Methodist Message: May 2021 by Methodist Message

THE METHODIST CHURCH IN SINGAPORE

ISSN 0129-6868 MCI (P) 027/11/2020

Vo l 1 2 3 N o 5 M A Y 2 0 2 1

Contents

Church life Methodists in the world Christian living

18 22

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EDITORIAL BOARD

Bishop’s Message

Coming Up

News—Interfaith Dialogue

One MCS—CAC Highlights

One MCS—The Rev Dr Gregory Nai Lat

Home—Geylang Methodist Schools’ Founder’s Day

Home—The Church and COVID-19, one year on

News—A brief overview of COVID vaccines

Home—Kum Yan Methodist Church’s 103rd anniversary

Welfare Services

20 Missions

Happenings—Judicial Council decisions

You & Your Family

Hymns & Songs

26 Soundings 27

News

28 THINK

The official monthly publication of The Methodist Church in Singapore. Published material does not necessarily reflect the official view of The Methodist Church.

Adviser and Publisher Dr Anthony Goh Chairperson Council on Communications

Editor Sheri Goh

Sub-editor

All Scripture quoted is based on the English Standard Version unless otherwise stated. 70 Barker Road #06-04 Singapore 309936 6478-4793 | 6478-4763 message.methodist.org.sg | www.methodist.org.sg newmm@methodist.org.sg

Tan Chiu Ai

fb.com/Methodist.SG

Communications Executive

@methodist.sg

Jason Woo

Proofreader Tan Sheng Ling

Design & Production by Londonbob Design Printed by Adred Creation Print Pte Ltd

Have something to say or share? Email us at newmm@methodist.org.sg

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 2013–2020.

Methodists and the month of May “I felt my heart strangely warmed.”

I preach the plain, old Christianity, renouncing and detesting all other marks of distinction.”

hese are the words which John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, used to describe his

In other words, Wesley said that the fundamental

spiritual encounter with God on the evening of

characteristics of Methodists should be the fundamental

24 May 1738. That spiritual heart-warming experience

characteristics of all Christians, plain and simple.

took place in a small group gathering somewhere along Aldersgate Street, London. Methodists celebrate

So let me say again that I am happy to be called a

24 May each year as Aldersgate Day.

Methodist, for I am happy to be called a Christian.

We are a people called Methodists, and I am happy

But what does it mean to be a Christian? There are

to be called a Methodist. But what is a Methodist?

different meaningful ways one can answer that

John Wesley gave us his answer in one of his

question. My favourite answer is to say that to be

sermons entitled “The Character of a Methodist.” He

a Christian is to commit oneself to what Jesus Christ

began by describing several central characteristics

said was the most important thing in life and all of

of a Methodist, and then said: (and here let me

Holy Scripture: to love God with all our heart, and to

paraphrase):

love our neighbour as ourselves (Matthew 22:37–39).

“If [anyone] should say, ‘Why, these [characteristics]

I wish us all a blessed Aldersgate Day this May,

are only the common fundamental principles of

and I pray that we may renew our commitment to

Christianity which you have listed!’

be Methodist Christians who love God with all our “strangely warmed” hearts by loving our neighbours

I reply: Indeed. This is the truth. I know they are… and I would to God that you, and everyone, would also know that I, and all who like me are called

as we love ourselves.

“For the entire law is fulfilled in

Methodists, do vehemently refuse to be distinguished

keeping this one command:

from anybody by anything but the common principles

‘Love your neighbor as yourself ’.”

of all Christianity. 1

(Gal 5:14, NIV)

J. Wesley, “The Character of a Methodist” (para.17 in the Thomas Jackson edition of The Works of John Wesley, 1872.)

METHODIST MESSAGE May 2021

Coming Up

CAC FAMILY LIFE WEBINARS 2021 FROM MARCH TO DEC 2021, CAC’S BOARD OF FAMILY LIFE (BOFL) WILL BE HOLDING A SERIES OF FAMILY LIFE

“BUILD UP YOUR FAMILY: STEPBY-STEP” . TEN CAC PASTORS WEBINARS, THEMED

AND OTHER EXPERIENCED SPEAKERS WILL JOIN US EVERY LAST THURSDAY OF EVERY MONTH. THE TALKS WILL COVER THE AREAS OF: MARRIAGE; PARENTING CHILDREN; PARENTING TEENS; FATHERING; AND MOTHERING. THEY ARE CONDUCTED IN EITHER ENGLISH OR MANDARIN.

THE NEXT WEBINARS ARE

27 MAY 2021 放任时代的睿智家教：儿女好像勇士手中的箭 24 JUNE 2021

HEART-TO-HEART COMMUNICATION WITH YOUR CHILD METHODIST MESSAGE May 2021

News ¢ Pastor Jeremy Yap is an Assistant Pastor at Aldersgate Methodist Church. / Photos courtesy of Ps Jeremy Yap

Interfaith dialogue hosted by Covenant Presbyterian Church

(From left to right) The Rev Joey Chen, the Rev Joshua Ong, the Rev Jeremy James, the Rev Glenn Tan and Pastor Jeremy Yap

Nasi briyai diplomacy

“In times of crisis, the wise build bridges and the foolish build walls.”

targeted by the radicalised teenager. We shared candidly

—T’Challa, King of Wakanda.

struggle with interpreting hard teachings of our respective

n 27 Jan 2021, it was reported that a 16-year-old Christian had been detained for planning an attack on two mosques in Woodlands. It was intended as

a copycat crime of the Christchurch mosque attacks, which killed 50 people, and planned for 15 March 2021, the second anniversary of the attacks. On the sidelines of a press conference by religious and government leaders denouncing the attack, a few young Christians and Muslim leaders decided that it was time to build bridges from the ashes of this crisis. The first Interfaith Dialogue between young Christian and Muslim leaders was convened on the 27 March 2021, a day before Palm Sunday and the Muslim holy day of Nisfu Syaaban. I was one of five young Methodist pastors from all three Annual Conferences to meet with Christian leaders of other denominations and our young Muslim counterparts in the event jointly sponsored by the National Council of Churches Singapore (NCCS) and Harmony Center, Masjid An-Nahdhah. The group of about 50 young leaders, sitting in groups of six or seven, were hosted by Covenant Presbyterian Church, located on the fringe of Little India. It was my privilege to be at a table with a leader from Masjid Yusof Ishak, one of the mosques in Woodlands that was

our reactions to the incident. This started a conversation about how we could reach out to and educate the young people in our communities. Muslims and Christians alike faiths and difficult passages in the Bible and Quran. We had the opportunity to discuss topics ranging from how our faiths seek to live in peace with one another and how we view diversity and division. We also had the opportunity to pose questions to Bishop Terry Kee (Bishop of the Lutheran Church in Singapore and Vice-President of NCCS) and Ustaz Dr Md Hannan Hassan (Deputy Mufti, MUIS), the guests-of-honour of the event. Difficult topics were discussed, including how to deal with a convert out of our respective faiths. A Christian convert from Islam asked Bishop Terry and Ustaz Hannan how faith leaders could help our faith communities relate to people who have converted out of our respective faiths in a loving and respectful way. While answers to these issues are difficult to find, the goal of interfaith dialogue is not to come up with answers but to build understanding and empathy, to live in harmony and stand together against conflict, and to show love and respect to one another. No interfaith activity is ever complete without fellowship over a meal. The morning event came to a fitting end with most of the small groups continuing the dialogue at one of the many Little India eateries over nasi briyani and teh tarik kurang manis.

METHODIST MESSAGE May 2021

One MCS ¢ CAC Highlights By the Chinese Annual Conference (CAC) Communications Team / Photos courtesy of CAC

CAC Social concerns sunday 2021 21

March 2021 was CAC’s Social Concerns Sunday, when churches collected a Second Offering for beneficiaries identified by the Board of Social Concerns and Outreach (BOSC).

BOSC supports various social concerns programmes hosted by Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) or CAC churches. They include befriending programmes and social activities to engage seniors; school ministry through the Boys’ and Girls’ Brigades; free tuition for low-income families; mentoring and character-building programmes for students; as well as food blessing and community projects. On top of supporting the organisations providing help to persons struggling with drugs, gambling and other forms of addiction, BOSC is also involved in prison ministry.

For 2021, the beneficiaries and allocations are: 1. Ang Mo Kio Chinese Methodist Church-MWS Kebun Bahru Senior Activity Centre (SAC)

10% each

2. Changi Methodist Church Punggol Preaching Point Ministry

10% each

3. Charis Methodist Church MWS-Charis Activity Centre for Elders (ACE)

10% each

4. Geylang Chinese Methodist Church-MWS Greentops SAC

10% each

5. Sengkang Methodist Church (MWS SAC and Oikos Ministry)

10% each

6. One Hope Centre

10% each

7. Prison Fellowship Singapore

10% each

8. MWS Chaplaincy

20% each

9. Breakthrough Missions Ltd

5% each

10. BOSC General Fund

5% each

Two CAC churches, Queenstown Chinese Methodist Church (QCMC) and Charis Methodist Church (CMC), share about recent outreach efforts.

Watch our Social Concerns Sunday 2021 video to learn more about these 10 beneficiaries and their ministries!

tiny.cc/SCSunday2021

Visit to a foreign worker dormitory Initiative of CAC BOSC and QCMC The COVID-19 pandemic thwarted the plans of many to travel home for their Chinese New Year (CNY) family reunions. Even though they missed their loved ones and felt lonely, they could not return home due to pandemic restrictions, soaring air travel costs, family burdens and other factors. Among them were people who have contributed greatly to the construction of Singapore, the people we call “migrant workers”.

QCMC’s pastor, preacher and several staff paying a visit to migrant workers at a dormitory

METHODIST MESSAGE May 2021

God commands us to love others as ourselves, and we chose to respond by showing care and concern for these workers. On the evening of 7 Feb 2021, and with BOSC’s coordination and encouragement, QCMC’s pastor, preacher and several staff paid a visit to the 300 migrant workers in a dormitory at Neythal Road.

In the spirit of CNY, we expressed our well wishes and blessings for them with tangerines. Gift bags were also specially prepared for the 90 Chinese workers there. The gift bags included items such as tangerines, cookies, Lao Gan Ma chili sauce, bak kwa, peanuts and more. As they received their gift bags, we could sense their joy from their smiling eyes and courteous nods of thanks, even though we were all masked and could only greet each other with a simple “Happy Chinese New Year”. While no gift can eradicate their homesickness, there was no doubt the little gift could help them feel a sense of warmth, comfort and love from God! God is love, His children are loved, and we are called to respond to His love by sharing it. Our dear brothers- and sisters-in-Christ, who can you share God’s love with today? Note: This initiative fully adhered to the COVID-19 regulations and Ministry of Manpower guidelines, thereby ensuring everyone’s health and safety.

Development (MSF), and Project Samaria’s first two guests arrived on 7 May 2020. We thank God for providing us the right contacts at MSF, and to the local charity Homeless Hearts of Singapore, as well as Pasir Panjang Hill Brethren Church’s Pastor Tang Kok Fai, who shared with us their ministry of housing the homeless. Project Samaria supported up to eight guests. Our primary purpose was to show God’s love by providing safe housing and food in the hope that they may encounter Jesus and come to salvation. Our medical and volunteer befrienders also offered healthcare assistance and fostered a sense of wellbeing, connection and community support. The medical team screened the incoming guests before admittance and was on call for ad-hoc medical consultations. Our volunteer befrienders provided social support and shared the Gospel with our guests, some of whom were even open to our pastors, the Rev Lui Yuan Tze and the Rev Daniel Teoh, praying for them. We pray that the seeds planted will continue to grow in their hearts and bear fruit one day! Due to the renovation schedule for the House of Peniel, we had to bid farewell to our guests on 1 July 2020. At the farewell dinner, our guests were given a surprise treat of durians and a video featuring messages from our church, songs by our Sunday School children, as well as prayers of blessings. They were visibly touched by the love and warmth they received.

Charis MC’s Project Samaria

Project Samaria Charis Methodist Church’s ministry to the homeless On 18 Apr 2020, the Social Concerns Ministry of CMC sought the Lord’s guidance as we considered the request from BOSC and the Government’s appeal to help house the homeless during the COVID-19 circuit breaker. Acts 1:8b (“and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth”) was the Lord’s answer. He impressed upon our hearts to reach out and share the Good News with family (Jerusalem), friends (Judea) and strangers (Samaria). Thereafter, Charis derived the name “Project Samaria” for our initiative to assist our homeless brothers. When the Lord calls, He is faithful to provide resources. Project Samaria took shape swiftly. Charis’ House of Peniel building was approved as a Safe, Sound Sleeping Place (S3P) by the Ministry of Social and Family

All glory to God for all that He has accomplished through Project Samaria. We thank God for His hand of protection and keeping our guests and volunteers safe and healthy throughout the period. Though our guests have moved to other S3P locations, God has given us a foretaste of the homeless ministry through Project Samaria. Many from the team sensed that God may intend for Charis to build this as a longterm ministry after we return to our redeveloped church premises in 2022. In February 2021, the Samaria Ministry was approved by the LCEC as a new initiative for Charis’ Social Concerns Ministry. Please pray with us that as we expand the Samaria Ministry in time to come, that God will transform CMC, both physically with the church redevelopment and also spiritually as a disciple-making church, and that we may grow to be a more attractive faith community!

METHODIST MESSAGE May 2021

One MCS ¢ Jason Woo is the Communications Executive at MCS Comms. / Photos courtesy of the Rev Dr Goh Nai Lat.

Meet the Annual Conference Presidents: The Rev Dr Gregory Goh Nai Lat (CAC)

“I once tore apart a Bible!”

In the company of his friends at the youth retreat retreat.

The Rev Dr Goh was re-elected as President for a second term during the CAC 45th Session in 2020

nyone who knew the Rev Dr Gregory Goh Nai Lat

the universe?” recalled the Rev Dr Goh. Despite not having

when he was young might not have imagined

a clear idea of God at that time, he asked God for healing.

he would one day become the President of the

Chinese Annual Conference (CAC) and provide spiritual

“God did heal me,” said the Rev Dr Goh, “but it was not

leadership for 17 Chinese-speaking churches under The

total. That said, I have come to experience being asthma-

Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS). And he did it for

free, barring the rare episode here and there.”

two terms (2017–20 and 2021–24). Even as he sees the partial healing as a blessing from

Rejecting Christianity

God, the Rev Dr Goh feels the lingering asthma serves as

Born into a dysfunctional household where he saw

a reminder that God is faithful and He alone is more than

his mother continually interacting negatively with his

sufficient to keep him.

Christian grandmother, the Rev Dr Goh came to hate the faith. So deep was his disdain for Christianity that he

Finding faith in pre-university

ripped apart a Bible he received in school.

Being totally Chinese-educated, the Rev Dr Goh’s poor English O-level results made it difficult for him to get a

But God did not let go of him. His deeply personal faith

place in a local educational institution. This was in the early

journey with the Almighty has brought both spiritual and

days of Singapore’s nationhood, when the Government

physical healing, for the Rev Dr Goh suffered from chronic

decided to close Chinese-medium tertiary institutions. He

asthma since childhood.

eventually secured a seat in the Pre-University classes held at the Seventh-Day Adventist Church.

He endured many sleepless nights of struggling just to breathe. One such night, the young Rev Dr Goh’s thoughts

There, he met Mr Tan Hua Joo from Telok Ayer Chinese

drifted to life after death.

MC (TACMC), who would turn his fledgling Christian life around. Mr Tan invited him to the TACMC Youth Fellowship

“From my earliest days, I would often ask myself: Who is this

year-end retreat where he was ministered to and learned

voice speaking inside me? Will this voice continue to exist

more about Christ.

when I die? Where do I stand in the entire magnitude of

METHODIST MESSAGE May 2021

“It was at Telok Ayer [CMC] where I joined the carolling group

From then on, the Rev Dr Goh had no peace. He found

even though I still did not see myself as a Christian at that

himself grappling with God’s direction for his life, which he

time. But it didn’t matter as I found it fun. However, what was

sensed was to become a pastor. God continued to impress

different this time is that I developed a habit of prayer.”

His will for the Rev Dr Goh to put aside his qualifications in Economics and pursue a theological degree instead.

After about two years in TACMC, the Rev Dr Goh was baptised.

“Predictably, I started to bargain with God,” chuckled the Rev Dr Goh. “I told Him that this path was not possible because as the only Christian and the only son in my family, I had a responsibility towards my family.” He pleaded with God to give him a decade, later reduced to five years, in banking to get his family financially stable before returning to serve God. He also tried to convince God that he could serve Him in other capacities, like as a social worker. At his wits’ end, the Rev Dr Goh approached his pastor for help in discerning God’s direction for him. Surprisingly, the pastor affirmed it and even offered monetary support

The Rev Dr Goh (first from right) as a fresh graduate from TTC. Pictured with him is the Rev Huang Ao You (first from left), who now serves in the Anglican Diocese

for his theological education. But this still did not sit well with the Rev Dr Goh, even though he realised that he was just making excuses and

A hand on the plough, but with an eye looking back

God’s patience was wearing thin.

His university years were most challenging to his faith.

“Here comes the dramatic part—God actually scolded

It was the start of a tumultuous spiritual tug-of-war

me,” said the Rev Dr Goh, recalling his experience near

between the opportunities of the world and the ones God

the end of his final term. When alone on the rooftop of

would lay in front of him.

the National University of Singapore library, the Rev Dr Goh heard the Lord yet again, except this time it was

“I should have known that my entry into university was

anything but a gentle reproach: “You, who have a hand

only possible with the grace of God. To be frank, I was but

on the plough but an eye that constantly looks back, are

an average student and with my terrible English results,

not fit for My kingdom.”

it would have been impossible to secure a place had I not been accepted on provisional grounds based on my good

Stung by the Lord’s words, the Rev Dr Goh immediately

scores in Economics. God has indeed been gracious to me.”

prayed for forgiveness and decided to go to Trinity Theological College (TTC). After registering at TTC, he was offered a place

“As my family was not financially well-off, being able to

in the Economics Honours degree programme.

graduate to a well-paying job would be the ideal ticket to help my family out of all our monetary problems,”

But this time, the Rev Dr Goh knew there was to be no

explained the Rev Dr Goh.

turning back. Spending a good day out with his family

It was indeed an alluring path towards financial security but one that God was adamant for the Rev Dr Goh not to take. While he was preparing to send out job applications to the major banks, God made Himself heard in asking him pointedly: “Where am I?”, clearly wanting him to seek Him more wholeheartedly.

METHODIST MESSAGE May 2021

METHODIST MESSAGE, JULY 2013

“I once tore apart a Bible!”

Challenges for ministry in the new quadrennium the Lord.

PRAYING

Embarking on his second term as the CAC President, he is

PLEASE PRAY FOR:

2021 marks the 29th year of the Rev Dr Goh’s service to

mindful of the challenges ahead of the CAC. In particular, there is the urgency to formulate a framework for the

•

The effectiveness of the Central Pooling initiative kickstarted last quadrennium, that it will be a conducive platform for CAC churches to come together more closely as a family and for greater synergy in their collective ministries.

•

God to bring in the right talents and minds, especially from the youths, to serve as fulltime pastors in order to sustainably replace outgoing members of the clergy.

•

An effective strategy to be drafted to create a cohesive disciple-making process so as to help CAC produce more disciples, thereby leading to the growth of the Annual Conference.

•

God’s wisdom, discernment and strength to rest upon the Rev Dr Goh as he leads the CAC.

CAC churches to engage in a consistent and sustainable programme for disciple-making and evangelism. Evangelism is an area close to the Rev Dr Goh’s heart. He is constantly thinking about how CAC’s Chinese churches can best reach out to the non-Christians in their respective communities and not just work in silos. “I think the Church is doing very well in reaching out to the least through our extensive social concerns arm but much more can be done in engaging the lost because you cannot win souls through social concerns,” mused the Rev Dr Goh. “You have to spend time and effort to build relationships with them.”

for the CAC

The Rev Dr Goh as a young father who had to juggle ministry work and his family

Enjoying his first church experience in the presence of other young Christians METHODIST MESSAGE May 2021

Home ¢ Beverly Low is Head of Department of Character and Citizenship Education at Geylang Methodist School (Primary) and, together with her husband and children, worships at a Paya Lebar Methodist Church. / Photos courtesy of Geylang Methodist School (Primary) and Geylang Methodist School (Secondary)

A beacon of light in the Geylang community

GEYLANG METHODIST SCHOOLS’ 97TH FOUNDER’S DAY

Some of the GMS(P) staff members

student leaders

inety-seven years ago, with a class of 27 girls,

Ms Emma Eaton Walker. Without these two individuals,

Geylang Methodist Girls’ School (GMGS) began in

the foundations of the school would not have been laid.

a small classroom carved out from some space at

Geylang Methodist Church. The setting up of this school

The Rev Sullivan came to Malaya as a missionary in 1909

for girls was an initiative of the Methodist Episcopal

when he was 24. He served in various appointments

Mission in pre-war Singapore.

across Singapore, Malaya and Indonesia. It was while he was District Superintendent for Singapore that he oversaw

Although GMGS ran primary classes for children in the

the development of schools and outreach activities of the

Geylang area from around 1924, it was only three years

Methodist Mission in Singapore. With his strong support,

later that it got its own building, located behind the church

GMGS was set up, the start of a lasting legacy for the

building. It was run as a small private school up till 1949

Geylang community and for Singapore. The Rev Sullivan

when it became a government-aided school. In 1984, the

personally read the dedicatory service of the new building

school relocated to its current site, and was separated

of the Geylang Methodist Church and GMGS at its founding.

into a primary and secondary school. Both schools then became co-educational.

Ms Walker, an established professional and well-educated lady who was ahead of her time in many ways, was a

GMGS was very fortunate to be built upon the hands and

teacher and school principal in the USA before coming

hearts of many pioneering missionaries and educators

to Singapore. Ms Walker was introduced at the 1926

who arrived in Singapore under the commissioning of the

Methodist Missions Conference and went on to serve

Methodist Episcopal Mission. Of the many who supported

in important roles, including teaching at the Anglo-

the building of the school, one missionary and one

Chinese School and overseeing women’s work at Geylang

educator stand out as having played pivotal roles in the

Chinese Church. In 1927, she was also appointed the

school’s humble beginnings—the Rev Floyd Sullivan and

Superintendent of the Sunday School at the Geylang

METHODIST MESSAGE May 2021

Methodist Church, Principal of the Oldham Hall Day School and Principal of GMGS. Her contributions to deepening the fledging roots of the school in the Geylang community served to further establish the school. As a result of her significant contributions, Geylang Methodist School (Primary) and Geylang Methodist School (Secondary) continue to reap so much from her faithful service as an educator and leader in the school’s early years. Through this year’s Methodist Walk, the primary school embarked on a campaign to help the school’s rich heritage come alive to the students. Through simple Mathematics activities, Physical Education lessons and Social Studies activities held during the month-long fundraising period, the school sought to bring home to the students the message of how extensive a legacy the founding individuals

Mr Josiah Ng (extreme left) at the GMS(S) Founder’s Day celebrations

n line with the school’s theme to “Connect. Nurture.

Inspire”,

our

guest-of-honour,

Josiah Ng, Head of Film and Social Content at

Tribal Worldwide, shared his personal life story to

created, that made it possible for 27 young children to gain

encourage the students to not give up, to believe

access to basic education and skills training.

in themselves and to aspire to grow their talents— not for themselves, but to make a difference to

The month’s programmes culminated in the highlight event

those around them.

of Founder’s Day 2021, which was held both online and on-site, with safe management measures in place. At this

Josiah spoke about how he had struggled with

97th Founder’s Day, we continued to reinforce the sense

dyslexia as a student. Students were touched by

of living the legacy of our founders. We were privileged

how he had used his gifts and talents to comfort

to have Mrs Grace Heng, our founding principal of the

his extended family members in a season of grief

primary school section, join us as the Guest-of-Honour

through a video clip he put together. He reminded

for the celebrations for our primary school section. Mrs

the students of God’s love for them for who they

Heng shared her thoughts and hopes for the GM family

are and encouraged them to fix their eyes on God.

to shine bright as a beacon of light to all in the school, the neighbourhood and our community. Ms Mabel Wee,

He aptly reminded the school of her history and

another pioneer principal, was also present to inspire the

the Founders’ hearts to provide youths at that

young minds and hearts of the students with whom she

time access to good education; he also encouraged

interacted during the event.

the school to continue the school’s heritage and the Founders’ example “to love others, bless the

In the twinkling of an eye, the school, comprising of both

community and inspire your peers”.

the primary and secondary sides, is soon approaching its 10th decade. We are very grateful to God for establishing

Wee Tat Chuen is the Principal of Geylang Methodist School

and sustaining the school through the years, growing the

(Secondary).

GM family to become a wonderfully close-knit community of alumni who continue to be guided by the mission to be a beacon of light to the Geylang community and beyond.

student leaders

As a school, we treasure every milestone as a step forward in building on the legacy of our founders and the many helping hands and hearts who gave their love, service and faithfulness. This legacy will and must continue to live on through our words and deeds, our thoughts and aspirations. As a GM family, we will continue to GROW, SERVE and LEAD with joy, through Friendship, Body and Mind! To God be the glory for 97 years today and counting! METHODIST MESSAGE May 2021

| 11

Home ¢ Sheri Goh is the Editor of Methodist Message. This article was written with input and photos from Ang Mo Kio (AMK) Chinese MC, Barker Road MC, Covenant Community MC, Faith MC, Paya Lebar MC, Tamil MC (Short Street), Telok Ayer Chinese MC and Toa Payoh MC.

Sing like never before The Church and the pandemic,

e did not know it then, but on Sunday, 15 Mar 2020, Methodists left their church buildings after worship services and would not return for at least three months. This was the first time since World War Two that church buildings in Singapore would be shuttered for such an extended period. One year on, Methodists have emerged from the hiatus, and churches have had to grapple with how to resume their activities safely and within government-mandated guidelines. Methodist Message looks at church life over the last year and considers what might lie ahead.

one year on DEC 2019 Novel coronavirus first reported in Wuhan, China

23 JAN 2020 First confirmed nCoV-2019 case reported in Singapore

7 FEB Case related to Paya Lebar MC reported. DORSCON level raised to orange

8 FEB First church cluster in Singapore

The virus that shook the world

11 FEB

In Dec 2019, a mysterious outbreak of viral pneumonia with unknown aetiology was reported in Wuhan city in China.

20 MAR

WHO declares pandemic. Disease is named COVID-19

Bishop Dr Chong announces closure of Methodist churches On 23 Jan 2020, the first case of this illness was confirmed in Singapore. Within the next two months, clusters of the illness, then known as nCoV-2019, began appearing. Two church clusters were confirmed in early February. On 7 Feb, the government raised the DORSCON level to orange. This reflected a situation where the disease was severe and spread easily, but was still contained. That same day, Paya Lebar Methodist Church (MC) was closed for deep cleaning because an active case had visited its kindergarten premises. It was re-opened after several days when no other cases were reported. With the virus was spreading like wildfire worldwide, the World Health Organisation declared it a pandemic and renamed the disease COVID-19 on 11 Feb. On 20 March, then-Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung announced that, in view of the rising numbers of COVID-19 cases in Singapore, all Methodist churches would cancel their in-person services for two weeks 12

METHODIST MESSAGE May 2021

3 APR “Circuit breaker” implemented

2 JUNE Phase One begins. Churches remain closed

19 JUNE Phase Two begins

26 JUNE Congregational services are allowed to resume with a cap of 50 people

3 OCT Cap is raised to 100 people in zones of 50

28 DEC Phase 3 begins. 250 worshippers and live singing on stage are allowed

5 APR 2021 Worshippers allowed to sing with masks on

as a precautionary measure. There were plans to resume services by Palm Sunday (5 Apr). Then the government multi-ministry taskforce announced the most drastic virus-mitigation measure yet—the national “circuit breaker”—to last from 7 Apr to 1 June. Only essential services were to continue. Schools— kindergartens and childcare centres included—shifted to home-based learning. Non-essential workers were to work from home. Migrant workers were confined to their dormitories. Only takeaway food was allowed. Maskwearing in public became mandatory. We were in unknown territory. Case numbers were rising exponentially. Many were fearful. We did not know when church—and life as we had known it—would go back to normal. Church camps and ministry plans were cancelled. Many missionaries were recalled to their home countries. Places of worship remained closed during the circuit breaker as well as through Phase One of re-opening on 2 June. They were eventually allowed to resume services, subject to very strict limits, on 26 June, a week after Phase Two commenced.

Covenant Community MC’s Vacation Bible School 2020 on Zoom

Tamil MC’s Sunday School on Zoom

The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS) Communications team helped to disseminate information about various church services on its website, with the hope that everyone with an Internet connection could worship God at home.

The “new normal” At the time of writing, there have been more than 141 million reported cases of COVID-19 worldwide, and 3 million people, including 30 in Singapore, have lost their lives to the virus. The long-term effects on the health of those who have recovered from the virus are still unknown. Everyone has been deeply affected by COVID-19— socially, financially, emotionally and logistically. We have had to learn to live, learn, work and worship while adhering to government-mandated restrictions. Collective responsibility has had to trump personal freedom. And churches, like everyone else, have had to evolve to continue feeding their flocks and reaching out to those in their neighbourhoods and beyond.

Worship Faith MC was one of a few churches who had begun livestreaming their services long before COVID-19 struck. Their first such service was the Watchnight Service in 2017. By the time DORSCON Orange was announced, their media infrastructure was well in place. They held a sharing session on 20 Feb 2020 for 80 attendees from 51 Methodist and non-Methodist churches on how to livestream services. This proved to be useful when church buildings were closed and many churches had to go online for the very first time.

Musicians sang and played from home; and pastors preached from home. Congregants were patient when there were glitches. Offerings were collected via internet banking apps. Virtual choirs sprang up, with congregations embracing new ways to worship God. It was a steep learning curve, and church members gave feedback that they missed meeting in person, but they soon got the hang of worshipping from home. Worship is of the heart and not just an external gesture. Just continue to worship the Lord in spirit and in truth. Covenant Community MC Not being able to go to church for worship, I worshipped via online services. It was comforting to know that we as a Church were still able to come together as a family for Sunday worship from our homes via the Internet. Tamil MC (Short Street) There is a missing element of impact without corporate worship. But we can share our struggle and support our friends or cell group members in prayer, or worship in smaller groups. AMK Chinese MC

Communications

METHODIST MESSAGE May 2021

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Sing like never before

Remember the paper bulletins and the handshakes, and sometimes hugs, when attending worship services in person? Or the personal sharing and prayer in a corner of the church? These vanished once the circuit breaker started.

community. Some church members partnered with organisations such as Willing Hearts to cook and distribute free meals to the disabled, low-income families and migrant workers, many of whom were confined to their dormitories during the circuit breaker.

Congregations had to adapt when their churches went online: worship service, Sunday School, cell groups and other ministries had to be done with the help of various video-conferencing apps. Pastors and church staff kept in contact with members via telephone, such as calling members and setting up helplines. WhatsApp/Telegram broadcast channels were also set up. We thank God for the technology enabling churches and their members to stay connected, even though it was no substitute for meeting in person, due to technical difficulties and the fact that not everyone is tech-savvy.

Even after the circuit breaker ended, Methodists continued to reach out. The Interact Club of ACS (International) collaborated with Wesley MC to distribute care packages to workers living in dormitories that the church is supporting. Toa Payoh MC partnered with neighbourhood hawkers to provide 2,500 free meals for the community. Volunteers from Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference churches held Christmas and Chinese New Year events for migrant workers in the dormitories, recognising that they have had a very difficult year with COVID-19 lockdown and movement restrictions.

MCS Comms also started a webpage with COVID-19 updates, 4 such as letters from the Bishop, statements from churches that had cases linked to them, and churchrelated COVID-19 news. Honest communication is the key in the smooth operations of the church, especially in a crisis. Never try to hide or downplay anything that needs to be communicated to the congregation. And time is always of the essence. Paya Lebar MC

Behind the scenes as Faith MC’s media team livestreams their service

Although we had a lot more work and did overtime to plan, while learning to use new technologies, our faith was still strong during that time. The value of communication is not to be taken for granted in relationship building and uniting the church. Telok Ayer Chinese MC

Loving God by loving our neighbour Even while staying home and staying safe, churches reached out to love our neighbours. AMK MC, AMK Chinese MC and AMK Tamil MC registered with Homeless Hearts of Singapore to open a shelter for the homeless. Faith MC and Queenstown Chinese MC, who share a building, opened a Safe Sound Sleeping Place (S3P) for rough sleepers, as did Toa Payoh MC and Aldersgate MC. Toa Payoh MC conducted an Easter Sunday blood drive in 2020 and collected 98 packs of blood. Churches also reached out to the migrant worker

METHODIST MESSAGE May 2021

What does tomorrow hold?

Barker Road MC’s socially-distanced Holy Communion Service in March 2021

Churches in Singapore re-opened to their congregations on 26 June, with a cap of 50 people at a time. Mask-wearing and SafeEntry were mandatory, and no live singing was allowed. Restrictions were slowly and cautiously raised by the government; the cap was raised to 100 people in two separate zones on 3 Oct 2020, with no inter-mingling between zones; on 26 Dec, a maximum of 250 people and live worship were permitted.

Blood donation drive at Toa Payoh MC during Easter 2020

From 5 Apr 2021, worshippers were allowed to sing with their masks on for a maximum of 30 minutes in a single service. Bishop Dr Gordon Wong has encouraged vaccination for all who are willing and able so that we can protect each other from the virus, and church life can go back to normal sooner. As a member from Tamil MC (Short Street) shared: “This whole COVID experience has opened my eyes to see how faithful God is, how He is ever-present in our lives. He constantly provides us with ways and means to overcome all obstacles we may face.”

Covenant Community MC’s outeach to TransitPoint @ Margaret during Christmas 2020.

The COVID-19 situation is still evolving in the world, with some countries experiencing their third or even fourth waves. New variants of the virus are also emerging. But as the old praise chorus goes: “Many things about tomorrow I don’t seem to understand / but I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand.” May we sing these words with good courage, for God’s presence goes before us and He knows what lies ahead.

For more information on Disease Outbreak Response System Condition (DORSCON), a colour-coded framework that shows the current disease situation in a country, see https://www.gov.sg/article/what-do-the-different-dorscon-levels-mean. The framework provides us with general guidelines on what needs to be done to prevent and reduce the impact of infection.

https://www.methodist.org.sg/livestream

https://www.methodist.org.sg/covid-19

Tamil MC (Short Street), Pasir Panjang Tamil MC, Seletar Tamil MC and AMK Tamil MC.

In zones of 50 people, with the maximum size of the congregation also dependent on the size of the worship hall.

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News ¢ Ooi Eng Eong attends Wesley Methodist Church. He is a Professor of Emerging Infectious Diseases at Duke–NUS Medical School.

A brief overview of COVID-19 RNA vaccines:

for beginners

accines are, without doubt, one of the most powerful tools available for disease prevention. It was through vaccines that the world eradicated smallpox and is now at the brink of eliminating polio— some of us have even lived through periods where these diseases were dreaded. It is thus not surprising that, during the COVID-19 pandemic, many longed for a vaccine for the virus. Through unprecedented partnerships in science, several vaccines have now been licensed for use, with two available in Singapore at press time. Despite, or perhaps because of, this record-breaking feat in speeding vaccines from concept to application, some are perhaps worried if these new COVID-19 vaccines are safe. Here are some answers to common questions.

What is a RNA vaccine? Is it safe? Ribonucleic acid (RNA) is a form of genetic material. All of us have RNA in our bodies. Although our genetic code is stored in the form of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), an activated gene would be read and copied in the form of RNA. Think of DNA in the nucleus of a cell as a reference books in a library—these books cannot be removed from the library. The information within these books (DNA) would thus have to be copied (RNA) in order to be brought out of the library to instruct cellular functions. RNA as a molecule is thus not foreign to our bodies.

COVID-19 RNA vaccines contain the genetic code for the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The spike protein is the virus’ key to enter our cells. Training our immune system to recognise this key would enable the immune system to block infection and get rid of infected cells swiftly, so as to prevent any illness despite infection. Although RNA vaccines have not been licensed for use in humans previously, they have under development for at least 20 years. Clinical trials on the COVID-19 RNA vaccines have all shown excellent safety profiles.

Will RNA vaccine change our DNA? No. Just as it is hard to insert and bind a photocopy of a page back into a reference book, conversion of RNA back into DNA and then integrating that piece of DNA into our chromosomes require very special enzymes that are not present on RNA vaccines.

Is the vaccine safe when it is being developed so quickly? All the studies that need to be done to ensure the safety of these vaccines have been carried out. No shortcut has been taken. The clinical development of many COVID-19 vaccines were sped up through parallel processing. Conventionally, vaccine (and drug) development conduct studies and trials one after another, i.e. in series. Serial processing reduces the financial risk of companies as, if the results of any of these studies are not up to expectation, companies can terminate the project and cut their losses. Due to the major public health need, many of the vaccine development efforts have taken on the financial risks and conducted clinical development studies in parallel, wherever possible, rather than in series.

Source: WHO COVID-19 Dashboard. Geneva: World Health Organization, 2020. https://covid19.who.int/

METHODIST MESSAGE May 2021

News ¢ Priscilla Pearly Tan is member of Kum Yan Methodist Church and Kum Yan Youth Connection / Photos courtesy of Kum Yan MC

A church with a heart for His people Kum Yan MC celebrates 103 years

n Kum Yan Methodist Church’s (KY) rich heritage of 103 years, I have been here for the most recent three. While I may not have as much to share as those who have been part of much more of KY’s history, I do really enjoy hearing the amazing stories that the older ones, especially Pastor Lilian and Uncle KC (Wong Kok Choon, KY’s former LCEC chairman of KY), share about the church and their own experiences. Some of their stories—illustrating KY’s DNA and heritage —that have stuck with me were of the elders and founding generation of the church. Those who served were so on fire for God and His people. One of Pastor Lilian’s stories that really stood out for me was about a church leader who was hospitalised. The first thing she said to those who visited her was neither about her condition nor about the pain she was experiencing. Instead, she asked about how the church was and how the people were doing.

Installing the foundation stone of KY, that was found after it had gone missing during renovation works in 2005

As the congregation grew, they eventually needed a place to worship and so he began a Sunday worship service at the school. Other ministries like the one at Woodlands also started with the leaders answering the call to meet the need for a ministry to the community there. The Rev Philip Lim put it so beautifully, in the foreword of the commemorative book given out at the Anniversary Service: “From the very beginning, the church was established with outreach as its mission.”

Stories like these inspire me to consider my priorities and to constantly place God and His heart for people at the centre of His Kingdom’s work.

With each season that followed, every generation of leaders faithfully came together to seek God’s direction, to discover the need for that time and the context to apply the responsibility, mission and vision that God has ordained for the church.

During the anniversary celebration, I discovered another part of KY’s rich heritage and an important part of its DNA. It ties very closely to how the church was started and how several ministries were birthed. During the sermon, I learned how KY’s founding father, Mr I. C. Lam, started the church because he sensed the needs of the people around him. As a teacher at Yeung Ching School, his heart was stirred and filled with compassion for the Cantonese migrants who did not know Christ. So he started a fellowship and reached out to them with the Gospel.

With a deeper understanding of KY’s spiritual heritage, and therefore mine, I am inspired to consider where and to whom God is calling us for outreach in our time. In a powerful sermon about the Macedonian Vision at KY’s 103rd Anniversary Service, the Rev Khoo Cheng Hoot helped us see parallels between Lydia, a recipient of the Gospel, and those around us in our time. Lydia was one who perhaps lived in abundance as a dealer in purple cloth. Like many of us in Singapore, I am learning that, despite our abundance, the one thing needful remains.

KY’s 103rd anniversary service

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Welfare Services ¢ By the Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) Communications Team / Photo and visuals courtesy of MWS

2021 invites you to be a friend to someone in need

very year, The Giving Methodist, spearheaded by The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS) and Methodist Welfare Services (MWS), provides a platform to galvanise all Methodists for acts of love. Against the backdrop of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, this year’s theme encourages every Methodist to “Persevere in Doing Good”. As part of the Methodist family, we have the opportunity to do good by giving generously especially during the current circumstances. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Gal 6:9). Let us answer the call to do good by rallying our family and friends to reach deep into our hearts and extend warmth and friendship to someone in need during these tough times. We invite you to join MWS’s Persevere in Doing Good campaign by befriending those who are disadvantaged and distressed for a period of six to 12 months. MWS will connect you with distressed families and individuals, socially isolated seniors, and disadvantaged children in need of meaningful, longerterm friendship, advice and emotional support in their lives. Go to https://thegivingmethodist.sg/ or scan the QR code to sign up as a befriender or find out more about The Giving Methodist.

JOIN THE GIVING METHODIST CAMPAIGN IN THESE THREE WAYS: GIVE TIME Volunteer your time to be a befriender and walk alongside our beneficiaries who need help. You can offer some companionship to someone in need. Journey with a befriendee from a participating MWS centre or Methodist church ministry today! Registration has been extended to 30 October 2021.

GIVE A DONATION Uplift those whose circumstances remain dire with a regular giving of $40 a month, or a one-time donation. Your giving could potentially impact the lives of more than 8,000 we serve through our MWS centres and programmes.

GIVE VOICE Lend your voice to the disadvantaged and distressed by spreading the word about The Giving Methodist on your social media channels or group chats. Do get others involved too! For further enquiries on The Giving Methodist, please email 18

METHODIST MESSAGE May 2021

tgm@mws.sg .

HELP US TO HELP AT EVERY LEVEL

HELP

AT EVERY LEVEL

Make a big-hearted donation to support the running of MWS’ holistic programmes. Besides offering services and programmes to address presenting problems, we also provide psychosocial and emotional support, and pastoral care to work through deep-seated issues. Scan the QR code or visit

mws.sg/help-at-every-level to donate.

safe and homely place to live in; love, care and support from family and the community. Many consider these to be the essentials for a happy, healthy and fulfilling life.

But the sad reality is that these basic needs for a dignified life are beyond the grasp of some individuals, for reasons or circumstances outside of their control.

Giving hope to a youth in crisis

itted from a Andrea has benef therapeutic trauma-informed S Girls’ Residence programme at MW

Take 16-year-old Andrea*, for example. Neglected by her single mother who struggled to make ends meet, she sought comfort in the wrong places in her younger days—such as taking drugs, stealing and playing truant. Her situation was worsened by a neighbour who sexually exploited her. She was eventually referred to the MWS Girls’ Residence (GR) which is managed by Methodist Welfare Services (MWS), where she was diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The MWS GR care team took almost two months to gain Andrea’s trust, and helped her learn coping strategies and regulate her emotions. Andrea discovered her love and talent for music, and was encouraged to enrol in an Arts Incubation programme. While the path to recovery is long, she knows that she is not alone, and expresses more hope for her future.

Saras with an artwork she made during art class Photo by Agency for Integrated Care

“I am really proud of myself and thankful for the support that I have received from MWS GR. Without their guidance, I would have been lost,” shared Andrea.

Caring for a senior under duress Another struggling individual is Mdm Saraswathy, 73. Saras, as she likes to be known—was a former nurse who cared for patients for 45 years. While she has retired, the nursing role never left her as she became a full-time caregiver to her ailing 94-year-old mother and 82-year-old husband. When her mother had a hip replacement surgery, Saras was there to nurse her back to health. Her husband, who had a heart bypass surgery, is also reliant on her for many daily activities such as walking and bathing. Under the immense strain of full-time caregiving, Saras felt greatly stressed and totally alone. When MWS Charis Activity Centre for Elders – Geylang East opened below Saras’ flat in 2014, she decided to join as a member. There, Saras is able to enjoy respite from her daily caregiving responsibilities by participating in various activities that engage her mind, keep her healthy and enable her to connect with friends and family.

On behalf of those we serve, thank you for your kindness and generosity.

“Before this, I didn’t have anyone to talk to. Now I can share my problems with my friends here, and listening about their problems has somehow made me feel that mine aren’t the worst; instead, it makes me feel grateful,” said Saras.

A long helping journey Andrea and Saras are just two of the many we serve at MWS. As the social concerns arm of The Methodist Church in Singapore, we are here to provide help at every level—the disadvantaged young or a vulnerable and isolated senior, the sick and frail or a distressed family. Our holistic and person-centred approach empowers our beneficiaries to take critical steps out of poverty brought on by financial distress, emptiness, trauma, illness, dysfunctional relationships or neglect. It is often a long arduous journey that requires perseverance, patience, love and kindness. As a Methodist family, consider partnering with MWS in helping those in need. *Not her real name.

METHODIST MESSAGE May 2021

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Missions ¢ By Caroline Ng-Cheng, Jessie Yong, Cara Chiang and Tan Li Diang are members of Barker Road Methodist Church (BRMC) / Photos courtesy of BRMC

Flourish in Cambodia

Flourish’s first group of ladies from Prek Toal Methodist Church Women’s Ministry learning to crochet, 20 Feb 2011

2012: Cambodia-wide crochet outreach led to more than 200 learning to crochet

The seed of Flourish Flourish is a ministry God has provided for women in need to build livelihoods that impact and transform their lives and that of their families. It is also a ministry where God enables the volunteers to witness the seed of His faithful providence, to grow the seed of our faith and giftings and to enable us to share the seed of His Word, His light and hope. Flourish was started in 2011 by Barker Road Methodist Church (BRMC) as a Missions Livelihood Project. Then called “Project Love Cambodia,” Flourish’s first group of ladies were from Prek Toal Methodist Church, Steung Meanchey, Phnom Penh. In 2012, the BRMC Women’s Society of Christian Service (WSCS) placed a large order for crochet crosses for Mother’s Day/WSCS Sunday. This started us on a nation-wide crochet outreach campaign where we taught crochet in all Methodist institutions across Cambodia. All glory to God, we managed to fulfil more than 1,600 pieces of crochet crosses and provided jobs for more than 20 women. In 2014, God extended our mission field to Chress Church, Community Outreach Services–Immanuel (COSI), Post-COSI Integration Programme (PCOSIIP) and the area of Odem. When COVID-19 struck in 2020 and Singapore went into its Circuit Breaker, Flourish evolved to include local artisans referred by BRMC’s Outreach & Social Concerns (OSC). Thanks be to God for opening more doors as we went through the Circuit Breaker.

METHODIST MESSAGE May 2021

Today, Flourish is a volunteer-run ministry supporting more than 20 ladies in Cambodia and seven ladies in Singapore.

How you can help •

Buy our products

Check out our webstore at www.craftedtoflourish.com. Every product you purchase will enable more to be made, which will provide more jobs for our artisans. Custom or bulk orders are always welcome. 100 per cent run by volunteers, and all proceeds go towards healthcare, education and community development for our artisans. •

Volunteer

Are you someone who believes in our mission? We need all the help we can get. We are calling for befrienders, product designers, sewers, crochets, social media storytellers, photographers, videographers, models, content creators and business development professionals. As long as you have a willing heart to serve, come alongside us and join the Flourish family. •

Gift Resources

If you own a factory with raw materials such as fabric, yarn and leather to donate or have a company seeking corporate social responsibility projects, or are someone who shares our vision and would like to support our mission, we would love to hear from you!

How you can pray for us With a grateful heart of praise and joy, we give thanks to the Lord for birthing the Flourish ministry. Do pray alongside with us for the Lord to enable:

W h e n i l ln ess st ri p s us of eve ry d ream we’ve d are d to d ream . W h e n o ur fam i l i es re m ai n o n l y to re m i n d us of t h e h urt s we c arry t h e lo sses we b ury an d t h e b ro ke n n ess we t ry so h ard to m e n d.

•

the beneficiaries and families to be healed physically and emotionally and to transformed lives redeemed by His grace and hope

W h e n we l i ve o n ly so o ur c h i ld re n wo n’t n e e d to face t h e d ark n ess alo n e.

•

the beneficiaries’ families to witness the new dawn in their lives and together as a family seek to know and accept the Lord as their Saviour

W i t h h ead s to t h e f l o o r we we e p unt i l o ur b o d i es fe e l li ke n ot h i n g b ut t h e sm o ke of un an swe re d p raye rs.

•

the volunteers to serve as one united body emboldened by God’s love, be faithful in following the Lord’s leading and wisdom, and be strengthened to journey with the beneficiaries and to share the Good News

• •

provision of new volunteers including artisans, donors of materials or partners to journey with the beneficiaries that all involved in the Flourish community will rejoice always in whatever we do, pray continually for all involved and give thanks in all circumstances so that God’s light shines forth in all the lives we touched and His Name be lifted high and glorified.

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns!” (Isa 52:7)

A n d t h e n , o n e d ay o n a d ay un l i ke t h e rest a w i n d ow o p e n s. A n d h o p e b e gi n s to m ake i t s way b ac k i nto o ur frac t ure d h eart s. O ur fe l low wo m e n arri ve w i t h h eart s o p e n an d h an d s rai se d fo r se rv i ce. A n d we b e gi n a b eaut i ful exc h an ge of t i m e, t ale nt an d sto ri es. O ur h an d s fo rm e rl y cusp e d i n p e rp et ual p raye r n ow i n se rv i ce to c raft so m et h i n g b eaut i ful. H o p e i s t h e fab ri c of h eali n g t h at we weave — W i t h eve ry st i tc h we b e co m e st ro n ge r. To get h e r, we d ream of an d b ui l d a co m m un i t y co m m i tte d to al l c re e d s, co nv i c t i o n s co lo urs, cult ures an d co n d i t i o n s. We wo rk toward s a v i si o n of G o d ’s e ud ai m o n i a— U n i te d by o ur l ove fo r eac h ot h e r an d o ur C reato r. B ui ld i n g a wo rl d w h e re ‘l i ght i n d ark n ess’ i s n ot j ust an ot h e r i d ea; I t ’s w h o we are i t ’s w h at we’re m ad e of i t ’s w h at we we re b o rn to d o.

Cambodia Group

This poem describes the Flourish manifesto of

The journey with our artisans

how Flourish reaches out to women going through

BORN INTO LIGHT

single mothers struggling to raise their children on

W ho do we tu r n to whe n l i fe be com es u nbea ra bl e ?

Others may be going through difficulties due to

Wh e n ha ppi ness i s nothi ng bu t a hope whi s pe re d i n the dea d of yet a nothe r s l e e pl ess ni g ht . When th e p e r s on who prom i s e d to l ove u s b ecomes the ve r y rea s on we l os e ou r fa i th.

challenging situations in our broken world. Many are their own, after going through difficult relationships. critical illnesses. Whatever their situation, Flourish is committed to journeying with them, providing a sustainable livelihood for them and a life of dignity for them, their families and community, that they may see the hope and light of our Creator. METHODIST MESSAGE May 2021

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Happenings ¢

JUDICIAL COUNCIL DECISION NO 1 OF 2021

JUDICIAL COUNCIL DECISION NO 2 OF 2021

DIGEST (BOD ¶713.1)

In a written decision handed down on 22 March 2021:

The Judicial Council (by a 8-1 majority) affirmed

the decision of the Presiding Officer of the 45th Session of The Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference (“ETAC”) to (i) dispense with the casting of ballots; and (ii) declare the sole eligible candidate for the office of President as the 12th Quadrennium ETAC President.

In arriving at its decision, the Judicial Council

The Judicial Council unanimously decided not to vary or reverse the decision of the Presiding Officer of the 45th Session of The Trinity Annual Conference (“TRAC”) to include “Abstain” e-ballots in the 4th e-Ballot vote count as part of the total of “members present and voting” on the election of the 12th Quadrennium TRAC President.

“members present and voting” would mean in the context of the e-Ballot voting system, prior to the e-ballot being taken. d

He did not wish for the election of the new President to be decided under any cloud of dispute and hence ruled that “Abstain” e-ballots (there were three such e-ballots) would count as votes cast.

ruled that ¶582 of The Book of Discipline calling for

would still have to be cast and a formal vote taken

2 The Judicial Council noted that the Presiding Officer’s decision had been guided by the following considerations:

where there is only one eligible candidate for the

the election of the President of an Annual Conference by secret ballot is ambiguous as to whether ballots

office of President in a particular election.

The Judicial Council ruled that in the face of

such ambiguity and on the facts, the decision made by the Presiding Officer was neither unreasonable, arbitrary nor improper. The Judicial Council further noted that the Annual Conference, which had the ability to challenge the Presiding Officer’s decision,

This was the first time that balloting was carried out using the e-Ballot voting system.

b The e-Ballot voting system had listed “Abstain” as one of the options available for selection without differentiation in appearance from the other options. c No explanation had been given or ruling made as to what the requirement

The Judicial Council observed that in the present case, there is nothing to suggest that the inclusion of the three “Abstain” choices changed the ultimate outcome of 4th e-Ballot.

4 The Judicial Council also agreed with the Presiding Officer that in the interest of clarity, should an “Abstain” choice be included in future e-ballot forms, it would be prudent to explain, prior to the casting of votes, that an “Abstain” choice is a choice not to cast a vote.

had not mounted any challenge.

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Amazing Grace has prepared these few measures to allow families to have a meaningful and dignified farewell for their loved ones: A. Online Ticketing

Complimentary online ticketing system to allow visitors to reserve a visiting time slot and plan their visits, allowing families to keep within the regulated maximum number of persons at any one time with minimal coordination.

B. Online Memorial

allows friends to find updated information and offer their sympathies to bereaved families

C. Live Streaming

this option is available to enable friends and families to participate in the wake/vigil and funeral services online

D. Donations

families may appoint a PayNow account of a family member to receive donations. This will be posted on the online memorial.

Christian Funeral Packages • International Repatriation • Pre-Planning Seminars

You & 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.

Blissful indifference

ecently, many were unsettled, if not shocked, by

I find it refreshing that those who demonstrated compassion

news reports of a family’s cruelty to their domestic

did so not because they knew or hoped that their kind

helper, who was abused and tortured to the point of

deeds would be noticed or rewarded. They saw the needy

death. Then there was the case of a son who abused his

for who they were, the hungry as those who needed food

elderly mother for years. Fortunately, she survived, but her

and the homeless as people without shelter.

physical and psychological wounds will probably be severe and long lasting.

Mother Teresa, when asked why she helped those rejected by society, said: “I see Jesus in every human being.” If only

How did no one know or act? The old lady had sought

we shared her perspective.

treatment for her injuries and the medical staff surely saw that her injuries and wounds did not match the description

But we do not, do we? We turn our gaze away from people

of how they were sustained. Yet, no one could or would do

who are obviously sad and downtrodden. We deafen our

more to help.

ears to the cries and screams of those who are being hurt and abused. We tell ourselves to mind our own business.

In Matthew 25:31– 40, we are told that when Christ comes again, all of us will stand before His throne to receive

But what is our “business” if not to love the world? Are we

our reward or punishment. We will be judged by how we

not to be the hands and feet of our loving Father and be the

lived our lives on earth, especially with regard to how we

expression of His love to a world broken by division and strife?

responded to the needy, less privileged, disadvantaged and even to prisoners.

Or, are we like the people who justified themselves with “When did we see you?” Living in this age of social

A constant refrain in the account were the words, “When

media and information overload, saying we are unaware

did we see you... (hungry, naked, lonely)?” Besides those

of the needs around us is to pretend not to know and be

condemned by their selfishness, even the charitable ones

indifferent. Have we become, in the words of a song by

asked this question. Jesus’ response was that God, even

Pink Floyd (1979), “comfortably numb”?

if not seen, is present in each needy individual. Our Lord, the King of kings, the Creator and Master of the universe,

On the Day of Reckoning, on which side will we be found? Will

identifies with the least of these individuals. He is willing

we be numbered among the righteous or will we be in the

to be like them.

group offering the weak excuse, “When did we see you...?”

METHODIST MESSAGE May 2021

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ACS (International) Admissions Seminars for 2022 ACS (International) Singapore is a distinctive international secondary school open to all Singaporeans & other nationalities, offering an allround 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). Senior Leadership Team

Pre PSLE Seminars 9 July, 2pm 6 August, 2pm 17 September, 2pm 1 October, 2pm RSVP admissions@acsinternational.edu.sg

Post PSLE Seminars Mr Gavin Kinch Principal

Mrs Tan Siew Hoon Vice-Principal

24 November, 2pm & 4pm 25 November, 9am & 2pm 26 November, 9am & 2pm

Dr Kristopher Achter Vice-Principal

Mr Chia Choong Kiat Acting Vice-Principal

27 November, 9am RSVP admissions@acsinternational.edu.sg Seminars will be held on Campus with School Tour

Attendance is limited and 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

Hymns & Songs ¢ Judith Laoyan-Mosomos is the Director for Worship and Church Music at the Methodist School of Music, and a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church.

“Love your neighbour!”

Over and

over we are reminded to do this through sermons, articles and even campaigns about showing acts of kindness. But what will it take for us to practice this mandate that Jesus has given us? Through the song “Jesu, Jesu” we hear Tom Colvin’s exhortation. Colvin describes: how Jesus manifested his love and servanthood; who our neighbours are; and how we should embody the love of Jesus Christ. The act of kneeling is emphasised and used to

Jesu, Jesu

exemplify Jesus’ servanthood, which brings to light the disposition we should keep in following Jesus.

Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us With Your Love (UMH 432)

Kneeling signifies humility. It is a posture taken when praying to God. Abraham, Daniel, Isaiah, Peter, Paul and even Jesus Himself knelt to pray. We, too, kneel when we come to the altar rail for Holy Communion. It is not a comfortable position. That is why the altar rails have kneeling pads. If loving puts us on our knees, does that mean

Jesu, Jesu, fill us with your love, show us how to serve the neighbours we have from you. Kneels at the feet of his friends, silently washes their feet , Master who acts as a slave to them.

loving may also be uncomfortable? Definitely!

Refrain

These are the subtexts of “Jesu, Jesu”. Soon

Neighbors are wealthy and poor,

we will be back in church, kneeling at the

varied in color and race,

altar rail, communing with Jesus and the Body

neighbors are near us and far away.

of Christ. Where will this kneeling lead us to?

Refrain

Jesus interacted with the outcast, the poor, the marginalised. He saw and loved them in the

These are the ones we should serve,

image of God our creator.

these are the ones we should love,

carry

judgment,

prejudice—some

are

unfortunately common and acted upon. Can we change that? Will we see the way Jesus did? Will that perception then move our hearts to bend our knees to love and serve?

all these are neighbors to us and you. Refrain Loving puts us on our knees, silently washing their feet , this is the way we should live with you.

So much has changed for us today. We need this mandate—these reminders to help put ourselves

Refrain WORDS: Tom Colvin, 1969

in place. And if we want the love of God to prosper, I think it starts by loving our neighbour.

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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 (http://ethosinstitute.sg).

Real faith J

ohn Wesley’s “Aldersgate experience” of 1738 is a constant reminder of just how important it is for those who call themselves Christians to have a vital faith in Jesus Christ. On the flip side, it also alerts us to the fact that there are people in our churches today who have all the outward appearances of being genuine disciples but who in fact do not have a genuine relationship with Christ. Three years after his life-changing experience at Aldersgate, on 25 July 1741, Wesley himself addresses this subject in a university sermon he preached at St Mary’s, Oxford, entitled “The Almost Christian”, 1 where he famously describes the “almost Christian” as someone who merely has “the outside of a real Christian”. On the surface, it is difficult to discern an “almost Christian” from a true believer (or, to use Wesley’s expression, a person who is “altogether a Christian”). The “almost Christian” may attend Sunday worship services regularly. He may be a member of a small group, and may even lead Bible study. He may tithe faithfully and give generously to the church building fund. He may be active in the ministries of the church and, because of his talents and competencies, may even prove to be effective in some ways. The “almost Christian” may know his Bible well. He may be quite knowledgeable of the teachings of the evangelical church, having read famous Christian writers such as J. I. Packer, John Stott, John Piper and Tim Keller. In addition, the “almost Christian” can appear to live a godly life. As Wesley puts it, “the almost Christian does nothing which the gospel forbids. He taketh not the name of God in vain; he blesseth, and curseth not; he sweareth not at all, but his communication is, yea, yea; nay, nay.”2 The “almost Christian” may display Christianly behaviour, especially in his relationship with others. Wesley writes: “He avoids as much as in him lies, all strife and contention, continually endeavouring to live peaceably with all men. And, if he suffers wrong, he avenges not himself, neither returns evil for evil.”3 But there is one vital thing that distinguishes the “almost Christian” from the “altogether Christian”. There is one important difference between the truncated and incomplete “faith” of the “almost Christian” and genuine faith.

METHODIST MESSAGE May 2021

Wesley explains this difference well in his 1741 sermon: The right and true Christian faith is […] not only to believe that Holy Scripture and the Articles of our Faith are true, but also to have a sure trust and confidence to be saved from everlasting damnation by Christ. It is a sure trust and confidence which a man hath in God, that, by the merits of Christ, his sins are forgiven, and he is reconciled to the favour of God; whereof doth follow a loving heart, to obey His commandments.4 In other words, the “almost Christian” merely has external religion. In contrast, the “altogether Christian” has a real, deep, and transformative relationship with God through faith in Jesus Christ. The Reformers, following the medieval theologians before them, taught that biblical faith has three essential aspects: notitia, which refers to the truths of revelation, the content of the Christian faith; assensus, which has to do with the conviction that the claims of faith are indeed true; and fiducia, which is personal trust in God. The “faith” of the “almost Christian” is incomplete because it is nothing more than just an intellectual assent to the truths of the Bible and the creeds of the Church. Real faith is not just about knowing and believing the truths of Scripture—important though this is—for as James reminds us, even the demons do that (James 2:19). Real faith is fundamentally about trusting in Jesus Christ. Wesley ends his great sermon of 1741 with some penetrating questions: The great question of all, then, remains. Is the love of God shed abroad in your heart? Can you cry out, “My God, and my All?” Do you desire nothing but Him? Are you happy with God? Is He your glory, your delight, your crown of rejoicing? […] And doth his Spirit bear witness with thy spirit, that thou art the child of God?5 Blessed is he who can answer these questions with a confident and resounding “Yes!”

1 2

John Wesley’s Forty-Four Sermons (London: Epworth Press, 1991), 11-20. Ibid., 12. 3 Ibid., 11-12. 4 Ibid., 17. 5 Ibid., 18-19

News ¢ Xavier Tan worships and serves at Ang Mo Kio Chinese Methodist Church. He is currently pursuing an LL.B. at NUS Law / Photo courtesy of Jerry Tay

What does being a Methodist mean to you? “Religion is the love of God and our neighbour; that is, every man under heaven. This love rul[es] the whole life, animat[es] all our tempers and passions, direct[s] all our thoughts, words, and actions”. To me, being a Methodist means emulating Wesley and loving God and our fellow man. The love of God and that of man are not mutually exclusive. Rather, as the Apostle reminds us, “whoever loves God must also love his brother” (1 Jn 4:21). Wesley similarly advocates for “lov[ing] thy neighbour for God’s sake”, describing said love as “pure and universal”. The converse is also true: an absence of love for one’s neighbour is no love for God at all (1 Jn 4:20). Thus, loving God is inextricably linked to loving our neighbours, and it is at the core of Methodism. Two examples of loving our neighbours are evangelism and encouragement. God’s will and love for the world are the reasons we have the Gospel. What greater love can we show apart from sharing God’s love? Wesley preached everywhere he could, even out in the open, to reach as many as he could. Like Paul, he went out of his comfort zone to save souls. As Christians and Methodists, we should do the same. The Word tasks us to encourage and build each other up (1 Th 5:11). Wesley did so as he ministered to the poor and encouraged honesty and prudence, resulting in great improvements in their economic lives. Today, we have the same “Swiss Army knife” Wesley had—Scripture. Being rooted in God’s Word, we can minister to, encourage and bless those around us, especially the less fortunate, in love. Therefore, to me, loving God through tangible love for our fellow man is what it means to be a Methodist. John Wesley, “The Important Question”, The Sermons of John Wesley – 1872 Edition, ed. Thomas Jackson, Wesley Center Online, http://wesley.nnu.edu/johnwesley/the-sermons-of-john-wesley-1872-edition/sermon-84-the-important-question/. 2 John Wesley, “On Love”, The Sermons of John Wesley – 1872 Edition, ed. Thomas Jackson, Wesley Center Online, http://wesley.nnu.edu/john-wesley/the-sermons-of-john-wesley-1872-edition/sermon-139-on-love/. 3 John Wesley, “1 John 4:21”, Explanatory Notes Upon the New Testament (1755–1756). Public domain. 4 Carles White, “John Wesley’s Church Planting Movement: Discipleship That Transformed a Nation and Changed the World”, https://www.missionfrontiers.org/issue/article/john-wesleys-church-planting-movement. 1

THINK ¢ Dr Marcus Ong is a member of the Methodist Church of the Incarnation. He is an Emergency Physician and Clinician Scientist who has been on the frontlines fighting COVID-19 since January 2020. / Photo courtesy of Dr Marcus Ong

Ten reasons

for getting vaccinated

s Singapore’s COVID-19 vaccination programme is underway, the campaign faces challenges from vaccine scepticism or rejection. A recent study of more than 30,000 people in Singapore revealed that roughly 40 per cent were agreeable to vaccination, 20 per cent rejected it and the remaning 40 per cent were undecided. I have already received both doses of the vaccine and would like to offer 10 reasons why I strongly encourage my parents, family and friends to get vaccinated.

1 COVID-19 is a serious and deadly disease The COVID-19 global pandemic has claimed more than 3 million lives worldwide and caused unprecedented personal, social, economic and health impact. Singapore, with more

than 60,000 recorded cases and 30 deaths, has not been spared. Fortunately, we have so far been able to protect our healthcare system and vulnerable patients, unlike countries where hospitals have been overwhelmed. However, we should not take this for granted.

2 COVID-19 preys on the elderly and the weak COVID-19 impacts especially the elderly and those with chronic medical conditions. These groups have many times the death rates compared to younger people. There is also a condition called “long COVID”, where people who recover continue to feel unwell for weeks or even months. Ironically, the young and healthy may have mild, or even no, symptoms but are very effective at unknowingly spreading the disease to others, as they may feel well. We need to protect the vulnerable.

Registration at our Columbarium Oﬃce (Level 5) Monday to Friday, 9.00am to 5.00pm (Closed on Public Holidays). Tel: 6479 8122 HP: 9670 9935 or Fax: 6479 6960 Email: veronicalowjmc@yahoo.com.sg

3 Beyond impacting health, it has had

devastating effects on people, society and nations

As a frontline doctor, I have seen how COVID-19 has impacted our patients. This is not just on those who contract the disease, but also those impacted by indirect effects on the healthcare system due to strains on manpower, treatment capacity and delays to routine care. There is also the mental health, economic and social impact. This impact is magnified in countries that were already struggling before the pandemic. Everyone needs to play their part to help in this fight.

4 There is a safe and effective treatment for COVID-19

The good news is that there has been a breakthrough in our fight against COVID-19—the advent of safe and effective vaccines. Based on real-world experience in Israel which has now vaccinated the majority of its vulnerable population, the vaccine is more than 90 per cent effective in reducing serious complications. There is also good evidence that even if you get infected, vaccination reduces the chances of you transmitting the disease.

5 Vaccinations are one of the most proven treatments in medicine

There is overwhelming evidence for the effectiveness and safety of vaccinations. Consider the eradication of smallpox and control of polio globally in the recent past. Currently, more than 225 million people worldwide have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, with comparatively few reports of major adverse events. Singapore’s Ministry of Health (MOH) has also been careful to review all vaccines before approving them for local use. There is actually more data proving the safety and effectiveness of vaccines than all the over-the-counter medications, and the traditional and “herbal” remedies we use.

6 Vaccination reduces our personal risk as well as the risk to others

Besides protecting ourselves, vaccination also protects those who are not able or eligible to be vaccinated. This is the concept of “herd immunity”, which is that we can break the chain of infection if a sufficient proportion of the population is immune. So far, more than 500,000 people in Singapore have received at least one dose of the vaccine. In order to reach herd immunity, experts advise aiming for 80 to 90 per cent of our population to be vaccinated. We are still far from that target.

Dr Ong with family at an outing to Gardens by the Bay

7 We should not subscribe to misinformation and conspiracy theories

Unfortunately, vaccine acceptance has been challenged by inaccurate and even fake news, conspiracy theories and misinformation. Some of these have even claimed religious/ethical sanction. Understandably, many are uncertain, worried and confused. In times such as these, the Church should be a beacon of truth and light, to help protect our people and communities.

8 We can overcome our fears and anxieties All medications have side effects. After my second dose of the vaccine, I had a slight fever, muscle aches and lethargy. However, I was able to work with the help of some paracetemol and did not need medical leave. Some patients may have allergic reactions. However, the MOH has clear eligibility guidelines for vaccination and has ensured that vaccination centres are well equipped to handle any serious allergic reactions. We can encourage each other to help overcome our fears.

9 We honour the sacrifices others have made This is actually the second time I am going through a pandemic. I was a junior Emergency Physician during the 2003 SARS outbreak, when my friend and mentor, Dr Alexandre Chao, gave his life protecting others. We honour his sacrifice, and the sacrifices of countless frontline workers around the world, when we choose to get vaccinated.

10 We love God by loving our neighbour Choosing to get vaccinated is an act of love. Jesus said: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34–35, NIV). When we choose to get vaccinated, we are demonstrating we love our neighbour and love God.

METHODIST MESSAGE May 2021

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Methodist Message: May 2021

Articles inside

News

THINK

Soundings

Hymns & Songs

Happenings—Judicial Council decisions

You & Your Family

Missions

Home—The Church and COVID-19, one year on

News—A brief overview of COVID vaccines

Home—Kum Yan Methodist Church’s 103rd anniversary

One MCS—The Rev Dr Gregory Nai Lat

Bishop’s Message

Welfare Services

One MCS—CAC Highlights

News—Interfaith Dialogue