Reformation Day Conference

This year's Reformation Day Conference was held October 25-26 at the Salvation Army building in central Singapore.

A nice auditorium, where the committee was able to advertise 

on the screen upcoming church events, the times and location 

of our Sunday services, and the youth's Salt Shakers magazine

The theme of the conference was "The Kingdom's Inheritance Rediscovered."  There were three speeches, each with a question and answer period afterwards.

High-tech Q&A--text in your questions!

The questions were also displayed on the screen while they were being answered.

The turnout for all three speeches was good, including both CERC church members and many visitors.  After the speeches there were times for food and fellowship, and tables set up with copies of the Salt Shakers magazine, other literature that CERC's Christian Literature Ministry has printed, and RFPA books.  These books were also promoted after each speech.

Lunch between speeches on Saturday

 

Elder Lee telling the audience about the book Whosoever Will

The weekend was very enjoyable.  We have already had a couple of visitors in church who first got to know us through the conference, and we pray that God will use the speeches to bring others to the knowledge of and love for the truth.

A Couple of Church Events

On Saturday, October 12, the youth hosted their annual Youth Reformation Day Conference (RDC).  CERC's annual RDC is coming up this weekend, but the youth have their own besides.  This year's theme was "Reformed, and Always Reforming."

There were tables set up for the sale of RFPA books, and many copies of the Salt Shakers magazine, which is produced by the youth of CERC, were also available.

Cornelius Boon leading the conference

The speech

Fellowship after the speech

Busy at the book tables after the speech

A few days later the Family Support Ministry got together for dinner, and we were invited to join them.  I have mentioned the Family Support Ministry before, as the committee that hosted the Family Seminar back in July.  After singing and a short exhortation on Psalm 127, we enjoyed dinner and fellowship together for a couple of hours.

We are thankful for these times when we can gather with God's people.  May God bless the Reformation Day Conferences here, and the work of the other church committees, for the glory of His name.

Miscellaneous pictures

Here are some miscellaneous pictures I have taken in the months since we moved here, which will show you various aspects of life in Singapore.

A pizza delivery motorcycle--You notice he is just about to cut between the cars to form his own "lane."  Motorcyclists here are not bound by "normal" traffic laws and are always driving between lanes and cutting among cars.

McDonald's delivery!

We just found this drive-thru McDonald's a couple weeks ago--the first one we had seen in Singapore.  Seemed funny to be excited enough about seeing a fast food drive-thru that I had to take pictures of it! ;-)  Notice though that we're all going through "backwards," since we drive on the opposite side of the car here!

At the gas pump--Someone did the calculation at the time this picture was taken and said this was just under $8 (USD) per gallon!  And we thought gas prices in the U.S. were high before we moved! :-)   

This is a ticket that allows us to park in certain places.  Many places use an electronic system, where they deduct fees automatically from a debit card-type thing in your car.  (You pay to park everywhere here--even the grocery store and mall!)  Parking places that are not set up for electronic deductions use this ticket system.  You buy a book of these tickets, 50c or $1.00 per ticket.  You use them by punching out the date and the time that you parked your car.  Each ticket gives you a certain amount of time to park, depending on the fees charged by the parking lot.

At the car wash--all done by hand, and the person washing it taps the back of your car when he/she is ready for you to move on to the next part of the wash

Dried by hand too

Doesn't seem to be the safest way to travel...

This is in the women's bathroom at Singapore's Botanic Gardens, and many other bathrooms in outdoor areas are like this.  Couldn't ask for a prettier place to wash your hands, right?! :-)

Mail delivery

Fish for sale in a grocery store

Green Tea Kit-Kats, anyone??

The Merlion  (see below)

The most interesting experience we've had of people wanting to take our kids' pictures--

We went to see the Merlion with my parents, and a couple of people wanted to take pictures with our kids.  More and more people gathered around, taking pictures individually with our kids, and then with our kids as a group.  Finally there was a crowd even bigger than what is pictured here, all standing with their iPads, phones, and cameras, taking pictures of our kids with their friends and family.  Quite an experience... :-)

CERC Anniversary

Last year CERC celebrated its 25th anniversary.  My husband and I joined in via Skype for a few minutes, as he had already accepted the call here.  This year we were able to be here to be a part of the 26th anniversary celebration, which was held between church services on Sunday, September 22.  (Thanks again to Daniel Tang for the pictures.  Maybe some of you will get a chance to meet him, as he and family are in Michigan for a visit right now!)

Meng Hsien leading the celebration, which included the 

reading of letters from some pastors/professors of the PRC

 Elder Wong giving an exhortation based on Daniel 1

At this time one year ago, our family was singing Psalter #345 with many of you, in different churches and among friends, as a farewell song before moving here.  This year, our family sang Psalter #345 at CERC's anniversary--but we sang it in Chinese!  We also sang "Jesus Loves Me," or "ye su ai wo."

The other special number was an instrumental group that was put together for the anniversary celebration, playing "Be Thou My Vision."

Finally, in keeping with Singapore customs, there was a cake-cutting.  All the Session members participated in this.

This would be as good a time as any to introduce to you our Session (council) members.  

They are, from left to right, Deacons Lim Seow Thong and Tang Yoon Chuan, Elder 

Wee Gim Theng, Rev. Lanning, and Elders Leong Fai Chong, Felix Chan Chee Seng, 

Wong Chee Choong, and Lee Kong Wee.

We are thankful for God's guiding hand on CERC through the first 26 years of its existence, and pray that He will continue to gather and bless His Church here.