Discipleship Group Christmas Gathering

This is the last session of Tuesday discipleship group for the year, which is also a Christmas dinner and gathering before everyone goes off for holiday. I didn't really attend any of them this semester because it clashes with Songwriting Society =.= But I decided to join this time (partly for the food). We met up in uni and drove to a church member's house, a very big and beautiful house.

A wonderful local English house:

We have lots of foods! Mostly prepared by the discipleship leaders, even though they considered it 'refreshments', they're awesome. We basically sit around and chat while having our food, good time of fellowship. Despite my long absence, I still know most of the people, surprisingly.

Finger food, the good ones:

After that, we had some pub quizzes (it's actually really fun), then singing a few carols together. I noticed that almost every English house has a piano, does everybody in UK knows how to play the piano =.=? Finally, we had some sharing and finally to pray for each other, until we meet again next year.

Pub quiz and caroling:

"His blood is on us and on our children!"
-Matthew 27:25-

It's the time of the year when I felt like another mini-stage is ending soon. The thing about being a postgrad is, you see undergrads around you going through dramatic change of lifestyle (classes - assignments - holiday - exam) but you're just staying stagnant like there's no end to this life. Pray for journey mercy for those who are travelling or returning home during the Christmas break, and hope that you guys have a good time before exam comes, Amen.

New Cornerstone Church

The new Cornerstone church building has finally complete, and it's pretty near to Dunkirk. Too bad, the previous gang of people that I used to walk with to church are mostly gone. It's good that Cornerstone is open right before the new semester starts, I manage to bring some new transfer students to church.

About 15 minutes walk to the new Cornerstone building:

This is the first service in the new building, so honored to be part of it. It's at 3 pm because there's a big marathon happening in the morning. Also to make it a special thanksgiving service for being blessed with this new building. I knew Cornerstone has a lot of people normally, but seeing this huge sanctuary being filled just kinda overwhelm me.

Probably 500 people in this hall:

It's a pretty short service, talking about the roots of cornerstone church. As usual, we have tea/coffee and snacks after the service. While the new people are busy making new friends and introducing each other, I got to walk around the church building. Nice and simple, classrooms for Sunday school and chilling room upstairs with big and small auditorium down stair.

Around the church building:

"Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the Lord God Almighty will be with you, just as you say He is."
-Amos 5:14-

It has been great listening to how God is so faithful and wonderful in His promises. Although I'm not really committed into this church's community, I pray that this new building will bring glory to our God and be a place where hearts turn from sin and come to know You more, Amen.

Friends International Annual Celebration

When I thought it's gonna be another Thursday, a phone call from Liz asked me if I'm able to play the piano for an event 'later'. Well, she told me the song, and said gonna pick me up in 2 hours time. Without knowing where and what the event is, I've actually agreed...

It's at the Holy Trinity Church in Lenton. Looks pretty creepy from outside with the trees and cemeteries, the setting could really scared someone out at night. However, the interior is quite modern, there are still traces of the old church design found.

Outside and inside of the church:

So I've practiced with the vocalist a few times, couldn't really do much since the staff is working on the video projectors and sounds. Good thing is, since we're here earlier for 'practice', we could help ourselves with some refreshments that they prepared for the event before anyone does.

Playing on a grand piano and dinner!

It's actually Friends International's Annual Celebration, which they have testimonies of staff members, promoting areas and opportunities to get involved in. The turn out is pretty good, a lot of Globe Cafe volunteers and leaders from both Beeston Free Church and Cornerstone Church came.

That's Sen Loong and Joo Lian being interviewed:

"Obey the Lord by doing what I tell you. Then it will go well with you, and your life will be spared."
-Jeremiah 38:20-

I haven't been involving myself in any events of big Christian groups for quite a while., although this is quite spontaneous and random. Really pray for God to keep the faith in me, that I will not be discouraged over long span of stillness, Amen.

Congratulation to Catalin

We are invited to Catalin Catana and Sarah Woodward's wedding in St Leonard's Church, Wollaton. Catalin attends Cornerstone church sometimes, was a student in Nottingham University and just graduated from Master course (I guess it's their culture to marry at young age).

Wedding gift prepared by Sen Loong:

We don't have a lot of opportunity to suit up, all other people that attended are really well-dressed too. We are kinda outstanding because we are Asians, probably a little awkward when everyone else is English. I guess there are around 50 people who attended, a traditional church style wedding service.

Everyone's looking good:

Good thing that it's actually quite sunny in the morning, but the wind is strong too, everyone is shaking in the cold while taking pictures outside the church. Well, the bride is quite amazing, it'll be super cold with her wedding gown, but she kept on smiling for the whole photography session. I guess that's how love warms up somebody from the inside.

Photographs with the bridegroom and bride:

"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past."
-Isaiah 43:18-

This is the first wedding service that I've attended in UK (probably the only one). Really reminds me of Cheryl & Robert the newly married couple back in Malaysia. Pray that your future will be great under the grace of God and that this relationship and unity will strengthen each other spiritually, Amen.

Walking to Church in the Snow

After a whole night of snowing, it finally stops and we're gonna walk through the snow when it's thickest to church. Anyway, those who are experiencing this for the first time (like me) are really fascinated. While the seniors are like... "Oh No". Anyway, the scenery is really fantastic, it's so much more beautiful than usual.

Stuffing our shoes in the thick wet snow:

There are less people in church that day, and service started slightly later. I didn't know that there is free lunch for students, they have it once in a while. The fun thing is they covered the tables with paper and colour pencils are provided for random drawing, a pretty smart way for ice-breaking.

Preparing for lunch:

I actually enjoyed most (or all) of the church lunch so far, because it's really a taste of British local food. Jack potatoes, gravy and bake beans with cheese, something special out of my normal meals. Dessert is good too, ice-cream on puddings (puddings are actually something like brownies). Then the church leaders shared something about God's image in us, there goes a wonderful lunch session.

Standard British meal:

Spending my wonderful time walking back home again. I think I kinda know why the local dislike the snow, most of the houses are "flooded", it'll take a long time to clean it I guess. Oh ya, after weeks of cloudy days, I finally have some sunlight to cheer and warm us up.

Pure white field and a radiant of light:

"A hot-tempered person must pay the penalty; rescue them, and you will have to do it again."
-Proverbs 19:19-

I've heard of phrase like "He washed me white as snow", but it's until this day that I truly understand the white of snow. So pure and so beautiful, not only to the pleasing of sight but also somehow brighten my heart. If this is what nature can do, how much more can God achieve in us? Pray that the snow won't cause too much trouble for the neighborhood, but indeed this is a great blessings, Amen.

Cornerstone Chinese New Year Lunch

Happy Chinese New Year, it's my first CNY in UK and of course, there's no special celebration by the English people and don't even mention about holiday~ (the undergrads are still having exams). Today is CNY eve, those in Malaysia should be having reunion dinner. Cornerstone church organized a rice lunch, a very international CNY gathering.

Morning service with Chinese blessings hanged on stage:

Members of the Discipleship group are asked to host a table during the lunch, basically just set the table and take care of the church members in your table (talk with them and tell them some Chinese culture). There are 2 British families in my table, they are actually more social than I am, so no worries. The food is actually very Chinese, rice with mix vege, drumstick, and kueh tiao!

Setting my table and having lunch with local families:

We played some bible verse memorizing game (my table got John 3:16, quite an advantage :P), watch some video and sharing session. Everyone receive an ang pao, with bible verse and chocolate coin in it (yupz, I appreciate chocolate!). I get to bring back some leftover cakes too, awesome!

Red packet as a souvenir and my reward of the day:

"Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."
-Proverbs 4:23-

Because of the love of Christ, everyone is bonded together by love, and anywhere we go, we have families that love and care for each other. It's the last week of exam, hang on it everyone! For those in Malaysia campus who completed theirs and are back home cherishing reunion dinner, Happy Chinese New Year and may you all have a blessed walk with Christ in the Dragon year, Amen.

Sharing Of A Missionary in Japan

Usually, we have our discipleship bible study with people from Cornerstone Church in Portland building, but it's a little special this week where a lady will share her 35 years of experience in Japan. Few of us walked from Dunkirk to Wollaton Park for 20 minutes and we found Dorothy's house, thank God that night is not too cold.

First time in a British home:

We had spaghetti for dinner, custard pudding for dessert, and a little chit chat with chrysanthemum tea. I actually find my discipleship group kinda amazing, that we have Malaysians, Mexican and China students. Despise of her old age, Dorothy did amazing blending in our topics.

This is how puddings look like in British:

Dorothy shared with us some bible verses about reasons and needs to evangelize. She's under OMF to church plant in Japan since 1955. She met her husband along the journey, and also told us all the challenges, meeting different people, and leaving families behind. They're all so encouraging and miraculous.

A life dedicated to God in a foreign country:

"The one whose walk is blameless will minister to me."
-Psalms 101:6-

Personally, I've met several missionary in Malaysia, like Chris Abner. I know the sacrifices that they made and how hard is it to start a ministry in a new place. However, the fruits that they harvest is the greatest comfort and joy that would be remembered forever. May God bless the heart and works of these people who dedicated their life for You, Amen.

Christmas Present For Unknown

Cornerstone Church is having this project call Operation Christmas Child. Just turn an empty shoe box into a Christmas present and the church will deliver it to children in need in some other countries. I basically just chuck in toys and stationary.

Gonna specify gender and age range of the receiver:

So this day, most of us are holding a present box while walking to church. After worship session, then those who prepared will queue up and slowly place their box on the stage. Haha, the process kinda feels great, it's like everyone surrender part of them for the work of His kingdom.

Let's hand in the shoe boxes:

The participation is really good, the whole front stage is filled with present boxes stacking up. Then, the pastor is like preaching with a lot of Christmas boxes, thick smell of Christmas in the air. We won't know who get the present box, but God will deliver it to the correct one. Be blessed through blessing others, haha.

Full row of Christmas presents:

"For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless."
-Psalms 84:11-

Christmas is approaching, a season of giving and receiving. I give thanks for the blessings that I have as I arrive UK, and also for everyone who is preparing for Christmas, all the best and God bless you. Will keep each other in prayer, for another great experience with God, Amen.