(From left) Hannah and Bishop Lennon Chang with Bishop John Harvey Taylor and the Rev. Fennie Chang, with the gift presented to Bishop Chang by Bishop Taylor. Photos: Mostyn Trudinger-Smith
As the 10-day visit of the delegation from the Episcopal Diocese of Taiwan, headed by Taiwan Bishop Lennon Yuan-Rung Chang, concluded, the commitment to furthering companionship and exchange was evident, with planned exchange programs, suggestions of future delegation visits, joyful relationships formed between members of the two diocese, and many plans to keep in touch.
On Wednesday following a conversation on exchange ministry, the delegation visited the University of Southern California and met the associate dean of Spiritual and religious life, as well as some sites affected by the wildfires, including the Fair Oaks Sober Living House. Noted seismologist Dr. Lucy Jones, a lay leader at St. James Church in South Pasadena, briefed the delegation before their tour. Read the related post on the Bishop’s Blog here.
On Thursday, the delegation led a children’s program at Church of Our Saviour, San Gabriel, and visited its Dorris Dann Kid’s Campus. On Friday, the group worshiped at St. Gabriel’s Church in Monterey Park, enjoyed a dim sum lunch, and toured the Homeboy Industries gang-diversion program headquarters. See related blog post here.
Members of the Taiwan delegation with worshipers at the Aug. 2 service at St. Thomas’, Hacienda Heights
On Saturday, the delegation hosted their “Be the Light” community outreach service at St. Thomas’, Hacienda Heights. The day began with a conversation on evangelism in the community, followed by lunch, and then the main outreach gathering and celebration. Members of the local community, especially the Mandarin-speaking community, were invited and represented along with the Mandarin-speaking congregations of St. Gabriel’s Church, Monterey Park, and Church of Our Saviour, San Gabriel.
Bishops Chang and Taylor praying together.
The service was held in Mandarin and English, and included multiple songs performed by members of the Taiwan delegation, preaching from both Bishop Chang and the Rev. Hsing-Hsiang Wu, testimonials from Paul Wu and Bob Tsai, of the delegation, healing prayers offered by the delegation members to all in attendance, and three songs performed by the L.A. Chinese Philharmonic Chorus. Bishop Taylor offered closing thanks to the delegation and the Rev. Fennie Chang, vicar of St. Thomas’, led a closing prayer.
Bishop Chang welcomes members to eat at the Aug. 2 celebration at St. Thomas’, Hacienda Heights.
Following the service, all were welcomed to conversation and fellowship at a celebratory dinner reception in St. Thomas’ parish hall.
On Sunday, the final full day of the visit, the delegation attendee St. John’s Cathedral in the morning, with Bishop Chang, preaching at the 10 a.m. service. He praised the continuing companion relationship between the Diocese of Taiwan and Los Angeles.
“We’ve brought a group of young people from Taiwan, not only to participate in mission work among Chinese congregations, but also to learn. Mission is learning, learning culture, learning God’s will in this blend and seeing how questions here live out your faith.
“Through this exchange, we witness something beautiful, although we come from different places, we serve the same God who unites us for His glory.”
Chang, who became the sixth Bishop of Taiwan in 2020, said he has drawn from the legacy of the diocese’s first Chinese Bishop, the Rt. Rev. James Wong, who served from 1965 to 1790. Wong’s vision, “was to let Christ’s victorious life impact lives. Our mission has been to live out that life, not just talk about faith, but manifest it.”
Welcoming Bishop Chang and the delegates for Sunday Eucharist, St. John’s Cathedral Interim Dean Anne Sawyer noted: “Their mission trip is to ‘be the light,’ and they are modeling that very thing to us, and it brings out the best in us, too, in terms of wanting to shine our light in this world.”
The Taiwan delegation performs a song at the farewell dinner.
At a farewell dinner hosted at St. Paul’s Commons Sunday evening, the delegation shared a video montage of their trip as well as a dance performance and song. Bishop Chang and Bishop Taylor both gave thanks for the partnership and for present and future visits. See related blog post here.
“Mission is learning,” Chang said. “And during this 10 days of mission, we have not just see but also learned a lot. It’s only when we go out and we are among people and listen and see that we really learn from this world, from God. I give my sincere thanks and gratefulness to Bishop Taylor and all the clergy and staff that 15 of us could come here and learn from you.”
Chang said that partnerships and outreach are essential to achieving the mission of the diocese of Taiwan. “We are a small diocese, but we can do something big for God.”
Delegation member James Yu-Hung Huang and Joshua Chuan-Yu Cheng with Luis Garibay.
In his remarks, Taylor spoke of the joy and welcoming familial nature of the Taiwan diocese, and the delegation.
“These last 10 days, we’ve learned many more things from our forever friends on the Taiwan mission team,” Taylor said. “We’ve learned that we serve Jesus Christ best when we’re having fun. The mission team’s statement is ‘be the light.’ You hear the light in their laughter and see it in their eyes.
“We’ve learned that Taiwan people and Los Angeles people have in common a fear that leaders in distant capitals are making decisions that will injure the people of God. We’ve been reminded that hope is always alive for those who share the gospel, who have our shared mission of reconciliation, and who have the support of friends, colleagues, and community.”
Delegation member Bob Tsai with a Sacred Resistance T-shirt.
Bishop Taylor presented Bishop Chang with an illuminated verse by Vince Mazzuchelli: “Be joyful in the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness and come before his presence with a song.” People from each table handed out gift bags for everyone in the delegation, which included a sacred resistance T-shirt, and a copy of Taylor’s novel, Jackson Place, each with a personalized note.
Bishop Chang presented Taylor and members of the diocese with hand written cards of thanks.
Bishop Lennon Chang presents a card of thanks to the Rev. Fennie Chang.
After the official end of the event, the delegation ang guests remained, chatting, sharing contact information to stay in touch, and saying goodbye. The next morning, the delegation left for the airport to return to Taiwan.
“Your plan let us learn so much, we don’t know how to express our gratitude,” Chang said at the end of his remarks. “I expect that next year, when the Diocese of L.A. has your team to Taiwan, we would love to share the same with you.”
The Rev. Pat McCaughan contributed reporting.