Diocese of Taiwan Staff Christmas and New Year Gathering!

Yesterday was our diocesan office staff Christmas and New Year gathering in Taipei ~ two tables of smiling people about to start on a very delicious lunch!  Bishop Lai and his wife also invited those in honorary diocesan positions, Canon Chancellor Herbert H. P. Ma and his wife, Aline, Diocesan Secretary, Mr. Yang and his wife, Diocesan Treasurer Mrs. Amy Lin, Chair of the Diocesan Kindergartens Committee, Mrs. Grace Liu and husband Rev. Michael T. H. Liu, and Chief Record-Keeper for Synod, Rev. Peter Chen and Rev. Elizabeth Wei. Plus the 5 regular diocesan staff, Mr. John Chuang, Mr. Chang, … Continue reading Diocese of Taiwan Staff Christmas and New Year Gathering!

委任李鎮丞牧師為牧愛堂主任牧師典禮 Installation of the Rev. Keith C. C. Lee as Rector of Good Shepherd Church, Taipei!

Good Shepherd Church, Taipei officially has a new rector, the Rev. Keith C. C. Lee ~ and All Saints Day, Tuesday November 1, 2016 was THE day!  Here is Bishop David J. H. Lai and Keith the moment after the official installation! And with all the clergy who came too! The installation service was held at 7:30 pm, and on a drizzly cold evening as well ~ but while the weather may have been miserable outside, inside was so warm and cosy!  Good Shepherd Church is built in a Chinese style, and is a fine church whatever day, whatever time, … Continue reading 委任李鎮丞牧師為牧愛堂主任牧師典禮 Installation of the Rev. Keith C. C. Lee as Rector of Good Shepherd Church, Taipei!

I love CMS! A Great Big Welcome to Taiwan for Raj Patel, CMS Regional Manager for Asia ~ all the way from Oxford ~ YES!

Yes, honest, I love CMS!  And all those associated with CMS ~ the mission partners, CMS staff, UK Link Churches and of course all those who welcome us to serve in their dioceses, churches, organizations and communities! CMS stands for Church Mission Society ~ I joined in September 1989, served in Tanzania for 7 years, and then in January 1999 arrived in Taiwan and I’ve been here ever since, first at St. James’ Church, Taichung for 7 years, and since early 2007 based here at St. John’s University, on Taiwan’s NW coast.  My last formal CMS-UK visitors came in November … Continue reading I love CMS! A Great Big Welcome to Taiwan for Raj Patel, CMS Regional Manager for Asia ~ all the way from Oxford ~ YES!

The Grand Opening of the brand new Advent Church Center @ St. John’s University, Taiwan! 聖約翰科技大學 長齡生命關懷中心 落成感恩禮拜 YES!

Thanks be to God ~ YES!  And this is it ~ our brand new Advent Church Center in the sun yesterday! Thanks be to hundreds of people who contributed their money, time and resources ~ YES! And thanks be to everyone who came along to participate in the grand opening events ~ note the plural, we’ve had 2, yes TWO grand openings, one for the church and community on Sunday June 5…. and one for St. John’s University (SJU) yesterday, Tuesday June 7…. And guess what?  There’s another grand opening celebration still being planned, for the SJU alumni, who’ve been … Continue reading The Grand Opening of the brand new Advent Church Center @ St. John’s University, Taiwan! 聖約翰科技大學 長齡生命關懷中心 落成感恩禮拜 YES!

St. John’s University, Taiwan ~ Annual Celebration!

Today is the day!  On this day 49 years ago, April 26, 1967, the Ministry of Education officially notified ‘St. John’s and St. Mary’s Institute of Technology’ SJSMIT, (the original name of St. John’s University, SJU) that they could start to recruit students for their brand new 5-year junior college courses. The school dates its foundation from that day, and many of the original first intake of students are still active in the SJU Alumni Association today. Bishop James C. L. Wong was the first Chinese Bishop of Taiwan (from 1965-70) and his vision was to establish a successor institution … Continue reading St. John’s University, Taiwan ~ Annual Celebration!

Advent Church: a special welcome to Bishop and Mrs. Lily Lai!

Today Bishop Lai and Mrs. Lily Lai came to Advent Church ~ a big welcome!  3 people were confirmed, 2 of them are members of our choir, one of whom started coming as a result of attending our community English class.   Today was also a very special day for the Tan family ~ Tan Mama was taken ill in early January and in a sort of coma for about a month, but she’s gradually improved, and today was able to come to church for the first time with all the family, and receive communion and a blessing from Bishop Lai. … Continue reading Advent Church: a special welcome to Bishop and Mrs. Lily Lai!

A Big Welcome to: 台灣聖公會第56屆教區年議會 The Diocese of Taiwan 56th Annual Convention!

Yes, such a happening event that even St. John’s Cathedral Sunday School children came to visit us ~ on the bus, on a Saturday morning, and as part of their weekend camp ~ YES! Good Shepherd Church in Taipei hosted this year’s diocesan convention, and we had such a warm welcome from them all.  And such sunny weather ~ smiles all round!  We started yesterday morning, Friday, with the opening service at 10:00 am.  Representatives from all our churches were there, and we also welcomed Canon Peter Ng, Asia-Pacific Officer for the Episcopal Church – who brought greetings from Presiding Bishop … Continue reading A Big Welcome to: 台灣聖公會第56屆教區年議會 The Diocese of Taiwan 56th Annual Convention!

Ancestor Memorial Liturgy, welcoming Canon Peter Ng and listening to Joanna Fu’s wonderful Organ Music @ St. John’s Cathedral, Taipei!

Yes, a special day at St. John’s Cathedral, Taipei yesterday ~ and in all our churches too! For the Taiwan Episcopal Church, the Sunday before Chinese New Year’s Eve is celebrated every year with a special liturgy to honour the ancestors.  The liturgy takes place within the main Sunday service, usually at the end, with prayers and readings, and there’s a table for everyone to place lighted candles.  At the cathedral, the table is placed in the main entrance on the left side, and everyone lights their candle as they enter the church.  The red cards on the table list … Continue reading Ancestor Memorial Liturgy, welcoming Canon Peter Ng and listening to Joanna Fu’s wonderful Organ Music @ St. John’s Cathedral, Taipei!

St. Timothy’s Church, Kaohsiung ~ and such a warm welcome!

A great weekend at St. Timothy’s Church!   Since I was last there, our good friends, Rev. Richard Lee and his wife and family (previously at Trinity Church, Keelung) have moved there, Richard is the new rector.  Actually they’ve already been there about a year, so they’re getting used to the warmer climate, big city life, a big rectory, and of course services being all in Taiwanese! It was a great honour to be in Kaohsiung with Mrs. Grace Chien, widow of Bishop John Chien ~ and our first port of call was to say hello to her sister, and … Continue reading St. Timothy’s Church, Kaohsiung ~ and such a warm welcome!