明月幾時有，把酒問青天。
不知天上宮闕，今夕是何年。
我欲乘風歸去，又恐瓊樓玉宇，高處不勝寒。
起舞弄清影，何似在人間。
轉朱閣，低綺戶，照無眠。
不應有恨，何事長向別時圓。
人有悲歡離合，月有陰晴圓缺，此事古難全。
但願人長久，千里共嬋娟。
蘇軾 水調歌頭
不知天上宮闕，今夕是何年。
我欲乘風歸去，又恐瓊樓玉宇，高處不勝寒。
起舞弄清影，何似在人間。
轉朱閣，低綺戶，照無眠。
不應有恨，何事長向別時圓。
人有悲歡離合，月有陰晴圓缺，此事古難全。
但願人長久，千里共嬋娟。
蘇軾 水調歌頭
2016年9月17日蒙哥馬利華文分會一年一度的中秋晚會在蔡格文弟兄的禱告詞中揭幕了，會場中不僅有弟兄姊妹們的拿手佳餚，方林蘇菲姊妹設計的美麗布置，更提供了中秋節慶的代表食物:月餅—由慈助會的婆婆媽媽好姊妹們親手製作的手工月餅，這一切都受到與會朋友的一致歡迎。
餐會中許多許久不見的弟兄姊妹一邊享用中華美食，一邊彼此互道近況。之後分會的男青年和傳教士—楊長老和賴長老—一起演出了幾齣引人目光的短劇，揭開了當晚的表演項目，也成功的吸引了大家的目光。初級會的小朋友接著朗誦了孟浩然的春曉，贏得滿堂喝彩。然後穆建西弟兄朗誦蘇軾的水調歌頭，眾人陶醉在穆弟兄的忽高忽低、忽急忽慢的宋詞美境中。慈助會接著提供比手畫腳的猜謎競賽遊戲，滿室同歡。晚會的節目在分會的唱詩班演唱的【愛的真諦】美麗歌聲中畫下句點。最後由波多馬克支會的張娟如姊妹做了閉會禱告。
晚會在沉穩的沈維新弟兄和初試鶯啼的卞曉菁姊妹的主持之下，行雲流水，高潮不斷。會長團感謝所有默默付出的弟兄姊妹成就此一成功的晚會。
餐會中許多許久不見的弟兄姊妹一邊享用中華美食，一邊彼此互道近況。之後分會的男青年和傳教士—楊長老和賴長老—一起演出了幾齣引人目光的短劇，揭開了當晚的表演項目，也成功的吸引了大家的目光。初級會的小朋友接著朗誦了孟浩然的春曉，贏得滿堂喝彩。然後穆建西弟兄朗誦蘇軾的水調歌頭，眾人陶醉在穆弟兄的忽高忽低、忽急忽慢的宋詞美境中。慈助會接著提供比手畫腳的猜謎競賽遊戲，滿室同歡。晚會的節目在分會的唱詩班演唱的【愛的真諦】美麗歌聲中畫下句點。最後由波多馬克支會的張娟如姊妹做了閉會禱告。
晚會在沉穩的沈維新弟兄和初試鶯啼的卞曉菁姊妹的主持之下，行雲流水，高潮不斷。會長團感謝所有默默付出的弟兄姊妹成就此一成功的晚會。
蒙哥馬利華文分會自創會24年來，每周安息日的聖餐聚會提供華人在海外也能用華語表達對 救主耶穌基督的崇拜。每逢佳節舉辦的聚會讓移居海外的僑胞能共聚一堂，提供年輕學子機會了解華人的傳統，讓中華文化綿延不斷。
When will the moon be clear and bright?
With a cup of wine in my hand, I ask the clear sky.
In the heavens on this night,
I wonder what season it would be?
I'd like to ride the wind to fly home.
Yet I fear the crystal and jade mansions
are much too high and cold for me.
Dancing with my moonlit shadow,
It does not seem like the human world.
The moon rounds the red mansion,
Stoops to silk-pad doors,
Shines upon the sleepless,
Bearing no grudge,
Why does the moon tend to be full when people are apart?
People experience sorrow, joy, separation and reunion,
The moon may be dim or bright, round or crescent shaped,
This imperfection has been going on since the beginning of time.
May we all be blessed with longevity,
Though thousands of miles apart, we are still able to share the beauty of the moon together.
Shi Su, "The Water Song"
On September 17, 2016, the Montgomery Branch's annual Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival opened with a prayer by Brother Benjamin Tsai. The cultural hall was not only full of excellent cuisine from our brothers and sisters and Sister Sophy Fugal's wall beautiful decorations, but it also provided the feature Mid-Autumn Festival delicacy: the moon cake. All of the wonderful mothers and grandmothers and sisters in Relief Society created handmade moon cakes, which were unanimously welcomed by all participants.
During dinner we enjoyed Chinese food with many brothers and sisters we had not seen in a long time and caught up with them on old times. Afterwards, the Branch's young men and the full-time missionaries, Elders Yang and Lyman, performed some short skits to open the evening show and successfully attracted everyone's attention. The Primary children then recited Haoran Meng's "A Spring Morning," winning warm applause. Then Brother James Mu recited Su Shi's poem, "The Water Song." The audience reveled in Brother Mu's voice fluctuations of high and low and fast and slow, which delivered a beautiful melody. Next, the Relief Society provided a fun and quick hand-gesture guessing game. The Branch Choir then sang a beautiful rendition of "The Essence of Love." Finally, the benediction was offered by Sister Juanru Zhang from the Potomac Ward.
With the steady voices of the emcees, Andrew Shen and Audrey Bastian, the evening program flowed without concern and came to its climax. The Branch Presidency thanked all who have helped make the evening a success.
The Montgomery Chinese Branch was organized 24 years ago. Each Sunday's Sacrament Meeting provides overseas Chinese in America to worship our Lord Jesus Christ. Every festival also allows them the chance to gather together and provides the young people the opportunity to learn traditional Chinese traditions, thus allowing our Chinese culture to continue.
Sister Sara Huang
The yellow moon seemed imposingly huge this evening. The air was nice and cool. Such was the ideal background for this year's branch moon festival celebration. Inside the Kentlands Chapel, the walls were beautifully decorated with pictures of the moon and clouds and green vines made by Sister Fugal. Twelve tables topped with colored tablecloths covered the floor. All in all, over 120 people attended the celebration. Brother Andrew Shen and Sister Audrey Bastian were the emcees for this evening. Four Primary children then sang "A Spring Morning" (春曉). They clanged spoons together during the song.
After the opening prayer, President Huang welcomed everyone to tonight's party. After we enjoyed the delicious food, the program started with a few funny skits by the young men led by the full-time missionaries. Three of the young men coincidentally are not members. Sister Shen led a charades game with the audience divided into teams. One of the contestants giving clues was an ASL sister, who did a fabulous job. Brother Mu recited a poem. The branch choir then sang "Charity Never Faileth."
Brother Benjamin Tsai
