On Saturday 18 January 2002, the standards of Jesus Christ will be raised at Leao Senado Square in Macau, Hong Kong. It is the first United Christian Carnival in Macau and will take place from 12 noon to 5:30pm, followed by a prayer service in St Domingo's Church.

The event is the culmination of more than nine months of collaboration of twelve Christian communities in Macau, among which are the Roman Catholics, Methodists, Christ Church of China, YMCA, Lutherans, Macau Baptist Church and School, Southern Baptist Mission, Cocordia School for Special Education, the Anglicans, and independent Christian organisations from the Assembly of God and congregational traditions.

The coming Carnival is the first time when Macau Christians from Protestant and Roman Catholic traditions join together in public to confess their common heritage in Jesus Christ. The first Macau Church Directory, a catalogue of all churches, Christian schools and social service centres will be distributed free to the public.

Michael Poon, Convenor of the Carnival, said, "I ask you to stand together with us in prayer. I also ask you to give thanks for those who are willing to participate in the event and stand openly together on the same platform."

By Albert H. Lee
chtoday_editor@chtoday.com