There was once a hungry ghost who was out in the loose during the Seventh Month festivities. However, when the time came for him to head back to Hell, he was nursing a hangover from too much partying and missed the closing of the gates. Hence he was stuck in the mortal world and wandered around for 2 weeks. He got more and more hungry and became angry too. He started terrorising villagers and chasing them around. The frightened human beings banded together and decided to trap him until the next year's Seventh Month. They made pastries filled with lotus paste and salted egg yolk, and threw them at him. The lotus paste stuck on him and dried up and he got stuck on a wall that he bumped into while fleeing from the flying pastries. Thereafter he was plastered on the wall and was doomed to stay there till the following year. In order to keep the ghost quiet, they fed him more of the pastries and he was satisfied. But they could not release him no matter what they tried, until a little boy tripped over a stone and spilled his oolong tea on the lotus paste. The oolong tea dissolved the (dried up) lotus paste and the ghost was free. He was so happy (because he was not hungry anymore) that he stayed in the village and helped the villagers terrify neighbouring hostile villages. Finally, the year was up and he could go back to Hell, but he always visited the village every year.
And that is why we eat mooncakes and drink tea during the mid-autumn festival.
If you have stayed with me thus far, well, you better just read on...
Last Sunday in CG
Our AA batteries, Amanda and Adeline, presented C.S. Lewis' thoughts on Love, in particular Philia and Eros. We continued our reflection on St Paul's great discourse on Love (1 Cor 13: 1-13) in relation. There's too much to sumarise here but if you click here (note: for internal circulation only) you can get a copy of Lewis' writing and read what he has to say.
This Sunday in CG
The series on Love continues with God's love, and we have a special speaker just for this session! Come join us to find out more!
Upcoming Schedule
We did a survey of what topics you wished to see covered in EW CGs, and many of you chose something to do with the Holy Spirit. In line with that, we have a new series of CGs coming up just for that from Oct 17 onwards (tentatively), and it will be specially presented by the good people from SACCRE. More news to follow soon, stay tuned!
In other news (continued from last week),
1) End-Year Retreat: Man in the Mirror (18 - 22 Dec, Malacca)
As we enter the final stages of preparation for EYR, here are two pointers to note:
a) Hour of Prayer (Sundays, 1600-1700) Knowing that prayer forms the backbone of our plans and guides our decisions, we need to intensify our prayer efforts to ensure things go smoothly and in accordance to His will. Hence, the EYR committee will meet on Sundays at 1600hrs for an hour of prayer. Do join them if you are free, and we hope that you continue to pray for the EYR - preparations, planners, participants - and may it be a fruitful endeavour to grow the youth of Nativity.
b) Facilitators wanted If you wish to help as a facilitator (and we do need several facilitators), contact Isis or Jerry and they will give you more information on the preparation sessions required. Facilitators play a crucial role in bringing each session to the participants, so please be generous with your talents!
2) Discernment Tools Workshop for young men and women (9-10 October, 9am - 5pm both days)
If you have no idea how to go about finding the meaning of your life, the Archdiocese has just the right event for you! The seminarians at Punggol are organising this workshop that promises to equip you witht he right tools so that you can discern about your vocation: singlehood, married life, priesthood, religious life, etc. For more information, go to here. Early bird discount closes 26 Sep, so don't hesitate too long!
a) Hour of Prayer (Sundays, 1600-1700) Knowing that prayer forms the backbone of our plans and guides our decisions, we need to intensify our prayer efforts to ensure things go smoothly and in accordance to His will. Hence, the EYR committee will meet on Sundays at 1600hrs for an hour of prayer. Do join them if you are free, and we hope that you continue to pray for the EYR - preparations, planners, participants - and may it be a fruitful endeavour to grow the youth of Nativity.
b) Facilitators wanted If you wish to help as a facilitator (and we do need several facilitators), contact Isis or Jerry and they will give you more information on the preparation sessions required. Facilitators play a crucial role in bringing each session to the participants, so please be generous with your talents!
2) Discernment Tools Workshop for young men and women (9-10 October, 9am - 5pm both days)
If you have no idea how to go about finding the meaning of your life, the Archdiocese has just the right event for you! The seminarians at Punggol are organising this workshop that promises to equip you witht he right tools so that you can discern about your vocation: singlehood, married life, priesthood, religious life, etc. For more information, go to here. Early bird discount closes 26 Sep, so don't hesitate too long!
3) Confirmation Camp (4 -7 Nov, Nativity Church)
Facilitators are needed for Confirmation Camp. Do approach Sebby if you would like to help. Confirmation is not the end of growing in knowledge and love of God, it is merely the beginning, so do help spread this message to our Confirmands!
Ok that's all from me, see you all on Sunday!
In His love,
barry
for Emmaus Walk
No comments:
Post a Comment