By KENNETH HUANG

APRIL 20, 2003 -- Easter Sunday -- will always be a special day for the congregation worshipping at the "Preaching Point at ACS(I)" for it was the day that the congregation was constituted a new local church known as "Living Waters Methodist Church" (LWMC) - the 18th Local Conference in TRAC.


In the first half of that morning at 8 am, congregation members who had earlier indicated that they wanted to be founding members of LWMC gathered at the Centre for Performing Arts, Anglo-Chinese School (Independent) - the worship venue - for the Constituting Church Conference, which was chaired by the Rev Dr Daniel Koh, District Superintendent (West).


After declaring the purpose of the conference and saying the opening prayer, he went on to receive 138 people as founding members.


Then came the election of stewards by these founding members, after which LWMC was declared duly constituted. This was followed by the holding of the first Local Conference of LWMC at which members of the Local Church Executive Committee (LCEC) were elected from the stewards and resolutions passed to have the church duly organised, pursuant to the provisions of the Book of Discipline.


The Rev Dr Koh closed the proceedings with a lovely and meaningful prayer: "Almighty God, upon Your Son Jesus Christ You built Your Church. Bless this Your congregation. Watch over its beginning, increase its ministry and mission, and sustain it to the end, through Jesus Christ our foundation. Amen."


A simple breakfast was served to this joyous group of founding members as they celebrated the formation of LWMC and remembered God's goodness over the last five years from the time this congregation first started out as "Preaching Point at ACS(I)" on April 12, 1998.


Moving to the second half of that morning, at 10 am, LWMC held its Easter Sunday-cum-Inaugural Worship Service, and what a worship service it was! Leaders of Trinity Annual Conference, Barker Road Methodist Church (our "mother" church), Anglo-Chinese School (Independent), Wesley Methodist Church and other TRAC churches, together with many supporters and well-wishers, joined the LWMC congregation in a wonderful time of worship of our God.


The Rev Dr Norman Wong, under whose leadership when he was the Pastor-in-Charge of BRMC this congregation was started, was the guest preacher. He preached a sermon appropriately entitled, "The Next Chapter", based on Mark 16:1-8, encouraging and challenging those present to encounter the risen Jesus and exhorting the LWMC congregation to preach the Gospel faithfully.


Congratulatory messages from Bishop Dr Robert Solomon, the TRAC President, the Rev Dr Isaac Lim, BRMC's Pastor-in-Charge, the Rev Malcolm Tan, and ACS(I) Principal, Dr Ong Teck Chin, all of whom were unable to be present at the worship service, were read out to the congregation.


The Rev Dr Koh also said a prayer of dedication for the LCEC of LWMC, after they were introduced to the congregation.


The service closed with a period of praise and dedication to God, when the younger worshippers led the congregation with a tambourine dance as the congregation sang the final song, "The River is Here" - a song that reminds LWMC that when people come to God in faith, they will experience revival and life.


As people left the service, they were given a souvenir mug specially designed to mark the occasion. The day's celebrations ended with a lunch at the ACS(I) Boarding School's Dining Hall.


Do pray for this newest Local Conference in TRAC that LWMC may be faithful to God and serve Him as it lives out its Motto: "To Know and Proclaim Jesus Christ - the Way, the Truth and the Life."

The Rev Kenneth Huang is Pastor-in-Charge of Living Waters Methodist Church.

Many came to the inaugural worship service of Living Waters Methodist Church. -- LWMC picture.

Young worshippers leading the congregation in singing "Songs of Dedication". - LWMC picture.