Emerald City's firework display

New Year Eve in Sydney

Christmas service at WS

with Youth Fellowship lunch afterwards

Thank God i could manage to wake up at 6.30 am this morning even though i got home pretty late last night after the midnight nativity eucharist. Took 7.50 am train from Central Station and arrived at WS church by 8.25 am.

The choir sang four songs in two services, 8.45 am Canto and 10.30 Mandarin. There were quite a few new faces in the choir for this Christmas presentation. A lot of things have been happening in the past six months - resignation of choir leader (a role which is separated from conductor), pianist and several members due to physical disabilities for some and other commitments around church for other.

On Christmas day, we sang 1. The Word Became Flesh - 2. Canticle of Joy - 3. Christmas Prayer - 4. Merry Christmas to you.

We truly thank God for He has provided us with a new pianist. Sam is a young man who plays piano very well. He has just finished his year-12 HSC and been willing to commit his spare time for the choir to prepare this year's Christmas presentation.

New members with willingness to serve the Lord have been diligently prayed and carefully selected by Aunt L-W. More rehearsal sessions were required but it worthed doing for it has been a privilege given by God to train and prepare some of these people for better ministries in choir. During this period, I witnessed how God has worked amazingly and answered prayers in ways we never thought about. Wow..

There was lunch at church after the 10.30 service organised by the Mandarin's Youth Fellowship. I thank God when i saw quite a number of Mandarin-speaking Christian youths gathering together. Mandarin-speaking youths at WS have been rare for quite some time. The fellowship was very good, everyone had a good laugh and this was the chance to know each other better.

Jesus' birthday

Midnight Eucharist of the Nativity - Dec 24 11.30pm

There was an 11.30 pm (yes, pm!) eucharist at St James celebrating the first hour of the birth of our Lord Jesus. Arrived at the 23.oo hour and the church has already been 80% full. The church was fully packed (including the balcony) by the time it started.

The service was divine. The music was very inspiring and the surrounding was just like a normal 11am Sunday choral eucharist but with more people attending. A brief moment of darkness filled the room as the light went off (on purpose) for several minutes. Soft glow from candles swept away the darkness of the room with a sense of hope and calmness.

The light was gradually restored as the service began with a hymn "O Come All Ye Faithful". More hymns were sung during the night and WILLS Missa Eliensis (1959) was chosen as the setting for the eucharist. Apart from the Greek Kyrie, the rest was sung in English text.

The service finish around 1.15am and i walked to town hall for buses.

more reunion

Dinner at Kelly's - Bondi Junction

There were thirteen people present at the gathering. Apart from Ivon, Lisa, Toto and me, the rest were Toto's friends. Aboy, Ruko and Han were supposed to be there too - but last minute cancellation was unavoided.

There were 8 of Medan's origin and the rest were from other parts of Indo. It was good to meet new friends while "reunion"-ing with old friends.

Five of Medan's origin:
[upper row]: danko, Toto;
[lower row]: Liz, Ivon, Vero-("dah")-nika(h)


Guys in action with Ivon as the artistic photographer


Group photo of those who attended the dinner

Farewell moment - calling it a day

a walk to beach

Bondi Beach - Sydney

Liz and Ivon took some time wandering the sandy beach of Bondi in the afternoon. The scenery was magnificent. The sea breeze calmed one's mind. We dropped by at Hurricane later to meet Ivon's primary school's friend - Feli - before heading to Bondi Junction for one last dinner of Ivon's visit in Sydney.


danko and Ivon - Bondi beach


Liz - Ivon - Feli

Reunion of Medan-lang

M-3 Junior High and M-2 Senior High reunion

Thumbs up for the reunion. Really enjoy it. 10 people made it to the reunion which took place at Fujiya restaurant - cnr Gouldburn n' George st, Sydney.

The food was alright but the gathering was fantastic.

a walk to town

The Rocks - Sydney

We - Ivon, her two nephews and me - started the day with lunch at Centrepoint followed by a scenic walk from David Jones (Hyde Park) passing through Elizabeth Street, Martin Place and George Street all the way to Circular Quay on a sunny Wednesday afternoon.

Made a stop at MCA and had a bite at the newly-reopened-after-closed-for-renovation "Pancakes on the Rocks". We recalled lots of memories we had during high school times.

Ivon's arrival

meeting a good ol' friend from melbourne

She arrived today at 14.27 pm - about an hour delay from the scheduled arrival time - with flight DJ841 from Melbourne to Sydney. I have not seen her for five years and she has not changed much. It is good, i believe, to meet up and have reunion with friends from junior high and senior high once in a while.

I have known her for so long. She is a very dedicated and faithful servant in God's ministry. She plays piano very well too. We were classmates for six years until we graduated from senior high and followed different paths of life. Three years in junior high and three in senior high have been a very memorable time that i treasure closely to my heart.

We had a brief chat before she was picked up from the airport by her cousin. I thank God that she still involves herself in God's ministry at a church as she continues her study in Melbourne.

She is thinking of a reunion tomorrow with several friends who has been living in Sydney. Really looking forward to it.

Confirmed: April 07

My Graduation Ceremony
I am starting missing uni now.

Witnessing God's grace

Status: Awarded Graduand

My heart overflows with utmost thanksgiving to God for He has graciously allowed me to graduate from the university. Lyric of a song "My Tribute" by Andrea Crouch makes my eyes teary as i ponder at God's blessing upon me.

How can I say thanks
for the things You have done for me?
Things so undeserved
yet You give to prove Your love for me
The voices of a million angels
could not express my gratitude
All that I am and ever hope to be
I owe it all to [You] ...

I thank God for all the strength and grace given to me so that i can finish my tertiary study satisfactorily. The last semester was the toughest compared to the earlier few years of my university life. It was tough in the sense of huge loads of assessments varying from assignments, projects, lab works, lab reports, seminars, lab practical exams to final examination papers at the end of the semester.

Well, i met couple of new friends from Chemical Engineering background as we were in the same electives. They are very very nice people. I value the days we spent together studying, discussing and preparing seminars. This opportunity enabled me to learn more about other people's personalities and way-of-thinking which i might not encounter before.

Christmas 2006

It's K-Rudd and J-Gill

Newly elected Labour Party leader and deputy leader

Well, politics was not really my cup of tea until recent exposure to news coverage in leadership campaign of political party has caught my attention.

The battle was between current Federal Opposition leader (of ALP - Australian Labour Party) - Kim Beazley with appointed shadow minister for foreign affair and trade (another Labour MP) - Kevin Rudd. Rudd was elected leader by a margin of 49 votes to 39 over Beazley.

Rudd has his fellow Labor MP Julia Gillard as deputy leader. This result ended Beazley's long-held dream to lead the country as Prime Minister.

Kevin Rudd - father of three, one-time diplomat, unapologetic Christian, son of a dairy worker, intellectual, Mandarin speaker, former chief administrator of Queensland, husband of an entrepreneur - was appraised by Beazley (in his final press conference as labour leader) as a very able and intelligent man with very wide base of knowledge and absolute determination to do the right thing for the Australian people who will take labour party to victory at the next election.

Rudd and Gillard are suggesting a fresh style of leadership and a new policy agenda to create a more effective delivery of services like health and education.

Source: smh.com.au - news.com.au - wiki on Kevin Rudd - kevinrudd.com

135 degrees is the best

Ergonomic sitting posture

The Age reported that the more relaxed 135-degree backward sprawl sitting posture substantially put least strain on spinal discs and surrounding muscles and tendons which is the best way to avoid back pain. Both desk slouchers and upright sitters are exposed to fairly equal risk of wear and tear to spinal discs in their lower spine according to some researches.

Researches utilised 22 volunters with snapshots of their spines taken by positional magnetic resonance imaging as they sat in 3 positions:
1. slouched and hunched forward;
2. upright;
3. laid back at the angle of 135 degrees.

Week 4 - Nov@WS

It's been a month playing in the service. Can relax a bit now and focus on choir rehearsal for Christmas service.

Final set of hymns for this month played on 10.30am service:
1. Holy, Holy, Holy (Heber/Dykes)
Tune: NICAEA
Meter: 11.12.12.10
Topic/Scriptural Reference: Trinity/Rev. 4:8, 10; 5:11; Ps 18:11; Ex 33:20; Ps 18

2. Trust and Obey(Sammis/Towner)
Tune: TRUST AND OBEY
Meter: 6.6.9.D. with Ref.
Topic/Scriptural Reference: Obedience/ Jn1:7; Lk10:39

Hymn: Holy, Holy, Holy

Tune: NICAEA
Meter: 11.12.12.10

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty!
Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee;
Holy, holy, holy! merciful and mighty!
God in three Persons, blessèd Trinity!

This Trinity hymn was written by Bishop Reginald Heber (1783-1826) during his time as Vicar of Hodnet, Shropshire (1807-1823). It is the best known and most popular of the author's hymns.

First published posthumously in A Selection of Psalms and Hymns for the Parish Church of Banbury (1826), the hymn is a metrical paraphrase of Revelation 4:8-11, which is part of the Epistle for Trinity Sunday in the Book of Common Prayer. The image of the glassy sea (verse 2, line 2) is from Revelation 4:6.

Tune Nicæa (1861)

Composed for this hymn by the Revd John Bacchus Dykes (1823-1876) for Hymns Ancient and Modern (1861), the tune Nicæa has its name taken from the Council of Nicæa, 325 AD, where the doctrine of the Trinity became recognised. He wrote the tune within 30 minutes - for the use on Trinity Sunday, which occurs eight weeks after Easter - which carried the praise of the Trinity to Christians everywhere.

John graduated with a music master in the same year he composed the tune as he has been a church organist in St John's Church, Hull since he was ten-years-old; was cofounder-then-president of the Cambridge University Musical Society; and appointed vicar of St. Oswald, Durham (1862-1876) .

John might have several different opinions with his bishop, Charles Baring of Durham, regarding "high-church" concept in church and he obtained no help from the bishop as he himself handle his whole parish which could be an exhaustive task.

Have written 300 hymns, John died in Sussex at age 53 on January 22, 1876.

The first and last lines are similar to Tune Wachet Auf (Sleepers wake) as both could draw from the common tradition of catholic hymnody established in the 16th century. Nicæa was more probably inspired by the tune Trinity (1850; John Hopkins) .

Regarded as Dykes' finest and has a timeless quality, Nicæa is one of several tunes where congregations experience difficulty in the melody. To help, the brackets indicate a downward or same note in the melody:

'Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almigh- (down) -ty' (1st line),
'Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and Migh- (same) -ty' (3rd line).

Click here for full lyric and tune Nicæa's MIDI file.

Source:
Holy, Holy, Holy complete review
Article on John Dykes

Week 3 - Nov@WS

Today's hymns:
1. Blessed be the Name
Tune: Blessed be the Name
Meter: C.M. with Refrain
2. Wonderful, Wonderful Jesus!
Tune: -
Meter: 9.8.9.6 with Refrain

Advent 2006

Hmm... been thinking of attending:

1. Advent Procession with Carols - Dec 3
2. The Service of Nine Lessons and Carols - Dec 17

Advent (Latin Adventus, sc. Redemptoris, "the coming of the Saviour") marks the beginning of church liturgical year. This 4-week holy season prepares Christmas celebration and starts on the fourth Sunday before Christmas.

Reading and teaching during this season contains reminder of the Second Coming and commemoration of the First Coming of Christ our Saviour at Christmas.

Nine Lessons and Carols is a service with nine short Bible readings with hymns and carols singing in between - telling the story of the fall of man, the promise of the Messiah, and the birth of Jesus Christ. First held in King's College, Cambridge on Christmas Eve of 1918, it has been the tradition ever since.

It is customary to start the service with the hymn Once in Royal David's City and end with the hymn Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.

More information:
Advent (on Wikipedia)
Nine Lessons and Carols (on Wikipedia)

Fr Atsushi leaving...

23rd Sunday after Pentecost

Went to 7.45am said eucharist. It's sad to know that The Rev'd Atsushi Shibaoka will no longer serve as Senior Associate Priest at SJKS Sydney. As today's (Nov 12) been his last Sunday, he presided the eucharist himself and later delivered a farewell sermon. He admitted the struggle of preparing today's sermon - which would be his last - for six weeks!

He encouraged every believers to take courage in living this worldly life. He thanked the parishioners for accepting him as their shepherd and their willingness to share their lives with him as their friend.

Good wishes to you, Fr Atsushi, for you new ministry in the RAAF.

Week 2 - Nov@WS

Today's hymns:
1. Now Thank We All Our God
Tune: Nun Danket
Meter: 6.7.6.7.6.6.6.6
2. We Praise Thee, O God
Tune: Revive Us Again
Meter: 11.11 with Refrain

Angelus et Pastores

UNSW Collegium Choir presents: Christmas Concert 2006

A delightful program of carols based around Angels and Shepherds - including items from UNSW’s chamber choir - the Burgundian Consort, Handbell Ensemble and featured student performers.

The program includes communal carols, a candlelit procession and favourites from the festive season. Guest choristers will join in the performance, and audience members will be treated to homemade gingerbread and a small Christmas gift as has become tradition at UNSW.

A newly-commissioned work by leading Australian pianist and composer, Ian Munro, to a text by prominent Australian poet Peter Porter will be given its first performance. Written to celebrate the 40th anniversary of employment at UNSW for Prof Roger Covell, who founded UNSW’s Music Performance Unit (including the Collegium Musicum Choir and Australia Ensemble) as well as the School of Music and Music Education, and has long been an outstanding figure in music in Australia.

Venue: Sir John Clancy Auditorium, UNSW
Date: Thursday, 23 November 2006 - 8pm
Tickets: Adult $20, Senior $17, Concession $14

Bookings and Enquiries:
You can directly contact me or throughUNSW Music Performance Unit (02) 9385 4874 (Monday to Friday)

Week 1 - Nov@WS

Upon short notice, i said yes to the offer to play for this month. Things didnt happen as planned and a relief pianist is in need.

Two hymns played for today:

1. How Great Thou Art
Tune: O Store Gud
Meter: 11.10.11.10

2. Wonderful Grace of Jesus
Tune: Wonderful Grace
Meter: Irregular

The Revellers

Two days ago Tan's couple from WS offered me a ticket for tonight's ACO concert as a friend of theirs cannot make it. Australia Chamber Orchestra presented their last program "The Revellers" for 2006 season featuring young Russian pianist POLINA LESCHENKO. It's been a very enjoyable evening at City Recital Hall - Angel Place, Sydney.

Smalley Birthday Tango [World Premiere] Commissioned by Barbara Blackman

Mendelssohn Concerto in D minor for Violin and Piano

Janacek Suite for Strings: Presto

Dvorák Serenade for Strings in E major Op.22

[Three encores to thank audiences for their ongoing support in 2006]
Piazolla Contrabajissimo

Traditional Cuckold Come Out of the Amrey

Piazolla Obilivion

I am grateful that i accepted the offer. God's been so good to me. He knew i needed a break.

Little Organ Mass Setting

4th Sunday after Pentecost

Setting:HAYDN Missa brevis Sancti Johannis de Deo
Motet: GIBBONS Almighty and everlasting God
Voluntary: HOLLINS A song of sunshine

The church was pretty full today and the setting was beautifully sung. Complete explanation of the setting was provided in SJKS Pewsheet.

Also known as Little Organ Mass (1775-1778) (German: Kleine Orgelsolomesse), this setting was written for organ, string quartet and a chorus as a devotion to a hospital chapel owned by Brothers Hospitaller of Saint John of God (1495-1550) in Eisenstadt.

This tiny chapel has a small organ and loft fit for small group of instrumentalists. Brief composition for each movements was prepared with long Benedictus qui venit featuring a soprano soloist and concertante-style organ. Quiet opening of Kyrie is carefully balanced with soft Agnus Dei at the closing.

‘If we look forward to receiving God’s mercy, we can never fail to do good so long as we have the strength. For is we share with the poor, out of love for God, whatever he has given to us, we shall receive according to his promise a hundredfold in eternal happiness; ... Just as water extinguishes a fire, so love wipes away sin.’
– St John of God

1 - 0: An honor defeat of Socceroos to Italy

Been caught up with Soccer fever for a little while since Aussie team has made it to World Cup in Germany. And the journey has to be ended in a 'controversial' defeat to Italy.

Lowenbrau - The Rocks

It's winter and mildly chilled yet we chose to sit at outdoor table. Ha! Surrounding view was magnificent. Like it very much.

.

Went to Lowenbrau - a German restaurant at the Rocks. Tried the platter 'Schlachtplatte' - came in large serving enough for two.

Schlachtplatte (Löwenbräu's Platter):
Selection of Bavarian Specialities, sausages, meatloaf, chicken schnitzel, roast pork belly, kassler, mashed potato & sauerkraut.

Been great catching up with friends. There's Willy, Ange, her sis and Chris. Yet there's always be an empty chair awaiting for a friend who's left Sydney for good three months ago. Miss you, Fel!

The Birth of John the Baptist

3rd Sunday after Pentecost

As Sundays approach, I feel eagerness inside me like a child awaiting for gift from his parents. There is excitement in me when it is Sunday - the day the Lord has made when his people come together singing praises, listening to His Word (vertical aspect of worship) and having fellowship with one another (horizontal aspect of worship).

Setting: LOBO Missa Simile est regnum
Motet: SUMSION Tantum ergo

Another choral eucharist at St James Anglican being attended this Sunday. This week reminds us about the birth of John the Baptist- son of the priest Zechariah (Luke 1:13). Holding the priesthood of Aaron (Luke 1:5), John was a prophet of wilderness preaching repentance and performing water baptism in the Jordan river for the forgiveness of sins (Mark 1:4; Luke 3:3). Insufficiency of water baptism was to be made complete with baptism of Holy Ghost performed by The One which was to come (Luke 3:16). "The One" was referred to Jesus our Lord and Saviour.

Today's world is still in much need of God's salvation through Jesus Christ. As God's people, we are challenged to share the good news with friends and colleagues in our surrounding. We are the light and the salt of the world.

Live concert of Greenway Quartet

There was a free one-hour concert presented by a local classical music radio station namely 92.9 ABC Classic FM at Eugene Goossens Recital Hall, ABC Centre Harris St.

The performers were Greenway Quartet of Sydney Conservatorium of Music formed in 2002 (or 01?) by four Conservatorium students as part of their ensemble studies. These students are now continuing master degrees at the same institution. The quartet has made a debut tour to China and been finalist in major competitions in Asia Pacific recently.

In remembrance of SHOSTAKOVICH's 100th anniversary of his death, the quartet played his String Quartet No7 in F#minor Op108 and BEETHOVEN String Quartet No8 in Eminor Op59. The music was beautiful and it's a full house in the recital. The first set lasted for 12 minutes - pretty short for a quartet piece - but it has been a very interesting journey made by the composer.

There has been a long queue at the recital door as i arrived at 2.20pm. It's amazing to see a great number of elderly people turning up very early and not minding standing in the queue for quite some time.

Did you know?

The 2nd Sunday after Pentecost

According to the church calendar, today is the second sunday after Pentecost (June 4). Formerly dedicated as the first Sunday after Trinity Sunday (which is last Sunday - June 11), this Sunday was just another ordinary Sunday a local Anglican church celebrating Choral Eucharist at 11am with setting of HOWELLS Missa Collegium Regale sung in English and a latin motet of TALLIS Dum transisset Sabbatum.



The remaining Sundays until Advent (about the end of the year) will continue to be remembered as post-Pentecost Sundays with naming of "the n-th Sunday after Pentecost". We will constantly be reminded about the continuous work of the Holy Spirit upon Christ's church throughout the year.

Fr Peter is still on leave for a journey to UK and the States until July. There'll be Choral Evensong next Sunday afternoon 3pm (it's the 4th Sunday of the month) sung by a guest choir known as The Cathedral Singers from St Andrew Cathedral (Anglican Church) Sydney.

is this the moment...

Since i am no longer working on friday, it allows me to spend more time at home doing house-chores and writing my thesis/assignments/papers. Later today, I went to my uncle's place for the usual 8pm bible study meeting on friday night. I left home at 5.30pm to catch 6.00pm #286 bus to eastwood. The bus was on-time but the traffic was unbelievably slow. It took an hour to get there.

Long story short, i arrived and had some kind of normal conversation with my uncle about life, my study and church issue. We had a great time discussing issues and stuff. They were glad that i am finishing my course by the end of the year. And for the first time in four years time, i was personally challenged by my aunt with one question.

"Are you willing to embark the journey of priesthood?" she asked calmly.

I was somehow bewildered, but rather fascinated with the question. There were a few second silent before i resume with an answer. "Yes, I am." i solemnly replied. "And I have given some serious thought about it. I'm yet not knowing when is the time for me to walk that path."

Furthermore i explained to her that i did have the calling and commit my life to God in several occasions back in my early stage of life.

Responding to the call, i raised the matter with my family, pastors and evangelists at church. We all agreed that it would be better to start a priesthood life once i have earned a university degree.

Since that day, i kept this matter close to my heart. For these past years, I have been holding firm on my faith as God has continuously used my life as a channel for His blessing to people in my surrounding. And one day, if God is willing, He will allow me to walk the priesthood's life. But for time being, i have not got any clue about the coming of that day.

I will keep remember this matter in my daily prayer and ask for God's guidance and kindness in shedding some light toward this matter.

accreditation

Accreditation at my workplace is due soon. Pretty interesting, huh? the last accreditation was done like three years ago or less. It was in October 2003 to be exact. The whole procedure is expected to be completed in June 2006 and done by ACHS review board.

are you a punctual person?

I start to have meeting every now and then on Saturday morning at church. Meeting starts at 9 and the latest train to catch (before am running late) will be the 8.20am at platform 18. Trains on weekends are sparingly scheduled and it teaches me a lesson or two about punctuality and try-to-get-there-in-time habit.

It ain't pretty situation of missing buses and trains. It frustrates not only you but also the people who have been waiting for you.

Flashing back to senior-high time, i used to be out of bed by five in the morning and have breakfast in the next 30 minutes. Would have waited for schoolbus by 6.15 am and reach school at 0650 hour. As school starts daily at 7.10 am, i have been trained to be a morning person.

Out of the blue, i feel like missing those good ol' time and it makes me treasure those moments closer to my heart.

Fine Dining at Summit

I had a good time today.

My brother and I made a reservation tonight for two at Summit Restaurant on level 47, Australia Square. It has been another great dining experience for both of us.

We had three course meal while enjoying the 360 degree view of Sydney skyline as the ground of the venue revolves continuously and eventually accomplishes a complete cycle in every 105 minutes.

Mine:
Starter - Oysters grill
Main - Double cooked lemon chicken
Dessert - Peach Frappe

Dave's:
Starter - Chilli prawn tappas
Main - Ocean Trout
Dessert - Mango Brulee

count down. hours to go

Starting from tomorrow, if someone out there ask about my age, I will no longer be able to tell them that i am 22, going on 23. That is true - tomorrow will be my 23rd birthday.

As I gazed upon the sky, I flashed back many of both grateful and heart-thumping events that have changed my life mentally and spiritually. I have to become stronger and tougher as the journey of life resumes.

Highlights of the past 12 months:

1. my first day commencing the work experience.
2. moments of planning the thesis and the D-day of thesis seminar,
3. the days cramping for P-plate license prac exam,
4. the long-weekend attending a regional church music camp,
5. reasonably-last-minute-notice visit from a bunch of hometown friends and the time we spent together,
6. The completion of my personal Bible-reading challenge that took about 5 months,
7. Regular attendance to the Bible study at Rev. Wongso's place in the past six or seven months

Should say happy birthday to myself. And three Cheers to myself, too!
Hip hip....hoorahh!!
Hip hip....hoorahh!!
Hip hip....hoorahh!!

WS churchRetreat poster

The poster of WS churchRetreat is out! Check the detail and please mark the date in your diary. So, see you all there! :-)

WS ChurchRetreat
uploaded by adanko.