EMMANUEL TAMIL ANNUAL CONFERENCE’S FESTIVAL OF PRAISE
THE Rev James Nagulan, President of Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference (ETAC), has urged conference members to offer themselves as a living sacrifice which, he said, is the true act of worship (Rom 12:1).
He was delivering a sermon entitled “Having the Mind of Christ”, at ETAC’s annual Festival of Praise at Ang Mo Kio Methodist Church on Feb 4, 2006. The sermon was based on the text from Philippians 2:1-5.
“Having the mind of Christ,” he said, “should transform us to be a people who would desire to know and do the perfect will of God.”
He urged the conference to remain united and synergised as it had been for the duration of the Festival of Praise. He challenged the people to have the same spirit by joining their hearts and hands in prayer, witness, outreach and missions.
The festival was organised by the Board on Laity. It saw all seven ETAC churches congregating as one unified body as they engaged themselves in joyful worship, deep adoration and heartfelt praise for the Almighty.
Opening introit a petition for spiritual renewal
Various local churches contributed a series of song and dance items with the newly-formed conference youth band in attendance. The Pastors & Wives and ETAC-Women’s Society of Christian Service also rendered some songs.
The evening began with Ang Mo Kio Tamil Methodist Church Choir rendering a melodious Hebrew introit entitled “Hashi Venu” with piano accompaniment. The piece, aptly based on Lamentations 5:21, is a petition for spiritual renewal.
In launching a series of conference-level events for the year, the Festival of Praise attracted about 250 members. The festival proved itself to be an event at which ETAC truly praised God with its God-given gifts and talents.
The celebrations turned out to be a platform from which churches could network and synergise with, motivate and encourage one another for the ministry. The event concluded with a dinner fellowship.
Melvin Dineshraj is a member of Pasir Panjang Tamil Methodist Church.