News and Event------------------------
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Shining the Light of Christ
in our community
“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one
another.” — 1 John 4:11
The Mid-Autumn Festival (Mooncake Festival) falls
on September 25 this year. Last week, some of our sisters led us in making
mooncakes together. It was a wonderful time of sharing love and joy.
From preparing the dough and filling, to shaping
and baking, each mooncake was made with care and filled with the joy of serving
together.
Today 9/17, these handmade mooncakes were
delivered to some of our seniors, especially the shut-ins, as a small
expression of love and care. We may have brought them only two small mooncakes,
but we hope we brought much more—a warm holiday greeting, the love and care of
brothers and sisters in Christ, the warmth of being one family in Christ, and
above all, the love of Christ.
Thank you to everyone who helped make, package,
and deliver the mooncakes. Because Christ first loved us, may we continue to
love one another and share His love and joy with those around us.
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The Father
Welcomes His Children into His Family Through His Son
“Yet to all who did
receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become
children of God.” — John 1:12
On August 23, 2026,
during worship on the Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost, Light of Christ
joyfully witnessed the Baptism of two sisters in Christ, Shuyu Chang and
Tingting Xu, as they were baptized into Christ.
As the congregation sang Father
Welcomes, the two sisters came forward, and Pastor Karg baptized them in
the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, as Christ
commanded. In Holy Baptism, we heard again God’s promise through His Word: We
are born in sin and need to be saved from sin, death, and eternal condemnation.
Yet our merciful heavenly Father sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to give His life
for the sins of the world, that through His redemption we may receive
forgiveness and eternal life. Through water and the Spirit, the Lord gives new
life to those who are baptized.
Following the Baptism,
the two sisters signed their names on the congregation’s family tree as Father
Welcomes was sung once more. Our hearts were filled with joy, for through
Baptism they have been united with Christ in His death and resurrection,
received by the heavenly Father as His children, and become part of our eternal
family in Christ. As the hymn proclaims, “In the water, in the Word, In His
promise, be assured: Those who are baptized and believe shall be born again.”
This grace of Christ is not only for the day of Baptism but for our whole
lives. Let us daily die to sin ; Let us daily rise with Him.” receiving His
forgiveness through Word and Sacrament and growing in faith by the power of the
Holy Spirit until that Day. Amen!
We give thanks to God for
the Baptism of Shuyu Chang and Tingting Xu and rejoice that the Lord has added
new members to His Church. May He strengthen them to remember their Baptism,
and lead them to follow Him throughout their lives, living with all the saints
in the peace of our heavenly Father and the hope of eternal life.
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Christ
Is the Lord of Our Home: Following Him Together as a Family
“Let the message of
Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all
wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with
gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it
all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through
him.”— Colossians 3:16–17
From August 7–9, 2026, Light of Christ Church held a
three-day summer retreat at Lake Williamson Christian Center in Carlinville,
Illinois. Seventy-six brothers and sisters in Christ gathered for a journey of
following the Lord together as families.
The retreat centered on the theme “Christ Is the Lord of
Our Home”. Pastor Thompson was
invited to serve as our guest speaker. Seminarian Justin Hilton and Cindy Tian
led the youth and children’s programs, respectively, so that parents and
children could grow together in God’s Word.
Centered on “Exploring Christian Family Discipleship,”
the retreat invited us to reflect on where our families are headed and what it
truly means for Christ to be the Lord of our homes. We were reminded that
family discipleship is not about becoming perfect parents or building a perfect
Christian family through our own efforts. Rather, in our weakness and
imperfection, we look to Jesus Christ for redemption and forgiveness. Through
His Word and the Holy Spirit, Christ works in our imperfect families, forgiving
us, reconciling us to God, and teaching us to love and forgive one another and
to grow together in prayer and His Word.
The retreat was also filled with joyful family activities.
We enjoyed the water park and a hayride, while the youth took part in a
blacklight adventure, creating many precious memories. One of the most moving
moments came during Saturday evening’s bonfire, when we held a special
candle-lighting ceremony. Brothers and sisters came forward according to the
year they joined Light of Christ Church, and those who came earlier lit the
candles of those who came later. One light kindled another, reflecting how the Lord’s
grace and the witness of the Gospel have been passed from one generation to the
next. Many had tears in their eyes as they experienced more deeply what it
means to say, “Christ Is the Lord of Our Home”—His grace reaches from
one person to a family, and from one family to another.
Although our 2026 retreat has ended, the journey of family
discipleship continues. In the months ahead, Light of Christ Church will offer
a series of small-group fellowships centered on “Living Out Family
Discipleship,” walking alongside brothers and sisters through every season
of life as we learn and grow together, allowing Christ and His Word to shape
the daily life, relationships, and conversations in our homes. We thank the
Lord for using this retreat to let His Word dwell richly among us. May Christ
continue to be the Lord of our homes, and may the light passed from hand to
hand that night—a symbol of the light of Christ—continue to shine beyond the
bonfire into many more homes, brightening our lives with His grace.
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Proclaiming God’s Grace from Generation to
Generation, Celebrating Father's Day
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Easter Vigil: Baptized into Christ, Welcoming New Life
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For if we
have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united
with him in a resurrection like his.” — Romans 6:5
On
the evening of Saturday, April 4, 2026, during the Easter Vigil service at Light of Christ and Immanuel, we gathered with thanksgiving
and joy to witness Jennie Liang, Daniel Zhang, Pamela Xiang, and Lili Zhou
receive the Holy Baptism and be united with Christ. On this holy night, the
whole congregation commemorated the death, burial, and glorious resurrection of
our Savior Jesus Christ, and witnessed how God grants new life and forgiveness
of sins through water and His Word.
In
the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the pastor baptized the
four candidates and marked their foreheads and hearts with the sign of the cross,
signifying that they are redeemed by Christ crucified and belong to the Lord as
His children. Their baptismal candles were lit from the Paschal Candle and
solemnly presented to them, reminding them that they have received Christ, the
light of the world, and are to live by His light, faithfully awaiting His
return.
Celebrating
Holy Baptism during the Easter Vigil deepens our understanding of the profound
union between Baptism and Christ’s death and resurrection. As the Word
proclaims, those who are baptized into Christ are baptized into His death and
will also live with Him in newness of life. We give thanks wholeheartedly for
these four newly baptized brothers and sisters and rejoice for the new members.
May the Lord strengthen them by His grace, that they may remain steadfast in faith,
persevere in prayer, be rooted in the truth, and walk in the light in their new life.
Alleluia!
Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! May the joy and hope of the
resurrection abide with every child of God. May the light of Christ continue to
shine through His Church to all the world!
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Lunar
New Year Dumpling Gathering: Rejoice in the Gospel
"This
is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it". —
Psalm 118:24
As the Chinese Lunar New Year approached, Light of Christ
held its annual Chinese New Year Celebration Gospel Night on February 14, 2026,
with over 310 guests in
attendance. In this joyful celebration of the traditional Chinese New Year,
brothers and sisters, friends and family gather together in fellowship. In this
warm and festive atmosphere, the Gospel message and the traditions of the Lunar
New Year are beautifully woven together.
Making dumplings is one of the cherished traditions of this
event. For Chinese families, making dumplings together during the Lunar New
Year symbolizes family reunion. When celebrated far from home, this
familiar tradition becomes especially precious. Everyone brought their
specialty dishes to share. While making dumplings, they chatted, greeted one
another, and drew closer together in the Lord, truly experiencing the warmth of
a spiritual family.
The evening began with prayer, hymns, and words of
welcome. One of the Light of Christ members gave her testimony which brought
the joy of the festival toward the hope found in Christ. This was followed by a
variety of wonderful performances. Seniors from the Chinese Community Service Center
shared blessings through dancing and singing. This group of seniors, with an
average age of around eighty, have weathered many seasons of life, yet they
continue to praise God with joyful hearts and proclaim His enduring love.
The children also offered worship through their sweet voices and adorable
performances, which were especially touching and inspiring. Skits, songs,
recitations, riddles, and video presentations were interwoven throughout the program,
bringing the message of the Gospel to everyone amid laughter and applause.
Brothers and sisters devoted themselves wholeheartedly,
working together in unity, as they prepared and rehearsed their performances
weeks before the celebration. With grateful hearts and a desire to worship and
share, they praised God for the blessings they had received. The entire evening
reflected the love shared among the members of Christ’s body.
In the weeks following the fellowship dinner, several guests
began attending Sunday worship at the Light of Christ, as they got to know more
about the church and the Christian faith through the event. We give thanks to
God for using such festive gathering to bring the Gospel to people through a
familiar cultural celebration. In this new year, may the Lord continue to bless
His church, leading us to be rooted in the Bible, united in Christ, and to
share the light of Christ, so that more people may find true peace and joy in
Him.
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Walking Together in God’s Love
In all your ways submit to him, and
he will make your paths straight.”— (Proverbs 3:6)
At the
beginning of the new year, Light of Christ welcomed back many familiar young
faces. Twenty-two college students, recent graduates, and high school students,
along with twenty-eight parents, gathered at church for the Welcome Home
College Students fellowship dinner, and experienced the Lord’s abundant love
together.
The welcome
night started with fun activities and a fellowship dinner, brothers and sisters
greeted one another and encouraged each other. Several students then shared
their recent experiences from mission trips and conferences, testifying to how
God has guided and shaped their lives. Toward the end of the gathering,
students and parents prayed for one another, committing their studies, daily
lives, and future paths into God’s hands.
We thank
God for watching over and protecting these young lives. May the Lord continue
to strengthen them, lead them to be firmly rooted in His truth, and help them
faithfully respond to His calling at every stage of life.
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“Accept
one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to
God.” — (Romans 15:7)
By God’s
grace, Light of Christ held a fellowship gathering at the end of December to
welcome our new brothers and sisters. With gratitude and joy, we witnessed how
God continues to bring people into His church and continues to grow our
spiritual family.
The
gathering began with a fellowship dinner, where brothers and sisters connected through
casual conversations. We then offered thanks and praise to God with worship
songs. Through introductions to the church’s ministries and the sharing of personal
testimonies, our new brothers and sisters were able to see how God calls people
into His kingdom and faithfully strengthens His people.
In that
evening, we witnessed how the Lord gathers people from different backgrounds
and at different stages of life, making us one body in Christ and joining us
together as members of Christ body. May the Lord continue to strengthen each
new brother and sister and lead us to grow together in His truth. May we accept
one another in love and give all glory to God.
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“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.’” — (Luke 2:10–11) On December 21, 2025, despite the cold weather, the church’s caroling team set out with warm hearts to share the joy of Christmas with nursing homes, households, shops, restaurants, and communities. Wherever they went, hymns were sung, Scripture was proclaimed, and blessings were shared. In nursing homes, the elderly joined us in singing hymns of praise; in shops and restaurants, people paused to listen, their faces brightened with peace. Though the wind was cold, every note we played and every song we sang reflected God’s calling. Every stop along the way and every response received testified to the work of the Holy Spirit. Wherever these beautiful feet went, the good news of great joy was proclaimed, and the Light of Christ shone into hearts, illuminating the world.
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“So in Christ Jesus you are
all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ
have clothed yourselves with Christ.” — (Galatians 3:26–27)
November 30, 2025 was a joyous and thankful day
for the Immanuel Community. Six adults and two children were baptized and
welcomed into God’s family at Light of Christ. As God promised in His Word, . Through baptism, these eight brothers and sisters were
received into the body of Christ, embraced as members of God’s family, . We
have witnessed God’s faithfulness as we see Him continue to work among us
through His word and sacrament. We rejoice as He gathers His sheep into His
flock. We give thanks as He expands His family of salvation.
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In order to widely proclaim God’s Gospel, the church
established a Multimedia Ministry Team to carry out online ministry, livestream
Sunday worship services, proclaim essential spiritual truths, and present
various church ministries and activities. The Gospel is shared more broadly via
this online ministry.
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Light of Christ February 2026 Newsletter
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Light of Christ October 2025 Newsletter
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Light of Christ July 2025 Newsletter
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Light of Christ March 2025 Newsletter
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Light of Christ Oct-Nov 2024 Newsletter (in Chinese)
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