선교사님께
12월 첫날입니다. 지난 11월에는 “우리의 작은 정성, 선교사님들께 큰 기쁨”이란 표어로 연말에 선교사님들께 보낼 선물들을 모집하고 있는 작은 현수막을 교회 로비에서 보았습니다. 저희 울산교회에서 가장 열심히 일하는 부서를 꼽으라면 선교부를 빼놓을 수 없을 것입니다. 물론 매 주일 신앙교육현장에서 섬기는 각급 교회학교 교사들이나 예배시간마다 봉사하는 찬양대원들도 있고 바야흐로 추워지는 날씨 속에서도 차량 봉사로 섬기는 이들도 있습니다만 선교부에 소속된 성도들은 스스로 할 일을 찾아서 봉사한다는 점에 있어서는 그 누구도 앞서지 못하리라는 생각 때문입니다.
저는 월요일부터 어제까지 교역자부부 퇴수회를 다녀왔습니다. 그 상황을 그려놓은 12월 첫 주 칼럼을 먼저 여러분에게 전달하면 이곳 분위기를 알 수 있을 것입니다.
<지난 월요일 정한 시간에 교회 앞에 대기하고 있던 버스에 탔을 때 모두 다 자리를 잡고 앉아서 화기애애 이야기를 도란도란 나누는 모습을 보는 순간 하나님께 감사하며 이번 퇴수회를 가지길 잘 했다는 확신을 갖게 되었습니다. 김해 공항까지 가는 시간에는 준비된 “I Can Speak”라는 제목의 영화를 보았습니다. 도착한 첫날밤은 곽주영(반성은 목사), 윤혜인(김진영 목사) 사모들의 ‘삶의 이야기’를 듣고 하나님의 인도에 감사하고 눈물 흘리는 시간을 가졌고 바로 이어서 오면서 반 토막만 보았던 영화를 두고 한 마디 소감을 나누는 시간을 가졌습니다. 누군가가 이런 ‘본 깨적’(보고 깨닫고 적용할 것)이 있을 것을 예감했다니 나보다 나를 더 잘 이해하는 분들임에 틀림이 없습니다. 버스를 같이 타고 오면서 영화를 같이 보지 않은 분들이라고 해서 예외일리는 없습니다. 소감을 말하는 것을 듣고 깨닫고 적용하는(청(聽)깨적) 기회도 가졌습니다.
화요일 오후에 모인 각 예배당 별 교역자 모임에서는 18년 서리집사 최종선별 시간을 가졌고 이 안은 각 소 공동체 당회를 거쳐서 12월 정기당회에서 확정될 것입니다. 이어서 복산예배당 교역자들은 12월 24일로 예정했던 사역축제 안(案)을 원점에서 재검토하는 치열한 토론이 있었습니다. 결국 추운 겨울 막바지에 사역부스를 만들어 축제를 시도하는 하는 것보다는 내년 봄, 따뜻할 때로 미루고, 좀 더 제대로 된 사역 신청서를 이번에는 준비해서 새로운 사역으로 안내하기로 했습니다. “은사의 발견, 사역의 기쁨”이란 주제를 두고 주일 낮 예배 때 주제 설교를 연속적으로 하기로 했습니다.
화요일 밤에는 세 예배당 모든 교역자들과 사모들까지 함께 어떻게 분립감사예배를 할 것인지를 두고 진지한 의논을 했습니다. 주제는 ‘아름다운 파송, 새로운 출발^^’로 정하고 지금까지 한 교회(울산교회) 세 예배당(매곡예배당, 복산예배당, 신정예배당) 시대를 발전적으로 마감하고 울산교회-울산매곡교회-울산신정교회 분립을 감사하는 예배, 우리가 하나님의 은혜로 한 일들을 돌아보고, 세 교회가 이제 나아갈 일들을 내다보는 기쁨의 잔치를 했으면 하는 방향으로 분립감사예배를 2018년 1월 1일 오전 10시에 한 곳에 모여서 드렸으면 하는 기획안을 당회에 제출하기로 하고 승인되면 그 실무팀을 각 예배당별로 선정해서 추진하기로 했습니다.
수요일 오후에 다시 각 예배당 별로 모여서 다시 한 번 전날의 안들을 재검토하고 심화시키는 일들을 했습니다. 김희웅 목사 인도로 진행된 수요일 밤 기도모임은 분립 파송되는 교역자들과 사모님들을 가운데 두고 둘러서기도 앉기도 한 동역자들의 뜨거운 기도가 솟구친 기억할만한 밤이었습니다. 그리고 2017년 가을 교역자 부부 퇴수회를 마치면서 소감 한마디를 돌아가며 나누었는데 그 시간조차도 책 말미의 부록이 아니라 별책부록이 될 만한 아름다운 시간이었기에 이런 기회를 허락하신 하나님께, 배려하신 성도님께 감사합니다.>
연말로 다른 사역지로 떠나는 가정도 있고, 에스라성경대학원 대학교로 연구년을 갖는 가정뿐 아니라 앞서 언급한 분립으로 말미암아 상당수의 교역자들이 이전처럼 자주 만나지 못할 것을 우리는 내어다보고 아쉬워하고 있습니다. 주어진 기회에 주님의 일을 함께 할 수 있을 뿐이지 언제까지 기회가 있을 것은 아님을 알고 있습니다. 기억나는 구절이 있습니다. “때가 아직 낮이매 나를 보내신 이의 일을 우리가 하여야 하리라 밤이 오리니 그 때는 아무도 일할 수 없느니라.”(요 9:4)
저도 만70세 정년을 채운다면 두 번 더 울산교회 담임으로서 이런 편지를 쓸 수 있을지… 하여간 남은 날들을 “보내신 이의 일을” 더욱 잘 감당하길 소원하는 12월 첫날밤입니다. 누군가에게 의미 있는 일, 주님 사랑을 전하는 일을 잘 감당하리라 소원합니다. 주님 사랑에 휩싸이는 성탄이 되길 빕니다.
울산에서 주 안에서 형제 된 정근두 목사 드림
To Our Missionaries,
It is the first day of December. This past November, in our church lobby, I noticed a small banner calling for end-of-year gifts to send to our missionaries under the motto, “Our Small Heartfelt Offering, Great Joy to Our Missionaries.” If I were asked to pick the hardest-working department in Ulsan Church, the Mission Department would certainly be at the top of the list. Of course, there are Sunday school teachers faithfully serving across all levels every week, choir members ministering through every worship service, and those braving the increasingly bitter cold to assist with transportation ministry. Even so, the members of our Mission Department stand out in how they eagerly seek out tasks on their own initiative to serve—no one could outshine them in that regard.
From Monday through yesterday, I attended our pastoral couples' retreat. Sharing with you my column for the first week of December, which describes those moments, will best convey the atmosphere here.
<Last Monday, the moment I boarded the bus waiting outside the church at the appointed time and saw everyone warmly settled in their seats, engaged in lively, delightful conversation, my heart filled with gratitude to God and the clear conviction that holding this retreat had been the right decision. On the road to Gimhae Airport, we watched a film titled I Can Speak. On our first evening after arriving, we listened to the life stories of pastor's wives Joo-young Kwak (wife of Pastor Sung-eun Ban) and Hye-in Yoon (wife of Pastor Jin-young Kim). It was a moving time of shedding tears and giving thanks for God’s faithful guidance. Right after that, we took a moment to share our reflections on the half of the movie we had watched on the way. Someone remarked that they had already anticipated such a session of "seeing, realizing, and applying"—they truly understand me better than I understand myself! Nor were those who missed the film on the bus left out; they embraced the opportunity to "listen, realize, and apply" as they heard the others' reflections.
On Tuesday afternoon, pastoral staff gathered by sanctuary campus to finalize the nominations for the 2018 probationary deacons. These proposals will pass through the respective local community session councils and be confirmed at the regular December Session meeting. Afterwards, the pastoral staff of the Boksan Sanctuary engaged in an intense debate, re-evaluating from scratch their initial plan for a Ministry Festival slated for December 24th. In the end, rather than setting up outdoor ministry booths in the freezing chill of late winter, we decided to postpone the festival until the warmer days of spring next year. For now, we resolved to prepare a more thoughtful ministry application form to guide members toward new areas of service. We also decided to preach a sermon series during Sunday morning services under the theme, "Discovery of Gifts, the Joy of Ministry."
On Tuesday night, all pastoral staff and their wives from the three sanctuary campuses gathered for an earnest discussion regarding our Thanksgiving Separation Service. Under the theme, 'Beautiful Sending, A New Beginning ^^', we envisioned drawing our era of 'one church (Ulsan Church), three campuses (Maegok, Boksan, and Sinjeong)' to a constructive close. We agreed to submit a proposal to the Session for a combined Thanksgiving Separation Service on January 1, 2018, at 10:00 a.m. in a single venue—a joyful feast of thanksgiving celebrating the separation into Ulsan Church, Ulsan Maegok Church, and Ulsan Sinjeong Church, looking back on what we accomplished by God’s grace and looking forward to the journey ahead for the three congregations. Once approved, dedicated working teams will be appointed from each sanctuary to bring this plan to fruition.
On Wednesday afternoon, the pastoral teams gathered again by campus to review and deepen the previous day's proposals. The Wednesday evening prayer meeting, led by Pastor Hee-woong Kim, was a deeply memorable night where passionate prayers poured forth from colleagues, who stood and sat around the pastoral staff and their wives being sent out in the upcoming separation. And as we brought the 2017 Autumn Pastoral Couples' Retreat to a close, we took turns sharing brief personal reflections—a time so rich and beautiful that it felt not like a mere afterword at the back of a book, but like a whole separate bonus volume. My heartfelt gratitude goes to God for granting this opportunity, and to our congregation for their loving consideration.>
As the year comes to an end, some families are departing for new fields of ministry, another family is beginning a sabbatical year at Ezra Bible Graduate University, and many fellow workers will no longer see one another as often due to the upcoming separation. We are feeling the bittersweet pangs of parting. We realize that we can labor together in the Lord's work only as long as an opportunity is given, and that opportunities do not last forever. A familiar scripture comes to mind: “As long as it is day, we must do the works of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work.” (John 9:4)
If I am to serve until the mandatory retirement age of 70, I wonder if I will be able to write such a pastoral letter as the senior pastor of Ulsan Church more than a couple more times... Be that as it may, on this first night of December, my earnest prayer is to faithfully carry out "the works of him who sent me" during the days that remain. I yearn to be faithful in doing meaningful work for others and in proclaiming the love of our Lord. May this Christmas season envelop you richly in the love of Christ.
From Ulsan, your brother in the Lord,
Rev. Keun-Doo Jung
Aan ons sendelinge,
Dit is die eerste dag van Desember. Gedurende November het ek in ons kerksaal 'n klein banier gesien wat onder die leuse “Ons beskeie gawe, groot vreugde vir ons sendelinge” geskenke ingesamel het om aan die einde van die jaar aan ons sendelinge te stuur. As ek die hardste-werkende bediening in Ulsan Gemeente moet uitsonder, kan die Sendingbediening beslis nie weggelaat word nie. Natuurlik is daar Sondagskoolonderwysers wat elke week getrou op alle vlakke dien, koorlede wat tydens elke erediens hulle gawes aanbied, en diegene wat in die vinnig dalende temperature met die vervoerdiens help. Tog meen ek dat niemand die lidmate van die Sendingbediening kan oortref wat betref die manier waarop hulle uit eie beweging take soek en dien nie.
Ek het van Maandag tot gister ons pastorale egpare-retraite bygewoon. Deur my rubriek vir die eerste week van Desember—waarin hierdie dae beskryf word—eers met u te deel, sal u die atmosfeer hier die beste kan aanvoel.
<Toe ek verlede Maandag op die afgespreekte tyd op die bus klim wat voor die kerk gewag het, en sien hoe almal reeds gesellig sit en hartlik met mekaar gesels, het my hart dadelik oorgeloop van dankbaarheid teenoor God en die vaste wete dat dit reg was om hierdie retraite te reël. Op pad na Gimhae-lughawe het ons gekyk na 'n rolprent met die titel I Can Speak. Die eerste aand ná ons aankoms het ons geluister na die lewensverhale van predikantsvroue Joo-young Kwak (eggenote van ds. Sung-eun Ban) en Hye-in Yoon (eggenote van ds. Jin-young Kim). Dit was 'n roerende tyd van trane en dankbaarheid vir God se leiding, en reg daarna het ons 'n oomblik geneem om ons indrukke te deel oor die helfte van die film wat ons op pad gesien het. Iemand het opgemerk dat hulle so 'n tyd van "kyk, insien en toepas" al verwag het—hulle ken my voorwaar beter as wat ek myself ken! Selfs diegene wat nie die film op die bus gekyk het nie, is nie uitgesluit nie; hulle het die geleentheid benut om te "luister, insien en toepas" soos die ander hul gedagtes gedeel het.
Dinsdagmiddag het die ampsdraers volgens hul onderskeie aanbiddingsentra vergader om die finale keuse van diakens op proef vir 2018 te finaliseer. Hierdie voorstelle sal deur die onderskeie plaaslike kerkrade gaan en tydens die gereelde Desember-kerkraadsvergadering bekragtig word. Daarna het die leraars van die Boksan-aanbiddingsentrum 'n indringende gesprek gevoer en die beplande Bedieningsfees vir 24 Desember van voor af heroorweeg. Uiteindelik is besluit dat dit beter sou wees om nie bedieningsstalletjies in die koue winterweer op te slaan nie, maar die fees eerder uit te stel tot die warmer lentedae van volgende jaar, en intussen 'n deegliker aansoekvorm voor te berei om lidmate na nuwe bedieningsvelde te begelei. Ons het ook besluit om 'n reeks predikings tydens die Sondagoggend-eredienste te hou onder die tema: "Ontdekking van gawes, die vreugde van bediening."
Dinsdagaand het al die leraars en hul eggenotes van die drie aanbiddingsentra bymekaargekom vir 'n ernstige bespreking oor die Dankseggingsdiens van Afstigting. Onder die tema 'Pragtige Uitsending, 'n Nuwe Begin ^^' het ons die era van 'een gemeente (Ulsan Gemeente), drie aanbiddingsentra (Maegok-, Boksan- en Sinjeong-sentrum)' opbouend afgesluit. Ons het ooreengekom om 'n voorstel aan die kerkraad voor te lê vir 'n gesamentlike Dankseggingsdiens van Afstigting op 1 Januarie 2018 om 10:00 vm. op een sentrale plek—'n vreugdefees van danksegging om die afstigting na Ulsan Gemeente, Ulsan Maegok Gemeente en Ulsan Sinjeong Gemeente te vier, terug te kyk op dit wat ons deur God se genade kon doen, en vooruit te kyk na die toekoms van al drie gemeentes. Indien dit goedgekeur word, sal werkgroepe uit elke sentrum aangestel word om dit uit te voer.
Woensdagmiddag het die spanne weer per aanbiddingsentrum vergader om die vorige dag se voorstelle verder te verfyn en te verdiep. Die Woensdagaand-biduur onder leiding van ds. Hee-woong Kim was 'n onvergeetlike aand waar vurige gebede opgestyg het van medeleraars wat in 'n kring rondom die uittredende ampsdraers en hul eggenotes gestaan en gesit het. En toe ons die Pastorale Egpare-retraite van Herfs 2017 afsluit, het elkeen beurtelings 'n kort slotgedagte gedeel—'n tyd so kosbaar en mooi dat dit nie soos 'n gewone bylaag agterin 'n boek gevoel het nie, maar soos 'n selfstandige pragbundel. My diepe dank aan God wat hierdie geleentheid geskenk het, en aan ons lidmate vir hul liefdevolle versorging.>
Teen die jaareinde vertrek sommige gesinne na ander bedieningsvelde, een gesin neem 'n sabbatsjaar by die Ezra Bybelse Nagraadse Universiteit, en vanweë die genoemde afstigting sal baie van ons mekaar nie meer so gereeld soos voorheen kan sien nie—iets wat 'n tikkie weemoed in ons harte bring. Ons besef dat ons slegs saam aan die Here se werk kan bou solank die geleentheid ons gegun word, en dat geleenthede nie vir altyd bly nie. 'n Bekende Skrifwoord kom by my op: “Solank as dit dag is, moet ons die werke doen van Hom wat My gestuur het; die nag kom, wanneer niemand kan werk nie.” (Joh. 9:4)
As ek tot die verpligte aftree-ouderdom van 70 jaar sou dien, wonder ek of ek nog meer as twee keer so 'n brief as leraar van Ulsan Gemeente sal kan skryf... Nietemin, op hierdie eerste aand van Desember is dit my innige bede om die dae wat oorbly, getrou toe te wy aan “die werke van Hom wat My gestuur het.” Mag ek getrou bly daarin om vir ander iets van ware betekenis te doen en die liefde van die Here uit te dra. Mag hierdie Kerstyd u ryklik omvou met die liefde van Christus.
Uit Ulsan, u broeder in die Here,
Ds. Keun-Doo Jung