Foochow Methodist Church English Bulletin 25 December 2022

“A Welcoming, Nurturing & Transforming Church Relevant to and Engaging Community and World with the Good News of Jesus Christ.”

THEME 2022: Transforming - Growing stronger together as a Community in Christ.

ANNOUNCEMENT

WELCOME

We warmly welcome you to worship with us.

PRAYER MEETINGS

ENGLISH PRAYER MEETING ON WEDNESDAY, 8PM

• Meeting ID: 928 0106 3889 Password: fmc12345

There is no prayer meeting in the month of December.

BEREAVEMENT

• Our honorary steward Mr Lee Ik Su (Kenny Lee, Lee Yew Wei and Yew Ping’s beloved father) went home with the Lord on 19 December 2022.

• Mr Tan Poh Chuan (John Nga’s son-in-law) went home with the Lord on 20 December 2022.

Our condolences and prayers be with their families at this time. OFFICE CLOSED FOR PUBLIC HOLIDAYS We would like to remind you that our office will be closed on 26 December 2022, 31 December 2022 (half day) and 2 January 2023. For pastoral needs, please contact the pastoral team.

• Date: 8 Jan 2023

• Time: 10am

• Venue: L2 & L3 Sanctuary

All members are requested to arrive at the L2 Sanctuary by 9:45am

ANNOUNCEMENT

LCEC MEETING

• Date: 8 Jan 2023

• Time: 12:30pm

• Venue: RM 401

Members to take note and attend. Lunch will be provided at 12pm.

1ST LOCAL CONFERENCE

• Date: 8 January 2023

• Time: 2.30pm

• Venue: Room 401

Members to take note and attend.

WATCHNIGHT SERVICE

• Date: 31 December 2022

• Time: 10pm

• Venue: L3 Sanctuary

* Farewell for Rev Ong Bee Keow from 9-9:45pm in RM104

LIST OF BAPTISM AND MEMBERSHIP TRANSFER CANDIDATES

This is the list of candidates for this week (25 December 2022).

ADULT BAPTISM CANDIDATES

Tan Yong Geng

Ling Zhi Jie, Elijah Eve Tang Sean Chua Dominic Koh

Tan Hui Rong

INFANT/CHILD BAPTISM CANDIDATES

Elizabeth Tan Shao Ting

Brielle Heng

Kate Chua

MEMBERSHIP TRANSFER

Yeung E-Liz

Lim Lian Guay Judy

ANNOUNCEMENT

TESTIMONY SHARING BY BAPTISM AND MEMBERSHIP TRANSFER CANDIDATES

Elijah Ling Zhi Jie

Since young, I have been raised in a Christian family, so I do not recall how I was before accepted Christ as my saviour. Every Sunday, I would attend Sunday School and spend time learning about God. When I was younger, I did not yet realise the true meaning of God's word and had not understood God's immense love for us. I came to commit my life to Christ when I was in primary school, as I learned to turn to God for guidance. I prayed in times of great stress and worry, finding comfort in God's grace.

I acknowledge Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour, whose grace transcends all understanding and has the greatest love for all of us. I am still struggling today with whether I truly know what it means to be a Christian, as there are many differing views in my life. However, I feel as a Christian at its core is to receive salvation and eternal life through Jesus, who we can achieve all things through. As a Christian, I have accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour, and have committed my life to him.

Even though I have already committed my life to Jesus many years ago, I decided that I should personally declare my faith to my friends and family. As such, the moment I turned 16 and was able to make that personal declaration, I decided to take this opportunity to do it.

Tan Hui Rong

I started knowing Christ during my toddler days when my Uncle brought me to church. Michele brought me to finally recognize and acknowledge Christ as my saviour. My life has been busy with work, playing the secular game with other ordinary folks. After receiving Christ, I got to know and understand clearly that Christ has always been with me. I've always been blessed in abundance and over just that I'm unconscious of it. Now I'm being blessed more by Christ. God really created me for his pleasure and with love. I have always love cooking and I like Physics. I'm from a humble family. During my engineer student days, God sent me Chef Anne Cecile Degenne. After I graduated, I worked in engineering field for about 3 years, but my heart got ignited with flames and wanted to be back at the Kitchen again. I went to cook Indian Cuisine as a Private Chef. And then God sent me Chef Anne Sophie Pic with her prompt response on Instagram. That sparked me to pursue culinary career boldly at the age of 25 from Atlas Bar onwards. Coincidentally, God let me finally encounter Him at Foochow Methodist Church. Baptism means holding hands with God and Jesus while I'm on my journey to be a Great Chef. It is also confirmation that the Holy Spirit is within me with affirmation. The significance to me is that God is with me for life. Nothing ever last in this World, only thing that don't change is changes. God's love is eternal. He is the greatest artist, scientist, lawyer...etc. I'm being loved and blessed, protected by Jesus while I'm on my journey to be a great Chef.

Tan Yong Geng

Before knowing Christ, I have always imagined God to be someone that’s in charge of all gods but I didn’t know which “god” was that overall-in-charge. My wife and her late aunty, which I’m sure many of you knew – Aunty Nam Choo –used to be very close. In 2014, she was diagnosed with final stage breast cancer. I didn’t understand why someone so kind and good like Aunty Choo had to suffer like she did and yet was still able to praise God and had so much faith in Him. In 2016, I was playing for Singapore in the ASEAN University Games for football. We used to lose to Malaysia every time and that year, I really really wanted to win very badly. I told God “ok God if you let me win Malaysia, I promise I will go to church once a month”. It was this simple child-like prayer that pushed me to go to church because after many years of losing to Malaysia, we finally beat them. Although I still did not believe in God at that time, I decided to honour what I said. I used to think a lot of things happened because of luck, but I now know that God has a plan for everything. He has shown me that He knows better than I do. So, here I am because I mean, what could be a better time than now; getting baptised on Christmas Day and together with my daughter as well. Through baptism, I know that I am a child of God:)

Judy Lim Lian Guay

Hi everyone, I used to worship at Trinity Methodist Church. Due to work commitment on the weekend (I used to give English, Maths and Science tuition to lower primary kids), for the past 15 years (5 years pre-retirement, 10 years post-retirement), I could not worship at Trinity regularly. Until recently, after retiring fully and settling in my down sized flat (as my three daughters moved out), I decided to commit myself to a church. I attended two churches in my neighbourhood, one Methodist, another Anglican. The Lord eventually led me to Foochow, as I have friends attending the Chinese service here. Since August this year, I have been attending FMC English service as it is my wish to submit myself to be shepherded and have fellowship in a church community. I also learnt more about the bible teaching after joining the mandarin small group. I am happy to be a member of FMC, where the church is the body of Christ, he is the head , and I am part of this one body. Especially significant for me is, I have the abundant life, a life lain for me by Jesus Christ, my saviour, comforter, compass, protector and all.

Receipt Issuance

Rev Andy Goh Yik Wah 9655 1978 协理 ASSOCIATE PASTOR 刘昌耀牧师 Rev Lau Chong Yaw 9145 7511 曾国华牧师 Rev Patrick Chen Guek Fah 9456 7196 助理 ASSISTANT PASTOR 王美娇牧师 Rev Ong Bee Keow 9770 4215

MINISTRY STAFF 李文花传道 Ps Lee Boon Hwa 9637 3677 多马传道 Ps Raja Thomas 9483 7725 曾秀霞传道 Ps Ruth Zeng 9835 3097 王裕凯弟兄

Mr Alvin Ong 9325 3189 熊志辉弟兄 Mr Alex Yong 84316960

Ms Jaffrine Yeo  8128 0051

MANAGER 洪敏珠姐妹 Ms Wendy Hoon 9092 2902 行政同工 ADMIN STAFF 刘雪梅姐妹 Ms Rachel Law 8437 5297 蔡清城弟兄 

Mr Chua Cheng Seah  9728 8819 陈伟敏姐妹  Ms Evon Tan  9072 0515