Month: January 2016

Advent Church, TaiwanLeave a comment

Up into the clouds ~ on the Maokong Gondola 貓空纜車!

Catherine Lee

Fog, fog, fog and rain, rain, rain ~ but at least it wasn’t too cold – in fact, it was FUN! Up yesterday into the clouds on the Maokong Gondola – and out of them to arrive in the tea-growing hills above Taipei… THE way to travel! A ‘gondola’ will be forever associated in my mind with the boats and the singing boatmen of Venice (actually I haven’t been to Venice, but I have been to the Venetian Macao Hotel, where they also have real gondolas and singing boatmen!) ~ but a gondola lift is a type of cable car where the … Continue reading Up into the clouds ~ on the Maokong Gondola 貓空纜車!

St. John's University, TaiwanLeave a comment

Celebrating Rev. Lennon Chang’s 20th Anniversary of Ordination 張員榮牧師按立聖職20週年感恩聖禮!

Catherine Lee

On St. Thomas Day, December 21, 1995, our chaplain and rector, Rev. Lennon Chang 張員榮牧師 was ordained deacon at Good Shepherd Church, Taipei, and on January 25, 1999, the Conversion of St. Paul, he was ordained priest here at Advent Church.  So it’s 20 years since he was ordained to ‘Holy Orders’ ~ and last night we all gathered at Advent Church for a Thanksgiving Service and Celebration ~ YES! In his sermon during the service, Lennon shared about how he’s now been chaplain at St. John’s University (and as it was formerly known, St. John’s and St. Mary’s Institute … Continue reading Celebrating Rev. Lennon Chang’s 20th Anniversary of Ordination 張員榮牧師按立聖職20週年感恩聖禮!

Advent Church, TaiwanLeave a comment

Banquet Time with our good friends from Xian-Xiao 正德國中賢孝校區!

Catherine Lee

It’s the end of the semester and Chinese New Year’s coming ~ so yesterday we were honoured to attend a big banquet celebration, hosted by the Principal, Mr. Lin and Chairman of the Parents Association, Mr. Tsai of Zheng-De Junior High School 正德國中 in Tamsui.  A branch of their school, Xian-Xiao (or Hsien-Hsiao) 賢孝校區 is right next door to us here at St. John’s University, and most weeks during term-time, I’m there doing English conversation classes, and others from our church are there doing Life Values and Character Education classes. Then on Saturday mornings, some of their students come to Advent Church for … Continue reading Banquet Time with our good friends from Xian-Xiao 正德國中賢孝校區!

UKLeave a comment

From Tyneside with love….

Catherine Lee

And the Christmas cards are still arriving (thank you everyone!) ~ the latest one to arrive today clearly had the post office people here completely baffled.  Beautiful classical style of handwriting but if you’re not familiar with this style, it’s true, it could be a bit difficult to read.  It’s been stamped as saying that the address is unknown, but someone else has clearly worked it out and written on the envelope in pencil…. All the way from sunny Tyneside too ~ and maybe I’ll keep it for next year! Continue reading From Tyneside with love….

Taiwan2 Comments

Snow?! YES!

Catherine Lee

Unbelievable.  Incredible.  Amazing. There is snow on the Yang-Ming-Shan mountains!  Not just on the tops, but all over.  A light dusting. Very light.  But it’s snow all the same! And it’s visible from all over this area. And just visible in my photos, taken this morning. We’re having the coldest temps in Taipei for over 40 years.  4ºC.  Currently my phone is telling me it’s 3ºC, so maybe it’ll get even lower overnight. It’s cold cold cold, very very cold.  Most people, including me, have no heating in their houses.  This is a sub-tropical country, and summer heat is our … Continue reading Snow?! YES!

TaiwanLeave a comment

Taiwan’s Tsai Ing-wen: The strangest of weeks for a new leader – BBC News

Catherine Lee

And so, a week after the elections …. From a K-pop scandal to mass cabinet resignations, Taiwan’s president-elect Tsai Ing-wen has seen on of the most unusal first weeks in a new job. Source: Taiwan’s Tsai Ing-wen: The strangest of weeks for a new leader – BBC News Continue reading Taiwan’s Tsai Ing-wen: The strangest of weeks for a new leader – BBC News

FaithLeave a comment

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity @ Taipei

Catherine Lee

Last night was a very beautiful, very ecumenical Taizé Service for this year’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, organized by the National Council of Churches of Taiwan (NCCT), and held in 台灣基督長老教會汐止教會 Xizhi Presbyterian Church, on the outskirts of eastern Taipei – and served by the train line to Keelung…. This year’s theme is “Called to proclaim the mighty acts of the Lord” (1 Peter 2:9). Praying for Christian Unity around the world, in Taiwan, and in all our hearts and minds this coming year. Continue reading Week of Prayer for Christian Unity @ Taipei

St. John's University, TaiwanLeave a comment

Chinese New Year Celebrations @ St. John’s University 聖約翰科技大學 尾牙餐會 Wei-Ya Banquet!

Catherine Lee

Chinese New Year is coming, and coming soon ~ YEAH!  Our students have all gone home, the local schools have broken up for the holidays, and everyone’s getting ready! Last night was our university Wei-Ya 尾牙, the end-of-year banquet for all our staff and faculty, plus VIP guests.  There was food – lots of deliciousness all packed together, lion dancing, singing and dancing shows from our students, and lots of gifts for the lucky names pulled out of a box – red envelopes, an exercise bike, huge teddy bears, and the top prize of an Apple iPhone 6 Plus … And … Continue reading Chinese New Year Celebrations @ St. John’s University 聖約翰科技大學 尾牙餐會 Wei-Ya Banquet!