0129-6868MCI MCI (P) ISSNISSN 0129-6868 (P)019/11/2017 057/11/2018
Vol 120 No 11 • NOV 2018
inside
this issue...
message.methodist.org.sg message.methodist.org.sg
TRAC Seniors’ Ministry Weekday worship service
Southeast Asia Towards a regional Methodist mission approach
The Boys’ Brigade and the Girls’ Brigade A time to give thanks
page 10
pages 12–13
page 20
NEWS Jason Woo, Editorial Executive, and Sheri Goh, Editor, of Methodist Message were present at the 5th AMC GA.
CHALLENGES OPPORTUNITIES THE ASIAN CHURCH FOR
AND
The 2018 Exco and office bearers.
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he 5th General Assembly of the Asian Methodist Council (AMC) brought together 104 delegates from Methodist churches in the 12 countries comprising the AMC. Organised by The Methodist Church in Singapore, it was held from 18 to 23 Sep 2018. Striving side by side, with one mind, for the gospel The Opening Holy Communion Service at Paya Lebar Methodist Church began with a procession of each country’s representatives, each carrying their church banners. Outgoing AMC President, the Rev Dr Lam Sung Che, preached on the challenges of Christianity in Asia. Asia has two-thirds of the world’s population, yet only 9% identify
with the Christian faith even after 400 years of evangelism. Moreover, Asian Christians live in some of the world’s poorest countries and their faith is not well-tolerated, he said. The Rev Dr Lam exhorted Methodists not to be discouraged and urged them to emulate the Apostle Paul, who had a singular focus—to share the gospel. He touched on strategies for reaching the lost in Asia: sharing the gospel in a localised way, among unreached groups who have never heard the gospel; working closely together; and praying regularly for one another. Continued on page 15...
COMING UP
GLORIA!
Gloria!
CELEBRATING THE CHRISTMAS STORY
Gloria!
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njoy a vibrant musical kaleidoscope of seasonal choral anthems, carols and songs with the 100-strong Methodist Festival Choir and Festival Children’s Choir, directed by composer/organist Michael Burkhardt from the USA. With music from the majestic pipe organ, brass ensemble and piano, Daniel Fong (baritone) and an item by the MSM Ballet, the concert will warm and encourage your hearts for the Christmas season!
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Thursday December 13, 2018, 7.30 pm Esplanade Concert Hall
Thursday December 13, 2018, 7.30 pm Esplanade Concert Hall
TICKETS: $15, $25, $30, $40, $60 Available only from School of Music (MSM) TICKETS: $15,the $25,Methodist $30, $40, $60 Hotline: +65 6767 Available only 5258 from the Methodist School of Music (MSM) WhatsApp: +65 9724 Hotline: +65 67676273 5258 +65 9724 6273 Email:WhatsApp: msm@msmusic.edu.sg Email: msm@msmusic.edu.sg www.msmusic.edu.sg www.msmusic.edu.sg Address: 496 Upper Bukit Timah, 496 Upper Bukit Timah, 678099 #03-20Address: John Wesley Centre Singapore #03-20 John Wesley Centre Singapore 678099
msm msm
METHODIST METH ME THOD TH ODIS OD IST IS TT METHODIST METH ME THOD TH ODIS OD IST IS SCHOOL SCHO SC HOOL HO OL OF FF SCHOOL SCHO SC HOOL HO OLO O OF
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GLORIA! Celebrating the Christmas Story 1 3 December 2018 (Thursday), 7.30 p.m. John Wesley Centre, 496 Upper Bukit Timah Road, #03-20, S(678099) http://www.msmusic.edu.sg msm@msmusic.edu.sg $ 15, $25, $30, $40, $60 (available only from the Methodist School of Music) Infants in arms not permitted entry 6 767-5258 (hotline), 9724-6273 (WhatsApp)
The official monthly publication of The Methodist Church in Singapore. Published material does not necessarily reflect the official view of The Methodist Church. All Scripture quoted is based on the English Standard Version unless otherwise stated. 70 Barker Road, #06-04, Singapore 309936 6478-4793 6478-4794 http://message.methodist.org.sg | http://www.methodist.org.sg newmm@methodist.org.sg fb.com/Methodist.SG
Story
Michael Burkhardt (USA)Choir, with the Festival Children’s directs the Methodist Festival Choir Daniel Fong (Baritone), Festival Brass Ensemble, withBallet the Festival Children’s Choir, & MSM
Event visual courtesy of the Methodist School of Music
Printer A&D Printhub Pte Ltd
~ Celebrating the Christmas Michael Burkhardt (USA) directs the Methodist Festival Choir
Daniel Fong (Baritone), Festival Brass Ensemble, & MSM Ballet
Programme: Gloria—Randol Bass Magnificat—Johann Pachelbel Tomorrow Shall be My Dancing Day—John Gardner Bogoroditse Devo—arr. Michael Burkhardt Hodie! Christus Natus Est—Burkhardt African Noel—arr. Burkhardt Christmas Blessing—Philip Stopford Candlelight Carol—John Rutter Carillon on a Ukranian Bell Carol—Gerald Near …and many more! Intermission of 20 minutes n
Design & Production SNAP! Creative Pte Ltd
Celebrating the Christmas Story
Editorial Board
Adviser and Publisher
Dr Anthony Goh, Chairperson Council on Communications Editor Sheri Goh Sub-editor Tan Chiu Ai Editorial Executive Jason Woo
@methodist.sg
Have something to say or share? Email us at newmm@methodist.org.sg and, if appropriate, your contribution could be published.
BISHOP’S MESSAGE Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung was elected Bishop of The Methodist Church in Singapore in 2016. He served as President of the Chinese Annual Conference for two quadrennial from 2008 to 2016.
UNITY IN DIVERSITY
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very November, the three Annual Conferences of The Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS)— the Chinese AC (CAC), the Emmanuel Tamil AC (ETAC) and the Trinity AC (TRAC)—hold their separate conferences, which the respective Presidents chair. The Bishop, as the head of MCS, chairs the General Conference. He, together with the three Presidents, also attends each conference. Although Singapore is a small country, there are three Annual Conferences because the early missionaries brought the gospel to groups speaking different languages: English, Baba Malay, Tamil, and Chinese and its dialects. The first churches to be established reflect the influence of the various languages/dialects: Wesley MC (1885, English); Short Street Tamil MC (1887, Tamil); Telok Ayer MC (1889, Hokkien); Kampong Kapor MC (1894, Baba Malay); Foochow MC (1897, Foochow dialect); and Hinghwa MC (1911, Hinghwa dialect). The early Methodist missionaries, pastors and believers in Singapore were from different language groups, educational backgrounds and social status. Amidst the diversity, they were connected and united in the ministry to spread the gospel. As their efforts bore fruit, more local churches were started. After they became financially self-sufficient, an application was made to the General Conference of the United Methodist Church in the US to constitute the Autonomous Methodist Church in Malaysia and Singapore in 1968. The General Conference was called the Malaysia-Singapore Methodist Church. Since the most commonly-used
languages for the Methodist gospel ministry were English, Tamil and Chinese, three Annual Conferences were set up—the English-speaking TRAC, the Tamil-speaking ETAC and the CAC. In 1974 and 1975, the General Conference appointed a Committee to present appropriate structures and legislation to restructure the Malaysia-Singapore Methodist Church to serve each of the two nations, Malaysia and Singapore. The Methodist Church in Singapore came into being in 1976. Although English has become the lingua franca in Singapore and the main medium of instruction in schools, many Chinese and Indians continue to use their respective mother tongues and dialects. There remains a need for ministry and outreach amongst these two ethnic groups, and worship services in our churches are still conducted in their languages. One of the petitions presented at the 2016 General Conference was to study how the present MCS structure can be improved to accommodate the current times and conditions of society. This is challenging task, and the key for the planning committee would be to seek unity in diversity. ¶382 of The Book of Discipline states that the Council of Presidents, which comprises the Bishop and the Annual Conference Presidents, shall be a body for “the promotion of connectionalism”. Please pray that we will be able to develop a better and more effective organisational structure to serve Singapore’s future generations. n
Picture by Rawpixel.com/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • NOV 2018
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CHURCH PROFILE Rachelle Goh is the Communications and Archive Chair of Charis Methodist Church.
CHARIS MC:
A CHURCH AFTER GOD’S HEART C
haris Methodist Church began as the English congregation of Geylang Chinese Methodist Church in the 1970s. After much prayer and deliberation with the mother church, Charis MC was born on 1 Jan 1989, with the Rev Dr David Wu as the Pastor-in-Charge. In 1993, Charis MC got its own “home” when it purchased 91 Koon Seng Road, which Pentecost MC had put up for sale. Over the years, Charis MC has grown steadily in numbers, faith, and ministry. The congregation currently numbers about 650. The church’s vision is to be “a people after God’s heart” (Acts 13:22). We seek to be a disciplemaking church where our ministries are aligned to grow each believer as a disciple maker, both relationally and communally. We want to be attractive to those in our neighbourhood and win people to Christ. In the early ’90s, the church established student care centres at Geylang Central to reach out to the community. Today, Charis MC continues its good work with Charis Activity Centre for Elders (ACE), in partnership with Methodist Welfare Services. Some of our unique ministries include the church choir and the Joo Chiat
Ministry. The church choir has a long history and has been instrumental in leading the congregation in worship as well as supporting fund-raising efforts and the Church Music Sunday. The Joo Chiat Ministry is the church’s effort to engage night workers of the restaurants and KTV lounges and the night-time community along Joo Chiat Road. The ministry team goes out to meet and bless them with small gifts, and share the love of Christ. Being nestled in a landed residential area, the church is constrained by
We continue our series of profiling local churches from our three Annual Conferences of The Methodist Church in Singapore. As we come to have a better understanding of each other’s history and ministry, we may discover more opportunities to forge cross-church partnerships and collaborations.
the limited places for parking nearby. Despite this, the church continues to grow. We praise God that the Urban Redevelopment Authority recently posted a notice for the re-zoning of 91 and 97 Koon Seng Road from “residential” to “place of worship”. With this re-zoning, we will embark on redeveloping the church block and integrate it with the House of Peniel. While the cost is a challenge, we believe that God will provide abundantly. n Charis Methodist Church (Chinese Annual Conference) 1 Koon Seng Road, 9 S(427032) Sunday Services English 1: 9.00 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. English 2: 11.15 a.m. to 12.45 p.m. Mandarin: 9.00 a.m. to 10.30 a.m. https://www.charismc.org.sg office@charismc.org.sg 6 344-5750 Photos courtesy of Charis Methodist Church
ONE MCS—CAC HIGHLIGHTS From the Chinese Annual Conference (CAC) President’s Office
ENGAGING CAC MEMBERS OF ALL AGES The Lay Ministry Staff Retreat at Pulau Ubin.
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CAC Sunday t the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. The goal is equality, as it is written: ‘The one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little.’” (2 Cor 8:14–15, NIV) This year’s CAC Sunday took place on 12 Aug 2018. The Sunday saw more than 60 pastors travelling across Singapore to speak at 67 Chinese, English and dialect services in 17 CAC churches! A yearly event that falls on the second Sunday of August, CAC Sunday is when CAC pastors preach at another CAC church, focusing on a common message. It presents an opportunity for church members to experience the itinerant system that is so much a part of our Methodist heritage. The message this year was “United in Christ”, and all the pastors spoke from 2 Cor 8:8–15. Lay leaders from various churches also took the opportunity to visit their sister churches. CAC Board Retreats CAC saw unity in diversity across several Board retreats held in the last three months. Lay Ministry Staff Retreat Fifty-three lay ministry staff attended a retreat on 25 July 2018 at Village Hotel Changi and Pulau Ubin. Themed “Enliven, Up! Up! Away!”, it was inspired by 2 Th 2:15–17. Reflecting the spirit of Methodist “connectionalism”, TRAC President Rev Gordon Wong was the retreat speaker. The CAC President and the District Superintendents were also present. The retreat was also a way of appreciating our dedicated lay ministry staff who are pillars of support in the work of our local churches.
Lay Leaders Retreat A retreat for Lay Leaders, organised by CAC Board of Laity, was held at Grace Methodist Church on 4 Aug 2018. It covered topics such as “the clergy-laity partnership”, “the role of the lay leader in the connectional system of the Methodist Church” and “the future of the Chinese churches and congregations”. The leaders to prayed for the needs of one another’s churches, giving thanks for God’s blessings and grace. The retreat provided much food for thought as churches plan for their ministries. Youth Workers and Leaders Retreat The Board of Youth Ministry (BOYM) organised an annual retreat for Youth workers and leaders from 19 to 20 Oct 2018 at the National Community Leadership Institute. This year’s retreat, themed “Engage”, focused on equipping our Youth workers and leaders to engage our youths in relatable and meaningful discussions. This is important, lest we risk “losing” our youths and allowing their views to be shaped solely by the media, peers and society. Ms Jillian Koh of Sterling Campus spoke on the topic of sexuality—specifically, modern society’s misconceptions and misrepresentations of sexuality, which may contradict the biblical understanding. The next BOYM event will be held in January 2019. Leaders across CAC churches #CACTogetherYouths will gather for an envisioning night. n
Follow CAC BOYM at fb.com/cac.bym @cacboym Photo courtesy of the Chinese Annual Conference METHODIST MESSAGE • NOV 2018
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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 in 2011 and is a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church.
DIFFERENT, NOT DEVIANT
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f late, diversity has been a buzzword and is often seen as desirable.
We see diversity in families too. Within a family, there might be grandparents who belong to the Pioneer Generation, parents who are Baby Boomers, and children who are Generation X or Y. Some family members might be more westernised in world view or values, while others are more Asian. Some may prefer listening to Canto-pop and others to K-pop music. Diversity in age, values and preferences can enrich family life. Sometimes, it causes confusion and conflict. Having worked with families for over three decades, I have observed that each generation seems to think that their lives while growing up were harder than their children’s are. Moreover, the older generations tend to believe that they are tougher than their offspring. For instance, there are parents of six or more children who cannot understand why their children struggle with their two, particularly when the latter have time-saving appliances, superior public infrastructure, and other modern conveniences. In spite of all that the Pioneer Generation lacked, many look back wistfully on carefree days in their kampongs, which they would not trade for today’s high-rise living. They see the younger generations under extreme stress from academic and career pressures. In my parents’ time, access to education was a privilege. For my generation, it was about doing well enough to get into pre-university
and later, the local university. I obtained more points in my ‘O’ Level aggregate score than I have fingers. Yet, I was overjoyed to qualify for pre-university. Such sentiments illustrate how individual perspectives are personal and may not be shared by others. Diversity may thus be based on objective facts and subjective perception. Also subjective is the meaning we make of differences, which can either provide opportunities for growth or lead to more conflicts within a family. How then can we celebrate diversity and minimise conflict? Rather than viewing differences as signs of rebellion or declarations of conflict, one could take them as just that— differences. Your perspectives on work or relationships may differ from your children’s, but it does not mean they are wrong or deviant. Recognise that, in our younger days, we too were convinced about the rightness of our causes. You might have grudgingly complied when overruled by your parents. But even then, would you not have liked them to hear you out? So, seek to understand the differences by listening with the intention to understand, rather than to rebut. When counselling conflictual clients, I realise that they may disagree about inconsequential points but not on the issues or values that these represent. Listening well can help us appreciate one another better. Do remember: different does not mean deviant. n Picture by maxxyustas/Bigstock.com
WELFARE SERVICES By the Methodist Welfare Services Communications Team
GIVING TIME TO BLESS OTHERS
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ooking ahead to The Giving Methodist (TGM) 2019, we chatted with two first-time volunteers during this year’s TGM.
Phyllis Han works full-time in human resources and worships at Charis Methodist Church. I heard an announcement about TGM in my church and thought it would be a good way to start volunteering. I wanted to work with either children or the elderly, and needed to fit the activity into my schedule. Looking through the available listings on the TGM Give Time website, I found a session at Chen Su Lan Methodist Children’s Home (CSLMCH) which worked for me.
Sign up booth at Pentecost Methodist Church
Trinity Methodist Church organises monthly activities with CSLMCH, and I went along one Saturday when they took the children to SAFRA Toa Payoh for bowling. Realising that the children needed someone to be real with them and not treat them as “special”, I tried my best to listen and get to know them. Since then, I have returned to CSLMCH several times. If you are thinking about volunteering—stop thinking, and just find somewhere to start. Give whatever time or resources you have and you will end up receiving more than you gave. Tan Chee Keong is a father of two young children and attends Pentecost Methodist Church. The regional sales manager and his family distributed food hampers to beneficiaries living in Tampines. I heard about TGM through my church, and chose a hamper distribution activity organised by our Social Concerns Ministry. It was our first time volunteering as a family. That day, we went door to door distributing donated food items to residents of one-room flats in Tampines. It was a humbling experience, and a good learning journey for my children. The event was well-organised, which is important for families with young kids. We are looking for other opportunities to Give Time as a family. Everyone should volunteer at least once to experience the joy of giving back to society.
The volunteers at Pentecost Methodist Church's food hamper distribution TGM activity
The Giving Methodist aims to galvanise all Methodists to perform acts of love during the period of Lent. TGM 2019 will run from 6 March to 13 April. Please look out for our announcements. n
MWS Post-AGM 2018 Announcement: Board of Governance appointment changes • We welcome to Dr Tan Hai Chuang, our Assistant Honorary Secretary, and Mr Robin Cheong, our Assistant Honorary Treasurer. • The Rev Jasper Sim, Mr Terence Phung and Mr Charles Loh have stepped down. We thank them for their service.
Photos courtesy of the Methodist Welfare Services METHODIST MESSAGE • NOV 2018
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MISSIONS David Khew is on staff with the Methodist Missions Society (MMS) and supports the ministry in Thailand and Laos as Country Coordinating Officer. He worships at Grace Methodist Church.
LAOS DISASTER RELIEF: AID FOR THE AIDERS
A hydroelectric dam in Southeast Laos collapsed on 23 July 2018, leading to widespread destruction and displacement of villagers throughout the province of Attapeu. In the days following the disaster, more than 3,000 Lao people clung from trees and rooftops as they awaited rescue. At least 31 died and scores are unaccounted for. Hundreds of homes were washed away in one of Laos’ poorest areas. Relief efforts continue to be hampered by heavy rains, washed-out bridges and impassable roads.
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n 10 Sep 2018, Pastor J and I flew to Pakse, a small city located about 700km south of Vientiane. Our mission was to scout out traversable routes into the flooded areas and source for food and emergency supplies needed by those who had been left homeless. During our flight, two Chinese nationals seated across the aisle from us overhead our conversation and asked if we were Lao government officials. When we told them we were from the Church in Laos and Singapore, one of them shared that he had lived in Singapore many years ago. They were keen to hear about our plans for crisis relief work, and even expressed a desire to make a small donation.
After our plane had landed, one of the Chinese gentlemen reached into his luggage. I was dumbfounded when he passed me US$1,000 (S$1,385) for our relief work. Praise God for this extraordinary act of kindness! In Pakse, we were met by another local LEC pastor, who briefed us on the conditions and arranged transport for us the next day. We started the next leg of our journey before dawn and finally arrived in Attapeu town where we were able to buy food and supplies. Following the advice of the local pastor, we loaded our small truck with a hundred 10-kg packets of glutinous rice and basic necessities like torchlights, crockery and knives. We then headed to a refugee camp at Sanamxay that had been set up to house families from villages that had been completely destroyed by flood waters and mudslides. Most had been rescued or escaped with only the clothes on their backs. Our trip to the camp, which normally took 45 minutes, took more than two hours because heavy rains had turned the badly-damaged roads into a slippery, deeply-rutted quagmire. When we finally arrived at Sanamxay, we were as happy as the people who poured from their tents to greet us! While they were grateful for the white rice supplied by other international relief agencies, they were overjoyed to receive the tasty glutinous rice.
Clockwise from extreme left: The immediate aftermath of the collapsed dam. David Khew (left) and Ps J buying supplies for the flood victims. A flooded village in the Sanamxay District. Cramped conditions in a relief camp. The roads are still flooded one month after the dam collapse.
The flood victims were glad to be alive but after more than a month in cramped makeshift shelters, many were beginning to suffer from headaches and skin diseases. They are not accustomed to eating instant noodles and canned food such as sardines and processed meats. Many were sleep-deprived because of the noise from living in close quarters with so many others. They requested for fishing equipment and more torchlights so that they could go into the jungle to trap frogs, fish and animals. They wanted to be able to catch their own food and live simply in the jungle. On our return trip from Sanamxay, the Lord’s hand of mercy kept us from harm—not once, but twice. On a slippery and muddy stretch of the road, a huge truck laden with supplies was travelling in the opposite direction from ours when a dog dashed across the road. The truck driver intuitively swerved into our path to avoid hitting the dog. I was sure we were going to be hit, but he managed to avoid a head-on collision.
As we continued our journey to Pakse airport, three fat ducks suddenly waddled into the path of our truck. Our driver swerved and as our vehicle began to slide, he jammed on the gas pedal to restore control. I heard three thuds from under our truck. I cringed, but whispered, “Thank you, God, for keeping us safe.” Due to the poor road conditions and two close shaves, we arrived at Pakse airport with only 15 minutes to spare before the flight had been scheduled to take off. We jumped out of the truck and ran to the check-in counter… but no staff were around. When we looked out onto the tarmac, we saw the last few passengers boarding our plane. We managed to rush to the glass door that led out to the tarmac without being stopped by security officers. Thankfully, the ground staff noticed Pastor J and me, and returned to process our boarding passes. Working alongside local pastors throughout this relief effort has helped the Christian Church gain credibility and trust from village chiefs and government officials. Together, we are able to share God’s love and mercy to those in greatest need. n
Photos courtesy of the Methodist Missions Society METHODIST MESSAGE • NOV 2018
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HOME Harry Tan is a member of Faith Methodist Church.
TRAC SENIORS MINISTRY STARTS WEEKDAY WORSHIP SERVICES (Clockwise from left) The Rev Irene Thung leads worship. The shofars have sounded! TRAC President, the Rev Dr Gordon Wong, brings God’s Word.
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:6–8, NIV)
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n 15 Aug 2018, about 240 seniors from TRAC churches across Singapore gathered at the recentlyrefurbished Faith Methodist Church (Faith) for the inaugural weekday worship service. At 2.30 p.m., shofar horns sounded through the Worship Hall, and the Rev Irene Thung, TRAC’s Seniors Ministry Director, began the service with a call to prayer. The Rev Thung then introduced Faith’s Pastor-in-Charge, the Rev Raymond Fong, who warmly welcomed everyone. The GYM Voices choir, now into its 20th year, presented “The Way That He Loves” and “Love Lifted Me”. TRAC President, the Rev Dr Gordon Wong, delivered a stirring message of God’s great love. Speaking from Romans 5:6–8, he reminding the congregation that Jesus Christ loves us enough to die on the cross for our sins. He played the guitar and sang “How Much Do You Think You Are Worth?”
The service closed with some seniors responding to the word of knowledge released during the pastoral prayer, and the altar prayer ministers prayed for them. After the service, there was time for fellowship and food. William Lim, 81, who worships at Pentecost MC, shared: “These weekday services appeal to seniors and retirees like ourselves. We can catch up with fellow worshippers from the various districts.” n Besides its regular Sunday services, Faith MC hosts two weekday services once per month under the auspices of TRAC Seniors Ministry: •T uesday Prayer service: 23 Oct / 27 Nov 2018, 2.30 to 4 p.m. •W ednesday Worship service: 31 Oct / 14 Nov 2018, 2.30 to 4 p.m. Christmas Carolling Service, “What My True Love Gave To Me”: 12 Dec 2018 (Wednesday), 2.30 to 4 p.m. All are welcome. (Please see page 23 for registration details.) 4 00 Commonwealth Drive, S(149604)
Photos courtesy of Dr Yip Yeng Yoong
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.
CROWN HIM MANY CROWNS WITH
Crown Him with Many Crowns (The United Methodist Hymnal, #327) Crown him with many crowns, the Lamb upon his throne, Hark! how the heavenly anthem drowns all music but its own. Awake, my soul, and sing of him who died for thee, and hail him as thy matchless King through all eternity.
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he liturgical calendar comes to a close with “Christ the King Sunday” on 25 Nov 2018. Another cycle begins with the season of Advent, starting on 2 Dec 2018.
“Crown Him with Many Crowns” is an appropriate hymn for Advent. The word “crown” acknowledges Christ as King. However, this hymn depicts His kingship as different from one who has subjects to order around. By His life and teachings, Jesus imparted lessons of selflessness and obedience to God. His journey on earth led Him to the cross. His death as a sacrificial Lamb and His resurrection gave us life, peace and love. The stanzas describe Christ as: “the Lamb upon his throne”; “the Lord of life”; “the Lord of peace”; and “the Lord of love”. It is in this vein that when we sing this hymn, we proclaim: “He is the Lamb upon the throne, the Lord of life, peace and love.” If this is what we believe and proclaim, how are we changed by it? In Simply Christian, N. T. Wright writes, “[W]orship makes you more truly human. When you gaze in love and gratitude at the God in whose image you were made, you do indeed grow. You discover more of what it means to be fully alive.”1
As we sing “Crown Him with Many Crowns”, may we grow in love and gratitude for God and discover how to be fully alive in Christ. n 1
Crown him the Lord of life, who triumphed o'er the grave, and rose victorious in the strife for those he came to save. His glories now we sing, who died, and rose on high, who died, eternal life to bring, and lives that death may die. Crown him the Lord of peace, whose power a sceptre sways from pole to pole, that wars may cease, and all be prayer and praise. His reign shall know no end, and round his pierced feet fair flowers of paradise extend their fragrance ever sweet. Crown him the Lord of love; behold his hands and side, those wounds, yet visible above, in beauty glorified. All hail, Redeemer, hail! For thou hast died for me; thy praise and glory shall not fail throughout eternity.
Text: Matthew Bridges (1800–1894), and Godfrey Thring (1823–1903) Music: DIADEMATA, George J. Elvey, 1816–1893
. T. Wright, Simply Christian: Why Christianity Makes Sense (San Francisco: Harper Collins, N 2006), 128.
Picture by R_Tavani/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • NOV 2018
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WORLD METHODIST NEWS Thomas Kemper serves as the general secretary of the United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries. This article is republished with permission from the Global Ministries website.
TOWARD A REGIONAL METHODIST MISSION APPROACH IN SOUTHEAST ASIA
Representatives from all over Asia gather for a group photo, showing excitement for promising partnerships in the region.
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xciting new opportunities for Methodist Church growth and service ministries in Southeast Asia are on the horizon through a collaborative regional approach. This was the clear message from the first meeting of the Asian Methodist Mission Platform, which was held from 26 to 28 June 2018 at the Methodist Retreat Centre in Hong Kong. Twenty-three representatives of seven groups from Hong Kong, Malaysia, South Korea, Singapore, the Philippines, the non-geographical World Federation of Chinese Methodist Churches and United Methodist Global Ministries shared their current mission outreach in the area and discussed ways they could work together in the future
Thomas Kemper
Pray for a Mission Movement The enthusiasm that permeated the gathering was summed up by Bishop Hwai Teik Ong of the Methodist Church of Malaysia: “We pray that the Asian Methodist Mission Platform will become an Asian Methodist mission movement.� The Rev Sung-Che Lam, President of the Methodist Church of Hong Kong, the host for the platform meeting, was excited by the prospects of identifying new places to start Methodist work and the possibility of building and unifying efforts around recently launched ministries. Mission Roots The origins of most of these churches are in American mission outreach. The present-day Hong Kong church is a union of American and British mission efforts. Most American-founded Asian Methodist conferences elected national autonomy rather than becoming parts of what is today The United Methodist Church.
The Philippines, however, became a United Methodist central conference, an organic part of the denomination. The United Methodist Church there—three episcopal areas with multiple annual conferences form the central conference—receives and sends missionaries through Global Ministries. It also engages in missions across many locations, especially among Filipino migrant workers in Asia and the Middle East. Global Ministries, the church in the Philippines and the Methodist Church in Taiwan jointly sponsor missionaries among Filipino workers in Taipei. More partnerships of this kind are likely to emerge from the Asia mission platform. Overcoming a Miscommunication Interestingly, the origins of the platform are in a miscommunication that began at the 2016 United Methodist General Conference in Portland, Oregon. Through the Standing Committee on Central Conference Matters, Global Ministries proposed and the General Conference approved the creation of a Provisional Central Conference for Southeast Asia and Mongolia, a measure required to allow Global Ministries’ missions in those areas to move toward annual conference status. Several fraternal delegates from affiliated autonomous Asian Methodist churches saw this action as a move by the United Methodists to “take over” the future of regional Methodism, a kind of reasserted “American colonialism”. I rejected on the floor of the General Conference any “takeover” motives and admitted our failure to explain clearly the purpose of the new provisional central conference. But Asian Methodist reservations continued and discontent grew when, in 2017, word circulated that Global Ministries was planning a regional office in Seoul, South Korea. We invited leaders of Asian Methodism to the office opening and to sit down with me and our regional staff (all Asians) who are focused on strengthening the whole of the Methodist presence in Asia. Our sincerity as a mission partner, not a colonist, was accepted and led to the idea for a regional mission platform. Our regional office, which is located in downtown Seoul, makes our staff more easily available to Asian personnel, projects and partners than they would be if located at our Atlanta headquarters. Overlapping Work The Korean Methodist Church (KMC), founded by American missionaries in the late 19th century and
autonomous since 1930, has 1.5 million members in South Korea and is the largest Methodist mission presence in Asia. Hundreds of Korean Methodist missionaries serve across the region, most of them sent and funded by local churches. Some, like Filipino missionaries, serve diaspora communities; others are cross-cultural. Many engage primarily in evangelism and new church development. Some are in education, such as staff for three schools in Pakistan; some in social or health ministries, such as two orphanages and a clinic in Nepal, where Malaysia, Singapore and Global Ministries also have work. Each agency participating in the mission platform provided detailed reports on its regional presence—both Hong Kong and the Philippines have ministries in Macau; Korea, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Global Ministries are represented in Japan, where Global Ministries and Hong Kong share a missionary. Most of the Korean missionaries in Japan relate to the Korean population there. Korea, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Global Ministries work in Myanmar. There is thus the need for data sharing and coordination, as opportunities for collaboration abound. Building Trust, Joining Hands While discussed, no decisions were reached in Hong Kong about new locations to start mission activities. Our first platform meeting was mainly for joining in prayer and worship, getting better acquainted and strengthening trust. I think everyone was aware that collaboration is beneficial, possible and necessary. One shining proof is the shared initiative in Cambodia, a partnership that is bringing about an autonomous Methodist Church there. Since 2004, five mission organisations have worked together in this adventure in faith. The new church has more than 150 congregations and about the same number of pastors. The participating sponsors include Global Ministries, the Korean Methodist Church, the Methodist Church in Singapore, the mission agency of the United Methodist Church in France/Switzerland and the World Federation of Chinese Methodist Churches. Bishop Ong of Malaysia said the hope he takes from the conference is for Methodists in Asia to move together in mission synergy: “We want to find where God’s work is being done and to join hands to make it even greater work.” n
Photos courtesy of Thomas Kemper and Global Ministries METHODIST MESSAGE • NOV 2018
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NEWS Celine Low is the Executive (Corporate Communications) at The Boys’ Brigade in Singapore.
A TIME TO GIVE THANKS
Youth BB and GB Officers enjoying a light breakfast together before the Thanksgiving Service.
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he Boys’ Brigade in Singapore (BB) and The Girls’ Brigade Singapore (GB) organised a significant inaugural joint Thanksgiving Service on 20 Oct 2018 at Christalite Methodist Chapel. Over 100 people, including BB and GB Executive Committee Members, Officers and Alumni, attended the momentous occasion. The Right Reverend Terry Kee, President of the National Council of Churches in Singapore and Bishop of The Lutheran Church in Singapore, presided over the service and witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two Brigades.
The signing of the MOU. From left: Mrs Evangeline Chong, GB Brigade Commissioner; Mrs Tay Poh Imm, GB Brigade President; Mr Poh Leong Berg, BB Brigade President; The Right Reverend Terry Kee; Mr Jason Lim, BB Brigade Secretary.
Noting the importance of unity, the MOU focused on the BB and GB Explorers Programme. This community development programme is developed for kindergarten children—both boys and girls—aged five and six in Singapore. During the service, the Right Reverend Terry Kee emphasised that the BB and GB are bound together by a common purpose. He urged the Brigades not to be daunted by differences or challenges they may face but to stand united, strengthening and supporting one another’s ministry. n
Photos courtesy of The Boys’ Brigade in Singapore
NEWS
CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE ASIAN CHURCH ...continued from page 1 Challenges and opportunities for Asian churches The Rev Dr John Chew, the retired eighth archbishop of the Anglican Diocese of Singapore, delivered the keynote address. He reminded his hearers that crisis begets opportunities and posed the question: “What then?” Pointing to the afflictions of the early Christians described in the book of Acts, he underscored that some in the Asian Church will have to undergo great transformation under God’s hand, just as Paul did, in order to be useful. He cautioned against denominationalism, which may make it unclear who is leading the charge. Instead, everyone has responsibility for spreading the gospel—“it is not your church or my church, but the flock that has been bought by the blood of Christ”. One way to win souls is through good works—when we do good to non-Christians, they are more likely to protect the Church. Leadership and its pitfalls The morning of 21 Sep saw Bishop Emeritus Dr Robert Solomon addressing the topic of “The Leader and the Self ”. Bishop Emeritus Solomon pointed out that the unconquered ego is the biggest problem in leadership and highlighted five potential pitfalls in church leadership: • sinful ambition • dangerous entrepreneurship (tendency to pride oneself as a go-getter and a trailblazer) • stardom and celebrity • professionalism (overemphasis on skillsets rather than on character and being right with God) • discouragement, doubt and depression These pitfalls have a common root in the “self ”—when worldly values and perspectives overshadow the imperative to follow God. Possible ways to steer church leaders away from such traps range from a deliberate effort to pursue humility in the case of sinful ambitions, to seeking others’ counsel and encouragement when church leaders feel discouraged or mired in self-doubt and depression. On engaging persons facing same-sex attraction Dr Roland Chia, Chew Hock Hin Professor of Christian Doctrine at Trinity Theological College, was the second plenary speaker. He shared about the Singapore Christian community’s collective efforts to engage with persons facing same-sex attraction. Dr Chia detailed episodes relating to Singapore churches’ engagement with the LGBTQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer) community since 1997. He also presented statistics of responses of public and governmental organisations towards the LGBTQ
The closing service at Tamil Methodist Church.
community’s drive to achieve social recognition, as well as graphs showing the results of the ETHOS Institute for Public Christianity survey of top-of-the-mind issues amongst local Christians concerning LGBTQ issues. A deeper commitment to the Great Commission The Closing Service and farewell lunch was held at Tamil MC at Short Street. The Resident Bishop of the Manila Episcopal Area, Bishop Rodolfo Juan, gave the sermon in place of the new AMC President, Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung, who had to leave for an overseas engagement. Bishop Juan preached on humble obedience to the Lord. He cited the example of Simon Peter who, though a fisherman by trade, took instructions from Jesus, a carpenter, to lower his nets once more after a night of fishing without success. Peter’s obedience was rewarded with a catch so huge that it threatened to sink his boat. Bishop Juan also called for deeper commitment to fulfilling the Great Commission—though it was Jesus’ last command, it has to be the Church’s first priority. The 6th AMC General Assembly will take place in 2021. n The following were elected as the officers of the new AMC Exco: Chairman Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung (Singapore) Vice-Chairman (Clergy) Bishop Chul Lee (Korea) Vice-Chairman (Lay) Mr John Ling (Malaysia) Hon. Secretary Bishop Rodolfo Juan (Philippines – UMC) Assistant Secretary Bishop Subodh Mondal (India) Hon. Treasurer President Lam Sung Che (Hong Kong) Asst Treasurer Bishop Chen Chien Chung (Taiwan) This article has been condensed due to space constraints. Read the full version at http://message.methodist.org.sg.
Photos by Daniel Lie and Jason Woo METHODIST MESSAGE • NOV 2018
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METHODIST MESSAGE, JULY 2013
HOME Kjelti Koh is in her third year at Trinity Theological College (TTC) and the student co-ordinator for this year’s TTC Methodist Students Retreat. She is a member of Charis Methodist Church and currently serves in the youth ministry.
BRINGING METHODISTS, FROM HOME AND ABROAD, TOGETHER
With our gracious host, Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung.
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he annual Methodist Retreat is a way for Methodists, both local and international, to connect with one another and reflect on what makes us distinctly Methodist. It is also a time for the participants to be ministered to, spiritually and emotionally. From 17 to 19 Aug 2018, 53 participants from more than 30 Methodist churches in seven countries got together in Batam to contemplate the theme “One Methodist Church” and the anchoring verse, Ephesians 4:3–6. Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung opened the three-day retreat with an exhortation for each one of us to be a Paul or a Timothy on our journey of serving the Lord and His people. We were reminded that God (and the Church) does not owe us anything, but He will also not short-change us. On the second day, the Rev Dr Daniel Koh shared on the history of the Methodist Church in Singapore, and what the future holds as the three Annual Conferences continue to work towards the vision of becoming one. On the last day, the Rev Dr Wilfred Ho shared on John 21, a passage familiar to many of us who have been called to ministry. He emphasised that God shapes our lives, especially through tough times, often without our realising it. There were also group sharing sessions, experiential and thought-provoking games, and time for individuals to reflect on their personal journey with God. It was heartening to see the close bonds growing among Methodists from Singapore and overseas. n
Games time—“We guessed it and...we won!”
I had been struggling with God over what I had lost since going into full-time ministry and His not giving me what I wanted. Through Bishop’s message, God reminded me that I had chosen to answer His call, and nobody—not even God—owes me anything. I just need to repent and continue to be faithful. —Melody (Cairnhill Methodist Church) I was thankful for the opportunity to meet other members of the Methodist family, especially those outside of Singapore, who shared about the cultures and challenges they faced back home. —Yinhong (Geylang Chinese Methodist Church) The retreat was a time for reflection, relaxation and learning, as well as a reminder about how God works in our lives through godly people and also a world-wide organisation like the Methodist Church. — John (attached to Ang Mo Kio Methodist Church [ETAC]) I hope that we will continue to emphasise the distinctiveness of Wesleyan doctrine and theology, which are not covered much in our theological studies, and yet a precious part of being Methodist. —YuDong Photos courtesy of Trinity Theological College METHODIST MESSAGE • NOV 2018
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Registration at our Columbarium OďŹƒce (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
SOUNDINGS Dr Roland Chia is Chew Hock Hin Professor of Christian Doctrine at Trinity Theological College and Theological and Research Advisor for the Ethos Institute for Public Christianity (http://ethosinstitute.sg).
UNITY, DIVERSITY… EXCLUSION AND
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n the third volume of his Systematic Theology, Methodist theologian Thomas Oden maintains that despite the diversity of its members, the Church remains united in Christ: “in its own forms in specific times and places, living in particular cultures, the [C]hurch always appears sociologically diverse, yet remains in its essential unity (unita essentialis) when viewed theologically—united in Christ its head, unified in one spirit (Eph 4:4), in the unity of one faith (Eph 4:5), which expresses itself in the unity of love.” Oden warns, however, of an “idolatrous overvaluation of unity”, which brings about a “uniformity, a tyrannizing excess superficially imposed unity”. The Church would do well to heed this warning and prevent its dynamic unity from degenerating into a suffocating demand for sameness. But the Church must be wary of the danger of admitting all manners of diversity for the sake of unity, i.e., of allowing the demands of political correctness to dictate the practice of inclusion. The Church should never think that Christian unity, which welcomes diversity, should preclude exclusion. Paul gave this warning to the elders of the Ephesian church: “Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock… I know
Soundings is a series of essays that, like the waves of a sonogram, explore issues in society, culture and the church in light of the gospel and Christian understanding.
that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them” (Acts 20:28–30, NASB). Paul did not say that these false teachers should be countenanced in the name of diversity or for the sake of unity. Rather, “they must be silenced, because they are disrupting whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach…” (Titus 1:11, NIV). In the third century, Dionysius, Bishop of Rome, condemned modalism as heresy because it taught that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in the godhead were not distinct persons but different modes of God’s revelation. In the same way, the Council of Nicaea (AD 325) condemned Arianism—which taught that the Son is only a creature, and therefore not co-equal and co-eternal with the Father—as a heresy. The Church does not countenance some forms of behaviour in the name of diversity and inclusion. Paul repeatedly exhorted Christians to shun the sinful passions of their carnal nature and to yield to the Holy Spirit who resides in them (Col 3:1–15). Excommunication is a form of church discipline that has become extinct in many evangelical churches today. Paul had no difficulties with the excommunication of an unrepentant and defiant sinner, as in the case of the member of the Corinthian church who had committed incest (1 Cor 5). Neither did he have any qualms about excluding from Christian fellowship the schismatic who refused to heed repeated warnings by church leaders (Titus 3:10). Tertullian, the third century Latin theologian, describes the gravity of excommunication: “For judgment is passed, and it carries great weight, as it must among men certain that God sees them; and it is a notable foretaste of judgment to come, if any man has so sinned to be banished from all share of our prayer, our assembly, and all holy intercourse.” The practice of exclusion is required in the Church because Christian unity is not premised on the modern politics of inclusion, but on Christ and the Church’s faith in Him. Genuine Christian unity can grow only in the soil of the truth of the Gospel. n References Oden, Thomas. Spirit of Life.Vol. 3, Systematic Theology. New York: Harper Collins, 1994. Tertullian. Apology. Edited by Gerald Henry Randall and Walter Charles Allan Kerr. Translated by T. R. Glover. Loeb Classical Library 250. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1966.
Picture by Rawpixel.com/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • NOV 2018
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BOOK REVIEW The Rev Dr Lorna Khoo is serving as a pastor with Holland Village Methodist Church.
TWELVE WHYS OF WORSHIP
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hile liturgical worship received a boost from interdenominational exchanges during the late 20th century, another shift in worship culture occurred in the opposite direction. The modern “seeker-friendly”, “contemporary” movements downplay the former’s more formal structured style, prolong singing and ministry time, and give prominence to the congregation’s “felt needs”. The Rev Dr Jeffrey A. Truscott is concerned that if done without sufficient thought, the proverbial valued baby could be thrown out with the bathwater. Remembering is important for the understanding, reception and practice of the Christian faith. Traditional worship rituals help us do these well. Truscott’s book covers the various key components of liturgical worship from “The Call to Worship” to “The Benediction”. He fleshes out their purpose and significance, examines issues linked with each segment, and provides questions for reflection and action. I deeply appreciate Truscott’s • emphasis on God-centredness in worship. While “hospitality” (the welcoming of people) is important, it should not take away the priority of getting people to focus on God as they gather. Furthermore, singing is not merely for pandering to one’s intellect or emotions. Nor should it feed one’s narcissism. • p oint about needing other people in relating to God. We do not worship in private cocoons. Truscott says: “While it is true that we can confess our sins to God in private and ask for God’s forgiveness, we cannot absolve ourselves; somebody else has to do that for us in God’s name… I trust the Word not just because it is spoken by another, but because the Word of absolution comes to me as God’s own promise of forgiveness through a fellow Christian.” • r eminder to honour Scripture by its reverential (and trained) reading. Too often in our Protestant church services, scriptures are read with a “let’s get over it” attitude as the “support” for the sermon—words are poorly pronounced, pauses are not observed, voice quality is disregarded. • v alue placed on the public affirmation of the Creed. I wish Truscott had referred more to the concerted thrust to make the Church’s most universally accepted creed—the Nicene Creed—the key instrument for affirming the unity that all churches share in Christ.
Twelve Whys of Worship: How All the Actions of Our Worship Glorify God by Jeffrey A. Truscott Published by Armour Publishing (2018), 168 pages http://www.armourpublishing.com $ 20.00 (before GST) Enjoy 20% off the price of Twelve Whys of Worship by using the discount code METHODIST_NOV at the webstore’s checkout page (valid from 1–30 Nov 2018).
• s ubstantial discussion of the Lord’s Supper. Since different denominations have different emphases regarding Holy Communion, we should reflect on our denomination’s understanding and practice while reading this chapter. For instance, the Wesley’s held firm views about and had great experiences of Christ’s presence at this sacrament. Healings and supernatural encounters were known to take place. Truscott’s book is an extremely rich and readable resource. I fully recommend it. n
Book cover visual courtesy of Armour Publishing METHODIST MESSAGE • NOV 2018
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SECONDARY ONE 2019 Admissions Now Open
ACS (International) Singapore is a distinctive international secondary school open to all Singaporeans & other nationalities, offering an all-round 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).
Post-PSLE Information Sessions
22 & 23 November 2018 11am, 3pm & 4:30pm
24 November 2018 9:45am
61 Jalan Hitam Manis, Singapore 278475
Mr Rob Burrough Principal
Mr Gavin Kinch Vice Principal
Mrs Tan Siew Hoon Vice Principal
Dr Kristopher Achter Vice Principal
For more information Please contact Joseph Ng or Serene Lim at +65 6472 1477 or admission@acsinternational.edu.sg
Building Through Belief, this school of choice provides
• Exceptional examination results, very strong value-added achievement and an all-round holistic education • 50:50 mix of local and international teachers who uphold the dual Methodist ethos and ACS heritage • Small class sizes with overall student-teacher ratio of 8.7 : 1 • 40 different CCAs – 16 Sporting, 12 Visual and Performing Arts, 12 Special Interest Groups • Over 25 overseas trips per year • Over 200 formal student leadership positions • Scholarships for 4 Singaporeans to undertake the IBDP
Achievements include
• Students with perfect score of 45 points • 19 “Top in the World” awards in IGCSE examinations over each of the past eight years • Students accepted to Oxford and Cambridge universities for the past eight years • Admissions to top universities in the UK, the US, Australia and Singapore • PSLE and Singapore GCE ‘O’ Level students achieve outstanding value-added examination results for the IBDP with improved pathways to good universities • Successes at national level this year in Archery, Touch Rugby, Cycling, Swimming, Chinese Drama, Debating, Fencing, Football, Golf, String Orchestra, Taekwondo, Volleyball and Wushu
What the parents say…
“ACS (International) ignites students' passion to learn through building strong relationships with deeply devoted and highly experienced teachers and excellent pedagogic and sporting infrastructure. The school has achieved a fine blend of academic rigour and holistic learning. The emphasis on CCAs and community service as well as the ample opportunities for student leadership makes ACS (International) a 'cut above' and the preferred choice for our children.” Larisa and Shivinder Singh “Sending our daughter to ACS (International) was the best decision we made. She used to be shy and introverted and has now become a confident, caring and motivated student leader.” Debra and Samuel Koh “We deeply appreciate the contribution ACS (International) has made towards making our son confident, capable and thoughtful. The school has provided an environment of personal care, support and encouragement to nurture him into a compassionate young man. We are also very proud of his academic, leadership, co-curricular and public speaking skill development.” Anju Uppal “We like the holistic learning environment of ACS (International). Apart from academics, the school gives the students plenty of learning opportunities outside the walls of the classroom through service trips in continents as far as Africa, school projects and events, CCAs, student leadership roles and more. Our children thoroughly enjoy the IB programme, the holistic environment of the school, and are very proud to be students of ACS (International). The school has helped our children to grow and mature in so many ways, whilst equipping them with the necessary skills needed for their university studies and future endeavours. We are very glad to have sent both of our children to ACS (International).” Steven and Pau Kim Kan
LOOKING AHEAD CHEN SU LAN METHODIST CHILDREN’S HOME FLAG DAY
2 1 Nov 2018 (Wednesday). Shifts: 9.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m. / 1.00 p.m. to 5.00 p.m. / 5.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m. http://www.cslmch.org.sg info@cslmch.org.sg 6713-9150
Scan here to see events online!
Chen Su Lan Methodist Children’s Home (CSLMCH) is celebrating 50 years of providing care, shelter and love to children and youth whose families have difficulties in providing them with a safe and nurturing environment this year. Come be a part of its very first flag day to help raise funds to support the healing and nurturing of every child to their fullest potential and creating awareness about CSLMCH. Show your support for the cause by signing up to be a volunteer, pledging a donation, or sharing with others about this event. Every effort you put in makes a difference in the lives of the children at CSLMCH! Organised by CSLMCH.
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For more information about volunteering, please contact Ms Phyllis Phua at 6713-9156 or phyllis@cslmch.org.sg by 31 Oct 2018. For corporate sponsors, please contact Ms Cheryl Tan at 6713-9157 or cheryl@cslmch.org.sg.
GYM-TRAC SENIORS MINISTRY CHRISTMAS CAROLLING SERVICE: WHAT MY TRUE LOVE GAVE TO ME 12 Dec 2018 (Wednesday), 2.30 p.m. Faith Methodist Church, 400 Commonwealth Drive, S(149604) 64784754 (Priscilla Low at the TRAC office) Free. Registration is required for catering purposes. Please register by 18 Nov 2018.
Come and join us as we sing Christmas carols and experience the LOVE of God through the presentation of skits and dance items. Based on the song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas”, the “true love” refers to that from God Himself, and the “me” who receives presents to every believer of the Christian faith.
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Organised by TRAC Seniors Ministry.
FAITH COMMUNITY CARNIVAL 2018
21 to 23 Dec 2018 (Friday to Sunday). Fri: 4.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m., Sat to Sun: 9.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m. Open Field along Commonwealth Drive, with night performances at: Faith Methodist Church, 400 Commonwealth Drive, S(149604) https://www.fcc.faithmc.sg/ mail@faithmc.sg 6471-9420
Drop by Faith MC’s Christmas celebrations where there will be much fun, games and fellowship! • Christmas Production The Nativity story in performance, dance and song. Held at Faith Methodist Church on 21 and 22 Dec, 7.30 p.m. • Talent Show Watch the talent within our community strut their stuff and compete live! • Fun Carnival Stuff Games, food, services and workshops for all ages. • Gastronomia Dinner on us on Friday and Saturday night at Faith Methodist Church. For carnival participants only. • Community Workout Followed by the Official Carnival Opening Ceremony.
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Organised by Faith Methodist Church and FaithActs.
TOA PAYOH METHODIST CHURCH CHRISTMAS MARKET
22 to 23 Dec 2018 (Saturday to Sunday), 5.00 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. Toa Payoh Central Amphitheatre, 181A Lorong 4 Toa Payoh, S(319191) http://www.tpmc.org.sg fb.com/ToaPayohMC info@tpmc.org.sg 6259-8644
Celebrate Christmas with Toa Payoh Methodist Church and bless the community there with a Christmas Market. Mark your calendars now and participate by giving, serving and praying. Volunteer at http://www.tinyurl.com/ loc2018recruit.
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Organised by Toa Payoh Methodist Church.
METHODIST MESSAGE • NOV 2018
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HOME Marcia Vanderstraaten is general pen-pusher at both the Methodist Schools' Foundation (MSF) and the MCS Education Secretariat. She sometimes writes plays.
A PERANAKAN DINNER WITH FRIENDS
(Clockwise from top left) The dinner crowd dances to Peranakan Sayang’s performance. Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung on the accordion. The dinner committee (from left to right): Mrs Joni Ong (chairman of MSF), Mrs Sim Suh-Ting, Mrs Julie Gan, Mr Jimmie Tay and Ms Eunice Goh. The choir from Fairfield Methodist School (Primary).
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n the evening of Friday, 28 Sep, the MSF filled the Concorde Hotel ballroom with music, laughter and the irresistible aroma of Peranakan cuisine, all in the name of fund-raising for our Methodist schools.
Peranakan Sayang, a home-grown professional singing group, rounded off the evening’s entertainment. They got the audience on their feet, dancing and singing along to mashups of Malay folk songs with contemporary pop tunes.
The night began with a short thanksgiving worship time led by Peter Sim and Andrew Lim from Barker Road Methodist Church. The guests were treated to two lovely performances by Fairfield Methodist School (Primary): a skit portraying the beginnings of the school with eight little Peranakan girls, and a choral ensemble item featuring Peranakan favourites “Rasa Sayang” and “Lenggang Kangkong”. Fairfield students Andrea Ralls and Elijah Yam were delightful as emcees.
It was truly heartwarming to spend an evening in the good company of more than 350 guests, for a cause as important as the education of our future generations of Christians.
The surprise of the night was Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung taking to the stage with his accordion and sixpiece band! Bishop Dr Chong has been a MSF Board member since his days as President of the Chinese Annual Conference. Bishop’s Baba Band (BBB) regaled the audience with more classics like “Burung Kakatua” and “Chan Mali Chan”.
On top of the ticket sales, a silent auction of of Peranakan ware and donations collected during the evening saw MSF raise almost $250,000 in total. These funds will be invested, with the income derived to be distributed among the 16 Methodist schools to support building projects, equipment purchases, and financial assistance for needy students. If you would like to contribute to MSF’s work, do look out for our upcoming Envelope Project in December 2018. Every donation counts, and we are grateful for each and every gift. n
Photos courtesy of Mr Gan Eng Khoon and the Methodist Schools’ Foundation