DIOCESE OF KUCHING Private Circulation Only The Anglican Church in Sarawak and Brunei Second / Third Quarter 2012 The Anglican Relief and Development FROM THE Fund Trustees Meeting at Ridgecrest, ARCHBISHOP’S DESK... North Carolina • June 2012 Dear Friends, I hope this edition of the Diocesan News finds you well and in good spirit. I know such overused cliché of a greeting may sound rather mechanical and can mean very little if not downright cynical. But the truth is, I am not saying it lightly. It is indeed my prayer that as we merrily journey on we continue to increase daily in favour with God and with one another. Confronted by the enormous challenges that we are facing at this point of our growth both at the Parish and the Diocesan levels, (from left to right) : Rev. Kristin yates, Rev. Nate how very easy it is to get tired and for relationship to get awry. I thank God Baxter, Archbp. Bolly, Rev. Canon Susan Skillen and am humbled by your consistent resolve to meet those challenges; they have strengthened our sense of belonging together as a Diocesan Family ARDF International Trustees and our holy purpose. Thankfully of late after much negotiation an agreement has been reached to invest in the Diocesan Centre and the Warehouse below it to generate income. The whole exercise would involve major renovation of the buildings, which have become not only unsightly but a potential danger to the public. Our Property Committee is also exploring the viability of other diocesan properties with the view to maximize their commercial returns. It is hoped that with the rentals to augment the contributions from the Parishes, we would be in a position to serve God’s mission and the welfare of our Clergy and lay staff better. Another concern that is equally uppermost in my mind is to see that the Clergy manpower of the Diocese is being strengthened. As our congregations Council Of Churches Of East Asia are expanding to form new Parishes, it is urgent that there should be a Bishops’ Meeting corresponding increase of the Clergy and lay workers. Unfortunately the number of applicants offering to be trained in the seminary is disappointing. I am appealing to parents to help convince the best of their sons to serve in the sacred ministry. I urge also our Parishes to publish the need more frequently. If you feel a nudge that God is calling you, Bishop Aeries and Canon Michael Woods are tasked to attend to your inquiry. At the moment our Clergy staff is being stretched to the limit. A number of Parishes are being manned single-handedly by a priest where there should be two or more assistants. Let us pray for the Lord of the harvest to send us more laborers. Your most warmly, The Most Revd Bolly Lapok Diocesan Women’s Fellowship Patronal Day Celebration 2012 1. Southern Archdeaconry (Zone 1) Hosted by WF of the Parish of St. Francis’ Lundu on 1st July 2012 Invited speaker: Venerable Andrew Pahah, Archdeacon of the Upper Southern Archdeaconry, sermon at the Mass. Fellowship breakfast followed the Sunday Mass. 2. Central Archdeaconry (Zone 2) Hosted by WF of the Parish of St. Augustine’s Betong on 7th-8th July 2012. Began with a seminar on 7th July 2012 with Revd Alex Baker & DWF President, Mdm Mitty Chai, as speakers. In the evening there was a fellowship dinner cum Fundraising for the Bishop’s Discretionary Fund. Revd. Canon James Juhari preached at the Sunday mass which was followed by breakfast after which the ladies returned home. 3. Northern Archdeaconry (Zone 3) Hosted by the WF of the Parish of St. Thomas’ Bintulu on 14th-15th July 2012. Began with aerobics and telematch in the afternoon of 14th July, followed by an eveining of fellowship cum fundraising for the Bishop’s Discretionary Fund. Venerable Solomon Cheong, Archdeacon of the Northern Archdeaconry preached at the Sunday mass which was followed by breakfast after which the ladies returned home. 2 3 ...continued from page 3 [16-18] MASCM visit to STM, KK 11/5/12; [19-21] Farewell dinner for SK St Columba Primary School Head Master, Mr Simon Cheong Chan Voon 3/8/2012; [22-23] Farewell assembly at SK St. Columba 3/8/12; [24] Youths Xperience Camp. 23- 25/8/12; [25-26] Visit of Ann Lamb to St. Columba Kindergarten. [27] Ven. Solomon receiving a full set of historical stoles with Miri’s connection from Ann Lamb during Sunday worship.. Ann’s visit has reminded us of our patron St. Columba’s passion for the Gospel to be preached in word and action to “ulu” areas of Ireland and Scotland. May that FIRE not die out in us despite the 4 many trials. Central Archdeaconry St. Luke’s Church, Highlights Sri Aman Highlights PCC Members for the term April 2012- April 2014 Central Archdeaconry Celebration Dinner at Sri Aman - to celebrate Archbishop Bolly’s appointment as the 4th Archbishop of the Province SEA. St. Luke’s Church Gawai Mass 2012 Blessing of the new access road at the Parish of St. Michael’s Engkilili on 28th April 2012 Central Archdeaconry Clergy Meeting cum Lenten Seminar at Bishop Philip (New Zealand) at the closing of Gawai at the Parish of St. Philip, Lubok Antu Entebar Undop, Sri Aman. 5 10th World Anglican Chinese Clergy Fellowship • 17-20 April 2012 at Manila Grand Opera Hotel Aim: Through fellowship and prayers among the Chinese Clergy, to promote evangelism and to develop Chinese theological thoughts. Participants from the Diocese of Kuching: Revd Patrick Chan, Revd Then Jit Seng & Revd Kho Thong Meng Annual Clergy Retreat at Damai Beach Resort • 12th - 15th September 2012 Theme : Be Sober, Be Watchful (1 Peter 5:8) Mass Coffee time One for the album Relaxing 6 Highlights from St. Thomas’s Cathedral Kuching Patronal Festival Dinner - 6th July 2012 Blessing of New Parish Centre - 7th July, 2012 •Combine Choir Confirmation Service th The admission of Sub-deacons The Ordination of Richard Chang to the Diaconate on 8 July 2012 and Deaconesses 7 Assistant Bishop Pastoral Visits to Parishes• April - September 2012 • Lunch Miri back from Seria & St. James’s, Kuala Belait • St. James’s, Kuala Belait Holy • St. Margaret’s Church, Week service Seria • Lubok Antu - Arrival • Lubok Antu - Tinting • Lubok Antu - Confirmation at Tinting Lalang Lalang at St Philip’s Church • Limbang - Arrival at • Blessing school • Newly confirmed Terimah longhouse children at Terimah at Terimah • Limbang - Parish Dinner • Simunjan- WF members • Simunjan - Clergy • Simunjan - Parish Dinner and subdeacons • Roban - Confirmation • Roban - Confirmation at Jabey candidates • Roban - Rh Kuchun, Jabey • Packed congregation • Newly Confirmed at St at Saratok Philip’s, Chapel, Lempa • Welcoming party at Lempa, Ulu Krian 8 • Bintulu - Sunday Mass • Bintulu - WF at work • Bintulu - newly Confirmed • Arrival in Ensika • St John’s Chapel, • WF at Ensika, Sebuyau Ensika, Sebuyau • Kota Samarahan - Communion Time • Kota Samarahan - Blessing of • Blessing of the Church extention to St. Francis’s Church Hall at Merdang Lumut • Taee - with the Choir • Taee - Newly • Fr. Tommy & family (with Confirmed Mrs Gunyau & Dr. Anna) • Agape Chapel, Merakai, Serian • Serian - Arrival • Newly confirmed at Merakai from Timor Leste • Abok - Dr Anna receiving • Abok - New Subdeacon • Abok - WF members • Abok - Blessing of a ‘bemban’ mat Peter Mooney new cemetery 9 Baptism in Pontianak On Wednesday, 3rd October 2012, another 11 of our members in Pontianak were baptised at the Gereja Kristian Kalimantan Barat (GKKB) Jemaat Purnama which is an extension Church of Gereja Kristian Kalimantan Barat (GKKB) at Jalan Gajah Mada, Pontianak. The baptism was conducted by Revd. John Sim Kim Chai assisted by Ps. Benyamin Baye. 10 Cathedral Servers’ Guild - St. Thomas’s Cathedral, Kuching Servers’ Camp 2012 On the 18th-20th of August 2012, the Cathedral Servers’ Guild organised the inter-parish Servers’ Camp 2012 at St. Thomas’s Cathedral, Kuching. They were 38 participants in total, joined by Servers from St. Paul’s Siol Kandis, St. Basil’s Batu Kawa and St. Francis’s Kota Samarahan. The theme was taken from Acts 27:23 which says “God Whose I am and whom I serve”. We were privileged to have Rev. Canon Michael Woods, Rev. Canon Gregory Chambers and Sub-deacon Denis Soon as our speakers throughout the camp. The camp was • Canon Woods explaining the church vestments officiated and closed by the Dean, Very Rev. Michael Buma. during his session in the Lady Chapel Apart from the talks, workshops and outdoor games were held. On Sunday during the 5.30PM Evensong Service, the Dean conducted the admission of the new Head Server and his assistant, awarding medals & certificates, dedication of new members and re-dedication of current members. • The Speakers: Canon Gregory, S/D Denis Soon • Cathedral Servers’ Guild Admission, Awards & Dedication and Canon Woods Ceremony 2012 During the camp, the participants were oriented to the Cathedral environment. In a group, we were mixed with servers’ from other parishes and each group was named according to the past Diocesan Bishops. Each day, the camp began with morning prayer as early as 6.15AM and ended with compline (night prayer) before sleep time. Participants stayed at the House of the Epiphany. During my opening speech, I said, “Do take this once in a blue moon opportunity to learn and discover something new as well as to know deeper about our ministry while at the same time building good rapport and enhancing the spirit of togetherness as we shared our common passion together. The most valuable part of the camp will be what you experienced and learnt.” On behalf of the Organising Committee, I would like to thank all who were involved directly or in-directly in this camp.