YES! NT$ 340,000 (US$ 10,350) all raised for 宜蘭聖方濟老人長期照護中心 St. Francis Care Home, Yilan!

Incredible!  Thanks be to Almighty God!  It’s done!  This month, St. John’s University and Advent Church have raised a grand total of NT$ 340,000 (US$ 10,350 / £ 6,985) for St. Francis Home  宜蘭聖方濟老人長期照護中心 in Toucheng, Yilan County – way beyond our expectations.  Thanks for everyone who participated!  Here’s our chaplain and rector, Rev. Lennon Chang, receiving the Thanksgiving Certificate yesterday from Sr. Betty in Toucheng R. C. Church ~  God is good! Every year during December, on behalf of St. John’s University and Advent Church, the SJU Chaplaincy organizes a huge bazaar and collects donations for charity, a different … Continue reading YES! NT$ 340,000 (US$ 10,350) all raised for 宜蘭聖方濟老人長期照護中心 St. Francis Care Home, Yilan!

St. John’s Day @ Advent Church ~ and our Christmas Party!

Yes, a big day for Advent Church!  On the first Sunday after Christmas, we always celebrate St. John’s Day ~ and as this is St. John’s University, all our students past and present from the St. John’s University Student Fellowship – plus church members past and present – are always invited back. And today was the day!  Part of the theme of Advent is to ‘return’, and returning home to our home church is one of the things we’ve encouraged everyone to do this month.  And as it’s the last Sunday of 2015, it also seems a great way to … Continue reading St. John’s Day @ Advent Church ~ and our Christmas Party!

Christmas Eve @ Advent Church!

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!

Advent Word, Day 26 ‘receive’

Day 26: #receive #領受 Thursday December 24, Christmas Eve ‘It doesn’t matter that our lives, or our families or world are not perfect. What matters is that we make a space, no matter how small, for God in our hearts. When we do that, God will do the rest, and Christ will once more be born in the Bethlehem of our lives and the mangers of our hearts’. 我們的生命、家庭、或世界不完美,並不打緊;重要的是,要在心中開啟一個空間,讓神進駐。我們這麼做,上帝就會成全,而基督也會再次降臨,來到生命中的伯利恆,降生於你我心裡的馬槽中。 Today, the photo and the Advent Word meditation above match perfectly!  This was taken last night as we went with our students from the St. John’s University Student Fellowship around the dormitories … Continue reading Advent Word, Day 26 ‘receive’

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

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!

Advent Word, Day 18 ‘invite’

Day 18: #invite #邀請 Wednesday December 16 ‘As we approach the Christmas season, think of someone in your own life who is sad, or lonely, or hurting, and pledge to say or do something to help bring God’s healing love into their lives. Invite them for a coffee, or a meal. Pay them a visit. Phone them. Show them that they are not alone’. 聖誕節期即將來臨,想想,在自己的生活圈,有誰正陷於傷心、寂寞、或痛苦中?有這樣的人,就盡量幫助他吧!設法將上帝醫治的愛帶進他們生命中。或登門拜訪,或電話連絡。邀請他們喝杯咖啡,或吃一頓飯,讓他們知道他們並非孤單一人。 Yes, you can even invite them for chicken nuggets! ‪ St. John’s University Christmas Bazaar at lunchtime today ~ in aid of St. Francis’ Care Home, Yilan (‪‎宜蘭聖方濟老人長期照護中心)‬ Continue reading Advent Word, Day 18 ‘invite’

Advent Word, Day 17 ‘listen’

Day 17: #listen #聆聽 Tuesday December 15 ‘God calls us to emotional honesty with ourselves and others, and we can best find that disposition through intentional relationship with God. In the humility of silence, we can hear the voice which says, “I cannot be the God I truly am without being fully in relationship with you.”’ 上帝呼召我們以真誠對待自己和他人。而有心跟神緊密連結的人,最能尋見那真誠的性格特質了。誠然,在沉靜謙遜中,我們聽見一種聲音,說:「我是上帝,我要與你有完全的連結,否則,我就不是真神!」 Great lunchtime music at St. John’s University ~ a big must-listen! Continue reading Advent Word, Day 17 ‘listen’

Welcoming Rev. Canon Edmund Der 謝博文法政牧師 and Mrs. Margaret Der!

A great day yesterday for us all at St. John’s University welcoming Rev. Canon Edmund Der 謝博文法政牧師 and his wife Margaret, Mrs. Chee Ming Lee! In the old days, St. John’s University was known as ‘St. John’s and St. Mary’s Institute of Technology’ (SJSMIT), and Edmund was Vice-President from 1972-76.  Their memories include living on the campus – with a garden full of chickens! The Ders were last here 2 years ago for the 50th anniversary celebrations of Good Shepherd Church, Taipei, and where they were in charge from 1966-74.  And now they are back again full of life, energy and … Continue reading Welcoming Rev. Canon Edmund Der 謝博文法政牧師 and Mrs. Margaret Der!

Advent @ St. John’s University 2015 降臨節期點燭禮!

Every Advent off we set!  Off around St. John’s University – to every main office in the whole university – to share with all the faculty and staff the joy of Advent!  Every office has an Advent wreath, and our team from the chaplaincy and church, led by our chaplain Rev. Lennon Chang – and accompanied by a few students – walk around them all once a week throughout Advent. We light the appropriate candle(s), say prayers and readings, maybe sing a song, and finish by wishing everyone ‘Peace’. Yesterday was our first ‘walkabout’ of Advent 2015 and special for … Continue reading Advent @ St. John’s University 2015 降臨節期點燭禮!