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Come to a celebration of the Wesleyan heritage

IF YOU want to know more about John Wesley and our rich Wesleyan heritage, and ask questions about our Methodist movement, here is a great opportunity for you to do so: Come to the Aldersgate Convention 2002 to be held at Paya Lebar Methodist Church in Boundary Road every evening at 7.45 from May 21 to 25.

On hand to tell you more know about our Methodist faith will be Dr Thomas Oden, Professor of Theology and Ethics at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey, the United States.

The theme for the Aldersgate Convention 2002 is “The Tradition of the Church from a Wesleyan Perspective”. The convention aims to help church members explore scriptural holiness and Christian discipleship in our Wesleyan heritage, and bring the Methodist family together each year in this church-wide event.

A highlight of the convention is the bilingual (English and Chinese) Aldersgate Service on May 24 at 7.45 pm, at which Dr Oden, an experienced teacher and prolific writer, will speak on “The Church and Sanctifying Grace”.

The week-long event, organised by the Bishop’s Office at The Methodist Church in Singapore’s headquarters, will not be just a series of talks but also a celebration of joy. There will be a time of discussion and interaction, and there will be congregational singing of well-loved, beautiful hymns written by Charles Wesley.

Every evening, a choir from a local church will perform before Dr Oden speaks.

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On May 21, the Paya Lebar Methodist Church Choir will sing. It will be followed by Ang Mo Kio Tamil Methodist Church Choir (May 22), Charis Methodist Church Choir (May 23), and Telok Ayer Methodist Church Choir (May 24).

The Charis Methodist Church Choir will present an anthem, “And Can It Be That I Should Gain”. This well-loved Charles Wesley hymn, written after his “heart-warming” experience on May 20, 1738, expands on the immeasurable love of God.

Mr Noel Ong, the choir’s resident accompanist, told Methodist Message: “This new arrangement by Mark Hayes opens with a triumphant beginning and a lovely middle section focusing on God’s infinite grace and concludes with the resounding statement on the amazing love of God.”

For music lovers, more treat is in store. Aldersgate Convention 2002 will round off with a Wesleyan Hymn Festival, put together by the Methodist School of Music with participants from our local churches from the three Annual Conferences.

The Combined Choir, to be accompanied by an instrumental ensemble, will render 14 hymns, some of which will be sung with the congregation.

The Festival will open with the introit, “Praise the Lord Who Reigns Above”. The hymns will include “O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing”, “Christ The Lord Is Risen Today”, “Spirit of Faith, Come Down” and “Come, O Thou Traveller Unknown”.

Two of Charles Wesley’s hymns will be sung to the tune composed by our own Methodist, Mr Lim Swee Hong. They are “Jesus, Lord, We Look To Thee”, which will see the congregation’s participation, and “Blest Be The Dear Uniting Love”, which will close the Festival.

The Festival’s musical directors are Ms Mary Gan, Principal of the Methodist School of Music, and Mr Yusuf Kam, of Wesley Methodist Chuch. Dr Evelyn Lim is the organist.

The Methodist Book Room (MBR) will set up a stall to display books written by Dr Oden, as well as books on the life and work of the Wesley brothers and on the Wesleyan heritage. All these can be purchased at special prices, and orders for more can be made on the spot.

Among the books written by Dr Oden that MBR has in stock are “Requiem: A Lament in Three Movements”, “After Modernity
What?”, “Two Worlds”, and “The Transforming Power of Grace”, one of his most well-known titles.

So, make a date with the Aldersgate Convention 2002 from May 21 to 25 at 7.45 pm every day. Admission is free, but please try and car-pool and park in lots near by as Paya Lebar Methodist Church has limited parking space. Come, people who are called Methodists. Come, listen and enjoy!


By PETER TEO

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