Sivin Kit’s Garden

I think we had a pretty laid back simple Mother’s Day combined with Pentecost themed Sunday Worship today.  Before the we ended with the blessing, I got all the mothers present to come forward for a present and prayer of appreciation.

Uncle Long our most senior member of the church and also my father in-law gave away the gifts to all the moms!

I know we do this every year, and maybe we always scratch out heads to figure out what to get for the mothers and how we show our appreciation.  But no matter what, I believe it’s an important ritual. And this year, it’s unique and special since it coincided with Pentecost Sunday!

During my sermon I incorporated this liturgy which I thought was awesome from Worship Ways, United Church of Christ entitled "Radical Mothers’ Day,". Here’s the liturgy we used. Many thanks to Ann L. Hanson, Minister for Sexuality Education and Justice,
Justice and Witness Ministries, a Covenanted Ministry of the UCC, who wrote the liturgy.

The Year 2008 is the 150th anniversary of Mothers’ Day in the United States. Coinciding this year with Pentecost, it is a moment to remind ourselves of the radical roots of Mothers’ Day, which began in rural West Virginia as a social change movement . Anna Reeves Jarvis, an Appalachian homemaker, organized a day to raise awareness of poor health conditions in her community, a cause she believed would be best advocated by mothers. She called it "Mother’s Work Day." She continued organizing throughout the years of the Civil War, working with women on both sides of the conflict to encourage more adequate care for all the wounded, and later working for reconciliation between Union and Confederate neighbors.

Fifteen years later, Julia Ward Howe, a Boston poet, pacifist, suffragist, and author of the lyrics to the "Battle Hymn of the Republic," wrote the “Mother’s Day Proclamation” calling for a “Mothers’ Day for Peace,” to work for peace and disarmament.

Leader: On the day of Pentecost, followers of Jesus gathered,
including many women:

All: Mary, the mother of Jesus,
Mary Magdalene, Mary and Martha,
Salome, Susanna, Joanna,
the Canaanite woman and her daughter,
the Samaritan woman, Philip’s four daughters,
Peter’s mother-in law,
women who had been healed or touched by Jesus and many, many more.

Leader: As the Spirit fell upon them,
all hearts were opened and they began to prophesy:

All: Some used the utterance of wisdom,
another the gift of knowledge,
others became healers and interpreters of tongues.
All used their gifts for the common good.
In the presence of the Spirit, in the power of Pentecost love,
they proclaimed a vision of God’s shalom.

Leader: Today, we remember the women of history
who have been moved by the Spirit
to proclaim and live out God’s vision of peace with justice:
(Let us lift up the names of women who have worked for justice and peace to honor on this Mother’s Day)

All: May your daughters prophesy justice and your sons dream peace!

Leader: On this Mother’s Day, let us lift up the names of women
in our own lives who have mothered us and
witnessed to us the power of love and the Spirit:
(you are invited to lift up the names of women who have nurtured your life
and educated you in faith)

All: May your daughters prophesy justice and your sons dream peace!

Leader: As it happened on the day of Pentecost,
let the Spirit come upon us as we go about our ministry together,
today and always.

All: Amen!

Up to 1 in 5 children suffer from some form of learning disability like dyslexia.

You are invited for an information session to create a greater awareness and understanding regarding those whom learn differently or have difficulties especially children.

Bangsar Lutheran Church and Hilslearning jointly organizes this special event especially for professionals & families concerned with the root causes of many and varied disorders and perplexing behaviour, but  open to ALL interested … and it’s FREE!

Information Session On Neuro Development & Learning Efficiency

Speaker :
Penny Jacobsen
Communication and Neurodevelopmental Therapist
in affiliation with the HANDLE Institute Intl, LLC

When?

Saturday, May 10, 2008, 7:30pm - 9:30pm

Where?

Bangsar Lutheran Church

23, Jalan Abdullah off Jalan Bangsar

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Registration and Contact Info:

Phoebe Long 0123292681

phoebemw2002@yahoo.com

More information:

Holistic Approach to Neuro Development & Learning Efficiency (HANDLE) provides an effective, non-drug alternative for identifying and treating most neurodevelopmental disorders across the lifespan including individuals diagnosed with: brain injury, stroke, cerebral palsy, autistic spectrum disorders, attention deficit disorder/hyperactivity, learning disabilities including dyslexia, Tourette’s syndrome, bipolar disorder, depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, CHARGE and other rare syndromes.

HANDLE incorporates research and techniques from many disciplines. It includes principles and perspectives from medicine, rehabilitation, psychology, education and nutrition. It is founded on an interactive, developmental model of human functioning. It provides help for families sorting out issues of: perplexing behaviours, language delays, organizational problems, sleep disorders, disorders deemed psychological in nature, maximizing learning potential, work efficiency, and social interactions.

Here’s a sneak preview of what’s coming soon I feel so honored to be part  the process that gave birth to The Micah Mandate.  The last one week, Gareth and Elysia has been consistent in sharing our Highs and Lows almost every day.  And I must say being part of the initiators for this effort has been most rewarding and a definite HIGH.  It has brought a sense of integration and wholeness together with Friends in Conversation and RoH Malaysia as well as my work as a local church pastor in Bangsar Lutheran Church and my wider involvement through the Lutheran Church in Malaysia and Singapore. I think that’s a pretty full plate, and I’m pretty much stretched to the limit, but it’s fulfilling! It’s fulfilling because I feel we are in a moment of Malaysian history where we are more conscious of the fact that all of us have a role to play in making history.

I have always loved being at the Lutheran Mission Bungalow at Cameron Highlands.  To Elysia that is "Cameron Highlands" .. every where else isn’t even thought geographically it’s accurate :-)  In some ways, I tend to agree with our no.2.  She has insights that I don’t have.

Three days Two nights is a little too short for a retreat.  The travel itself takes a minimum of 3 hours from Kuala Lumpur. So that’s half a days worth of travel.  But for me, I think it’s more like, I just got warmed up and then I have to leave for KL.

Maybe because this is not a FULL do nothing - eat, sleep, read, solitude, etc - retreat.  We had 2 council meetings, and one Orang Asli village visit.  We didn’t plan a packed program but personal space was lacking compared to a "specialized solitude" retreat.

Of course, our purpose for this trip was not for "solitude" so I don’t have anything to complain about.  As far as fun and relaxation, we had our share.  And for the council we managed to cover our agenda.  A special for me was we had holy communion with our sister companion Orang Asli congregation in Batu 20th, and a good intro to the new lead pastor for the whole area Rev. Choo and his wife.

This trip was hard because the kids weren’t in 100% tip top shape health wise.  So, it was kind of hard on May Chin, especially when I was in the meetings. But overall, the children loved their time there.  Especially no. 1 Gareth and no.2 Elysia who could play freely with their friends.  Run all they want, go on the swings and see-saw, pick flowers, etc.

Food as usual is excellent … I mean Fantastic … Awesome … and whatever superlatives I can dish out …. but I will leave it for your imagination.  Words cannot fully describe the experience.  I’ll throw some pictures … but it’s still not the real thing. Here’s the lunch sample …

I found it interesting that both Gareth and Elysia prefers to eat at the Mission Bungalow.  I think it’s not just the food but the environment and even the "service."

I’ve always liked eating there too.  I remember a conversation yesterday, where we said that even when we are full we still continue to eat because the food is so tasty!

Just writing about this makes me hungry right now.

I didn’t manage to read much this trip.  Laughed quite a bit.  Had the usual snacks.  Slept well in general.  Thoroughly enjoyed the newly improved water pressure for the hot showers. A little sad that some part of the land area has been reclaimed by the original owners for that part.  That is no one’s fault.  But there was a sense of loss. Sigh … the realities of life even for a place of rest and refreshment!

So even with all the good stuff we experienced the last few days overall, somehow I’m always brought down to earth by one or two imperfect realities.  It doesn’t take away the joy from the Highs…. but it does keep my celebrations in moderation

There’s more to share, but I’ll leave it for another day … after a long drive, a little nap while helping the kids sleep, I’m slowly getting back into rhythm. All this while having a good instant message chat which reminds me to reduce my work!

I asked Gareth what was his "High" today … it was clearly … the BLC outing at TTDI Park this morning!

The adults had fun too with Uncle Paul teaching the kids about fish (or maybe he’s having more fun with the fish?)

and the other adults enjoying the food (what else from the BLC tribe?)! Of course, we do feed the kids too …

Of course, there are more exciting activities than eating for the kids …

let’s not forget … a special highlight for today –> happy "grow older and wiser" day Uncle Ian!

Elysia had fun too … a good in-between relax day for her papa too ..

So did Ewan with his friend Caleb (on the left)!! These two boys were chilling out the whole morning! Being a baby can be stressful these days

Two nights, and so far, as Iisten those who have taken time and their own pace to prayerfully walk the Stations of the Cross at BLC the last 2 days, it affirms the right decision we made as a council to have this practice available to all who desire step back to look at Jesus afresh, and at the same time honestly look into our own hearts.

When people arrive they are given a guide book and a simple layout of where the stations are and the direction to walk the stations.  For those who are new, I give them a brief introduction on the Stations of the Cross. We used as a primary text the reflections by Lucille Perrotta Castro, and all those in charge of the stations were given full creative freedom in how to artistically set up each station.  Some even took initiative to add on interactive exercises for their particular stations.

What I liked about the frame in which Lucille Perrotta Castro’s reflection was "Looking at Jesus, Looking at Your heart" which connected the life of Jesus with our own lives.

We will have one more night for the Stations tomorrow after a short Good Friday Service at BLC, 8pm onwards.

Station 1: Jesus Stands before a Judge, Pontius Pilate.  The Judge tells Jesus that he will die.

Station 2: Soldiers put a heavy cross on Jesus’ shoulders

Station 3: Jesus falls the first time

Station 4: Jesus meets his Mother

Station 5: A Man, Simon, helps Jesus carry his cross

Station 6: A woman, Veronica, wipes Jesus’ face

Station 7: Jesus falls a second time

Station 8: Jesus meets women who are crying

Station 9:Jesus falls a third time

Station 10: Jesus clothes are taken away

Station 11: Jesus is nailed to the cross

Station 12: Jesus dies on the cross

Station 13: Jesus is taken down from the cross

Station 14: Jesus is buried

Station 15: Jesus raised from the death, Jesus is alive

So the above picture gives you a glimpse of our version of the Stations of the Cross for 2008. Here’s  A Walk Through the Stations of the Cross provided online (HT: Dion Forster)

TAKE FROM ME, gracious God, all that separates me from you — my sense of past sin, my pride in present achievements, my anxieties for the future. Make me self-forgetful as I gaze on you, and let me know the joy of finding my true self in you. Amen.

- Helen Julian CSF
The Road to Emmaus: Companions for the Journey through Lent

(via Upper Room Daily Reflections)

BLC opened for the Stations of the Cross on Wednesday night 8pm and we ended about 10.30pm.  It rained like it always does during Holy Week in Malaysia. I was a little surprised by the turn out and was delightfully encouraged by the response thus far.  The creativity of each station complemented the depth of the guided experience.  Every person involved setting up the stations really put in their heart and soul.

It was a good time of at least for me to quietly observe how each person takes their time along a journey of looking at Jesus and looking at their own hearts.  In some conversations after some finished the stations, we also discovered how other people were drawn into the whole time of prayer and contemplation making this walk not just about ourselves and Jesus, but also others who are somehow linked to us one way or another.

I hope to have my own walk on Thursday night.  I’m glad we decided to make a return and do the more classical version of the stations this year. 

Our church will be open three nights starting Wednesday till Good Friday from 8pm -10pm. Please feel free to join us … you can come any time between 8-10pm and walk through the stations at your own pace.  The stations are designed for  a contemplative journey of prayer, meditation and personal reflection.

Blessed Palm Sunday …. It’s good to enter the Holy Week stepping back from a lot of the intensity surrounding us … I’ve always liked the idea of the palm crosses

(This is the video before we made the palm crosses)

(This is the video after we made the palm crosses)

I resisted to show the food we had last night, but then I thought why deprive you from having a glimpse?
It was nice to be delightfully surprised at how the whole event turned out. We didn’t have too much over planning and organization. There was a basic idea and the we let it evolve from there. But one thing is for sure, it was a team effort. Everyone added a little of themselves into the mix!

Here’s 3 videos to get a feel of the atmosphere.

Moh Foong understanding the “struggle”.

Ian the Pancake Maestro!

and finally the Pancake sisters in action!