30th Anniversary Reunion Fireside

The finale of the 30th Anniversary Reunion of the Montgomery Chinese Branch was the closing fireside. Immediately after the Sacrament Meeting, chairs were quickly set up along with serving tables. At around 2:15pm, Jason Liu welcomed everyone to lunch by inviting Adam Fugal to bless the food. At 3pm, Jason begin the fireside. President Charles Huang was presiding, with Brad Johnson as translator, Da Zhao as the Zoom host, Joshua Tsai as pianist, and Megan Tsai as Music Director.

After the opening hymn, “Love One Another," Ann Johnson to offer the invocation. The first speaker was Benjamin Tsai, chair of the Reunion Committee and 4th branch president, who introduced the history of the Branch. After he spoke, everyone viewed a slideshow on the history of the Branch, after which the second speaker was Michael Seay, the Stake Mission President. Michael noticed that Elder Wu and his companions had baptized quite a few Chinese speaking members, who then attended different wards and stakes. So, Michael suggested to then Stake President Ralph Hardy that there was a need for a Chinese speaking branch in the area. President Hardy then immediately requested the First Presidency to create a Chinese speaking branch, organized the Montgomery Chinese Branch on April 12, 1992, and called Vince Breglio as the first branch president.

A slideshow was shown dedicated to Sid and Mary Foulger. Then their daughter, Meg Pratt, testified of the kindness and generosity and love of her parents. She also shared intimate experiences of how they became involved with the Chinese Branch through Elder Wu living in their basement and taking Brother Foulger in their discussions. In 1996, Sid Foulger was called as the second branch president. Although he served for less than 2 years, he and his wife, Mary, had a great influence upon the Branch. Mary Foulger served faithfully as the Young Women’s President for 8 years. Joshua Tsai then played “Claire de Lune” by Claude Debussy, one of Sid Foulger’s favorite songs.

Next, a slideshow was presented and dedicated to George Chiang. Sister Fengdi Chen paid tribute to him as the third branch president, who helped her and her family in their earlier years. Two months ago, we learned of the sad news of the passing of our dear friend, George Chiang. We always remember George Chiang for his pervasive smile and positive attitude. We are grateful for his service and contribution to our branch.

After we viewed a slideshow on the Primary children and youth of the Branch, Patrick Shen, fifth branch president, shared his experience as branch president. Following a slideshow on missionaries, four returned missionaries spoke: Jack Shirts, Michael Chang, James Packer, and Leo Liang. Then 19 current missionaries, returned missionaries from our Branch, and returned who served in our Branch, favored the audience with two songs: “We Are All Missionaries” and “Army of Helaman.” What an army of dedicated young people and potential leaders!

President Charles Huang was the concluding speaker. Following his talk, the closing hymn was “God Be With You Till We Meet Again,” after Michael Chang offered the benediction. After the closing prayer, all those in the Kentlands Chapel immediately gathered in front of the reunion poster created by Megan Tsai. Brian Johnson took a group phone. Then the Branch birthday cake was served.

This afternoon the Branch welcomed all those who have come to the Kentlands chapel to attend his fireside, especially friends who have come from afar. In addition, technology allowed us to meet with many friends and former friends attending virtually through Zoom.

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30th Anniversary Reunion Sacrament Meeting

An effort was underway to invite and involve as many out of town guests as possible in the special reunion Sacrament Meeting on May 15. Even the time was changed to 12:20pm (instead of the regular 9am) to allow our Branch to meet later the Kentlands Ward, so that we could use the whole chapel in the afternoon. Prior to the Sacrament Meeting, the Sunday School was held in the Relief Society room to accommomdate more people.

The meeting was conducted by President Charles Huang. The first 4 speakers were Joseph Shih, Peter Yang, Ryan Ng, and Michael Proudfoot. Peter Yang then played "I Walk by Faith" on the violin. Next, Potim Kwun King and Noelle Christensen Perkins spoke. Then Jack Shirts sang "Savior, Redeemer," accompanied by Joshua Tsai. The final speaker was Jennifer Campbell Cook.

About 115 people attended the Branch Sacrament Meeting in person and by Zoom. The meeting was a spiritual feast with amazing uplifting talks. Those who attended were impressed with their remembrance of experiences and the depth of testimonies. Many tears were shed as the speakers reminisced their experiences and shared their testimonies.

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30th Anniversary Reunion Barbecue and Program

The Reunion Committee originally planned for a barbecue and cultural program at the Fougler-Pratt Farm. Every detail was set in place for May 14, 2022. The two dry runs at the farm before the date of the barbecue took place as planned the week before. However, due to forecasts of thunderstorms for May 14, the Reunion Committee convened a special meeting 3 days before to change the location back to the Kentlands Chapel. Truly the thought of not holding the barbecue at the far was disheartening, because of the many wonderful memories we have had there in the past and because the farm was ideal for the outdoor games.

But the show must go on. The decision was to make the best of the alternate location. On the afternoon of May 14, busy folks were setting up for the barbecue and program. From 3pm to 5pm, folks signed up at the front desk, picked up history books and tee shirts, and were invited to games and crafts. Some of the games set up by Brad Johnson, Ann Johnson, and Jason Liu in the cultural hall included Corn hole toss, frisbee and balls, 4 corners, Dodgeball, kickball, Water balloon toss, water toss, Relay races, water jug, tennis balls, sponges, golf ball/spoon, Treasure/photo scavenger hunt, and Kite flying. The 2 craft tables were set up by Li-Fang Tsai in the Relief Society room: creating lion heads for a dance, and making ribbons on a wand for another dance.

At 5pm, after a blessing on the food by Adam Fugal, everyone enjoyed a catered meal and chicken legs barbecued by our very own pitmaster Guillermo Azucena. Spontaneously without announcement, Ryan Ng signaled the 2 lions to enter with loud and crisp clangs of the cymbals. This surely startled many there, but it certainly woke up the lions. With Elder Thorpe kneeling in the middle of the overflow keeping the beat with the drums, Elders Munk, Frame, Butler, and Chandler controlled the 2 lions. The rest of the program were emceed by Li-Fang Tsai in Chinese, accompanied by Benjamin Tsai in English. In the next program, Li-Fang Tsai led 6 folks in dancing with lion heads created just earlier in the afternoon. Then some very young missionaries exhibited the joys and trials of mission life in a skit entitled "I Hope They Call Me on A Mission." Actors included sister missionaries driving a car (Allison Fugal and Aliyah Chang), elders biking (Maeser Chang and Garrett Perkins), sister missionaries walking (Annelise Perkins and Autumn King), an angry carrying a broom (Aaron Fugal), and investigators (Evelynn King and Ashton King). After the skit, Li-Fang Tsai led about 30 volunteers in dancing with ribbons. The Branch choir then performed "Charity" or 愛的真諦 through a recording. Next, Potim King and her daughter, Autumn, played a duet based on "Over the Rainbow." Peter Yang then sang "The Moon Represents My Heart" with several of his fellow returned missionaries. Then Noelle Perkins sang, "I Am a Child of God" with her daughter, Annelise, accompanied by Potim King. Finally, the lights were dimmed as Li-Fang Tsai led the audience in a "candlelit" medley of hymns from printed lyrics in Chinese brought to light by their cell phone lights. These hymns included the first verses of "I Need Thee Every Hour," "Did You Think to Pray?," "I Know that My Redeemer Lives," "Count Your Blessings," "Nearer My God to Thee," and "Sing We Now at Parting." Everyone sang very reverently and quietly. The atmosphere was awesome when we sang the hymns together.

Despite all of the improvisations and rehearsals at the last minute, the program was enjoyed by all. Much work and time went into the planning, preparation, and execution of the plan, but it was all worth it!

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Missionary Homecoming Fireside and Farewell to Bendall's

On March 20, the Branch celebrated the homecoming of two esteemed missionaries. Sister Meimei Lu returned home from the California Oakland/San Francisco Mission in January 2022, while Sister Megan Tsai finished her mission in the Taiwan Taichung Mission in February 2022. Although Sister Lu left for her mission from the Gaithersburg YSA ward, she decided to come to our Branch after her mission. So, naturally she was invited with Sister Tsai to share their mission experiences in a homecoming fireside. In matters of Branch history, Sisters Lu and Tsai are the 14th and 15th missionary sent out from our Branch.

At the Kentlands Chapel, President Huang conducted the fireside in the chapel. After the opening hymn, "It May Not Be on the Mountain Height," Audrey Bastian offered the invocation. President Huang then presented missionary plaques to the two sister missionaries. Sister Tsai and her mother sang a duet singing "Where Love Is" with Joshua Tsai accompanying on the piano. Then Sister Tsai share her missionary experiences through all of the her companions in both the Utah Layton Mission and the Taiwan Taichung Mission.

Sister Lu then played "Brightly Beams our Father’s Mercy" on the violin. Then she shared what she learned on her mission in the two Chinese branches in her mission. After the closing hymn, "America the Beautiful," Jonathan Tsai offered the benediction.

Immediately after the fireside, a small social commenced in the cultural hall with a potluck dinner and refreshments. We had opportunities to talk with Dan and Debbie Bendall, who served in our Branch for the past 2.5 years as the Seminary teachers, Elders Quorum counselor, and pianist. Thank you, Sisters Lu and Tsai, for your valiant service in the mission field. Thank you, Dan and Debbie Bendall, for your amazing service in our branch.

 

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2022-03-06 The Move to Seneca Stake

On March 6 at 1:30 PM the Washington DC stake presidency along with the Seneca Maryland stake presidency attended a historic Sacrament meeting of the Montgomery Chinese Branch and the Kentlands Ward in the Kentlands Chapel. Bishop Glenn Dickey conducted the combined Sacrament meeting.  After the opening hymn, "Come Ye Children of the Lord," Brother Jason Liu offered the invocation.  Then they conducted ward business and the Sacrament ordinance.  President Nathan Sheets related the decision making process behind this action, announced that the two units as of today will move in its entirety to the Seneca Maryland stake, and asked for a sustaining vote.  Bishop Glenn Dickey then spoke accepting transitions and overcoming hard times.  President Charles Huang testified that the gospel of Jesus Christ is still true and powerful even through changes.  Finally President Arnold, president of the Seneca Maryland Stake, welcomed us to their stake and urged us to continue to be unified in the new stake.  After the closing hymn, "I’ll go Where You Want Me to Go," Sister Breeana Shields, Kentlands Ward Relief Society President offered the benediction.  Randy Karchner served as the pianist, while Jayci Reeder served as the music director.

President Huang in his talk also announced that the official name of our branch has been changed from Montgomery Branch (Chinese) to Montgomery Branch (Mandarin).  This was to clarify that the main spoken language of our Branch is Mandarin Chinese (as differentiated from Cantonese or other Chinese dialects).  President Huang stressed that despite the name change, our Branch is open to and espouses members of all languages or nationalities.  This is attested by the fact that there are members from many different parts of the world, speaking different languages.

My heart is filled with many mixed emotions. I am very sad that we are leaving the Washington DC Stake, our parent for the last 30 years. It was the home that our branch was born in April 12, 1992, when President Ralph Hardy organized the Montgomery Branch and called Vincent Breglio as its first branch president. The Washington DC stake has supported our branch and given us the opportunity to grow, learn, and progress.  The Washington DC Stake has blessed our branch with many stake workers and has provided translation for stake conferences and many other events in Chinese.  The stake leaders and members have loved and supported our Branch in so many ways. Our branch is a fulfillment of the prophecy of Isaiah, “Thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I will lift up mine hand to the Gentiles, and set up my standard to the people: and they shall bring thy sons in their arms, and thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders. And kings shall be thy nursing fathers, and their queens thy nursing mothers:“ (Isaiah 49:22-23)  Our friends in the Washington DC Stake have literally nursed us and carried our children on their shoulders.  You will always be our friends.

My heart is also filled with much excitement for the many opportunities that await us. I’m excited to meet new friends and the wonderful members of the Seneca Maryland Stake. I look forward to our future interactions with our brothers and sisters in the Seneca MD Stake.  I am grateful that our friends in the Kentland's Ward are coming with us and taking this new step.

Finally I am extremely grateful for the restored gospel of Jesus Christ through Joseph Smith. I know that God lives and that he loves all of us. I know that he has not forgotten the Chinese people but has blessed us with this wonderful Chinese branch to learn and grow in the gospel of Jesus Christ and its ordinances. I know that we have a living prophet today who guides us with clear loving instructions from a gracious and kind Heavenly Father. I know that our leaders in our stake (Washington DC Stake and Seneca Maryland Stake) and Branch are inspired and have been called of God to lead us in these last days. I know that God guides and directs this church. And for this I am very grateful as we look forward to the many opportunities ahead of us in building up the Kingdom of God in the Seneca Stake.

Email from the Washington DC Stake:


Dear Sisters and Brothers,

Today the boundaries of the Washington DC Stake and adjacent stakes were realigned, according to adjustments approved by The First Presidency of the Church. As a result, the Kentland's Ward and the Montgomery Branch (Chinese) are transferred from the Washington DC Stake to the Seneca Maryland Stake, and the Capitol Hill Ward is transferred from the Suitland Maryland Stake to the Washington DC Stake. In meetings today, members of the Capitol Hill Ward, Kentland's Ward, and Montgomery Branch gave their sustaining votes to these boundary changes.

The adjusted boundaries of the Washington DC stake are depicted in the attached graphic.
We expect that your reaction to these changes is similar to ours—a mixture of sadness and joy. The separation from our stake of the Kentland's Ward and the Montgomery Branch understandably leaves us all heavy-hearted. Members of both the Montgomery Branch, since its creation in April 1992, and the Kentland's Ward, since its formation in January 1993, have contributed immeasurably to the success of our Washington DC Stake. In particular, many members from these two units served nobly and faithfully in many stake leadership positions over the last twenty years. We will miss the profound contributions of these leaders and our regular association with all our brothers and sisters from Kentland's Ward and Montgomery Branch.

At the same time, the addition of the Capitol Hill Ward and its members to the Washington DC Stake is a cause for celebration. All Church members residing in the District of Columbia now belong to the Washington DC Stake. We look forward to enjoying the fellowship of the Capitol Hill saints, as we serve together and work to share the gospel of Jesus Christ, and to grow and strengthen His church, in the nation’s capital.

The Washington DC Stake was organized on June 30, 1940, the 131st stake of the restored Church of Jesus Christ, and the first stake organized in the Eastern United States after the Latter-day Saints departed Nauvoo. When Russell M. Nelson, then President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, spoke in November 2015 at a devotional commemorating the 75th anniversary of the stake, he noted that Latter-day Saints in the Washington DC area today “stand tall on the shoulders of giants who have gone before.” He also likened the way each generation of Washington DC saints has helped pave the way for the next to the scripture in John 4:36, which reminds us that both they that sow and they that reap “rejoice together.”
We hope that these changes, though bittersweet, will be received by all of you, our dear friends, in a spirit of rejoicing.

With much love and appreciation,
D. Nathan Sheets
Kim O. Golightly
Andrew J. Marshall




Email from the Seneca Stake:

Dear Seneca Stake members,

With the approval of the First Presidency, we announce some stake boundary changes that occurred earlier today. These changes are part of a shift in stake boundaries across the Washington DC North Coordinating Council to strengthen our members and prepare for future growth in our area.

The Olney 1st Ward and many members of the Olney 2nd Ward have been transferred to the Silver Spring Stake. Based on where they live, some members of the Olney 2nd Ward will begin attending the Gaithersburg Spanish Ward. The Kentland's Ward and Montgomery Mandarin Branch, which both meet in the Kentland's building, have been transferred from the Washington DC Stake to our stake.

Earlier today, the stake presidency met with each of these units along with President Baxter of the Silver Spring Stake and President Sheets of the Washington DC Stake to explain these changes. We will deeply miss our associations with many dear friends in the Olney 1st and 2nd Ward. We express our gratitude for their contributions to our stake and to our lives over the years. We are better because of our associations with one another! We welcome our new stake members from the Kentlands Ward and Montgomery Mandarin Branch and look forward to getting to know these good people as we serve and learn together in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

We acknowledge that change can be difficult especially for the youth who may see this change as challenging with separation from dear friends. Please be patient as we get to know one another better in the coming weeks and months in upcoming stake activities. Stakes are organized to offer a defense and a refuge from the storms of life (D&C 115:6). By our lives and service to one another and our neighbors, may we truly be a light and a standard for the nations (D&C 115:5).

We love each of you and enjoy serving alongside you in the work of the Lord as we prepare for the Second Coming of our Savior Jesus Christ. He lives and leads this Church! May we each seek to hear Him and follow His teachings in our lives.


~ President Arnold, President Ure, President Butler

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