Pastoral ministry – Page 10

Category: Pastoral ministry

Bumping into Edmund Wee

14 June 2021 blogpastor Leave a comment

I could not believe my eyes when I saw him walked by as I cycled towards home. I was on the Ulu Pandan Park Connector and had made a U-turn at the Ghim Moh end of the canal. I braked and called out, “Edmund Wee!”. He turned back and we chat for a while.

I had not seen him for almost a decade. He was my wife’s neighbour from childhood. I happened to be a pastor who availed myself to his family. He was having an evening walk. I was so glad to see him. He is well known in the publishing and design world – founder and owner of Epigram Pte Ltd, Epigram Books, etc. He was featured many times in the Straits Times.

Many years ago, he graciously did pro bono design work for the church I serve, World Revival Prayer Fellowship. We were very grateful for the visual identity he crafted for us. You can read more about how that happened HERE.

This meeting reminded me of what I had been praying for a few days back. Covid-19 had so disrupted life in Singapore and Malaysia, I was praying the Lord will give the two countries’ leaders the wisdom, integrity and courage to lead their countries out of the pandemic pit. I prayed for all the frontline health workers, the churches and the business owners. These are very trying times for everyone. I saw immediately that Edmund represented business owners. On my ride back, I prayed for business owners like him to be sustained during these lean months, and jobs be preserved, and businesses to survive and thrive again.

Lord, hear our prayers as we call out to You for Your mercy and favour upon the countries of Singapore and Malaysia. We acknowledge our pride, self-sufficiency and boasting in the midst of this pandemic. But in truth we are helpless in tackling it despite our resources. This enemy simply refuses to be contained. The economic situation is alarming and the livelihoods of thousands are threatened. Have mercy Lord, stay the spread of Covid-19. Grant the nations effective vaccines, and let the first world nations help the less developed nations to fight this disease. We ask all these in Jesus’ name.

Saying Goodbye To Solemnising Marriages

30 May 2021 blogpastor Leave a comment

I was allowed to download wedding photos of Jeremy and Eleen Ling. They are the last couple whose marriage I would solemnise in my forty years of pastoral ministry. I was surprised I became sentimental as I viewed photos taken by Eirik Tan of me presiding over my last marriage ceremony.

*The last solemnisation I would be doing*

OLD WEDDING PHOTO ALBUMS

It made me wonder: if this is the last, whose marriage was the first I had solemnised? I could not remember. I looked at my old photo albums and there were quite a number of photos of couples whose marriages I solemnised, and a few of me at the pulpit giving the exhortation, and only one of me doing the solemnisation: Peter and Susan Ting’s wedding. I could not jog my memory no matter how hard I tried. Even my wife was clueless.

*Peter weds Susan: the only old photo I have of myself doing a solemnisation*

*I started out by giving the exhortation at wedding*s

One picture in particular stood out. It was a picture of me and my mentor and predecessor, Pastor Johney, laughing about something at a wedding that he had solemnised. Priceless picture.

*My predecessor and me having a good laugh.*

The old photos put a smile on my face and I decided to take some snapshots of a few and sent it to one or two persons. These photos made me look at a younger skinny me with a full head of hair, and sometimes with a mustache.

*My moustache added to the gravity of the occasion*

SIGNS OF MY GOING

In recent years, I have noticed photos and videos of my balding head in wedding photos, and I winced each time. It reinforced my conviction that it is time to make a final walk down the aisle and lay down my book of Marriage Service.

I am glad my successor of the English congregation, Pastor Alvin Lim, will be taking over this solemn responsibility. Besides MDiv, and counselling degrees, and experience in marketplace and church leadership, he has a full head of hair! However, the application process was delayed and that is why I was still doing this despite my retirement.

FROM TENSION TO CONFIDENCE

The early years of giving wedding exhortations were tense because I was too eager to make an impression, to capture the audience’s attention by making the message interesting, with humour, stories and quips. Trying too hard to be memorable.

In the later years, I realized that I need to keep the main thing the main thing. The vows and declaration are the most important climatic moment and all other components of the marriage service: the songs, the videos, the processional music, the message, must be subservient to, and should not outshine the apex of the ceremony. I began to develop spartan homilies of ten minutes length based on a Bible text that the couple want to make into a key reference point for their marriage. I want the focus to be on the solemnity and power of the vows.

JOY IN THE MIDST OF CHALLENGES

Doing this duty has its challenges: holding marriage preparation sessions, giving priority to the dates chosen by couples and working my schedule around them; preparing wedding exhortations; going through a rehearsal; and getting dressed and conducting the ceremonies. Despite this, I have always found it a joy to do weddings. Funerals are draining emotionally. Weddings are totally different. You get immersed and infected with the joy that is oozing everywhere you look. You cannot help but be flooded with the goodwill and happiness of everyone around you.

Now as I say goodbye to solemnisations I feel thankful for the privilege of being a part of what would be one of the most significant event in a married couple’s life. I grieve, but I am so thankful to God for the privilege in the last four decades.

What has been your experience of Christian marriage services? What were your loves and loathes? What is for you the most important component or part of the whole service? What are your greatest frustrations during this disruptive pandemic year that has past?

If you happen to know that you are the first couple whose marriage I solemnised, do let me know in the comment box or drop me a WhatsApp note. Thank you.

Three Steps Forward, Two Steps Backward

17 May 2021 blogpastor Leave a comment

I was given a warm welcome at the sanctuary on Sunday. It was my first time preaching in my home church after six months of rest. I was glad to do so. Sadly, there was no on-site congregation, as the pastoral team had decided that the sustained spike in Covid 19 cases, and the government tightening of rules made it wise for them to return to streaming the worship service without on-site congregation.

Initially, I was informed to wear a mask while preaching. I tested different masks at home because if the sound was muffled, people will switch off rather quickly. I found a mask of spongy material that did not muffle my voice. However, by Saturday night I was informed that the authorities allowed speaking and singing by two singers without masks on if there is no on-site congregation. I felt such relief, because the mask is a barrier to effective communication.

AWKWARD TO PREACH TO EMPTY SEATS

It still felt awkward preaching to an empty church. Later when I checked out the recording online, I could see that my preaching was smooth and the awkwardness I felt was not disruptive nor disturbed the flow of the delivery.

I counted five in the worship team and seven in the audio and media team. I felt for them. They have been fantastic in their commitment and stamina. They are so professional in their attitude and spirit even though they are all volunteers. I praise God for them, especially Zephaniah who leads the media team and Ethel who leads the worship ministry. The Lord will not forget the works they have done in his name and for the church.

FEELING FOR BUSINESS OWNERS AND PASTORAL STAFF

I noticed the traffic was lighter than usual due to the government’s strict directives to curb the spread of covid 19, especially the rule of no dine-in and social groups limited to only two. Human traffic at malls and restaurants would be affected too. A lot of businesses would be affected besides malls and F&B and entertainment establishments. I feel for the business owners.

This setback is three steps forward and two steps backward. Before I retired, the church was streaming services with no on-site congregation. Then things improved and the church returned to on-site worship of our three congregations of 50 to 100, office staff meetings and prayer meetings and even prayer retreats. It was two steps forward and I even solemnised a wedding with a hundred guests in attendance. Then suddenly this frustrating announcement of a pull back to stricter Phase 2 precautions. Of all days, on a Friday. Which meant the stressed pastoral staff had to make a judgment call, and implement and communicate all the changes in 48 hours. They cancelled the on-site congregation worship on Sunday. I feel for the pastoral team. It can be draining, discouraging and frustrating to rapidly respond to all these sudden changes. Two steps backward.

I also feel for those who had already planned wedding receptions and dinners on Sunday, two days before the announcements. The ups and downs, and back and forth, that wedding couples face will make what is meant to be one of their happiest memories, a nightmare, and their honeymoon a pity-party. Lord, have mercy and brighten these couples with a quiet peace and joy to sustain them in the midst of discouragement and helplessness.

THE LORD SITS ENTHRONED

Regardless of how we feel, we have to believe in the face of all this mess that “the Lord sits enthroned over the flood” (Psalm 29:10). Floods can be chaotic and disruptive and destructive but the Psalmist saw God as Sovereign over uncontrollable forces. We are still one step ahed from where we were during the circuit breaker lock-down. We have much to give thanks for compared to other countries struggling with larger populations and lesser resources and weaker governance. Therefore, stay calm and keep praying and walking in the Spirit. Rejoice in the Lord, and not in the sad situation we find ourselves in. Rejoice that He sits enthroned over the flood.