By Ivy Chai
KUCHING – In conjunction with the 61st Sarawak Day Celebration, the Association of Churches in Sarawak (ACS) organised an Ecumenical Prayer Service at the Christian Ecumenical Worship Centre, Jalan Stampin on Jul 18.
The Service this year was hosted by the Roman Catholic Church with the theme: May They All be One (John 17:21)
The evening’s program commenced with singing the National and State Anthems led by the ACS combined choir and hoisting of flags by the Boys and Girls Brigades.
Organising chairman Fr Davie Entalai of the Catholic Church, extended a warm welcome to all heads of Churches, special guests of honour, state dignitaries, priests and religious, and the people of all faiths for their presence.
Touching on the Prayer Service theme, Fr Davie said, “Indeed, may we all be one, signified by our love for one another irrespective of faith, and our love for our homeland, bumi Kenyalang.”
ACS chairman Datuk Danald Jute, Anglican Bishop of Sarawak and Brunei led the Opening prayer in English, followed by Readings in BM, Iban, Mandarin and Bidayuh Jagoi by the leaders of the different Churches. The Gospel was read in English.
Reflection on the theme: “May They All be One” (John 17:21)
Kuching Catholic Archbishop Dr Simon Poh shared his reflections on the Prayer Service theme. Delivered in English with important explanations in BM and Mandarin, Archbishop Simon began with the topic of God’s love and the sins of mankind.
He showed examples from Genesis of how the sins of pride, greed, conflicts and killing, selfishness and ecological exploitations and destruction of nature can break the relationship of man.
“There is a God who loves us. He sacrificed his son for our salvation,” he said, explaining how Jesus bridges the gap between God and Man.
Archbishop Simon spoke at length on building a society of harmony and peace, living the teachings of the Beatitudes way of life.
He urged the audience to show mercy, graciousness and kindness, quoting Pope Francis as saying, “The name of God is Mercy.” Jesus is the face of our merciful Father because God loves us. Archbishop Simon asked that there be reconciliation to build a nation of peace, to love God and neighbour, and to “pray for Sarawak, our land of unity, harmony and peace, mutual respect and acceptance.”
Prayers on the theme May They All be One were read in different languages by representatives of the participating Churches. There were also intercessory prayers for the Head of State, Sarawak government, Premier, lawmakers and those in authority, as well as prayers for peace, justice and righteousness in the world.
The Prayer Service ended with a Benediction led by Datuk Danald Jute and a final blessing from all the heads of Churches.
The ACS combined choir was made up of choir members from the different Christian parishes, and they ended the event with an appropriate ‘Prayer for Peace’ song to send the 1000 plus people home with the message to ‘Go light the World’, a song meaningfully animated by the Catholic Church before the Benediction. – Today’s Catholic
