Hakka Week ~ Hakka Style!

Hakka week ~ so got ma Hakka shoes out! Wikipedia says that about 15% of Taiwan‘s 23 million people are of Hakka origin, with a worldwide population of about 80 million…. And that includes my good friends, Rev. and Mrs. Hsu, who live up the road in Shuang-Lien Elderly Care Home.  September 1 was Rev. Hsu’s 91st birthday.  The family had celebrated with them earlier in the summer, but they are such a lovely couple that we just had to celebrate this big day on the very day itself.  Rev. Hsu totally loves Japanese sashimi, a glass of Taiwan beer and … Continue reading Hakka Week ~ Hakka Style!

中元普渡 Climax of Ghost Month

中元普渡 (Jung Yuan Pu Du) is the climax of Ghost Month… The actual day was last Friday, but many have been busy all weekend making offerings of food and drink and burning ghost money.  That includes my neighbours in Sanzhi 三芝. Taken from an article in the China Post of this subject: Jung Yuan Pu Du – The China Post Pu Du (universal salvation) are sacrificial rites with the intention of appeasing ghosts with no heirs to care for them. Jung Yuan Pu Du falls on the fifteenth day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar. Similar to lunar fifteenth … Continue reading 中元普渡 Climax of Ghost Month

From Taiwan to the world: Advent Church Overseas Mission Trip ~ smiles all round!

Yes, it’s all been happening this summer – months of prayer, preparation and packing ~ and finally they were ready for the off ~ YES! Earlier in the summer, a team of 16 young people (all young at heart, and mostly young in age too!) from St. John’s University Chaplaincy and Advent Church, led by SJU Chaplain and Advent Church Rector, Rev. Lennon Chang, spent 10 days on an overseas mission trip ~ and yesterday a very happy 14 of them gathered at Advent Church to share with the church about their experiences…. Each one had 3 minutes to speak, … Continue reading From Taiwan to the world: Advent Church Overseas Mission Trip ~ smiles all round!

Good Shepherd Summer Camp 2015

Every summer, Good Shepherd Church Kindergarten in Shilin, Taipei City, holds an English Bible Summer Camp as part of their main teaching program for primary-aged children  ~ 4 mornings a week for 4 weeks ~ and we’ve just started – YEAH!  So here I am, staying at Good Shepherd Church – which is currently like a construction site as they are installing a lift.  T’will be great when’t finished, but for now we’re living in clouds of dust! There’s 20 children, 2 other teachers and me.  The classes focus on the first 5 chapters of Matthew’s Gospel, every day a … Continue reading Good Shepherd Summer Camp 2015

Prayers of the People @ General Convention

For the last 10 days, June 25 to July 3, the 78th General Convention of the US-based Episcopal Church has been meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. The Diocese of Taiwan is one of those dioceses present, and Bishop Lai led a group from Taiwan to take part in it. Last year during Advent, many of us took part in a highly successful social media project – like a global Advent Calendar – called Advent Word, where we posted a photo a day on an Advent theme, organized by SSJE, the Society of St. John the Evangelist.  I loved … Continue reading Prayers of the People @ General Convention

Celebrating Pentecost at St. James’ English Service, Taichung ~ and Kelvin’s Confirmation!

Special congratulations to Kelvin and his family on his confirmation at St. James’ Church, Taichung yesterday, Pentecost Sunday ~ YES!  And as it was Pentecost it was most appropriate that the congregation was all from everywhere ~ including Taiwan, Philippines, Korea, Japan, India, Germany, Malta, UK, USA and maybe more besides – it was a great day indeed! Yes, a wonderful day ~ lots of people at the service, including Bishop Lai, Rev. Lily Chang and Rev. Joel del Rosario, and all followed by a big lunch, kindly hosted by Kelvin’s family. And such a lovely family they are ~ … Continue reading Celebrating Pentecost at St. James’ English Service, Taichung ~ and Kelvin’s Confirmation!

SJU 愛的團契佈道會 ~ 甦醒 special night!

And a special night it was! St. John’s University Student Fellowship holds a special night of outreach every semester, and last night was it ~ YEAH! But just in case you’re none the wiser for reading the above poster advertising the event, the main attraction was one of our good friends from Keelung, Evan, who shared his testimony ~ starting with his year of study at the London College of Fashion, then at Vidal Sassoon School of Hairdressing in London, then back to Taiwan to open his own hair salon, oh yes and Shanghai too ~ with photos of his … Continue reading SJU 愛的團契佈道會 ~ 甦醒 special night!

Taiwan’s Nepali Community mourns…

Happened upon a candlelit memorial event this evening for the victims of the deadly Nepal Earthquake which struck last weekend ~ Taipei’s Nepali community gathered in a corner of the C.K.S. Memorial in Taipei City, along with Taiwan friends and supporters… ‘Pray for Nepal’ was the message, as the monks led the chanting for the deceased…. Indeed much prayer for Nepal is needed, and the latest tragic news from the Anglican Communion website is here in this article: Nepali Anglicans among those killed in earthquake May God indeed have mercy…. Continue reading Taiwan’s Nepali Community mourns…