News

Towards Harvest 2024

ETAC Thanksgiving Service 2024

Towards Harvest 2024
Make Disciples (reference for Tamil text)

Emmanuel Tamil Annual Conference (ETAC) celebrated its annual Thanksgiving Service on 27 January 2024 at Sembawang Tamil Methodist Church. More than 350 members—nearly 40% of ETAC’s membership—from ETAC’s eight churches gathered for a time of thanksgiving, fellowship, praise and worship, acknowledging the abundant grace of the Lord over ETAC during the past year.

Emmanuel Praise Band
Emmanuel Praise Band

The thanksgiving service commenced with ETAC’s very own choir, Emmanuel Praise, singing an opening hymn, lifting their voices in praise and adoration. The key leaders—including Pastors and Lay Leaders—solemnly walked in bearing a cross, a Bible, and banners adorned with the names of their boards and local churches.

ETAC Children's Choir
ETAC Children's Choir

ETAC children’s choir presented a song of praise conducted by Dr Judith Laoyan-Mosomos, Director of Worship & Music at the Methodist School of Music. Additionally, Emmanuel Praise rendered classical and traditional songs throughout the service.

A lively time of worship then followed as the congregation joined together in singing praises. Each ETAC church presented a song, lifting their voices in unison to express gratitude and praise.

ETAC President Rev Philip Abraham then delivered the sermon, drawing inspiration from Psalm 126:1-6 and introducing the theme for the year: REAP. As this is the last year of the quadrennium’s mission of “Harvest”, REAP embodies ETAC’s action plan in an acronym: for Building Relationships, Examining Readiness, Assuring God’s Love & Promises, and Praying for Salvation. All members of the congregation were urged to actively engage in reaping the harvest—fostering deeper connections, preparing themselves, embracing God’s love and fervently praying for salvation.

Emmanuel Praise Choir
Emmanuel Praise Choir

Lastly, all the pastors and their spouses delivered a heartfelt song of faithfulness, reflecting on God’s abundant blessings and grace throughout the past year and invoking blessings for the year ahead. The service ended with a final prayer, as the congregation prayerfully looked forward to another year of God’s unwavering faithfulness.

Praise be to God for another year! May ETAC be led, guided and used by God to fulfill his will and build his kingdom. Looking towards the Harvest, may God make this year a time of abundant spiritual growth. Amen.

Joshua Gnanaruban is the Lay Leader of Seletar Tamil Methodist Church. / Photos courtesy of Wilson Devadasan, member of Seletar Tamil Methodist Church

SHARE THIS POST

Menu