silent night...

Looking back on what happened during Christmas last year, this year is really dry and dull, reason being most of us seem to be geting sick of the thought of being amidst the Orchard Road crowd getting last minute presents or rushing from one party to another or wrapping gifts and preparing Christmas dinners. Maybe Er Yi's decision to veto out her annual Christmas party at her place contributed largely to the silent night I'm experiencing tonight but not to worry, there's always "Peter Pan" to turn to at 10 later...

Anyway, church always has interesting events lined up to maintain the Christmas cheer [even though we all know that Christmas isn't just about the turkey and the gifts and the merry-making].

Home Christmas at g12 was as happening as ever with more people coming to join us. Food was great, sharing that night was by Yireng and everyone enjoyed themselves...

pictures courtesy of Jasmine and Midori :)

Also, the Christmas Banquet at HOF made me feel all excited for Christmas again. Dresscode:Streetwear.

my sister's cute street hairdo since 1998... Bedok 2!
The "pasar malam" on the first floor was really something. There were street games and food by the various regions, although we mostly tried the food the whole time. If I'm not wrong, Region D's food was nice (fake shark's fin soup, muah chee and fried chicken that resembles that of Taiwan's "Shihlin Snacks." I especially liked the game by Region B.

The game involves the player trying to hit the rapidly popping heads of the Region B members (donned in colourful construction helmets) before they retreat back to their holes (something like the game in arcades where you hit the crocodile's jaw as it comes out of its hole). Midori got disqualified from the game as she hit their heads too hard. :D

Sermon by Pastor Dale was good too and his framework was based on a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow:

I heard the bells on Christmas Day

Their old, familiar carols play,

And wild and sweet

The words repeat

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,

The belfries of all Christendom

Had rolled along

The unbroken song

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till ringing, singing on its way,

The world revolved from night to day,

A voice, a chime,

A chant sublime

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth

The cannon thundered in the South,

And with the sound

The carols drowned

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent

The hearth-stones of a continent,

And made forlorn

The households born

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;

“There is no peace on earth,” I said;

“For hate is strong,

And mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;

The Wrong shall fail,

The Right prevail,

With peace on earth, good-will to men.”

It's so great to know that even amidst our darkest hours of life, there's a God who never fails...who always lifts us back to our feet again. Being a Christian doesn't mean that our life would be trouble-free. It only means that we would be able to rely wholly on that Someone who loves us so much that He can ease our burdens that Life inevitably brings.

Christmas needn't be about the degree of fun and the thrill we get from receiving and opening presents...

SO, even though tonight may be a silent night for me, I am content :)