Christmas Party

Tonight Wesley Wei conducted the first ever virtual Branch Christmas party. He organized a full hour of activities and messages. Here is a report from Wesley:

2020年12月19日晚上7点，耶稣基督后期圣徒教会蒙哥马利分会举行了线上圣诞晚会。有许多朋友都来参加了晚会。我们一开始先玩了一个游戏，根据图片猜圣诞歌曲，玩完之后我们一起听了几首圣诞歌曲。游戏结束后，我们听了我们分会初级会的小朋友们为圣诞节准备的歌曲。接下来我们听了长老们分享的关于圣诞的讯息，接着听了长老们演奏的大提琴萨克斯风合奏和尤克里里独唱。我们还收到了从我们分会出去传教的蔡姐妹的问候视频。最后我们观看了为感谢在我们教会服务的传教士们而制作的视频。

At 7pm on December 19, 2020, the Montgomery Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints held an online Christmas party. Many friends came to the party. We played a game at the beginning (created by Sister Mindy Ly originally for a Primary activity) and guessed the Christmas songs based on the pictures. After the game, we listened to a few Christmas songs from the game together. Then the Fugal children sang "Samuel Tells of the Baby Jesus." The Ly children performed "Picture a Christmas." Narrations were provided by Joanna Fugal and Cayleigh Zhao. Next, the full-time missionaries shared Christmas messages. Elders Thorpe and Munk played "Angels We Have Heard on High" on the saxophone and cello, while Elder Welton sang "Ring Out, Wild Bells" while playing on the ukelele. Sister Megan Tsai, currently serving in Layton, Utah, sent a Christmas video greeting from her and her companion. Finally, we watched a video made to thank the six missionaries who are serving in our Branch now and the three missionaries from our Branch serving out in the field.

Links to YouTube videos:
Primary song
Violin & Saxophone Duet
Ring out, Wild Bells
To Missionaries

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Primary Christmas Activity

On December 12, 2020, the Primary held a Christmas activity.  They created nativity scene on a glass and made reindeer from candy cane and pipe cleaners.  In response to the prophet President Nelson's message of gratitude, each child was provided a mini journal to write/draw things that they are thankful for each day. 

 

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New Meeting Schedule

Beginning today, the Montgomery Chinese Branch, under the guidance of the stake presidency, will begin Phase 2 of the Church re-opening for Sacrament Meetings.  Accordingly, every Sunday at 9am from now on, an in-person Sacrament Meeting will be held in the Kentlands Chapel from 9:00am to 9:35am, with a maximum of 50 people.  The online Zoom channel will still be broadcast at the same time.

At 9:35am, the brothers and sisters who are at the chapel will log off the Zoom meeting to receive the Sacrament. If you plan to come to church to partake the Sacrament, please prepare ahead and arrive on time. If you are in the high risk group, or have health concerns, or are not feeling well, we encourage you not to come to the church building, and instead continue attending our on-line Zoom meetings.

After Sacrament, we are to travel home and start Sunday School (Elders Quorum, Relief Society, etc) meetings at 10:30am.  All second hour meetings are held virtually.

Today Sacrament Meeting proceeds as planned.  Elders Thorpe recently arrived from Springville, Utah, and our very own Elder Richard Huang delivered their excellent gospel sermons today.  In addition to being the first in-person meeting to be held on a weekly basis, the Sacrament program was made available today for the first time since the pandemic begin.

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Young Women/Primary Halloween Activity

The morning of Halloween, the Primary and Young Women had a combined Zoom activity. The morning started by opening special pumpkin packages filled with candy, toys, glowsticks, and other treats. Together, the Primary children and Young Women made scratch-off masks, decorated Halloween ornaments, folded origami owl bookmarks, and created Oreo bats, Oreo spiders, and marshmallow and Rice Krispies monsters. The children had fun putting everything together and enjoyed all the party favors and candy on this special Halloween day.

Melinda Tsai, Young Women President
Mindy Ly, Primary President

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Missionary Farewell Fireside

Over six years have passed since the Montgomery Chinese Branch had three missionaries serving at the same time. After Elder Richard Huang entered the MTC on October 14, the Montgomery Chinese Branch now has three full-time missionaries. Last year October, Elder Kevin Wu started his mission in the Massachusetts Boston Mission. In September 2020, Sister Megan Tsai also begin her MTC training. By the way, these are the first three missionaries from our Branch receiving virtual training from the MTC.

Sister Tsai has been called to the Taiwan Taichung Mission but will first go to the Utah Layton Mission to await her visa to Taiwan. Elder Huang has been called to California Arcadia Mission. Both will finish their training and leave for their missions in about ten days. President Nathan Sheets attended and presided at this fireside, but he had to leave early for another meeting. So after he left, President Charles Huang presided. Brother John Huang provided the translation for this evening.

Brother Da Zhao, first counselor in the Branch presidency, conducted the missionary farewell fireside tonight for the two missionaries.  After the opening hymn, “I Am a Child of God,” Sister Meiling Jiang offered the invocation. The Ly children in a prerecorded video performed “I Hope They Call Me on a Mission” with song, piano, and violin.  The following teachers and leaders spoke to and about Sister Tsai and Elder Huang: Brother Ben Tsai, Primary and Seminary teacher; President Nathan Sheets, Washington DC Stake President; Sister Shanshan Ward, Young Women President; Brother Matt Ward, Young Men 1st Counselor; Sister Lauren Ning, Young Women President; and Brother Cary Ning, Young Men President.

We watched a slideshow showcasing Elder Richard Huang, after which Sister Sara Huang shared a few remarks about her son. We then watched a slideshow featuring Sister Megan Tsai, after which Sister Li-Fang Tsai shared a few remarks about her daughter.

Next, Sister Tsai and Elder Huang delivered their long awaited remarks and shared their testimonies with us.

Then President Huang addressed the missionaries as Elder Huang's father and as the father of our Branch. Finally, we listened to the Fugal children singing “I Will Be What I Believe," after which Isaiah Shen offered the benediction.

Many teachers and leaders have influenced our two missionaries, including 6 or 7 Young Men and Young Women presidencies, a couple of Branch presidencies, as well as leaders from the Kentlands Ward. A few of them offered words of tribute and advice for the two missionaries.

But the most influential person in the live of each missionary is undoubtedly his or her mother. Helaman’s stripling warriors testified, “We do not doubt our mothers knew it.” “... they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.” (Alma 56:48, 47) It was very touching to hear words from the persons closest to the missionaries.

The roles of the branch president and the stake president are very critical. Besides administrative duties, they have helped guide the missionaries spiritually in preparing for missionary service. We thank President Sheets for his remarks to and for his support of the missionaries. We are also grateful to President Charles Huang for all of the time and energy he has spent on behalf of the youth.

Much preparation have been exerted by these two missionaries for their missionary service. They have worked very hard to prepare mentally, physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually throughout their lives. They have received intense high quality training from the Missionary Training Center. In ten days, they will depart for their mission fields to start sharing the gospel with others.

Congratulations, Sister Tsai and Elder Huang, on your callings to serve the Lord and His children. May the Lord bless you and protect you and guide you throughout your missionary service! May He bless with many sheaves, his peace and protection, and personal memorable experiences and lessons that will help you in your future service in His Kingdom. God speed!

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