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The inaugural Hope Christmas Festival has been held on the grounds of Assyrian Australian Social Centre (formerly Nineveh Club) in Edensor Park, Sydney. The event, described as a resounding success by its organisers, the Assyrian Church of the East Youth Association – Sydney, attracted thousands of faithful and locals.

The Festival was the first of its kind to be organised by the Assyrian Church of the East with the purpose of celebrating the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ not only amongst the faithful of the church but with the wider community.

Taking place on Boxing Day, 26 December, an Australian national public holiday, the official program opened with a prayer offered by St. Hurmizd Cathedral’s Sunday School.

The day was filled with fun rides and amusements, appearances by popular Disney characters such as Cinderella, Snow White, Aladdin with Jasmine, Pinocchio as well as Batman and of course the festival’s friendly clown.

Throughout the day, local Assyrian DJ Robbie entertained the crowd with a wide range of Christmas carols and other well-known soundtracks.

Later in the evening, notable Assyrian singers and entertainers took to the stage and performed for hours with attendees dancing the night away.

Lucky door prizes were drawn and ceramic and arts competitions were held as part of the program.

Parishioners loved the entertainment, while the cultural foods left the attendees with a fulfilled appetite thanks to the collective efforts of the Assyrian Church of the East Ladies Auxiliaries.

Performances were given by various church branches including two dances by the kindergarten students of St Hurmizd Assyrian Primary School.

Later in the evening, students of the Mar Narsai Assyrian College performed carols in the spirit of Christmas. They were joined by the choir and faithful of the church’s English-language congregation Ss Peter and Paul Parish led by choir conductor Deacon Ninos Babisha.

The Chaplain of the Assyrian Church of the East Youth Association – Sydney, Rev’d Narsai Youkhanis gave a final address thanking the attendees for their support.

The night concluded with a beautiful display of fireworks viewed by many hundreds of attendees who had remained until the conclusion of the festival.

Owing to the resounding success of this event, it will become an annual event on the calendar of the Sydney Youth Association open to all faithful of the church and the wider local community.

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The Assyrian Church of the East Youth Association – Sydney has held its Annual Retreat for 2012 at Youthworks Watersleigh Campsite in Shoalhaven from Friday 30 November until Sunday 2 December.

104 Youth Association and Ss Peter and Paul Parish members participated along with Rev’d John Kushaba (SPPP parish priest) and Rev’d Narsai Youkhanis (youth chaplain).

The retreat commenced on Friday night with buses departing St Hurmizd Cathedral in the evening and arriving at the campsite following a 2.5 hour journey.

Upon arrival, the retreaters checked in and prepared for dinner. Afterwards, they were divided into 10 groups comprising of 10 members per group with colour coordination. An icebreaker activity was organised to allow the groups to get to know each other by completing a scavenger hunt. The hunt included each group collecting letters and creating a sentence spelling out the theme of the retreat, ‘Journey to God’.

Following breakfast on the second day of the retreat, the participants were once again divided into their allocated physical activities including; abseiling, raft building, billy carting, archery, caving, canoeing.

Lunch was served and followed by an ‘amazing race’ where groups commenced at the dining room receiving their first clue leading to the next station and so forth till the end of the race. To receive the next clue, the racers would need to complete mini games along the way.

In the evening of the second day, Rev’d John Kushaba presented a short sermon in which the theme centered on Christ as the light of the world. Rev’d John’s sermon sought to relate the Christian message to each participant on a personal level.

At the conclusion of the sermon, faithful met in the conference room where worship hymns were sang together in both the English and Assyrian languages.

The third and final day commenced in the early hours of the morning with some of the retreaters watching the preparation of the Holy Qurbana which is otherwise undertaken in the altar. Morning prayers were followed by the consecration of the Holy Qurbana by Rev’d Narsai.

Rev’d Narsai, in his sermon, spoke about being careful in listening and learning teachings in today’s modern churches that have no apostolic link to Christ.

After the service, the retreaters joined in the dining room for brunch. Then, affirmations took place within each group where each member of that group wrote something positive about each other and placed in the corresponding envelope.

After a short break to pack up and ready for departure. The retreaters once again met together in the conference room for one last activity, the ‘fruits of the spirit’ workshops.

There were 5 workshops; love, patience, self-control, faithfulness, joy and goodness, kindness and gentleness.

Each workshop was a practical activity centred on expressing each concept of the ‘fruits of the spirit’.

Before departure, a group photo was taken at the campsite after which the retreaters embarked on their journey back to their homes, filled with Almighty God’s love and spirit.

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Sydney’s Youth Association holds their first annual Youth Dine as 2012 comes to an end.

The night comprised of a formal dinner at SHAPS Assembly Hall with a buffet Assyrian style cuisine.

A memorable video of the 2012 events was viewed, winner of YGT 2012 Jecyka Ablahad performed and awards were distributed for the funniest member, most helpful member, mama’s kitchen award and youth of the year.

Photography courtesy of Justin Rasho.

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