This year’s Christmas Procession themed ‘For Unto Us a Saviour is Born’ was organized by St. Thomas Church, Bintulu and for the first the event hosted at newly open Paragon Street Mall, Bintulu Sarawak.
The yearly Christmas procession is hosted to celebrate this festive occasion with the aim of promoting love, unity, and oneness in the community. It attracted thousands of visitors from all walks of life and from various races and religions in Bintulu.
The participants are representatives from local churches in and around Bintulu which includes Anglican Church, Methodist church, Salvation Army, Calvary Baptist Church, Baptist Shalom, Calvary Church, Borneo Evangelical Mission, Seventh Day Adventist, Life Church, Bethany Church among others.
The event began with Opening prayer in Bahasa by Pastor Walter Uyo of the Borneo Evangelical Mission, and in Chinese by Rev. Diong Pick Chiong of the Methodist Church at 6.35pm, followed by Gospel proclamation taken the scripture of Luke 2:1-14 in English by Roman Catholic, Bahasa by Methodist Iban (Jack Untu) and in Chinese by the Salvation Army.
In this year’s celebrations, more than 4,000 Christians from all various denominations and groups, participated at Paragon Street Mall in proclaiming their faith using different costume display.
The 2017 procession was unique as it didn’t follow the usual route of going through the streets because of the massive rainfall. The Bible says; A man’s heart plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps. Proverbs 16:9 (NKJV).
The initial route was from Paragon Street Mall through Kintown Inn, straight to City Point, to Regency Hotel via Kampung, through to Li Hua Plaza, Esplanade, Pasar and to Hong Leong bank, EPF and then back to Paragon Street Mall.
The performance of the event included traditional dances, praise and worship, Hymns and Christmas carols blared through speakers, and the highlight was the blowing of the shofar by the local church group declaring and establishing God’s love and unity.
“In unity and togetherness, the spirit of the Lord moves.” That must be our approach, family, and friends working together as ONE to the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Sabrina and her family from Penang visiting Sarawak for the first time said they are lucky and happy to have witnessed love the even and the spirit of the Sarawakians.
Rahman who works in the oil & gas industry but from Terengganu was thrilled and probably never came across something like it before.
The event that has received strong support from the local community. It was indeed a combined effort of Bintulu Development Authority, police force and the management of Paragon Street mall as gifts and presents were handed out to visitors and onlookers.
May the spirit of Christmas brings everyone peace, joy, glory, and love in Jesus Name. Amen
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Edirin Jameson
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