BRMC to SHINE FORTH for JESUS for THE SAKE OF THE WORLD A Publication OCTOBER to BY BARKER Road JANUARY 2015 METHODIST CHURCH MCI(P)129/01/2015 HE WHO WAS SEATED ON THE THRONE SAID: “I AM MAKING EVERYTHING NEW!” THEN HE SAID, “WRITE THIS DOWN, FOR THESE WORDS ARE TRUSTWORTHY AND TRUE.” (REVELATION 21:5 NIV) BECAUSE OF THE LORD’S GREAT LOVE WE ARE NOT CONSUMED, FOR HIS COMPASSIONS NEVER FAIL. THEY ARE NEW EVERY MORNING, GREAT IS YOUR FAITHFULNESS. (LAMENTATIONS 3:22-23 NIV) CONTENTS FRONT PAGE HOUSE OF BREAD Photographer: Church Volunteer 22 BRMC WSCS Ladies’ Retreat: The River of Life 3 The Pastor Speaks 25 BRMC Discipleship & Nurture Ministry: 4 Christmas@BRMC A Married Couple’s GDIC Journey 7 Farewell & Thank You Dear Pastor 9 The Grace of our God on our Shepherd HOUSE OF PRAYER 27 BRMC Marriage Preparation Class HOUSE OF SALVATION 29 BRMC Glowing Years Ministry: Growing Together 10 BRMC Mission Trip to Cambodia in Christian Maturity 12 BRMC URS Mission Trip to South India 14 BRMC Upper Room Evangelistic Service: Dignity Restored SPECIAL FEATURES 16 BRMC Witness & Evangelism Ministry: 31 BRMCK Children’s Day Celebrations The Alpha Course 32 Down Memory Lane 34 Undercover Christians: A Challenge to Shine and not Shy for Jesus HOUSE OF COMPASSION 35 BRMC Newcomers’ Lunch 19 BRMC Outreach & Social Concerns: A Caregiver’s Perspective Part 2 36 Announcements 20 BRMC Outreach & Social Concerns Ministry: Appreciation Party for Caregivers @St Luke’s Eldercare 40 Upcoming Events Uphill & Beyond welcomes article contributions on all aspects of church life at BRMC. Do you have a passion for writing? BRMC needs you! If you are keen to contribute, do contact: [email protected] or sms/call 9621 1974 Publisher: Rev Dr Chiu Ming Li Editor : Corinne Teo (LMS) Editorial Assistant: Mathew Kwan Editorial Support: Dr Jeanette Hui, Mrs Sally Tan, Mrs Lee Tan Lynn, Mrs Karen Tan, Ms Pang Yin Wah Photographer: BRMC Volunteers 48 Barker Road Singapore 309917 • Tel: 6256 4298 • Fax 6255 4030 • Email: [email protected] MCI(P)129/01/2015 THE Pastor SPEAKS Rev Dr Chiu Ming Li Rev Lawrence TC Chua Rev Daniel Terence Yeo Pastor-In-Charge Pastor Pastor Rev See Swee Fang Rev Edmund Koh at Bukit Batok Preaching Point Pastor I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them. (Hosea 11:4) I remember when God and I were best friends. The long walks, the hours spent quietly and alone in Bukit Timah Hill Forest Reserve; yet I was never alone. We had deep conversations. No subject was off-limits – we talked about the beautiful and the ugly, my raw feelings of hatred and lust, my lofty dreams and wild aspirations. Obeying God was not a dread; it was a joy. Not a moment passed when I did not yearn for snatches of time to talk with God. What drew me to God was first, a welling inside me of a powerful sense of being loved that defied description. I found myself passionately in love with God. I felt safe when I spoke with God, and I felt powerful. I felt as though no obstacle was too difficult for God and me to scale. Most of all, I found that we shared a common passion for the many hurting people I met every day. I fear that we, no I, have formalized God. I am embarrassed to talk of God in endearing terms, of God as a friend we could fall in love with. We think it is safer to be proper, to perform our duties to God, to give mental assent to His decrees, to acknowledge His Presence. While we use a language of reverence, it is also formal, business-like, an officious attitude towards God. Safer perhaps. Certainly less vulnerable, more controlled. But with it, we risk losing the passionate friendship, the quiet sobbing of one overwhelmed by love, the simple obedience of a child eager to please his Father. The lyrics of the song “You were Always on My Mind” (made famous by Willie Nelson) express regret of a friendship gone formal, and a longing for a return to the first love. Maybe I didn’t hold you Little things I should have said and done All those lonely, lonely times I just never took the time And I guess I never told you You were always on my mind I’m so happy that you’re mine You were always on my mind May we know and love Christ once again. Rev Dr Chiu Ming Li Pastor-In-Charge BRMC PAGE 4 UPHILL & BEYOND OCTOBER to JANUARY 2015 BRMC “For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His CHRISTMAS @BRMC shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting SANCTUARY SERVICES Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end.” (Isaiah 9:6,7 NIV) We declared these verses in unison at the 3 services held in the sanctuary along with the familiar carols. “Silent Night, Holy Night”, “Joy to the World” and “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” on Christmas Day December 25, 2014. Rev Malcolm Tan’s message at the 3 services was from Luke 2:10-14 and was entitled “The Sign of the Christ Child”. We were reminded of our God with us Emmanuel, who offers us the exchange of our fears for His joy, our troubled hearts for His peace and our sin for His pardon and reconciliation. We rejoice that His favour rests upon us (2:14). Glory to God in the highest. Scenes from the 8.30am Service Cherubic voices filled the sanctuary as the children in the 8.30 am Choir ministered to families on Christmas morning. BRMC PAGE 5 UPHILL & BEYOND OCTOBER to JANUARY 2015 Scenes from the 10.30am Service The worship team and musicians leading families in the carol of praise “Go Tell It On The Mountain” Our angelic 10.30 Choir with conductress Mrs Lim Cheng Koi, delivering the introit “A Song Was Born At Christmas” BRMC PAGE 6 UPHILL & BEYOND OCTOBER to JANUARY 2015 Scenes from the 5pm Service Reciting the Nicene Creed as one Body (L) The 5pm Choir delivering the Introit “Emmanuel” , (M) Ushers Suu Kuan, Chen Kee and Georgina, (R) Shi-Ane at the piano with Ai Li Families worshipping the Lord with Christmas Carols BRMC PAGE 7 UPHILL & BEYOND OCTOBER to JANUARY 2015 BRMC The church held an appreciation and farewell dinner party for our outgoing Pastor-In- FAREWELL AND Charge, Rev Malcolm Tan at the ACS Auditorium on the evening of December 28. Rev THANK YOU Tan was posted to Covenant Community Methodist Church (CCMC) effective January 1, DEAR PASTOR 2015 at the 39th Session of the Trinity Annual Conference. It is noteworthy to mention that CCMC started out as a preaching point birthed from BRMC and Wesley Methodist Church in 1993 and it became a full-fledged Methodist Church in 1994. Almost 600 people were in attendance at the dinner party to bid a fitting farewell to our beloved pastor and to show our heartfelt appreciation for his faithful leadership over God’s church for 16.5 years. Local Church Executive Committee (LCEC) Vice-Chairman Loke Beng Fong hosted the dinner which began with a reprisal of a (L to R) Rev dance by the Creative Arts Ministry choreographed to the 2014 Chua, Rev Tan, Church Camp theme song “Send Us Forth”. Rev Dr Chiu, Rev Koh and Rev See Chan Kai Yau and Benjamin BC Tan, who were both former LCEC chairmen, commended Rev Tan. Benjamin referred to Rev Tan as “a special Pastor to us all” whose “faithful pastoral ministry touched all our lives...serving the LORD in BRMC with great care and dedication...bringing the message of God’s Word alive and relevant in so many ways”. When it was time for Rev Tan to share his parting words, he (Above) Beng Fong, Kai Yau and Benjamin; (Below) CAM item thanked church leaders and staff in partnering with Him to grow God’s church. In growing God’s church, Rev Tan quipped that the Pastors also grow together with the church. Rev Tan took time to ask his fellow pastoral team, Rev Dr Chiu Ming Li, Rev Lawrence Chua, Rev See Swee Fang and Rev Edmund Koh (Rev Daniel Terence Yeo was away), to stand with him on stage to give glory to God and to ask for the church to support this new team to be led by our incoming Pastor-In-Charge, Rev Dr Chiu in the coming year. BRMC PAGE 8 UPHILL & BEYOND OCTOBER to JANUARY 2015 Tan Loo Yeh, Rev Tan’s wife also took the stage to deliver kind words of appreciation back to the church for their long-standing and continued love and support to her and her family. Loo Yeh and her sons will continue to worship and minister in BRMC. Loo Yeh’s faithful service with the Women’s Society for Christian Service (WSCS) was commended by BRMC WSCS President, Rev Tan being prayed for by Lay Vivienne Chiang who presented Loo Yeh (L) WSCS President Vivienne Chiang Leader Choe Peng Sum with a token of appreciation. (R) Mrs Tan Loo Yeh addressing guests Preserved for posterity in group photos with Rev Tan The closing song “Thanks To God For My Redeemer” was led by Lim-Low Sow Yee accompanied by Dr Benjamin Ong on the keyboard.