Bishop Dr Solomon, with the Rev Niam Kai Huey as interpreter, delivering his sermon. - Methodist Message picture by
DANIEL LIE of Barker Road Methodist Church.
Indeed, Aldersgate Convention 2005 was the most successful to date in terms of numbers and participation. The opening Aldersgate Service at the joint premises of Faith Methodist Church and Queenstown Chinese Methodist Church on May 24 was attended by more than 1,000 worshippers. Bishop Dr Robert Solomon delivered the message entitled "What Do You See?" based on the text from Zechariah 4, from which the Rev James Thoburn preached the very first Methodist sermon in Singapore 120 years ago.
The closing Hymn Festival at Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church (TA2 Sanctuary) on May 28 drew close to 800 Methodists and friends.
The evening talks by the Rev Dr William Abraham at Barker Road Methodist Church on May 25, 26 and 27 were well attended with an average attendance of 300 per session, while the two-day seminar led by the Rev Dr Geoffrey Wainwright and the Rev Dr Karen Westerfield Tucker at Methodist Centre on May 27 and 28 attracted a record 172 participants not just from our churches in Singapore but also Methodists from Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines. All the three speakers are Wesleyan scholars from top American universities.
Also, the level of participation from the seminar participants was very encouraging, with people asking more questions and interacting more freely.
The general feedback from the convention participants was positive. Many urged The Methodist Church in Singapore to "keep the Aldersgate Convention going, continue to invite the best Wesleyan scholars, and open the convention to more Methodists in the region".
The Rev Kwek Peng Soon, Pastor of Wesley Methodist Church in Kampar, West Malaysia, and a member of the Board of Music and Worship of Trinity Annual Conference of The Methodist Church in Malaysia, said: "The seminar affirms that for vital worship to continue, one has to take both theology and mission seriously."
He said that Professor Karen Tucker referred to both the historical Wesleyan perspective and the current cultural milieu and stressed that both had to be acknowledged for a meaningful, authentic encounter with God.
"Prof Wainwright challenged us to see that it is only Christian when such an encounter is grounded in the Gospel of Jesus Christ and when it takes the unity of Christian worship as vital for the integrity of Christian witness.
"We emerged enriched and challenged by this seminar to take worship more seriously than just as a personal encounter with God."
The Rev Primasiri Fernando, Pastor of the Maharagama-Mt Lavinia circuit of The Methodist Church in Sri Lanka, was pleased to find that the doctrines expounded by the convention speakers were biblically based.
The Sri Lankan pastor of 35 years was glad he came because he had the opportunity to learn of the richness of worship styles and the cultures of Singapore and the other countries of the participants.
"I now have an idea how Methodists work in various countries. The styles and ways of doing things differ, but it is important for the mission of the Church to remain the same," he said.
His colleague from Colombo, Mr T. R. Obeth, a youth counsellor and lecturer at the Lanka Bible College, said from the two-day seminar he had picked up "inspiring messages and learned how worship is based on the Word".
Lively Hymn Festival brings curtains down on Convention 2005
"It was a thrilling experience for me to meet Methodists from Singapore and other countries, and it made me think of the impact John Wesley had made in the uttermost parts of the world. It also reminded me that for the sake of Christ, we have to continue to do His mission."
Mrs Vivien Lee, Chairman of the Worship and Music Committee of Wesley Methodist Church, found the seminar "very beneficial".
"It was a good learning experience, and I've certainly picked up some useful pointers," she added.
Her fellow church member, Mr Albert Lim, a lay worship leader, added: "The two-day seminar brought me back to the basics of our Methodist worship. I found the seminar useful and practical.
"While it may be necessary to adapt the style to suit modern needs, the form and structure of worship must remain intact and must be relevant to the times."
Among the youngest seminar participants were five young people from Foochow Methodist Church - Mr Joshua Chew, 24, Mr Jeremy Loo, 20, Ms Jane Lim, 19, Mr Lee Syn Min, 24, and Mr Daniel Lim, 24.
Mr Chew, who is training to be a cell group leader and Sunday School teacher, said he had been greatly inspired by what he had learned as he only had a "rough idea" of what worship leading entailed before he came for the seminar.
Mr Loo, who is entering the Singapore Management University this month to study business management, found the seminar useful as it had addressed some of the issues he and his friends had been struggling with.
"The seminar served as a reminder to bring us back to the basics - what it means to praise God," he added.
Said Mr Lim: "It is very important for us as youths to pick up the basic principles and learn the right things so that we can impart the right knowledge to other young people."
The two-day seminar closed with a worship service at which the Holy Communion was administered by Bishop Dr Robert Solomon. He was assisted by the Rev James Nagulan, President of Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference; the Rev Chong Chin Chung, Pastor-in-Charge of Paya Lebar Chinese Methodist Church; and the Rev Dr Lorna Khoo, Pastor-in-Charge of Living Hope Methodist Church.
The Rev Dr Abraham, Albert C. Outler Professor of Wesley Studies at Perkins School of Theology, Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, delivered three evening talks entitled "Faith and the Promises of God", "Faith and the Personal Experience of God", and "Faith and the Power of God".
Church members and friends were rewarded with the "light and easy" melodies and music that accompanied the singing of Wesleyan hymns at the Hymn Festival at TA2 which brought the curtains down on Aldersgate Convention 2005.
The lively atmosphere prevailed throughout the 75-minute festival with joyous participation from the congregation, including the Rev Dr Karen Tucker and the Rev Dr Wainwright. The Rev Dr Abraham had left earlier in the day for home for a speaking engagement.
The festival was organised by the Methodist School of Music (MSM). The 130-member Festival Choir was directed by Ms Wong Lai Foon, an MSM teaching associate.
Choir members were drawn from the MSM, Ang Mo Kio Chinese Methodist Church, Bukit Panjang MC, Paya Lebar Chinese MC, Telok Ayer Chinese MC, Toa Payoh Chinese MC, Barker Road MC, Christ MC, Covenant Community MC, Faith MC, Pentecost MC, Toa Payoh MC, Trinity MC, and Wesley MC.
A 70-strong Children's Choir was directed by Ms Mary Gan, Principal of MSM. The children were from Paya Lebar Chinese Methodist Church Children's Choir, Toa Payoh Chinese Methodist Church Jiayun Choir, and Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church Praise Choristers.
It was a fitting way to end Aldersgate Convention 2005 after a week of solid learning and discussions. Despite the celebratory mood, there was a feeling of ease and relaxation.
