I think our inaugural double services last Sunday went quite well. And you were all so cooperative; nobody removed the chains to hop into the forbidden zone until the ushers decided, during the first service, that we could no longer put everyone comfortably in the middle section. In terms of attendance, the total number from the two services was significantly more than the average for the one service.

Like the introduction of every new thing, there will be teething problems. But what we experienced last Sunday were not anything big and troubling that we cannot resolve. For example, timing the Sunday School and 2nd Service to finish around the same time, making the services of the i-Counter available after the 2nd Service and resolving some car parking issues. Please bear with us for the next few weeks as we attempt to sort out matters, and if you notice a problem please inform Pr Nicky or Chee Seng. Better still, volunteer your services so we have enough manpower to fill up the gaps.

Thank you to all who came punctually for the respective services. Most were punctual for the 1st Service, despite the earlier time, but I’m afraid I can’t say the same for the 2nd Service. I can’t stress enough, how important it is to be punctual. One, it honours the One whom we worship and two, it gives us a sense of our oneness in the Lord when we begin worship together. The second purpose is also effectuated when we sit closer together, rather than spreading ourselves out all over the sanctuary. That’s the reason for bunching us together in the middle section. I think you appreciate this also. If you think that it’s such a shame to have so many empty seats, here’s the challenge—let’s invite our unchurched friends to join us to worship Jesus.

It’s incredible how we are such creatures of habit and familiarity; we like to sit in the same place. The chair you’ve been sitting on for the last so many years has almost become your chair. When I look over to a certain section of the sanctuary I can almost always expect to see “so and so” (that means I know who comes to church and who doesn’t!). I hope it has not been too painful for you to change your seat.

When we had only one service, most of the young people would be seated on the right side of the sanctuary (East Wing). So, I know if they have been coming to the Sunday services or not. With the change in seating it will take me some time to re-calibrate. I’m not even sure if the young people still sit together. In fact I would like you to do that—sit together. This helps the speaker when he wants to specially address the young people; he can keep his eyes focussed on one section instead of scanning the entire sanctuary. It’s a no brainer as to which one is more effective to make connection and to press a point home. So, parents, let your teenage children sit together. On the right and right in front!

On another matter, and this is also for the parents. I hope that you are making sure that your teenage children are attending Sunday services; whether they want to, or not, whether they like it or not, whether they have exams on Monday or not. I like what Bishop Edward Grabovenko said about making your children go to church even if they think it’s boring. I think you also agreed with him because there was a loud applause when he said that. My point—the Sunday service is top priority. If there’s only one church programme that you can attend in a whole week it must be the Sunday Service. So, if your teenage children attend either the Bible Knowledge Class or the Youth Bible Class or are helping out in Sunday School (all these programmes run concurrently with the 2nd Service), they must first attend the 1st Service. Please do not slide into a situation where the whole family only come at 11.00am; the parents go to the 2nd Service and the teenage children attend one of the other programmes. For the little children, up to Primary school age, that’s OK, but not for the teens and young people.

I don’t have any more space in this column to give you the reasons why I believe the Sunday Service is top priority. I hope it is self evident. If not, come and talk to me.

Greater things are yet to come,
Greater things are still to be done…
PrSH