044/11/2021(P)MCI0129-6868ISSN Vol 124 No 9 SEPTEMBER 2022 S377Arepeal pg10
Have something to say or share? Email us at communications@methodist.org.sg Design & Production by Londonbob Design Printed by Adred Creation Print Pte Ltd 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 | 6478-4763 message.methodist.org.sg www.methodist.org.sg org.sgcommunications@methodist. fb.com/Methodist.SG @methodistsg@methodist.sg Editorial Board Adviser and Publisher Dr Anthony Goh Chairperson Council on Communications Communications Manager Lynn Tan Managing Editor Alvin Tay Editor Lianne Ong Sub-editors Lucy JaniceChengKhooTanChiuAi Proofreaders Kenneth ChristabelLeeTan / Bishop’s Message / / News / 3 Foochow Methodist Church rededicates clinic for migrant workers 5 Homecoming to God 8 Launch of Chinese Alpha Film Series / Feature / 13 How does meritocracy fit into our Christian worldview? 16 Discovering my gifts in the Arts / Opinion / 10 THINK: A Christian response to the repeal of Section 377A of the Penal Code 20 Soundings: A sacrament of divine love / Outreach / 22 Bridging the gap between seniors and sports 23 Giving every child an opportunity for a future / Relationships / 25 You and Your Family: Breaking free from a legacy of wrath / Worship / 27 Faith exists in the community / People / 29 He Sihao How to gain, save and give all that I can Contents
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• Welfare (which attends to the body).
Bishop Dr Gordon Wong was elected Bishop of The Methodist Church in Singapore in 2020. He served as President of the Trinity Annual Conference from 2013–2020.
Bishop’s Message
An earlier version of this article was published in Harvest Force 2022 Issue 1.
Taking Ezra-Nehemiah together, we can see three major themes: the re-building of the Temple in Jerusalem (Ezra 1-6); the teaching of God’s Torah or instructions (Ezra 7-10); the
September 2022 Methodist Message 1
Arts, Education and Health The Soul, Mind & Body of Community
• Word (which attends to the mind), and
he Bible book Ezra-Nehemiah describes three priorities in the development of the community after the ravages of war had left Jerusalem in ruin for 70 years.
Referring to Ezra-Nehemiah as a single book, following the custom of the Hebrew Bible (unlike the Christian tradition which counts Ezra and Nehemiah as two separate books), the ancient Hebrew scribes (scholars call them Masoretes) included notes at the end of every Bible book, summarising the total number of verses in every book and indicating which verse marked the book’s mid-point. These notes are found at the end of Nehemiah (but not at the end of Ezra), and the mid-point of the book is indicated as Nehemiah 3:32, which would be accurate only if one regards Ezra-Nehemiah together as one book.
rebuilding of the walls around Jerusalem (Nehemiah 1-7). By highlighting these three major themes together in one book, the inspired writer suggests three priorities in the development of the community in Jerusalem after the war had left it in ruins: the rebuilding of the temple for communal Worship, the teaching of God’s Word, and the restoration of the walls for the protection and Welfare of the people. These are still three important priorities in the development of any community: Worship (which attends to one’s spirit or soul),
We give thanks for all who serve well in the Arts (poets and pastors, musicians and artists). We give thanks for teachers and writers and administrators in the Education sector. We give thanks for nurses, doctors and attendants in the ministry of Health. They are God’s servants in attending to the soul, mind and body of community life.
2 Methodist Message September 2022 Coming up
By Lianne Ong, Editor of Methodist Message with assistance from Ps Raja Thomas, Lay Ministry Staff at Foochow Methodist Church.
September 2022 Methodist Message 3 News
Bishop Dr Gordon Wong (fifth from left) with FMC pastoral staff, ministry staff (middle)leadersand
(sixth from right) with migrant worker friends
"Theservice.ministry of the medical clinic is a wonderful way of showing love to others," Bishop Dr Wong said during his sermon about faith expressing itself through love and loving our neighbours as Christ commanded. He thanked the doctors and volunteers who served in this ministry.
The clinic, which suspended operations during the Covid-19 pandemic, was renovated in May 2022, and resumed operations in June after Safe Management Measures were lifted. Before the pandemic, the clinic saw up to 100 patients queuing to see a doctor. The newly renovated clinic has two consultation rooms and a reception area.
Psre-dedication(bottom)RajaThomas
"We are very pleased to welcome our migrant worker brothers again to the clinic," said Ps Raja Thomas, lay ministry staff overseeing the Tamil Ministry at FMC, which celebrated its 27th anniversary on the same day. Bishop Dr Gordon Wong was the guest-of-honour at the thanksgiving service and clinic rededication
The clinic is open every Sunday evening, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. and is manned by volunteer healthcare professionals, church members from FMC and other churches. For a nominal fee of $5, migrant workers can consult a medical doctor about their health problems.
(top)
Foochow Methodist Church rededicates clinic for migrant workers
Bishop Dr Gordon Wong (right)and Rev Andy Goh during the clinic
F
oochow Methodist Church (FMC) held a rededication service on 7 August 2022 for its Caring Community Clinic (CCC)—a clinic that was set up on the church premises specifically for migrant workers in 2003. FMC is located at Race Course Road in Little India, and is the second oldest church under the Chinese Annual Conference (CAC).
/ Photos courtesy of Foochow Methodist Church
The CCC is now a major part of the Tamil Ministry in FMC. "When I see something that is meaningful and purposeful, it fills my heart with joy and makes me excited to continue and persevere in service," said Dr Tan on why he has been able to serve for two decades in the ministry.
On the same day that the clinic was rededicated, an information session was held for those interested in volunteering with the clinic. Currently, there are seven doctors and five clinic assistants on the volunteer roster, some of whom are members of FMC.
(left) It was common to see a beforequeuelongofpatientsthepandemic
(right) Renovatedclinic
TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT FMC's migrant worker ministry, or volunteer with the Caring Community Clinic, contact Ps Raja Thomas at rajathomas@foochowmc.org.sg
4 Methodist Message September 2022
Foochow Methodist Church rededicates clinic for migrant workers
Call for volunteers
Dr Tan Seung Po was one of the medical professionals who mooted the idea of an onsite clinic and has served with the ministry since its inception.
Dr Tan consulted other doctors and by God's grace, FMC set up a clinic on the church premises after successfully obtaining a licence from the Ministry of Health in 2003. "Since then we have been able to expand the services of this clinic. The clinic became so popular that it was overwhelmed and strained manpower capabilities. We had to limit the consultations to 30 patients on Sunday evenings in the two hours that the clinic is open," said Dr Tan.
He recalled that on Sunday evenings, there would always be big gatherings of migrant workers outside the church. "[The late] Rev Ding (former Pastor-in-Charge at FMC) would invite them to come into the church. As some of the workers got to know me better, they would approach me about medical issues they faced. It was hard not to do anything about their medical problems [as a doctor]. So I thought, how could we help them with their medical needs?"
Shining star of the migrant worker ministry
"It's important to groom a younger generation of doctors and volunteers to continue the work," Dr Tan said.
Mr Low Wee Teck, a Fairfield alumnus, spoke of the role of The Boys’ Brigade and Fairfield Methodist Schools in his faith journey and how he was led to serve God as Principal of the Methodist School in Cambodia. Next up was Mr Evan Lim, who described how he was providentially given a place in ACS (Primary) when his parents returned from God’s service in China and how his ACS years shaped him as a person in his journey to serve the Lord. Mr Isaac Cheng, a current ACS (Independent) student, testified how opportunities to serve in his church and in Christian ministry in school transformed him into someone passionate for the Lord.
t was a night of exuberant worship and prayer that crossed generations. It was a time when hearts of fathers turned to their children, a time where those called by God truly came home to him. The Homecoming event on 22 July 2022 brought together over 1,000 Anglo-Chinese School family and friends, and was the culmination of months of hard work and God’s answer to much prayer.
Loo Ming Yaw is the Principal of Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) and worships at Aldersgate Methodist Church.
Homecoming to God
The congregation watched a segment of REVIVAL 1972, which documents a revival movement that began in schools, and spread to churches and the nation. It was a reminder that God’s desire to impact the generations did not end with the revival in 1972 and continues when the hearts of each generation turn to him in despair and repentance.
/ Photos courtesy of Homecoming Organising Committee
Dr Shirleen Chee, Principal of AngloChinese Junior College (ACJC), kicked off the evening’s programme by sharing the vision that the principals of ACJC, ACS (Barker Road) and ACS (Independent) received for the event. The combined schools worship band then led the opening set of worship songs.
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September 2022 Methodist Message 5 News
Pastor Edric Sng of Bethesda-BedokTampines Church, who is also the Editor of Thirst Collective, facilitated the testimonies by Mr Low Wee Teck, Mr Evan Lim and Mr Isaac Cheng on how the school ministry impacted their lives.
• Admissions to top universities in the UK, the US, Australia and Singapore
• Exceptional examination results, 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
Senior Leadership Team Mr Gavin Kinch Principal Mrs Tan Siew Hoon Vice Principal Dr Kristopher Achter Vice Principal Mr Christopher Hayward Vice Principal
ACS (International)
Achievements include
• Students accepted to Oxford and Cambridge universities for the past eight years
Building Through Belief, this school of choice provides
• PSLE and GCE ‘O’ Level students obtaining outstanding value added examination results for the IBDP and improved pathways to good universities
• Small class sizes with overall student teacher ratio of 8.7 : 1
• Successes at national level in Athletics, Touch Rugby, Debating, Orchestra, Volleyball, Taekwondo, Ice Hockey, Fencing, Swimming, Artistic Swimming, Rhythmic Gymnastics and Wushu
• Scholarships for four Singaporeans to undertake the IBDP
• 40 different CCAs 16 Sporting, 12 Visual and Performing Arts, 12 Special Interest Groups
For more information, please contact Joseph Ng or Serene Lim at +65 6472 1477 or admissions@acsinternational.edu.sg
• Over 200 formal student leadership positions
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)
• 23 “Top in the World” awards in IGCSE examinations over each of the past twelve years
• Students with perfect score of 45 points in IBDP
Homecoming to God September 2022 Methodist Message 7
Mr Joseph Chean, National Director of Youth With A Mission Singapore, brought a simple but powerful message about being "Part of the Whole" in God’s plan and purpose for Singapore and beyond. As each worshipper had received a piece of a 1,008-piece puzzle of the map of Singapore, Mr Chean exhorted all present to see themselves as part of the larger puzzle God is putting together in the history of Singapore and his providential plan for Christian witness on our shores. He shared his belief that God’s plan includes the events of the 1972 revival and God’s purpose is for Singapore to know God intimately, his character and his ways. Propelled by this authentic relationship, the Church will rightly represent God and speak the Good News to the unreached, the last, the least and the lost, both in Singapore and in other nations.
Preparations for the Homecoming event began in April with the formation of the organising committee. It included students from ACJC, ACS (Barker Road) and ACS (Independent), supported by the Christian Ministry staff from the three schools and Barker Road Methodist Church.
TheLord.event also featured booths for photography and the sale of merchandise, including "Unfolding His Story: The Story of the MovementCharismaticinSingapore" , a book covering the 1972 renewal that swept through Singapore. The book records the ACS clock tower revival based on archived materials and interviews with some of those involved.
The teachers’ band led the next segment of worship and prayer. Time was given for the younger ones to pray for the adults present and vice versa. Rev Wendy Watson also led in a time of repentance for the role of the Church since the 1972 movement of the Holy Spirit. Mr Quek Peck Leng,
who experienced the 1972 revival as a student, shared a blessing for the current generation of young people. When the call for prayer was issued, many worshippers came forward for prayer and renewed their commitment to the
he Alpha film series is a collection of videos featuring interviews with public figures and people with inspiring stories, providing an opening for introducing the Christian faith in an accessible manner. The series was produced in English and dubbed in 52 other languages, enabling more people groups to be reached.
With Mandarin speakers constituting a significant proportion of the world’s population, the Alpha team responded to God’s prompting to produce the Chinese Alpha Film series (CAFS). More than a dubbed version of the original Alpha film series, the CAFS is Alpha’s first fully contextualised version of the Alpha series in a
Speaking to the hearts of AlphawithMandarin-speakerstheChineseFilmSeries
A preview of episode 1 of the Chinese Alpha Film series
Koh Geok Cheng worships at Wesley Methodist Church and serves as the Treasurer for Wesley GYM. She is also the TRAC WSCS Treasurer. / Additional information and photos from Alpha SG and Alpha Asia Pacific
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The entire film series was filmed and produced during the Covid-19 pandemic. Amid lockdowns, travel restrictions and Covid-19 infections, God provided and enabled the team to focus on their work and complete the series despite the obstacles faced. It was officially launched in Kuala Lumpur on 10 July 2022.
Reverend Miles Toulmin, Executive Director of Alpha Asia Pacific and Vicar of Holy Trinity Bukit Bintang (HTBB), said, "I am hugely excited at the potential of this new, contextualised CAFS. I believe this is a powerful tool for evangelism for the Chinese speaking churches in Singapore and for reaching Chinese people with the gospel around the world."
Mr Kenneth Yap, a member of HTBB which hosted the launch, said, "The CAFS could potentially be a big catalyst in the world of Christian evangelism in Asia. With all of the content now contextualised, the CAFS should find broader appeal among Mandarinspeakers as viewers would be hearing the message from people that look like them and sound like them."
Held at Toa Payoh Chinese MethodistChurch on 31 July, the conference kickedoff with a presentation of the first episodeof the Chinese Alpha Film Series, titled “IsThere More to Life than This?”. Attendeeswere also able to learn more about themaking of the series, and were exhorted toget intentional about creating evangelisticopportunities for the Chinese-speakingcommunity in Singapore.
CAC and ALPHA SINGAPORE will be initiating the Mid-Autumn pilot run of the Chinese Alpha Film Series on Saturday, 10 September 2022. If you wish to know more about how to be a part of this run, or how to start an Alpha run for the Chinese-speaking community within your church, ema il info@alpha.org.sg
language other than English. This allows a Mandarin-speaking audience to hear about the Christian faith in a language that they are comfortable with and in a cultural context that is familiar to them.
An interview with Pastor Andrew Chai withSeries,illustrator(middle),andpresenterfortheChineseAlphaFilmtogetherSteveChao(right),directorfortheseries.
The Chinese Annual Conference (CAC) collaborated with AlphaSingapore to launch the much-awaitedChinese Alpha Film Series. Filmed withinan Asian context and featuring Chinesepresenters and interviews, the seriesbridges cultural and linguistic gaps, andsets the perfect stage to present the gospelmessage to a Chinese audience.
September 2022 Methodist Message 9
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10 Methodist Message September 2022 THINK
Even though our consistent position on marriage, education, and religious freedom is shared by people of different faiths or none, there are some who criticise the Church for commenting on issues of law. Others may accuse Christians of a sinister desire to impose Christian morality as law. Some construe any move to enshrine the traditional understanding of marriage as an undermining of the secular character of the Constitution. The truth of the matter is that correlation is not causation. Just because the Government intends to enshrine the traditional definition of marriage does not mean that it has arrived at that decision by way of specifically religious reasoning.
Rev Dr Nathanael Goh is the Assistant Pastor at Sengkang Methodist Church. Rev Dr Daniel K S Koh is a Pastor of Barker Road Methodist Church overseeing Oasis BRMC Mission at Bukit Batok. Both writers received their PhD degrees in Theology and Religion from Durham University, UK and specialise in Christian ethics.
A Christian response to the repeal of Section 377A of the Penal Code
Engagement with public policy for the common good
We would like to reiterate that The Methodist Church in Singapore has not changed our stance, as outlined in our response to the announcement, 2 Methodist Social Principles , 3 as well as our agreement with the statements made by the National Council of Churches Singapore (NCCS) on this matter.4
t the National Day Rally this year, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced the Government’s intention to repeal Section 377A of the Penal Code ("377A") and decriminalise sex between men. PM Lee also announced that the Government would protect the definition of marriage between a man and a woman from being challenged constitutionally in the courts and would amend the Constitution in order to protect it.1
As Christians, we are called neither to privilege nor pliancy. We do not want to participate in either religious or secular sectarianism. Rather, we believe it is our God-given responsibility to seek the common good and the welfare of our country. We are committed to public engagement for the sake of the good of all. This vision of communion—of a good that would truly be common —is what energises our engagement on substantive matters of public interest.
September 2022 Methodist Message 11
There is no doubt that our Christian vision of human flourishing may be at odds with ideals or priorities held by others. We do not claim to be the sole arbiters of what is good for society. We do not seek to be the main actor on the national stage. We also do not deny the right of others to express their views and ideas, even when it is in opposition to what we believe. However, we do strongly disagree with attempts to mischaracterise Christian beliefs as harmful discrimination. Furthermore, we are concerned that our right to share our convictions stemming from (but which are definitely not exclusive to) our Christian beliefs, may be excluded on the ground that they cross over into politics. As our Social Principles state, "decision making by consensus is fair and effective only if the people have sufficient and safe channels opened to them to participate in meaningful and honest discussion, without fear of reprisal". 6 How we engage in dialogue and public reasoning, even when we are opposed to begin with, may be as profound a priority as what we profess.
Our Church does not believe that individualism, writ large, seen for example in what Charles Taylor et al has critiqued as atomistic individualism, is the standard of human flourishing by which to measure public policy. 5 Our beliefs are grounded in a vision of human flourishing that stands apart from, but does not deny, personal choices and benefits. In this vision, every institution— like marriage, family, or schools—exists for the common good. Our request that the Government put in place safeguards in these areas is based on the conviction that Christian morality can serve the common good of all.
The distinction is important: we believe that what serves the common good is ultimately beneficial for all individuals; conversely, not every freely chosen individual choice is beneficial for all. Our expressing this is not an attempt to impose a specifically Christian morality. It is rather to engage in a robust conversation about differing visions of the Good drawn from shared morality. There will be differing views and emphases, but it is obvious that one does not need, in principle, to affirm any specific religion to concur with these broader concerns.
Only Parliament has the authority to promulgate laws and has the responsibility of doing so. However, like any citizen and local association, Christians and our Church have an equal right and responsibility to express our concerns on matters related to our country and social well-being. Our public statements are guided by a fundamental principle: to serve the common good of our nation. There is a well-documented tradition of Christian theology that counsels the Church to direct political reasoning towards the good of the community. Christian faith, in this sense, does not supply a political agenda. Rather, it compels us to exemplify a care for our common life and future. Thus, the safeguards we urge are not because we want to preserve Christian morality for its own sake, but for the sake of the well-being of society.
We therefore affirm the Government's call to exercise restraint, and to avoid extreme demands. We fully agree on the need to protect our capacity to live together peacefully and render mutual assistance to each other.
The repeal of 377A and the safeguarding of marriage and other aspects of law, though vitally important and deserving of our attention and representations, are not, finally, our highest priorities. The world will not end if, or when, 377A is repealed. The God of our Christian faith is sovereign over the universe, and the arc of history bends inexorably towards his throne. We appeal for all Methodists to keep everyone involved in this discussion—the Government, members of Parliament, community stakeholders, advocacy groups, and all the inhabitants of this city—in prayer.
The recognition that we need each other recalls the Wesleyan commitment to social holiness—holiness that is pursued and achieved in community, not solitarily. We welcome anyone who wrestles with sexuality into the hospitality of the Church. True freedom is found not in atomistic individualism, but in bringing our desires into accordance with our Creator’s design. We will not abandon anyone to the vagaries of human experience and desire. Let us be unequivocally clear: our Methodist churches are open to everyone.
The reminder of the Methodist ethicist Paul Ramsey is wise: "Let the church be the church and let the magistrate be the magistrate." 7 The Bible teaches us that the hope of the world does not lie in the realm of legislation or public morality, but in the advent of a new creation in Christ. We do not expect God to save the world through our human reason, our pursuit of justice, our struggle for human rights, or even by our best efforts to order the world for the better, important as they are. But while we live in the world, we submit to the God-given authority bestowed on a legitimate Government, for the ways of judgment. We will not project our hopes for public life upon the world by sheer force of will, or by drowning out other voices in the public square.
Sources of the Self: The Making of Modern Identity, Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1989.
penal-codehappening/789-mcs-response-to-repeal-of-section-377a-2section-377a-repeal-constitution-1974206https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/ndr-2022-https://methodist.org.sg/index.php/what-s-3https://methodist.org.sg/images/mcs/pdf/methodistsg-social-principles-2020.pdf4https://nccs.org.sg/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/NCCS-Statemt-on-Repeal-of-S377A-20220821.pdf.Seealsohttps://nccs.org.sg/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/NCCS-Response-to-Minister-K.-Shanmugams-parliamentary-speech-on-the-Court-of-Appeal-Ruling-on-Repeal-of-Section-377A-.pdf,orhttps://nccs.org.sg/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/NCCS-Statement-Retain-377A.pdf5See,forexample,CharlesTaylor,
377A of the Penal Code
8 Ryan Nicholas Danker, "Early Methodist Societies as an Embodied Politic: Intentionality and Community as a Wesleyan Political Vision", in Exploring a Wesleyan Political Theology (Nashville, TN: Wesley’s Foundery Books, 2020), 65.
In all things, we are empowered by the love of God to manifest his love through our concrete acts for others. Expressing our concerns about 377A is one, but not the only, expression of our love for our neighbours. Let us not become weary in doing good. When the dust on this debate settles, may it be said of Methodists in Singapore that it was not coercion but rather the conviction of the holy love of God that illuminated our response to the repeal of 377A and that in our response we have reflected the God whose Nature and Name is love.
Repealing 377A: What Methodists can and must do in response
1
A Wesleyan voice in public affairs is not just a voice per se, but "action… in the form of community". 8 A genuinely Methodist response to developments surrounding 377A will neither consist primarily of public proclamations of our moral stand, nor merely in seeking to influence the Government to instantiate our moral vision or policy goals. The call for Christians to love God by loving our neighbour remains. Methodists must, through the Spirit’s help, demonstrate a community of love to the world. It is our joy to remind all, regardless of sexual inclinations, of their sacred worth before God. It is also our duty to surround all persons with the love and support needed to live faithfully before the face of God.
6 Methodist Social Principles, "The Sphere of Politics", §1c.
A Section
Christian response to the repeal of
7 Paul Ramsey, Who Speaks for the Church? (Nashville, TN: Abingdon, 1967), 157.
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How does meritocracy fit into our Christian worldview?
Since Singapore’s independence, a meritocratic system has been the nation’s main principle of governance and this has allowed many Singaporeans to move up the social ladder, resulting in high standards of living and the nation’s very high GDP per capita figures 1 in the world 2 While Singapore is recognised as a global financial hub, there are growing concerns about social mobility and the perpetuation of class divides. For instance, academically gifted students in Singapore move along a certain pathway and are more likely to benefit socio-economically from scholarship
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he Merriam-Webster dictionary refers to meritocracy as a "system, organisation, or society in which people are chosen and moved into positions of success, power, and influence on the basis of their demonstrated abilities and merit". In public discourse, the promise of equality in terms of social mobility, opportunity, recognition and social justice embedded in merit is generally agreeable with people’s basic moral understandings; in recent times, widening social inequality (perceived or otherwise) in Singapore has renewed calls for a rethink of meritocracy.
Dr Morgan Zhou is the Chairperson of the TRAC Board of Children's Ministry and the Children's Ministry Coordinator at Fairfield Methodist Church.
September 2022 Methodist Message 13
There is a temptation for those of us to come out thinking that we are the "winners" of this meritocratic system primarily because we have made the right choices and are more disciplined and hardworking than others. Christian author and minister Morgan Guyton shares that such statements should never come out of the mouth of a Christian because our most basic theological conviction is that everything in life is a gift from God: "The moralistic meritocracy that so many Christians today proudly espouse is exactly what the Christian doctrine of our justification by God’s grace is supposed to protect us against." 3
The goal of a meritocratic endeavour is to ascend a ladder, to work your way up to successful outcomes. This is clearly at odds with the notion that we are sinners saved by grace through faith, revealed by Jesus’ death on the cross for our sins—we cannot earn our salvation; it is entirely God’s grace, his free, undeserved favour to mankind.
and career opportunities. After attaining some measure of success, these individuals invest heavily in their children’s educational pathways compared to others and a cycle of socio-economic achievement is perpetuated within certain segments of society.
After the exercise, the students discussed how they were so much a part of the system (that they were blinded to the fact that the odds were stacked against those from a lower socio-economic stratum) and made a commitment to partner God to image justice into the world imago Dei and not rely on the government alone to fix things.
Some of us might even consider Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV), "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast," only for salvation, and revert to a meritocratic mindset for everything else. These could include overloading children with unnecessary enrichment classes or moving
14 Methodist Message September 2022
homes to increase chances of enrolling into a particular school. The danger arises when we work hard for and take credit for achievements and success in school, ministry and career.
Jillian Lee, Principal of Sterling Campus, a Christian organisation that offers resources for faith-life integration, worldview development, and redemptive action, teaches her students about their role (as people redeemed by God’s grace) in society: "I got my students to fold paper airplanes in a competition to see whose plane would go the furthest but rigged it by telling a few of them in advance to look up how to fold the best planes. The game highlights how some get an advantage over others (through tuition, enrichment classes and socialcultural capital) in standardised tests (or the equivalent) which does not consider other strengths like compassion and the ability to relate well to others." 4
The Gini coefficient, used to analyse income inequality (where a coefficient of 0 reflects total income equality and a coefficient of 1 reflects total income inequality), in Singapore has decreased from 0.41 in 2012 to 0.36 in 2021. 5 Data from Oxfam’s Inequality Index (which measures a country’s commitment to reducing inequality) indicates that Singapore has moved up the index significantly in recent
times 6 . The improvement in scores reflects governmental commitment and policies in public services, tax and labour rights to reducing inequality, but will that be enough? What is the Church's and, more importantly, our response to the inequality we see around us in society?
He shared: "I hope to see a society and system that benefits many, not a few; that rewards a wide variety of talents, not a conventional or narrow few; that values and celebrates all individuals for who they are and what they can achieve; and provides all with opportunities to do better throughout their lives… We cannot abandon meritocracy, but I believe we can improve it and make ours a more open and compassionate meritocracy." 7
2 Wealthhttps://www.worldeconomics.com/
5 benefits-many-not-a-fewout-roadmap-for-a-society-that-launches-forward-spore-to-set-singapore/lawrence-wong-76coefficient-after-tax/statistics/951976/singapore-gini-https://www.statista.com/https://www.inequalityindex.orghttps://www.straitstimes.com/
Let us consider how we may catalyse conversations in church and society to spur one another on toward love and good deeds, living as righteous people under grace for the benefit of others instead of self-glorification. What do we need to repent of and what work is the Lord stirring in our hearts to undertake today?
4 From personal interviews with Jillian Lee, shared with permission.
September 2022 Methodist Message 15
Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong recently called on Singaporeans to offer ideas to shape the future of Singapore as part of a Forward Singapore road map to be released in the middle of 2023 that will set out both policy recommendations and how various parts of society can better contribute to the nation's shared goals, based on its values of a united people and a society that is just and equal.
3 moralistic-meritocracy/church/practicing-faith/why-https://um-insight.net/in-the-
Have we bought so deeply into the meritocratic mindset that we have forgotten to be more open and compassionate to meet the real needs of people who have not benefitted as much from society’s progress? As God’s elect, let us remember Ephesians 2:10 (NIV), "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." We have been saved from the wrath that we rightly deserve and are being made into something beautiful—becoming active in good works— for his purposes and glory and as a united church community.
1 national-accounts/latest-datadata/search-by-theme/economy/https://www.singstat.gov.sg/find-
Loh and
To young persons who are thinking of their career choices, find your passion and continue to work hard on becoming better at whatever you are doing. You can all find success in whichever field we are in, so long as you are passionate and really good at your craft.
of Methodist Message / Photos courtesy of Josef Lee,
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We speak to Methodists from the Arts sector on how they were led to their careers and discovered their God-given gifts.
,
16 Methodist Message September 2022 Feature
By Lianne Ong Editor Teresa Chiok Wesley Valerie
,
Tang-Yong
Discovering my gifts in the Arts
y father passed away when I was very young and my mum had to bring me and my two brothers up single-handedly, working two jobs. We were aged 12, 11 and 8 at the time. Today, all three of us are in the media and arts industry and doing well in our respective areas. This wouldn't have been possible without God's grace. My artistic skills and any talents that I have are all gifts from God, but practice and striving for excellence is necessary too. Even after being in the creative field for so long, I'm still learning. Right now, I'm pursuing a Masters in Design part-time.
My choice to enter this field is not because academic pathways were closed to me. I did pretty well in in school actually. For my O-Levels, I got 10 points for L1R5 and that made me eligible for most schools. In fact, I had already decided on this path as early as Secondary 2. My elder brother (just one year older than me) was probably an influence as well as his grades were good too but he decided to pursue a diploma in the media and arts field. My mother had no objections at all— she was open-minded and never questioned our choices. Temasek Polytechnic's School of Design was the most well-known in this area during my time, so that's where I went.
Josef Lee, 43 | Owner of a design and animation studio, published illustrator and author
didn’t do well in school. While I was an average student, I had always been interested in the Arts, whether it was fine art, music or dance. Since I was young, I put in a lot of time and effort into my interests. I guess it's not surprising that I did better in the humanities subjects in school and also in music and dance. But this was not the reason why I pursued dance as a career.
Being in the Arts sector is amazing and so fulfilling, but it's not easy, especially in current times. However, I’m glad the Arts is gaining more awareness amongst the
September 2022 Methodist Message 17
It never occurred to me that I could venture into dance education. I embarked on a career in photography first. I started to think about ballet as my career only after realising I didn’t enjoy taking photographs of people I didn't know. The turning point came after I became an assistant teacher for my mentor. I realised I really enjoyed teaching ballet and seeing improvements in my students, no matter how big or small the improvements were.
God has blessed me by giving me the opportunity to meet the right people at the right time. Dance education would never have been an option for me if I had not met my mentor. By God’s grace, things just fell into place after I started my journey as a ballet teacher.
Teresa Chiok, 32 | Ballet teacher
younger generation. Parents these days are also more open-minded in allowing their children to pursue the Arts as a career.
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Everyone has their own path to take, at their own pace. Having a career is not about racing against others. It’s more about choosing something that you can envision yourself doing for a long time.
In my youth, I was not sure if God was interested in my photography hobby. I didn't think of photography as a pursuit in spiritual matters and it had no bearing on my studies. It never occurred to me to ask God to bless my photography. However, when I was about 30 years old, I had a spiritual experience that directly impacted my photography. At that time, I had plateaued in my journey as a photographer, and much as I tried to study and research, I knew I was missing something.
At a Methodist camp in Malacca, I remember quite vividly the speaker asking if there was anyone who needed prayer, and I went up to the "Godaltar.says
you are impatient," the speaker told me. "But he says he will give it to you now."
I didn’t know what "it" was supposed to be, but I received it in faith. If it’s something from God, it must be good right? I was surprised, happy and slightly ashamed for being impatient with God. After the service ended, I walked back to my hotel room. I looked down the corridor and as I did so my mind began to abstract the corridor into graphic structural lines.
(SOTA)SingaporeArtstheofSchoolcredit:Photo
y first years of work were in the information technology (IT) field. After three years of going through systems analysis, database and web design, I was bored. During those years I was freelancing in photography, so I thought I’d try doing it full-time as a professional photographer. I fell in love with the business of photography, and decided to continue with it.
Discovering my gifts in the Arts 18 Methodist Message September 2022
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I was stunned.
I had never seen things that way before. I realised God was super interested in my photography. This gift of abstraction is foundational in my photography. Without it, I wouldn’t be here today doing the work I do.
Loh, 51 | Photographer
Wesley
As of today, I’ve been doing photography for 33 years. It's been such a wonderful journey and I’m content and happy.
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Valerie Tang-Yong, | Makeup artist
September 2022 Methodist Message 19
I had no intention to work full-time as a makeup artist, but once I became a qualified makeup artist, God provided work right from the start. I was so overwhelmed doing both jobs I had to choose one to focus on. I had no idea I would enjoy doing makeup and hairstyling so much. I believe God led me to pick up this particular set of skills! I enjoy interacting with my clients very much and finding out about their lives.
However, I didn't find job satisfaction. When my then-boyfriend decided to embark on theological studies, I decided to take up a makeup course. At that time, I was running an online clothing store as a side hustle, so it made sense to learn makeup so that I could save money on hiring a makeup artist for photoshoots.
y academic path was smooth. I went to a SAP school and Junior College, trained to be an accountant, and obtained a degree with distinction. I worked in one of the largest business consultancies for many years. That's like the 'ideal' Singapore education pathway.
To any young person thinking about your career path, just go with God’s flow. Don’t be hung up about the job you have in mind, because God might lead you elsewhere!
When my husband and I got married, we quit our jobs. Timothy left his job as an auditor in PricewaterhouseCoopers to work in a church and I became a full-time makeup artist. His parents were a bit shocked but mine were quite chill as they are very entrepreneurial by nature.
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s I write this article, many churches in Singapore are welcoming the return of their members to on-site Sunday services as Covid-19 measures are further relaxed by the government. The excitement of being able to gather physically in the sanctuary in such large numbers for worship is palpable, as many Christians experience a renewed sense of togetherness—the joy of being a community.
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Soundings
WEMANAGERFINANCEAREHIRING! To apply and view other Employment Opportunities at MCS, visit bit.ly/mcsjobs Alternatively, send your resume to hr@methodist.org.sg
Indeed, the Church as the assembly of God’s people defies all sociological, cultural, political and phenomenological definitions. It can only be understood theologically.
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.
The Church is indeed an assembly ( ecclesia ) and a fellowship ( koinonia ) of believers. However, it is a special and unique community that can never be reduced to a social club. Neither is it an association formed on the basis of common human desires, interests or cause, however noble.
A sacrament of divine love
September 2022 Methodist Message 21
Furthermore, as a community of believers united with Christ, the Church is a providential sign and symbol, indeed a mediator of God’s grace and love for the world. As the Methodist theologian Geoffrey Wainwright has put so well: "It is as men and women find, with the help of the liturgy, 'centre of gravity and value' in God that they are able to orient their lives, as themselves a kind of sacrament of the divine love, towards the welfare of all persons created in the image of God and called to his likeness." 3
Gathered in the name of Jesus Christ, the Church is so profoundly and intimately united with her Saviour by the power of the Holy Spirit that she is described in Scripture as the body of her Lord (1 Cor 12:27; Rom 12:45; Eph 4:4).
And as the Church becomes by God’s grace what it has been created to be, it can reach out redemptively to the world. It becomes "a kind of sacrament of divine love" (Wainwright), a means of divine grace, a witness and an instrument of God’s mercy and love.
4 Stanley Hauerwas, A Community of Character: Toward a Constructive Christian Social Ethic (Notre Dame, In: University of Notre Dame Press, 1991).
This includes making a deliberate effort to embrace those in the Christian community whom we have consciously or unconsciously marginalised—and there are such persons in every church! The Christian community, shaped by God’s Word and energised by his Spirit, must embody the undiscriminating and self-giving love of Jesus Christ.
There is a real sense in which the Church—as Christ’s visible body—is where the Saviour can be found. In his "Sermon on the Gospel for the Early Christmas Service", Martin Luther explicates this profound truth in this way: "The Christian [C]hurch… keeps all the words of God in her heart and ponders them, compares one with the other and with Holy Scriptures. Therefore [anyone] who wants to find Christ, must first find the [C]hurch. How would one know Christ and faith in him if one did not know where they are who believe in him?"
3 Geoffrey Wainwright, Doxology: The Praise of God in Worship, Doctrine and Life (New York: Oxford University Press, 1963), 123 (emphasis added).
As God’s people gather to worship and to listen to God’s Word read and proclaimed, they are continually being transformed by the truths and the values enshrined in the Holy Scriptures. They become a "community of character", to borrow Stanley Hauerwas’ arresting expression, manifesting love for God and for one another, and displaying authentic joy, peace, freedom and justice.4
Echoing the teaching of the early fathers of the Church, Luther adds that the Church has "Christ in [her] midst, for outside the Christian [C]hurch there is no truth, no Christ, no salvation." 2
1 Millard Erickson, Christian Theology (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker House, 1985), 1037.
2 Martin Luther, “Sermon on the Gospel for the Early Christmas Service”, in Church Postil (1522), in Luther’s Works, 55 Vols., ed. Jaroslav Pelikan and Helmut Lehman (Philadelphia and St. Louis: Fortress and Concordia, 1955-1986), 52:39-40.
The Christian life is not just about personal devotion to God. It has to do also with that profound sense of what John Wesley calls social holiness—that genuine agapic concern for each other.
The magisterial reformers of the 16th century—Martin Luther and John Calvin— described the Church as the creatura verbi , a creature of the word of God. The Church, in other words, came into being because of the divine initiative—it is the product of God’s grace.
It is the body of Christ, where the Saviour of the world can be found.
"The image of the body of Christ", explains theologian Millard Erickson, "emphasises the connection of the [C]hurch as a group of believers, with Christ. Salvation, in all of its complexity, is in large part a result of union with Christ." 1
For as Luther asserts, "The church is not wood and stone, but the assembly of people who believe in Christ." The Church is the communion of believers living the cruciform (cross-shaped) life and being transformed into the image of their Lord (2 Cor 3:18).
Currently, six different types of adaptive sports are played in MWS, including archery, darts and badminton.
Finding joy in helping seniors thrive Brendon, 50, started his journey with MWS as a volunteer in April 2021, introducing adaptive sports to seniors.
*Not his real name
the Methodist Welfare Services Communications Team / Photo courtesy of Methodist Welfare Services
Sports that have been modified to enable people of differing physical abilities to participate, also known as adaptive sports, means that all seniors can get involved, be they fit, pre-frail or frail, including wheelchair users.
22 Methodist Message September 2022
Bridging the gap between seniors and sports
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dart board and player is adjusted according to his or her ability
But his days brightened with the introduction of adaptive sports at the Home. Now, he has something to look forward to every day— playing balloon badminton and other sports with his peers.
The man behind the initiative is Brendon Yam. As the programme development manager at MWS, he develops and oversees the implementation of adaptive sports activities for seniors at MWS CMH and MWS Senior Activity Centres (SACs). These activities are aligned with the MWS Allied Health team’s mission to maximise rehabilitation potential and optimise quality of life for the elderly beneficiaries through integrated and holistic programmes.
In the case of badminton, slower-descending balloons replace shuttlecocks, giving seniors more time to react, explained Brendon. For basketball, a modified 'hoop' created using a cluster of chairs arranged in a wide circle, makes it easier for seniors to score.
"Our aim is to remove barriers to sports participation for seniors. Being able to achieve goals like hitting the winning shot during a basketball game, especially for the frail seniors, improves their self-esteem and mood," shared Brendon.
PARTNER US TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Looking for ways to positively impact the community? Build a meaningful career with us and join us to engage, enrich and empower the lives of the disadvantaged and distressed. View our job openings at mws.sg/join-us Alternatively, email volunteer@mws.sg to join our pool of volunteers.
"We promote adaptive sports because they are inclusive. Unlike typical sports, adaptive sports allow seniors of different levels of fitness and frailty to play together," said Brendon. "Adaptive sports are also a great way for seniors to stay active and healthy, and make new friends."
Making sports accessible to all seniors
ndy*, a resident at MWS Christalite Methodist Home (CMH), who is in the last stages of life, had been in low spirits, feeling bored and aimless.
"Engaging seniors and helping them grow in various areas of wellness through adaptive sports brings me great joy. Seeing their smiles when they overcome the challenges in the activities motivates me to keep going."
seniorguidingBrendonaatMWSSeniorActivityCentre-TeckGheeVistainadaptivedarts,wherethedistancebetween
He became a full-time staff member five months later. "I have always been interested in engaging seniors directly at the ground level. My past work experiences in policy and planning work did not allow for that," shared Brendon, referring to his senior management stints at a non-profit and an aged care agency.
ittle Candles School (LCS) stems from a vision to bring the gospel to the Thai people in the sub-district of Phrao, Chiang Mai. When my wife, Sharon, and I arrived in Phrao as missionaries in 2008 with a heart for church planning, we quickly discovered a means of connecting with the local people through the universal desire for education. We found that many non-Christian Thais readily embraced the idea of a Christian education, even though they were hesitant to join a church.
Daniel Loo has been a missionary with Methodist Missions Society (MMS) since 2016 and is the Pastor-in-Charge of Little Candles Methodist Church, Phrao, Thailand. / Photos courtesy of Daniel Loo
Little Candles School as a ministry platform
LCS has provided a platform for ministry to the students, staff, parents, and community over the years. This has included Christian teaching to the students through weekly Bible activities, daily praise and worship, and prayers before meals. The staff participate in bible study lessons once a week, and join the Little Candles Methodist Church Sunday worship service at least once a month.
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Giving every child an opportunity for a future
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Outreach
September 2022 Methodist Message 23
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By faith, we started a three half-day per week child-care programme in a rental apartment with six students (which included two of our own) and two staff. Within two years, this expanded into a full-time registered nursery of 80 students and six staff. At that point, it became clear that new facilities were needed to accommodate the growing ministry, so we registered the Smart Kids Foundation in 2010 in order to purchase land and build the Little Candles Kindergarten, which commenced operations in 2012.
The school reaches out to the community through holiday events such as Christmas, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and graduation where the children often do Christian presentations tied to the preaching of the
of the school through its awards has been recognised by Thailand's Ministry of Education, and the achievements of its students have also made a positive impact on the community. All these have enhanced the image of the church in Phrao.
As of 2021, LCS had 168 students at kindergarten level and 30 students at nursery level, giving it the highest enrolment of all kindergartens in Phrao.
will influence the receptivity of future generations of community leaders to the Christian mission.
Giving every child an opportunity for a future
Christmas presentation in 2019
Nevertheless, with no other Christian schools in Phrao, we envision that LCS will play a vital role. Not only will it serve the spiritual needs of the Christian community, but also provide quality education to the wider public while introducing them to the Christian faith. The presence of LCS
Expanding the school to include primary level education
In 2020, after several years of discussion and planning, Sharon and I oversaw the transfer of land and facilities of LCS from the Smart Kids Foundation to the Muangthai Mettakij Foundation, a subsidiary of Methodist Missions Society (MMS), in Thailand. This was done to ensure the long-term oversight of LCS under the accountability and support of MMS, and to expand the school to primary level education. Construction of the new facilities began in November 2021 and is expected to be completed for Primary 1 intake from May 2023 (Phase 1), with the final building completed by 2024 (Phase 2). However, with Covid-19 restrictions, rising steel prices and labour shortages, it has been challenging.
Funding targets for the building project have been reached in spite of increases in steel prices. However, the School Board is considering raising additional funding for furnishing requirements including tables and chairs, and improved facilities such as science and computer lab equipment. Will you help to give the children of Phrao the opportunity for a future?
For information on how to make a donation, write mms@methodist.org.sgto
n last month’s issue of Methodist Message , I shared about three men seeking to free themselves from the legacy of harsh parenting. In their childhood households, love and care was only shown, if at all, when they met parental expectations. Violence was used to resolve problems. Sadly, although unhappy with this way of relating, they found themselves repeating the same patterns with their spouses and children. This article will focus on how to break free from such a legacy and break the cycle of family violence.
You and Your Family
September 2022 Methodist Message 25
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.
that the angry outbursts are neither accidental nor spontaneous. Instead, it is volitional and goal-directed behaviour—either to get what we want or to help deal with unwanted feelings like loneliness or shame.
Breaking free from a legacy of wrath
This is when I clarify that feeling upset differs from acting aggressively. The former is an emotion, which occurs quickly and may take a long time to master. The latter, however, is a behaviour. For instance, if a car cuts into our lane we may feel angry and sound the horn or flash our headlights. However, if it is a police car with lights flashing and siren wailing, we usually find it in ourselves to restrain our responses. The annoyance is the same in both cases but the actions are very different.
When I speak with men about this, many protest. They say they cannot help how they feel, for example getting offended or angry when others push their hot buttons. They may also experience quick changes of emotions like being calm one moment and going ballistic the next.
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The first step is to recognise it for what it is. Relating to others in an overly controlling fashion and using abuse or violence to get one’s way is wrong and sometimes, even criminal. It is also morally and spiritually Whatunacceptable.oftenprevents us from changing is our denial or justification of our behaviour, such as "I lost control", "It’s out of (my) character", "I can’t help it", or "I’ve been under lots of stress lately". Calling it a behaviour is to acknowledge
Time out: Move away from the trigger
Learning to master and apply these three categories of responses may be challenging but it helps to recognise that the journey of change can be long, with ups and downs.
You will notice that the process of change and healing begins with the self before focusing on the relationship. Do not expect forgiveness while the abuse and violence is still ongoing. Full reconciliation is not possible when abusive partners’ actions keep driving the victims away.
The road to change involves recognising when one’s emotions are stirred up and taking action to manage one’s behaviour before it is too late. Taking action involves learning a range of responses that match the intensity of the emotional escalation and one’s capacity for control.
When the emotional state is at mid-range and one has some control, active problemsolving may be attempted. This may involve expressing oneself clearly and offering suggestions to resolve the situation. Before doing this, it is advisable to be calm and think through what to say in a measured way. If the attempt at problem-solving gets protracted or runs into a roadblock, stop before frustration sets in. If the causes of the problems are historical in nature, it may be time to find a mediator or a counsellor. Problem-solving is not about winning arguments and proving you are right. It is about finding a way forward that works for both.
Breaking free from a legacy of wrath 26 Methodist Message September 2022
When others’ actions annoy us and we are in a good state, we can choose to ignore them. Using healthy distraction or focusing on what is good in the relationship may be sufficient to diffuse our feelings. We need not fix everything that does not go our way.
Samaritans of Singapore: pat@sos.org.sg1800-221-4444
Recognising one's emotions
Society Against Family Violence: admin@safv.org.sgwww.safv.org.sg (resources for both men and women)
While this does not fix the problem, it limits further damage. Time out is like applying the emergency brake to prevent a crash. This step of disengagement should be followed by steps to de-escalate one’s feelings.
Active problem-solving
Patience from the victims is necessary but should be matched by perseverance to change by the other. If you are living under the tyranny of a person with an explosive temper, do speak with someone for advice on how to protect yourself and once safe, begin the process of personal and relational healing. If you need help to break free from an abusive legacy, speak with someone you respect and trust or call a helpline.
National Care Hotline: 1800-202-6868
Very high emotional escalation and low selfcontrol may call for a contingency response. The "time out" response—moving away from what is triggering the emotion and going somewhere to cool down—is best.
RESOURCES FOR HELP
Know that we are not meant to live in such misery and help is available.
has a purpose: we are called, so that all the communities around us will be blessed (Gen 12:2-3); so that we may proclaim the good news of Christ (1 Pet 2:9b).
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The communities around us will see God, and thus be blessed, when we love one another (1 Jn 4:12). But how does loving each other look like? Charles Wesley’s hymn, "All Praise to Our Redeeming Lord", expounds on this. By grace, we are first reconciled to God and to each other. On this basis, we are commanded to build each other up and journey together. Every individual gift is to be lovingly offered to the service of the whole, and unity is preserved through Jesus’ name.
"I will build my life upon your love" (Build My Life, Pat Barrett)
"I love you, Lord, oh your mercy never fails me" (Goodness of God, Bethel Music)
"Hallelujah, praise the One who set me free" (Living Hope, Phil Wickham)
September 2022 Methodist Message 27 Worship
Amelia Leo is a Programmes Executive at the Worship & Church Music Department of the Methodist School of Music. She and her husband, Joshua Loke, share a passion for writing new songs and retuning old ones for the edification of the church.
existsFaithinthe community
brief look at the top ten worship songs on Christian Copyright Licensing International's list reveals what many of us sing in church today—heartfelt songs to God about how he saved each of us, and how we each resolve to live for him. While there is nothing wrong with such songs, they tend to dwell on our individual salvation experiences and responses. If these are the only songs we sing, we will be missing out on a vital part of God’s redemptive plan—that God has called us to be "a holy nation, a people for his own possession" (1 Pet 2:9).
That God calls us primarily as a community is well-established in Scripture. God’s covenant to Abraham involved him as well as his descendants (Gen 17:7); and God’s call on the nation of Israel to be a holy people (Deut 14:2) is also echoed in the New Testament (1 Pet 2:9). Furthermore, our calling as a faith community always
The church today is surrounded by communities, societies, and nations wrecked by division and strife. What a powerful testimony it would be if, in Wesley’s words, "our fellowship below in Jesus be so sweet"!
Note: This hymn was retuned in 2020 by local composers in the hope that more will sing these texts in churches today.
Even now we think and speak the same, and cordially agree; concentered all, through Jesus' name, in perfect harmony.
We all partake the joy of one, the common peace we feel, a peace to sensual minds unknown, a joy unspeakable. And if our fellowship below in Jesus be so sweet, What height of rapture shall we knowWhen round his throne we meet.
Words: Charles Wesley / Music: Joshua & Amelia Loke
All praise to our redeeming Lord, who joins us by his grace, and bids us, each to each restored, together seek his face. He bids us build each other up; and gathered into one, to our high calling’s glorious hope, we hand in hand go on.
The gift which he on one bestows we all delight to prove; the grace through every vessel flows, in purest streams of love.
28 Methodist Message September 2022 Faith exists in the community
ALL PRAISE TO OUR REDEEMING LORD
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by Kopikaki team
eing a Methodist is to love God and our neighbours in all aspects of life, including through the good stewardship of wealth. This occurred to me when I started working recently.
I was proud of myself for having fulfilled two out of the three exhortations. To work hard and to save diligently is exactly what I have been doing.
He Sihao worships and serves at Ang Mo Kio Chinese Methodist Church. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree programme in Communications at Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS) and working at Spartans Boxing Club. / Photo courtesy of Jonathan See
John Wesley viewed stewardship as an integral part of discipleship. In his sermon on "The Use of Money", Wesley stated that Methodists ought to "Gain all you can", "Save all you can", and ultimately, "Give all you can".
or others and Creation. To "Save" means to live simply and forego an extravagant lifestyle.
This is how I can love my neighbour. I can express my love by ensuring that my neighbours, as children of God, do not lack for anything, while I am content with what I have.
This leads to us being able to "Give all you can", where the act of giving is an expression of our love for both God and our neighbour. In Wesley's words, "(money) is an excellent gift of God, answering the noblest ends. ln the hands of his children, it is food for the hungry, drink for the thirsty, raiment for the naked. It gives to the traveller and the stranger where to lay his head."
On closer reflection, I learnt that Wesley meant for us to "Gain" without harming our body, soul
How to gain, save and give all that I can
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Come and discover the richness of our Methodist tradition, and its relevance to the times we live in! Join ST Kimbrough, the founding President of the Charles Wesley Society (USA) as he sheds light on Charles Wesley’s theology and its importance in today’s world. Thereafter, expand your horizons with a series of skills training workshops and a song festival based on locally-composed tunes and Charles Wesley texts.
Visit https://ttc.edu.sg/english/study-at-ttc/equip-course-details-1/ $100 (Free for TTC Alumni and TTC Matriculated Students / Registration required)
Organised by EQUIP
In today’s climate of uncertainty, our children will need tools to face the challenges that come ahead. In this season, the role of fathers as spiritual heads of the home has never been more important. How can fathers pass on faith and anchor our next generation for the future? The Methodist Fathers Movement aims to build up fathers so that they can raise strong families. Come and find out what the new season of fatherhood and son-/daughter-ship entails. Be encouraged by God’s Word and receive an impartation of blessing to become the best father you can be. Hear from our speakers Bishop Emeritus Dr Wee Boon Hup, Mr Jason Wong, and a panel of pastors and young adult leaders. This event is open to all fathers, spouses and families.
THE FAITH WE SING: CHARLES WESLEY FOR THE CHURCH TODAY
8 October 2022, Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Holland Village Methodist Church Register by 30 September at https://msmusic.edu.sg/events/tfws2022/
Organised by Methodist School of Music
DISCIPLESHIP: HELPING PEOPLE BECOME FULLY MATURE IN CHRIST
PASSING ON FAITH
The gospel is not just about saving people from hell. God is saving people to be a new humanity, people who bear the image of Jesus. Most churches have some discipleship programme but this course will not focus on programmes. We will re-examine, from the context of Scripture and the realities of life today, how to help our people grow in Christlikeness. We will look at what Christlikeness looks like, and at the resources God has given us to help people to be more like Jesus. Our focus is not on some group of spiritual elites but on helping all of God’s people become “fully mature in Christ” (Colossians 1: 28–29). The class will become a learning community where instructor and class members will seek the Lord together for His wisdom on this critical subject.
Organised by Methodist Fathers Movement
19, 26 Sep / 3, 10, 17, 31 Oct / 7 Nov 2022, (Mondays), 7.30 p.m. to 9.30 p.m. Wesley Methodist Church / via Zoom (TBC)
1 October 2022, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Toa Payoh Methodist Church Visit tiny.cc/TRAC_discern
Organised by TRAC Board of Ministry
VOCATIONAL CONVERSATIONS: DISCERNING YOUR PASTORAL CALL
15 October 2022, Saturday, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. ACS (Barker Road), Mrs Lee Choon Guan Concert Hall Register at https://tinyurl.com/passingonfaith2022-MFM
Vocational Conversations is an interactive session where you can explore more about your calling into full-time pastoral ministry. Hear stories and testimonies from various pastors about their journeys into the vocation and how the Lord has led them. This session is especially suited for those who have an interest or are discerning their call into the pastoral ministry. Come join the conversation.
