Advent Word 2017, Day 5 ‘heal’

#AdventWord #heal ‘Earth, air, water, and fire—these elements meet in us. This Advent we will not be only self-centered and pray for our own healing. HEAL the earth, we pray, and her elements—for such is the eternal trance of God.’ Visit to the Taiwan Episcopal Church 台灣聖公會 of Bishop John A. Pinckney from Taiwan’s companion diocese, the Episcopal Diocese of Upper S. Carolina (EDUSC), October 1965. St. Paul’s Clinic run by St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Kaohsiung 台灣聖公會高雄聖保羅堂 with Rev. Patric Hutton (left), US Episcopal Church missionary, who served as vicar of St. Paul’s Church, also Archdeacon of Taiwan.   This photo … Continue reading Advent Word 2017, Day 5 ‘heal’

Advent Word 2017, Day 4 ‘simplify’

#AdventWord #simplify ‘SIMPLIFY: travel lightly. Cast off the things and thoughts which are dark and heavy. Put on the “armor of light.” Clean out the closets of your mind and of your house. SIMPLIFY and share the best of your mortal life.’ Visit to the Taiwan Episcopal Church 台灣聖公會 of Bishop John A. Pinckney from Taiwan’s companion diocese, the Episcopal Diocese of Upper S. Carolina (EDUSC), October 1965. St. James’ Episcopal Church, Taichung 台灣聖公會聖雅各堂 at that time met in this rented building. Later, in 1968, a plot of land was acquired, and in 1971, a donation of US$ 30,000 from … Continue reading Advent Word 2017, Day 4 ‘simplify’

Advent Word 2017, Day 3 ‘gather’

#AdventWord #gather ‘We gather together because when “two or three are gathered in my name, there am I (Jesus) among them.” GATHER with others to see the Beloved One, the Christ and your neighbor. GATHER unto yourself the sorrows of this world. That will be an act of true joy.’ St. John’s Cathedral, Taipei, 1965… Visit to the Taiwan Episcopal Church 台灣聖公會 of Bishop John A. Pinckney from Taiwan’s companion diocese, the Episcopal Diocese of Upper S. Carolina (EDUSC),  October 1965. Continue reading Advent Word 2017, Day 3 ‘gather’

Advent Word 2017, Day 2 ‘journey’

#AdventWord #Journey ‘Is the JOURNEY this Advent about our daily routine lives from point A to point B? Or is the JOURNEY about our earthly travels to the “land of heaven” where we will be speechless with gratitude? Our JOURNEY is both/and. The JOURNEY to God is now. Holy paths we travel.’ Arriving at Songshan Airport, Taipei! The Taiwan Episcopal Church welcomes new companion diocese, the Episcopal Diocese of Upper S. Carolina (EDUSC), visit to Taiwan 台灣聖公會, October 1965.  Left to right, back row: Bishop John A. Pinckney (Bishop of EDUSC 1963-72), Bishop James C. L. Wong 王長齡主教 (Bishop of Taiwan … Continue reading Advent Word 2017, Day 2 ‘journey’

Advent Word 2017, Day 1 ‘awaken’

Happy Advent Sunday! #AdventWord #Awaken ‘The Psalmist says: “Wake up, my spirit; awake, lute and harp; I myself will awake the dawn.” In Advent, we prepare for what God will do with our spirits, not what we will do. A certain church website offers the wonderful message, “…walk in the Way; widen the walls; wake up the world.” AWAKEN for others.’ AdventWord Global Advent Calendar 2017 starts today – a project of the Anglican Communion with the Society of Saint John the Evangelist Brothers SSJE and Virginia Theological Seminary VTS. Each day there is a theme word and meditation. My … Continue reading Advent Word 2017, Day 1 ‘awaken’

Autumn Colours, Mountain Views! 台灣聖公會2017年蒙恩得福家庭生活營 Taiwan Episcopal Church Fall Trip 2017

Beautiful red maple leaves against a blue sky ~ now how’s that for a perfect picture of autumn?! And the best place in Taiwan to see maples in autumn is at the high elevations, up in the central mountain range.  … Continue reading Autumn Colours, Mountain Views! 台灣聖公會2017年蒙恩得福家庭生活營 Taiwan Episcopal Church Fall Trip 2017

Sanzhi 三芝 Matzu Temple Centenary Celebrations, 1917-2017

Today is THE day, the climax of 5 days of celebrations, and as I write this, events are ongoing, with firecrackers and drums and trumpets and singing and offerings and all sorts of activity, and being attended by nearly everyone in the whole town. And all in the rain and cold!  It’s been like this all weekend, but hey, when there’s a festival in town, a bit of rain and cold won’t stop anyone. But this was the scene on Thursday, the last time that the sun appeared in Sanzhi! Two weeks ago, I wrote here about the preparations for the … Continue reading Sanzhi 三芝 Matzu Temple Centenary Celebrations, 1917-2017

Pop idols @ Taiwan-Style!

Been doing a bit of research among some of our students in the 15-17 year age group to find out who their pop idols are ~ part of my English conversation classes, so bringing you up to speed, here goes! Top of the list by far for everyone are the boy bands from S. Korea – all brought together on TV talent shows and promoted by the mega-entertainment industry that is so big in S. Korea.  And currently top of the list of all of them is BTS.  Super Junior is long over, now it is BTS.  Our girls say … Continue reading Pop idols @ Taiwan-Style!

St. John’s University Coming of Age Ceremony (成年禮) 2017!

Every year in mid-November, St. John’s University holds a Coming of Age Ceremony (成年禮) for all of our first-year university students ~ plus SJU President Ay, faculty, alumni, tutors and staff.  The event is organized by the St. John’s University Chaplaincy, and takes weeks of preparation for our chaplaincy staff and the student fellowship team ~ but it’s all worth it, and every year we thank God for another successful event!  It’s also got high praise from the Ministry of Education too. And it all happened yesterday afternoon! The students (and tutors) this year all had special red SJU ties, … Continue reading St. John’s University Coming of Age Ceremony (成年禮) 2017!