Members of Cambodian Fellowship Christian Reformed Church hosted a sizeable crowd for its eighth annual Cambodian New Year and Easter celebration in Holland, Mich. Cambodians celebrate the New Year throughout the month of April.
Cambodian Fellowship CRC members serve an array of Cambodian cuisine.
More than 400 guests attended, and the celebration was presented in both English and Cambodian, also known as the Khmer language.
“This event is a way to thank God for [how] he has blessed our people,” said Socheth Na, pastor of the small Cambodian congregation. Na was pleased at the large turnout, which included more non-Cambodians than in years past, he said.
The theme for the evening was “New Year, New Life,” emphasizing new life through Jesus’ resurrection, and helping “Cambodian people in this community to be aware of God’s blessing for the language, culture, and tradition of our nation and people,” Na said.
Dressed in traditional Khmer attire, young women and girls from the church performed a number of folk dances. Midway through the program, church members served an array of Asian dishes, including egg rolls, noodles, and sticky rice dessert.
The event included a skit about the resurrection of believers, which served to contrast the Buddhist belief in reincarnation, said Na. Buddhism is the dominant religion in Cambodia.
Serena Chauv, who attended with her three children, enjoys coming to the event each year to worship and socialize with other Cambodians from the area. A member of Fourteenth Street CRC, Chauv said, “I get to learn about my culture, [enjoy] the food and fellowship, and just have fun.”
About the Author
Susan Vanden Berg is a freelance news correspondent for The Banner. She lives in Holland, Michigan.