Speaker: Revd Chua Siang Guan
Dates: 6, 13, 20, 27 July, 3, 10 & 17 August
Time: 9.30 am - 12.30 pm
Venue: Diocesan Building, #01-08 (1^st level)
Cost: $20

The “Latter Prophets” is the term used in the Hebrew Scriptures with its own unique arrangement as compared to our more familiar “major or minor prophets” in Christian tradition. Why does the Hebrew Scripture arrange it in this way and the theological message this conveys?

The Latter Prophets covers the writings of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the so-called 12 “minor prophets”, known simply as “The Twelve” in the Hebraic tradition. The historical period of these writings stretch from the 5^th to 8^th century B.C.

In the course of the seven weeks, we will survey the political, military and religious climate in Israel and the world back then. We will also look at some of the common themes of doom and judgment from God; the urgency and relevance of their message and ethical implications for us today as salvation history unfolds; just like they were for their audience back then.

To register online, click here. Click here to view the ePoster.

For more information, email teb@anglican.org.sg or call 6288 8944 ext. 222.

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This verse sums up ACROSS’ mission of providing a Christian response to humanity in times of crises from natural disasters like earthquake, cyclones, tsunamis and floods, as well as helping people who are displaced from their homeland.

In 2002, the Anglican Crisis Relief Outreach + Support, Singapore (ACROSS) started as the crisis relief ministry of the Diocesan Missions Board. It has been an amazingly fruitful decade by God’s grace.

Our modus operandi is to partner a local church or Christian organisation to provide relevant relief to victims of a natural disaster such as an earthquake, cyclone, flood or drought. We do not dictate what needs to be done but we respect the culture and management of our partner on the ground. We endeavour to support their relief work and aim to enhance and strengthen their relief efforts. On a case-to-case basis, we may consider long-term rehabilitation and reconstruction partnership with the local partner.

Our offer of help is unconditional, unbiased and solely aimed at expressing the love of God to those whom we are in contact with. We are responding in obedience to God’s commandment “to love our neighbours as ourselves”.

There was no high-key celebration for our 10^th anniversary last year but instead we were kept busy throughout 2012 with trips to Myanmar, Thailand and the Philippines, Pakistan and various ministry developments.

God has provided ACROSS with the necessary resources; finances, volunteers and networks, which allowed us to be His ambassadors to those who are in crises. Here’s a broad overview of a decade of God’s inspired journey for ACROSS:

See article here.

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This year began for the St Andrew’s Mission Hospital (SAMH) with a special Thanksgiving Service. 2013 marks the 100^th anniversary of the Anglican Church serving the community through medical care. The theme for the centenary is ‘Trusting God, Bearing Fruit’.

On 18 October 1913 – St Luke’s Day, Medical Missions for women and children was launched with these words, “To the Glory of God and for the relief of suffering, I declare this Dispensary open!” The vision was to bring God’s blessing through the alleviation of pain and suffering of the sick and poor.

Four months later, a second dispensary was opened in Upper Cross Street. On a daily basis, the two dispensaries treated some 40 patients; Chinese, Tamils, Malays, Jews, Armenians and Japanese. The Upper Cross Street Clinic had incidents of patients bringing their own beds and checking themselves in for overnight care!

The work has kept on growing and developing like a thriving well-tended tree. One of the most valuable aspects of the initial work was the training of local nurses so that they can work amongst women of their own race.

It is not surprising then that at a Meeting for Medical Missions held in 1932 in London, Mr Dickson Wright paid tribute to Dr Charlotte Ferguson Davie,

They had no facilities for dealing with patients, and the whole establishment cannot be described in any other words than inadequate. But there was a very wonderful woman in Singapore at that time – Mrs Ferguson Davie….She got to work, she formed a committee, she got the Government to give a bit of land for nothing…and she got a firm of architects to work for nothing…and in 1923 had what I think must have been a wonderful satisfaction to her – a three-storied hospital in the middle of Singapore, in one of the best streets there, and it was opened by the wife of the Governor of Singapore….the beds were quickly filled, in fact there was a waiting list: the patients were given something they could not get in the large government hospital, and the work has gone on increasing from year to year…

During the Thanksgiving Service held at St Andrew’s Cathedral on 25 January 2013, tributes were made to Dr Ferguson Davie and other early pioneers such as Dr Patricia Eliot who helped set up St Andrew’s Orthopaedic Hospital (1939) to help children who once faced life as cripples.

And there were many firsts. In 1948, SAMH in Tanjong Pagar was a paediatric clinic, the first such dedicated hospital in South East Asia. St Andrew’s Community Hospital (SACS) is the first community hospital linked to an acute care restructured hospital. And not forgetting the St Andrew’s Autism Centre and the St Andrew’s Lifestreams, our training arm.

As we look ahead to the next 100 years, Archdeacon Wong Tak Meng encouraged the congregation comprising staff, board and management committee members of SAMH and SACS as well as clergy to remain inspired by the dedication of the pioneers and their resilience. The work is about demonstrating God’s word in action to meet changing needs.

That night saw the launch of the Centenary theme ‘Trusting God, Bearing Fruit’ and logo at the combined SACS and SAMH Staff Dinner by the President, Bishop Rennis Ponniah.

At time of writing there are plans to commemorate the centenary with a memorial walk and service at the St Andrew’s Autism Centre on 21 April. On that weekend the community services will also be highlighted in parishes around Singapore. It is therefore significant for the service to culminate in the planting of a tree by Bishop Rennis Ponniah. This tree is to be a lasting symbol of the Centenary theme as it takes root and bears much fruit in His service.

On 20 April 2013, SAMH held a Tree-Planting Ceremony where staff and clients joined Bishop Rennis in planting a Gustava Superba tree. The apt words of Jeremiah 17:1-8 were inscribed on the plaque:

But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
whose confidence is in him.

They will be like a tree planted by the water
that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
and never fails to bear fruit.

See article here.

“170 people responded to the message; 30 who gave their lives to Christ and 30 more who indicated they were interested to know more about Jesus,” smiles Revd Steven at the fact that many were blessed at the rally. Some people may feel that mass evangelism events have had their day in the sun, however this vicar feels that these events help stir up the whole church to be focused on evangelism.

Revd Steven was ordained as deacon in 1999 by Bishop Moses Tay and as a priest the following year by Bishop John Chew. In 2002, he was instituted and inducted as Vicar of Church of the Epiphany. He was appointed the Eighth Vicar of Christ Church slightly more than a year ago.

Christ Church parish is the first Anglican Tamil Church. Since the late 19^th Century, there have been Indian Christians and missionary work among the Indian migrants. Peter Tychicus was the first Tamil missionary who was recruited from Madras in 1865. Revd William H. Gomes from Sri Lanka soon followed suit in 1875. A Tamil congregation was formed at the then St Peter’s Church in Stamford Road. But it was Revd Canon C. D. Gnanamani who had the foresight to purchase land at the corner of Dorset and Leng Kee Road to build a church and a school.

On Palm Sunday, 16 April 1940, the first Eucharist was celebrated in the newly dedicated church. Revd Canon P. I. Samuel Baboo recalls with emotion, “We thank God for this new church dedicated in the name of our Lord and Saviour. He alone can help us to develop our work for the glory of His name.”

Having a congregation that now comprises 85% expatriate Indians, Christ Church supports several mission agencies in India. Christ Church is also active in the deaneries of Thailand, Indonesia and Cambodia. Revd S. P. Bhagwat, who serves in the Deanery of Cambodia, has a standing invitation to preach at the Punjabi Service whenever he is in Singapore. The church has services in Tamil, Hindi, English and Malayalam. There is also a bilingual service. Revd Steven is also assisted by another pastoral staff, Mr Sooriyakumar.

The congregations are being challenged to consider five areas in Singapore (Yishun, Jurong, Tampines, Bukit Batok and Bedok) where there are large Indian populations. Cells and individuals have been mobilised to do outreach and distribute tracts. One family in Bedok has come to accept Christ through these efforts and will attend church this Palm Sunday. One other new initiative is a ‘Welcome Tea’ for new contacts and those the church are trying to reach.

Revd Steven recently taught the Diocesan Lay Training 1 course ‘How to lead a person to Christ?’ He plans to run it yearly, and the Alpha Course sometime in the future. Cells groups are encouraged to plan bridging activities like inviting neighbours to dinner and other celebrations such as birthdays.

As the Vicar, what he feels is central and at the heart of what drives the church is the need for spiritual renewal through the Holy Spirit. For the ‘Festival of Peace’, the leaders and members were encouraged to fast and pray for one day.

On Sundays, there is an evening Indian Friends Tamil Fellowship which is an outreach to foreign workers. Parish worker Mr Edison Nesakumar Wilson visits dormitories to befriend the workers. He calls those who are attending the fellowship, to check on their well-being. Many are lonely and may have family problems back home. There are many needs; legal support, wage disputes, injustices, etc. Edison has also joined an outreach to the dormitories with the mobile clinic jointly run by St Andrew’s Cathedral and St Andrew’s Community Hospital. He is very encouraged by the wonderful responses in the fellowship as there is a keen desire to hear the word of God. In addition to all he is doing amongst the foreign workers, Edison also ministers and prays with the clients at the Family Care Centre.

Christ Church has many strengths; liturgical worship, a strong choir, vibrant men’s and women’s fellowships, and a Sunday School. Education was and still is one of its core ministries. The church had birthed Christ Church Secondary School and still maintains links by sponsoring book prizes. One of her PCC members is on the school management committee. Christ Church has also been running a kindergarten for more than 20 years.

A seminary student who is an intern, together with two husband-and-wife teams, are helping build up the youth ministry. There are now 30 regular youth and there is a move towards initiating a youth service. This is the church that once discipled a young altar boy by the name of Rennis Solomon Ponniah who became an active youth leader and then some.

The shelling during World War II destroyed the roof but not the church building. God’s hand has not only preserved the building but is now guiding the 73-year-old church to grow its ministry to the Indian diaspora represented in Singapore.

See article here.

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Dino Thangamany, St Andrew’s Community Chapel (SACC), is a multi-tasking parish worker. He handles Cells, Baptism and Confirmation lessons, Logistics Ministries, coordinates Missions and Outreach, and more recently Children’s Ministry. He will also graduate from Trinity Theological College this year.

In 1998, I first heard the call to serve. I did not pay any attention to it. Later a call was given to help set up SACC, I took leave from work, sometimes, to help. I did everything, including taking care of minor repairs!

In 2002, I went on a mission trip to Cambodia. I looked at the children there and I felt compassion for them. I was concerned about the Cambodians and their welfare.

In 2006, I was at a prayer meeting, one of my church leaders came up to me and said, “You can run but you cannot hide. God knows and I know.” The following Sunday, a Parochial Church Council (PCC) member came to me and said I was diverting my calling. A couple whom I rarely spoke with came to me with this message, “I called you twice. Don’t worry I will look after your family.”

Also I felt drawn to Cambodia and I was asked myself what could be done there. At the next prayer meeting, I spoke to my Vicar then, Revd Wong Tak Meng, about the tugging in my heart and calling. For almost two thirds of a year, he journeyed with me. My wife and children were very supportive.

I was at the cross roads. I had just been promoted and I needed to re-locate to Moscow. Other doors were closing. My wife Maria said, “I think God is calling you.” So I took the plunge.

I attended courses at St Andrew’s Lifestreams, got involved in chaplaincy work. I helped with funerals and praying for members. I learnt a lot from the two clergy: Revd Canon Wong Tak Meng and Revd Edwin Tan—they taught me that it is about ministry to people—attend to the people first; it is about pastoral presence.

Central to being a Parish Worker is my spiritual formation, I learn about accountability and responsibility. I don’t count the cost of serving. I learn some lessons the hard way, for example, I was delayed going to visit someone in hospital. And he passed away before I could get there.

I appreciate my wife, Maria. She is a gem. We sold our car when I went into full-time service. She bought me a van with her savings so I can use it for ministry purposes. We have been married 27 years. And it was she who brought me to Christ.
 

Ti Lian Swan, a former lawyer who serves at St Andrew’s Cathedral now, has an equally interesting journey of faith.

The words of Exodus 3 just resonated with me when I read them one Chinese New Year. It was all the verbs (“I [God] have seen”, “I have heard”, “I am concerned”, “I am sending you”) that led me to reflect on His call to the full-time ministry. I was worshipping at Church of Our Saviour then and over the course of about three years, I was asked whether I would consider going full-time. Revd Canon Derek Hong was the first to ask. Going full time was never in my mind, until God spoke to me through Exodus 3.

I prayed about it. Five years later when I was promoted to superscale at HDB [Housing Development Board], I decided I felt restless within and knew it was God’s time for me to go into full-time ministry.

With Pastor Derek’s blessing, I joined St Andrew’s Cathedral. I had prayed about where to go and God brought back to mind Exodus 3 and the impression was to serve Him in the Cathedral. When I asked for a more specific confirmation, I received it at a conference. God spoke to me through a leader from Faith Community Baptist Church (a stranger to me) and without me even asking, he prophesised over me “You are on the threshold of your life. God has a plan for you. You are to join the team in St Andrew’s Cathedral, to fulfill God’s redemptive purpose for the city. Even though you feel so small and insignificant, Jesus is with you.” The words of Exodus 3 came back and I was directed to the Cathedral.

Lian Swan was asked to be the Administrator of the Cathedral and assist in the 7 a.m. and 8 a.m. services. Later, Lian Swan enrolled in Trinity Theological College to equip herself. She found it a trying time because it had been nearly 20 years since she last studied. Initially, she had three months of insomnia.

Since graduation, Lian Swan has been involved in pastoral work and was released from her administrative responsibilities. She re-joined the 7 a.m. service team and she enjoys ministering to the older folk who attend this service. She runs a bible study class for old folks and adults there.

All was not smooth sailing as she readily admits, “I questioned myself in 2007 – What am I doing? And in a silent retreat in Chiang Mai, my spiritual director (who had no knowledge of how God called me into the full-time ministry) told me that when he prayed for me, Exodus 3 kept coming to his mind and he asked me to meditate on it. I meditated and this time God said, ‘I am in the burning bush.’ I am with you in the puzzling situation you find yourself in.”

Lian Swan is growing deeper in her pastoral ministry and is moving into areas of intercession, discipling and mentoring. She also speaks with great excitement about her work and what the Holy Spirit is doing,

Last year, we held a Miracle Healing Rally on the 15^th and 17^th of August. On both nights the venue was full and we had to use overflow rooms. God had taught us to depend on Him in prayer and we saturated the whole rally with prayer, from the planning stage through the days of the rally itself. It was saturated with prayer, many were healed, even the intercessors who were praying on site. God is moving mightily in revival. God spoke to Deaconess June Tan when she asked Him for direction for the 7 a.m. service in December 2011 and He spoke to her from Zechariah 10:1 “Ask the Lord for rain in the time of the latter rain.” Many members of the 7 a.m. service, especially the elderly, began to experience revival too and have been coming forward for altar ministry. They never did before.

Lian Swan accepted Christ five times because she was not sure of her salvation. God has given her a passion and a gift for discipling young Christians, to build strong spiritual foundations in their lives. She is keen to mentor the younger ones and help others grow in their intimacy with the Lord. Her dream is to see a church filled with committed Christians who are healed of ‘pew-monia’.

Most of all, Lian Swan, like many of the 203 fellow English congregation Parish Workers, feels that all the hard work and struggles of pastoral ministry are joy in serving the Lord, “I am glad I obeyed call of the Lord of the burning bush.”

See article here.

Venue: Diocesan Centre, St Andrew's Village
Overview module: $5
Other modules: $20

Fees payable at first Session.

Click here for online registration. If you want to register or find out more about the course, email teb@anglican.org.sg or call 6288 8944 ext 222. Click here for the brochure.