St James' Church

We can look back at a year and be thankful not just for the events but for the richness of life and ministry which we all share as a body. The different gifts we have in a church may result in envy. However, if we think ‘body,’ we will see that “what the other has is also mine.” What we have is ours. This is how a family should think. That is my prayer, that with each growing year, we grow to love and treasure the church, the precious family of Christ. In this context, mundane events like AGMs, camps, leader conferences and church prayer gatherings become important expressions of our deeper life together. We come together simply because we are family. 

I shared some points of thanksgiving in this week’s AGM:
a) The launch of the new building fund and the encouraging response. The project has been making good progress in design and getting the approvals of the authorities.
b) Rev Andrew Yap’s ordination in November ‘07, our first ‘home-grown’ clergy to be ordained.
c) The continuing growth of the Kindergarten and her ministry, expansion of the facilities at Harding Road and the appointment of Pas Richard Chung as Director of SJCK
d) A new experience of prayer through the 24/7 prayer programme
e) Establishing a ministry to prison inmates and ex-inmates.
f) The celebration of our 30th Anniversary with the theme “Ascribe glory to the Lord”
g) Alpha Courses – though the numbers are not many, we are thankful for each person whose life has been changed by the Gospel.
h) Smooth transition of change as Rev William Chee moves on to serve in St Hilda’s Church.
i) Growth in our worship life together with new experiences in our Holy Week Services
j) With the building project, there are fresh opportunities to come closer as parish between our congregations. We look forward to our first Combined Camp in June 2008.

As for our 5-year vision, good progress is being made in our intentional discipleship program and community outreach work. We will share the details in due course. More than just running our church and ministry well, let us remind one another of the call to live as “living sacrifices” where our lives bring glory and pleasure to Him. (Romans 12:1, 2) It is ‘out there’, in our daily lives, that Christian maturity takes place. May we help each other to be growing followers of Christ. Let us continue to “Love each other with genuine affection, and take delight in honouring each other.” (Romans 12:10)