My wife and I have stopped "kettling" - ringing the bell at shopping malls etc and inviting passers-by to donate to The Salvation Army. Our Corps Officer suggested to us to relinquish this responsibility. We have enough volunteers at our church.
We started our first "kettling" in 1997 when we returned to Singapore to retire.
Before we left Singapore for overseas service in 1983 we used to go out carolling usually two weeks before Christmas. While the majority sang or played instruments, the collectors would brave fierce dogs to knock on the doors to wish the residents "Happy Christmas" and solicit donations for the work of The Salvation Army. We were happy when the residents hearing the singing would come out to join us.
The primary purpose for our carolling is to proclaim the coming of Jesus into the world to be our Saviour. At the same time we also advertise the work of The Army. Some Corps (church) still go out to sing carols.
Our William Booth Corps Band is on duty every Tuesday and Saturday playing carols outside Tang Plaza. The Central Corps folk carol for a few nights at Thompson Plaza.
We did our first kettling at Ang Mo Kio shopping Centre when were temporarily in charge of the Singapore Central Corps in 1997 for a period of three months. Later on when we were in charge of the Pasir Panjang Corps, we used to stand at Holland Village. My wife and I took turns to ring the bell and man the kettle.
Later on when we moved to Upper Bukit Timah, we used to stand outside Centre Point at Far East Plaza or at Centre Point.
In everything there is a season - a time to take up responsibility, a time to relinquish it. There are other things we can do to keep us busy. We recognise that age places limitations to our activities in the Army.
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