Zhongnan Theological Seminary in Hubei, one church in Shaanxi and another in Zhejiang held activities to celebrate International Women’s day, which falls on March 8 every year.
On the eve of Women's Day, Hanzhong Church in Shaanxi Province invited senior etiquette teachers to give lessons on traditional Chinese manners.
In his speech, Rev. Qi Hongjun, chairman of Hanzhong Municipal CC&TSPM and senior pastor of Hanzhong Church Council, pointed out that this event was to explore how to blend Chinese traditional culture and promote the progress of the Sinification of Christianity, exhorting female believers to be women of noble and wisdom with happiness and beauty.
Ms. Wang Shanling, leader of a local etiquette training center, explained the core of etiquette as "respecting others and self-discipline" divided into eight parts, namely etiquette overview, appearance, tradition, dressing, standing posture, tea serving, banquet, and reception.
Female members from the church's etiquette service department, dressed in Han clothes, followed the teacher to learn, recognize, practice, and use certain behavioral etiquette on site.
On March 6, the praise dance group of Jiaojiang Church was invited to participate in a salon themed "Learning from Lei Feng and Celebrating Women’s Day" hosted by Shangde Social Work Service Center in Jiaojiang District, Taizhou, Zhejiang. Art teams from all over the city presented a total of 18 performances, including red song chorus, dance, Peking Opera, violin, guzheng (Chinese plucked zither), magic, and sign language.
The dance "Hymn of Heaven" from the praise dance group received applause from the audience.
Kong Aiqing, leader of the church and veteran, shared in this event that as he and Lei Feng (a Communist legend) were in the same army, he had collected more than a thousand pieces of Lei Feng's collections, some of which were shown to more than 50,000 people across the country in 100 exhibitions. After inviting citizens to visit the provincial patriotism education base in the church, Kong awarded honorary certificates to advanced groups and individuals who actively participated in public welfare and charity in 2021.
Two days later, together with Taizhou Municipal Charity Association, seven female members of Jiaojiang Church dressed disabled women up with ethnic costumes in four homes for the disabled in the district, taking pictures for them to celebrate the special day.
On March 8, female teachers and staff workers organized a celebration in Zhongnan Theological Seminary, which has 28 staff members, including 16 female members, who expressed their gratitude to the seminary that day.
One day earlier, the seminary held a work-study mobilization meeting, with 25 students participating in the service of the college in their spare time during this semester.
- Translated by Abigail Wu
