Ven Arch Dc Canon Jamal Senada (second left) together with Sibu Resident Hii Chang Kee (left), president of Association of Churches in Sarawak, Sibu Branch, Dato Dr Su Chii Ann (second right) and chairman of Sibu Municipal Council, Datuk Tiong Thai King (right) leading the parade.
SIBU: Some 10,000 people took to the streets for the grand Christmas parade organised by the Association of Churches in Sarawak (ACS) last night.
The annual celebration focused on harmony, with the theme ‘Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace’.
The host this year is Methodist Church.
Among the participating churches were Catholic Church, Anglican Church, Borneo Evangelical Mission (BEM) Church and several independent churches.
Host chairman Rev Wong Koi Fo said four floats were created to tell the story of Christmas in the parade.
Methodist Church led the first float with the ‘Annunciation Scene’, followed by the Anglican Church with ‘The Nativity Scene’, BEM with ‘Shepherds and Angels Scene’ and Catholic Church with ‘Three Wise Men Scene’.
Other floats made by individual church movements added more colour to the spectacle.
The procession was made livelier with performances by various bands.
Before the parade started, the participants gathered at Sibu Town Square for singing, praying and scriptural reading before the lighting of the Christmas Candle by leaders of member churche.
The parade featured participants carrying lanterns and candles, singing carols through the streets in the central business district before they returned to Sibu Town Square.
A creative vessel float ‘sailing’ along the route.
The joyful members from Iban Methodist Church.