A Family Reunion! 觀兮天籟 (馬武督山莊)

#2013-0829

Since Antony started serving at the Holy Trinity Church (in Keelung) as a xiusheng [修生 or "church intern"], there have been much less opportunities for him and me to have father-and-son free chats. He comes home only once a week, each time spending only one night with us -- his family. So it's becoming more important that he and I (as well as all other family members) should cherish all the possible moments for being together and sharing something with each other.

Now that the Holy Trinity had decided to come to Ma Wu Du (馬武督) for a two-day retreat, Antony gave me a phone call, saying that we who are his family were also welcome to join the event. "Don't you think it's a good chance for us to meet and chat again?" asked Antony. And I said, "Sure! It would be a delightful country retreat for us all." That's why yesterday Jean and I took Anita and Little Bee to Ma Wu Du, in Guanxi, Hsinchu County, where we have all stayed for one night plus one morning, and had a wonderful time during "the blissful family reunion."

在「安徒生」劃一個分號 -- It's Not a Full Stop

#2013-0820

昨日中午，邀約好友及家人於「安徒生童話鄉村廚」用餐，那是一個［我也認為］對於大人、小孩都蠻合適的地方。

Yesterday I invited my co-workers at St. James' (and my family) to the Andersen Restaurant for lunch. As far as I saw, Andersen Restaurant was very attractive to us all -- not only to children, but also to adults!

感謝惠君老師為我安排這次聚會；在此，願以祝福的心，將「聖雅各堂社區服務中心」永續經營的接力棒，交回到林師母手中。

Thanks be to Ms. Kitty Wu, who arranged the meeting for me. Here and now I'd like to hand the relay baton back to Linda (Rev. Philip Lin's wife): I have been acting as director of St. James' Community Service Center since July, 2012. I suppose that it is time for me to give this title (or post) back to Linda, because her son Daniel's health has been much better now and therefore she can carry the director's responsibilities again.

必要時，我還是會 give a hand 的 ---- 所以我說：我並非劃下什麼完美的「句點」(a full stop)，而是標註一個有意義的「分號」罷了！

Well, I'm always willing to help, when needed. What I want to say at this point is this: I'm not marking a so-called "perfect period" -- No, it's not a full stop that I'd really like to write down. Instead, I'd just want to mark a semicolon which carries some special significance!

浪漫的節日 (The Chinese Valentine's Day)

#2013-0813

今天是農曆七月七日，中國情人節！

我的母親依舊認定是「七娘媽的生日」啊！----其實，我還蠻喜歡那個屬於傳統的，淒美動人的「牛郎與織女」的故事！

論及情人節，無論是西洋的或中國的，都很浪漫、很感人，值得普天下的「有情人」好好思索、玩味，甚至慶祝。而今，早已身為「熟男」或「熟女」的我們，在這樣一個氣氛浪漫的節日，是否也該「重新」（打自心底深處）浪漫一下？

下列照片拍攝於 2013年 (國 8/13, 農 7/7) 晚間

世華植物工場---廚藝會館

（地址：草屯鎮敦煌路四段 377 巷 11 號）

Holy Baptism (聖洗禮)

#2013-0811

Bishop David Lai celebrated and preached at St. James' today, firstly at the English service starting at nine-thirty and then at the Chinese service starting at eleven.

After taking part in the English service, Jean and I went to the Chinese service immediately, because we had been invited to be the "sponsors" (or known as godfather and godmother) of Jillian Lin (林子廉) and her sister Youlin Shi (施又琳) -- both of them, as well as Mr. and Mrs. Lai, were baptized today during the Chinese service. I felt really honored to be the two girls' sponsors (or godfather) because Jillian and her family usually came to the English service as I did.

What I'd like to say to them again is this: "Congratulations, Jillian! Congratulations, Youlin! Congratulations on your becoming members of the Family of Love, the head of which is our Lord Jesus Christ, who has loved you and me (as well as many others) even before we got to know and love him! May God the Father, God the son, and God the Holy Spirit be with all of us for ever and ever! Amen."