UPH Christmas Celebration: ?The Greatest Promise Fulfilled?

UPH Christmas service and celebration with the theme ?The Greatest Promise Fulfilled? was very solemn and also joyous, accompanied with an orchestra and choir from the Conservatory of Music UPH, at the Grand Chapel of UPH, on December 16, 2017. The theme itself was taken from Matthew 1: 21-22 and it became the main message of the sermon which delivered by Rev. Ivan Kristiono, M.Div., M.Hum.

The theme itself talks about the just and faithful God who fulfilled His promise to save His people from sin through the birth of Jesus Christ. He explained that sin is the result of man?s unfaithfulness to God?s covenant. Sin has destroyed man?s relationship with God, itself, other man as well as the nature. Sin has overtaken everything, thus making peace or shalom, a non-existent. Rev. Ivan also reminded that the broken relationship between God and man could only be fixed with one way and that is by grace through our faith inJesus Christ. Thus, all believers haveto follow the example of Jesus, such as written in John 13:35, ?By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another?.

Upon responding to God?s love, Pdt. Ivan encouraged everyone to be faithful in doing their own roles at UPH. ?Let us do justice, let us teach our students and bring shalom (peace)? Pdt. Ivan encouraged all guests.

Family Day dan 10 Years of Service Award

After the Christmas service, the celebration was continued with a Family Day and an award ceremony for employees who have served in UPH for 10 years. Family Day is an event which was held to strengthen the bond between all faculties and units, through working together in decorating the room with UPH Christmas? theme. The committee will choose the best of 4 categories. Following are the winners of UPH Family Day Competition for each category:  ?Grand Champion and Best Opening Remarks? were given to the Faculty of Social and Political Sciences, ?Indonesian Ethnic Christmas? was given to Alumni and Corporate Relations, ?The most Compatible Team with the UPH Christmas Theme? was given to Faculty of Nursing (FoN) and ?Compatibility with the Uniqueness of Faculty? was given to Faculty of Science and Technology (FaST).

The ?10 Years of Service Award? was also a part of the most awaited event. In 2016, UPH gave an appreciation for 45 employees; which includes of 16 lecturers and 29 non-academic staffs, who have been serving loyally in UPH. The award was given by UPH Rector, Dr. (Hon) Jonathan L. Parapak, M.Eng. Sc. And Stephani Riady, Vice VP 2.

In his speech, the Rector conveyed his gratefulness for the togetherness throughout many things during 2016. He conveyed his gratitude for the amazing cooperation between all sections. ?That was the implication of Christmas itself. God has given the best for us and he did not ask us to pay back for every blessing he had provided us with. Thus, do your best for the glory of His name,? said the Rector.

During the celebration, a Christmas community service was also held. Unlike the previous years, this year?s allocation for the external Christmas community service is to support the procurement of library in Sekolah Lentera Harapan, at Daboto, Papua. While for the internal Christmas community service, UPH also gave out parcels for 850 outsorcing employees on December 15, 2016.