YES! NT$ 325,000 (US$ 10,000) raised for the Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross ministry in Taitung 財團法人台東縣私立天主教聖十字架瑪利德蘭社會福利基金會!
Thanks be to Almighty God, and to everyone who contributed their time, energy, money, enthusiasm and dedication! During this past December, St. John’s University (SJU) and Advent Church have raised a grand total of NT$ 325,000 (US$ 10,000 / £ 8,200) for the social welfare ministry of the Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross 聖十字架慈愛修女會 (known as the Maria Theresia Social Welfare Foundation 財團法人台東縣私立天主教聖十字架瑪利德蘭社會福利基金會) in Shangwu Village 尚武村, located in Dawu Township 大武鄉, Taitung, on Taiwan’s beautiful S. E. coast. Last Friday, we went to visit the sisters in Shangwu ~ and here we all are outside their church, and … Continue reading YES! NT$ 325,000 (US$ 10,000) raised for the Sisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross ministry in Taitung 財團法人台東縣私立天主教聖十字架瑪利德蘭社會福利基金會!
Taiwan Episcopal Church Clergy Families Christmas Gathering 2016!
Today the clergy of the Taiwan Episcopal Church and their families gathered at St. James’ Church, Taichung to celebrate Christmas together – with a very special Thanksgiving Service led by Bishop Lai and the rector of St. James’ Church, Rev. Lily Chang, and followed by a fantastic lunch ~ joined too by the wonderful folk of St. James. The clergy came from all corners of the country, with an early start for many. Me too. But it was well worth it ~ so great to see everyone again! It is St. Stephen’s Day, and the church was red. Very red. … Continue reading Taiwan Episcopal Church Clergy Families Christmas Gathering 2016!
Merry Christmas 2016 @ St. John’s University and Advent Church!
St. John’s University and Advent Church is THE place to be for Christmas, and especially when Christmas falls on a weekend ~ last week we had a whole week of Christmas activities in the university and local community, and now we’ve just had a whole weekend of activities in the church. It’s all non-stop action ~ and it’s back to work and classes tomorrow as usual! We really kind of moved from Advent into Christmas starting on Thursday December 22 in the afternoon when we did our final walkabout around St. John’s University, lighting all the candles on the Advent … Continue reading Merry Christmas 2016 @ St. John’s University and Advent Church!
Advent Word, Day 27 ‘celebrate’
Day 27 #celebrate #慶祝 Saturday December 24, Christmas Eve ‘Christmas is a feast of the senses! It is a celebration of our ability to see and know and taste and touch the power and glory and revelation of God. It is not just about a birth that happened long, long ago and far, far away. It is about the way in which God manifests himself to us in the person of Jesus as friend and food and hope and love. It is a celebration of our ability to grasp God and to sense him with all our being’. 聖誕節是一場「感知之宴」；在這慶典中，你我看見、知悉、品嘗、並觸摸上主的大能、榮耀、和啟示。聖誕節不僅與那久遠的某個生日有關，它跟上帝的自我顯明也息息相關：神，藉著耶穌，成為你我的益友、靈糧、希望與愛。這是我們可以緊緊抱住神，並全心全意來「感知」上帝的一個特殊節慶啊！ 聖誕快樂! … Continue reading Advent Word, Day 27 ‘celebrate’
Advent Word, Day 26 ‘live’
Day 26 #live #生活 Friday December 23 ‘We are meant for life in all its fullness. Our getting together for the sheer pleasure of it anticipates the Kingdom and the heavenly banquet. Conviviality and celebration, especially in the face of difficult circumstances, bring light into the world’. 我們都是為了生命之豐盛、圓滿而做準備。你我相聚一起，其樂融融，乃是「預嚐」（提前享受）天國的饗宴。這無比歡樂的慶典，尤其在艱困的情境中舉行，確實為這世界帶來諸多光明！ A big Thank You to our new president of St. John’s University, Dr. Peter Herchang Ay for welcoming so many of us from the SJU Chaplaincy and Advent Church to his university home last night to share the good news of Christmas (報佳音), light the Advent Wreath and eat yummy TangYuan 湯圓. Ah, … Continue reading Advent Word, Day 26 ‘live’
超級好朋友 Supermaster and his Superfriends Christmas Show @ LaoMei Elementary School 老梅國小!
Our amazing team of students from St. John’s University and church members from Advent Church combined to put on a spectacular performance for our Christmas Show 2016 this morning at LaoMei Elementary School ~ and the children were all very lovely and we had a great time! Thanks to our leader Yo-yo, who took a day off work to support his team, thanks to those who stood in at the last minute, and thanks to everyone for taking part. It was GREAT! Here we all are….. LaoMei is one of my favourite places in the whole world ~ and … Continue reading 超級好朋友 Supermaster and his Superfriends Christmas Show @ LaoMei Elementary School 老梅國小!
Advent Word, Day 25 ‘animate’
Day 25 #animate #賦予生命 Wednesday December 22 ‘The Spirit of God animates us, but it all happens in the flesh: every deed of kindness, every act of generosity, every word of encouragement happens in the flesh. Every embodiment of Christ’s grace or truth or love happens in the flesh—or it doesn’t happen’. 上主的靈賦予我們生命，但一切都體現於「肉身」之中。［譯者註：此「肉身」令人聯想到「道成肉身」！］舉凡仁慈的行為、慷慨的舉動、鼓勵的話語，都藉由「肉身」來表現；而基督的恩惠、真理、愛的具體顯示，亦是如此，若沒有「道成肉身」，這一切都無法實現！ A Fantastic Day ~ a very animated and super-talented Supermaster and his Superfriends from St. John’s University perform their Christmas Show for the very lovely children of LaoMei Elementary School (老梅國小)! Continue reading Advent Word, Day 25 ‘animate’
St. John’s University and Advent Church Christmas Charity Bazaar 聖誕義賣 2016!
Our 20th year of holding a charity bazaar at Christmas for St. John’s University and Advent Church ~ and today was the day! A mammoth project and really a huge achievement to organize such a major event, involving faculty, staff, students, friends, church members and local people ~ and all coordinated by the clergy and staff of St. John’s University Chaplaincy and Advent Church, in particular Yu-lin, our youngest staff member ~ she is so multi-talented, patient and calm ~ and excels at organizing events like this! Publicity and preparations have been ongoing for weeks, selling coupons and accepting donations … Continue reading St. John’s University and Advent Church Christmas Charity Bazaar 聖誕義賣 2016!
Advent Word, Day 24 ‘abide’
Day 24 #abide #居住 Wednesday December 21 ‘God’s invitation for us to abide in God as God abides in us is not an invitation to settle down and get comfortable. It is a call to mission, a summons to fruitfulness. We are meant to share the fruits of the divine life with others’. 上帝邀我們住在祂裡面，一如祂住在我們裡面；這邀約，並非要我們安頓自己，坐享清福，而是一種對外傳教，成果可期的召喚。我們蒙呼召，是要去與他人分享聖潔生活的豐碩果實。 Photo taken at the Juming Museum Continue reading Advent Word, Day 24 ‘abide’
Catherine Lee 