Taiwan Church News

3338 Edition

February 15 - 21, 2016

Headline News

Victims Of Tainan Earthquake Remembered Across Taiwan

Reported by Chen Yi-Hsuan, Simon Lin and Chiu Kuo-rong

In the afternoon on February 14, the victims of Tainan earthquake at 3:57 a.m. on February 6th are commemoratedby PCT churches across Taiwan. In Tainan, the memorial service is jointly organized by PCT's General Assembly(PGA) and the Church and Society Committee of Tainan Presbytery at Ming-te Hall of Tainan Funeral Parlor(TFP).

After the service, all PCT members walk to TFP's Jing-hsing Hall, where the victims are held the Seventh DayService of the Taiwanese folks religion, expressing their sincere condolence to the families. At the same time, two other memorial services are also held at Taichung and Taipei organized by PGA and Justice Action Church jointly.

In Tainan, the memorial service is in a prelude by Mozart's Requiem and many subsequent comforting hymns to commemorate those innocent victims. By calling many classical musics teachers to participate, this memorial service is organized by Elder Huang Ya-ching of Thai-Peng-Keng Maxwell Memorial Church. During the service, following the ringing of bell as a symbol for entrance into God's eternal peace, the audience stand up to pay their tribute to those deceased souls of 116 people.

Rev. Lyim Hong-tiong, General Secretary of PCT, delivers his prayer for the injured to be healed, the damaged be restored, the traumatized be recovered. He also gives his thanksgiving for all those engaged in rescue and support works, including the government officials, council members, rescue teams and volunteer workers. Ms Lin Yi-jing, a member of Zion Church of Tainan Presbytery and Tainan City Council, also takes part in this memorial service.

In the memorial service at Taichung park, Rev. Chang Chau-dong, pastor of Fong-yuan Chuch, urges PCT members to care and accompany those traumatized families of the victims in this earthquake. Rev. Cheng Kuo-chung, pastor of Taipei's Justice Action Church, expresses that the offering received in the memorial service will be offered to PCT GA for those earthquake victims and families.

Translated by Peter Wolfe