It's my first time to have celebrated Chinese New Year with the Chinese Congregation which is of course with my husband who is pastoring the said congregation. And I must say that it's fun! I admired how they celebrated it with Chinese traditions during this festive season.
Here are the events that happened today:
1. We worshiped together in the chapel and had invited a speaker to join us. Our worship was filled with Chinese worship songs and praises for the Lord.
2. Right after the service, we proceeded to the 2nd floor to where we held our lunch fellowship. The Mamas cooked shabu-shabu, the others brought food with them for us to share with. The most enjoyable part was when we made our own dumplings and cooked them by ourselves too! The many you make, the many you eat! Haha! And who forgets to eat Tikoy during Chinese New Year? Definitely, not us!
3. And ta-dah! The most awaited part is the giving and receiving of Hong Pao (ampaw)! Married and elders prepared hongpaos for the kids and single persons. They lined up to be given one each with words saying, "Xin Nian Kuai Le" (Happy New Year) Hong Pao Na Lai (Give Me My Ampaw) Xie Xie (Thank you).
Since I'm already married, I had to give away hongpaos but I received one anyway (as a prize) because I had eaten dumplings with crabsticks in it! - which is a little game from our eating fellowship. Nine other members were also given their prizes. Too bad that I had no camera with me so I missed to take pictures but I'll be grabbing some from the members soon when they upload them on facebook.
So there! I enjoyed every bit of our little celebration in church with of course honoring God as the center of it. It's not about luck and wealth but it's about God's faithfulness, blessings and guidance for Chinese Christians and for everybody. Not only this year but in the years and years to come. It's the year of the LORD 2012!
Once again, Xin Nian Kuai Le!
My share for KM's meme:
You gotta appreciate the culture of the Chinese. But there are some logic to their traditions that can be relevant.
ReplyDeleteUy Kuya, kamusta na? Well, sa totoo lang, I'm still in a lot of discussions pa din about the Chinese traditions. In practical way of life, yes, they are very relevant, but in the Christian way of life, for me, honestly, may mga practices na kailangang tanggalin. I still believe that only God can make us prosperous. Since pastor ang asawa ko, Chinese pa, eh he's trying to still celebrate their new year in a Christian way.
ReplyDeletenatuwa naman ako sa sinabi mo jan sa comment, Rona :) Amen!
ReplyDeleteThanks KM! Amen tayo jan.
ReplyDeleteXin Nian Kuai Le Sis! Hehehe
ReplyDeleteBongga talaga ang celebration ng Chinese New Year...
Dalaw dito para suporta sa iyo...
Hi Ning! As for me naman gaya ng reply ko sayo sa home blog ko na medyo napahaba din (lol), i have nothing against celebrating Chinese New Year, though hindi ako ganun ka particular dyan. Minsan kasi we have to join to show our respect for our Chinese brothers and sisters or others who have the same faith. In fairness, madami sa Chinese beliefs ang may valid grounds. But then, your faith is your faith. God should be in the center of our life but to respect others and understand their culture won't hurt. :) cheers!
ReplyDeleteI do appreciate that Krizza. Everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion and views naman talaga. Anyway, thanks also for understanding that this is my faith. To clear, I'm not trying to judge the way Chinese people's practices, it's just purely my opinion and my expression of faith. God bless us!
ReplyDelete*judging the practices of Chinese people. (hihi mali pa)
ReplyDeletewhat an inspiring and happy celebration.
ReplyDeletepde makisali sa usapan?
ReplyDeleteI think kasi ung Celebration of Chinese New Year is more of a cultural thing rather than a religious thing.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteang ganda pla ng tradition tlga nila ha...ang alam ko lang is ampaw kasi dati kong manager is chinese.Thanks for visiting my blog.
Happy Chinese New Year to you Sis, hope the New Year will bring you more luck and happiness :-) Visiting from Happiness is, hope that you can return the visit too.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.mommies2ks.com/2012/01/first-day-of-pre-k.html
i like chinese new year! i got a lot of ampaw when I was in taiwan.
ReplyDeletewhat a happy celebration indeed. never experienced a chinese new year. buti ka pa. :) sensya na, late visit sa ako sa Happiness is...#3.
ReplyDelete