고국의 가을은 깊어가고 있습니다. 아직도 시골에는 감이 주렁주렁 달려있지만 아무도 관심을 갖는 이가 없고 까마귀들이 찾아왔다가 휴대폰을 들이대는 바람에 다음을 기약하고 날아갈 뿐입니다.
비록 거의 대부분의 성도들이 농사를 짓지 않지만 교회력에는 추수감사절이 자리하고 있습니다. 우린 올해부터 11월 추수감사절이 너무 계절과 맞질 않아서 10월로 옮기고 마지막 주일에 지켰습니다. 비록 씨 뿌려 땀흘리지 않았기에 추수의 기쁨을 맛볼 수는 없지만 그래도 한 해를 돌아보며 구주대망 2018년 감사제목을 간추려 보았습니다.
첫 번째 자리한 것은 경건 생활의 진보입니다. “이 모든 일에 전심전력하여 너의 진보가 모든 이에게 드러나게 하여라. 네 자신과 네 가르침을 살피고 그 일들을 계속하여라. 이렇게 함으로써 네 자신과, 또 너의 말을 듣는 자들을 구원할 것이다.” (딤전 4:15, 16) 거의 매일 경건의 시간을 앞자리에 두려고 노력했고 그 일에 진보를 가져왔다고 생각합니다. 구체적으로는 오래전부터 소원하던 주일에 부른 찬송을 매일 다시 부르는 일이 가능해져서 기쁩니다. 디럭스성경찬송 앱을 사용해서 찬송가 3개를 즐겨찾기에 넣은 다음에 3가지 연속듣기를 해서 숙원사업을 성취했습니다. 그리고 때로는 큐티와 자판 기도를 할 수 없는 상황, 여행이라든지 아니면 집에 있어도 모니터를 사용할 상황이 안 되면 다른 방에 가서 휴대폰 내 카톡방에서 음성으로 기도를 입력해서 나중에 옮겨서 정리하니 아주 좋은 방법임을 알고 기뻐합니다.
또 9월 들어서 늘 하던 <가을맞이 특별기도>를 한 주간 하다가 기도 하는 중에 은혜를 받아서 매주 <시편과 함께 하는 토요 특별기도회>를 시작했습니다. 너무 잘 시작한 것 같습니다. 마치 내년 말 은퇴를 앞두고 하나님이 주신 보너스 같습니다. 게다가 지난 주일부터 남은 60주일설교를 계시록으로 계속하기로 한 것입니다. 남은 주일 수효와 남은 계시록 설교 수효가 놀랍게도 일치해서 내년은 한 주일도 쉬지 않고 토요일에 는 <시편과 함께 하는 특별새벽기도회> 주일에는 계시록 설교를 하려고 합니다. 제 희망사항은 19년 12월 29일 주일설교가 <아멘 주 예수여 오시옵소서>로 끝나는 것입니다.
그리고 또 하나의 소소한 감사의 제목은 <야고보서 출판계약>을 조이출판사와 한 달 전에 하고 내년 초여름에 <읽는 설교> 시리즈에 두 권으로 나오면 제가 보내는 마지막 선물이 될 것입니다. 책 출판 이야기에 이어서 오늘 정말 여러분과 나누고 싶은 감사의 제목은 <한부선 선집>을 통해서 선교사님을 다시 만나게 되었다는 것입니다. 추천사를 위해서 피디에프 파일로 읽으면서 너무 감동한 나머지 시민교회 이종관 목사님의 도움을 받아서 양 교회가 천만 원씩 지원해서 이번에 보내는 <한부선 선집>을 출판하게 되었다는 것입니다. 바라기는 선교사님께서 한부선 선교사님의 글을 읽으므로 제가 받은 그 감동을 받기를 기도합니다. 혹 카톡이나 이메일(k-djung@daum.net)로 독후감을 주신다면 성도의 교제를 나누는 영광에 동참하게 될 것입니다.
울산교회 이야기 하나를 끝으로 나누겠습니다. 오래전부터 소원하던 일인데 지하층에 있는 유치부를 교육관으로 보내고 본당을 수리하고 있습니다. 담장개방공사와 아울러 지하에 자리 잡은 식당을 햇볕이 비취는 공간으로 탈바꿈하는 공사가 12월 중순까지는 완성될 것입니다. 그러면 다음에 울산교회 예배당을 들리시면 차라도 함께 마시며 담소할 공간에서 맞이하겠습니다. 늦가을과 연말, 더욱 고국이 생각나는 시점에 기쁨 기도 감사가 가득하길 빕니다.
구주대망 2018년 11월 16일 정근두 드림
Autumn is deepening in our homeland. Though persimmons still hang in heavy clusters out in the countryside, few pay attention to them anymore, and crows that come visiting simply fly away to try their luck another time when greeted by a pointed mobile phone.
Although most of our congregation members do not farm, Thanksgiving Day still holds its rightful place on the liturgical calendar. Starting this year, feeling that a November Thanksgiving was out of touch with the natural season, we moved it to October and celebrated it on the last Sunday. While we did not sow seeds or sweat in the fields to experience the harvest firsthand, looking back over the passing year, I gathered several topics of thanksgiving in anticipation of our Savior, AD 2018.
First on the list is progress in my devotional life. “Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers” (1 Tim. 4:15–16). I have strived almost daily to keep quiet time first and foremost, and I believe real progress has been made. Concretely, I am delighted that I can now replay and sing every day the hymns we sang on Sunday, a wish I had cherished for a long time. Using the Deluxe Bible & Hymn app, I added three hymns to my favorites and listened to them continuously, fulfilling a long-held aspiration. Furthermore, when circumstances make regular QT or typing prayers difficult—such as while traveling or even when at home without access to a monitor—I go to another room and use voice input in my personal KakaoTalk chatroom to record prayers, later organizing and transcribing them. This has proven to be a wonderful and joyful method.
Moreover, after conducting our customary week of “Autumn Special Prayer” in September, I received so much grace during those times that we launched a weekly “Saturday Special Prayer Meeting with the Psalms.” It feels like such a blessed start—almost like a special bonus from God ahead of my retirement at the end of next year. On top of that, from last Sunday, I decided to dedicate my remaining 60 Sunday sermons entirely to the Book of Revelation. Amazingly, the number of remaining Sundays coincided perfectly with the number of remaining Revelation sermons. Thus, throughout next year, without taking a single Sunday off, I intend to lead the “Special Early Morning Prayer Meeting with the Psalms” on Saturdays and preach through Revelation on Sundays. My deepest hope is that my final Sunday sermon on December 29, 2019, will conclude with the words, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.”
Another quiet reason for gratitude is that a month ago, I signed a publishing contract for the Book of James with Joy Publishing. When it comes out in early summer next year as two volumes in the “Sermons to Read” series, it will serve as my parting gift. Continuing on the topic of books, a thanksgiving highlight I truly want to share with you today is encountering missionary Bruce F. Hunt (Han Bu-sun) anew through the Selected Works of Bruce F. Hunt. While reading the PDF draft to write a recommendation, I was so deeply moved that, with the help of Pastor Jong-Kwan Lee of Simin Church, our two churches jointly supported the project with 10 million won each to publish this edition. It is my prayer that you, dear missionary, will receive the same profound inspiration I felt as you read his writings. If you could share your reflections via KakaoTalk or email (k-djung@daum.net), it would be an honor to share in the fellowship of the saints.
Lastly, let me share a brief update from Ulsan Church. A long-desired project is finally underway: the kindergarten department in the basement has been moved to the education building, and we are currently renovating the main sanctuary. Along with the project to open up the perimeter fence, the renovation transforming the basement cafeteria into a sunlit space will be completed by mid-December. The next time you visit the Ulsan Church chapel, I look forward to welcoming you in a warm space where we can share tea and conversation. In this late autumn turning toward year's end, when thoughts of the homeland grow even fonder, I pray that your days will be overflowing with joy, prayer, and thanksgiving.
November 16, AD 2018
Warmly, Rev. Keun-Doo Jung
Die herfs verdiep in ons vaderland. Alhoewel die tamatiesoetlemoene (persimmons) nog swaar in trosse op die platteland hang, steur niemand hulle meer daaraan nie, en kraaie wat kom kuier, vlieg maar weer weg om later te probeer sodra iemand ’n selfoon op hulle rig.
Alhoewel die oorgrote meerderheid van ons lidmate nie boer nie, beklee Dankseggingsdag steeds sy vaste plek op die kerkkalender. Omdat November se Dankseggingsdag nie meer met die natuurlike seisoen ooreenstem nie, het ons dit vanjaar na Oktober geskuif en dit op die laaste Sondag gevier. Al het ons nie gesaai of in die sweet van ons aanskyn gewerk om die oes self te beleef nie, het ek met die terugblik op die afgelope jaar tog ’n paar dankpunte saamgestel in afwagting van ons Verlosser in die jaar 2018.
Heel boaan die lys staan vordering in my toewydingslewe. “Lê jou op hierdie dinge toe; leef daarin, sodat almal jou vordering kan sien. Let goed op jouself en op jou leer. Volhard daarin, want as jy dit doen, sal jy jouself red sowel as dié wat na jou luister” (1 Tim. 4:15–16). Ek het byna daagliks daarna gestreef om stiltetyd eerste te plaas, en ek glo daar het werklike vordering plaasgevind. Meer spesifiek is ek baie dankbaar dat ek nou elke dag weer die lofsange kan sing wat ons die vorige Sondag gesing het—’n jarelange hartsbegeerte. Deur die Deluxe Bible & Hymn-toepassing te gebruik, het ek drie gesange by my gunstelinge gevoeg en hulle deurlopend geluister en so hierdie lank gekoesterde wens verwesenlik. Wanneer omstandighede gewone oordenking of getikte gebede bemoeilik—soos tydens reise of wanneer ek by die huis nie by ’n skerm kan uitkom nie—gaan ek na ’n ander kamer en praat my gebede in op my eie KakaoTalk-kletskamer. Om dit later oor te skryf en te orden, het geblyk ’n wonderlike en vreugdevolle metode te wees.
Verder het ons in September ons gebruiklike week van “Spesiale Herfgebede” gehou, en ek het soveel genade tydens die gebede ontvang dat ons weekliks ’n “Saterdag Spesiale Gebedsbyeenkoms met die Psalms” begin het. Dit voel soos ’n geseënde begin—byna soos ’n spesiale bonus van God voor my aftrede aan die einde van volgende jaar. Boonop het ek van verlede Sondag af besluit om my oorblywende 60 Sondagpreke uitsluitlik aan die boek Openbaring te wy. Die aantal oorblywende Sondae en die aantal beplande Openbaringpreke het wonderbaarlik presies ooreengestem. Volgende jaar beplan ek dus om sonder om ’n enkele Sondag oor te slaan, Saterdae die “Spesiale Oggendgebedsbyeenkoms met die Psalms” te lei en Sondae oor Openbaring te preek. My innige wens is dat my heel laaste Sondagpreek op 29 Desember 2019 sal afsluit met: “Amen! Kom, Here Jesus!”
Nog ’n beskeie rede tot dankbaarheid is dat ek ’n maand gelede ’n publikasiekontrak vir die Brief van Jakobus met Joy Uitgewers onderteken het. Wanneer dit vroeg volgende somer as twee volumes in die reeks “Preke om te Lees” verskyn, sal dit my afskeidsgeskenk wees. In aansluiting by die boeke is daar vandag ’n dankpunt wat ek werklik met u wil deel: dat ek die sendeling Bruce F. Hunt (Han Bu-sun) opnuut leer ken het deur die Versamelde Werke van Han Bu-sun. Terwyl ek die PDF-weergawe gelees het om ’n aanbeveling te skryf, was ek so diep geraak dat ons, met die hulp van ds. Jong-Kwan Lee van die Simin-gemeente, as twee gemeentes elkeen tien miljoen won bygedra het om hierdie publikasie moontlik te maak. Dit is my gebed dat u, liewe sendeling, dieselfde diepe seën sal ervaar wanneer u sy geskrifte lees. As u dalk ’n paar gedagtes per KakaoTalk of e-pos (k-djung@daum.net) sou stuur, sal dit ’n voorreg wees om in die gemeenskap van die heiliges te deel.
Ten slotte wil ek nog een brokkie nuus van Ulsan Gemeente deel. Iets waarna ons lank uitgesien het, gebeur nou: die kleuterafdeling in die kelderverdieping is na die opvoedingsgebou verskuif, en die hoofkerkgebou word tans opgeknap. Saam met die projek om die grensmuur oop te maak, sal die omskepping van die keldersaal in ’n sonnige, ligte ruimte teen die middel van Desember voltooi wees. Wanneer u volgende keer by Ulsan Gemeente aandoen, sien ek daarna uit om u te verwelkom in ’n gesellige ruimte waar ons saam tee kan drink en kan gesels. In hierdie laat herfs en naderende jaareinde, wanneer die verlange na die vaderland selfs sterker word, bid ek dat u dae vervul sal wees met vreugde, gebed en dankbaarheid.
In afwagting van ons Verlosser, 16 November 2018
Die uwe, Ds. Keun-Doo Jung