Gung Hay Fat Choy

Dear friends and visiting guests: WELCOME!

January 26th marked the beginning of the New Lunar Year 4707. In the Chinese Calendar it is known as "The Year of the OX ".

Lunar New Year is a time for rejoicing, for re-connecting with ourselves and with our families. To Asians “Chinese New Year”  represents a sort of special blend of the Western traditional celebrations of "Thanksgiving" and "Easter".

At The very heart of the “Lunar New Year Celebrations” or “Spring Festival” there seem to be present two present two specific elements: Welcome the Spring Season and honoring the ancestors.

I’ve found  web-page that you could visit for more information:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year

The many cherry blossoms and pussy-willow adorning the Church symbolize that Spring is close and that life can be compared to a huge tree, known in Phenomenology as "Cosmic Tree", where the ancestors are symbolized by the roots (invisible, but strong underground), its stems or branches are the parents and then the buds in full bloom are the children.

The invisible, but life-giving sap that flows from the roots to the buds, is what is called in Chinese: "Chi" which could he rendered into English with "Life" or) using a Christian terminology: "Holy Spirit".

The "Sky-God" is hovering over this “cosmic tree" which is the world, watering it with rain, and warming it up with the rays of sun,

With firing of the fire-crackers people intend to scare off the wild animals (Sickness, illness etc.) attacking the tree and trying to destroy it.

These rites celebrate the beginning of Season of Spring right in the mist of winter, emphasizing how life has to be found at the very center of death.
This, universal truth is learned not from "sacred Books" but by observing the laws of nature .

People noticed how trees, before shedding their leaves in Autumn, make sure that buds are in place, ready to bloom in following Spring. Farmers came to understand that life is always victorious over the power of Death

People also noticed how those trees which keep their foliage have flexible branches and/ or needle-leaves.

One more basic truth was then discovered, that is: in the long and perilous journey of life "one has to travel light"; it means that one has to "let it go of regrets for the past, worries for the future".

One has to learn how to be rooted in the present. His in the present moment that life/God can he found.

Through these-celebrations very important truths about the meaning of life are thus convened
As Christians we welcome them as a providential preparation to the Gospel of Christ and we intend to share them with our fellow men/women and to pass them on to our children as a precious legacy of the past of which to be proud.

Happy New Year of the OX !

+ Some few more things:

Bible:
The English-Speaking Bible Group will meet next Saturday 2/14 at the Rectory to discuss and pray on the First Chapter of the book of Genesis. Everybody is welcome.

Sharing our blessings with prisoners:
Deacon Andrew Nielo Staff Chaplain at the DuPage County Jail and Mr. David Warren of Cook County Jail remind us of the Chinese inmates who will be celebrating “Chinese New Year” in prison. The second collection of today will go towards their ministries.

Monies:
Last Sunday Collection was:                                       $1,571