ETAC Thanksgiving Service 2023
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Galatians 6:9 (NIV)
Over 300 members from Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference’s (ETAC) eight churches gathered at Ang Mo Kio Tamil Methodist Church on the 28 January to celebrate the Lord’s abundant grace and faithfulness for the past year. It was the first in-person Thanksgiving Service in three years.
The annual Thanksgiving Service kicked off with the Emmanuel Praise choir, made up of members from each church, singing a classical Tamil song as key appointment holders including Pastors and Lay Leaders entered the Sanctuary carrying a Cross, a Bible, and banners bearing the names of their Boards as well as their Local Churches. An exuberant time of worship then followed as the people sang praises in unison. Songs of hope were interwoven into the service and rendered by each church as the service progressed. It was also the first time the newly established ETAC Children’s Choir was part of the Thanksgiving Service and it was conducted by Dr Judith Laoyan-Mosomos, Director of Worship & Music, Methodist School of Music.
ETAC President Rev Phillip Abraham delivered the sermon and introduced the theme for the year: Sow. Speaking primarily from Mark 4:13-20, Rev Phillip em0phasised the call presented to us Christians to sow the Word in order to reap a plentiful harvest for God’s kingdom and His glory. He then took the opportunity to share ETAC’s Vision 2024: Pray, Seek, Sow, Harvest. This year’s focus is sowing the Word and the members of the congregation were encouraged to continue sowing despite the challenges presented by the world.
The service concluded with a song of blessing delivered by Pastors and their spouses as the congregation prayerfully looked forward to another year of God’s unwavering faithfulness.
