St. Luke's Musical Celebration (聖誕音樂會)

#2024-1221

花蓮聖路加堂

🎹🎷 聖 誕 音 樂 會🎶🎻

Two years ago, Jean hosted the Christmas party at St. Luke's Church. This year, she asked me to take on the role of emcee for the celebration. I was thrilled, not just because of the role itself, but because the musical celebration brought us all together in an evening filled with joy, hope, and peace.

A heartfelt thank-you to everyone who participated in this special event, whether as performers or as members of the audience. After the music party ended, we gathered in another room to enjoy some "tangyuan" (sweet dumplings), as today happens to be "dongzhi" (Winter Solstice). Above all, we give thanks to the Lord for His abundant glory and blessings.

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相關文章 (See also)：

1)  聖路加堂 聖誕音樂會     (2022)

2)  平安夜禮拜 (Christmas Eve)     (2023)

3)  [影音檔] Taking Part in the Party     (2022)

4)  St. Luke's Christmas Party (聖誕園遊會)     (2023)

貓頭鷹教堂 ~ The Owl Chuch in Wufeng

#2024-1217

🐧💖 貓頭鷹教堂 💙💕

Obviously, it's small, but beautiful. 

(一個「小而美」的景點！)

This lovely building, located at No. 8, Datong Road, Wufeng District, Taichung City, is very close to my house. 

(這小教堂距離我家真的很近！)

The owl is considered the symbolic bird of Wufeng, which is why this small "church" is named "The Owl Church." I was told that owls were once popular among the local people and that the area used to have many owls. Today, if you visit Wufeng, you might spot interesting stone sculptures or artistic depictions of owls in various "corners" of the district. 

(貓頭鷹是霧峰區的「區鳥」；貓頭鷹的石雕、圖案、造型，陳列於霧峰各個角落，供過路人欣賞。)

You can even find a modern Chinese poem about the owl—māotóu yīng in our language, which literally translates to "cat-head eagle." The poem is displayed on the wall behind the bus stop near the gate of Wufeng Elementary School. 

(靠近霧峰國小的公車站牌後方牆壁上有一首關於貓頭鷹的詩，意境很不錯！)

Several years ago, I had already taken pictures of that graceful poem and the Owl Church. However, the photos below were taken again this morning as I was heading home from the nearby post office, where I withdrew NT$70,000 to pay for repainting the downstairs rooms of my 38-year-old house. 

(今早從郵局走回來，經過 "貓頭鷹教堂" 的時候，正好陽光明媚耀眼，我忍不住又取出手機，拍了幾張 "實景" 照片⸺願與您分享！)

I’ll keep beautiful photos in my blog, just as "I always have beautiful pictures in my heart." For a broader perspective on what I truly cherish, see The 3-in-1 Philosophy of Life. 

(總之，心中常有美好圖像，好比部落格中儲存美麗的照片，越多越好，這是我的理想追求，也是我 "三合一人生哲學" 的第三部分：美／健康／To Live...)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Regarding Fulfillment through Action

I always have beautiful pictures in my heart. (常懷美夢)

I'll cherish the present. (把握現在)

I'll pray to the Lord. (祈求)

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相關文章 (See also)：

1)  主愛無窮 -- God Is Love     (2018)

2)  The 3-in-1 Philosophy of Life     (2010)

3)  生態霧峰 (Ecological Wufeng)     (2019)

4)  Sentences from Ten Ancient Scrolls     (2010)

5)  The Owl Station Broadcast (美麗的公車站)     (2017)

Bread and "Spiritual Food" (另類享受)

#2024-1216

一邊掰麵包吃，一邊追劇......

重點是：剛出爐的麵包很香，很好吃！看一些不用費腦筋 "思考" 的戲，也很享受！

另一個重點：夫妻一同追劇，並且掰麵包吃——手指頭偶爾動動，就像「心不在焉」似的，嘴巴也輕鬆自然地動；可是，眼睛緊盯著手機銀幕，一動也不動！

事實與反思：

麵包是「德國媳婦」做的。哈！「德國媳婦」是我家麵包機、洗衣機......等的統一稱號，雖然不見得是德國製的。「德國媳婦」做了 homemade bread，這剛出爐的 bread 真的好吃，我倆食指大動，不知不覺就把麵包皮都剝光了。

此為「物質食糧」。那麼，「精神食糧」呢？

If bread represents all kinds of "material food," what is our "spiritual food"? Can movies, videos, literature—whether fictional or non-fictional—serve as our spiritual food? Or is the Bible alone our true spiritual food?

These questions remind me of the Post-Communion Prayer, where the phrase "spiritual food" highlights the importance of my spiritual life (or church life):

Let us pray

Celebrant and People

Eternal God, heavenly Father,

you have graciously accepted us as living members

of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ,

and you have fed us with spiritual food

in the Sacrament of his Body and Blood.

Send us now into the world in peace,

and grant us strength and courage

to love and serve you

with gladness and singleness of heart;

through Christ our Lord. Amen.

or the following

Almighty and everliving God,

we thank you for feeding us with the spiritual food

of the most precious Body and Blood

of your Son our Savior Jesus Christ;

and for assuring us in these holy mysteries

that we are living members of the Body of your Son,

and heirs of your eternal kingdom.

And now, Father, send us out

to do the work you have given us to do,

to love and serve you

as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord.

To him, to you, and to the Holy Spirit,

be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

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相關文章 (See also)：

1)  Barbecue Party (中秋烤肉)     (2024)

2)  Papaya as a Dish (木瓜刨絲)     (2020)

3)  The Parable of the Wedding Feast     (2020)

4)  The Spiritual Food for Christians (基督徒的靈糧)     (2014)

An Outing: 到 "國姓" 走走！

#2024-1213

We invited Terence and Cicelia to Guoxing, my hometown, for a one-day outing today.

Jean and I thoroughly enjoyed revisiting some of our favorite spots in Beigang Village, Guoxing, including Walkers' Cafe (行者咖啡), the Music Waterwheel (音樂水車), and the Glutinous-Rice Bridge (糯米橋). I hope Terence and Cicelia had a wonderful time, too.

May the Lord continue to bless this young couple as He has so richly blessed us!

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相關文章 (See also)：

1)  Hometown Attractions (家鄉景點)     (2023)

2)  年初五 (之二)：音樂水車 + 糯米橋     (2021)

3)  Tea and Poetry (茶與詩的饗宴) photos, part two     (2018)