Methodist Message: November 2022

Vol 124 No 11 NOVEMBER 2022

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN THE CHURCH

ISSN 0129-6868 MCI (P) 044/11/2021

The Metaverse: Is it as good as it looks?

Digital disruptions and innovations for the postpandemic Church Behind-thescenes of the John Wesley graphic novel with Favian Ee

Contents Editorial Board

/ Bishop’s

Adviser and Publisher Dr Anthony Goh Chairperson, Council on Communications

Communications Manager Lynn Tan

Managing Editor Alvin Tay

Editor Lianne Ong

/ News / 2 Book of Discipline 2022 4 Methodist Fathers Movement: Passing on Faith 5 One MCS: Churches gear up to collaborate, with some projects starting in Dec 7 Holland Village Methodist Church's 10th anniversary 9 Preparing Methodist preschoolers for primary school 11 The Faith We Sing-Charles Wesley for the Church Today

Communications Executive Kathrynn Koh

Sub-editors Lucy Cheng Janice Khoo Tan Chiu Ai

Proofreaders

Message /

/ Feature / 13 Behind-the-scenes of the John Wesley graphic novel with Favian Ee 16 Digital disruptions and innovations for the post-pandemic Church

/ People / 29 To Marry, Grow, and Serve

Kenneth Lee Christabel Tan

/

Opinion /

18 Young Voices: The Church and the Metaverse 20 Soundings: Technological prudence

/ Outreach / 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.

22 Enhancing missions work with digital solutions at MMS 24 Putting 'family' at the heart of residential care

/ Relationships / 26 You and Your Family: What grief gives us

70 Barker Road #06-04 Singapore 309936

/ Worship /

6478-4793 | 6478-4763

28 Learning to pause

methodist.org.sg/message www.methodist.org.sg communications@methodist. org.sg fb.com/Methodist.SG @methodist.sg @methodistsg Have something to say or share?

Email us at

communications@methodist.org.sg Layout by Londonbob Design Printed by Adred Creation Print Pte Ltd

COVER ART Title: Open 24/7

By Faith C., created with Midjourney AI Editor's note: This is MM's first AI-generated artwork.

Neon lights bring to mind seedy nightlife in the underbelly of a city, not typically associated with the notion of Church. However, these sorts of spaces are exactly where Jesus himself would be; the very brightest light shining out through the darkness, beckoning all, welcoming all.

Faith has been in full-time missions for much of her adult life. She has a background in Visual Communication Design & Fine Arts and is currently exploring AI-generated art alongside her many other interests.

Bishop’s Message Bishop Dr Gordon Wong was elected Bishop of The Methodist Church in Singapore in 2020.

He served as President of the Trinity Annual Conference from 2013 to 2020.

God's glory in the field of medicine, science and technology Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings.

Colossians 4:14 (NIV)

T

he same person whom God inspired to write both the gospel which we call "Luke" and the book which we call "Acts" was a medical doctor. Luke was also a Christian missionary who accompanied the apostle Paul on several mission trips. Praise God for medical doctors who are trained in the best medical practices and technologies available in every new generation. The God of the Bible is pleased to work through people, like Dr Luke, who are able to apply, in a loving and responsible manner, the latest advancements in medical science.

Our senses are sometimes dull to the wonders and miracles of modern science and technology. What a wonder that today I can pick up a palm-sized phone and within seconds speak to my daughter who is thousands of miles away on the other side of the planet (and I can even see her face as she talks)!

What a miracle that doctors today almost routinely cut open the chest of an 80-year-old, and give him a new pumping heart!

the 80s who expressed similar sentiments.1) Science and technology, as with many other fields, change rapidly. We praise God for what we do have, and thank God for those who have been called to apply and develop even more miracles for the next generation.

Methodism's founder, John Wesley, also had this attitude towards medical science and technology in his 18th century world. In addition to many writings on different books of the Bible, he also compiled and published a book of practical home-made remedies for illnesses.

The graphic novel on Wesley's life—which this issue of Methodist Message introduces—makes a brief reference to this book, Primitive Physick: An Easy and Natural Method of Curing Most Diseases. 2 In compiling these remedies, Wesley cited well-known doctors at the time. Although the medical world would very quickly change its mind on the efficacy of several of those remedies,

Of course, we know that modern science and technology—especially in this Internet age—keeps advancing and changing so rapidly. The famous quote (or misquote) of Microsoft founder Bill Gates in the 1980s, that "640kB computer memory should be more than enough for anybody in our lifetime", is well-known.

(Gates himself denies ever saying this, but in any case, there are several quotes from computer experts in

November 2022 Methodist Message 1

God's glory in the field of medicine, science and technology

Let us take time this month to pray, with thanksgiving to God, for all who work responsibly in the fields of science, technology and the digital universe. May their labours bring blessings to our world and glory to God, whether they know God or not!

I think we can applaud Wesley's willingness to bring God's love and hope to his neighbours by working with the best available medicines and technologies of his age (which even included an appropriate dose of electricity as therapy for several conditions). Wesley's booklet also repeatedly, and responsibly, stressed the importance of seeing a physician for serious ailments.

1

https://quoteinvestigator.com/2011/09/08/640k-enough/.

The whole earth is full of his glory!

Isaiah 6:3

2

There are many spelling variants of 'physick', including 'physic'.

By MCS Discipline Revision Commission and MCS Communications Team

News

2022 Revised Edition of

Book of Discipline available now T

he Book of Discipline (BOD) of The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS), 2022 Revised Edition, has been published. For the first time since its inception, an electronic version (e-version) to this edition will be made available to those buying the printed version. Instructions on how to access the eBOD system will be included in the cover letter accompanying the hardcopy of the BOD. First published by the Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States of America in 1784, we have had our own version of the BOD since we achieved autonomy in 1968. The BOD is the Methodist rulebook that has guided Methodist ministers and laypersons as they carry out their duties in local churches, the Annual Conferences, and at the General Conference. MCS' BOD is published by the Discipline Revision Commission (DRC).

The 2022 edition of the BOD incorporates the amendments made by the General Conference since the last edition was published in 2017. Most of the amendments were made by the General Conference during its quadrennial regular session in 2020. This 323-page publication comprises the laws and doctrines of MCS and includes our Constitution, Doctrinal Statements and General Rules, Social Principles, and the organisational rules for the Church in Singapore at all levels.

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November 2022

In the BOD 2022 edition's Episcopal Foreword, Bishop Dr Gordon Wong exhorts members to uphold the principle and spirit of the apostle Paul's instruction to the early church (1 Cor 14:40 NIV): "But everything should be done in a fitting and orderly way."

Bishop Dr Wong states this instruction "addresses the problem of people voicing their individual opinions and exercising their own giftings at their own discretion and time" during a season when disputes and arguments over different matters surfaced. "It is my prayer that this BOD will help The Methodist Church in 21st century Singapore win the respect of those outside our Church and guide those inside the Church to conduct everything 'in a fitting and orderly way'," he adds.

Book of Discipline 2022 edition is priced at $20 inc. of GST per copy.

To purchase a copy, write to admin@methodist.org.sg or call 6478-4786 for more information.

Details on www.methodist.org.sg /the-book-of-discipline

Coming up

November 2022 Methodist Message 3

Dr Morgan Zhou is a core team member of the Methodist Fathers Movement and Chairperson of the TRAC Board of Children's Ministry. / Photos courtesy of Rex Wu

News

Passing on Faith attendees and MFM leaders

Passing on Faith event sees fathers commit to building godly families

T

he Methodist Fathers Movement (MFM) celebrated its second anniversary on 15 October with a Passing on Faith event at ACS Barker Road. Since MFM was birthed during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, this was MFM's first in-person gathering. Close to 140 fathers and their families were present to commemorate this significant milestone.

Dr David Ang, Chairman of MFM, began the meeting by acknowledging God's faithfulness in establishing and sustaining the movement: "This convergence of the Methodist movement and the fathering movement is truly of God for his glory alone. We are heartened that many fathers have been meeting online each week for the past 104 weeks to pray, encourage, and spur one another on in the faith."

Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan and Bishop Dr Gordon Wong, who were both overseas, had pre-recorded exhortations as well as congratulatory messages. Minister Dr Balakrishnan shared that the best gift a father can give to his children is to love their mother and reminded fathers to be good stewards of their family, and Bishop Dr Wong beseeched fathers to pass on the faith by spending time with their children through his moving rendition of the song Cat's in the Cradle.

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Bishop Emeritus Dr Wee Boon Hup delivered the keynote and shared vital principles of passing on faith from the book of Deuteronomy. He implored individuals to instruct children and to internalise the Word of God, whilst avoiding the pitfalls of prosperity, pursuing idols, and testing the Lord. Event emcee, Mr Bernard Lim, challenged everyone to write down what God was impressing upon their hearts to undertake and to commit themselves to raising strong, godly families.

Thereafter, a Thir.st/Salt&Light-produced video clip of testimonies showcasing the 1972 Clock Tower revival legacy was screened. Mr Quek Peck Leng recollected the revival and its impact on fathering in Singapore. He appealed to the fathers (and mothers) to be gentle with the next generation and to leave room for the Holy Spirit to do something fresh and powerful.

Mr Jason Wong outlined how God had initiated and divinely established the Elijah7000 prayer movement amongst fathers and how fathers are to "be the voice for those without a voice". The amplifying and uniting of families and churches was akin to streams coming together to form a mighty river to accomplish his purposes for

the generations; reciprocally, four young men representing the next generation were invited on stage to be prayed over. One of them, Evan Leong, shared: "It was such a blessing to witness how God moves fathers to strengthen the importance of family in their respective spheres of influence—from each individual home to a whole nation and beyond.”

Mr Peter Tan concluded the session by leading the participants to kneel in repentance before the Lord and to pray for one another as guided by the Holy Spirit.

Core team members of MFM with speakers at the Passing on Faith event

News

Henry Tan is the Conference Lay Leader of TRAC.

Churches gear up to collaborate, with some projects starting in December

L

eaders from the Methodist churches came together for a time of breakfast fellowship, worship, discussion and prayer at The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS) headquarters on 1 October.

The event—part of the One MCS efforts— included LCEC Chairpersons and Lay Leaders from 41 Methodist churches under the three conferences. The last meeting took place on 26 February 2022.

The meeting centred on collaboration ideas between churches, with plans to reach out to communities based on the strengths of each church.

Collaborations are brewing among these churches that are located near each other: •

Wesley Methodist Church, Tamil Methodist Church (Short Street) and Kum Yam Chinese Methodist Church-outreach to 2-3 dormitories over 3 weekends in December 2022;

•

Ang Mo Kio Methodist Church and Ang Mo Kio Chinese Methodist Church-spreading Christmas cheer at Ang Mo Kio Central by carolling at AMK Hub;

•

Agape Methodist Church and Jurong Methodist Church-outreach to 150 households in Jurong;

•

Paya Lebar Methodist Church and Paya Lebar Chinese Methodist Church-outreach to 1,300 families (about 10 blocks) at Serangoon Central, blessing them with small gift hampers;

•

Holland Village Methodist Church, Faith Methodist Church, Aldersgate Methodist Church and Queenstown Chinese Methodist Church- blessing canteen stall holders in June 2023.

Leaders also discussed how more collaborations between churches could happen. Suggestions ranged from simple and practical ones like attending leadership conferences together and having followup discussions, to those that required more planning and funding, such as planting coworking spaces in commercial areas.

The next two meetings will take place on 18 February and 14 October in 2023.

November 2022 Methodist Message 5

ACS (International) Admissions Seminars for 2023 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 Seminars

23 November

2pm 4pm 10am

Senior Leadership Team

24 November

2pm 4pm 10am

Mr Gavin Kinch Principal

Mrs Tan Siew Hoon Vice-Principal

25 November

2pm 4pm

26 November Mr Christopher Hayward Vice-Principal

Dr Kristopher Achter Vice-Principal

9am

RSVP admissions@acsinternational.edu.sg

Seminars will be held on Campus with school tours where possible.

Attendance by reservations only

Venue: Oldham Chapel, ACS (International) 61 Jalan Hitam Manis, Singapore 278475

For earlier appointments, please contact Joseph Ng or Serene Lim at +65 6472 1477 or admissions@acsinternational.edu.sg

Content and photos courtesy of Holland Village Methodist Church

News

Youngest TRAC Methodist Church turns 10 S

ituated right in the heart of the Holland Village enclave, Holland Village Methodist Church (HVMC) is an active and growing congregation established on the campus of ACS (International).

Birthed in July 2007 as "Barker Road Methodist Church's Preaching Point at ACS (International)", it was planted out of a vision to have the church take the Great Commission to schools by providing Christian ministry to its students, staff and their families. This vision has continued to serve as a focus for HVMC as the church celebrates her 10th anniversary as a Local Conference in 2022. With a membership of 236, HVMC is Trinity Annual Conference's (TRAC) youngest and smallest congregation, but a diverse and energetic one, with tremendous opportunity and potential for growth.

Nourished to flourish: Building up and reaching out to every generation HVMC's vision is rooted in Psalm 1:1-3, which illustrates the model disciple who follows closely after God and his Word in the midst of a sinful and corrupt world.

The disciple is likened to a tree, with roots planted close to water and, nourished by the water, endures the seasons and flourishes, bearing fruit even in the face of adversity. For the disciple, such fruit is expressed not just in one's own spiritual

November 2022 Methodist Message 7

Youngest TRAC Methodist Church turns 10

growth but also in making disciples and helping others grow in their spiritual lives.

This recalls Psalm 145:4, "One generation shall commend your works to another, and shall declare your mighty acts," which presents the dimension of making disciples across generations.

A tree planted by living waters ACS (International) being a Christian private school presents a unique opportunity for Christian ministry, where today 1,060 students from 22 countries (including Singapore) attend secondary school from Years 1 to 6. HVMC's focus to provide Christian ministry to the school goes beyond conducting weekly chapel services for the school. There is a high level of integration between the church and the school, including Christian Fellowship, participation in school events, and providing hospitality and pastoral care.

In addition to the church's ministry to ACS (International), HVMC has a dynamic and engaging Children's Ministry where almost 50 children gather weekly with a threefold approach to develop their Heads—To know God and his will through the study of his word; to expand their Hearts—To love God and to respond in obedience to his commands; and extend their Hands—To live and serve in a manner that glorifies God and reaches the world for Jesus Christ.

At the crossroads HVMC's logo is a picture composed of mosaic pieces which together represent the faith community that God has placed at Holland Village. The overall picture resembles a crossroad, which is symbolic of the physical village the church is located in—sandwiched between the poor and the wealthy, the international community and the locals. It also represents the church's hope to be a community that leads others into the most important crossroad of their life—to meet the living Christ, and decide to follow him.

As the church celebrates the significant milestone of 10 years, HVMC looks ahead to another crossroad where there are many opportunities for growth. The ministry to ACS (International) continues to be a focus for the church and the congregation is pivoting to give more energy to our witness to the school community. Furthermore, there is a growing interest in helping our Life Groups multiply so that many others can experience the fellowship and support which Life Groups offer.

HVMC has truly been blessed by God's favour and provision in her last 10 years and trusts that God will continue to shape the church and strengthen her for the journey ahead.

Community life in HVMC is strong where many members belong to a Life Group which helps them be engaged with and accountable to one another and grow to become disciples who are disciple-makers.

HVMC's Filipino Fellowship provides a close and warm environment where the sisters can experience the love of Christ through authentic relationships, and grow through Bible study, group-sharing, leading at worship, acts of service, etc.

The church is also deeply engaged in the community around Holland Village, including supporting several low-income families living in the rental flats around the church by providing financial assistance to needy families irrespective of race or religion.

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To find out more about HVMC, visit

https://www.hvmc.sg/ or follow us on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube

@hvmcsg

By Chan Yuey Sum, Marketing Manager, Methodist Preschool Services Pte Ltd (MPSPL) / Photos courtesy of Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School, Methodist Girls' School, Geylang Methodist School (Primary) and MPSPL

News

Preparing Methodist preschoolers for

primary school

F

or six-year-olds, transitioning from preschool to primary school is a momentous milestone. To help them prepare, Kindergarten Two (K2) pupils in the Methodist Preschools got a taste of the primary school experience when they visited Methodist primary schools in September.

Mdm May Ten, Principal of Foochow Methodist Preschool, said, "It is important to help children transition from preschool to primary school so that they will not fear the 'big school'. A primary school visit helps children understand and see for themselves first-hand the differences and similarities between preschool and primary school."

On 21 Sep, 31 students from Foochow and Toa Payoh Methodist Preschools had an eye-opening experience during their tour of Methodist Girls' School (MGS). Accompanied by their four teachers and confident Primary One (P1) students as their tour guides, they discovered facilities not typically found in a preschool.

On 22 Sep, Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School (PLMGS) hosted 46 students and six teachers from Sengkang Methodist Preschool (SKMP). After a warm and enthusiastic welcome upon arrival, selected lower primary PLMGS buddies took the preschoolers for recess time at the canteen.

At the school canteen, buying food, managing money and carrying the food to the table by themselves was also novel for the preschoolers, but the warm company and friendly guidance of the MGS studentbuddies made the whole experience a less daunting one. They also got to attend lessons and participate in class activities with their new P1 friends.

The K2 preschoolers then joined their new friends in their classrooms for an authentic experience of primary school. The SKMP children were also taken on a tour of some school facilities before wrapping up the visit with a craft activity. Not only did they go home with fond memories of their PLMGS visit but also with a beautiful rainbow fish artwork made with their new friends!

November 2022 Methodist Message 9

Preparing Methodist preschoolers for primary school

Ms Joanne Low, SKMP Principal, shared that the visit benefitted both students and staff. It provided the opportunity for her teachers to reflect on their current practices and make necessary adjustments to SKMP's teaching pedagogy to smoothen their preschoolers' transition into primary school.

It was the turn of Bedok Methodist Preschool (BMP) on 23 Sep. The visit to Geylang Methodist School (Primary) saw 40 preschoolers with their seven teachers being warmly welcomed with an address by the GMSP principal, Mrs Jennifer Choy.

This was followed by a short presentation on "Life in Primary School", which set the stage for a tour of various school facilities including the Heritage Wall, bookshop, canteen, gardens, playground, selected classrooms, library and Art rooms.

Student-buddies from P1 and P2 were assigned to each BMP pupil to walk them through the quintessential experience of buying food and eating at the canteen during recess. The enthusiasm and care shown by the GMSP student-buddies were so heart-warming that even the introverted ones among the BMP cohort were seen warming up to, and chatting freely with their buddies!

Ms Patsy Wee, BMP Principal, was appreciative of the warmth and sincerity of GMSP which permeated the welcome speech, detailed planning and arrangements. "I believe our preschoolers went away feeling excited and less fearful about the next phase in their life—entering P1 next year!" she said.

Fairfield Methodist School (Primary) also hosted Faith Methodist Preschool's K2 pupils —albeit virtually—in October.

The collaboration between Methodist Preschools and Primary Schools for these visits has led to meaningful and beneficial experiences for the preschoolers and accompanying staff teams. As Ms Jane Chan, Vice-Principal of Toa Payoh Methodist Preschool, put it: "The transition period between preschool and primary school is crucial as success is associated with a lasting positive impact on the child's academic and social performance." The warm and positive memories created for the young ones are all thanks to the efforts and warm hospitality extended by the primary schools.

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Written by Jonathan Tan (Barker Road Methodist Church) & Rev Jeremy Ong (Holland Village Methodist Church) / Photos courtesy of Joash Lee (Faith Methodist Church), Jowell Chee (Faith Methodist Church) and Matthias Ho (Wesley Methodist Church)

News

Charles Wesley for the Church today

T

he In Deep Conference 2022 was an invitation to rediscover the richness of the Methodist tradition and its relevance to our worship through song and hymn.

The collaboration between TRAC Board of Worship and Music (BOWM) and Methodist School of Music (MSM) focused on exploring "Charles Wesley for the Church Today".

(left) TRAC President Rev Stanley Chua presiding over Holy Communion sacrament, assisted by Rev Jeremy Ong, PIC of Holland Village MC (right) Choir comprising workshop participants leading in Charles Wesley hymns set to new arrangements

In the late morning, the conference split up into various skills-training workshops, where the esteemed trainers equipped participants with knowledge and skills ranging from photography to worship leading, contemporary arrangements to choral ministry. No matter which worship ministry one was involved in, there was a workshop which left them with new knowledge and skills to better serve their ministries and churches.

When "Methodist tradition" and "Hymns" are put together, it is only natural that the name Charles Wesley comes to mind with hymns such as "And Can It Be That I Should Gain" and "O for a Thousand Tongues to Sing", both written by the prolific songwriter. However, these are merely two out of the thousands of hymns and poems that were written by him in his lifetime. This was just one of the many insights which ST Kimbrough, the founding President of the Charles Wesley Society (USA) and the guest lecturer for the conference, shared with us.

During lunch, participants were given the precious opportunity to connect with fellow worship ministers across the Methodist churches. The air was filled with encouragement and laughter as participants formed bonds with each other over shared experiences.

The internationally renowned scholar also highlighted deep spiritual truths and insights about one's inner spiritual journey which are recurring themes from his study of Charles Wesley's texts. Finally, he challenged us to revisit our Methodist roots by studying all of Charles Wesley's hymns and poems, and to compose our own tunes from the texts to find new ways to express The Faith We Sing.

After lunch, TRAC President Rev Stanley Chua encouraged the participants to consider how we can incorporate Wesleyan hymns, especially those which were not set to familiar tunes, into the worship services at our local churches. He further emphasised the need for our churches to reclaim the heritage that was left behind by the Wesley brothers and be cognisant of our distinctives as Methodists.

November 2022 Methodist Message 11

Charles Wesley for the Church today

(left) Dr Calvin Chong of Covenant Community Methodist Church narrating at the Song Fest (right) Joshua Loke of Fairfield Methodist Church giving a workshop on Lyrics in Songwriting

The conference concluded with a Song Festival featuring works by our local songwriters, all of which are Wesleyan hymns put to contemporary musical settings. Dr Calvin Chong narrated texts which guided our worship through movements about God's story: The Incarnation, The Death of Christ and the Resurrection of Christ, and Our Story.

The choir, comprising workshop participants, led in singing "Let Earth and Heaven Combine" and "And Can It Be That I Should Gain" set to new musical arrangements which allowed us to reconsider the words

of these familiar hymns. The Song Festival culminated in the celebration of the Lord's Supper presided by Rev Chua.

The conference was a helpful reminder of the rich musical heritage that we share as Methodists and how we can continue to steward this heritage by discovering new ways of expressing the hymns and poems written almost two and a half centuries ago.

In many ways, those works continue to be relevant and meaningful for the world, the Church and God's people today.

Feature

Janice Khoo serves in the Choir and Media & Comms Ministry at Kampong Kapor Methodist Church. / Photos courtesy of Favian Ee

Behind-the-scenes:

The making of the John Wesley graphic novel "I grew up Methodist and attended Methodist schools but didn't know much about the life of John Wesley, aside from the fact that he founded Methodism," says Favian Ee, 44.

An avid reader of biographies, Favian somehow did not get around to reading those on John Wesley. That is, until The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS) presented him with an opportunity to create a graphic novel about John Wesley.

(top left) Favian is a visual effects artist by training.

Image by Memphis West Pictures (top) Favian and his father posing with the statue of John Wesley in London, 2001 (right) A scene from the graphic novel depicting John Wesley preaching in the open for the very first time

The idea of a graphic novel was initiated by the MCS General Conference Council on Communications, with the hope that the graphic art form would be a refreshing and accessible way for parents, educators, youths and even adults to learn about the life of John Wesley, how Methodism was founded, and how it arrived in Singapore. Talks with Favian began in late 2019.

Favian says, "When I was younger, I thought I might draw a Christian biographical comic. To be approached to create this graphic novel fulfills this wish."

November 2022 Methodist Message 13

Behind-the-scenes: The making of the John Wesley graphic novel

the characters in the book and sketches of John and Charles Wesley as they age. One indication of the amount of research that Favian put into this novel is a very detailed drawing of an English saddle in one of his notebooks.

Work on this project took over one and a half years. Favian started work by poring over recommended readings on John Wesley.

He says, "I read widely and extracted quotes which I then used in the book." Readers may find familiar quotes in the book interspersed with Favian's writing. "I tried to retain the style of old English that would have been used during that period," he said, which explains why some of the language may seem unfamiliar to the reader.

A sketch of John Wesley and illustration notes from Favian's sketchbook

If this seemingly smooth path to Favian creating the graphic novel, John Wesley: The World, My Parish, sounds like something from a movie, it is fitting to note that, in addition to being an author and illustrator, Favian worked as a visual effects artist. After seven gruelling years working on Hollywood movies including several blockbusters, Favian left the visual effects industry, and is today a part-time lecturer in tertiary institutions, art instructor and freelance artist. The path that God led him on was by no means easy but it seems to have prepared this artist and self-described perfectionist for the creation of this graphic novel.

At the interview, Favian shared the A3sized renditions of the covers of his book, beautifully rendered in watercolour. Along with that, he whipped out neatly organised folders containing early drafts of the book.

The progression from the early thumbnail sketches to the more recent drawings reflect the discipline Favian exercises in tandem with the artistry in his creations.

There are also notebooks filled with notes on

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November 2022

Working within a 98-page limit, Favian had to decide which aspects of John Wesley's life to feature in the book. This included his family history, the encounter with the Moravians, the start of his ministry, and the arrival of Methodism to Singapore.

Favian sought to present John Wesley in a convincing manner, highlighting events such as his crises of faith and his romantic troubles, explaining, "I wanted to show that he was human and relatable."

A consultancy team was set up, comprising Rev Melvin Huang, Secretary, Council on Communications; Rev Dr Chiang Ming Shun, lecturer in church history at Trinity Theological College; Ms Kwok Wan Yee, Exco member, Council of Communications; Ms Lynn Tan, MCS Communications Manager; and Ms Bernice Lee, Graceworks Publishing. They provided Favian with feedback as he kept them updated on the progress of his work and helped to finetune an already meticulously researched book.

They were the ones who reminded him to accurately reflect John Wesley's diminutive height, which he did in some parts of the book by illustrating Wesley with other people around him. Having visited John Wesley's home in England some years back, Favian concurs, "I saw from the length of his robes that he wasn't very tall."

History buffs may notice the effort put into achieving authenticity in the drawings. From clothing and hairstyles, to architecture and furniture, Favian takes the reader into 18th century England. Records tell us that John Wesley travelled by chair after he suffered a fall. Favian's research allows the reader to visualise the journey more accurately, as it took place in a sedan chair.

The more artistically inclined reader will appreciate the way colour schemes in the book reflect the mood of events in John Wesley's life. For instance, bright colours are used when he meets Grace Murray, the woman he intended to marry. Purple is used later to show gloom and sadness when the mood changes.

Literary Easter eggs are sprinkled throughout the book. These hidden surprises in the drawings provide an added layer of storytelling to the graphics and text. (No Easter eggs will be revealed in this article but look out for seemingly innocuous images in the graphic novel and keep your knowledge of church history handy. It will be a rewarding Easter egg hunt).

Some early reactions to the book include Bishop Dr Gordon Wong's, who said, "The plethora of historical information and research about our founder makes for daunting reading, but an inspired comic such as this presents his life in a refreshing format that is more accessible and enjoyable to read." Trinity Annual Conference President Rev Stanley Chua said he hoped that "this graphic novel [would] help all Methodists to remember who we are and whose we are so that we [would] continue to be a salt and light to our nation and beyond like the early Methodists."

What are Favian's favourite parts of the book? "That would be the panels depicting John Wesley's last moments to his passing.

Minimal words were used and emotions were expressed without words." Light and shadows conveyed the transition from night to morning in a moving and evocative scene.

But this was not the most difficult part of making the book; it was the extensive research that was required to closely reflect daily life in London during the 1700s. "Living in Singapore, we are not familiar with the cultural context of John Wesley's time," notes Favian.

Having gone through reams of material on John Wesley and distilled it into this book, Favian observes, "This project gave me a better appreciation of John Wesley as a man. His sense of humour, his failings and achievements. He held himself to high standards and called people to holiness."

John Wesley: The World, My Parish Retails from mid-November at $20 inclusive of GST. Bulk discounts available. To read about John Wesley and see his story unfold with historically faithful images, get your copy from https://www. methodist.org.sg/graphicnovel

November 2022 Methodist Message 15

Rev Dr Bernard Chao is a lecturer in Practical Theology at Trinity Theological College.

Bernard is an ordained elder of The Methodist Church in Singapore (Trinity Annual Conference) and has been a Methodist pastor since 2005. He also serves as Associate Brigade Chaplain of The Boys' Brigade in Singapore.

Feature

Image: Vectorjuice/ Freepik.com

Digital disruptions and innovations for the post-pandemic Church

W

e are living in the frothing confluence of massive social, philosophical, ecological, economic, and technological disruptions.

These disruptions are reshaping our lives. The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted some of these disruptions, especially in terms of how people communicate, socialise, and enact their lives and religious commitments. As Methodists in Singapore, we too have had to reimagine corporate worship, church programmes, ministry, and missions.

A recent study, State of the Church in Singapore 2022, surveyed 144 churches representing 318 congregations or some 104,653 attendees.1 Published in October this year, the study reported that 67% of the churches surveyed had experienced a decrease in in-person worship attendance. 74% of the churches have continued to offer livestreamed services. Churches indicated that between 13% and 43% of their pre-pandemic attendees have not returned to in-person services.

However, the pandemic was a hotbed for innovation with 88.2% of churches experimenting with new initiatives for member care. 48.6% of churches undertook new ways to reach out to their immediate neighbourhood.

49.3% of churches initiated new outreach beyond their immediate neighbourhood.

Furthermore, 31.9% of churches launched new missions initiatives outside of Singapore despite pandemic difficulties.

16 Methodist Message

November 2022

Clearly, the impact of the pandemic is real and ongoing. This pandemic has caused significant digital disruptions and catalysed innovations. Here, I have identified and named two sets of disruptions and innovations for us to reflect on as we move into ministry in the post-pandemic world. 2

From physical to phygital spaces Covid regulations in the past three years resulted in severe restrictions on, and for a period, a complete cessation of, in-person worship services. The loss of our physical sanctuaries and meetings spaces disrupted our sense of the church as a location and the church as a social space. Working from home and attending church by watching YouTube livestreams or through Zoom meetings, the church as a third place became conflated or confused with our second place of work and our first place of home.

Our social spaces have been disrupted and we can all feel the unease, tensions, and conflicts that have resulted for individuals and families as we compete for physical space and Wi-Fi, and seek relief from our de facto imprisonment.

The result of our pandemic-driven familiarity with digital ways of meeting and doing work has been an expansion and merging of both physical and digital space. Working from home and Zoom meetings are here to stay. This represents an emerging hybridity of space. A phygital reality is emerging. This

is an opportunity for missional innovation.

However, some would view this as a problem, and this has something to do with how we have viewed technology within the church.

Technology and digital platforms Our churches have been slow and patchy in engaging the digital world seriously for decades. We have witnessed the ubiquitous expansion of the Internet, the growth of gaming culture, and the explosion of social media. These have been accompanied by online commerce, streaming services, and now, digital currencies. For a long time, any suggestion of a digital expression of church was considered taboo or questionable at best. More recently, it has been viewed as a curiosity. We are intrigued and try bits here and there, but we have not faced up to the digital realities, nor developed a coherent theology, let alone constructed new liturgies and practices.

The pandemic has changed all that. Patterns of life have shifted permanently, with new norms and acceptance of working from home, holding leadership meetings online, and offering all kinds of ministry programmes online. Digital modes offer convenience, reduced travel time and cost, accessibility to those with children, the homebound, and the differently abled.

Church services continue to be livestreamed online and offered via Zoom meetings. Many pre-believers have "tried out" church for the first time, and online evangelism efforts like Alpha have seen incredible response.

Our fears, resistance, and attitudes toward technology and digital modes of meeting have shifted significantly.

the church be properly gathered together when we do so online? Is our online presence and fellowship with others any less real and authentic when we can see, hear, and talk with one another? How is God present and active in a church gathered digitally but dispersed physically? Are our old liturgies and practices adequate? Are our new liturgies and practices valid?

As we rethink and reshape our theology and practices, we will discover that God is bigger, more powerful, present, and creative (and still creating) than we often allow for.

We will realise the poverty and limitations of some of our past thinking and norms. As we do so, we will need to be guided by an unwavering commitment to the scrutiny of scripture and a steely patience because it will take time to develop a sense of the sacred with any new spiritual practices.

During the pandemic, there was much talk about coming to grips with the "new normal". I suspect that most of us were just pandering to the language of innovation but were all secretly pining for the return of our "old normal". Will the epiphanies, lessons, and innovations you and your churches have experienced during the pandemic be quickly forgotten and abandoned?

I pray not and suggest that we recognise the moment we are in. These digital disruptions of the pandemic offer us as followers of Jesus a missional opportunity to move away from church-centric thinking and programmes to a mission-centric trajectory. As Methodists, we have a rich and storied tradition of missional innovation. Let's not stop now.

Theological innovation and shaping new sacred practices Developing theological practices that will adequately address these disruptions and innovate towards new practices of worship, community, discipleship, and witness, will not be easy work. But it is a necessary and a spiritual task. It is a following after God who is still "doing a new thing" today (Isaiah 43:19).

As we consider phygital spaces, the use of technology, and digital modes of interaction, we will confront many new questions: Can

This study was a collaboration between Trinity Theological College, Singapore Bible College, Biblical Graduate School of Theology, and Salt&Light. I was part of the research team. The report can be downloaded here: https://saltandlight.sg/sotc2022/

1

I have previously spoken about these disruptions and innovations at an online dialogue called Conversations organised by the Methodist School of Music on 25 Sep 2021 on the topic "Online Worship: Insights & Reflections;" and a pastors' seminar organised by Singapore Bible College on 12 Aug 2022 titled "Ministry in a Post-Pandemic World".

2

November 2022 Methodist Message 17

In the beginning, the Metaverse was created… But is it good?

A

nd around the world, churches eager to enter digital missions saw that it was very good. While it might sound like a logical extension of the Great Commission, the questions that should be addressed before we begin diverting resources to Metaverse missions, are: what is the Metaverse? How does it work? What is its promise? How should the Church relate to it?

I've read many views—both secular and religious—about the Metaverse, and my first observation is that no one agrees on what it is. Some compare it to a hyper-immersive video game. Others focus on what you can earn in it: NFTs, cryptocurrencies, etc. Sorting out these opinions on the technical definitions is beyond the scope of this piece. Instead, I want to examine what the Metaverse hopes to be, because by understanding its intentions, we can better understand how the Church should relate to it.

18 Methodist Message

November 2022

A fully digital world The primary aim of existing technology is to connect people, information and goods in the physical world. However, the promoters of the Metaverse promise a fully-realised digital world that is a near facsimile of our physical one without the physical part.

That's where Christians should be concerned.

Because in Genesis 2, when God created Adam and Eve, he created them not solely as spirit, but with physical bodies that are an essential part of existence. We know this because after Jesus' death, he didn't return as a spirit. Jesus in his resurrection body was careful to establish that he had a functioning physical body. In Luke 24:38–43, not only did he ask them to touch him, he ate in front of them to prove, in his words, that "a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have". And we see in Philippians 3:21 that one day, he will "transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body". But our

wariness towards the Metaverse should extend beyond the fact that to be fully human is to have both body and spirit functioning together.

in a place where its philosophical basis is the unspoken desire to escape the reality God made for humans to dwell in.

The Metaverse has another troubling core idea: that humanity can create an entire existence in our own image and likeness, fitting our own idea of reality, free from God's interference, and divorced from all the pesky things God has created in the physical reality that we'd rather not have.

In considering how to interact with the Metaverse, some have suggested "digital missions", where believers are trained to enter virtual places like they would physical spaces and have conversations with people. Others are planning to build churches in the Metaverse, to hold services that can be viewed across the globe.

It reminds me of the Tower of Babel. Like the people of that day, it almost seems like the architects of the Metaverse are trying to build a tower to reach heaven, a utopia without God's interference, a place where God's Flood judgement cannot reach.

While their heart is commendable, is this wise? God put us in physical bodies that have a limited lifespan, and perhaps our time is not best spent building grand edifices in the Metaverse, or attempting virtual street evangelism. Most likely, the Christians who find the greatest success in "Metaverse missions" will be those reaching out to people they already know, using the Metaverse as simply another avenue to reach them, like how we'd converse over Telegram or WhatsApp and then continue our discussion over dinner.

In this virtual utopia divorced from physical reality, how is the body of Christ supposed to function? How are Christians to use their spiritual gifts?

How can we serve one another in a digital environment which is designed such that users don't need to depend on one another or share burdens? How can we speak truth to one another (Ephesians 4:25) when we hide behind anonymised usernames, glamourised avatars and curated personas? We had two years of Zoom and by the end of it, no one wanted to turn on their cameras. The Metaverse will push authenticity even further away than Zoom did.

Some may argue that people can serve each other in digital environments. But there is a distinction between utilising digital technology to serve someone physically, versus serving someone digitally in a virtual world. And while God can act in the Metaverse, he has placed us in a physical world full of those in need. Instead of opening our eyes and reaching out to them, it seems some are reaching out for their VR goggles instead.

What then shall we do?

The Metaverse is still in its infancy, and multinational corporations and governments are grappling to define it. As Christians, we must always understand what the essential "offer" of a new technology is before deciding to utilise it. It wouldn't do us good to dabble

Perhaps by this point I sound like a fusty Luddite who prefers "the old ways", but I believe we need to exercise caution. Because unwrap the fancy jargon—cryptocurrency, NFTs, decentralised autonomous organisation— and all you have beneath it is another promise to create a utopia for man.

We know that this digital utopia won't materialise. Man's heart is desperately wicked (Jeremiah 17:9) and the same sins of the physical world will proliferate in the Metaverse (as already shown by recent reports of sexual assaults on virtual platforms). This isn't to say that Christians should have nothing to do with the Metaverse. But as Romans 12:2 says, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." And in Ephesians 5:15–16, God calls us to be careful how we walk, "not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil".

Among all the real needs and ministry opportunities before us, how much of our limited resources should we devote to a virtual one?

November 2022 Methodist Message 19

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.

Technological prudence ince the dawn of what some scholars have called the modern Internet in the 1990s, the lives of millions have been inundated with "new media".

Technopedia defines new media as "a catch-all term used for various kinds of electronic communications that are conceivable due to innovation in computer technology". It helpfully adds: In contrast to "old" media, which includes newspapers, magazines, books, television and other such non-interactive media, new media is comprised of [sic] websites, online video/ audio streams, email, online social platforms, online communities, online forums, blogs, Internet telephony, Web advertisements, online education and much more. 1

20 Methodist Message

November 2022

The ubiquitous nature of digital media has not only created in modern society a subtle and almost slavish dependence. It has also augmented the way we relate to one another and the way we work and play.

Most importantly, it has changed how we understand ourselves and our world.

We must disabuse ourselves from thinking that technology is a neutral tool that we use and control. As Robert Woods and Paul Patton have rightly pointed out, "Computers indeed consist of soulless microchips and motherboards, but the values they nurture still affect human life and consciousness in positive and negative ways." 2 One consequence of "new media" is information overload. Delfina Forstmann describes this phenomenon as "a situation

Image: Serato /Shutterstock.com

S

in which you receive too much information at one time and cannot think about it in a clear way". 3 This in turn has generated public confusion and even news fatigue.

There is, however, an even darker side to this endless barrage of information.

The new media have become the ideal tool for nefarious actors—at state and private levels—to fabricate and spread fake news, disinformation and propaganda.

We witnessed the proliferation of disinformation during the 2020 US presidential election, in the confusion surrounding Covid-19 vaccines, and, more recently, in the war in Ukraine.

The purveyors of fake news take advantage of the primordial human appetite for knowledge. Centuries ago, the Greek philosopher Aristotle (384-322 BC) took note of this pervasive human desire when he wrote: "All men by nature desire to know." 4 The English-born American theologian, Paul Griffiths, explains that at the very basic level, appetite is merely the desire to make something that is absent present. 5 Human beings have appetites for material things (food, drink, clothing, etc.) as well as nonmaterial goods such as truth, love, goodness and knowledge.

"Curiosity," Griffiths explains, "is concerned with novelty: curious people want to know what they don't yet know, ideally what no one yet knows." 6 Thus, they tend to pursue whatever "news" no one yet possesses in order to satisfy their inordinate desire to always be the first to know. Griffith adds that the "curious need not only to know, but to be known as knowers".7 Studiositas, by contrast, has a very different orientation to knowledge.

"Studious people," Griffiths points out, "seek knowledge with the awareness that novelty is not what counts…" They are not concerned with the fleeting and the sensational, but solely with the truth.

All this means that Christians inhabiting the complex and confusing world of the new media must always exercise technological prudence.

This has to do not only with the judicious selection of the technologies we use and how we use them. It also has to do with being acutely aware of the lure of curiositas, and with making a conscious effort to nurture the right habits and to discipline the appetite for the right kind of knowledge.

Technopedia, "What Does New Media Mean?", https://www.techopedia.com/definition/416/newmedia.

1

The Christian faith teaches that appetites are never indiscriminately good. This applies to intellectual appetites as well, because, as the story of our first parents in the Garden of Eden clearly shows, they can be just as sinful.

Christian moral theology makes a distinction between two kinds of intellectual appetites: curiositas, which is its sinful form, and studiositas, which is a godly approach to the quest for knowledge.

Space does not allow me to discuss the many differences between these two kinds of intellectual appetite. I would like to highlight briefly just one important distinction between them that is pertinent to users of the new media.

2 Robert H. Woods and Paul D. Patton, "Faithful Criticism of Popular Media Technologies", Virtual Lives, edited by Robert B. Kruschwitz (Waco, Tx: Baylor University, 2011), 30.

Delfina Forstmann, "Information Overload in Our Digital Age", The Medium, Feb 27, 2019. https:// medium.com/@goboldfish/information-overload-inour-digital-age-90cbe93bb530.

3

4 Aristotle, Metaphysics, translated by W.D. Ross, in The Complete Works of Aristotle, edited

by Jonathan Barnes (Princeton, HJ: Princeton University Press, 1984), 980a20.

5 Paul Griffiths, Intellectual Appetite: A Theological Grammar (Washington D.C.: The Catholic University of America Press, 2009), 94.

6

Ibid., 22.

7

Ibid., 218.

November 2022 Methodist Message 21

Grace Chung is the Digital Transformation Chairperson at Methodist Missions Society (MMS). / Photos courtesy of MMS

Enhancing missions work with digital solutions at MMS We knew one thing with certainty— missions work could not, and does not, stop in the face of a crisis. That was our message to all who had asked us how we would deal with the nasty repercussions of the pandemic. At the heart of our discussion on digital transformation was this question: How might digital solutions advance the Great Commission and the work of MMS?

At Song Roi Phee Methodist Church, laptops were provided for the children's computer learning camp

M

ethodist Missions Society (MMS) embarked on a Digital Transformation Journey to do missions more effectively through digital means when the Covid-19 pandemic hit and its impact was felt globally.

The Covid-19 pandemic had disrupted the traditional way MMS conducted missions work and magnified the gaps in our digital capabilities, hastening the need to implement change.

To ensure the continuity of our missions work, we had to catch up with the times and transform the way in which we did our work.

The MMS leadership team took swift action to set up a Digital Transformation Taskforce to decide on solutions that would enable us to fulfil the call that God had given MMS.

22 Methodist Message

November 2022

The most immediate challenge was that our missionaries (and mission-trippers) were forced to stay put wherever they were as travelling came to a standstill. How would we continue sending missionaries to the MMS mission fields for community development work? How was the gospel going to be shared to local communities?

As we looked to digital solutions, we were confronted with another big challenge— first addressing the digital needs of various MMS mission fields, some of which were still in the developmental stage of setting up primary digital networks and infrastructure.

The top action items on our list were to ensure that these church members could access church services online even when they could not meet physically, and to continue providing English lessons online when teachers could not travel.

To derive a framework for our digital solutions, countless conversations and assessments were conducted between the Singapore Home Office leadership and the co-workers of our seven mission fields to understand what was required

to build digital capabilities, skillsets and digital infrastructure for ministry work. This exercise helped us identify and decide on the crucial areas to allocate our resources.

Learning to type with the Bible as the primary teaching material

Our digital transformation can be categorised in these three ways: Equipping co-workers in the fields with digital and computer skills They were taught to use Zoom via mobile phones and laptops for church services and training sessions, dialogues and partnership conversations between Singapore and the mission fields.

For example, for our ministry work with the Methodist Church of Nepal, a Digital Lab was set up to develop digital, video, and audio content and train the youth leaders in digital skills. If this proves successful, MMS hopes to replicate this model in other provinces and mission fields.

Purchasing IT equipment, software and licences Laptops, Zoom subscription plans, software licences, projectors, data cards, monitors, and even power supplies such as generators had to be purchased for our mission fields.

At the Song Roi Phee Methodist Church in Thailand (a partner of MMS), we provided laptops for the children's computer learning camp where they learnt how to type using the Bible as the primary teaching material.

We are thankful for our donors, church leaders, partners, mission-trippers, and co-workers who stood by us despite the many challenges—praying alongside MMS, contributing financially, providing resources, sacrificing their time for training and teaching.

Truly, as the Bible says in Romans 15:5-6 (NIV), "May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ." This verse came to life as I witnessed many likeminded leaders, brothers- and sisters-inChrist coming together to share the love of Christ through action during this pandemic.

As the travelling restrictions across borders are lifted, we look forward to having more mission-minded friends joining us in making a difference and creating more opportunities to share the love of God. Missions work doesn't stop!

Contact us today at

mms@methodist.org.sg

Improving data storage and governance standards The Singapore Home Office had to be trained in the regulations pertaining to the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) and online fundraising.

It has been two years since these digital solutions have been implemented, and God did indeed see MMS through it. There were many engagement opportunities that came out of the difficulties we faced.

November 2022 Methodist Message 23

By the Methodist Welfare Services Communications Team / Photos courtesy of Methodist Welfare Services

Putting

'family'

at the heart of residential care

Poornam (left) and Sulosana tending to the plants in their residence—gardening is one of the activities residents at MWS Bethany Nursing Home – Choa Chu Kang engage in to cultivate well-being

P

oornam Thanam, 50, was admitted

that accommodate five residents each. Each

to a community hospital in May

'family' unit therefore houses 10 residents,

2020 after a heart attack and stroke left

with dedicated care staff—an arrangement

her partially paralysed. Although she

that fosters familiarity and consistent care.

befriended another Indian resident at the hospital, they hardly interacted as they

Shortly after entering MWS BNH, Poornam

were staying far apart, and she often felt

became friends with another resident, A

isolated and lonely.

Sulosana. While the two were initially placed in different 'family' units, upon their request,

Poornam was worried that she would

MWS BNH staff specially arranged for them

experience loneliness too after

to be in the same unit. As Sulosana, 67, is a

transferring to MWS Bethany Nursing

diabetic amputee, this set-up made it easier

Home (BNH) – Choa Chu Kang in

for them to enjoy each other's company and

July 2020. At that time, MWS BNH

to take care of one another.

was undergoing a three-year Care Remodelling (CR) project, aimed at

Such is the person-centred, resident-directed

optimising the quality of life for residents

care at MWS BNH—a core principle which

like Poornam through a facility and care

prioritises individual needs and preferences.

model redesign.

Being in the same 'family' unit has

Every resident a 'family' member

strengthened the bond between Poornam

With 'family' at its heart, the CR saw

and Sulosana and improved their relational

the redesign of wards into home-like

well-being. "Sulosana is like a sister to

'residences'. Residents live in 'family' units

me, and we do everything together. Our

where each unit comprises two bedrooms

families hardly visit us, so we are thankful

24 Methodist Message

November 2022

for each other," said Poornam." Sulosana

Poornam and Sulosana work at Café Joy as a

agreed, "I feel relieved that I have someone

cashier and barista respectively. Café Joy is

whom I can speak to in Tamil. I had trouble

designed to be run by residents to empower

communicating with the members of my

them with a sense of independence and

previous 'family' unit because of a language

purpose. Taking on micro jobs like these has

barrier, so I didn't have any friends."

made their days more meaningful, they said. "I feel very happy to learn new skills and to stay

Like family, the two share mealtimes and

active. I enjoy being a cashier," Poornam said.

take part in activities like watching Tamil shows together in the living room, part

The CR was officially unveiled in August 2022

of the ward's redesign to create a homely

during an event attended by over 70 guests,

feel and mingling space for residents. In

including Dr Gerard Ee, Chairman of Agency

each Residence, a Common Activity Area,

for Integrated Care, and Zhulkarnain Abdul

modelled after the living and dining areas of

Rahim, Member of Parliament for Chua Chu

a family home, allows residents to socialise

Kang GRC (Keat Hong).

with other 'families'.

In her opening speech, MWS CEO, Junie Foo,

Fostering community relationships —an extended 'family'

said, "Life at MWS Bethany is vibrant and

Active involvement of volunteers and the

passing time or retiring. A wide selection of

community in engaging residents is also

programmes is provided for residents' social

part of the CR, facilitated through curated

interaction and engagement—from communal

programmes and a dedicated Community

dining sessions, pet therapy and urban farming

Space at the Nursing Home.

to purposeful voluntary work in-house."

purposeful. It is about living, and not simply

GIVE THE GIFT OF 'FAMILY' WARMTH to the chronically ill like Poornam and Sulosana Some 99% of the residents at MWS BNH are wheelchair-bound or bed-ridden who need Café Joy

Situated on Level 1, the Community Space

moderate to total assistance and supervision.

Most of them come from low-income

comprises Café Joy, a minimart and a multi-

backgrounds, and some struggle to afford the

purpose hall. Residents who complete small

minimum payment. Donations are critical to

jobs or participate in social activities earn

give them the long-term care that they cannot

'home dollars' which can be exchanged for food, beverages and daily essentials at the café or minimart.

A devout Christian, Poornam used to attend Pasir Panjang Tamil Methodist Church before her health deteriorated. Since July 2022, vaccinated volunteers from the church visit her, Sulosana and the other Indian residents every month, bringing with them

afford. The Bible says that when we help others, it pleases the Lord. Proverbs 19:17 states: "Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay him for his deed." Contribute to our low-income residents' stay at our nursing home today. Visit

mws.sg/give to donate or find out more.

Indian food and other treats.

November 2022 Methodist Message 25

You and 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.

What grief gives us

O

n 8 September, Queen Elizabeth II passed on. The longest-reigning monarch of our time, she was a constant amidst all the changes of the past 70 years.

We often associate a person's death with losses at many levels and with feelings of grief experienced by those who remain.

Interestingly, though, with the losses come some unexpected gains. Here is what I observed with the passing of Queen Elizabeth and how we might learn from it.

Firstly, alongside the outpouring of sadness was mass reminiscing about the late queen. Media channels in the United Kingdom carried almost 24-hour coverage of many aspects of her life. It was as if people could not get or know enough about the beloved monarch. This kind of

mass recollection is an effort to hold on to what remains of the deceased. And often, what remains are memories.

While on the topic of memories, let me say that personal memories are exactly that— personal to the individual. Not everyone may have nor want to recall certain events or aspects of the deceased. Memories also often become kinder with time—we may be able to recall difficult times but with less of the intensity of associated emotions. What memories do you retain of your loved ones who have passed on?

And while your loved ones are still around, there remains the possibility of making more positive memories.

Secondly, hand in hand with memories that we want to treasure is the question of the

Thirdly, together with the sombre mood around Queen Elizabeth's death, there were also celebrations. Such celebrations are not for one's death but for the life that was lived. It is perhaps a way of expressing our appreciation for that individual and telling others of how much the deceased enriched our lives. The celebration is a bitter-sweet way of living out the memory of the loved one.

Fourthly, death is a reminder of how finite our lives are. The brevity of life should remind us to treasure what we have and to make the most

of it. Benjamin Franklin famously said that there are only two certainties of life—death and taxes. With the certainty of death, we all have to ask ourselves how prepared we are to face it.

In attendance at the funeral services for the late queen were many dignitaries, politicians and leaders, both local and foreign. For many of them, going into a church and attending a Christian service is something they would not have done if it were not for that occasion.

I wonder if it gave some the opportunity to ponder the meaning of life and death.

We are told that the late queen planned the details of her funeral, the hymns to be sung and the portion of scripture to be read. It seems like she took the opportunity of her funeral service to deliver a special message for those assembled. The Bible reminds us that "...unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds" (John 12:24, NIV). May we all live and eventually pass on in such a way that gives life to others. May our death leave behind many happy memories and much happiness mingled with some tears.

November 2022 Methodist Message 27

Image : Ink Drop /Shutterstock.com

memories to let go. These are memories that do not serve us well. In some of us, there may be an irrational desire to hang on to hurtful memories, e.g. things done or words said to us. Why cling to these memories when there is no possibility of bringing them to some form of closure? "It is not fair!" some of us may protest and stubbornly want to retain them in the hope that the wrong will be undone. Sometimes we may just have to accept that although we may have been unjustly wronged, we are the only ones still hurting while time and others have all moved on. Is it not time to let such memories go?

Amelia Leo is a Programmes Executive at the Worship & Church Music Department of the Methodist School of Music.

Worship

O GOD, AS WE PAUSE

Learning to

W

ithout checking your calendar, take a moment to guess what day it is. If you have no idea, you are not alone. In recent years, this question seems to have become more difficult to answer! Technological advancements in recent times have caused one day to fade into the next, leading us on an endless continuum of time which many describe (in Singlish) as "no day, no night".

As children of God living in these times, how do we resist living at such a frenetic pace? First, let us recognise that God does call his people to rest, pause, and be still before Him (Ex 20:8-11, Psa 46:10, Mk 6:31). This may be counter-cultural, but the command is timeless—we were created to have regular periods of rest; and it is when we rest that we can truly listen to what God has to say to us.

What did we learn during our moments of pausing, and did we hear God speak to us? Hymn writer Carolyn Winfrey Gillette has poetically penned down some important spiritual lessons that have emerged from the pandemic.

What do we value, and what truly has worth? (Stanza 1) What is community and why is it important? (Stanza 2) Are we truly independent, or more dependent on others than we realise? (Stanza 3) Injustice and inequality are real; what are we to do about it? (Stanza 4) Which kingdom are we working for? (Stanza 5) God desires to speak to us, but do we pause often enough, or long enough, to listen to him? May he grant us the wisdom to strike a wise balance between work and rest!

Weblink: https://www.carolynshymns. com/o_god_as_we_pause.html

28 Methodist Message

November 2022

Tune: Traditional Welsh hymn, in John Robert's Caniadau y Cyssegr (Songs of the Sanctuary), 1839 ("Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise") Text: Copyright © 2020 by Carolyn Winfrey Gillette. All rights reserved.

O God, as we pause from our usual ways, as millions stay home, as we count passing days, may we learn what matters — what really has worth.

May we seek your reign as we live here on earth.

May we find your blessings in small, common things; may we learn the joy that community brings.

In loving our neighbors, in stopping to pray, may we know your presence in each passing day.

God, may we reflect on a world that has changed — a world where our values have been rearranged.

For those who once thought they could stand by themselves now value the workers who restock the shelves.

As greed and injustice are being laid bare, may we build a nation that's loving and fair.

God, give us the courage to change what we can, to work for the justice that's part of your plan.

So, turn us around, Lord, to make your world new; May we seek, in all things, to first follow you.

In change and in sorrow may we seek your reign.

O God, in our pausing, restore us again!

Alvin Tay is the LCEC Chairman at Wesley Methodist Church and Managing Editor of Methodist Message. / Photos courtesy of Alvin Tay

To Marry, Grow, and Serve formed such strong friendships with their classmates that they chose to continue their education at ACS Independent instead. I have to admit that they turned out to be fine, God-loving gentlemen, thanks to the strong foundation given to them at ACS. At WMC, we have many members who are Alvin and Wendy on their wedding day

old boys and girls of ACS or MGS, as well as second- and third-generation members whose parents or grandparents have been

I

worshipping at WMC for years. I belong to was hopping from church to church (all non-

neither group. Instead, I am in a third group

Methodist ones) when I met a girl, Wendy,

comprising members with no prior Methodist

while on holiday with a few colleagues in

affiliation or upbringing whatsoever. And

Bali. About nine months later, I married her.

there are many like me at WMC.

Wendy had one condition for the wedding.

She wanted to get married in her church—

I thank God I was able to assimilate into WMC

Wesley Methodist Church (WMC). To do

quite easily. I didn't feel out of place at all as

that, I had to become a member. So I was

the former ACS boys and MGS girls made an

baptised and got married at WMC, becoming

effort to embrace all in the church. Like many

a Methodist in the process.

others, I have experienced true community and I had the privilege of marrying, growing

Wendy and I lived in an apartment along

and serving in Wesley. All glory to God!

Dunearn Road. When Methodist Girls' School (MGS) moved to Blackmore Drive, just across the road, Wendy was elated as she thought she could send our daughters, if we had any, to MGS where she had studied. But God gave us two sons instead. And when it came to choosing a school for the boys, Wendy wanted them to attend Anglo-Chinese School (Junior) (ACSJ). I would have chosen Raffles Institution (RI) where I had spent my secondary school years at, but alas, RI does not have a primary school. I reluctantly sent them to ACSJ, hoping they would go to RI later on. But after six years at ACSJ, they had Alvin Tay and family on a mission trip to Chiangmai



Corrigenda

In the October 2022 issue of Methodist Message, •

Due to source errors in "Methodist Preschools recognise staff with Long Service Awards", the names of Ms Lim Geok Ling and Mdm Ong Bee Heoh were published as Ms Lim Lilian and Mdm Guok Ching King respectively.

•

A printer's error occurred during the plating process. Mr Alfie Lim's name was misprinted in the Young Voices column.

November 2022 Methodist Message 29

"10" EARNEST & MINGLI LIVE IN CONCERT 11, 16, 25 November 2022 East Asia School of Theology (11 Nov), Trinity Theological College (16 Nov), St James Church (25 Nov) Free entry. Register for the concerts at: (11 Nov)

https://tinyurl.com/11NovemberEAST

(16 Nov) https://tinyurl.com/16NovemberSPH (25 Nov) https://tinyurl.com/25NovSTJAMES Be enthralled by acoustic music storytelling of Bible narratives by local singer-songwriter duo, Earnest and Mingli, as they celebrate their milestone in songwriting ministry. The "10" concert series commemorates their decade-long journey as Christian artists in ministry. Catch one, or all three, of their concerts this November.

Organised by East Asia School of Theology

OLD TESTAMENT SUMMIT 28 November 2022, Monday, 8.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.

Wesley Methodist Church, 5 Fort Canning Rd, Singapore 179493 Free entry. Register at https://wycliffe.sg/otsummit Is the Old Testament still relevant in present times? Inviting all pastors, church leaders and ministry workers to come together for a time of worship, sharing and panel discussions hosted by the 4.2.20 Foundation. Topics discussed at this summit include the importance of the Old Testament and the "OT Gap"—what it is, and how to eliminate it.

Summit panellists and worship leaders include: • Bishop Dr Gordon Wong, Bishop of The Methodist Church in Singapore & Former Professor of OT, Trinity Theological College • Rev David Swarr, PhD, President & CEO, 4.2.20 Foundation • Rev Stanley Chua, President, Trinity Annual Conference, The Methodist Church in Singapore • Rev Wayne Hilsden, Co-Founder, Fellowship of Israel Related Ministries & King of Kings Community Jerusalem • P S Kwan, Senior Bible Translation Consultant, Wycliffe Singapore • Rev Raymond Fong, Pastor-in-charge, Wesley Methodist Church • Henry Tan, Vice Chairman, Alpha Singapore Organised by 4.2.20 Foundation (an Alliance Organization in Wycliffe Global Alliance)

by Kopikaki team