Methodist Message: September 2019

0129-6868MCI MCI (P) ISSNISSN 0129-6868 (P)019/11/2017 057/11/2018

Vol 121 No 9 • SEP 2019

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Bishop Chong writes What does it mean to be #blessed?

CAC Highlights Methodist Youths Ekklesia

Methodist Missions Society Bringing a taste of Singapore to Laos

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NEWS Ng Zhiwen worships at Zion Bishan Bible-Presbyterian Church, and has been seconded to Singapore Centre for Global Mission (SCGM), where he serves in the area of missions research and missions mobilisation. His passion is to see a church united for God’s mission.

JOIN THE MICAH CONVERSATION Tan Peck Yin The Conversation was attended by ~250 persons from 100 churches, of whom a quarter were from 18 Methodist Churches.

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ogether in God’s Mission—this was Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung’s call to the Church in the May 2019 issue of Methodist Message.

And those who came for the Micah Conversation, which was held from 19 to July 2019 at Covenant Presbyterian Church, are now clearer about what it means to be a follower and witness of Jesus Christ, to proclaim the Good News—about Jesus the Saviour and King of all creation, and to live the (truly) Good Life: • to view our Sundays and weekdays as merely different arenas in which we live out the integrated Christian life; • of pouring out sacrificial love for our neighbours— including the poor and marginalised; people of all races and religions (involving reconciliation and peace-making

work). That in loving our neighbour, we love God; • of practising true hospitality, that the Church will be the first and the last resort for those in need; • of living out Kingdom values in our workplaces—even when it means going counter-cultural against the fear, greed, injustice and corruption of “the system”; • of engaging the powers-that-be for good. Not a violation of the separation of religion and state, but about infusing the authorities with values that truly make for human flourishing; • of practising good stewardship in our care of creation; • that as difficult and painful it may be and requiring so much wisdom, it is good and profoundly liberating; • that in the process of living like this, we show the world that there is a new world coming, that the rightful and righteous King of everything is returning.

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COMING UP

ETHOS ANNUAL SEMINARIES CONFERENCE 2019

DEI VERBUM: THE BIBLE IN CHURCH AND SOCIETY

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he Bible has shaped society for centuries—influencing language, art and culture across nations. The Word also remains as the only inerrant and infallible source of authority in the Church.

In partnership with eight seminaries and Bible colleges (ACTS College; the Baptist Theological Seminary; the Biblical Graduate School of Theology; East Asia School of Theology; Singapore Bible College; TCA College; and Trinity Theological College), the ETHOS 4th Annual Seminaries Conference will discuss the role and relevance of the Bible in Church and society.

Join our speakers as they explore topics such as “Scripture as God’s Word”, “Scripture and Tradition”, “Scripture and Worship” and “Scripture and Society”.

Papers presented at the conference will also be published in the ETHOS Engagement Series. n Dei Verbum: The Bible in Church and Society 28 Sep 2019 (Saturday) 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Bible House (Level 5) 7 Armenian St, S(179932) https://ethosinstitute.sg/deiverbum info@ethosinstitute.sg 6304-3765 (Florence Kang) Admission is free Event visuals courtesy of Trinity Theological College

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.

Design & Production SNAP! Creative Pte Ltd Printer A&D Printhub Pte Ltd

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

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 from 2008 to 2016.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE #BLESSED?

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he word “blessing” is a very rich word. Everyone hopes to be blessed, but everyone may have a different idea as to what counts as blessings.

Most people will feel blessed if they have wealth, health, education, a successful career, a loving marriage, a harmonious family and so on. Of course, this is blessedness that most people—Christians and non-Christians alike— seek after. There is nothing wrong with that, but these desires are difficult to satisfy fully and often do not last.

In reality, it is also rare to have it all. There is a Chinese saying: “trouble does not come singly and blessings don’t come in pairs”. And this kind of “blessing” is contingent on it being in the present continuous tense. If the situation and time is changed, the blessing is over, then one will feel that he is the most unfortunate person on earth. Thus to be a blessed person, the blessing must last.

In the New Testament, the original Greek word for “blessing” is makarios, which means happy and blissful.

Bible scholars say that this kind of blessing is selfcontained. Even if the situation changes, the happy and blissful feeling continues.

The most well-known New Testament passage about blessings is the Sermon on the Mount in the gospel of Matthew: “blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted; blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth…” To be poor in spirit, mournful, meek, hungry and thirsty for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, persecuted for righteousness’ sake—these are blessings that Jesus referred to as makarios.

All these are within reach of everyone and these will last.

The only thing is no one understands such blessings.

“Blessing” in Chinese—祝福—is actually a prayer, a supplication, to some higher being that blessing may come upon another person.

So in Chinese, when I bless you, it means that I am praying or making a supplication to God in heaven that He will give you blessings. In Chinese, it is not possible to say, “Let’s bless the Lord”. If the word “bless” means a prayer, then to bless the Lord, we would have to pray to an even higher being to give blessings to the Lord.

So a better explanation of the phrase “bless the Lord” is “praise the Lord”. The word “bless” or “praise” appear frequently in the psalms in the Hebrew bible and mean to prostrate oneself or to kneel. These are common postures taken by the Israelites during worship, to express their praise and reverent worship of Jehovah God. Thus to “bless” the Lord is to “praise and worship” Him! What does it mean to be blessed? According to what is laid out in the Sermon on the Mount, those who are blessed are also those who bless others.

This is exactly what Jehovah God said to Abraham in his promise, “And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing” (Gen 12:2). If we want to be blessed, remember that we must first bless others or be a blessing to others. n

Picture by Tinnakorn/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • SEP 2019

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CHURCH PROFILE Dolly Leong is the communications coordinator at Bukit Panjang Methodist Church.

BUKIT PANJANG METHODIST CHURCH:

GIVING THANKS BPMC in 1938.

BPMC in 2019.

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ur church began humbly with a small congregation that worshipped in a charcoal shop in Bukit Panjang. It has since grown to 1000 members, and the Bukit Panjang Methodist Church (BPMC) family has so much to thank God for. .

On 2 June 2019, our six congregations came together for our 82nd Church Anniversary Thanksgiving Service, which was even more special than past thanksgiving services because we also consecrated and dedicated our newly-renovated building.

Some of the items to be placed into the time capsule.

We had undertaken the massive task of renovating our church building because of our desire to expand God’s kingdom. Firstly, we did it for the children. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these” (Matt 9:14, NIV). Our kindergarten is now better equipped, more conducive for learning, and MOE–SPARK ready. We pray that the family members of these children will also come to know our Lord.

Secondly, with the completion of the Downtown Line 2, Hillview MRT Station is at our doorstep, bringing with it an increased number of worshippers, whom we want to welcome and accommodate with our renovated building.

Our renovated kindergarten.

Now that our physical structure is ready, we pray for God’s continued blessings so that our BPMC family can continue to move as one to move towards our common goal. n

The BPMC family with our special guest, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan (second row, centre, in light blue).

Unveiling of the dedication plaque. From left to right: the Rev Poh Heow Lee, the Rev Dr Gregory Goh Nai Lat, Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung, Mr Wong Liang Fuh, Dr Stephen Yeo Khiang Nguan, the Rev Yeung Hin Fai, the Rev Lek Yong Teck.

The story of BPMC in a time capsule Different ministries of BPMC contributed meaningful items to be placed inside a time capsule to memoralise our heritage, such as: a cross with message (by Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung); a handwritten note (by special guest Dr Vivian Balakrishnan); a letter (by LCEC Chairman Dr Stephen Yeo); old photos and photo albums; a Hokkien hymnal; and scrapbooks made by our youths.

Eighteen years from now, when we celebrate our 100th anniversary, we will open the time capsule and share our church’s heritage and history with those who have come after us.

A peek inside the time capsule.

VISION

Each One Reach One— Becoming an authentic disciple-making church

MISSION

Bukit Panjang Methodist Church (Chinese Annual Conference) 488 Upper Bukit Timah Road, S(678091) (church office) 496 Upper Bukit Timah Road, S(678099) (sanctuary) English Services: 4.30 p.m. every Saturday (496 WOW Hall, Level 2) 9.00 a.m. every Sunday (496 Sanctuary) 11.00 a.m. every Sunday (496 WOW Hall, Level 2) Mandarin Services: 9.30 a.m. every Sunday (488 Sanctuary) Lishi Worship Service: 9.30 a.m. every Sunday (488 Chapel, Level 3) Children Worship Services (Mandarin): 9.30 a.m. every Sunday (488 #03-01) Hokkien Service: 11.30 a.m. every Sunday (488 Sanctuary) http://www.bpmc.org.sg/ church@bpmc.org.sg 6760-1998

Deeply devoted intentional disciples of Jesus, finishing the Great Commission in our lifetime.

METHODIST MESSAGE • SEP 2019

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ONE MCS—CAC HIGHLIGHTS By the CAC President’s Office, CAC Board of Youth Ministry

METHODIST YOUTHS EKKLESIA

The Singapore delegation at WFCMC.

Dr Leow Theng Huat, MYLC speaker.

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he CAC Board of Youth Ministry (BOYM) participated in two youth conferences in June 2019.

Praise God for these wonderful opportunities for an ekklesia of Methodist youths to come together to worship God. CAC Methodist Young Leaders’ Conference 2019 The CAC Methodist Young Leader’s Conference (MYLC) was held from 21 to 23 June 2019 in Johor Bahru. Built on the theme “The World is My Parish”, the conference was the third instalment of a four-year MYLC series in connecting and coaching our young leaders in establishing our Methodist identity.

This year’s conference was spearheaded by Bukit Panjang Methodist Church Ministry Staff Mak Sue Ann and CAC Pastor Jasper Ngoh, under the advice of the BOYM Chairperson, the Rev Irman Halim. Dr Leow Theng Huat, a lecturer from Trinity Theological College, was the conference speaker.

Dr Leow unpacked the meaning and context of Wesley’s well-known declaration, “the world is my parish”, and challenged our young leaders to live out this Wesleyan ethos within our different spheres of influence. There are barriers that deter us from treating the world as our parish—such as election; time and space; and Gnosticism—as well as Biblical and theological truths to overcome these barriers.

Methodist youths should see themselves as co-workers of Christ, created by God in His image to co-work with Him by His grace. Dr Leow challenged youths to see the church beyond the confines of each local congregation, and beyond Christianity as a private spiritual matter.

May all Methodist young leaders regain the “world parish” mentality of John Wesley, with every facet of our lives presenting opportunities for Christian ministry.

Youths in prayer at MYLC.

WFCMC 9th Young Leaders Conference 2019 The World Federation of Chinese Methodist Churches (WFCMC), of which CAC is a member, held their 9th Young Leaders Conference from 27 June to 1 July 2019 in Hong Kong with about 350 delegates in attendance. CAC is proud to have led a delegation of more than 20 Methodists to represent Singapore at the conference.

Over the five days, the term “ekklesia” was explained to the youths through a series of talks. Youths from different conferences forged meaningful friendships through group sharing and valuable fellowship, and built friendships over fun events such as a cultural night. On the third day of the conference, CAC President, the Rev Dr Gregory Goh, spoke on two topics: “Understanding, Treasuring and Passing On Our Tradition” and “Continuation of Traditions Toward Our Spiritual Life”.

We praise God for the wonderful friendships forged and meaningful conversations shared throughout the conference! We thank our hosts, the Methodist Church in Hong Kong, for a well-organised conference, and continue to pray with our brothers and sisters in Hong Kong that peace may be with the city. n

Photos courtesy of WFCMC Facebook and the CAC Board of Youth Ministry..

WELFARE SERVICES By the Methodist Welfare Services (MWS) Communications Team

IT TAKES A CHURCH

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e are often told that poor people are poor because they make bad decisions. But have you ever thought that perhaps they make bad decisions because they are poor?

An NUS study of families on an MWS-initiated debt relief programme called GOOD (Getting Out of Debt) showed that the mental stress of chronic debt/poverty hurts a person's ability to think clearly and make good decisions.

In a country as developed as ours, we find it hard to imagine a family struggling to pay for basic necessities like three square meals, school fees, medical care, or even rental for a roof over their heads. For one in five households in Singapore, that is their reality, and it will take multiple generations for their family to break out of the poverty cycle, if at all.

Helping can be simple. A gift of only $1 a day or $30 a month can help families break out of the cycle of poverty. As Proverbs 3:27 says, “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.” There is strength in numbers and, together, we can help break the chains of poverty.

To donate online, please visit mws.sg/break-poverty-cycle or scan the QR code. n MWS Charity Ball—All Jazzed Up! Our inaugural gala will be taking place at Ritz-Carlton Millennia Singapore on 28 Oct 2019 in support of all the 20 centres and programmes under the care of Methodist Welfare Services. Join us for an evening of lively and captivating jazz performances while enjoying a unique gastronomic experience among good company.

One of them is Ling’s1 family. She was diagnosed with cancer in 2010, and declared medically unfit for work, leaving her husband as the sole breadwinner for a family of six. Money woes led to marital conflicts, which in turn affected the children. When Ling came under MWS’ care, apart from receiving support through casework and counselling, her family was also placed on the MWS Family Development programme that empowered them to save for their future.

With improved finances and stability, Ling’s relationship with her husband and children strengthened, and she was also able to focus on her recovery.

We see many families like Ling’s. They often feel so trapped by their circumstances and cannot see a way out. You can give them hope again.

Scan the QR code to take part in our celebration of life!

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Not her real name.

Visual courtesy of Methodist Welfare Services METHODIST MESSAGE • SEP 2019

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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, received in 2011, and is a member of Kampong Kapor Methodist Church.

MANAGING OUR SEXUAL DESIRES N

oting both the Old and New Testaments mention sexual sin, a client remarked, “Why is there so much sex in the Bible?”

The Bible does talk about the dangers of sexual sin, sometimes mentioning it together with the command to be faithful to God. Both are a call to holiness. They speak about being true to God and to our spouses. I believe our commitment to our spouses is meant to mirror, in a small and earthly way, our commitment to God. So how do we manage sexual urges and remain true to one significant other? We must refer to the Owner’s manual and the Designer’s specifications. If you try using a blender as a coffee maker, you will of course encounter difficulties.

The recently launched book, Men for Christ: Living out Our Faith, Vol II 1 includes a transcript of a talk I gave on “Mastering our Sexual Desires” last year. I would like to offer three suggestions to complement what was written in the book. The letters ABC summarise the points.

A stands for “Authentic Intimacy”. All of us crave intimacy but some may have a wrong or incomplete understanding of it. For example, some men equate emotional intimacy with sexual intimacy. They wrongly think that physical intimacy can lead to emotional and relational closeness.

Relationships based mainly on physical attraction tend to have shallow roots and may be short-lived.

Authentic intimacy takes time to develop. Once there, it stands the test of trials and hardships. Authentic intimacy is about being vulnerable and allowing our significant other to meet our innermost needs. Such mutual vulnerability happens only in a trusting and loving relationship.

B stands for “Beyond the Body”. We are more than just nerve endings, electrical brain impulses and hormonal urges. A purely biological model depicts us as slaves to our sexual desires, with no option but to act on them. It also holds that humankind is wired to procreate, and thus attracted to the opposite gender who offers the best chance to produce genetically “good” offspring.

However, we are more than mere biological organisms—we are moral beings capable of making responsible choices in how we live. And after our bodies die, we will bear the consequences of the choices made in this life.

C stands for “Community”. When faced with the challenge of managing our sexual desires, we may well need to rely on the support of others. Men who have faced or are facing similar challenges can help encourage and keep a watchful eye over one another. This is a community not of the perfect nor of individuals who have neither felt tempted nor stumbled. Rather, it is a community of “veterans” in a battle that carries on till our fallible human bodies give way to our perfect and permanent form.

You may notice that a common thread in all three points is to view our human desires, sexual self and relationships very differently from how they may be presented by the world.

Having a clear understanding that sexual desires are part and parcel of the way God made us and that they have a place and purpose in our lives goes a long way in helping us manage them. n 1

o Peng Kee, Jeffrey Hong, Siew Kim Siang, and Yeo Siew Yam, eds., Men for H Christ: Living out Our Faith, Vol. II (Singapore: Graceworks, 2019).

Picture by arekmalang/Bigstock.com

MISSIONS Victor Wee and Sheryl Teo are members of Wesley Methodist Church.

BRINGING A TASTE OF SINGAPORE TO LAOS Sharing love the Singapore way—through food!

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n 6 June 2019, a group of 15 church members and friends aged between 44 and 81 left Singapore on a mission to Vientiane to help at the Singapore Fair at Singapore Mission School (SMS).

At SMS, we had the opportunity to watch its graduation concert. Seventy students, aged between three and 11, sang, danced and put up a skit in English.

The next day, in preparation for the Singapore Fair, we packed items for sale, put up stall decorations and arranged furniture. The principal, teachers and students were also caught up with the final preparations. It was the first time the school was organising such a major event, to which some 700 guests were invited.

On the morning of the fair, we arrived early and set up our four stalls. There were also other food and drink stalls set up by teachers, as well as games and activities to entertain the children.

At 10 a.m., guests began arriving. The Singapore Ambassador, Dominic Goh, officiated the opening of the fair. Senior officials from the Lao Ministry of Education and Sports also graced the occasion. When the fair ended at 3 p.m., we had sold most of what we had brought from Singapore! We also thank God for the occasional breezes that sustained us through the very warm day.

The money raised by the fair, as well as donations, will go towards funding school programmes and purchasing teaching resource kits.

The next day, we enjoyed a vibrant worship service at a local church, even though it was largely conducted in Lao. We performed a song item, “This Is the Day”, in English and Thai.

The Singapore Ambassador, Dominic Goh (left), with a Lao senior official.

We are grateful for the fair’s success and the unity of our team. It was truly by God’s grace and power that we managed to achieve our mission. n A version of this article was first published in the August 2019 issue of Wesley TIDINGS. “Everyone played a part and complemented one another.

Although some of us were first-time trippers, through the Holy Spirit at work amongst us, everyone worked as a team.”—Edward Leong “I was very encouraged by the team’s cooperativeness and love. In particular, I was especially encouraged by Dr Aw, who is 81. There are many people in our congregation who think they are too old to be involved in missions— Dr Aw has proven otherwise.”—Ellyn Chay “It was a lovely experience. I thank the Lord because we worked hard, wanting the fair to be a success, but there were three things we could not control—the weather, the turnout and everyone’s safety. I’m very thankful all went well.”— Dr Eileen Aw About the Singapore Mission School Set up in 2014 by a Singaporean couple in the Laotian capital, the school aims to provide a holistic education in English and Lao for the local children, so that they will have a strong moral, mental and educational foundation to positively influence their community and country in the future. The school welcomes teachers from Singapore who can contribute their expertise and time. If you’re keen to find out more about short and long-term opportunities at the school, please email mms@methodist.org.sg.

Photographs courtesy of Selina Teo METHODIST MESSAGE • SEP 2019

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ONE MCS—IDENTITY AND DESTINY This is an excerpt from a speech that Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung delivered to the leaders at the Laity Session on 17 Aug 2019.

WE ARE NOT YET READY, SO THE WORK MUST CONTINUE

Listening to Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung speak at the Laity session on 17 Aug 2019.

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n the previous issue of Methodist Message, it was reported that we are not ready at the present time for a one-Conference MCS.

What all the efforts in these past months have highlighted to the leadership is that much preparatory work is still needed at ground level. The current structure has been in place for more than 40 years. Since then, the Ministry of Education has closed all mother tongue schools. English is now used in 36 of our local churches across the three conferences. Mandarin and dialects are used in 32 local churches (16 each in TRAC and CAC), and Tamil worship and ministries are also found in all three conferences. Land use laws have affected the pace of church planting. Our average church growth between 2006 and 2016 was 2.5 per cent per annum; between 2016 and 2018 it was 1 per cent per annum. We have become an institution so large it takes us many meetings to come to finalise decisions.

Continuing to build on missional unity Missional unity is a key strategy in church growth, given the words of John 17:21 (NIV)—“that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me”. To John Wesley, this means keeping to our articles of faith and our connexion, and it also means we value our

diversity based on culture, age, experiences and contexts that we may reach out to others.

With different cultural backgrounds and developmental history among the three Annual Conferences, missional unity is what God will use to demonstrate the power of the cross. The less division, the more collaboration, the stronger the church, the clearer that others will see Christ.

Against such a background, since the beginning of the year, the Structural Review Task Force has established 12 Work Groups (WGs) covering various administrative and ministry aspects. They comprise board members, local ministry staff and members from the different Annual Conferences and have been tasked to: 1. Identify the strengths and weaknesses of the current boards in the Annual Conferences and how these are helpful to the ministries or administration of the Local Churches.

2. Identify the crying needs of the Local Churches and how an integrated Council or cross-conference collaboration may bring greater good for the Local Churches and MCS as a whole.

Continued on page 22...

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.

GOD OF THE SPARROW, GOD OF THE WHALE T

he beauty of God’s creation is beyond human comprehension. But with our senses, we can see, feel, smell, hear and even taste the goodness of nature—this what the Lord our Maker has given us to enjoy. How can we not sing about this gift?

There are a few hymns about creation in The United Methodist Hymnal (UMH). One that is unique both in text and tune is “God of the Sparrow, God of the Whale” (UMH 122).

Michael Hawn points to the lack of punctuation and rhyme in the text of the hymn, and opines that “to the singer this creates a sense of openness—a text that is not bound by the conventional patterns of poetry”.1 Jaroslav J. Vajda wrote the text to the hymn in 1983 with his insight that we, as creatures and as children of God, ought to respond to our creator with love as an expression of gratitude.2 The hymn has six stanzas. Each begins with three lines that describe who God is. These are followed by two rhetorical questions, each asking how the creature should respond.

The first stanza presents the wonder and beauty of nature where the creature’s response is to praise. The second talks about natural calamities.

The third stanza brings in hope symbolised by the rainbow and grace symbolised by the grave. The creature’s response is thanksgiving. The fourth stanza speaks of humanity that is not perfect. The creature’s response is to take care of life. The fifth stanza further notes the challenges that the creature may face but, no matter what, the response is love and peace. The question is, how? How are all these responses expressed? How do we care, or say love and peace? How do we say “home”?

In the final stanza, God is depicted as loving and timeless. It is interesting to note that the creature is now a child. While we are creatures enjoying the wonders of this creation, we are also God’s children, loved by Him. Our response then comes with how we understand this image of God in us and how we are to live that in the creation we enjoy. n

. Michael Hawn, “History of Hymns: ‘God of the Sparrow’,” Discipleship Ministries, The United C Methodist Church, https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-god-of-thesparrow.

2 Carlton Young, ed., Companion to the United Methodist Hymnal (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 1992), 371.

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God of the Sparrow, God of the Whale (UMH 122) God of the Sparrow God of the sparrow God of the whale God of the whirling stars How does the creature say Awe How does the creature say Praise God of the earthquake God of the storm God of the trumpet blast How does the creature cry Woe How does the creature cry Save God of the rainbow God of the cross God of the empty grave How does the creature say Grace How does the creature say Thanks God of the hungry God of the sick God of the prodigal How does the creature say Care How does the creature say Life God of the neighbour God of the foe God of the pruning hook How does the creature say Love How does the creature say Peace God of the ages God near at hand God of the loving heart How do your children say joy How do your children say Home Words: Jaroslav J. Vajda, 1983 Music: Carl F. Schalk Picture by Syed F Abbas/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • SEP 2019

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NEWS Sheri Goh is the Editor of Methodist Message.

EAGLES LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE 2019:

GRACE IN A HOSTILE WORLD

Philip Yancey at the Eagles Leadership Conference.

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

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hat is grace?

Bestselling Christian writer Philip Yancey was the keynote speaker at the recent Eagles Leadership Conference (ELC). Yancey, author of numerous books, including What’s So Amazing About Grace? and Vanishing Grace, summed up grace thus: “There is nothing we can do to make God love us more. And there is nothing we can do to make God love us less.”

At a masterclass during the conference at Suntec Convention Centre from 25 to 27 July, Yancey reminded delegates that God has entrusted followers of Christ with the responsibility to dispense grace to a hostile world. He pointed to Apostle Paul’s “See to it that no one misses the grace of God” (Heb 12:15) and reiterated, “It’s our job.”

Warnings to leaders This ninth run of the biennial ELC was attended by 1,300 pastors and leaders from 20 countries, mostly from Asian countries where Christians are a minority.

Highlighting Paul’s warning that we struggle against “the powers of this dark world and the spiritual forces of evil” (Eph 6:12), Yancey cited Mark 9 as an example that the greater threat is from the subtle forces working from the inside, rather than obvious external forces, such as terrorism.

One such internal force is the spirit of faithlessness. Jesus could not perform miracles in His hometown because of “their lack of faith” (Mk 6:5–6, NIV). In contrast, Jesus marvelled at the Roman centurion’s faith, saying “I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith” (Mt 8:10, NIV).

“Ungrace” in a hostile world Yancey began by sharing about dispensing salt and light in a hostile world. “The world runs by what I call ‘ungrace’— you bomb my country, I bomb yours back… The rule of nature is that big animals eat smaller animals.”

Yancey cautioned leaders to be wary of the spirit of competition. He urged the delegates not to measure their successes by the world’s standards, such as their education, salaries or worldliness. “Who are you serving? If you serve God, that’s what counts.”

But there are three kinds of people who, in Yancey’s opinion, are adept at dispensing grace, particularly in a hostile and secular environment—activitists, artists and pilgrims.

Yancey ended his talk by warning against the spirit of division. He shared about a survey which found that two-thirds of churchgoers between 18 and 22 years old had stopped attending church for at least a year mostly because of what they felt was Christians’ hypocritical and judgemental spirit. “Christianity has become divisive. We have a hard time just being grace dispensers to each other, much less to the hostile world.” He referred to the Roman legion’s testudo formation, where the soldiers held their shields in a coordinated arrangement that protected the men from the enemy’s arrows and spears, but only if they moved as a united group. “And that, too, is a lesson for the church—only if we stand together can we fight those spiritual forces.” n

With regard to activists, Yancey quoted Croatian theologian Miroslav Volf, who coined the phrase “hand to heart to head”. He explained: “You reach out with your hand, [do] works of compassion and mercy, and people will wonder why you did that.” And when you share that it is because you are God’s child, people will come to know God. Such an activist is Willy Tan, who was co-speaker with Yancey for the masterclass. Despite being partially blind, Tan gave up a successful career in wealth management to co-found Habibi International, an organisation providing aid and medical and dental care to refugees in the Middle East such as the Yazidis, Kurdish Christians persecuted by the Islamic State (ISIS).

Artists can tell the “Good News-ness” of the gospel across language boundaries, to people who would normally never show up in church on Sunday. And we are all pilgrims who can help show one another the way. “Jesus often used the image of being lost: lost sheep, lost coin, lost son…

Christians aren’t morally superior, they just have a map!”

The Good News, Yancey said, is conveying the joy of being found to those who have not heard it.

About the Eagles Leadership Conference In the 1960s, four teenaged boys—Peter Chao, John Ng, Michael Tan and William Tang—became friends at Anglo-Chinese School and later formed what is now known as Eagles Communications, a company that focuses on leadership, communication development and spiritual formation programmes. The biennial ELC is one of their major events. www.eagles.org.sg; www.eaglesleadershipconference.com

Photo courtesy of the Eagles Communications METHODIST MESSAGE • SEP 2019

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SECONDARY ONE 2020 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 21 November 2019 2pm & 4pm

22 November 2019 10am & 1pm

23 November 2019 10am & 12noon

61 Jalan Hitam Manis, Singapore 278475

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 in IBDP • 20 “Top in the World” awards in IGCSE examinations over each of the past nine 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…

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

“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

NEWS Jason Woo is Methodist Message’s Editorial Executive.

NATIONAL DAY THANKSGIVING SERVICE 2019:

PRAYING FOR THE NATION, PRAYING FOR THE PEOPLE The congregation, singing and thanking God for our nation.

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s Singapore celebrates its 54th year of independence, it is important for the Church in Singapore to remember the faithfulness that God has shown towards our country through the years.

This is why the National Council of Churches Singapore (NCCS) holds an annual National Day Thanksgiving Service—an ecumenical event that sees Christians from all walks of life gathering to give praise to God for yet another year of blessings and peace, and to pray for the country and its leadership.

Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung was invited to give the sermon at this year’s service, which was held on the evening of 15 Aug 2019 at St Andrew’s Cathedral and themed “Pray and Give Thanks for Our Nation and Our People”.

He referred to 1 Timothy 2:1–3, where Paul instructed his young protégé on how best to guide a congregation: how Timothy should lead his church in prayer; whom they should pray for; and how it should be done.

Bishop Dr Chong exhorted the congregation to do as Timothy’s early church did: “that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people, for kings and all those in authority”. Here, Paul explained that the reason for praying for kings, rulers and all who are in high positions, is so that “we may lead a peaceful and quiet life”, that there will be no wars, rebellions and unrest. This also sums up the purpose of the annual Thanksgiving Service as a deliberate and corporate effort of the Church to not just pray for those who are in need, but also for those who are in positions of leadership and decision-making within Singapore.

Photos by Alvin Phang and Tung Yan Foo

The Executive Committee of the National Council of Churches Singapore.

Bishop Dr Chong concluded his sermon by pointing out that by praying for others—such as for those who are not our kin or have any form of relationship with us, or even those who may have wronged or grieved us (be they individuals or even those in authority)—is ultimately spiritually selfbeneficial.

Bishop Dr Chong Chin Chung preaching at the National Day Thanksgiving Service.

For it is only through prayer that we will find our hearts humbled, our indignation softened, and our will bent towards God’s.

And prayer for the well-being of others is in fact a godly response to earthly challenges that is pleasing to the Lord, and uncommon in a world obsessed with individualism.

“Remember this—that for the past 200 years, since our founding, the Christian community has always prayed for the leaders and the people. We will continue ceaselessly to pray for all people, for the leaders and those in power,” said Bishop Dr Chong.

“God wants us to cherish our nation and put in our best to ensure that Singapore continues to be an enlightened, righteous, upright, peaceful and vibrant country.” n Intercessory Prayers were offered for the following: 1. Thanksgiving on the Singapore Bicentennial 2. Caring more for migrant workers 3. Coping with challenges in a digital age 4. Our commitment to Singapore METHODIST MESSAGE • SEP 2019

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METHODIST MESSAGE, JULY 2013

NEWS

JOIN THE MICAH CONVERSATION

Much of the Conversation’s value lay in the new connections and small group conversations.

The early signs of this imminent future are the transformed lives of the people who profess allegiance to this King, because we would be reflecting Him. If that were so in the whole Church, what a wonder it would be! Therefore, what a wonderful gift it would be to our neighbours to come to know Jesus too.

Imagine then the potential of a few churches in the neighbourhood partnering to bring about greater service to that neighbourhood! Imagine if this went nation-wide.

We hope that those who attended the Micah Conversation have also gained a greater love and hope for the Church— the kind that will compel you to work with, or even to join the leadership of your church! And, in that position, help others see that all things indeed are redeemed in Christ, and all of life is to be lived for the glory of God. Micah Conversation highlights: • Prayer walk through Little India • Keynotes on theological framework for integral mission, integral mission in community by the local church, peacemaking and reconciliation with people of other faiths, and engaging the powers for good • Case studies of local “ministries”, with interviews and presentations done by participants • Small group conversations and new connections • Vision pitches for the Bezer Initiative (a community serving young people in crises), and for a Christian disability network • organised by a multi-generational and transdenominational team (two of which were Methodists),

... continued from page 1

Keynote speakers and case studies of local ministries.

Micah Conversation was a joint effort involving Micah Singapore, supported by the Biblical Graduate School of Theology, Fellowship of Evangelical Students Singapore, Singapore Centre for Global Missions, WorldVision, and the Methodist Church of Singapore (TRAC Board of Outreach and Social Concerns). https://www.micahsingapore.org/micahconversation2019 For more information on integral mission, see Dr Kwa Kiem Kiok’s article “What is Integral Mission?” (Methodist Message, July 2019). n Conversation takeaways for some participants: “Today’s conversation reaffirmed God’s heart for the last, lost and the least, and as a Church, we can’t just preach about Christ, but we must be incarnational and display the love of Christ to those around us.”

“I learnt that witness includes both telling and showing Christ; that you cannot do one without the other; and that both are ends. That witness can have so many beautiful applications in the brave and courageous examples of Godly living in any area—law firms, catering businesses, the migrant worker industries, and even our own homes.”

“It’s just amazing how so many like-minded, likehearted, Spirit-led people who love God are giving their lives to people.”

Visuals and photos courtesy of Micah Singapore METHODIST MESSAGE • SEP 2019

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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).

TRULY #BLESSED

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or some time now I have been receiving emails in which the senders use the word “Blessings” as the valediction. These emails are mostly from Christians, although some of my Muslim friends also sign off their messages in this way.

of Abraham and the promises that accompanied it, Matt Champlin notes that “over and over, the Lord proclaims to the reader of Genesis that blessing is pre-eminently about a right relationship with him. That is not simply a part of the blessing; it is the very core.”1

Indeed, words like “blessing”, “bless” or “blessed” are constantly found on the lips of Christians of every stripe.

They are used to acknowledge the good perceived in a myriad of things and circumstances: an answered prayer; a harmonious family; an effective ministry etc.

In the New Testament, blessing is profoundly related to the saving relationship that believers have with God in Jesus Christ. The Apostle Paul expresses this eloquently in his epistle to the Ephesians: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places” (1:3).

Peddlers of the so-called prosperity gospel have exploited this most ambiguous of words to the fullest. For them, to be blessed by God is to experience miraculous healing, to enjoy good health, to be materially prosperous and successful.

(This of course seems to suggest that those who lack these things are not blessed.)

Blessing is a recurrent theme in the Christian Bible with words expressing the concept appearing more than 600 times in the Old Testament alone. This should not surprise us. After all, the God who created us in His own image and calls us into a covenantal relationship with Him wants us to flourish.

For Christians, therefore, the concept of blessing is meaningless outside of their relationship with God in Christ.

When the Bible speaks of blessing, it does not refer only to temporal goods like health, wealth and success. Blessing is not always synonymous with the successful life. In fact, there are numerous passages in the Bible where the blessed life has no association whatsoever with material wellbeing. On the contrary, some of these passages indicate that it is those who endure hardship, trials and persecution that are blessed.

That being said, it is vital that we understand what the Bible means by “blessing”. At the very outset, it must be emphasised that in the Bible, blessing is first and foremost a divine activity. A blessing is God’s to give, and it expresses His immutable character.

Consider these remarkable (some would say counterintuitive) statements from the Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are the poor in spirit… Blessed are those who mourn… Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake… Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you…” (Matt 5:2–10).

The first mention of divine blessing in the Scriptures is found in the creation narrative in the early chapters of Genesis. God saw that what He had brought into being was good, and He blessed them, saying: “Be fruitful and multiply…” (Gen 1:22)

Thus, a clearer picture of what the Bible means to be blessed is emerging, one which appears to be at odds with other notions. To be blessed is to be in God’s favour. To be in God’s favour is to be in the right relationship with God— regardless of the circumstances.

In the Bible, blessing is fundamentally a theological concept: it cannot be understood apart from the good and loving God who bestows it. But the biblical concept of blessing is also inextricably tied to human beings’ relationship with their Creator. Reflecting on God’s call

There is a profound relationship between blessing and obedience that should never be missed or ignored. In fact, it should be stressed again and again in the wake of the antinomian ethos that pervades certain sectors of the evangelical church today.

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.

For it was our Lord himself who said: “Blessed...are those who hear the word of God and keep it” (Luke 11:28). n 1

ark Champlin, “A Biblical Theology of Blessing in Genesis,” Themelios 42, M no. 1 (April 2017), http://themelios.thegospelcoalition.org/article/a-biblicaltheology-of-blessing-in-genesis.

Picture by Tinnakorn/Bigstock.com METHODIST MESSAGE • SEP 2019

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NEWS Amelia Leo is a programme executive at the Worship and Church Music Department of the Methodist School of Music. She is a member of Fairfield Methodist Church and currently directs its choir.

WORSHIP SYMPOSIUM 2019:

GATHERED AS ONE

The participants of the Worship Symposium 2019.

The closing worship session.

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he worship ministry plays a vital role in the spiritual formation and discipleship of church congregations. Given how essential times of refreshing and rejuvenation are for worship leaders and all who serve in this ministry, the Methodist School of Music (MSM) launched the Worship Symposium in August 2006. Held once every two years, it is a platform where Christians of all denominations, both local and overseas, gather for a time of learning, sharing and being engaged in discussions about Christian worship and worship practice.

The theme of this year’s symposium was “Gathered as One”. It was a reminder of why we could gather in this manner (because of Christ), who we were gathered with (Christians throughout the ages), and what we were gathered for (to be a witness to the world).

In its seventh run, the three-day conference saw a total of 127 participants and 28 lecturers, instructors, facilitators and panellists interacting in meaningful conversation and fellowship. About 35 per cent of the participants were from overseas, from countries in Southeast Asia, China and India.

As each day began and ended with worship, participants had the privilege to worship together, twice a day, for three days. All were exposed to worship styles which they had not encountered before.

This helped them discover for themselves the richness of each style and the immense diversity of God’s global Church.

One particular favourite was the evening service designed by the Rev Dr Michael Hawn, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Church Music at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University, USA. Based on the Lord’s Prayer, the service saw participants praising God in Indonesian and Argentinian, praying a prayer from Nicaragua, singing “Lord, have mercy” to tunes from Singapore and Pakistan, and sending one another off with blessings and a unique handshake from South Africa.

After each morning worship, Dr Jeffrey Truscott conducted plenary sessions based on his book, The 12 Whys of Worship.

The final plenary session, “Reflections on Contemporary Worship in Light of 2000 Years of Christian Worship”, was conducted by the Rev Dr Lester Ruth, a Research Professor of Christian Worship at Duke Divinity School, USA.

A panel discussion.

Through the plenaries, participants learned the reasons behind various acts of corporate worship and pondered on the strengths and weaknesses of contemporary worship from the perspective of Christians who have gone before us. They then split up into smaller groups to attend various lectures and skills-training sessions. The various topics ranged from music and theology, musicians as pastoral leaders, worship as community building, to vocal training, band dynamics, and a Worship 101 course for worship leaders.

Lively panel discussions followed, with each day closing with dinner and evening worship.

MSM is very encouraged to have received positive feedback—an overwhelming majority looked forward to the next Worship Symposium. Do join us in 2021 for eyeopening experiences, inspiring speakers, and challenging conversations that will broaden your perspective on worship leadership! n Feedback from this year’s participants: “Insightful, thought-provoking.”

—Lisa Ong, Singapore “Meaningful, eye-opening, uplifting.”

—Anonymous, Singapore “ Eye-opener. Amazing speakers with great technical knowhow and willingness to share…”—Hau Yin Siau, Singapore “Helpful, super worth it.”—Faith Domingo Loscos, Singapore “Good experience of multicultural worship.

Speakers are good.”—Pastor Kong Chong Ling, Malaysia “I love the workshops, (they were) really helpful for me to apply in my church ministry.”—Anonymous, Cambodia Photos courtesy of Methodist School of Music METHODIST MESSAGE • SEP 2019

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ONE MCS—IDENTITY AND DESTINY

WE ARE NOT YET READY, SO THE WORK MUST CONTINUE ... continued from page 10

Group discussions at the Laity Session.

Over the past few months, seven WGs have met: these are for ADMIN (covering Archives, Governance, HR, Communication), AGE-RELATED MINISTRIES (covering Seniors, Youth and Young Adults, Family and Children), WORSHIP and MUSIC, MISSIONS and EVANGELISM, SOCIAL CONCERN, SOCIAL ENTERPRISE. There is also a special group on how the Annual Conferences can work better together that I, as Bishop, chairs.

They are excited about the intentionality in this coming together in earnest discussion with others across Conference lines. There is a buzz among the members as they contemplate the impact of sharing resources for achieving common goals, and they eagerly anticipate opportunities to work closer together to meet needs as one body.

These WGs play a very important role as they hear from the ground, make recommendations, and pave the way for closer connectivity and missional unity among the members. There are areas where it will not serve the church for us to work separately. In addition, we must create more platforms for people and local churches to find and connect with others with the same concerns and passions.

There is some way to go, but let’s press on. Keep praying. n

Photo courtesy of Richard Tan and Henry Tan

LOOKING AHEAD THE BIBLE AND CHINESE CULTURE FESTIVAL

5 to 15 Sep 2019, 11.00 a.m. to 7.00 p.m.

Far East Plaza Level 2 Concourse, 14 Scotts Road, S(228213) https://www.bible.org.sg/bccf/ chinese.min@bible.org.sg Admission is free

Scan here to see events online!

The Bible is the Word of God, which can be written and read in different languages, and also expressed through the use of different media.

Since 2017, The Bible Society of Singapore has organised the annual Bible and Chinese Culture Festival (BCCF) every September with the following aims: • to encourage Christian artists to incorporate Chinese culture and art into their interpretation of the Bible • to enhance believers’ understanding of how the Bible can be integrated together with Chinese culture Come and witness how Biblical themes can be showcased through traditional Chinese art, such as calligraphy, painting, seal and pottery.

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Organised by The Bible Society of Singapore.

ENGAGING WITH LGBT FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES AT THE WORKPLACE 13 Sep 2019 (Friday), 7.00 p.m. to 10.00 p.m.

Centre of New Life, Level 1, 51 Middle Road, S(188959) bit.ly/engageworkshop19 $90 (includes dinner at 6.30 p.m.)

When confronted with challenging issues regarding faith and culture, many Christians find themselves at a loss, without a framework for living out our faith in actual situations among real people. In this first ENGAGE Executive Workshop, we look at how to be good witnesses to our LGBT friends and colleagues at the workplace.

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Organised by Biblical Graduate School of Theology.

THE DIVINE MISSION

16 Sep to 4 Nov 2019 (Mondays), 7.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m.

Wesley Methodist Church, Plaza Hall, Level 1, 5 Fort Canning Road, S(179493) https://ttc.edu.sg/english/equip-evening-courses/the-divine-mission/ $120 ($100 for returning students, if the last CDCM course is within one year)

This course surveys the expansion and development of Christianity as Missio Dei (mission of God), from both historical and holistic perspectives. The salvation and renewal of all creation, the proclamation and practice of His word, and the growth and witness of the church are essentially understood as God’s mission.

The first part of the course outlines the significant events/movements in transmission of the Christian faith. The latter half of the course sketches the significant themes of holistic mission, all of which are understood as God’s mission in bringing the whole Gospel to the whole world.

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Organised by Trinity Theological College.

TRAC SENIORS MINISTRY WORSHIP SERVICES

18 Sep, 16 Oct, 13 Nov, 11 Dec 2019 (Wednesdays), 2.30 p.m. to 4.00 p.m.

Faith Methodist Church, Worship Hall, Level 4, 400 Commonwealth Dr, S(149604) 6478-4754 (Priscilla) priscillalow@trac-mcs.org.sg

TRAC Seniors Ministry welcomes you to their monthly Seniors Ministry Worship Services. Join us for a time of worship, fellowship and food, and catch up with other seniors and retirees from various TRAC churches.

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Organised by Trinity Annual Conference.

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METHODIST MESSAGE • SEP 2019

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THINK Jeffrey A. Truscott is an ordained minister of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. He currently serves as Lecturer in Liturgy and Worship at Trinity Theological College, where he is also the Chaplain. He was a speaker at the Methodist School of Music’s Worship Symposium 2019.

BLESSED BY WORSHIP

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here are at least three ways in which we can be blessed. First, a blessing might be a windfall, or unexpected financial gain—especially in a time of need. A young, struggling family might receive a gift of money that helps alleviate some of their economic burden.

Second, a blessing could come as a “salvation” experience, such as being cured of a serious illness like cancer. Third, a blessing might take the form of a person, such as a parent or teacher whose wisdom and experience enriches us over time.

First of all, when God’s Word is proclaimed, we are made aware of our sin, brokenness and unworthiness before God. In other words, God’s holy Word confronts us with the truth of our sin and brokenness, and it calls us to turn away from our sin and turn back to God in humble repentance. Most importantly, God’s Word—proclaimed in the Scripture readings and preached from the pulpit—announces God’s forgiving mercy. Those who repent of sin are assured that God will receive them into His presence such that they can live with Him forever as His very children.

As Christians, we would say that all of these blessings come from God, since God is the giver of all good things. But these are not the only or the greatest blessings that we receive from God. Financial assistance, renewed health, and the attainment of wisdom are all earthly blessings that serve us only in this life. God in Jesus Christ, however, has given us blessings that are for the life to come and last forever.

Second, the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper confirms the promises of the Word by giving us fellowship with the very One who died to take away our sins. When we eat the bread and drink the wine in faith, we receive the forgiveness and eternal life that Jesus Christ won for us by His suffering and death on the Cross. In a sense, the blessings announced by the Word are fulfilled in the Supper, which is why our service begins with the Word and then proceeds with the Supper.

Here I am referring to the blessing of salvation, the forgiveness that God grants unworthy sinners so that they may enjoy eternal life now (the hope of salvation) as well as in the life to come. As it happens, the blessings of salvation in Jesus Christ come to us through our Sunday worship service or “liturgy”.

Thus the Sunday service blesses us through the Word and sacrament—the gifts that grant us joy and peace amid our earthly struggles, as well as the hope of eternal life with God. These are the greatest blessings of all because they meet our deepest needs and are ours forever. Thanks be to God! n Picture by artitcom/Bigstock.com