ACOMPACT DISC of Christian songs from both the East and West produced by the Methodist School of Music (MSM) was launched at the recent Aldersgate Convention in May.
“Endless Praise — From East and West” comprises 17 songs and hymns in English, Mandarin and Hokkien written by such great composers from the West as Mendelssohn and Vivaldi as well as several local church musicians, including Lim Swee Hong, Jusuf Kam and Emilia Wong.
Bishop Dr Robert Solomon’s debut song, “I Shall Praise You Lord”, is also among them. It was set to music by Mr Jusuf Kam, a music director at Wesley Methodist Church. It was sung publicly for the first time at the Aldersgate Service at Paya Lebar Methodist Church on May 24, 2004.
The song is one of more than 30 the Bishop has written but not yet published.
Four more songs are currently being set to music – “Lord, You Are Always There”, also by Mr Yusuf Kam, “My Heart Has Become A Dwelling Place”, by Ms Pauline Phoon of Paya Lebar Chinese Methodist Church, “Come Unto Me”, by Mr Joshua Goh, also of Paya Lebar Chinese MC, and “There Are Some Who Are Sad”, by Mr Lim Swee Hong, who is now studying at Drew University in the United States.
On why he started to write the songs, Bishop Dr Solomon said: “Most of the songs we sing come from overseas, especially the West. We need Asian music in our liturgy.
“But we also want to complement our current repertoire with songs with good theology, good Asian music and themes which have often been overlooked.”
To MSM’s Principal, Ms Mary Gan, who is the producer of the CD, the new CD has a very special meaning.
She said: “It is produced with joy and thanksgiving to my Heavenly Father for His boundless love and grace for my past 21 years in full-time ministry and with grateful memory of my earthly father, the late Mr Gan Hong Hui, for his love and support for my response to God’s call to the ministry.”
The late Mr Gan, a businessman, died in 1990 aged 69.
The production cost of the CD is sponsored by the Gan family. Proceeds from the sale of the CD, retailing at $18, will go to the MSM. The CDs are available at the MSM, tel: 6767-5258, and Methodist Centre (6th floor), tel: 6478-4782.
Logo design contest for 19th World Methodist Conference
THE World Methodist Council is sponsoring a contest for a logo design for the 19th World Methodist Conference which will be held in Seoul from July 20 to 24, 2006.
The winning entry will receive an award of US$500 (S$855).
The conference theme is “God In Christ Reconciling”. All entries must be received by September 8, 2004, and must adhere to these criteria:
■ The winning entry becomes the property of the World Methodist Council for its sole use and purposes, including editing, publication and distribution rights;
■ Each entry must include the words “God In Christ Reconciling”;
■ Entries may be submitted in black and white or colour format. The conference logo will be used in a variety of formats which may include forms of correspondence, posters, banners, backdrops, pins, pre-conference publicity, website, Powerpoint presentations, etc;
■ Entries must include information from the person(s) responsible for the design — name, postal address and email address.
Entries should be sent to: Mrs Roma Wyatt, World Methodist Council, P. O. Box 518, Lake Junaluska, NC 28745, USA.