayer for us
is that we may once again capture the sense of holy fearfulness that
the shepherds experienced on that Christmas night more than 2000 years
ago. Their feeling of shock and awe was not caused by the explosion of
a terrorist’s grenade or the merciless pounding of a cyclone, but by
that wonderful announcement made by the angel – “A Saviour is born to
you!” They were simply awestruck by the reality that God has made His
dwelling among men, full of grace and truth. The Word has become flesh.
The Infinite has become an infant.
This December, as we listen again to the proclamation of Christ's
birth, it is critical that we hold firm to the foundational message of
Christmas – that Jesus is the Immanuel, God with us. In Him, we are
longer called to live a life of fear, but of faith. May the Spirit of
our Triune God saturates us with that holy fearfulness, and fill our
hearts with uncontrollable joy so that we can join the great angelic
choir in glorifying and praising God, saying, “Glory to God in the
highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favour rest!”
Together with the Executive Council, I wish you and your families, ‘A Joyful Christmas and a Blessed 2009!’
"May the Lord of Peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way.” (2 Thes 3:16)
The Rt. Revd. Philip Lok Oi-Peng
Bishop of the Lutheran Church in Malaysia & Singapore
親愛的弟兄姐妹,
“不要懼怕！我報給你們們大喜的信息，是關乎萬民的； 因今天在大衛的城裏，為你們生了救主，就是主基督。” (路2：10－11)
回顧過去的十二個月，許多人的生活很不幸地讓恐懼所滲透，這些恐懼包括極端主義、恐怖主義、經濟衰退、自然災害、疾病、及對未來的不確定性。
在這些生命的無常中，我的期望及禱告是我們能再次體會到二千年前牧羊人在聖誕夜裏所經歷的敬畏之心，他們的驚訝及畏懼不是由於恐怖份子的手榴彈或
是巨風無情的摧殘，而是由於天使美好的報信 － “為你們生了救主！”
他們是被上帝來到人間的事實而肅然起敬，當中充充滿滿有恩典及真理，道成了肉身，無限的已變成嬰孩。
當我們在十二月份再次聽到基督降生的宣告，讓我們捉緊聖誕節的基要信息 －
耶穌是以馬內利，上帝與我們同在。在祂裏面我們不該活在恐懼中，而是活在信心中。盼望三位一體的神使我們生發敬畏之心，以無法制止的喜樂充滿我們的心，這
樣我們就可以加入天使的詩班，在榮耀中讚美上帝說：“在至高之處榮耀歸與真神，在地上平安歸與祂所喜悅的人！”
本人與全體執行委員們願祝福您及家人“聖誕節快樂及新年蒙福!”。
“願賜平安的主隨時隨事親自給你們平安。” （帖後3：16）
陸愛平
馬新基督教信義會會督
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