A great family day

My nieces (my husband’s nieces actually) came to visit from the UK. 

Aren’t they precious and gorgeous?

We spent some time with them in church yesterday followed by shopping for clothes (first time my hubby spent so much on clothes for so many girls, i.e. two nieces, a sister and a wife), and then we were all in the cinema watching Star Wars, The Last Jedi, which is not bad I’d say though my hubby would beg to differ. 

But a great family day it was. 

pearlie

Why was Jesus born?

We celebrated Christmas Eve today at church and it wasn’t the usual Sunday service. After praise and worship, there was a short skit where three men talked about what Christmas is in Starbucks...

...followed by the same three guys playing the three wise men having a discussion about the birth of Jesus in Starbeth Cafe in Bethlehem. 

Then pastor gave a very good sermon about Christmas. 

I didn’t get the chance to take any notes but I remember a couple of new things I learnt from him:

1. The Jews knowing that the prophecy of the coming of Messiah was about to be fulfilled did not welcome the birth of Jesus but the magi who weren’t Jews were so excited about it they wanted to not only go and visit and give gifts, but to worship him. 

2. The virgin Mary was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, not by sexual relations with a man, and with that  Jesus did not inherit the sinful nature of man. And what the Holy Spirit did to “overshadow” Mary—the same way he overshadow the world when it was created—was when he prevented the sinful nature of Mary to be passed on to Jesus. 

The birth of Jesus more than two thousand years ago marked the history where God became man to save us from ourselves, from our sins.

Even if you do not believe him, this happened in history and therefore you do need to ask the question, why?

pearlie

Two beautiful versions of Angels We Have Heard On High

I bet some of you are busy practicing for Christmas by now. 

We were practicing the Pentatonix version of Angel We Have Heard On High. Err...rather ambitious I know, but it’s a long story...but aren’t they awesome here. 

And then I noticed this Piano Guys version in YouTube and I love it even more. I could watch this again and again and again. 

pearlie

Christmas Caroling at Puchong

An elevatorful of carolers!

I just started attending CDPC Puchong about 5 months ago, and I am beginning to get to know the people there. I took the opportunity to join in the small caroling team of 15. We went caroling today at Pangsapuri Enggang in Puchong to spread the good news and love of Christmas. It was wonderful to be able to bring the songs of the birth of Jesus, the message of the love of God and prayers for the people.

pearlie 

Are we apathetic about Christmas?

The Christmas message this morning by Rev Wong Fong Yang centers on the salvation that comes from Jesus. 

Reading from Matthew 2:1-12 on the visit of the magi after the birth of Jesus, the magi had told Herod, the king of the Jews, of Him who has been born King of the Jews. Herod was troubled and wanted to know where this king will be so that he can get rid of him. He brought together all the chief priests and scribes and asked about him. These leaders were well versed in Scripture and were quoting from Micah 5:2 about a ruler who will come forth from Bethlehem. The magi then went searching for the king and found him in Bethlehem. They worshipped him and then departed away from Herod after being warned by God not to return. 

An important lesson to learn this Christmas is this: are we indifferent about Christmas like the Jewish leaders, that even though they knew Scriptures, they were apathetic? If our hearts are not moved, if we don't look at Jesus to transform and change our lives, Christmas will just pass us by, not affecting any parts of us at all. 

Or are we hostile, like Herod, afraid that this King will overtake our lives that we kill the message, letting it not affect us?

Or are we searching like the magi for the King of the world, to bow down and worship Him, with gold for the King of kings, frankincense for the Lord of lords and myrrh for the sacrificial Lamb who takes away the sin of the world?

pearlie 

Come Lord Jesus

Come Thou Long Expected Jesus ~ Charles Wesley

pearlie 

In the tree

We made a Christmas tree at work and most of us got into the tree for pictures. 

Merry Christmas everyone!

pearlie

Christmas Caroling at Work

We set up a caroling team and sang some carols to spread the spirit and message of Christmas in the office today, and it was fabulous. 

It took us several weeks of planning and three consecutive days of practice. Everyone worked very hard to make this good and fun. 

We sang Joy to the World, Angels We Have Heard on High, O Holy Night, Jingle Bells, and a mesh of Feliz Navidad and We Wish You a Merry Christmas. 

We sang in three different locations and by the time we completed our gigs, the joy can be really seen in our faces as you can see in the picture above. 

Merry Christmas everyone!

pearlie 

Feeling Nostalgic

I have been listening to this Christmas album every Christmas since the 1990s though of course not in the last 7 years maybe since I have not been listening to CDs for awhile. 

A friend was telling me about this song her church will be singing, The Birthday of the King, which reminded me of it and I've been listening to the album again, in Apple Music this time. 

Bethlehem's Treasure

pearlie 

Handel's Messiah (Part One) at KL Wesley

 

The KL Wesley Festival Choir with the PJ Philharmonic Orchestra with conductor Joanna Lau and guest soloists Charity Lee, Teoh Lee Mei and Perry Ng

pearlie 

Twelve Days of Christmas in accapella

I was listening to the Christmas playlist in Apple Music and the presentation by the Tenebrae choir of The Twelve Days of Christmas arranged by Ian Humphris was included. I loved it! 

I could not find the Tenebrae's version in YouTube, but this one by QuireCleveland choir is just as good. 

Twelve Days of Christmas, arr. Ian Humphris

presented by QuireCleveland choir

pearlie

Merry Christmas Everyone!

I joined my family church in their combined celebration service today, which was held in a school hall. It was certainly some school hall. Amazing stage, lightings and I'm still in awe of the humongous LED screen. Just wished that the sound system was better.

Merry Christmas all! May the birth of Christ fill you with much hope and joy. May we live our lives filled with the Holy Spirit, with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. Amen.







pearlie

My Christmas reading

The First Days of Jesus, The Story of Incarnation
by Andreas J. Köstenberger and Alexander E. Stewart

"The birth of Jesus stands as a pivotal moment in the history of the world, marking a dramatic turning point in God’s plan to redeem creation from sin and death. Much to the world’s surprise, redemption had arrived . . . in the form of a lowly baby.

Aimed at stirring your affections for Jesus, this meditative book will lead you on a step-by-step journey through the Gospels’ birth narratives, clearing away common misconceptions, making messianic connections, and setting the stage for Jesus’s later life and ministry."

pearlie

Bethlehem's Treasure by Integrity Music

Bethlehem's Treasure
Integrity Music (1992)

I used to listen to this album every year during the Christmas season for several years in a row. I've lost the CD but found it in Spotify here.

It's lovely to listen to it again after so many years and be amazed with the wonderful gift of love that God has given us in Christ.

My favorite carol here is We Three Kings of Orient Are. The classic carol is given a superb rearrangement. And what more, the carol has the whole gospel in it. It's beautiful.

pearlie

Christmas Cantata: Come to the Manger

Grace Notes combined with the Kuala Lumpur Chinese Chinese Methodist Cantonese Church Choir presented a Christmas Cantata today: Come to the Manger, by Joe E. Parks.

The choir have been practicing for about 4 months now and I must say, it was quite well done - to the credit of the conductor and Grace Notes's director Joanna Lau.

The cantata carries a message that the angels have invited you to come to the manger and even if the inn had no room for him, do you have room for him in your life?

pearlie