Sundays

I woke this morning to find that yesterday's sunny blue skies were whitewashed over in the night by some unhappy looking clouds. While Erin was practicing piano for the service I stepped across the campus' main avenue and slipped into my office to brew a pot of coffee. If anything, living most of my life in the gloomy weather of the Pacific Northwest has taught me that besides sunshine, coffee is the next best way to burn off the clouds.
Later I crossed back over the avenue to Advent Church for worship. Erin played piano during the Healing Service this Sunday. Once a month the congregation celebrates this service that resembles more the Assemblies of God worship of my youth than it does the rite and ritual of the Episcopal Church. Instead of coming forward for the Eucharist as we do every other week, congregants file forward to the altar rail for an annointing with oil and receive prayers for healing in body, mind, and spirit. I've heard it said that absence makes the heart grow fonder, and with worship I would have to say this is true. This monthly absence from the Eucharist reminds me of just how important the sacrament has become to my weekly existence. Ironically, I've also heard it said that variety is the spice of life. So in worship this is also true. The diversity of worship within the Church catholic, and even within our own Anglican tradition is exciting and invigorating.

On that note, I'm posting some pictures from different worship experiences we've had during our year in mission. These pictures come from Advent Church's website, www.adventepiscopal.org , and were taken by our friend and resident photographer, John (you may remember his site I posted a link to in an ealier blog entry).
Enjoy!

Healing Sunday









The above pictures are from the healing service.














One of the biggest stumbling blocks for Taiwanese converting to Christianity from any of the local religions (here Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and folk traditions are most commonly blended together) is the concept of filial piety. Especially in Taoism, the veneration and even worship of ones ancestors is seen as part and parcel of the pious life. Converting to Christianity certainly puts a damper on worshipping one's ancestors, and in a culture that values allegiance to family above most anything else, this is a high price to pay. Recognizing this, the Taiwan Episcopal Church has developed a rite of Ancestor remembrance that allows for a Christian expression of ancestor veneration. The pictures above are from Ancestor Remembrance Sunday observed in the entire Taiwan Episcopal Church. An altar is set up to the side of the sanctuary. Incense and candles are lit in remembrance and prayers are offered on behalf of the departed. Two banners inked in Chinese caligraphy flank the altar reading "The good deeds of your ancestors will be visited upon you and on generations to come, in Heaven God's grace rains on us for eternity". The sanctuary is dappled in vermillion, the color most often associated with Temple worship. At the foot of the altar fruits and vegetables are set in baskets symbolizing the offering of the fruits of our labor to God. Traditionally in Taiwanese Ancestor worship food is set out for the ghosts of Ancestors.

Tucked in the back of the Church, a new Chapel of Repose is open all week for the congregation to light a candle in remebrance of a loved one. Its a quiet corner reserved for prayer and meditation, and a great addition to Advent's worship space.




Potlucks in the Taiwan Episcopal Church, as in most churches anywhere, provide a favorite form of worship, a time to eat, celebrate good company, and eat some more. Every parish we have visited in the Taiwan Episcopal Church ends their Sunday services each week with a communal meal. Most churches cater in these meals so, while eating together is nothing new, the chance to do it potluck style brings a smile to everyones face.


This particular potluck was in celebration of the Lantern Festival. Erin and I mentioned this celebration in our last newsletter. It is the last celebration on the roster of activities traditionally associated with the Chinese New Year, so it is celebrated with much gusto. After the food we all trooped into the sanctuary (decorated here with some colorful Chinese paper lanterns) for some games, music, and entertainment. We were at the church until late in the evening.









Daniel bought an extra lantern on our trip to the mountains. We brought it to the church and members wrote their prayers on it. We let it go at the end of the evening.

Lighting the Lantern

Waiting for the lantern to fill with hot air.

And then, up, up, up...

...up, and AWAY!


Bringing the sacrament forward. On a regular Sunday service we celebrate the Eucharist. During the offeratory members of the congregation bring forward the bread and the wine with the tithes and offerings. This is a tradition we brought to Advent with us from St. Luke's in Seattle. Pictured above are good friend Daniel and his wife Julia.

Passing the Peace of Christ. This is always a free-for-all time in the service and it gives us a chance to practice our broken Mandarin. "Ping-an" means peace. We always get a few English responders, "The Peace of the Lord be always with you."

Receiving Christ and being received by Him.



The Stations of the Cross were a recent project completed by the church. Each station has its own nook in the garden surrounding Advent Church. Fr. Lennon hopes to have a traditional Chinese stone pathway connecting each station by Palm Sunday...just in time for Holy Week.

Unlike any church we've visited in the States, the parishes in the Taiwan Episcopal Church change the color of the altar candles to reflect the color of the Church season. Currently they are Lenten purple.

Flowing from the entrance at the rear of the sanctuary, the eight-sided baptismal looks as if it will spill over its sides and down the center aisle to the altar. In the center of the pool is a representation of the Holy Spirit. The constant splash and gurgle of the baptismal is a special accent to Advent's worship space.

The faux stained glass ceiling is up for an overhaul. Since coming to Taiwan, Erin and I have had the pleasure to participate in the planning of the new ceiling. Advent has hired two internationally recognized artists, one who specializes in stained glass, and the other in architectural sculpture to complete the ceiling. The new ceiling is already past the concept stage and we recently saw a model for it... we can't wait for the finished product. Advent is already a spectacular church, and with this new addition, it will be awe inspiring!