True Blessings for Our New Life, Not Just the New Year
True Blessings for our New Life, not just the New Year:
On The Beatitudes or 《八福》 “Eight Blessings” of Matthew 5:3-11
There are so many subjective ideas of what blessings are.
Will this be a blessed year? It has started on an ominous note as the world reels from the threats of new tariffs every day. Some may attribute this shaky start to a snaky year.
If, however, we don’t believe in an almanac or a zodiac, for blessings, where and how are we to be endowed with them?
Happy Lunar New Year!
The EAST President, Faculty, Students and Staff wish all a Blessed Lunar New Year!
“You crown the year with your bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance” – Psalm 65:11
The pinyin greeting of the Chinese couplet is:
主赐恩惠 (zhǔ cì ēn huì)
合家蒙福 (hé jiā méng fú)
The English equivalent is
“May the LORD grant His abundant grace and overflowing blessings to you and your family!”
Shalom.
Blessed Hope in God for 2023
May you and your family be blessed this Lunar New Year as you place your hope on a gracious God.
– From all at EAST
耶 和 华 说 ： 我 知 道 我 向 你 们 所 怀 的 意 念 是 赐 平 安 的 意 念 ， 不 是 降 灾 祸 的 意 念 ， 要 叫 你 们 末 後 有 指 望 。 （ 耶 利 米 書 29:11, CUV）
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV)
主 赐 恩 惠 ，
合 家 蒙 福
God grants grace so that the entire family is blessed.
The Origin of 福 (“Blessings”)
During the Chinese New Year season, the Chinese character “福” (pronounced as “fu“) is found on decorations and inscribed on hongbao (“红包”) or red packets. The word signifies blessings and prosperity and is considered most appropriate for the annual lunar new year celebrations (also known as chunjie (“春节“) or Spring Festival). As those of Chinese descent usher in a new year, words of blessings are exchanged among family and friends. 
This is often accompanied by new year goodies, exchanges of mandarin oranges, and giving of red packets of cash (or increasingly digital tokens of money). The character “福” may also be displayed in an upside down manner to symbolize the arrival of blessings (the Chinese word for “upside down” [“倒“] sounds like the word for “arrival” [“到“]).
Blessings of God’s Grace in 2022
Warm blessings of the Lunar New Year in the LORD for His abounding grace in your life and ministry!
~ From all at EAST
May you experience the Lord afresh in the New Year as you “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” – 2 Peter 3:18 (ESV)
新年蒙福
主赐天恩
The above couplet speaks of the “Blessings of the New Year bestowed by the grace of God.”
EAST Library Catalogue
EAST Populi
National Library Board eResources
The Digital Theological Library
