St James' Church

I will be off to Petaling Jaya (West M’sia) this weekend to attend my eldest brother’s baptism Service at Damansara Utama Methodist Church (DUMC). He was the only one amongst the many baptism candidates who has been asked to share his testimony. Yes, his story is very encouraging. It reminds us again that no one is beyond the saving power of Christ. For some, it may take a long time. Keep loving and sowing the seed. I can think of many issues which could have cause a distancing or even division amongst my family members. It is the love my late mother that has kept us together, along with some basic Christian sense and mutual respect during the more difficult moments.

Amazingly and praise be to God (yet again!), we have crossed our target for the number of tables. I am thankful for the hard work done by the dinner committee. We are celebrating our 30th birthday in a appropriate way and yet at a very low cost price, in part made possible by a generous donor from the hotel side. We are also able to raise significant funds for our project. These include generous donations from some ex members and friends who would not have contributed otherwise.  We are also expecting donations in that event itself. As we all the various difficulties we have faced each step of our way in this building project, this dinner had her difficulties as we try to ‘kill two birds with one stone.’ The committee worked very hard at it and the best response we can give to them is to trust their judgment and leadership in this. Even then, things could go wrong. We don’t point fingers but in the right family spirit, support each other.

I recall what happened at one Alpha welcome dinner early last year. It was held for the first time in our Sanctuary, which was amazingly transformed into a cozy restaurant. Waiters and waitresses were zipping around professionally to serve our guests, to the background of clean live jazz music. Everything was going well, far better than expected. There was, however, one major hitch. Our French caterer over-promised but under delivered – literally. French food was given a new meaning as some stared at near empty plates. The situation was beyond our control and there was nothing we could do. It was very dissapointing and embarassing for those at the kitchen and serving the guests. One or two helpers walked away in disgust and embarassment. However, under a lot of pressure, most stuck to the task. For after all, ‘dinner has to be served.’

There were some heroes and heroines that evening. It is not because they did something great. They just stuck together even when the event took a bad turn and understood what it means to mutually support one another. There was no “I told you so!”
I can foresee the many more challenges coming up ahead in the immediate future. Perhaps what is happening in my family also holds a lesson for us as a church family here. Trust, mutual respect and a sincere desire to honor each other is about all that is needed to keep a family together – and long enough for miracles to happen.