During the Christmas season last year, Methodist churches were hard at work spreading the Good News of Christ through warm and charitable actions that bought much cheer to their respective communities. We share with you some snippets of the ministries involved in bringing Christ to the heartlands.
Ang Mo Kio Methodist Church: Gift @ Christmas
Ang Mo Kio Methodist Church (AMKMC) brought Christmas to their neighbourhood with their annual donation drive. Their “Gift @ Christmas” initiative raised funds to provide gifts for families in need, by partnering with senior activity centres and social service agencies in Ang Mo Kio. With the time taken for personal distribution of gift hampers, made possible by generous donations, AMKMC members were reminded of the numerous ways they could give!
Ang Mo Kio Tamil Methodist Church: Joy Drive
Ang Mo Kio Tamil Methodist Church’s (AMKTMC) Christmas celebrations kicked off with the “Joy Drive”, which saw volunteers distributing food packets to migrant workers and their roommates across more than 20 locations. It culminated in an online event in the evening themed “The light that dispelled the darkness”, where many came together to spread the festive cheer.
Youths from AMKTMC performed a play, while other youth volunteers conducted an online interactive game segment, in response to AMKTMC’s call for volunteers earlier this year. Pastor-in-charge Rev R. Prabhu delivered the Christmas message, reminding all who were present of the reason for the season.
Aldersgate Methodist Church: Toysforyou
With the goal of making Christmas even more meaningful to the children, Aldersgate MC created “Toysforyou”, a Christmas initiative that gave children in need a chance to select their own toys for the holidays. The team even went the extra mile to decorate the collection space in the church to resemble a toy store in order to complete the entire experience for the beneficiaries!
Cairnhill Methodist Church: Bless a Gift Project
Cairnhill MC’s “Bless a Gift Project” continues for another year, with the help of parents, kids, and their faithful Children Ministry!
In partnership with the children’s homes of Gracehaven, Sunbeam Place and The Haven, Cairnhill Methodist Church has granted the wishes of 105 children and youths, who had been asked to write down their names and wishes for presents. Participating Cairnhill MC families were then assigned a child to pray for, and to buy them a gift with an accompanying card.
Paya Lebar Methodist Church: Engaging the old and young!
Paya Lebar MC has gone the extra mile to make Christmas 2021 an event to remember at St Luke’s ElderCare and Hope Student Care Centre. The volunteer team dedicated the time to prepare engaging programmes and gifts for their elderly and children that will go a long way in having their lives touched and impacted by God during their time at the centre.
beneficiaries were shortened through the use
of Zoom
Faith Methodist Church: Spreading cheer at Rainbow Centre
Christmas 2021 saw Faith MC partnering with Rainbow Centre to bless their beneficiaries. The collaboration, led by Peh Oon Thian, Faith MC’s Senior Pastoral Team Member for Small Groups, Seniors, and the Mandarin Ministry, witnessed the committee distributing gifts to the Centre’s students as well as engaging them. We hope that many at the children at the Centre felt the love of God through this programme!
Centre bearing presents
Toa Payoh Methodist Church: Have a meal on us programme
Toa Payoh Methodist Church’s (TPMC) wrapped up yet another “Have A Meal On Us” (HAMOU) initiative during Christmas 2021 which was reported in the January 2022 issue of Methodist Message. Having sponsored thousands of meals from hawkers and eateries in their neighbourhood, TPMC has blessed stall owners whose businesses were hit hard by the pandemic, along with Toa Payoh residents in need of a meal and a helping hand.
Earlier in 2021, the news of a COVID-19 cluster at Toa Payoh Bus Interchange also spurred on TPMC to extend HAMOU for bus captains, staff and stall owners of the interchange. This would not have been possible without the warm-hearted generosity of TPMC worshippers, who through Christ, gave beyond their targeted amount!
Pentecost MC placed great importance in seeking out the unreached living around them through the annual Treasure Box event[/caption]
Pentecost Methodist Church: Seeking treasures in the community
Pentecost MC took a proactive approach to bring the light of Christ to the communities around the church. The church was eager to repeat the success of their “Treasure Box” movement that was started in 2020 when members actively sought out migrant workers during the Christmas season to minster to them. Thus, Pentecost MC initiated “Treasure Box II” during last year’s Christmas in an effort to minister to their surrounding residential communities as well as those within the church itself through activities such as hosting meals at homes or outside or simply getting unreached individuals out on day trips.
Ashley Ho is the Social Media Executive at MCS Comms. / Photos courtesy of the various Methodist churches