Celebrating 90 years of God's blessings
The launch of the 90-hour Music Marathon at Millenia Walk. - PLMGS picture.
By JUDY WONG
PAYA LEBAR Methodist Girls' School
(PLMGS) entered 2006 declaring God's glory with thanksgiving and
rejoicing. Nine events were organised throughout the year to celebrate
90 years of God's blessings.
Indeed as we look back on the history of PLMGS, we see God's unfailing
goodness and faithfulness upon us continually. Everyone in the
school, pupils and staff, recognises that we are "a chosen
people" set apart for a purpose - to live lives of holiness
(1 Pet.1:15), in obedience to His will, that we may be channels
of His grace and blessing, and declare His praises and His glory.
February was the "PL loves
the Community" month and the school had its very own Kindness
Movement to shower blessings on all. Each class was encouraged
to develop its own idea of showing kindness to the staff in the
school as well as to the community.
Residents in the school's vicinity were blessed with goodie bags
and the Secondary 4 and 5 girls visited the elderly residents
of Chinatown as part of their Community Involvement Programme.
In March a banner with the words
"Run the Race, Keep the Faith" was hoisted in the school
grounds and the 31st Annual Athletic Meet took place on March
24, 2006. The school community was reminded of the words found
in Hebrews 12:1 - "Let us run with perseverance the race
marked out for us."
In April, PL staff shared God's
love with the residents of the Society for the Aged Sick. Working
in five teams, the teachers and administrative staff visited the
home on five occasions. The staff and residents had a good time
of interaction and the music, song and dance presented by the
staff brought smiles to many faces.
A Mother's Day Dinner on May 12,
2006 was held in conjunction with the 90th Anniversary Celebrations.
The focus was on family bonding and hence the theme was "Ties
that Bind". The Parents School Support Group (PSSG) Committee
partnered the school's executive and administrative staff to organise
the dinner which was very well received.
"In Celebration - A 90-hour
Music Marathon" was one of the key events organised in celebration
of our 90th Anniversary. It was held over the weekend which incorporated
Youth Day and started on June 29, 2006 at 6.30 pm and ended on
July 3, 2006 at 1 pm. PL-Lites, past and present, parents and
honoured guests of the school occupied the Great Hall of the Millenia
Walk for 90 hours. PLMGSS made a joyful music unto the Lord.
The event raised funds in aid of Pathlight School as well as the
school redevelopment fund and placed PLMGS in the Singapore Book
Of Records.
Another musical event, "A
Symphony of Praise", took place on Aug 5, 2006 at the Singapore
Conference Hall. There were two performances, a matinee performance
and an evening performance. All the music groups in the school
were involved and the programme included performances by PL-Lites,
Angela Lim Yu Fang and Zerline Lee (on the piano). Guest artistes
were Noella Yan (on cello) and Albert Lin (on piano), Wong Kae
Chee (on harp) and Thum Soon Boon (on guzheng).
"Honouring Our Teachers" in September on Teachers' Day
was a very touching event. For the first time, the school invited
all the retired teachers and principals and former staff for the
celebration, which included a concert and lunch. What a joyous
occasion it was to have our old teachers back!
"Celebrating 90 Years of
God's Blessings" culminated in the Founder's Day Service
on Oct 13, 2006 at Paya Lebar Methodist Church and a grand dinner
on Oct 14, 2006 at the Neptune Theatre. Many alumnae PL-Lites
returned specially to celebrate with us.
Truly it was God's grace that enabled us to have such a wonderful
and fulfilling year. May we at PLMGS always "Look up, Lift
up" to God and give Him the Glory!
Judy Wong is a teacher at Paya Lebar Methodist Girls' School.