“... for unto us a child is born...” Isaiah 9:6 Vol 115 No 12 December 2013
inside
this issue...
Catholic-Protestant service Sense of being ‘one’
Nutrition programme Helping poor families eat better
Special needs Disabilities in church: How do we view them
page 4
page 9
page 19-20
More than just a birthday
BISHOP’S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
A birthday, however, is just the beginning. There is growing up that must follow. A Christianity that focuses and spends too much resources at Christmas compared to the other festivals misses the opportunity to develop well-rounded followers.
Background pictures by AnnekaS and Nikolay Kuleshin, Bigstock.com
Bishop Dr Wee Boon Hup has been a Methodist pastor for 28 years, during which he was also President of Trinity Annual Conference from 2005 to 2012 before he was elected Bishop of The Methodist Church in Singapore for the quadrennium till 2016.
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hristmas is more than just the celebration of the birth of Jesus. We read in Romans 8:3 (The Message): “God went for the jugular when he sent his own Son. He didn’t deal with the problem as something remote and unimportant. In his Son, Jesus, he personally took on the human condition, entered the disordered mess of struggling humanity in order to set it right once and for all.” Although the project of salvation would eventually be completed through Good Friday, Easter and Pentecost, it was at Christmas when it all started. God became a human being so that He could deal with the worst about human nature and hence enable them to enjoy the best that He had for them. Being the holy God that He is, it was expected that the humans He had created were also to be holy. Instead they turned out to have difficulty being so. The first sin resulted in sinfulness being an integral part of subsequent human nature. Continued on page 3...
CALL TO ACTION
Helping the Haiyan victims
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he devastation wrought by Typhoon Haiyan, one of the strongest typhoons to hit the planet this year continues to unfold. World Vision reports that an estimated 11.8 million people (almost double Singapore’s population) have been affected, and the death toll remains unconfirmed with recent reports estimating 4,000 killed in Tacloban.
2.5 million are now in need of food assistance, water and shelter. The Methodist Church in Singapore will support World Vision International in its appeal for funds for its emergency and relief operations for the victims of Haiyan. Respond to this appeal through your local churches, where second offerings and collections may be taken. Should you wish to make a donation separately, please contact your Pastorin-Charge.
The Permit granted to World Vision by the Commissioner of Charities allows them to raise funds from the public between now and 31 May 2014. 100 per cent of funds raised will go towards the Haiyan disaster relief. n Photos by World Vision International
Head down to Orchard Road from 17 - 25 December for wonderful performances by live bands, mass choirs and more. Check for full details at www.ccis.sg
Highlights from the three Annual Conferences will be reported in the Jan 2014 issue
Methodist Message wishes all readers a joyous and blessed Christmas and New Year! methodist message
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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 New International Version, unless otherwise stated.
Editorial Board Adviser and Publisher Bishop Dr Wee Boon Hup, Chairman, Council on Communications
Our address
Editor Ms Christina Stanley
Methodist Message • 70 Barker Road, Singapore 309936 Tel: 6478-4786 • Fax: 6478-4794 Email: newmm@methodist.org.sg MM website: message.methodist.org.sg Church website: www.methodist.org.sg
Assistant Editor Ms Grace Toh
BISHOP’S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
“If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9, (ESV)
More than just a birthday
... continued from page 1
In His ingenious way, God decided to send His Son to become human, experience all that human life entails, and yet remain sinless. Only He could do that, since every other human being was tainted with sin. As that perfect human, He took on the punishment that the penalty for sin required, that is, death. However, He rose from the dead, declaring that death (and sin) did not have the final say. As the risen Lord of glory, He is able to let us benefit from what He did simply by coming to faith in Him. “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9, ESV) A birthday, however, is just the beginning. There is growing up that must follow. A Christianity that focuses and spends too much resources at Christmas compared to the other festivals misses the opportunity to develop well-rounded followers. The merriment of Christmas soon gives way to the sober realities of human nature, which are the focus of Good Friday. At that festival we remember the Cross that dealt with our sin. However, the consequences of what happened at Calvary continue to affect us daily, especially in dealing with the challenges of the flesh. Paul wrote:
For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want … those who belong to Jesus Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”
The maturing process for followers of Christ involves continually applying the power of what He won at the cross so that we may keep on experiencing its benefits. In order to do that, we draw upon the power of the Holy Spirit. Hence, when we celebrate Christmas, we are also applying all that we have gained in Christ (which are the themes of the other festivals). Take for example the exchange of gifts. We might be tempted to give a “cheap” item to someone we have drawn lots to exchange with. Here is where we have to overcome our carnal nature (a theme at Lent or Good Friday) and draw upon the fruit of the Spirit – love (Pentecost). Or we may have to exercise self-denial in declining invitations to parties where we know there will be activities unbecoming for a follower of Christ to participate in. While we make a big deal of the joy of the season, other events surrounding Christ’s birth were hardly reasons for celebration. Mass infanticide followed when Herod could not find the child. The newborn and His parents were forced to flee like refugees to Egypt. Even as I write these words, news of thousands of deaths in the Philippines brought about by typhoon Haiyan has been reported. Thousands more are made homeless and hungry by the devastation. The rejoicing at the birth of the Christ-child must be tempered with the harsh realities of suffering that even God had to endure at the Cross. Finally, the very fact that we celebrate Christmas is an affirmation of what is the focus at Easter. The child born on that day eventually became Man, in the truest sense of the word. His resurrection climaxed the divine conspiracy to restore to human beings their rightful place and privilege as the crown of God’s creation. Christmas would be an empty boast if Christ had remained in the tomb. n
(Galatians 5:17, 24-25, ESV)
METHODIST MESSAGE • DECEMBER 13
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CATHOLIC & PROTESTANT SERVICE
Sense of being
‘ONE’
The Rev Dr Lorna Khoo is Pastor-in-Charge of Aldersgate Methodist Church.
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or the first time, Roman Catholics and Protestants gathered for an ecumenical and healing service at Aldersgate Methodist Church this past August to “worship God together as one, to commit to love one another as one, and to walk together and to serve as one”. Friar Derrick Yap – a Roman Catholic Franciscan priest – and I preached the sermon on Mark 2:1-12 in “dialogue” style. Here is an excerpt:
Friar Yap: We are Roman Catholic The Rev Dr Khoo: We are Protestants from different denominations Friar Yap: We are more comfortable with liturgical worship The Rev Dr Khoo: We flow better with charismatic enthusiastic worship Friar Yap: But we have come together, united in One Faith The Rev Dr Khoo: The Faith that Jesus CAN heal the sick one... as He had healed the sick at Capernaum The ministry time was led by the Rev Daniel Lee Kuan Yong, Pastor-in-Charge of Hakka Methodist Church. At least half of the 400-strong congregation came forward for prayer by 15 prayer ministry teams, made up of representatives from across denominations. Prayer ministers included three Roman Catholic priests, four Methodist pastors, an Anglican priest, a Lutheran senior pastor, an Assembly of God pastor, a Chinese ministry-linked Free Church minister, an independent mega-church founder and several Methodist and Roman Catholic lay leaders. Sister Elizabeth Lim, Chair of the Ecumenical Committee, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Singapore, shared that “the sense of being ONE was powerful. There was great singing and harmony, the Lord’s Prayer was beautifully illustrated and sufficiently meditative; the dialogue-style presentation of the homily was unique and powerful, and the ministry time was carried out solemnly with reverence and respect. There was great teamwork and good preparation. The Lord God must have been delighted.”
Methodist Bishop Dr Wee Boon Hup (left) and Roman Catholic Archbishop Emeritus Nicholas Chia giving the joint benediction.
One of the two worship leaders for the evening, Wendy Chiang (a Trinity Theological College student and an Aldersgate Methodist Church staff), shared her experience of working together with Roman Catholics on her team: “From the planning to the execution of the worship set, my Roman Catholic co-leader and I dialogued, worshipped and prayed together. Although our preferences and experiences in worship-leading were different, we did not let dogmatism get in the way. Rather, our response to one another was often ‘what works for you will work for me’. “I come away from this experience tremendously blessed by the humility, hospitality and friendship of our Roman Catholic siblings… And because we Protestants and Roman Catholics stood together for Jesus on the night of the ecumenical healing service, I witnessed the greatness of God’s power at work to heal the sick, restore the wounded, strengthen the weak and mend the denominational gap.” Volunteer sound crew member Ren Kang was deeply moved. He wrote: “It was overwhelming to witness such an event, where Roman Catholics and Protestants – who have had a long history of feuds even to the point of blood during the Reformation – held each other’s hands in a long line. Perhaps this is a foretaste of the communion that every saint, from Abraham to Peter to Mother Teresa, longs for. To worship God regardless of differences…” Trudy, a member of Aldersgate Methodist Church, said: “It’s a breakthrough bringing Roman Catholics and Protestants together through this healing service. Many were encouraged and asked how often we have such services, and look forward to coming again”. Holding such services twice-yearly, or even quarterly, were suggestions put forward. The next gathering is slated for March 17, 2014, also at Aldersgate Methodist Church. Details will be released closer to the date. The service was organised by the Catholic Alpha Advisory and Coordinating team, the Roman Catholic Committee of Ecumenical Movement, and an Ad-Hoc Protestant team. n Pictures by CatholicNews, Singapore.
SAYS THE PRESIDENT
A painful procedure but a blessed release If only we would allow God to do His penetrating work in us, He will patiently work in us and do the needful to remove what is stubborn and damaging.
The Rev R. Prabhu was elected President of Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference in 2012 for the quadrennium. He is also Pastor-in-Charge of Ang Mo Kio Tamil and Seletar Tamil Methodist Churches.
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ur God is a master pruner. Pruning is painful but it is necessary for our own good. It helps us to be fruitful and clean. As Jesus says in John 15:2, “…every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.” A couple of years ago, I underwent a surgery to remove an extra growth in my left eye. I did learn some precious lessons during that time. Any unhealthy and extra growth is dangerous Growth is good in one sense but if it is extra and unwanted we need to be warned. Mine is a thirty-year-old problem. An extra growth in each of my eyes caused many difficulties. I allowed them to grow over my corneas until my vision was affected. It became a constant irritation. Is it not true that in our lives we allow some unwanted things to grow until one day we find those things cause much damage to us? A growth allowed for too long is difficult to remove The growth became too strong and thick and it became a part of my eye. At one time I thought it would be there as long as I live.
Nevertheless, I went to the right surgeon who advised me to remove the growth. During the surgery, I could hear the surgeon saying “this fellow is stubborn”. Unwanted growth may become stubborn and may want to remain forever causing more and more damage. Removal of any unwanted growth is a painful process During the surgery, the pain was unbearable and at one time during the surgery I screamed. Nevertheless, the surgeon continued to remove the growth. The pain lasted for a few weeks after the surgery. Yes, cutting off an unwanted habit or a relationship may be painful but we have to go through it with endurance. If only we would allow God to do His penetrating work in us, He will patiently work in us and do the needful to remove what is stubborn and damaging. Removal is not a loss but a blessing Now I can move my left eyeball so freely. My vision is a bit clearer than before. The irritation is gone. What a blessed release! But I go for regular check-up to make sure that the growth does not recur. Are we ready for a painful surgery to remove the unwanted growth in our lives? n Picture by adamr/Bigstock.com
METHODIST MESSAGE • DECEMBER 13
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YOu & YOuR fAMILY
Breakthroughs 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 in 2011 and is a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church.
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eing in a job where people engage you to talk of their woes and despair does not afford you the opportunity to see many clients smiling or talking of their successes. But this particular week was different; I had positive messages from two separate clients. Both came from women whom I have been helping for some time with their difficult marriages; married for about two decades and with several children, both had husbands that had been unfaithful to them, among other miseries. The news that each shared with me was vastly different. Yet they were both announced with a sense of relief. One announced that her husband had decided, after almost two years of wrestling with this issue, to end his affair and come back to the marriage and family. Her husband had previously applied for a divorce and attempts at mediation had been unsuccessful. So his news that he was finally ready to stop his affair and return to the marriage was a welcome surprise. The other client had just finished an evening counselling session where we concluded that the marital deadlock she was in for last few years would only be broken when she asked for a divorce. She had been the family’s main breadwinner for 20 years and her husband had twice been unfaithful to her. It was unlikely that he would leave her since he had much to lose with a divorce. What greeted her when she returned home was the unexpected message that he acknowledged the marriage was not going anywhere and that he would divorce her. Some may feel very indignant for this second woman. After all, she deserves better and being the hurt party, she should be the one suing for a divorce. Yet as a fairly young Christian and as one who still loves her husband, she felt torn between
desiring to forgive and desiring to free herself from this burden. Her release came unexpectedly from her husband’s awakening. In thinking through the experiences of these two women, I observed that the resolution they experienced had very little to do with the counselling they received. I had the privilege of supporting them through some hard times but the breakthrough happened outside of counselling. Researchers have identified that up to 40 per cent of change experienced by clients was attributed to things that occurred outside of counselling. Such triggers for change can be: a positive turn in circumstances, doing helpful things like exercising, praying and receiving encouragement from friends. The biggest positive effect from counselling (30 per cent) came from the “Therapeutic Relationship” that exists between the counsellor and the client: a relationship of acceptance, trust and support. Some might argue that this type of positive and intentional relationship can also be offered by pastors, church workers and friends. There is one element that contributes to positive change which comes directly and solely from counselling. This is the application of specific counselling models and techniques and it contributes to 15 per cent of the change process. The final 15 per cent comes from the client’s expectancy and hope for change. These findings1 should be sobering and humbling to the professional helper. Although counsellors are often reliant on their special knowledge and skills honed after years of practice, they should remember that it is only one of the factors that contribute to change. In this season of Joy, let us remember these two ladies’ situations and consider that joy can take different forms. For one, joy is to be reconciled. For the other, it is to be released. For some, it is to be helped by a counsellor. For others, help comes from caring and thoughtful family and friends. Each of us can contribute to the joy of others through our gift of a caring relationship. n Picture by Phase4Photography/Bigstock.com
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The Heart and Soul of Change; What works in Therapy. Hubble, M. A., Duncan B. L. & Miller S.D. (1999) Washington DC. American Psychological Association
WORLD REVIEW
Will you... this Christmas? “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.” Matthew 25:35-36 Cape Town, South Africa Christmas Banquet for the City’s Homeless People The Central Methodist Mission (CMM) hosts an annual Christmas banquet for people on the streets. The CMM also distributes meals every Sunday, when shops close and homeless people depend on this one meal for their day’s sustenance.
This Christmas, will you help to feed someone who is hungry? Hong Kong, China Angel Tree Visits and Prison Visits The Methodist Church, Hong Kong, gives Christmas presents to children of prison inmates as reminders of their incarcerated parents’ love. The Church also visits the inmates to bring them cheer with songs, drama, and testimonies.
This Christmas, will you bring joy to those who are separated from their families? The United States of America Remembering the Victims of Gun Violence The United Methodist Church has prepared resources for churches to remember the victims of the Newtown tragedy last year, where 20 children and six adult staff members at Sandy Hook Elementary School and were shot and killed by an assailant who also murdered his mother before the attack. These resources list the names of the victims, suggest prayers, provide facts about gun violence and propose actions to prevent it. n
This Christmas,will you stand up against violence – including domestic violence – in our country?
MISSIONS
From battle to mission field
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What is it like to leave home, family and friends to serve in a nation where you often have to learn the language from scratch? It takes faith, passion, courage and an unwavering desire to do God’s will. In this second in a series on getting to know our missionaries, Cassandra Lee, a former Army officer who became a Methodist Missions Society (MMS) missionary in Thailand, shares her personal reflections with Methodist Message. She is sent and supported by Grace Methodist Church.
fter almost 26 years as a personnel officer in the Army, I retired and opted to join the Methodist Missions Society. The seed of my desire to become a missionary was planted more than 20 years ago. On my very first mission trip to Chiang Mai, Thailand, in the early 1990s, I received the spiritual gift of tongues. On my return from that mission trip, I felt the need to learn and understand God’s word better – I enrolled in the Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) course. I was in BSF for seven years. During this time, God put into my heart a desire to serve Him in the mission field. I then decided to take up a part-time theological degree so as to better equip myself for missions when I retired from the Singapore Army. Before becoming a missionary, my main apprehension was financial stability, as I wanted to continue supporting my mother. To that end, I put my trust in God to provide for my needs. My second apprehension was that I was unsure which country and ministry God wanted me to serve Him in. I boldly stepped out to serve God even when I did not have all the answers from Him yet, and persevered in prayer. It was only then that God gradually revealed and confirmed His plan and ministry for me. My first challenge was learning the Thai language while serving in Thailand. I struggled constantly, trying to communicate in the local language for the first six months. I felt lonely and isolated – however God graciously provided short-
term mission trippers from time to time to alleviate my loneliness and sense of isolation. Teaching English to Thai children was my second challenge. I have had no prior experience as an English language teacher, and with my limited Thai language, teaching and classroom control was a struggle. However, things got better as I persevered, and learnt from Singaporean teachers. I am now able to listen to, speak, read and write Thai but only at the elementary level. I am a long way from being proficient in the language – but I am grateful that I am immersed in a Thai-speaking environment, as I am now living in a shophouse with a group of Thai ladies. My day starts with language lessons, and in the afternoon, I go on to teach English to primary students in a government school. In the evenings, I am involved in cell group activities. Teaching and working with children is something I feel God has called me to do. I remember how He called me when I was just a child, and before going into the mission field, I
had served as a Sunday School teacher at Grace Methodist Church for many years, in order to equip myself as a children’s ministry worker. I work very closely with Shineforth Methodist Church in Chiang Mai in their children’s ministry and also assist in leading a cell group. I have taught some Bible lessons to the Thai teachers in Vineyard School, and also teach English to Mettakij Hostel students. Recently, a ministry was started where I began teaching English to police officers. I see my role as assisting the local Thai churches in reaching out to pre-believers through my Englishteaching work and through fun activities like summer camps and Christmas celebrations. The needs are many. I encourage pastors and lay persons to consider volunteering to teach Thai church workers and church members how to be more effective in pastoring and evangelising. You can also help teach English – this is a particularly effective evangelistic tool. I look forward to your partnership in the sharing of the Gospel here in Thailand!” n
VOLUNTEER u to teach Thai church workers and members how to be effective pastors and evangelists u to help teach English to children during the summer months of midMarch to end April u to help teach conversational English to Thai police officers for one or two months u to share your experiences of evangelism with the Thai Christians, that they may be effective in outreach. For more info, contact David Khew of Methodist Missions Society at 6478-4801 or david.khew@ methodist.org.sg, or email Cassandra at cassandralee2013@yahoo.com.sg Pictures by Methodist Missions Society
WELFARE SERVICES
Helping poor families T
Adeline Huang is an Executive (Communications and Fundraising) at Methodist Welfare Services, and worships at Christ Methodist Church.
eat better
There is a dire need to address the issue of bad eating habits that could lead to dietrelated chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart problems, and highblood pressure in the long run.
en-year-old Peter* is a latch-key child. Both his grandparents, who care for him, work through the day and have no time to cook for him. Unsupervised during mealtimes after school, he spends his pocket money on soda and chips and eats instant noodles for lunch every day. During home visits to beneficiaries of the Walk with the Poor (WWTP) programme, Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) social workers observed a consistent trend of very unhealthy eating behaviours in the children, as typified by Peter’s case. There is a dire need to address the issue of bad eating habits that could lead to diet-related chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart problems, and highblood pressure in the long run. Last month, 41 WWTP families and their befrienders began participating in a pilot nutrition programme that aims to encourage the families to increase their consumption of fruits and vegetables weekly, and educate them on eating more healthily. MWS’ WWTP programme supports low-wage earners who live day to day. Described as “the bottom fifth of society”, these chronically poor families face shrinking incomes (less than half of the current national median per capita monthly household income of $1,920) and employment woes, often compounded with health and familyrelated problems. Their primary concern is to have enough to pay the bills. There is little time to spare for cooking and food choices are limited to what is cheap and available. This lifestyle makes them vulnerable to diet-related diseases and thus increases their medical bills, resulting in a tumultuous long-term struggle, with negative effects being passed to the next generation. Thus, having children in the household aged 18 and under was a key factor in selecting the 41
families for this pilot. With mealtimes generally going unsupervised, the children often chose to consume fast food or junk food. To educate participants about eating right on a tight budget and making better choices in their diets, nutrition-related training will be provided by partnering agency WINGS (Women’s Initiative for Aging Successfully). A key misconception to be addressed is that eating fresh fruits and vegetables is expensive. The participant families will be encouraged to record their meal choices on a weekly basis, with guidance from their befrienders. Befrienders would help reinforce learning about budgeting, homecooking, and reading nutrition labels. The programme also provides additional monthly subsidies. Three to five-member households will receive an additional $40 on top of their $100 monthly assistance from MWS while six to eight-member households will receive an additional $60. MWS welcomes healthcare and nutrition professionals willing to volunteer their services for the poor families under our care. To find out more about how you can help or get involved in our nutrition programme, please email WWTP@mws.org.sg. n * Not his real name.
BEFRIEND u a family in need through the Methodist Welfare Services’ Walk With The Poor programme. Email wwtp@mws.org.sg
METHODIST MESSAGE • DECEMBER 13
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CHurch profile
Sembawang TMC
A church fervent in outreach and prayer The Rev Isaac Raju is Pastor at Sembawang Tamil Methodist Church.
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n 1928, employees from India at the Seletar Naval Base (later Sembawang Naval Base) began meeting in homes for worship services. This marked the start of Sembawang Tamil Methodist Church (Sembawang TMC) , under the supervision of the Rev J. A. Supramaniam. Six years later, the church was formally instituted with the Rev V. A. Chelliah at the helm. Since then, we have worshipped in various venues: a school building, a 30-foot (9 m) container, and even the Boys’ Brigade campsite! In Feb 1992, we were offered joint allocation of a site at Sembawang Tamil Methodist Church Yishun Street 11, with Smyrna Assembly (another church with (Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference) a sizeable Tamil congregation). Our portion of the premises was No. 3 Yishun Street 11, Level 3, S(768645) officially dedicated on August 29, 2004. Sunday service: 8.30 am. We are blessed to be placed in Yishun, a residential area Friday Praise and Prayer at 7.30 pm where we can connect with the community through social Contact: 6257-0116 or visit www.stmc.org.sg outreach. We offer bursaries, counsel dysfunctional families or single parents, and visit needy families. We also partner Daybreak Family Service Centre in giving free tuition to children in need. Through these endeavours, families have been restored, the gospel has been shared, and We continue our series of many baptised. profiling local churches Our vision is to be a connecting place for Christ in the community, and to strengthen from our three Annual connections within the community itself. Our people have responded to God’s call to start this church, and our hope now is for the church to develop a vision of how best we can bless Conferences of The the neighbouring community to the glory of God. Methodist Church in Prayer Ministry has been one of the most important arms of the church. We have various sessions of prayer: weekly praise and prayer, Singapore. As we come to monthly ladies’ fast and prayer, quarterly prayer have a better understanding through the night and chain prayer. of each other’s history and Prayer is an important element to the spiritual vitality of our church. Many breakthroughs have ministry, there may be been experienced by the church and we hear many opportunity to forge crosstestimonies of souls being saved, healing and church partnerships and miraculous childbirth. Thus prayer has enhanced our hunger and thirst for God’s word. collaborations. Our continued mission? To soar higher in God’s love through the knowledge of His word, prayer, and bringing others to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior within the fellowship of the Church. n
The Rev Isaac Raju representing the spirit of social outreach in Sembawang Tamil Methodist Church with a gift to a bursary recipient.
JOIN Sembawang Tamil Methodist Church u in their efforts to bless the Yishun community u for one of their prayer sessions, to seek God together as a family in Christ.
Pictures by Sembawang Tamil Methodist Church
SAYS FROM THE PRESIDENT LEARNING THE HERETICS
Arianism Dr Roland Chia is Chew Hock Hin Professor of Christian Doctrine at Trinity Theological College. He worships at the Fairfield Preaching Point in Woodlands.
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mong the many heresies related to the person of Christ, arguably the most threatening was Arianism, named after its founder Arius (d. 336), a dynamic and popular presbyter in the Church of Alexandria. Adhering to a strict monotheism, Arius and his followers felt compelled to reject the orthodox doctrine of the Trinity because they were unable to subscribe to the doctrine that the Son is of the same essence as the Father. To hold this view, they argued, is to introduce a division into the very being of God. As the Patristic scholar J.N.D. Kelly puts it: “The fundamental premise of his (Arius’) system is the affirmation of the absolute uniqueness and transcendence of God, the unoriginate source of all reality.” On the basis of this fundamental and inviolable assumption, Arius developed his theology of the Son that was partly influenced by Greek philosophy and partly due to his idiosyncratic interpretation of certain passages of Scripture. Arius listed a number of passages from both the Old and New Testaments that suggested to him that the Son was a creature that the Father had brought into being. For example, many early Christian writers associated wisdom in Proverbs with the Son of God. Yet, as Arius pointed out, in Proverbs 8:22, wisdom declares that “The Lord fathered (LXX: ‘created’) me at
the beginning”. Turning to the NT, Arius argued that Paul in Colossians 1:15 made the same point when he unequivocally asserted that the Son was the “first-born of all creation”. Arius therefore taught that the Son was a creature that God had brought into being out of nothing. This has at least two important
implications, namely, that the Son is not self-existent and that he has a beginning. Thus, in response to his orthodox detractors, Arius protested: “We are persecuted because we say that the Son has a beginning whereas God is without beginning.” As creature, the Son also does not have direct knowledge of God. Neither does he enjoy direct communion with the Father. “The Father”, wrote Arius, “remains ineffable to the Son, and the Word can neither see nor know the Father perfectly and accurately …” The presbyter also employed the word “begotten” which the orthodox Fathers had used to refer to the Son to support his theory. He argued that to describe the Son as begotten of the Father is to suggest that he had a beginning. For Arius, however, the Son is the most splendid of God’s creatures. He is a perfect creature that must be distinguished from the rest of God’s creation. Arius even suggested that the Son was created at a special “time” between eternity and time as we know and experience it. Most significantly,
Arius argued that God the Father worked through the Son to bring the world into being. And the Son continues to serve as the agent for God’s continuing work of providence and governance. As Kelly perceptively points out, Arius’ teaching has in effect reduced the Son to a demigod. But, despite the excellences of his being, for Arius and his followers, the Son is but a creature. He is therefore not co-equal and co-eternal with God, the Father. When the Arian controversy reached the ears of Emperor Constantine, he called a great council of bishops in an effort to prevent a schism in his empire. More than three hundred bishops attended the council that was held in the city of Nicaea in 325. It produced one of the most important theological statements in the history of the Church – the Nicene Creed. The fathers of the council opposed the teachings of Arius and his followers and upheld the deity of the Son. In the words of the Creed, the Son was “begotten, not made, of one substance (Greek: homoousios) with the Father”. The Creed therefore insists that the Son is to be worshipped and glorified together with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Through the Creed the Church anathematises anyone who does not hold that the Son is co-eternal and co-equal with the Father and the Spirit. Apart from its clear statements about the deity of the Son, the Nicene Creed also confesses the Church’s faith in the mystery of the triune God. n Picture of Michaelangelo’s painting “The Creation of Adam” by savcoco/ Bigstock.com
METHODIST MESSAGE • DECEMBER 13
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We look back over the last twelve issues to extract thoughts and updates which we pray you will consider or respond to. Do note that you can refer to past issues online at message.methodist.org.sg
Jan 2013 • Bish op Dr Wee Boo n Hup began his term in office by chal lenging churches to reac h out to the yo ung both in and ou tside the church , by emphasising re lationships and building attachments.
Dec 20 1 Bishop 2 • In Emerit encour u a step fo ged you rward to leaders h Genera ip roles l levels. Conferen
Raising up young Methodists Also in Jan 2013
• Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) invited
youth to join them as influencers, championing community service through MWS. • The Rev Khoo Kay Huat, Director of Youth Ministry of Trinity Annual Conference, acknowledged the challenge of, and provided tips for, developing leaders.
n’s D’Joy Childre Dec 2012 • to p el s your h Centre need s ating expense er op meet its to e u n ti n in order to co ren of ild ch to r te is in m milies. fa e low-incom S. Contact MW
Feb 2013 • Ms Dorothy Lim, re-elected President of the General Conference Women’s Society of Christian Service, asked : “Did I make a conscious effort to encourage or provide opportunities for younger women to grow?”
Jan 2 to joi pray
July 2013 • A financial re dditional staff, sources, vo lu communit y support st nteer and ill needed at Residen ce@ rehabilitatio St. George’s, a girls’ n hostel. C ontact MWS.
Oct 2013 • Form a caring community for families of children wit h special needs. Contact Wesley Me thodist Church.
Serving the community and those in need
Feb 2013 • Foochow Methodist Church and MWS still need a suitable location in the Farrer Park vicinity to set up a Boys’ Centre in Moulmein. Contact MWS.
ome for John’s H n to t S lp e H illio 3• Aug 201 sons raise $12 m r e Elderly P premises. w e n d il u b
May 2013 • Hospice care volunteers still needed to bring peace and companionship to patients as they journey with them until the end. Contact MWS. Nov 2013 • Befrienders needed for Walk With The Poor programme to give out financial assistance, and provide hope to needy families. Contact MWS.
April 2013 • A week day off is a biblical mandate. Have you g a weekly day off to yo foreign domestic wor
Responding to the Great Commission May 2013 • Update on Business As Missions : Bamboo Foundation Aug 20 13 Limited has been set up to reach Mission • Give to the S in S out with blessings through business educati chool in Laos to gapore onal sta n dards. C raise opportunities. ontact M MS. Contact Alvin Tan at 8123-4216 or tan.alvinys@bamboofoundation.sg
n his fa rew us Dr R ell interview , o ung M bert Solomo ethodi n sts to serve i nm at Ann inistry and ual and nce
e invited g adults wer 2013 • Youn ndships, ie fr d to buil in a network er. d work togeth y together an ozario raham R Picture by G
Nov 2 Chu 013 • H rch i e n Ne lp Vijay a chu e pal t r c h o rai e Metho build leade se S$ dist i r n s g i n 5 chur t ches planting o train p 0,000 fo r that a mult disciple- stors an mak d iply. i Con tact ng MM S.
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e $1.8 elp MMS rais d Sep 2013 • H s an eld operation million for fi S. . Contact MM programmes
Methodist Welfare Services 6478-4700 • admin@mws.org.sg Nov 201 3 • Pare n respons ibility to ts must take the shape th Christia eir n te their ch achings and m home by ildren th o e moral del for the Chr standard istian fa s of ith.
Methodist Missions Society 6478-4818 • mms@methodist.org.sg St. John’s Home for Elderly Persons 6285-4446 • stjnhome@stjohneldershome.org.sg Wesley Methodist Church hweechinl@wesleymc.org
June 2013 • Are you now more aware of the scourge of trafficking in humans?
METHODIST MESSAGE • DECEMBER 13
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LOCAL CHURCH HISTORY
A church founded on faith Dr Tong Hoo Ing is a volunteer with Methodist Message and worships at Wesley Methodist Church. A retired neurologist, he also volunteers with Bethany Methodist Nursing Home.
“F
aith Methodist Church (FMC) was built on faith.” These were the words of the Rev T. C. Nga, the pioneer pastor of FMC and now 87, when I interviewed him in his home this year. The idea to establish a chapel for members moving to the new developing suburb of Queenstown was first mooted in 1955 by two churches: Wesley Methodist Church and Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church. It was not till nine years later – in 1964 – that a piece of land at 400 Commonwealth Drive was leased, and an ad-hoc committee was formed led by the Rev Charles Grose. The committee wanted to build a sanctuary, a parsonage-cum-hall, and other facilities not exceeding $150,000. However, they failed to raise the necessary funds and the Rev Grose resigned in frustration. The Rev Nga was then appointed as pioneer pastor to replace the Rev Grose, and he continued to pastor the church for 12 years, from 1964 to 1976. Prior to this appointment, he had served as pastor in Foochow Methodist Church, Fairfield Methodist Church and Wesley Methodist Church in Sitiawan, Malaysia. He did not receive a salary, but supported himself by teaching in the Anglo Chinese Continuation School. On the land that had been leased to build the church, the Rev Nga recollected: “The land had been used for rearing pigs, and growing vegetables and rambutans. It was swampy land covered with weeds. I waded into a muddy pool with half my body buried in mud and I lost one of my shoes.” At that moment, he prayed to God for help. Initial building plans were amended to include a religious education-cum-manse block at a total estimated cost of $250,000. After four months, $70,000 was raised in cash with $30,000 in pledges. God was at work answering the Rev Nga’s prayer for help, as Dr and Mrs Goh Kok Kee from WMC donated $100,000, enabling work on the church building to begin. The pioneer pastor’s mission was quoted in the Eastern Sun (an independent newspaper in
The Rev T. C. Nga preaching to a fledgling church under a simple shed. – Picture from Growing Faith, Faith Methodist Church’s 38th Anniversary publication
Singapore during the 1960s): “Mr Nga said the aim of the church was to secure the people regardless of race or nationality. The focus will be on young people who shall be guided with a useful programme to occupy their spare time. Our concentration is not just on religion, but to promote human relationship.” The first two services were held on Easter Sunday, 1965: a morning service in Hokkien and Foochow, and an evening service in English and Mandarin. The services were held in the open until a temporary shed was built. There was no public address system and loud-hailers were used. The Rev Nga recalled that at one Sunday service it rained heavily but the area around the shed was dry. “It was a miracle!” he said. A year later, the church building was completed. The English-speaking congregation was constituted into a Local Church Conference on July 17, 1966 (followed by the Hokkien-speaking congregation becoming Queenstown Chinese Methodist Church in 1976). It was later named “Faith Methodist Church” for two reasons: Firstly, the pioneer work had been carried out in faith despite the obstacles it faced. Faith characterised the whole project, and God honoured such a spirit. Secondly, the church was also named to honour the memory of Faith Goh, the only daughter of main donors Dr and Mrs Goh Kok Kee; Faith died in New York on February 28, 1966. The pioneer members of FMC certainly embodied the spirit of Hebrews 10:36 – “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised” and 2 Corinthians 5:7 – “For we live by faith, not by sight.” To quote the Rev Dr Isaac Lim, later a Pastor-in-Charge of FMC: “The story of Faith Methodist Church is a story of a people of faith and the story of an ever-faithful God.” n References (with thanks to the Archives and History Library, The Methodist Church in Singapore): 1. One Faith, One Mission, One Hope – 30th Anniversary publication of Faith Methodist Church, 1996, edited by Adrian K. L. Lim 2. Growing Faith – 38th Anniversary publication of Faith Methodist Church, edited by Adrian K. L. Lim, Grace Yeo and Lim Peck Hoon. 3. Oral Interview with the Rev T. C. Nga on July 31, 2013. 4. Phone conversations with founding members Jeannette Nga and Gerald Liew.
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METHODIST MESSAGE, AuGuST 2013
Hymns & songs
Zechariah’s ‘little song’ The Canticle of Zechariah Blessed be the God of Israel who comes to set us free, Who visits and redeems us, and grants us liberty. The prophets spoke of mercy, of freedom and release; God shall fulfil the promise to bring our people peace. Now from the house of David a child of grace is given; A Saviour comes among us to raise us up to heaven. Before him goes the herald, forerunner in the way, The prophet of salvation, the harbinger of day. On prisoners of darkness the sun begins to rise, The dawning of forgiveness upon the sinner’s eyes, To guide the feet of pilgrims along the paths of peace; O bless our God and Saviour with songs that never cease!
Judith Mosomos is Lecturer in Church Music at the Methodist School of Music and a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church.
A
canticle (canticulum in Latin, meaning “little song”) is a sacred song or prayer from the Bible whose text does not come from the book of Psalms. The Gospel of Luke opens with the narrative of the birth of Christ and in chapters 1 and 2, we hear three canticles: The Canticle of Mary (Magnificat, Luke 1:46-55), the Canticle of Zechariah (Benedictus, Luke 1:68-79), and the Canticle of Simeon (Nunc Dimittis, Luke 2:29-32). They are considered the major canticles in the New Testament. The Canticle of Zechariah (UMH 209) is also known as the Benedictus, meaning “Blessed” or “Praise.” Zechariah was a Jewish priest. When it was his duty to enter the sanctuary to burn incense, an angel appeared to him, saying that he would have a son. This son would prepare the people for the coming of the Lord. Zechariah could not believe the news for he was already old! Because he did not believe, the angel said he would be unable to speak until his son was born. Indeed, Zechariah’s speech was restored after the birth of his son John. Then he sang “Blessed be the God of Israel!” Zechariah began his song praising and blessing God by recalling God’s act of saving the Israelites from Pharaoh. Then he gave his prophecy – the coming of a mighty Saviour from the line of David. He confirmed the prophecies given by the prophets just as God had promised. He remembered the covenant with Abraham. Zechariah was confident of God’s protection of His people from their enemies, enabling them to serve God without fear.
Michael Perry (1942-1996), who was a minister in the Church of England and one of Britain’s great hymn writers of the 20th century, took Zechariah’s song and paraphrased it beautifully for our time. The first stanza is written in the present tense so that at the end of the stanza, we realise that we are part of the promise. In the second stanza, Michael wrote about the coming of Jesus the Saviour and John the Baptist, a messenger and forerunner (Luke 1:76-77). Note that Michael describes Jesus here as a “child of grace”, a term not used by Zechariah. Michael used it to express how merciful God is by granting us grace and sending His Son to save us from our sins. “On prisoners of darkness” begins the third stanza, alluding to Luke 1:78-79 which talks about Jesus as the “rising sun” who will “shine on those living in darkness”. In the Old Testament, the Messiah is identified as a light shining in darkness (Isaiah 9:2, 42:6-7; 49:6, Malachi 4:2). This light will be our guide along life’s journey. As the canticle ends, Michael pens his hope that we do not run out of songs, but rather continue to pour out blessings and praises for our God and Saviour. Among the many alternative tunes, MERLE’S TUNE was chosen for the Canticle of Zechariah in the United Methodist Hymnal. This tune was composed by Hal Hopson, an American full-time composer and church musician in Dallas. n Background picture by Dudarev Mikhail/Bigstock.com
METHODIST MESSAGE • DECEMBER 13
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EMBRACING PERSONS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
Disabilities in Church:
How do we view them? Grace Toh is the Assistant Editor of Methodist Message and has been a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church for most of her life.
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n American pastor who grew up with dyslexia and has a son with Down Syndrome, the Rev Wilfred C. Hoecke was uniquely placed to share insights from three perspectives: of individuals with special needs, of their families looking for support, and of the Church, which often wants to reach out to such families but does not know how. He observed that the Church in general has responded awkwardly to families with special needs – not deliberately, he noted, but simply because they did not know how to respond, especially to the “disability culture”. “Allow love to rule,” he advised. He issued a challenge: “The next time you see a person with a disability, get down eyeball-to-eyeball with them and talk to them. Even if they can’t respond to you, welcome them, and ask their families how you can help.” “Help” may not require volunteers to become childcare workers, which can be intimidating. “We’re not asking people to become therapists,” assured the Rev Hoecke. Instead, the help given can be as simple as freezing extra food for a family, doing tax or subsidy paperwork for a family or single parent, driving them to appointments, or being understanding when a child has a meltdown in public. “It doesn’t have to be fancy,” he shared. “The daily mundane things overwhelm us as parents.”
The Rev Hoecke acknowledged that the process of helping the Church become more welcoming to families with special needs may feel awkward and strange at first, but the efforts are appreciated by families. He also pointed out that “what we’re doing with special needs ministry is not very different from what we will have to do with seniors’ ministry”. Thus, developing the workforce and system for such a ministry will have benefits going beyond the special needs community, and may potentially affect each one of us in the future. But core to this ministry is how we view people with disabilities – our “theology of disability”. What place have we made within the Church for persons with disabilities? How can the church begin to really value people with disabilities? The Rev Hoecke pointed out that 1 Corinthians 12:7 clearly states each person is given a spiritual gift. This includes people with disabilities as well! “The Holy Spirit and the prophetic gift is not limited by a person who has Down Syndrome.” This is evidenced by the Rev Hoecke’s experiences with children with special needs who were trained to be prayer intercessors, and were uniquely able to minister to others. Disability also moves the Church away from cognitive teaching to heartfelt teaching; how do we disciple a child with special needs? We will need to show them what it means to be a disciple rather than merely talking about it. One very difficult question to do with the theology of disability, acknowledged the Rev Hoecke, is how it interacts with the theology of healing. Sometimes Christians think disabilities are the work of satan or the result of Man’s disobedience due to the Fall, but in Exodus 4:11, the Lord said to Moses: “Who gave human beings their mouths? Who makes them deaf or mute? Who gives them sight or makes them blind? Is it not I, the Lord?” So we have to consider: Why does God want that? Why did He want Moses to have a stuttering problem? Why are we sometimes broken? “There is a reality,” said the Rev Hoecke, “that God wants to bring healing. But the apostle Paul asks for healing of his thorn in the flesh – which most theologians suspect was his poor eyesight – in 2 Cor 12:7-9, and God says no. ‘I want this disability. I want you to have this because I’ve a plan that’s bigger than your plan. And part of that is for you to be broken, and it’ll keep you from being prideful.’ “So we cannot say that in all cases it’s just a lack of faith… There are some sicknesses that are unto death. And some to bring God glory, as in John 9:3. “When my son Karl was born with Down Syndrome, a wellmeaning man came up to me and said ‘I believe the Lord wants to heal Karl’. So I went to the Lord and asked Him. And the word I got from the Lord was as clear as a bell. ‘No, this disability is for you as much as it is for Karl.’ And I never had the freedom to ask the Lord to heal him for Down syndrome. But I’ve prayed for
In October’s cover article, Methodist Message reported on the “Through the Cracks” Conference on Embracing Persons with Special Needs, held at Wesley Methodist Church (WMC) the month before. This follow-up article shares nuggets from our interview with the conference’s keynote speaker, the Rev Wilfred C. Hoecke, and Ms Lee Hwee Chin from WMC, which has a special needs community.
Photo of Rev Hoecke by Wesley Methodist Church Ministry of the Hearing Impaired. Background pictures by STori and carlosphotos, Bigstock.com
METHODIST MESSAGE • DECEMBER 13
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DEVOTIONAL GUIDE
An aid to meaningful quiet time
The Upper Room: Grace Toh is the Assistant Editor of Methodist Message.
“T
he quiet time is not just a nice suggestion: it is a vital necessity for a child of God. It is absolutely essential for Christian growth and maturity.” These words, written by Pastor Rick Warren in his book How to have a meaningful Quiet Time, emphasise the importance of setting aside time every day to fellowship with God through the Word and prayer. Admittedly, it is often easy for Christians to treat quiet time like a ritual, or neglect it in busy times. What tools can we use to help us build up this necessary habit in a way that maintains its focus on meeting with God? The Upper Room is a daily devotional guide published by the General Board of Discipleship, an agency of The United Methodist Church. Each hand-sized booklet contains two months’ worth of daily meditations on Bible passages, written by people from various countries and all walks of life. The daily plan is simple and effective. A Bible passage is highlighted for reading and one representative verse is
emphasised. A short meditation is shared, along with an application thought or question. At the end, a short prayer is suggested as well as a group that the reader can focus on praying for, such as “people with disabilities” or “those struggling with a persistent sin”. Having used The Upper Room as my daily devotional guide for the past few years, I have found it helpful in cultivating a daily quiet time, learning much from the suggested Bible passages and interceding for others in prayer. I have also been greatly encouraged by the thoughts and meditations of ordinary Christians around the world, who have shared their personal lessons from God. Published internationally in 35 languages, The Upper Room reminds me that I am part of the global body of Christ, and that God speaks to His people in ways that are culturally-specific yet familiar. Print copies in English and Chinese are distributed in Singapore and Malaysia by the Chinese Annual Conference (CAC) of The Methodist Church in Singapore. In 2014, the CAC will release a large-print version of the devotional in Chinese. For more information and to subscribe, visit www.cacsingapore.org.sg/index.cfm?GPID=371 or call 6478-4815. Both publishing and distribution ministries are not-for-profit, so please consider making donations to support the ministry. n
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ASK u your church leaders to welcome and make room for people with disabilities to minister alongside others. JOIN u a network of Christians supporting families with special needs in various ways. Contact Ms Lee Hwee Chin at hweechinl@ wesleymc.org
healing for his ear infections and we’ve seen God heal those miraculously.” The Rev Hoecke noted that satan does sometimes bind a person and Jesus did rebuke demons, rebuke the storm, and occasionally rebuked a sickness. But one cannot assume that is the case for every disability. “Just like anything else I go the Lord and ask Him: ‘Is there something that we’re supposed to pray for here?’ I pray, not because I’ve seen God heal people through me, but because He tells me I’m supposed to ask for healing! But if He doesn’t heal, I don’t get mad at Him either, because I understand that sometimes His purposes are different than mine.” What are the next steps for the Church in Singapore? Ms Lee Hwee Chin, one of the Pastoral Team Members of Children’s Ministry at Wesley Methodist Church, noted that churches which are already making headway in special needs ministry or other advocacy efforts should continue to network and reach out to other churches, building a volunteer network. A survey should also be done with parents of persons with special needs. But more church leaders need to support and invest in this drive for full inclusion, responding to the growth of this movement from the ground up. How will you and your church respond to this call? Will you value the gifts and ministry of persons with special needs? n
TESTIMONY
From left: Mrs Kelvyna Chan, Anglo-Chinese Junior College Principal; Joshua Jesudason; President Tony Tan Keng Yam; Mrs Mary Tan, First Lady; Mr Owyong Tuck Sing Victor, Fairfield Methodist Secondary School Principal. Photo courtesy of Anglo-Chinese Junior College
THE DEBT O I owe Joshua Jesudason received the President’s Scholarship in August 2013. A former student of AngloChinese Junior College and Fairfield Methodist Secondary School, he is now reading History and Politics at the University of Oxford. His family worships at Community of Praise Baptist Church.
It not only teaches me that the destination of the journey I am on is still far off, and always worth striving toward, but it also reminds me of the amazing individuals who have lifted me out of ignorance and ineptitude, and brought me to where I am now
ne would justifiably expect to feel a rush of pride, or heady euphoria upon receiving a President’s Scholarship. On the contrary, I did not. I felt instead a sense of overwhelming duty and did not experience any of these expected emotions upon receiving the good news. This is largely due to the fact that I was only too keenly aware of the debt I owe to many people who had brought me to this point. I suppose the reason for this is that when one is given a title that represents an ideal, and recognised for qualities that are prescribed as desirable, the contrast between ideal and real becomes all too clear. And perhaps as a fault of my own character, I first recognise my shortcomings, my woeful inadequacies and my consistent failings in the garish light of achievement. Rather than allow this to cause me to fall into a downward spiral of self-contempt, I have instead learnt to find solace and thanks in the very weakness of humanity that a title such as “President’s Scholar” reveals. It not only teaches me that the destination of the journey I am on is still far off, and always worth striving toward, but it also reminds me of the amazing individuals who have lifted me out of ignorance and ineptitude, and brought me to where I am now: flawed, but blessed, and well-taught enough to be thought worthy of this honour. I am grateful to tireless individuals like my parents, those two veritable saints, who never gave up on me though I must have presented nothing less than a terrible drain on their patience, strength and cheer. My teachers saw a spark in the unlikeliest of places, and provided the atmosphere of care and effort, as well as the investment of time, to transform that spark into a fiery desire and passion for understanding not only in academia, but also of God, and of other people. Finally, I thank my friends who walked through dark nights with me, and the multitude of individuals who impacted me in small ways, whether by preparing food in my school canteen, teaching me about the word of God in Sunday school, or the countless other services that shaped my experience of life. The debt I owe them is incalculable. I am who I am because of them. Realising this makes it easier for me to commit, unwaveringly, to give back to them through this privilege that I have been accorded – to serve and protect them, as I’ve been served and protected. As God has used them to call me, He has called me to them – to minister and to bless. n
METHODIST MESSAGE • DECEMBER 13
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POEMS
Homelessness at Christmas time
Background picture courtesy of World Vision
Janice Clark is a Methodist local preacher from Scotland. She is a member of the Scottish Churches Housing Action board and Regional Development Officer, Scotland, for Habitat for Humanity.
Sheltering God, your protection for us is made known in images of rock and mountain, wings and arms, tent and fold. A protection that makes us feel safe, secure, and confident – with knowledge and assurance that removes our vulnerability, and our loneliness, our fears and our doubts. You have promised to be a constant presence, light, warmth and comfort, never failing, always near. And yet, within your world thousands of people lack shelter and cannot really call where they live a home. Their lives are impoverished, living in a space put together from whatever scraps they can gather. The rain leaks through, the heat of the sun is brutal, the dust irritates and water and airborne diseases flourish.
Yet for many this is their home where new life is conceived, where love is shown, where characters are formed, where faith is passed on and where an understanding of your protection Is experienced. God, fully human, yet fully divine, you know what it is like to have no real home – born into a stable, no vacancies in the places of hospitality, forced to flee as a refugee with threatening attempts on your life. In the seasons of Advent and Christmas your frailty is remembered, your vulnerability acknowledged, your purpose for the world revered. Come again, to give protection and shelter. Come again to strengthen the weak and to subdue the proud. Come to our own vulnerability and enable all to offer hope to a world in need.
This timely poem reminds us of the thousands who will be homeless this Christmas in the Philippines as a result of Typhoon Haiyan. Please pray for them, and find out how you can support – turn to page 2.
December Donating food to The Boys’ Brigade Share-a-Gift project Until Dec 18 (outlets) or Dec 31 (online)
Selected NTUC FairPrice outlets; online at www.fairprice.com.sg
The Boys’ Brigade runs an annual food donation charity drive, focusing on the collection of food donations and distribution of food hampers to the less fortunate in Singapore. The project includes a specific wishes programme where members of the public are invited to fulfil specific wishes of our beneficiaries. This year, with your help, we will deliver to more than 30,000 needy Singaporeans.
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18/31
Organised by The Boys’ Brigade Singapore. For more details, visit www.bbshare.sg
One-day Durian and shopping tour
Dec 14 (Saturday) Malaysia, pick-up points: 6.30 am Newton Food Centre
Carpark Coach Bay; 7 am John Wesley Centre (Upper Bukit Timah Road)
Do your Christmas and Chinese New Year shopping with the Methodist Co-operative Society (MCSL)! The tour includes places of interest like Yong Sheng Confectionery, Country Garden Danga Bay, Cacao Rich Chocolate Outlet, YoYo Local Product Shop and Johor Bahru KSL Shopping Centre. Fees are $56 for the society’s members and $60 for non-members, and include a durian lunch and sit-down dinner.
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Organised by the Methodist Co-operative Society Ltd. For details and registration, call 6767-1635.
The Rhythm of Christmas
Dec 22 (Sunday), 7.30 pm Drama Centre Theatre, National
Library Building Level 3, 100 Victoria Street
A special Christmas concert to share the joy of knowing Christ through a world-class musical performance. Hailing from Boston, Shun Ng and Lawrence Watson will be in town for a one-night-only show to share and celebrate God’s gift of love and joy to us. Let your friends experience the true meaning of Christmas; give them the gift that will go beyond the season!
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Christmas Outreach
Organised by Eagles Communications. Tickets available through SISTIC; for information or group bookings of 20 or more, call Mui Tin at 6419-5040 or email muitin@eagles.org.sg
Christmas Carnival and Concert
Dec 21 (Saturday), 5 pm – 9.30 pm Eunos Multi-Purpose Hall, Blk 32A Eunos Crescent Residents in Eunos, come join us to celebrate Christmas with laughter and song! The carnival lasts from 5 pm – 7.15 pm and the concert is from 7.30 pm – 9.30 pm. Organised by Charis Methodist Church. Attendance is free and all are welcome.
Christmas Outreach Service for China Nationals 圣诞节庆祝崇拜 Dec 25 (Wednesday), 2.30 pm 时间下午两点半 St. Patrick’s School, 490 East Coast Road
All China nationals, especially those living in the East Coast area, are welcome at this special service which is catered to their needs. Meet other China nationals and enjoy a buffet dinner. Invite your friends! 专为中国同胞们而设, 有自由晚餐款待. Organised by Christ Methodist Church (CMC)卫理公会基督堂. Please register with the CMC church office at 6345-3934 for catering purposes. METHODIST MESSAGE • DECEMBER 13
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THINK
R e f l e c t i o n s on a train
Kwa Kiem Kiok is a local preacher at Trinity Methodist Church and teaches missions-related subjects at East Asia School of Theology.
A ... there is no “quick and efficient” way to walk with another person through the vicissitudes of life.
few months ago, I attended a conference in Port Dickson and asked the organisers to help me arrange my return journey. They suggested I take the train from Seremban; a journey scheduled to take about six and a half hours; and since they were locals and knew best, I did not quibble. Someone drove me to the train station and I found my way to the correct platform. The train arrived punctually; I found my seat and settled down. As the train wended its way through rural Negri Sembilan, Malacca and Johor, I let my mind wander. First, this was not the fastest or shortest way home. But it was a six-and-a-half-hour reminder to me that there is more to life than efficiency or even effectiveness, two qualities which we Singaporeans pride ourselves in. Some aspects of the Christian life can be a “royal waste of time” as Marva Dawn describes worship. But what is meaningful, significant and important is spending time with another person, in discipleship, mentoring, counselling, or caring for a special needs child. These are also time-consuming and not very productive, but there is no “quick and efficient” way to walk with another person through the vicissitudes of life. Furthermore, if we are honest with ourselves, we know that our own character formation takes much time, patience, and repetition before we actually “get it”. Perhaps if we had more life experiences which forced us to take time and effort – like cooking a meal from scratch instead of just buying one, or spending intentional leisurely time with family and friends, without constantly reaching for our mobile phones to check for messages – we can be more patient with others. Then we can also be more aware of the Spirit’s attempts at transforming us into Christ-likeness. Secondly, the journey reminded me how, as human beings, our existence is closely intertwined with the land, but we Singaporeans are barely conscious of that. We live in air-conditioned comfort, buy chickens ready-plucked and neatly cut in hygienic Styrofoam packaging and almost all fruits are available regardless of the season. While these are
convenient and partly a result of our economic and geographic circumstance, it also means that we are not tied to the vagaries of land and weather, unlike farmers, who we in turn rely on for our chicken and fruit. In Genesis 3, Adam and Eve sinned, but the ground was also cursed as a result, producing thorns and thistles. In Isaiah 24 there is a close relation between the sin of the people and the destruction of the environment. In contrast, speaking of the future in Isaiah 51:3, God says that he will make Zion’s “deserts like Eden, her wastelands like the garden of the LORD. Joy and gladness will be found in her, thanksgiving and the sound of singing.” Zion’s restoration and salvation will be reflected in the land. Hence we are reminded that human beings are part of the created order and are stewards of and responsible for the land. While in so many ways Singaporeans are divorced from the land, as Christians we need to be much more mindful of the land and therefore be environmentally conscious. Thirdly, most of my train journey through the rural backwaters of the southern Malaysian states was a stark visual contrast to the polish and high-rise glitter of the usual Singapore cityscape. Frankly, not all the scenery was picturesque, interesting or exciting. Our physical circumstance makes meticulous urban planning a necessity, but our highly built-up environment is crowded and claustrophobic. God brings us to spacious places (Ps 18:19; 31:8). Jesus as Shepherd brings us to green pastures to graze, and that again implies vast spaces to wander around in. Just as space is a gift from God, it is a gift we give others. Space for our children to be who they are without the demands of our agenda, space to make mistakes and therefore learn well, time and space spent with friends exploring new places and ideas. These thoughts lazily passed through my mind during the journey. And as we reached Woodlands and I gathered my things, I realised that we were 20 minutes early. That was a pleasant bonus. n Background picture by mycola/Bigstock.com