KUCHING: About 1,200 congregated for a special prayer service held in conjunction with Sarawak Day at Christian Ecumenical Worship Centre (CEWC), Jalan Stampin last night.
This included people from different denominations, turning up in different ethnic costumes showcasing the unique colours of Sarawak.
The theme for this year’s event was “You Shall Be A Blessing”, taken from a bible passage in Genesis 12:2. This year’s service was hosted by St.Thomas’ Cathedral and was streamed live on social media.
Roman Catholic Archbishop The Most Reverend Dr Simon Poh, who is also the Chairman of the Association of Churches Sarawak, opened the prayer for the night.
“Our prayers and desires tonight, as we celebrate the 59th Sarawak Independence Day, is that our beloved Sarawak, Tanah Airku, to be a better place for everyone to live in, where there is peace, harmony and respect; to grow physically and spiritually healthy, where one has equal right to develop one’s talents and potentials, and freedom to practice one’s religious belief and persuasion.
“For the past 59 years of our independence, our State of Sarawak been blessed with tremendous growth and development. We rejoice for what you have done for us in our State and for this we are grateful to you and also for each and every member of our society that has contributed in one way or another in bringing our Beloved Sarawak thus far”.
He prayed for blessings, and protection to be upon Sarawak, State leaders, religious leaders and every citizen to continue to show love for Sarawak and Malaysia.
This special Sarawak Day Ecumenical Prayer Service 2022 is the first physical combined service organised by the Association of Churches in Sarawak (ACS) since after the COVID-19 pandemic.
Present during the service was Deputy Premiers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas and Datuk Sri Dr Sim Kui Hian, Minister of Modernisation of Agriculture and Regional Development Datuk Sri Dr Stephen Rundi Utom, Unit for Other Religions (UNIFOR) director Richard Lon and organising committee chairman The Very Reverend Kho Thong Meng.
Also present was Padawan Municipal Council (MPP) Chairman Lo Khere Chiang, Anglican Bishop of Kuching and Brunei Darussalam Right Reverend Datuk Danald Jute as well as leaders from Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Borneo Evangelical Mission, Methodist Sarawak Iban Annual Conference, The Salvation Army, Methodist Sarawak Chinese Annual Conference, priests, pastors, elders and members from other faiths.
