Bishop James T. M. Pong Memorial Conference Room Dedication Service 台灣聖公會《龐德明主教會議廳》祝聖揭幕啟用典禮

The Diocese of Taiwan office in central Taipei now has a newly-dedicated conference room, all newly-painted, and with new furniture – especially beautiful new chairs in bright blue, green and orange.  So comfortable and so bright!  Stimulating colours – to stimulate minds and hearts!  All meetings, discussions and seminars held there from now on will be helped along by sitting in such wonderful chairs! The money to do all this was kindly donated by the son and daughter of the late Bishop James T. M. Pong 龐德明主教 (Bishop of Taiwan 1971-79) in loving memory of their father, and they came to … Continue reading Bishop James T. M. Pong Memorial Conference Room Dedication Service 台灣聖公會《龐德明主教會議廳》祝聖揭幕啟用典禮

Advent Sunday @ 台灣聖公會嘉義聖彼得堂 St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Chiayi

Advent Sunday is always special ~ at last the excitement of Christmas coming can officially start ~ YES! And Advent at St. Peter’s Church, Chiayi this year is extra-special because they’ve just finished a major overhaul of the church building.  A big renovation project and big challenge for the vicar, Rev. Simon Tsou Tsai-Shin 鄒才新牧師 and all the church members ~ but thankfully it’s all finished (apart from paying the bills!) and in 2 weeks time, Bishop Lai is leading a dedication for the newly-finished building. St. Peter’s Church building was originally not a church at all, but part of … Continue reading Advent Sunday @ 台灣聖公會嘉義聖彼得堂 St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, Chiayi

2015年台灣普世豐盛生命協會感恩餐會 GLEC Thanksgiving Dinner ~ and we were there!

Not only were we there, but so was Dr. Doris Brougham 彭蒙惠, possibly Taiwan’s best-known missionary and English teacher – famous for her Studio Classroom English classes through ORTV, and for her trumpet playing and very lively personality.  She’s now 89, and has been in Taiwan since 1951, and is still dancing, singing, playing her trumpet and sharing her faith.   Amazing!  Her music group, Heavenly Melody 天韻 led the worship and she joined in with her trumpet, ah it was wonderful! And so it was that we had a very entertaining, challenging and of course, a very moving evening! During this past … Continue reading 2015年台灣普世豐盛生命協會感恩餐會 GLEC Thanksgiving Dinner ~ and we were there!

Welcoming Global Teams International!

An surprise visit yesterday from a team of 5 from Global Teams International ~ YES! Well, it was certainly a surprise for most of our students, and although I knew that 2 people were coming to visit, when 5 turned up – that was the nice surprise!  The 2 leaders, Sheryl and Michael had been to a Global Teams Conference in S. E. Asia, and had now come on their first ever visit to Taiwan.  So here they were ~ from USA, Korea and Costa Rica ~ and they were well-entertained by our students, who sang, talked, shared and posed for photos ~ … Continue reading Welcoming Global Teams International!

The Rock Cafe 磐石咖啡館: You just must GO!

If you’re anywhere in the Tamsui (Danshui) 淡水 area of Taipei, and you haven’t been to the Rock Cafe, then you have to go.  Honestly, GO!  It’s such a great place! The Rock is a outreach ministry of YWAM Taipei offering ‘English. Coffee. Truth.’ A great combination!  It’s really the top 2 floors above some shops in the main night shopping street of Tamsui, and is open every weekday evening for free English conversation, helped along with free coffee, and staffed by YWAM workers and volunteers, young people from all over the world. Last night we took our St. John’s University … Continue reading The Rock Cafe 磐石咖啡館: You just must GO!

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