Tag: Christmas

St. John's University, TaiwanLeave a comment

Christmas Day Early Morning @ 正德國中賢孝校區 Xian-Xiao School Assembly !

Catherine Lee

7:45am Friday School Assembly at our local Junior High School, Xian-Xiao, on Christmas Day ~ and we were there ~ in the rain ~ but YES, we were there! Not only were we there, but we were all dressed up in our Christmas outfits, and all awake and smiling!  Xian-Xiao (or Hsien-Hsiao) is a wonderful neighbour to us at St. John’s University and Advent Church ~ and we love ’em all very much, teachers, staff and children!  They’re actually a branch of Zheng-De Junior High School 正德國中 in Tamsui, with one school principal, Mr. Lin, in charge of both ~ and … Continue reading Christmas Day Early Morning @ 正德國中賢孝校區 Xian-Xiao School Assembly !

Advent Church, TaiwanLeave a comment

Christmas Eve @ Advent Church!

Catherine Lee

The highlight of Christmas Eve at St. John’s University every year is our Christmas Eve Service in Advent Church, well-attended by students, church members, local people and visitors ~ YES! Last night the service started at 7:30pm, and we also had 2 baptisms  ~ a gorgeous 2-month-old baby, son of our lovely church members; and one of our SJU Student Fellowship students in his 4th and final year, who was supported by all the Student Fellowship.  We started the service in darkness, then with candles ~ BEAUTIFUL!  And we finished the service with rice porridge and birthday cake! Thanking God … Continue reading Christmas Eve @ Advent Church!

St. John's University, Taiwan1 Comment

SJU Christmas Charity Bazaar 聖約翰科技大學 聖誕義賣!

Catherine Lee

Our annual St. John’s University Christmas Charity Bazaar ~ on at lunchtime yesterday YEAH!  All run by the SJU Chaplaincy Team, Advent Church staff and church members, students past and present, supported by everyone ~ and all in a good cause. This year the cause is St. Francis’ Care Home in Yilan 宜蘭聖方濟老人長期照護中心‬, run by the Daughters of Charity sisters, who are completely dedicated to serving the poor.  One of the sisters, Sr. Betty,  came here last week along with their administrator to share with us about their care home ministry – here they are, with Rev. Lennon Chang! They’re hoping … Continue reading SJU Christmas Charity Bazaar 聖約翰科技大學 聖誕義賣!

FaithLeave a comment

Love came down at Christmas….

Catherine Lee

For the second year running a church in Norwich, UK has done a great parody on the John Lewis Christmas advert – it’s brilliant! But first this year’s John Lewis advert, ‘Man on the Moon’… https://youtu.be/wuz2ILq4UeA?t=13 And now for St. Thomas Church, Norwich version, ‘Love came down at Christmas’…. Love did indeed come down at Christmas! Continue reading Love came down at Christmas….

Faith1 Comment

Cinemas refuse to show Church of England advert featuring Lord’s Prayer | The Guardian

Catherine Lee

You must check this out – watch the ‘Just Pray’ video and then read the articles on the BBC and Guardian websites – and find out why it’s being banned as an advert in British cinemas at Christmas, links given below….. The irony of a prayer that Jesus taught us being banned as we prepare to celebrate his birth… https://youtu.be/vlUXh4mx4gI?t=8 The Church of England says it is “disappointed and bewildered” by the refusal of leading UK cinemas to show an advert featuring the Lord’s Prayer. Source: Lord’s Prayer cinema ad snub ‘bewilders’ Church of England – BBC News Church of … Continue reading Cinemas refuse to show Church of England advert featuring Lord’s Prayer | The Guardian

UKLeave a comment

My Thousand-Mile Christmas

Catherine Lee

Well, 1006 miles to be precise ~ 5 days round trip, down south and back again…. Christmas is often about family and mine are scattered.  Stayed with family in deepest Sussex and each morning over Christmas drove around the M23, London Orbital M25 and A3 to deepest Surrey, taking my mother to visit my father, and then in the afternoon drove all the way back again. 60 miles each way.  How I LOVE the M25!  Actually on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day it was just about empty.  Only us on it. In fact, we managed to avoid serious traffic jams … Continue reading My Thousand-Mile Christmas

UKLeave a comment

Late-Night Christmas Shopping @ Sedbergh

Catherine Lee

Every year at the beginning of December, a grand evening is held here in Sedbergh, Cumbria for the official launch of Christmas season, and last night was THE night!  All the shops stayed open till 8:00pm or later serving mulled wine, mince pies, sweets and chocolates, many offering discounts to encourage us all to do our Christmas shopping…. At 6:00pm the church bells started ringing and Father Christmas came along Sedbergh Main Street in the Sedbergh Fire Engine, preceded by the Town Crier ringing his bell, then the Sedbergh Gala Queen switched on the Christmas lights, and the evening was … Continue reading Late-Night Christmas Shopping @ Sedbergh