WMC 124th Anniversary

Wesley celebrated its 124th anniversary and the wind ensemble was decked in black with a gold sash. Check out how Becca and I look with our signature black and gold instruments too. :)

What struck me even more was the sermon that was delivered by the Rev Dr Wee Boon Hup based on Col 1:9-14 entitled "Not lost in translation". The words in the scripture passage in bold below jumped out at me and again I was reminded that God's kingdom is also here and now and we must seek to be aligned with God's will, to increase in the knowledge of God and to live a life that is worthy of Him, being fruitful in every good work. It seems like a tall order - God help me and Holy Spirit, please take over...

9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. 13 He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

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.

Christmas 2008

Celebrated Christmas in church today and served with the Wesley Wind Ensemble.
Can you spot me? Do I really look like Rev Wendy Watson? Hmm...

Anyway, the sermon for the day was thought-provoking. Wesley Methodist Church held its first service exactly one hundred years ago (25 Dec 1908) at the original building at Fort Canning. The church is still standing as it is built on the same foundation as Jesus but we have to ask ourselves: Are we standing still? Are we living in foolish contentment or do we possess real hunger to be followers of Christ, the newborn King?

And we had our family Christmas dinner at my sister's place on Christmas eve. Sam's family came and Priscilla came too. We had lots of food - I contributed the turkey, the roast beef and the apple crumble, Sam brought the ham and my sis took charge of the rest with lots of help from Vilma - the potato with cheese, the fried rice, the roast chicken, the salad, grilled mushrooms and log cake and drinks! Yummy!

To the Unknown Teacher

I came across the following poem in the Oct 2007 issue of the Methodist Message and I reflect on my role as an educator.

And I think of the candles I've lit and how they are shining now and bringing cheer to me. They are now older and are my friends. How often does one have the privilege of accompanying an ex-student/friend to buy a proposal ring? What about having an ex-student/friend teach you the finer points of saxophone playing? Or what about being chauffeured around in a Merz by an ex-student/friend who also loves your niece?

I truly thank God for blessing me...

The Unknown Teacher -Henry Van Dyke (1852 - 1933)-

I sing the praise of the Unknown Teacher.
Great generals wins campaigns, but it is the unknown soldier who wins the war.

Famous educators plans new system of pedagogues, but it is the
Unknown Teacher who delivers and guides the young.

He lives in obscurity and contents with hardship. For him no
trumpets blare, no chariots wait, no golden decorations are decreed.

He keeps the watch along the border of darkness
and leads the attack on the trenches of ignorance and folly.
Patient in his duty. He strives to conquer the evil powers
which are the enemies of youth. He awakes sleeping spirits.
He quicken the indolent, encourages the eager and steadies the
unstable.

He communicates his own joy in learning and shares
with boys and girls the best treasures of his mind.
He lights many candles which in later years will shines back to
cheer him. This is his reward.

Knowledge may be gained from books, but the love of knowledge
is transmitted only by personal contact.
No one has deserved better of Republic than the Unknown
Teacher, No one is more worthy to be enrolled in a democratic
aristocracy, ” King of himself and servant of mankind ”

People of the world inscribe the Bible

This project is organised by the Bible Society of Singapore in cooperation with the Embassy of Israel and The Bible Valley Society.

Through this project, the Bible Society hopes to raise funds to purchase Bibles for our needy brothers and sisters. Acknowledging that the Bible is a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our paths, a few friends and I are aligned with this cause and we got together to handwrite the entire book of Lamentations.

Many hands make light work - we finished 154 verses in less about one and a half hours! And everyone contributed generously to the cause!

Key verses to take note:

Lamentations 3:22-26

22 Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."
25 The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;
26 it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.