By GRACIA CHIANG

ALDERSGATE Methodist Church (AMC) is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, and the theme for the celebrations is "Reaching Out … Touching Lives". This is apt as God has blessed us for the past 25 years.


Turning 25 is a milestone in any church's history, and as AMC turns 25 this year, members reflect on God's blessings upon the church. At the same time, church members are eager to reach out and bless the people within the community and beyond.


AMC started out as a small church -- Clementi Methodist Church -- without a permanent place of worship. It moved from Ulu Pandan American School Hall to Anglo-Chinese Junior College auditorium and then to Portsdown Road where its members spent five years there until they moved to the Fairfield Methodist Primary School auditorium.


After much "wandering", it finally relocated to Aldersgate Chapel at Dover Road in 1995 where it has been holding its weekly services since. On renaming the church to Aldersgate Methodist Church, it is AMC's hope that everyone who passes through its doors will continue to find his heart "strangely warmed" by God.

On May 23, 2004, Aldersgate Sunday, an evening Thanksgiving Service was held. The Rev Dr Isaac Lim, President of Trinity Annual Conference, spoke on the theme "Becoming His Church" based on the Scripture passage John 17:20-26.


The young ones expressing their joy their way at the Thanksgiving Dinner. -- AMC picture.

The sermon focused on Jesus' prayer for believers to be united in love just as the Father and Son are "One". Only then, he said, could the church be powerful and effective witnesses to the world and become the church that God desires it to be.


As the service came to a close, excitement mounted as the people scrambled from their pews towards the Fairfield Methodist Primary School hall for the Thanksgiving Dinner, ready to fill their stomachs and hearts with food and fellowship. And they were not disappointed. Besides a standard Chinese eight-course dinner, there were entertaining items put up by the different Pastoral Care Groups (PCGs).


The Children's Ministry was the first group to perform and did its own hip-hop and rap rendition of "To Be Like Jesus". "G.E.M.", led by their Sunday School teachers, turned rappers Jeffrey and Jacob. Next, there was much swaying and sashaying of feet as the Senior Ministry ladies strutted their stuff on stage in an item entitled "Let's Dance".


Inspired by percussion sensation STOMP, "Christ's Ambassadors" PCG made use of everyday items such as cans, pots and pans as they made a joyful noise unto the Lord.


Next to rally the crowd was the Youth Ministry which led the church in a time of games in which the audience was shown pictures of the most obscure parts of the church grounds and made to guess what those parts were used for. Black and white photos featuring some of the church members in their childhood days were also used to test the audience on who these members were.


Other PCGs like "Living Rock" and "Oasis 1" also went on to perform their items. And undeterred by the faulty sound system that made them temporarily inaudible, the WSCS women continued to praise God harmoniously during their song item.


The Chinese Ministry serenaded the congregation with "Sing Unto The Lord A New Song". For the grand finale item, the Youth Ministry practically leapt onto the stage in "Praise through Dance", an item that displayed their exuberant nature and bursting vitality. Their effortless dance moves drew some envious AYAHs (Adults but Young At Heart).

Gracia Chiang is with the Youth Ministry of Aldersgate Methodist Church.