First Sunday in Advent at Changi Corps

My wife and I were invited to conduct the meeting at Changi Corps (church) to day.

Danny Tong and his wife Siew Kim were here early this morning to fetch us. We’ve known Danny since 1969 when he was just a small boy in Ipoh. Now he and his wife Siew Kim are parents of four lovely children – Bernice, Eunice, Glennice and Philemon, all belonging to Changi Corps.

We arrived at about 9.45 a.m. for the meeting at 10.00 a.m. so did not have too much time to chat with our many friends till after the meeting.

For the first time we attended a meeting without the ‘Praise and Worship’ segment, but that did not mean there was no praise. Certainly we were there to worship God. Somehow no one had been delegated to prepare or lead this particular section, an indispensable part of modern worship, it seems to me. The Corps Officers (pastors) were away on furlough) so were a number of comrades who were out of town.

We had a good pianist in the person of Clara at the keyboard. That was the only instrument used, quite a change with no guitar or percussion. Clara certainly played well in accompanying the singing. Although the congregation was small, they sang wholeheartedly the lovely song, “Joyful, joyful we adore Thee”

As it was the first Sunday in Advent, we sang only three carols – “O little town of Bethlehem” just before the message to fit in with the theme- "The significance of Bethlehem" based on Micah 5: 1-5. For our reflection we sang “Thou didst leave Thy throne above” after the message. We ended the meeting with “Hark the herald angels sing” then the doxology.

We joined the comrades for lunch of porridge and noodles prepared by the ladies. We thank God for another good day of fellowship and worship with our brothers and sisters in Changi. Go bless Changi Corps.