By Ivy Chai
KUCHING — Participants at the Kuching Christmas Parade 2022 were in high spirits despite a heavy downpour on 3 December.
Armed with umbrellas and raincoats, more than 5,000 Christians representing the different denominations that make up the Association of Churches in Sarawak (ACS) in Kuching, converged at the Kuching South City Council (MBKS) Jubilee Ground as early as 5pm, amidst a slight drizzle.
Themed “God’s Love”, this year’s parade was organised by ACS and Sarawak Ecumenical Christian Association (SECA) and hosted by the Methodist Sarawak Chinese Annual Conference (SCAC).
The 4km walk commenced from MBKS Jubilee Ground, along the Kuching Waterfront and back to the Jubilee Ground.
To kickstart the official programme, Christmas carols filled the air, and Church leaders read Scripture readings and led prayers for Kuching and Malaysia.
Chairman of ACS, Catholic Archbishop Simon Poh invoked God’s blessing and protection on the crowd gathered at MBKS and for bystanders along the parade route, as a sort of flag off for the parade.
Taking part in the Annual Christmas Parade 2022 were participants from the Roman Catholic Church, Anglican Church, SCAC Methodist Church, SIAC Methodist Church, BEM (SIB) Church, The Seventh Day Adventist Church, The Salvation Army, Sarawak Baptist Church, Blessed Church, SECA, and the Boys’ Brigade and Girls’ Brigade.
After a hiatus of two years because of the pandemic, participants again came with small gifts to give away to the hundreds of bystanders who braved the rain to throng the streets. They joyfully called out “Merry Christmas and God bless you” to the crowds as they handed out sweets and titbits.
Despite the heavy downpour that descended on the parade as it progressed, many people came out with children wearing raincoats and carrying umbrellas, to watch the colourful floats and the Boys Brigade marching band.
