This church has just moved to the former Hangout location on Back Street. The Hangout gave up the space and moved to a (probably less expensive location just opposite the Lamma Corner shop, besides the former Just Green location, close to the Tin Hau Temple.
So my neighbourhood in Sha Po Old Village will be a little quieter on Sunday mornings. Here's the flyer I picked up while walking by the bible study after the Sunday mass on Back Street. Very interesting reading and a clear declaration of the church's goals and direction:
Hoping to transform Lamma into an
Island of Gospel - with a giant cross up on a hill slope (
discussion) - and converting as many as possible of our 6,000 residents into believers who
"are of one mind, closely related and cohesive" and who'll follow every word of the Old and New Testament in the
"always reliable, error-free bible" as the absolute Truth.
Check out their new blog
http://www.hkjoshuachurch.org for more details about this
"bilingual church", but in Chin. only so far.
I'm hoping to have one more talk with Pastor Kong soon about their highly ambitious plans for Lamma which is currently a haven for people of so many different faiths and religions. It's also a haven for the non-religious and faithless who are usually living in peace, harmony and even respect with all the believers.
For example, a few upcoming events in the vibrant spiritual life of Lamma:
We've just visited an almost unknown Zheng De Taoist/Buddhist temple above SKW a few days ago. Their Yu Lan (start of Ghost Month) celebrations will last for 3 days next week.
The Chinese Yu Lan Festival around the YSW Tin Hau Temple will be celebrated on Monday, Aug 20, all day.
The Lamma Meditation Centre (above the Thai restaurant) is attracting orange/red-robed Tibetan llamas and features regular public events.
But the former Sacred Heart Buddhist centre seems to have gone quiet?
There'll be big feasts and celebrations for the End of Ramadan, Eid ul Fitr, the Muslim month of fasting, this Sunday, Aug 19, for the considerable numbers of muslims living here. I'd love to attend one someday....
The extremely ultra-secretive Canaan Garden (not related to the Canaan Church) has been tearing down and/or renovating many of the ruined houses in Shek Li (the former sanatorium (?) off the coastal path to Pak Kok, just below the Lamma Forest project). They're converting it into a Christian sect retreat, it is believed, judging from all the crosses painted on their walls last year.
The Church of Christ in China, well-established on Lamma for many years with a large number of (usually very low-key) members is holding regular events for members and guests in their church up in Po Wah Yuen and the Lamma Mission Centre at the top of Hung Sing Yeh (still active?)
The Catholics are probably the most high-profile Christian group on Lamma, with the cheerful, brown-robed Poor Clares nuns in the Portiuncula Monastery above the Lady of Lourdes Kindergarten, with their many community- and family-focused events and parties happening frequently.
... and to conclude this very short and incomplete overview of Lamma's spiritual/religious side (please add your own), the Philosophy Cafe will discuss
Spirituality for the non-religious next Wed, Aug 22.