An Ox-picious Year

26 Jan ushers in the year of the Ox (also known as a castrated bull :P)




Mum and I went to JB for pre-CNY shopping and here's mum with Clifford at Tesco.

We had Treasure Pot in addition to steamboat for reunion dinner. Yummy!

And then we're off doing our usual visiting...

Church Directions for 2009 -2011: What on earth? (is)

Rev Melvin Huang preached on the Kingdom of God today and announced the directions for 2009 and 2011.

The Kingdom of God (2009)

• emphasis on a major biblical theme and the official title of the gospel
• raise understanding and awareness of Biblical teaching of the Kingdom of God/heaven in the OT and NT
• preaching series on Biblical Theology on the Kingdom
• encourage SGs to do a study series on the Kingdom
• teaching events/programmes on the Sermon on the Mount, Parables and Eschatology

The Body of Christ (2010)

• emphasis on the major Biblical metaphor for the Church
• raise awareness of the church as a spiritual organism (vis-a-vis human institution)
• preaching series on Biblical Theology of the Church
• teaching events/programmes on Spiritual Giftings (espeically Network), Christain Community
• Studies on other Biblical Metaphors for the Church, e.g. Family, Army, Bride

The Work of the Holy Spirit (2011)

• emphasis on the Biblical Theology of person and work of the Holy Spirit
• promote a clearer understanding of the Holy Spirit as the Third Person of the Godhead and His role in the Gift of the believer and the Church
• preaching series on Biblical teaching of the Holy Spirit
• Teaching events/programmes on spiritual formation, disciplines, Christian Character (Fruit of the Spirit)
• Studies on Wesleyan "Spreading Scriptural Holiness"

The key verse for this year's theme is from Matthew 6:33 - But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.

It is once again a good reminder to attend to what matters most to God and not to what matters most to us.

Ordinary Time and Epiphany

The Season after Epiphany (6 January) is the season of Ordinary Time, which includes four to nine Sundays, depending on the date of Easter. It is ordinary in that it stands between the two great christological cycles of Advent-Christmas-Epiphany and Lent-Easter-Pentecost and has no central theme. This is a season when we celebrate Jesus Christ 'shown forth' or 'manifested' (epiphanised) to all humankind as Saviour of the World. The focus is on the stories of Jesus' early life, the visit of the wise men, the baptism and the wedding feast at Cana. The liturgical colour is white for the first Sunday, symbolising the baptism of the Lord, and last Sunday (Transfiguration Sunday), followed by green the subsequent Sundays, symbolisng growth and spring.

A musical start to the year

Watched two musicals over the last weekend.

Firstly it was a chinese musical - "Wild, Wild Rose" at the Victoria Theatre on 2 Jan, Fri. It's based on an old movie and the music are all familiar tunes (from Carmen and M Butterfly) made popular by Ge Lan. Generally a pleasant experience with Syn and Teng. The props could have been better though.

Then it was Rogers and Hammerstein's Cinderella at the Esplanade on 4 Jan, Sun with Lay Li. Although it's a familiar tale, the entire experience was pretty magical. Lea Salonga didn't fail to impress. :)

Growing in Prayer

The sermon on "Growing in Prayer" by Rev Lillian Ang left a deep impact on me when she last preached on 7 Dec. Her sermon was based on 1 Thess 3:9-13.

She started with the story of a George McCluskey who spent one hour daily in prayer for his family. This prayer extended to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Many of his famly members committed their lives to God in full-time service and even though one of his great-grandsons, Dr James Dobson, did not go into full-time service but chose to be a psychologist, his ministry has reached millions around the world through Focus on the Family. This shows the power of prayer and also that our prayers should be much more than just about ourselves but about what is best for God's people.

She presented two guidelines for prayer: 1. thankfulness to God and 2. increase in our love for others.

I'm reminded to pray with thanksgiving as it shows gratitude to God and is a testimony through which we share with others the reality of God's love and concern. When things are going well, our prayers of thanksgiving remind us from Whom the blessings come and when things are not going well, our prayers contain a hope that God who is faithful will act. (Life application: think of someone whom you can thank God for - instead of complaining and finding fault, thank God for the good points we find in others)

I'm also reminded to pray for others with genuine love and not be self-centred as the source of love is the Lord. William Temple once said, "The Church is the only society on earth that exists for the benfit of non-members." My prayers for others must be translated into love in action.

As the new year begins, I must endeavour to grow as a praying person. So, help me Lord... Holy Spirit, take over....