TEXT: TAN WEE PIN
PHOTOS: PHILIP LAM

THE Chinese Annual Conference (CAC) celebrated the 120th Anniversary of The Methodist Church in Singapore with a Service of Praise at Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church (TA2 Sanctuary) on May 2.


About 1,200 members from the 16 CAC churches attended the service, which was organised by the CAC Board of Laity.


As the TA2 Sanctuary could not accommodate all the worshippers, late-comers were directed to the two lecture halls.


The Rev See Ping Eik, Chairman of the CAC Board of Worship and Music and the Pastor-in-Charge of Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church, led the congregation in praising the Lord almighty.


Mr Goh Say Pin, Chairman of the Board of Laity, extended a warm welcome to the congregation.


In his sermon, the CAC President, the Rev Khoo Cheng Hoot, urged the congregation to "stay relevant, stay connected and stay in Christ".


In a "Presentation of Heritage", Dr Tan Chew Lim, Lay Leader of Telok Ayer Chinese Methodist Church, did a presentation on the 120-year history of The Methodist Church in Singapore and the 116-year history of Telok Ayer CMC.


With the aid of Powerpoint, Dr Tan showed the congregation how the first missionaries landed in Singapore, how the Chinese dialect mission began and how the first dialect church, the Telok Ayer Church, was formed.


He pointed out that Telok Ayer Church had borne much fruit by branching out to launch a few other churches.


Bishop Emeritus Wong Kiam Thau pronounced the benediction.


After the tea break, 13 churches contributed an item each for the Anniversary Concert. They included choir singing, a Chinese pipa solo, an Angklung and Recorder rendition, and Chinese dancing. The popular Voices of Praise Choir was also present.


The celebrations ended with a nine-course Celebration Lunch.

Tan Wee Pin is the Editor of the CAC News.

The call to worship, and the people of God stand to offer their praises and thanksgiving.

A word of welcome by Mr Goh Say Pin (right).
With him is the interpreter, the Rev Louis Chai.

A Chinese dance by Toa Payoh Chinese Methodist Church.