ACS chairman Archbishop Dr Simon Poh (4th left), flanked by Elder Ambrose Linang on his right, Fr Galvin Richard Ngumbang on his left, and Catholic parish representatives, 13 Dec 2022. (Photo: Roy Emmor)
By Ivy Chai
Dec 15 2022
“The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light.” (Isaiah 9:2)
KUCHING — The Joint Christmas Service held annually at the Christian Ecumenical Worship Centre (CEWC) at Jalan Stampin, will be held on Thursday, 15 December 2022 starting at 7.30pm.
After an absence of two years because of the pandemic, an estimated 2000 Christians from the various faith denominations are expected to attend the physical service.
This year’s host from the Association of Churches (ACS) is the Roman Catholic Church. The chairman of the main organising committee is Rev Fr Galvin Richard Ngumbang, with the combined choir under the patronage of the choir from St Joseph’s Cathedral, Kuching.
Kuching Catholic Archbishop Dr Simon Poh, chairman of ACS will share a reflection of the Joint Christmas Service theme: “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light”.
Scripture readings and prayers will be in the local Sarawak languages … Bahasa Malaysia, English, Mandarin, Melanau, Bukar Sadong, Biatah and Iban.
Archbishop Simon Poh, at a press conference held on 13 December said: “Let us come together to pray for the nation and for people who are suffering due to the pandemic.”
All Heads of Churches are expected to attend the Joint Christmas Service, including the Apostolic Nuncio to Malaysia Archbishop Wojciech Zaluski, who is visiting the Archdiocese of Kuching for the first time.
Invitations have been extended to all Christian members of state and federal, Heads of departments, community leaders, as well as representatives of the Interfaith groups.
Elder Ambrose Linang, secretary general of ACS has appealed to all Christians in the city of Kuching “to come together to fellowship and praise God in unity, to enrich one’s spiritual realms through prayers and songs.”
“It is a time to pray for our state and nation and for the spirit of good will to prevail among races and cultures. Let us not allow racial polarization and religious extremism to destroy the fabric of our society,” he said.
The Joint Christmas Service can also be followed online through the link below. – Today’s Catholic
