누군가 중국에 대해서 이런 말을 하는 것을 보았습니다. “중국은 보는 만큼 알고 아는 만큼 보인다.” 어찌 중국뿐이겠습니까? 보는 만큼 알고 아는 만큼 보인다는 것을 적용할 부분은 많을 것입니다. 지난 6월 당회에서 본당 리노베이션을 앞두고 다른 교회들을 돌아보기로 결정을 하고 6일에는 부산지역에 있는 교회를 돌아보고 이번 주말에는 수도권 교회를 돌아보는 일로 저를 비롯하여 몇몇 장로님들, 교역자들, 집사님들의 얼굴이 오늘 보이지 않을 것입니다.
어제 저희들은 아침 6시에 울산을 떠나서 11시경, 수지와 용인 지역에 있는 교회를 돌아보았습니다. 공장을 구입해서 교회당으로 개조한 풍덕천에 열린교회(김남준 목사)를 필두로 초현대식으로 신축을 한 새중앙교회(박중식 목사), 그리고 그 지역에 있는 저희 교단 교회들 가운데 개척에 성공한 것으로 알려진 샘물교회(박은조 목사), 어린이 도서관으로 지역사회에 큰 영향을 주고 있는 샘빛교회(성경득 목사), 마지막으로 역시 분립개척을 해서 잘 자리를 잡은 향상교회(정주채 목사)를 돌아보고 광림교회가 운영하는 광림수도원에서 하루 밤을 묵었습니다.
오늘 우리의 계획은 아침 8시에 할렐루야교회를 돌아본 다음 지구촌교회(이동원 목사)에서 예배를 드리고 수지와 분당에 있는 할렐루야교회 대조적인 두 곳의 예배당을 돌아보고 오후에는 지역주민을 위한 여러 가지 시설을 지하에 넣은 공간창출로 알려져 있는 새안산교회(김학중 목사)를 돌아보고 오후 늦게는 김포공항 근처에 있는 경향교회(석원태 목사)를 마지막으로 서울을 떠나 울산으로 다시 돌아올 계획입니다.
당회가 이러한 일을 계획한 것은 구주 대망 2006년 1월 1일이면 울산교회 설립 50주년을 앞두고 보다 쾌적하고 좋은 분위기에서 예배하기 위해서 본당을 손질하는 일과 다른 한 편으로는 각 교회의 좋은 부분들을 관찰하고 우리의 현장에 접목하기 위한 크게 두 가지 목적 때문입니다. 그래서 어떤 분들은 건물이나 공간을 중심으로 살펴보고 다른 이들은 그 공간이나 건물이 담고 있는 프로그램을 중심해서 살피려고 합니다. 모쪼록 좋은 기회가 되도록 여러분의 관심과 기도가 필요합니다. 보아야 할 것을 잘 보고 돌아와서 우리 현장에도 새로운 아름다움이 창출되도록 오늘도 꼭 기도해 주십시오.
I once saw someone remark concerning China: “You know China as much as you see, and you see as much as you know.” Could this apply only to China? There are surely countless areas where this principle holds true. In June, in anticipation of our main sanctuary's renovation, the session decided to tour other churches. On the 6th, we visited churches in the Busan area, and this weekend, to visit churches in the Seoul metropolitan area, several elders, pastoral staff members, deacons, and I will not be seen among you today.
Yesterday, we departed Ulsan at 6:00 a.m. and around 11:00 a.m. began touring churches in the Suji and Yongin areas. We started with Open Church (Pastor Nam-Joon Kim) in Pungdeokcheon, which renovated a purchased factory into a church building; followed by New Central Church (Pastor Joong-Sik Park), newly built in an ultra-modern style; Saemmul Church (Pastor Eun-Cho Park), known as a successful church plant among our denomination's churches in that region; Sambit Church (Pastor Kyung-Deuk Sung), which is making a significant impact on its local community through a children's library; and finally HyangSang Church (Pastor Joo-Chae Jung), which was also planted as an independent branch and has established itself well. Afterwards, we spent the night at the Kwanglim Seminar House operated by Kwanglim Church.
Today, our plan is to tour Hallelujah Church at 8:00 a.m., worship at Global Mission Church (Pastor Dong-Won Lee), and observe the contrasting sanctuaries of Hallelujah Church located in Suji and Bundang. In the afternoon, we will visit New Ansan Church (Pastor Hak-Joong Kim), well-known for creating space by placing various community facilities underground. Late in the afternoon, we plan to make our final stop at Kyunghyang Church (Pastor Won-Tae Seok) near Gimpo Airport before departing Seoul to return to Ulsan.
The session planned this endeavor with two major purposes in mind: first, as we eagerly await the Lord's coming and approach the 50th anniversary of Ulsan Church's founding on January 1, 2006, to renovate our main sanctuary so that we may worship in a more pleasant and uplifting environment; and second, to observe the commendable aspects of each church and integrate them into our own setting. Thus, some among us will focus on examining the buildings and architectural spaces, while others will pay attention to the ministry programs housed within those spaces and facilities. We sincerely ask for your interest and prayers so that this may prove to be a fruitful opportunity. Please pray earnestly today that we may see what truly needs to be seen and return home to create a new beauty in our own church.
Ek het eendag gesien hoe iemand van China sê: “Jy ken China soveel as wat jy sien, en jy sien soveel as wat jy ken.” Sou dit net op China van toepassing wees? Daar is sekerlik baie terreine waar hierdie waarheid geld. Afgelope Junie het die kerkraad besluit om ter voorbereiding van die hoofkerkgebou se opknapping ander kerke te besoek. Op die 6de het ons gemeentes in die Busan-omgewing besoek, en hierdie naweek besoek ons kerke in die Seoul-metropolitaanse gebied, sodat die gesigte van my, verskeie ouderlinge, ampsdraers en diakens vandag nie onder julle gesien sal word nie.
Gisteroggend het ons om 06:00 uit Ulsan vertrek en teen 11:00 kerke in die Suji- en Yongin-omgewing begin besoek. Ons het afgeskop met Open Church (Pastoor Nam-Joon Kim) in Pungdeokcheon, wat 'n aangekoopte fabriek in 'n kerkgebou omskep het; gevolg deur New Central Church (Pastoor Joong-Sik Park), nuut gebou in 'n ultra-moderne styl; Saemmul Church (Pastoor Eun-Cho Park), bekend as 'n suksesvolle gemeentestigting onder ons denominasie se kerke in daardie streek; Sambit Church (Pastoor Kyung-Deuk Sung), wat met 'n kinderbiblioteek 'n groot impak op die plaaslike gemeenskap maak; en laastens HyangSang Church (Pastoor Joo-Chae Jung), wat ook as 'n selfstandige gemeente afgestig en stewig gevestig is. Daarna het ons oornag by die Kwanglim-seminaarhuis wat deur Kwanglim Church bestuur word.
Vandag is ons plan om om 08:00 Hallelujah Church te besigtig, die erediens by Global Mission Church (Pastoor Dong-Won Lee) by te woon, en die twee kontrasterende aanbiddingsruimtes van Hallelujah Church in Suji en Bundang te bekyk. In die middag sal ons New Ansan Church (Pastoor Hak-Joong Kim) besoek, wat bekend is vir die skepping van ruimte deur verskeie gemeenskapsgeriewe ondergronds in te rig. Laat in die middag beplan ons om ons laaste besoek af te lê by Kyunghyang Church (Pastoor Won-Tae Seok) naby Gimpo-lughawe, waarna ons Seoul sal verlaat om na Ulsan terug te keer.
Die kerkraad het hierdie uitreik met twee groot doelwitte beplan: eerstens, terwyl ons die koms van die Here afwag en die 50-jarige herdenking van Ulsan Gemeente se stigting op 1 Januarie 2006 nader, om die hoofaanbiddingsaal op te knap sodat ons in 'n aangenamer en verkwikkender atmosfeer kan aanbid; en tweedens, om die goeie aspekte van elke gemeente waar te neem en in ons eie bedieningswerklikheid toe te pas. Daarom sal sommige van ons veral op die gebou en fisiese ruimtes let, terwyl ander sal kyk na die programme wat binne daardie ruimtes en geboue gehuisves word. Ons vra hartlik om julle belangstelling en gebede sodat dit 'n baie vrugbare geleentheid mag wees. Bid asseblief vandag ernstig dat ons dit wat gesien moet word, goed sal waarneem en sal terugkeer om 'n nuwe skoonheid in ons eie gemeente tot stand te bring.