NOTE: THIS BLOG IS STRICTLY MY WRITINGS, HOWEVER WHEN SOME ONE WRITES ABOUT ME, I HAVE INCLUDED HERE A FEW TIMES WITH A NOTE.
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By Our correspondent Raja Zahid Khanzada
December 18, 2013 – Updated 636 PKT
From Web Edition
http://www.thenews.com.pk/article-130778-Pakistani-Christians-community-hosts-Christmas-party-in-Dallas
DALLAS:
Preparations for a big celebrations of Christmas and New Year is on fast
pace. Shopping Centers, Malls and streets are showing holidays
festivities, while buildings are decorated with bright lights.
Pakistani
Christian Cultural Society of North Texas hosted a big Christmas Party.
The party was attended by a large number of Pakistani Christian
families living in North Texas as well as people from across other
faiths.
The Key note speaker of the event was Dr. Nathan
Shahid Jaleel who runs an organization Friends of United Christian
Hospital in Lahore. The group is collecting funds to help the hospital
in its finances.
Addressing the gathering Dr. Jaleel said
that Bible’s teach love of God and service to humanity, and Jesus Christ
message also direct us to serve humanity.
He said this
is the reason Christian community built this hospital in Lahore after
Pakistan’s independence, as the hospital still serves poor, needy and
humanity at large. He said that this is our duty, who are living
overseas to provide funds to the hospital in order for its smooth
functioning, for which his organization is collecting funds.
Program
organizer Javaid Samuel Gill and his wife Erum Gill thanked audience
for their presence on this special occasion. Addressing the gathering
they said that, they celebrate Christmas every year with people of
Christian and inter faith communities, which provides an opportunity to
all to sit together and socialize.
A well-presented
Program was professionally moderated by Nina Rahat Gill, and Bakhtawar
Gill. Dr. Samuel Gill and G Salik read the Christmas message, Pastor
Saleem Gill, Pastor George Maseeh, Pastor Alexander Williams, and Mike
Ghouse held special prayers.
Prominent community leaders
including American Muslim Democratic Caucus Co-Chair Syed Fayyaz Hassan,
Pakistan Television’s retired Managing Director and several TV play
writer Shahid Mahmood Nadeem, Pakistan American Association President
Dr. Amer Suleman, Dr. Javed Ajmal, Naeem Chaudhry, Dr. Sadiq Jaleel,
poet Syed Younus Ejaz, Tariq Hashmi, Noor Amrohvi, and Shah Alam and
South Asia Democracy Watch President Dr. Qaiser Abbas were in
attendance.
Mr. Irfan Ali and Mike Ghouse congratulated
Javed Samuel and Erum Samuel for a beautiful Christmas program. Special
prayers were offered for families of attendees as well as for Pakistan
and its wellbeing was also in presenter’s prayers.
Children
of Mrs. Sumbal Javed and other prominent leaders presented special
musicals where Javed Samuel played harmonium with his wife playing Sitar
and Bakhtawar played Tabla as children presented “Sohni Dharti Allah
Rakhe”.
Local artists including Pastor Saleem, Alishpa
Hafiz, Nina Gill, Zach Solomon, Kamran and Hafeez presented traditional
Christmas Carol. Local poets including Syed Younus Ejaz, Noor Amrohvi,
Tariq Hashmi, and Dr. Shamsa Qureshi put together a poetry session with
relevance to the occasion of Christmas.
The Cultural
Association also presented appreciation plaques to several of honorable
guests including Dr. Amer Suleman, Dr. Sadiq Jalal, Dr. Raj Kumar, Raja
Zahid Khanzada, Rahat Samuel Gill, Agha Ziaullah Khan, Samson Shahbaz,
and others.
A sumptuous and elaborate dinner was also
served and Santa Clause distributed gifts to children. Santa danced with
others on popular music which brought the festivities to all
participants.
Also published in Geo TV – http://www.geo.tv/article-130778-Pakistani-Christians-community-hosts-Christmas-party-in-Dallas