Latest news with #AssociationofChurchesinSarawak
The Star
3 days ago
- General
- The Star
Gawai Festival: A time to celebrate unity and harmony in Sarawak, says churches association
KUCHING: The Gawai celebration is an opportunity to foster and strengthen mutual understanding, respect and acceptance among Sarawakians, says the Association of Churches in Sarawak (ACS). Its chairman, Datuk Danald Jute, said Sarawak's peace and harmony should not be taken for granted but continue to be preserved through hard work. "Hence, we encourage everyone to embrace and join in our unique tradition of 'ngabang' or open house so we can bolster and fortify our bonds of friendship," he said in his Gawai message on Saturday (May 31). Gawai is a harvest festival celebrated by Sarawak's Dayak community on June 1-2. Extending Gawai greetings to the Dayak community, Danald said Gawai was a thanksgiving celebration for the blessings and rich harvest of the past year. "Gawai also celebrates our rich and diverse cultures, which add colours to our nation as well as strength to our communities," he said. Danald also called for a meaningful celebration of Gawai and cautioned against overspending or overindulgence.
Borneo Post
3 days ago
- General
- Borneo Post
ACS extends Gawai Dayak greetings, urges unity and moderation
Danald Jute KUCHING (May 31): The Association of Churches in Sarawak (ACS) has extended its warmest and prayerful greetings to the Dayak community in conjunction with the Gawai Dayak celebration. ACS chairman, the Rt Rev Datuk Danald Jute, said Gawai is, by nature, a thanksgiving celebration and a time to reflect on the blessings of the past year. 'We have countless blessings and manifold good favours to celebrate and to thank God for, including the rich harvests of the past year as well as God's goodness that we can look forward to in the years ahead,' he said. He added that Gawai is also a celebration of the nation's rich and diverse cultures, which contribute strength to communities and vibrancy to the country. While acknowledging the peace and harmony enjoyed in Sarawak, Danald reminded the public not to take such unity for granted. 'Gawai is an opportunity to further foster and strengthen mutual understanding, respect and acceptance. 'Hence, we encourage everyone to embrace and join in our unique tradition of ngabang or open house, so we can bolster and fortify our bonds of friendship,' he said. As the community celebrates, Danald also urged moderation and mindfulness, warning against overspending and overindulgence. 'There is no need to overspend nor is there any profit in overindulgence, especially in alcohol. 'Instead, consider, for example, our children's education as well as the needs of those less fortunate than ourselves,' he said. Above all, Danald called for the celebration to be one of rededication to God. 'Let this Gawai be a time of rededication to our gracious and loving Heavenly Father, whose nature is always to have mercy and whose desire is for us to be reconciled to Him and to one another,' he added.
Borneo Post
15-05-2025
- General
- Borneo Post
ACS Sibu marks Mother's Day with celebration of faith, unity and gratitude
Archdeacon Jose (third right) gathers for a group photo with the event's attendees. SIBU (May 16): The Association of Churches in Sarawak (ACS), Sibu Branch, celebrated Mother's Day with a heartfelt event hosted by the Roman Catholic Church at a leading hotel here recently. The gathering brought together women and church leaders from various denominations to honour the role of mothers in nurturing families and spiritual growth. Archdeacon Jose Jol Endru, chairman of ACS Sibu Branch and vicar of St John's Anglican Church, delivered a poignant address, highlighting the crucial importance of mothers in shaping Christian values within the family. 'I wish all mothers a blessed and joyful Mother's Day. My gratitude goes to the Catholic Church for hosting this meaningful celebration,' he said. He also reflected on several maternal biblical figures and shared his own personal story of loss, recalling the death of his mother during childbirth. The celebration included prayers, praise songs, entertainment performances, and the presentation of appreciation gifts to the mothers in attendance. The event also fostered unity within the Christian community, drawing participation from SIAC Methodist (Iban), SCAC Methodist (Chinese), Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Borneo Evangelical Mission (BEM) churches. ACS Association of Churches in Sarawak lead Mother's Day Sibu
The Star
12-05-2025
- Politics
- The Star
Let's embrace and celebrate our diversity, S'wak churches say in extending Wesak Day greetings
KUCHING: Malaysians must learn to know and understand one another to celebrate their diversity with respect, honour and acceptance, says the Association of Churches in Sarawak (ACS). Its chairman Datuk Danald Jute said Malaysians could not afford to speak or think ill of their neighbours who seem to be different. "As a multireligious, multiethnic and multicultural nation, we have no other option but to learn to appreciate, understand and accept each other," he said in his Wesak Day message on Monday (May 12). Danald extended greetings on behalf of ACS to Buddhists celebrating Wesak Day, which commemorates the birth, enlightenment and death of Gautama Buddha. He noted that the Buddhist community is known for a commitment to living good lives based on the teachings of the Buddha, which emphasise the importance of peace, harmony, compassion, kindness, good works and wisdom. "We wish all our Buddhist friends a joyful and meaningful Wesak celebration and join them in working and praying for a more united, peaceful, harmonious and prosperous Malaysia," he said.
Borneo Post
11-05-2025
- General
- Borneo Post
Learn from each other to uphold social harmony, church leader calls on fellow Sarawakians
Rt Revd Datuk Danald Jute KUCHING (May 11): KUCHING: Sarawakians must continue celebrating their diversity with respect, honour and acceptance, said Right-Reverend Datuk Danald Jute. The Association of Churches in Sarawak (ACS) chairman said Sarawakians must learn to understand each other by getting to know one another towards promoting social harmony. 'The Association of Churches in Sarawak extends our warmest greetings to all Buddhists as they celebrate Wesak, which commemorate the birth, enlightenment and death of Gautama Buddha. 'The Buddhist community is known for their commitment to living a good life based on the teachings of the Buddha, which emphasise the importance of peace and harmony, compassion and kindness, good works and wisdom – the virtues and qualities that we very much need for a more peaceful, prosperous, harmonious and united nation,' he said in his Wesak Day message today. Danald said people could not afford to speak or think ill of their neighbours just because they seemed to be different from themselves. 'As a multi-religious, multi-ethnic and multi-cultural nation, we have no other option but to learn to appreciate, understand and accept each other,' he said. The ACS chairman added: 'We wish all our Buddhist friends a joyful and meaningful Wesak celebration, and join them in working and praying for a more united, peaceful, harmonious and prosperous Malaysia.'
