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(From fifth left) Chiam, Ambrose, and Poh with other event organising committee members. – Photo by Churchill Edward
KUCHING (Dec 4): The Association of Churches in Sarawak (ACS) is encouraging Christians to take part in the annual Kuching Christmas Parade on Saturday.
Around 7,000 Christians are expected to join this year’s parade, ACS secretary general Elder Ambrose Linang told a press conference here.
“Let us come together because diversity is strength, diversity is beautiful, and diversity is ‘delicious’ among the people of Kuching and Sarawak,” he said.
“This is our shared city and our shared state. Let us not allow racial polarisation or religious extremism to destroy the fabric of our society.”
He said the parade aims to highlight the true meaning of Christmas, as well as values such as joy, peace, mercy, kindness, and goodwill shared with those around us, which align with the government’s efforts to promote unity.
All parade participants are encouraged to prepare small Christmas gifts for the public along the route.
This year’s parade, themed ‘The Season of Love and Hope’, is hosted by the Methodist Church SCAC.
A total of 72 churches from various denominations – including the Roman Catholic Church, Anglican Church, Methodist Church (SCAC and SIAC), Borneo Evangelical Mission, Seventh-Day Adventist Church, The Salvation Army, Sarawak Baptist Church, Sarawak Blessed Church, and Sarawak Evangelical Christian Association member churches – will take part in the celebration.
There will be five Boys’ Brigade marching bands and 15 colourful floats depicting the nativity scene, angels, shepherds, wisemen, and other Christmas imagery.
Participants are to assemble at MBKS Jubilee Ground by 6pm, where praise and worship will begin at 6.15pm.
At 6.45pm, the parade proper will begin, while the distribution of Christmas gifts will be at 8pm.
The procession will return to MBKS Jubilee Ground around 9.30pm.
The 4km parade route will take participants from Jubilee Ground to Jalan Padungan, Jalan Tun Abdul Rahman (Waterfront), Lebuh Temple, Lebuh Wayang, Jalan Tabuan, Jalan Ban Hock, and back to Jubilee Ground.
Christmas floats will later gather at St Peter’s Church, Padungan for public viewing.
Motorists are advised that traffic along the parade route will be affected from 7pm to 9pm, while road access to MBKS Jubilee Ground will be restricted beginning at 5pm.
On the same evening, ACS branches in Miri and Bintulu will also hold their Christmas parades.
ACS branches in Serian, Mukah, and Samarahan will hold their parades on Dec 7.
Among those present at the press conference were Roman Catholic Archbishop of Kuching Datuk Dr Simon Poh and event organising chairperson Jo Chiam.
For more information, call Chiam on 016-5781201.
English (US) ·