0129-6868MCI MCI (P) ISSNISSN 0129-6868 (P)019/11/2017 027/11/2019
Vol 121 No 11 • NOV 2019
inside
this issue...
message.methodist.org.sg message.methodist.org.sg
Bishop’s message Methodist kindergartens
Methodist Welfare Services Giving back to the community
MCS 135 Winner of the logo design competition
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page 7
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MISSIONS Col (Ret) Quek Koh Eng is the Field & Church Engagement Director in MMS, and the MMS Area Director for Thailand and Vietnam. He is a member of Charis Methodist Church.
CHURCH ENGAGEMENT IN MISSIONS Church engagement is therefore an important initiative to engage, excite, encourage, equip and establish missions interest, involvement and partnership in all Methodist churches.
Foochow Methodist Church co-organised a Youth Discipleship Rally with MMS in Cambodia at the Methodist School of Cambodia for our youth in Cambodia.
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s the missions arm of The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS), the Methodist Missions Society (MMS) relies heavily on partnerships with the Methodist churches in Singapore to extend God’s kingdom in mission fields within our region. Its strategy adopts an integrated approach of church planting and community development, with transformed lives and communities as the desired outcome. MMS does not and cannot work alone. The Book of Discipline of MCS states MMS’s key role as: “to…work with local churches as its partner to promote the service opportunities and needs of mission fields selected by the Society as well as to ensure that missionaries are adequately cared for” (¶371). It can fulfil this role only with the support and partnership of the whole body of Christ in the Methodist community.
Theological perspective for church engagement in missions In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus gave the Church our mission: “Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you” (Matt 28:19–20), and “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, and with all your mind…You must love our neighbour as you love yourself ” (Matt 22:37, 39). In order to be truly alive, we embrace Jesus’ mandate to love God, to love our neighbour and to make disciples of all people. The Church seeks to fulfil its global mission through the Spirit-given ministries of all Christians, both lay and clergy. Faithfulness and effectiveness demand that all ministries in the Methodist Church be shaped by God’s mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ. Continued on page 9...
COMING UP
A SEASON OF SONGS
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oin the Methodist Festival Choir for this musical worship presentation that narrates the Christmas story in the Gospel of Luke. Through choral anthems, carols and congregational song, the service highlights the four Songs: “Magnificat” (Song of Mary), “Nunc Dimittis” (Song of Simeon), “Benedictus” (Song of Zechariah) and “Gloria” (Song of the Angels), as well as the common thread that runs through them. n
1 December 2019 (Sunday), 5 p.m.
8 December 2019 (Sunday), 5 p.m. Christ Methodist Church, 597 East Coast Road, S(429082) (1 Dec) Barker Road Methodist Church, 48 Barker Road, S(309917) (8 Dec) www.msmusic.edu.sg msm@msmusic.edu.sg 6767-5258 Organised by the Methodist School of Music
THE METHODIST FESTIVAL CHOIR presents
A Season of Songs 1 December 2019
8 December 2019
Sunday, 5pm Christ Methodist Church 597 East Coast Road Singapore 429082
Sunday, 5pm Barker Road Methodist Church 48 Barker Road Singapore 309917
Organised by:
Tel: 6767 5258 | Web: www.msmusic.edu.sg | Email: msm@msmusic.edu.sg
Event visual courtesy of the Methodist School of Music
The official monthly publication of The Methodist Church in Singapore. Published material does not necessarily reflect the official view of The Methodist Church. All Scripture quoted is based on the English Standard Version unless otherwise stated.
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Adviser and Publisher
Dr Anthony Goh, Chairperson Council on Communications Editor Sheri Goh Sub-editor Tan Chiu Ai Editorial Executive Jason Woo
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BISHOP’S MESSAGE Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung was elected Bishop of The Methodist Church in Singapore in 2016. He served as President of the Chinese Annual Conference from 2008 to 2016.
LET THE CHILDREN COME:
METHODIST KINDERGARTENS
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n recent months, there has been much discussion about the status of early childhood education in Singapore. Educators and researchers agree that a quality preschool programme has a long-term impact on the development of a child’s character and stands them in good stead for their future formal education. In 2018, our government announced the plan for all Singaporean children to have a common starting point in education through preschools. Fifty new MOE kindergartens will be opened by 2023. This announcement sent shock waves across the traditional kindergartens and childcare centres. Our first and oldest Methodist kindergarten, Kampong Kapor Methodist Church Kindergarten, was opened in 1953. Other Methodist church preschools followed and at our peak, we had 23 preschools with nearly 4000 students every year. For more than 60 years, our kindergartens and childcare centres provided quality and affordable education, winning the approval and praise of parents and the public. Regrettably, we did not adapt to changing times. We overlooked the opportunity to integrate as one body, revitalise our curriculum, enhance teacher competence, and upgrade our facilities. Perhaps we even lost sight of our purpose in running our kindergartens. Many of our preschools are making huge financial losses and face the prospect of closure. By the end of this year, we will have just 11 kindergartens and one childcare centre.
Should the Church continue to run our preschools? The impact will be deep and far reaching if we shut these schools down. Firstly, our members’ children will have to go to nonfaith-based kindergartens to receive a generic secular preschool education, which will still build character, but these children will not be exposed to faith and biblical instruction. As children’s values and character are established in their early years, it is critical to give them the daily input of Christian teachings that they will only receive weekly in Sunday School classes. Secondly, we will also lose the opportunity to participate in community building, as we will have fewer avenues to interact and build relationships with families in the neighbourhood. Our preschools are opportunities for us to serve our community and many come to know about the Church through them. Thirdly, as space is scarce and property is costly in Singapore, we must use what we have fully. Unless the local church has events every day of the week, it is a waste to leave these large premises empty and unused. The General Conference and the Council on Education have set up a special task force to urgently study how we can make our preschools viable. It would mean revisiting our purpose and relooking at how we run our schools. Ultimately, we pray that our preschools will not only continue to be a doorway to knowledge for our children but also one that shows them the biblical truth that the beginning of all wisdom is in the Lord. n Picture by Aekkarak/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • NOV 2019
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CHURCH PROFILE The Rev Shaun Chong is the pastor-in-charge of Christalite Methodist Chapel.
CHRISTALITE METHODIST CHAPEL:
A SHINING LIGHT IN GEYLANG
The Christalite MC family.
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hristalite Methodist Chapel celebrated our 14th Anniversary in July 2019. Our vision is to be a disciple-making Christian community that shines in Geylang. Our mission is to be a church for the Geylang Methodist Schools and the Geylang community, and work to make disciples of every church member who will in turn disciple others. We presently have 216 members who worship as two English services and one Mandarin service. We also have 14 small groups that cater to different age groups. The unique ministries in Christalite are the building blocks of our church. Christalite Chapel places a strong emphasis on the Schools Ministry, such as in our ministry to Geylang Methodist School Primary (GMSP). We also have an outreach for after-school care by way of Christalite Student Care Centre (CSCC). This centre serves around 95 children from GMSP. Closely integrated with the foregoing ministries is our children’s ministry, Kidz-inPraise, that nurtures children who come from the church, from GMSP and from CSCC. As our children grow up, the Chrysalis Youth Ministry receives them and nurtures them through their teenage years. The main challenge that Christalite faces is a small membership base. Yet we have been blessed to see many willing hands rise to the occasion during key projects and outreach events such as church camps, care events and family carnivals. We sense that God is telling us to build up and bear witness. We seek to build a House of Our God and a Home
for the Community. We want our church to be place where the power of God’s presence is evident, and a place where people are passionate about God. At the same time, we seek to be a community built on authentic relationships where the last, least and the lost may come home to God. Christalite has often been described to be a small church with a big heart. Regardless of our size, we pray that we may continue to be faithful to God’s purpose for us. n
Christalite Methodist Chapel (Trinity Annual Conference) 4 Geylang East Central, S(389706) English Services: Sunday 8.00 a.m. to 9.00 a.m. (Traditional Service) Sunday 9.45 a.m. to 11.15 a.m. (Contemporary Service) Mandarin Services: Saturday 3.30 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. Sunday 9.45 a.m. to 11.15 a.m. Kidz-in-Praise: Sunday 9.45 a.m. to 11.15 a.m. Chrysalis Youth Ministry: Sunday 11.15 a.m. to 12.45 p.m. http://www.christalitemc.org.sg/ office@christalitemc.org.sg 6742-4025 Photos courtesy of Christalite MC
ONE MCS—TRAC HIGHLIGHTS The Rev Dr Gordon Wong was re-elected President of Trinity Annual Conference (TRAC) in 2016 for a second quadrennial term, but is primarily grateful to God for the gift of his wife Lai Foon and two children Deborah and Jeremy.
TRUST IN GOD’S TIMING
“Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labour in vain.” (Ps 127:1)
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hilst this Bible verse clearly speaks to building and estate management, there are at least two good reasons for relating it to family building as well. Firstly, Psalm 127 was written in Hebrew, and the Hebrew words for “builders” and “children” are very similar, differing in only one vowel (bonim and banim respectively). Secondly, and one does not need to know Hebrew to appreciate this, verses 3 and 4 explicitly describe children as being the Lord’s blessing for parents. Psalm 127 has only four verses, and if two of the four verses speak about children, and the first verse rhymes with the word for “children”, it makes sense to apply the opening theological principle of the Psalm to the area of children. And what is that opening theological principle? “Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain.” This principle speaks to couples who are anxiously and actively “working” to have children and build a family. It is a worthy and godly goal, but Psalm 127 advises such couples to relax and be less anxious. Pray for children, and try to have children, but trust in the timing and will of the Lord.
The principle speaks also to those already blessed with children. The blessing comes with accompanying burdens. As I write, many parents are stressed for their young ones sitting for their Primary School Leaving Examinations (PSLE). By the time you read this November issue of Methodist Message, parents will be feeling the stress and anxiety as their older children sit for their O- and A-Level exams. We worry when our newborn babies eat too much, or too little; sleep too much, or too little. The anxiety caused when our children are teenagers, or go through National Service, or fall ill, or cannot find work, or find work too oppressive, et cetera. Parenting brings one worry after another. How can we cope? What can we do? We can, and should, do whatever we can. We pray, and we give thanks for the gift of children. And we trust in the loving will of God. For “unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.” n Picture by ThaiPrayBoy/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • NOV 2019
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YOU & YOUR FAMILY Benny Bong has been a family and marital therapist for more than 30 years, and is a certified work-life consultant. He was the first recipient of the AWARE Hero Award, received in 2011, and is a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church.
BEARING MY YOKE AND FINDING REST
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client I saw last week has been married for close to 30 years. Over the last decade, he has been painfully aware that he has fallen out of love with his wife. They do not engage in open conflicts but rather, a cold war has descended upon the marriage. But as he is a staunch Catholic, divorce is, for him, not an option. He arrived at this resolve through a hard process. In the preceding years of emotional emptiness and disappointment, he allowed himself to be tempted and to succumb to various sexual sins. Three years ago, he picked himself up from descending further into this spiral of destructive behaviour. Since then, he has abstained from sexual promiscuity and returned to his faith. On the marital front, however, there has been no progress. In this state of impasse, I suggested that staying in the marriage was his way of bearing his “yoke”, akin to Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 11:28–30 to take up His yoke, which is easy, and His burden light. Thus, he could view his decision to stay married and provide for the family as his burden to carry. I posed two questions to him. The first was: Is this the yoke he is meant to carry? The second: How should he be carrying it? We all carry several “yokes” at any one time. This may take the form of our responsibilities as a parent, child, sibling, employee or neighbour. Some are yoked by others, such as
being in an abusive relationship or working under a harsh employer. Bearing the consequences of a bad decision may be another type of yoke. My client concluded that because of his poor choice of a life partner, his marriage was his life’s burden. My view is that his decision to remain true to his choice, and not the choice itself, is his yoke. If indeed this sense of duty and obligation is his yoke, why is it not “easy” and “light”? I highlighted that it may be due to his expectation that duty comes with sacrifice and suffering. That somehow, his disappointment, frustration, and bitterness bear testimony to his view that he made a wrong choice in his wife, and honouring this choice by bearing the burden is then the only right thing to do. In his emotionally troubled state, I encouraged him to seek God to learn how he should bear his “yoke”. The hope and promise is that such a burden can be light and even easy. In depending on Him to help us carry our burdens, we may even find rest for the soul instead of having a troubled heart and mind. My interaction with my client left me thinking. What yokes are we bearing? Which ones should we carry and which should we break free from? How do I bear my yoke so that it is light and easy? n Picture by Mark W Lucey/Bigstock.com
WELFARE SERVICES By the Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) Communications Team
GIVING BACK TO THE COMMUNITY
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utgoing and friendly, Florence is an active member of MWS Senior Activity Centre – Kebun Baru. She retired from her job eight years ago, but has since kept herself busy by volunteering, an activity that she finds meaningful and satisfying. As a befriender in the Community Befriending Programme, she regularly visits two elderly women in the neighbourhood. One of them, a Malay lady in her eighties, invited her to celebrate Hari Raya with her extended family. At the celebration, her daughter expressed her heartfelt appreciation to Florence for visiting her mother and spending time with her. Florence also teaches other seniors about cooking, and arts and craft. She noticed that cooking and baking are popular among members at the centre, and so she constantly learns new dishes to share with them. She focuses on recipes that are easy to prepare, such as egg tarts and cheesecake, as well as festive goodies like snowskin mooncake. She also looks for new craft-making ideas to teach others. She is passionate about learning and strongly believes that ageing well involves learning new things to keep one’s mind sharp and active. New initiative to promote volunteering among seniors Befrienders like Florence will participate in a new timebanking initiative for volunteers at MWS Senior Activity Centre – Kebun Baru. They can convert the time spent volunteering into time credits, which can then be exchanged for services at the centre, such as use of the gym and participation in courses and outings. Timebanking for volunteers will be progressively rolled out to all MWS Senior Activity Centres. The initiative is in line with the shift from mere service provider to an asset-based one at MWS Senior Activity Centres. With this approach, seniors are encouraged to be co-creators and contributors, instead of mere observers or recipients of services. n To find out more about how you or your church could be involved in volunteering activities at MWS centres, please visit www.mws.sg or email volunteer@mws.sg. To support our efforts to help the poor, lonely and inneed, please donate at give.mws.sg.
Florence (first from left) and another befriender in MWS Senior Activity Centre – Kebun Baru’s Community Befriending Programme chatting with a resident in the neighbourhood.
MWS Post-AGM 2019 Announcement: Board of Governance 1) Mrs Fong Loo Fern – Chairperson 2) Mr Eugene Toh Ming Hong, PPA (G) – Vice Chairperson 3) Rev Dr Daniel Koh Kah Soon – Honorary Secretary 4) Mr Raymond Khoo Peng Ann – Assistant Honorary Secretary 5) Mr Robin Cheong Chak Khiong – Honorary Treasurer 6) Mr Terence Wee Jin Zoo – Assistant Honorary Treasurer 7) Mr Yow Chi Mun – Board Member 8) Mr Tan Chian Khong – Board Member 9) Dr Tan Hai Chuang – Board Member 10) Ms Joanne Low Eu Min – Board Member 11) Ms Chew Kim Ling – Board Member 12) Assoc Prof Sunil Kumar Sethi, PPA(G) – Co-opted Board Member 13) Mr Philip Oh – Co-opted Board Member 14) Rev David Gwee – Co-opted Board Member 15) Mr Wendell Wong Hin Pkin – Co-opted Board Member 16) Mr Lam Wei Choong – Co-opted Board Member 17) Mr Albert Lim Song Khiang, PBM – Co-opted Board Member, BOSC Chair (TRAC) 18) Mr Samuel Tay – Co-opted Board Member, BOSC Chair (CAC) 19) Mr Wilson Sampath – Co-opted Board Member, BOSC Chair (ETAC) 20) Dr Teo Li Bee – Co-opted Board Member, President, GCWSCS, MCS 21) Mr Darius Chua – The Methodist Church in Singapore 22) Mr Kim Seah Teck Kim – The Secretary of Trustees of MCS Photo courtesy of Methodist Welfare Services METHODIST MESSAGE • NOV 2019
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ONE MCS—IDENTITY AND DESTINY By the Structural Review Task Force
BUILDING BRIDGES, BREAKING WALLS
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he structure of the Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS) was instituted 44 years ago, with a General Conference and three Annual Conferences (ACs) along language lines. The demarcation was useful to help focus work, ease communications, and deploy pastors, ministry staff and other resources effectively. This structure has remained unchanged. Four decades later, there are now more sub-divisions—by age, by function, with many new ministries initiated over the years etc. These have sometimes been helpful as some of the compartmentalisation could have been for efficiency and effectiveness. Over time, however, strongly guarded territories have emerged, with people identifying their lives with the work.
Our pastors and laity agree on the importance of diversity in language and culture, especially for outreach and evangelism. This enables different people groups to draw near to Jesus. People can encounter God within their own cultural context but they must also be ready to cross into other cultures as Jesus did in the incarnation and on the cross.1 To grow as Christians and serve the Lord, we cross boundaries and comfort zones all the time.
On the possibility of merging the three ACs, a pastor said, “We are not ready to get married yet.” He was of course being cautious. The Christian view of marriage is a lifetime commitment from which you cannot quit. In the same way, Christians cannot quit the body of Christ. Christina Cleveland writes, “To be a follower of Christ means to care deeply about and pursue the other followers of Christ. As followers of Christ, it means that we identify as members of the body of Christ above all other identities.”2 The primary problem is that we tend to identify more with our smaller cultural identities and ignore our common identity as members of the body of Christ. Cleveland points out that our culture may cloud our judgement, unless we learn to “relativise our cultural identities and adopt an inclusive group identity”.3 This sums up the philosophy of the Work Groups (WGs) formed to review the current boards in terms of their effectiveness and relevance in meeting the needs of local churches. It is important for the members not to see themselves only as representatives of their own AC but also as members of the larger MCS. As they share about the strengths and weakness of the ministries in their ACs, they are learning from one another, discovering erroneous perceptions and opening themselves to positions of vulnerability. In his final address as the IFES General Secretary, Daniel Bourdanne, who served from 2007 to 2019, spoke about being vulnerable like Christ, and warned against power games.
He said, “When we think we have more say than our brothers and sisters, that we have proven methods, we know better—our record speaks for itself. I don’t need you—you need me… My plans before your needs. And if we play power games, then unity is impossible.”4 Working alongside members from other ACs has helped break down the wall of unfamiliarity, and built bridges into each other's communities and traditions. It has also created the realisation that together we can do better. There are already many instances of shared events and invitations to members from other churches and ACs for training and seminars. We look forward to closer collaborations that will enhance relationships and generate shared passions so that as we “partake in the sacrificial love of the Trinity, [we will also] participate in sacrificial love with all others”.5 n
hristina Cleveland, Disunity in Christ: C Uncovering the Hidden Forces that Keep Us Apart (Downer’s Grove, IL: IVP, 2013). 2 Ibid., 97. 3 Ibid., 147. 4 Daniel Bourdanne, “A Broken Organisation of Broken People for a Broken World,” Perspective (Special Edition, September 2019), http://online.pubhtml5.com/vnmq/ cnij/#p=38. 5 Cleveland, 35. 1
Picture by Rawpixel.com/Bigstock.com
MISSIONS
CHURCH ENGAGEMENT IN MISSIONS
... continued from page 1
Methodists around the world and in Singapore are bound together in a connectional covenant in which we support and hold one another accountable for fruitful discipleship and missions. Integrally holding connectional unity and local freedom, we seek to proclaim and embody the gospel in ways relevant to our specific cultural and social context. Whenever the Methodist Church has had a clear sense of mission, God has used our Church to save persons, heal relationships, transform social structures and spread scriptural holiness, thereby changing the community and the world. With a common understanding of our Wesleyan theological viewpoint on missions, we can proceed to engage MCS, the Annual Conferences and Methodist churches in a deeper conversation on how to establish lasting, meaningful collaborations to fulfil the God-given mission to the Methodist Church. In all our engagement efforts, we seek to adhere to the following three Partnership Principles in order to establish lasting, meaningful collaborations with key stakeholders and the community. 1. Strategic Synergy: Achieve win-win outcomes aligned with strategic objectives for MMS and partners MMS seeks to be a value-adding partner in all our collaboration with key stakeholders. Instead of duplicating efforts, we should brainstorm ways to collaborate more effectively in strategic synergy. This is to reduce wastage of resources and deploy limited resources (e.g. human, monetary, etc) to achieve the strategic objectives of our respective organisations. 2. Trust Building: Work towards shared understanding to achieve common goals The trust building process is critical because leadership change and renewal occurs at all levels of the Church over time. With each new leader appointed at Local Conference, Annual and General Conference levels, MMS has to establish contact with the newly-appointed pastors and leaders so that we can renew our commitments if necessary. The same trust building process is also necessary with the existing leaders of the various organisations that MMS works with. 3. Effective Collaboration: Increasing level of commitment and purpose of goals to sustain ongoing partnerships Engagement will take time to bear fruit as there is a structured process for both MMS and the key stakeholders to go through before we can move from conversation to collaboration. This structured process is fully dependent on the level of commitment and purpose of goals of both MMS and the respective partners—there is no shortcut. We need to be very clear where we are in the journey of collaboration with our respective partners so as to move the partnership to a higher level over time. There are 21 Methodist churches with ongoing partnerships with MMS in church planting, mission trips, projects and regular financial support for missions work in MMS’ seven mission fields. In addition, other Methodist churches provide ad-hoc financial support for MMS’ missions and projects. With 46 Methodist churches, there is still great potential for MMS to reach out to the other 25 churches. MMS aims to touch base with every
A Grace Methodist Church mission team member training the teachers at the Vineyard Methodist School in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Wesley Methodist Church mission team members giving medical attention to a villager in Timor-Leste.
church by Dec 2021 with the aim to engage, excite, encourage and determine partnership potential. With an overarching church engagement strategy and plan in place, this will help to prioritise churches which MMS has yet to engage while not forgetting those with whom MMS has engaged. While not every church may be in the season for missions nor have the capacity or resources to support missions, the aim to engage all churches is not just to make known the available mission opportunities, but to increase awareness of MMS’ role and maintain an ongoing dialogue so as to foster future collaboration or for MMS to provide support for future mission development. In The Character of a Methodist, John Wesley wrote of Christian perfection—commonly understood as a perfection of love. We are to love God wholeheartedly and join together in Christian service as we reach out to others with God’s love and truth. We are also People of the Flame. The flame of the Holy Spirit has been a Methodist symbol, reflecting a Spirit-filled life. The Holy Spirit enables us to recognise our calling as God’s people to go forth united in His love as we reach out in missions and evangelism. n Photos courtesy of the Methodist Missions Society METHODIST MESSAGE • NOV 2019
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HYMNS & SONGS Judith Laoyan-Mosomos is the Director for Worship and Church Music at the Methodist School of Music, and a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church.
HERE, O MY LORD, I SEE THEE
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n Communion Sunday, we gather around the Lord’s Table as the body of Christ. Together we remember, give thanks and receive God’s grace. As we partake of the bread and the wine, we also hear God’s Word through the hymns we sing. “Here, O My Lord, I See Thee” (UMH 623) is a popular hymn found in many Protestant hymnals. It was written by Dr Horatius Bonar (1808–1889) upon the request of his brother, the Rev James Bonar (1803–1891), who was the minister at St Andrew’s Church, Greenock, Scotland. At this church, it was a custom to distribute a parish notice with a hymn after each communion. It was for this purpose that the hymn was requested of Dr Horatius.1 The hymn reminds us that at the communion table, we come face to face with God. When we do so, we may face God with full vulnerability. It may be a time to unpack our “earthly load”. We give thanks for the good, confess the bad, express anger for the struggles, and seek God’s help for the difficult and challenging tasks we face. These expressions are embraced by our Lord in our fellowship with him. The Lord lavishly pours His love, mercy, forgiveness and grace on us. The hymn assures us that while our coming to the table may be short, God’s presence remains in us. The strength we receive by God’s grace is enough to get us by. We leave the table with the confidence that by His grace, we will have the strength to face the world head-on. n
1
arlton Young, ed. Companion to The United Methodist Hymnal (Nashville: Abingdon Press, C 1993), 348.
Here, O My Lord, I See Thee (UMH 623) Here, O my Lord, I see thee face to face; here would I touch and handle things unseen; here grasp with firmer hand eternal grace, and all my weariness upon thee lean. This is the hour of banquet and of song; this is the heavenly table spread for me; here let me feast, and feasting, still prolong the hallowed hour of fellowship with thee. Here would I feed upon the bread of God, here drink with thee the royal wine of heaven; here would I lay aside each earthly load, here taste afresh the calm of sin forgiven. Too soon we rise; the symbols disappear; the feast, though not the love, is past and gone. The bread and wine remove; but thou art here, nearer than ever, still my shield and sun. Feast after feast thus comes and passes by; yet, passing, points to the glad feast above, giving sweet foretaste of the festal joy, the Lamb’s great bridal feast of bliss and love. Words: Horatius Bonar, 1808–1889 Picture by Fahroni/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • NOV 2019
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MCS FOCUS—METHODIST PRESCHOOLS Kwok Wan Yee is the Education Secretary for the Council on Education, and also Conference Lay Leader for the Chinese Annual Conference of The Methodist Church in Singapore. She worships at Charis Methodist Church.
THE IMPORTANCE OF FAITH-BASED IN OUR SECULAR SOCIETY Pentecost Methodist Church Kindergarten.
Parents and children at Faith Methodist Church Kindergarten’s Family Day.
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ducation has always been an important mission of Methodism, in order to reach out to all levels of society, and through this social gospel, fulfil Christ’s command to spread the good news and serve all people. There was a time when a child who attended kindergarten was viewed as getting a good start in life; a child who attended a church kindergarten was seen as having an even better start. Parents would choose the church kindergartens for the values they embodied, the environments that nurtured their children both morally and academically and the kindness of the teachers who helped build their children’s characters by espousing biblical values such as love, patience, grace and kindness—attributes that are best caught, not taught. However, across the nation today, the utilisation rates of preschools are declining. Of late, many of our Methodist kindergartens have also faced declining enrolment and escalating costs that have resulted in growing financial losses for almost all of our preschools. In recent years, five Methodist preschools have closed, citing financial restraints, licensing requirements and manpower shortages as the top three reasons for closure. This year alone, one kindergarten has transferred to St James Preschool Services, two will close by the end of the year and another three will transfer to MY World (YMCA).
Ang Mo Kio Methodist Church Kindergarten.
In response to a proposal submitted by the Methodist Preschool Connection (Management), the General Conference Executive Council commissioned SEED Institute to do a comprehensive objective study of our preschools and to recommend strategies so that our preschools will remain relevant and sustainable in years to come. The report highlighted strengths such as focusing on cultivating the right values and behaviour, strong working relationships among principals and staff, caring teachers, and the ability to retain staff. The report also highlighted that character development of the preschool students is prioritised, with Christian values woven into many aspects of the programme and curriculum. However, the report also noted that there were inconsistent human resource (HR) practices and that there was a need to establish a baseline level of quality. A common curriculum framework would greatly facilitate sharing of knowledge and skills among teachers and principals, and also allow for economies of scale. For the preschools to be sustainable over the longer term and relevant to the needs and demands of young parents, there are a number of areas that we must look into. Central management will help us do this effectively; otherwise each church is on its own. Together we can align our
KINDERGARTENS
What parents of students at Foochow Methodist Church Kindergarten, as well as their staff, say: “The mission of a Methodist kindergarten is to allow parents, children and staff to experience the love of Christ. We have staff who got to know Christ, who came back to Christ. It is not just an academic institution, but a mission.” —May Ten, Principal “I joined the kindergarten [as staff] at one of the lowest points in my life, [and] I accepted Christ two years after starting work here.”—Jane Wong, Administrative Assistant
Chen Su Lan Methodist Children’s Home (Child Care Division).
Some of our Methodist preschool staff at the Nationwide Preschool Teachers’ Day Dedication Service, together with CAC President the Rev Dr Gregory Goh (front row, centre).
HR practices, consolidate our funding, foster niche curriculum of quality, enhance teacher development, branding and marketing. The idea that we are better together has also led to the formation of an informal coalition among the various denominations. A Nationwide Preschool Teachers’ Day Dedication Service, held at Orchard Road Presbyterian Church on 31 Aug 2019, was organised by a joint committee from the Presbyterian Church in Singapore (PCS), the Diocese of Singapore (Anglican), the Lutheran Church in Singapore (LCS) and The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS). The service saw more than 600 participants from the four denominations, as well as from the Salvation Army, the Brethren churches and independent churches. On 21 Sep 2019, a forum was held at Faith Methodist Church to discuss relevant points about early childhood education that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong had brought up at the National Day Rally and the idea for coalition was shared further. It is very much a gotong royong concept at the moment as the group explores ideas and areas where it would be beneficial to come together. n
“The biggest difference for me [between Foochow Methodist Church Kindergarten and a secular preschool] is the exemplification of God’s unconditional love. And I feel sad that he has to leave [at the end of K2] because this is like his family now. He has made many good friends here.” —Mrs Chung, mother of Daniel, who at 18 months needed speech therapy and occupational therapy “Many children who, like me, didn’t come from a Christian family, got to hear for the first time [in a Christian kindergarten] who Jesus is. I am glad that I can have my children come to this kindergarten.”—Mrs Cheong, mother of three For a closer look at Methodist preschools, with a focus on Foochow Methodist Church Kindergarten, go to https://youtu.be/ x2XiyjX0pnM or scan the QR code. Current status of Methodist preschools at a glance (as at Nov 2019) Kindergartens (1) Ang Mo Kio MCK (2) Barker Road MCK (3) Bedok MCK (4) Bukit Panjang MCK (5) Faith MCK (6) Foochow MCK (7) Kampong Kapor MCK (8) MC Incarnation MCK (9) Paya Lebar MC Covenant K (10) Pentecost MCK (11) Sengkang MC Children Centre (12) The Capstone MCK (13) Toa Payoh MCK
Childcare centres (14) Chen Su Lan Methodist Children’s Home (Child Care Division) (15) MWS D’Joy Children’s Centre (16) Wesley Vineyard (Serangoon North) (17) Wesley Vineyard (Telok Blangah) (18) Wesley Vineyard (Toa Payoh)
(12) has joined St James Preschool Services and is now a childcare centre. (8) and (15) will close by the end of this year. (16), (17) and (18) are transferring to YMCA MY World by next year.
Photos courtesy of Ang Mo Kio MCK, CSLMCH, Pentecost MCK, Faith Kindergarten and Lim Ee Tuo. METHODIST MESSAGE • NOV 2019
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SECONDARY ONE 2020 Admissions Now Open ACS (International) Singapore is a distinctive international secondary school open to all Singaporeans & other nationalities, offering an all-round English-based education for students aged 12 to 18 years leading to the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP).
Post-PSLE Information Sessions 21 November 2019 2pm & 4pm
22 November 2019 10am & 1pm
23 November 2019 10am & 12noon
61 Jalan Hitam Manis, Singapore 278475
Building Through Belief, this school of choice provides
• Exceptional examination results, very strong value-added achievement and an all-round holistic education • 50:50 mix of local and international teachers who uphold the dual Methodist ethos and ACS heritage • Small class sizes with overall student-teacher ratio of 8.7 : 1 • 40 different CCAs – 16 Sporting, 12 Visual and Performing Arts, 12 Special Interest Groups • Over 25 overseas trips per year • Over 200 formal student leadership positions • Scholarships for 4 Singaporeans to undertake the IBDP
Achievements include
• Students with perfect score of 45 points in IBDP • 20 “Top in the World” awards in IGCSE examinations over each of the past nine years • Students accepted to Oxford and Cambridge universities for the past eight years • Admissions to top universities in the UK, the US, Australia and Singapore • PSLE and Singapore GCE ‘O’ Level students achieve outstanding value-added examination results for the IBDP with improved pathways to good universities • Successes at national level this year in Archery, Touch Rugby, Cycling, Swimming, Chinese Drama, Debating, Fencing, Football, Golf, String Orchestra, Taekwondo, Volleyball and Wushu
What the parents say…
Mr Rob Burrough Principal
Mr Gavin Kinch Vice Principal
Mrs Tan Siew Hoon Vice Principal
Dr Kristopher Achter Vice Principal
For more information Please contact Joseph Ng or Serene Lim at +65 6472 1477 or admission@acsinternational.edu.sg
“ACS (International) ignites students' passion to learn through building strong relationships with deeply devoted and highly experienced teachers and excellent pedagogic and sporting infrastructure. The school has achieved a fine blend of academic rigour and holistic learning. The emphasis on CCAs and community service as well as the ample opportunities for student leadership makes ACS (International) a 'cut above' and the preferred choice for our children.” Larisa and Shivinder Singh “Sending our daughter to ACS (International) was the best decision we made. She used to be shy and introverted and has now become a confident, caring and motivated student leader.” Debra and Samuel Koh “We deeply appreciate the contribution ACS (International) has made towards making our son confident, capable and thoughtful. The school has provided an environment of personal care, support and encouragement to nurture him into a compassionate young man. We are also very proud of his academic, leadership, co-curricular and public speaking skill development.” Anju Uppal “We like the holistic learning environment of ACS (International). Apart from academics, the school gives the students plenty of learning opportunities outside the walls of the classroom through service trips in continents as far as Africa, school projects and events, CCAs, student leadership roles and more. Our children thoroughly enjoy the IB programme, the holistic environment of the school, and are very proud to be students of ACS (International). The school has helped our children to grow and mature in so many ways, whilst equipping them with the necessary skills needed for their university studies and future endeavours. We are very glad to have sent both of our children to ACS (International).” Steven and Pau Kim Kan
HOME Dr Joseph Leong is a psychiatrist by profession, and believes in pointing people to Jesus as Healer, Redeemer and Saviour. He was a speaker at the recent The Church and Mental Wholeness conference that was held at Yio Chu Kang Chapel from 12 to 14 Sep 2019. He worships at Kampong Kapor Methodist Church.
THE ROAD TO RECOVERY
THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH AND THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS
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ne in seven persons in Singapore has experienced a mental disorder in their lifetime. This means that even among a small congregation of 210 churchgoers, around 30 may have suffered from mental illness. The 2nd Singapore Mental Health Study found that the top three mental disorders here are major depressive disorder, alcohol abuse and obsessivecompulsive disorder. My experience in psychiatry shows that a happier, healthier and holier routine—especially involving social and physical activities, and learning about Jesus—really helps people to remain well on the road to recovery. I view stroke patients as having a physical brain attack often leading to their not being able to walk. Medication can reduce the risk of another stroke, but it is the rehabilitation and the ongoing support of family, friends and the church that keeps a person engaged, encouraged and empowered to take more and more steps to learn to walk again. A person with a mental health issue may be likened to be experiencing a psychic brain attack, and perhaps becoming house-bound, room-bound and even bed-bound by anxiety, low moods or fears. Medication can stabilise the brain condition but rehabilitation and recovery may take weeks to months depending on the support available to help them stay engaged in life and in church. Indeed, we are all on a pilgrim’s journey and to make progress, let us help one another. In John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s
Progress, we encounter the Slough of Despond, the Giant Despair, the Doubting Castle and even a Dungeon where Christian Pilgrims are trapped. Unfortunately, unlike the Pilgrim’s Progress, where there seems to be forward movement, the mentally ill may sometimes encounter similar states of mind again of doubting, despondence and despair. Not unlike the sin in our flesh, the world and Satan with which we struggle daily—we have to rely on the daily mercies and miracles of our Abba Father to set us free from guilt and shame. Prayer as directed by God’s Word and the Holy Spirit is another important practice from which all can benefit. Philippians 4:6–7 encourages us to “…not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus”. The Church is the people of God— fellow pilgrims escaping from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City, learning along the way more of the King and learning to serve the King and one another. Practical help such as a listening ear and showing care and concern to fellow church members who may look tired or troubled is a good first step. Checking in on friends who have not attended church for some time and if necessary, making a home visit may also be welcome. Simple acts such as cooking or sharing a meal and visiting a housebound member can be a great encouragement.
Dr Joseph Leong speaking at “The Church and Mental Wholeness” on 12 Sep 2019.
If you are a caregiver wanting to learn more about mental disorders, check out the Caregiver Alliance website (www.cal.org.sg). It provides Caregiver-2-Caregiver Training as well as Caregiver-4-Caregivers Support. You may be a person who has recovered from a mental disorder; you can share your story to reduce the myths and mystery of mental illness. Finally, if you are still struggling and trying to recover, will you call out for help to your family and friends in church? Will you take steps to build a happier, healthier and holier life with the help of the Church around you? Indeed we can overcome the world by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony! (Rev 12:11) n https://www.todayonline.com/ singapore/more-people-singapore-haveexperienced-mental-disorder-theirlifetime-study-finds https://www.todayonline.com/ singapore/mental-illness-moreprevalent-among-young-adults-ocdone-of-top-disorders-spore The invisible illness of “highfunctioning” depression https://youtu.be/eljYdp0ejP0 Photo courtesy of Yio Chu Kang Chapel METHODIST MESSAGE • NOV 2019
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METHODIST MESSAGE, JULY 2013
NEWS Alice Yong-Tan worships at Faith Methodist Church.
IN DEEP WORSHIP CONFERENCE 2019
Worshipping and learning about the changing landscape of worship at the In Deep Worship Conference.
“True worship is when it is inspired by the Holy Spirit within us and we worship God to the extent that He is real to us.”—Pastor Benny Ho
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n 14 Sep 2019, worship ministry teams from across the Methodist churches gathered for a day of learning and sharing together about “The Changing Landscape of Worship”, the theme for the 2019 In Deep Worship Conference. Held at Barker Road Methodist Church, the conference was organised by the TRAC Board of Worship and Music. It was my second time attending the In Deep Worship Conference. The two teaching sessions by Pastor Benny Ho during which we examined the deeper meaning of worshipping in spirit and in truth (John 4:1–34) were especially edifying. It was good to be reminded of the importance of knowing and understanding the kind of worship the Father desires. I was convicted by Pastor Benny’s very powerful lesson, drawn from Exodus 30:34–38, on the five ingredients that go into making pure and holy incense, a worthy worship offering to God. He expounded on how each spice is extracted and related the process to how the condition of our hearts has to be in order to extract pure worship that is worthy of our Lord and King.
Pastor Benny Ho.
In the afternoon, participants had a choice to attend one of five workshops covering the topics of Band Dynamics, Excellence in Choral Ministry, Leading a Worship Ministry, Worship Song Writing and Dangerous Decibels. They were conducted by Mervin John and team, Dr Joel Navarro, Pastor Andrew Yeo, Alarice Thio, and Wong Yuhan and Penuel Lau respectively. I attended the workshop by Pastor Andrew Yeo. He shared generously from his experiences leading the worship ministry as the Worship Pastor at Cornerstone Church. He emphasised the importance of pastoral care for those serving in the worship ministry in our churches. I came to the realisation that if such care is lacking, the grave outcome may be worship that is an offering not pleasing to God. n Photos courtesy of Joash Lee METHODIST MESSAGE • NOV 2019
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HOME Celine Low is an Executive (Corporate Communications) with The Boys’ Brigade in Singapore (BB).
FIVE BB PRIMERS RECEIVE PRESIDENT’S AWARD
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he President’s Award Presentation Ceremony at the Istana marks the finale of a long journey of six to 10 years for Primers. Being the highest award attainable in the Boys’ Brigade’s (BB) Primers Programme, the award is the capstone for a BB Boy turned Primer. On 9 July 2019, five Primers were conferred the prestigious President’s Award by President Halimah Yacob. They are: • Senior Cadet Lieutenant Samuel Wong Jia Qi, 33rd Singapore Company, sponsored by Fairfield Methodist School (Secondary) and Aldersgate Methodist Church. • Senior Cadet Lieutenant Elijah Tan Jing Kiat, 93rd Singapore Company, sponsored by Yuying Secondary School and Living Sanctuary Brethren Church. • Senior Cadet Lieutenant Aaron Heng Tee Yoong, 12I Singapore Company, sponsored by Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) and Barker Road Methodist Church. • Senior Cadet Lieutenant Gareth Pang, 60th Singapore Company, sponsored by Raffles Institution and Kampong Kapor Methodist Church.
(Back row, left to right) Samuel Wong, Elijah Tan, Aaron Heng, Gareth Pang, Jason Pan with President Halimah Yacob (middle of front row) at the President’s Award Presentation Ceremony at the Istana on 9 July 2019.
• Senior Cadet Lieutenant Pan JiaCheng Jason Timothy, 12I Singapore Company, sponsored by Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) and Barker Road Methodist Church. The five Primers were elated to be celebrating the occasion with their family, friends and BB stakeholders. They were also excited to have the opportunity to interact with the President of Singapore at the reception. n Photos courtesy of The Boys’ Brigade
Registration at our Columbarium Office (Level 5) Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm (Closed on Public Holidays). Tel: 6479 8122 HP: 9670 9935 or Fax: 6479 6960 Email: veronicalowjmc@yahoo.com.sg
SOUNDINGS Dr Roland Chia is Chew Hock Hin Professor of Christian Doctrine at Trinity Theological College and Theological and Research Advisor at the Ethos Institute for Public Christianity (http://ethosinstitute.sg).
BE AS LITTLE CHILDREN Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it. (Mark 10:15)
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ne of the most endearing portrayals of Jesus in the Synoptic Gospels is found in Mark 10, which describes His warm reception of the children who were brought to Him to be blessed (vv. 13–16). The contrast between the attitude of the disciples and their Master could not be more striking. While the disciples rebuked the adults for bringing their children to the Master, Jesus welcomed them: “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God” (v. 14). Not only did Jesus welcome the children, He held them up in the most remarkable way by presenting them as examples adults should imitate if they are to enter God’s kingdom. Jesus’ statement must have sounded incredulous to the mostly Jewish bystanders who heard it. According to Jewish heritage and history, the people the Jews regarded to be worthy of emulation were the great leaders of the past, like Moses, David and Isaiah. Jesus, however, insists that little children can offer profound insights on the spiritual life. As John Calvin notes, Jesus “uses this present occasion to exhort his disciples to empty themselves of malice and pride, and to put on the nature of a child”.1 This is not the only place in the gospels where Jesus uses children to teach His disciples about their relationship with God. In answer to His disciples’ question, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Jesus said: “Truly I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven” (Matt 18:1–4).
These passages teach that authentic faith in God must have a childlike character. The first characteristic of a childlike faith is simplicity—not in the sense of being simplistic or naïve—but in the sense that it is innocent of all pretentiousness and duplicity. In other words, a childlike faith is transparent and authentic; it is earnest and true. A Christian with childlike faith acknowledges his total dependence of God and is willing to abandon himself unreservedly to Him. Just as very young children are utterly dependent on their parents to meet their every need, so the Christian must recognise his total reliance on the providential grace of God. And, finally, a Christian with childlike faith is always humble and teachable. He is always submissive to the authority of God and his Word, and so is drawn ever deeper into communion with the One who is unconditional love. Childlikeness must never be confused with childishness. Paul was not contradicting Jesus when he exhorted the Corinthians: “Brothers, do not be children in your thinking” (1 Cor 14:20). We should not embrace a naïve pietism that sees reason as the enemy of faith (for that would indeed be childish!). On the contrary, a childlike faith is a questioning faith, one that always seeks to understand the truths it holds to be infallibly true. The Christian with childlike faith can therefore echo Anselm’s beautiful prayer: “Let me seek you in desiring you; let me desire you in seeking you. Let me find you in loving you; let me love you in finding you… I yearn to understand some measure of your truth, which my heart believes and loves.”2 And when he encounters the God of truth and love through His revealed Word, his heart will overflow with wonder, joy and praise. n
Soundings is a series of essays that, like the waves of a sonogram, explore issues in society, culture and the church in light of the gospel and Christian understanding. J ohn Calvin, Matthew, Mark and Luke, Vol. 2 of Calvin’s New Testament Commentaries, eds. David W. Torrance and Thomas Torrance (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1972), 252. 2 Anselm of Canterbury, “Proslogion,” Anselm of Canterbury, Vol. 1, eds. Jasper Hopkins and Herbert W. Richardson (London: SCM, 1974), 93. 1
Picture by evgeny atamanenko/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • NOV 2019
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This Christmas, let’s celebrate Singapore’s Bicentennial in a special way by sharing the spirit of giving at Christmas At The Fort. This wondrous four day, multi-sensory experience will transform Fort Canning through a fusion of music, history, marketplace, culinary delights and digital technology into a seamless tapestry of sight and sound.
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Friday
Saturday
Sunday
December 2019 • 4 -10pm
Fort Canning Park Brought to you by Wesley Methodist Church, in partnership with The RICE company limited and supported by National Parks Board (NParks). Enquiries: catf@wesleymc.org
和散那治丧服务
Hosanna Bereavement Services Your one-stop bereavement and funeral-related services
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39
Hosanna Bereavement Services Pte Ltd
(A Subsidiary of the Methodist Co-operative Society Ltd)
Block 4 Toa Payoh Lorong 8 Industrial Park #01-1333 Singapore 319056 Tel: 6259-4560 Fax: 6259-4095 Email: hosannab@singnet.com.sg Web: www.hosannabereavement.com.sg
24-Hour Helpline:
Contact Ricky Guok @ 6352-7797
HOME Angela Goh is the D&N coordinator for TRAC WSCS (2018–2020). She worships at Wesley Methodist Church where she serves in the Communications ministry.
SAYING “NO” TO SELF AND “YES” TO GOD Worship at the WPSD closing service.
Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung and Mrs Chong.
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he Week of Prayer and Self-Denial (WPSD) was started by the Women’s Society of Christian Service (WSCS) more than a hundred years ago. The women from WSCS wanted to live more like Jesus and felt that a deeper consecration to prayer for a specified period was called for. Two decades into the new millennium, this practice could not be more relevant! From 8 to 14 Sep 2019, WSCS ladies from the Chinese Annual Conference (CAC), Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference (ETAC) and Trinity Annual Conference (TRAC) observed WPSD. Seven ladies from different TRAC churches shared devotions for each day of the week. The week culminated with a Closing Service at the Covenant Chapel of Paya Lebar Methodist Church (MC) on the afternoon of Saturday, 14 Sep. The service was special in that about 180 sisters-in-Christ from CAC and TRAC joined in worshipping the Lord together. The worship was in English and Mandarin with melodious singing to the Lord in both languages! We were blessed to have the Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung to share God’s Word with us. Speaking on the 2020 theme of the WSCS’s 11th Quadrennium, “God’s Standards and Promises for Our Living”, he was ably assisted by Mrs Chong, who translated the sermon into English. The congregation appreciated and enjoyed the obvious “chemistry” between speaker and translator! Basing his message on Matthew 6:1–6, Bishop Dr Chong reminded us that acts of charity, prayer and fasting should be done on the quiet. He shared many personal anecdotes, including about someone who anonymously supported his theological studies. He highlighted the poor and needy around us and emphasised that acts of charity, including simple ones such as giving up our seats on public transport, show Christian love. He pointed out that our prayers are not to be stories for others to hear but praise and petition to our Heavenly Father. The ladies, he commented, looked bright and cheery, which was a
Bedok MC’s Cup Praise.
good sign that they were not showing off their fasting. The Closing Service included items by sisters from Bedok MC and Wesley MC. The former shared an uplifting item, Cup Praise, which combined music and the beats produced by cups. The latter gave their inaugural performance on ukuleles, after only a few months of learning how to play the instrument. As part of the WPSD, a collection is taken each year to bless the poor and needy out of the abundance received from the Lord. The funds are used in projects supported by the General Conference (GC) WSCS and TRAC WSCS. Beyond financial giving, the ladies also give of their time and talents to train and support those in need. During the Closing Service, two TRAC WSCS sisters shared about the projects supported in 2019 through the 2018 collection. n Photos courtesy of WSCS METHODIST MESSAGE • NOV 2019
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NEWS
FIVE MINUTES WITH MICHAEL TAN,
WINNER OF THE MCS 135 LOGO DESIGN COMPETITION EDITED
1. What inspired you to design the MCS 135 logo in this way? This simple and yet powerful element of the Cross of Calvary signifies salvation, love, hope and peace. The overall logo illustrates how God’s grace has followed The Methodist Church in Singapore through the past 135 years and we can look forward to many more as we love and serve the Lord together. I was inspired by Colossians 1:10–12 (NIV): “… so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light”. 2. D escribe your Methodist journey. I have been a Christian since I was 10 and attended Gospel Hall at Fairfield Methodist, Kampong Bahru Baptist Church, Peninsula Evangelical Free Church, Orchard Presbyterian throughout my Christian journey. Now I worship at Bedok Methodist Church (BMC) where I have been for almost 21 years. 3. What about your church do you love and hold dear? BMC is a Christ-centred church. It has a strong belief in caring and strengthening each other’s faith through the meetings during weekdays. My wife, Karen, attends BMC with me and my children, Isaac and Phoebe, have been there since they were toddlers.
4. What does being a Methodist mean to you? I am very blessed to be part of the Methodist community and feel very much at home with the doctrine that has been taught in the church. Our pastors have been very kind and patient with the congregation. They have truly exemplified the fruits of the spirit which is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness and faithfulness. n
LOOKING AHEAD PRAY FOR THE 44TH SESSIONS OF THE ANNUAL CONFERENCES
8–9 Nov 2019 (ETAC); 11–14 Nov 2019 (CAC); 18–21 Nov 2019 (TRAC) Tamil Methodist Church (ETAC); Bukit Panjang Methodist Church (CAC); Trinity Methodist Church (TRAC)
Scan here to see events online!
Pray for clergy and lay delegates as a Methodist family as they gather at their conference venues annually to worship God, share about their ministries, and discuss future plans as a conference. Representatives from General Conference councils and Methodist-linked organisations will also be sharing about their ministries. Organised by Annual Conference offices.
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For more info, please contact your respective Annual Conference office.
TRAC SENIORS MINISTRY WORSHIP SERVICES
13 Nov, 11 Dec 2019 (Wednesdays), 2.30 p.m. to 4.00 p.m. Faith Methodist Church, Worship Hall, Level 4, 400 Commonwealth Dr, S(149604) 6478-4754 (Priscilla) priscillalow@trac-mcs.org.sg
TRAC Seniors Ministry welcomes you to their monthly Seniors Ministry Worship Services. Join us for a time of worship, fellowship and food, and catch up with other seniors and retirees from various TRAC churches.
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Organised by Trinity Annual Conference.
FOCUS: #ASKANYTHING
16 Nov 2019 (Saturday), 1.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. St John’s–St Margaret’s Church, Glory Sanctuary, 30 Dover Avenue, S(139790) $10 per head. Non-believers to get $10 refund upon arrival on-site. Purchase tickets at http://www.sjsm. org.sg/askanything.html
Come be a part of an afternoon of talks and Q&As where young people can bring their big questions about life, love, faith and meaning. Questions to be tackled include: • Can I really trust the Bible? • So connected, yet why so lonely? • How can a good God allow suffering?
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Organised by Razi Zacharias International Ministries in partnership with YoungLife and St John’s–St Margaret’s Church.
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Do you have a Christmas community event coming up at your church and wish to publicise it further? Let Methodist Message be the platform to let more know about your outreach efforts. Send us details of your upcoming Christmas events and we will put it up on this page for an even wider reach! Please email your event information to newmm@methodist.org.sg or get in touch with us at 6478-4763 (Jason).
Picture by SylaK/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • NOV 2019
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THINK Bernice Gan is blessed with a fulfilling family life and career. She worships at Kampong Kapor Methodist Church where she serves in the Discipleship & Nurture Committee and the Children’s Ministry.
KNOWN AND LOVED
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ows of neatly arranged colourful art and craft work greet my eyes as my daughter and I step into the lobby of Faith Kindergarten. I immediately sense the cheerful and welcoming environment as the teachers greet each child warmly by name. The children return the greeting as they line up to have their temperatures taken and their hands checked and sanitised. The daily routine is simple, familiar and comforting. After final hugs, my child happily bounces off to her class. It was this same warm environment that convinced me to enrol my daughter in Faith Kindergarten three years ago. My original criteria for a preschool for her were straightforward: a Christian preschool, a good syllabus taught in English and Mandarin, and a convenient location near to my home. There were a few preschools that met my criteria but what really convinced me was seeing the children when I visited Faith Kindergarten. They were truly happy, engaged and responsive to the teachers. I knew it would be a good place for my daughter to learn and grow. I am grateful that the teachers are caring, experienced and manage marvellously with all sorts of children. My daughter is, by nature, shy and apprehensive in unfamiliar surroundings. I recall hearing about how her teacher had
to comfort her and even carry her part of the way during an excursion to the goat farm, when she took fright at the goats nibbling her shoulder. Over the past three years, I have seen my daughter grow in confidence in class participation with the teachers’ encouragement. In K1 now, she loves to go to school and enjoys bringing home her homework folder every Friday and returning it every Monday with the English and Chinese worksheets duly completed. Even though my daughter flatly refuses to let me sign her up for any sort of external enrichment classes, she was prepared to join in the afternoon enrichment classes arranged by Faith Kindy in their own premises. That is an added bonus for me—hopefully a stepping-stone for my daughter to try new things. As for me, I like the fact that Faith Kindy has a diverse cohort of preschoolers, and that my daughter can learn to interact with peers from different backgrounds. Of course, I am also glad that she is getting a firm grounding in the Christian faith and in the context of the Methodist heritage. “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Prov 22:6) n
Photo courtesy of Faith Kindergarten