As you know, about a week ago the choir planned a trip to St. Joseph's church in Bukit Timah for stations of the cross. The reason for this is, of course, the outdoor stations. It was a welcome change to the normal stations we have standing and kneeling in church. We actually got to feel a small tiny part of what Jesus went through for us.
Leonie, Mark, Caroline and myself met at the bus stop opposite Leo's house. The sky was dark and looked just about ready to rain when I got there. I later found out from Leo that it looked that way even from the time she was walking out. Amazingly, the sky waited until Caroline arrived and for us to get on the bus to start it's downpour. Surprisingly it was only a drizzle. On our journey there, we realised that we were not going to be there in time for their service so we decided to do it on our own.
Once we got there, we met up with Dave, Jackie and Jon. There we sent Daryl and Dave to get books for us for the stations. There weren't any left, luckily they found a nice man who was the caretaker there and he was willing to lend us books from the bookshop there. Once we had the books we were ready to begin the stations.
When we sang the opening hymn, I've never heard us sound so beautiful. It really touched me, we sounded like we were one. We took turns reading the passages, walking from station to station. The statues were almost life size and depicted Jesus' journey to his cross. When we were at the fifth or sixth station it began to drizzle, but we continued with the service because completing it was more important to us than staying dry. At the end we sang the ending hymn and left. We couldn't return the books because they got wet so we bought them.
Since most of us were feeling hungry and in need of some nourishment we decided to adjourn to Newton. There we basically had a feast! And thanks to Mark, a lot of chicken wings! I left that night feeling full in more ways than one. Full of the delicious food we ate but most of all, full of happiness from spending time together, and full of wonder that Jesus had actually done all of that for us. We had to walk from station to station, but His walk was far longer and more perilous. We climbed a flight of stairs during the stations, but Jesus had to climb a hill. We had to endure drizzle, whereas He had to endure jeers and spitting from the crowd, lashing from the guards and carry his cross. He did that all for us, so he can wash away our sins.
I'm glad we had that outing, though I wish more of us can make it for our future outings.
May we do everything in your name Lord, that we can thank you for your sacrifices for us in every breath we take.
God Bless you and I love you all!
Oli
P.S. I'll get the pictures we took of that night and post them up here a.s.a.p.!
Friday, March 30, 2007
Sunday, March 25, 2007
the basin and the towel
Think about: Not only did He die for us, but He lived for us as well.
"sabina" and "humble" are two words you don't often her in the same sentence.
but today...i must have said "humble" in one form or another about 20 times.
truth is, the washing of another's feet was easy. it was having my feet washed that was the toughie.
something about hearing the gospel... that description of Christ saying to his friends, his disciples. Saying to the 12 guys who called him "Rabbi" who gave everything up to follow up because they believed he was The One. To hear about Him taking off His cloak and washing the feet of the apostles really struck me.
The sincerity of the act. The lack of any performance or hesitation. The humility
It was so profoundly sweet. So unexpected. So humble.
As we prayed, as we reflected, as we opened up to let it all in and let it all out, as we prepared basins and towels and even little cups with which to scoop water. I found myself thinking: "Lord. it is an honour. It is an honour to serve as much as it is to be served."
Leo has and will always be my fearless leader. however strongly i feel about something to do with the choir. whatever she says goes. in every decision, every move, i look to her. and to have her kneeling in front of me washing my feet was... an honour. it was something like that line from No Greater Love "when I was so unworthy." I felt so very unworthy. And so so humbled.
once jon and leo had washed the feet of myself and the other comm members. it was our turn to wash the feet of the choir members
i prayed with ronald, shaun and steven together first before picking up the bucket and the towel. while doing it i felt no awkwardness.... i was most focussed on on making them feel relaxed and comfortable and doing it sincerely. it's hard to describe what was going on. all i can say is that it felt right. it felt honest. it felt humbling. it felt like another "unworthy." it was an honour. I left the room with a real sense of peace.
i guess the thing is this: we all are servants... and yet we all are served.
i went away thinking about Jesus at my feet... washing.... then i thought of myself... at the feet of my father.... and how many times he has washed my feet...
i thought of myself at the feet of those who have hurt me....humbling myself, forgiving, letting go... washing their feet and inadventently washing my own. gently disssolving all the emotional bruises.
It is a powerful thought at this time of the year.
I hope it stays with me this holy week and until easter.
love you guys heaps.
S
"sabina" and "humble" are two words you don't often her in the same sentence.
but today...i must have said "humble" in one form or another about 20 times.
truth is, the washing of another's feet was easy. it was having my feet washed that was the toughie.
something about hearing the gospel... that description of Christ saying to his friends, his disciples. Saying to the 12 guys who called him "Rabbi" who gave everything up to follow up because they believed he was The One. To hear about Him taking off His cloak and washing the feet of the apostles really struck me.
The sincerity of the act. The lack of any performance or hesitation. The humility
It was so profoundly sweet. So unexpected. So humble.
As we prayed, as we reflected, as we opened up to let it all in and let it all out, as we prepared basins and towels and even little cups with which to scoop water. I found myself thinking: "Lord. it is an honour. It is an honour to serve as much as it is to be served."
Leo has and will always be my fearless leader. however strongly i feel about something to do with the choir. whatever she says goes. in every decision, every move, i look to her. and to have her kneeling in front of me washing my feet was... an honour. it was something like that line from No Greater Love "when I was so unworthy." I felt so very unworthy. And so so humbled.
once jon and leo had washed the feet of myself and the other comm members. it was our turn to wash the feet of the choir members
i prayed with ronald, shaun and steven together first before picking up the bucket and the towel. while doing it i felt no awkwardness.... i was most focussed on on making them feel relaxed and comfortable and doing it sincerely. it's hard to describe what was going on. all i can say is that it felt right. it felt honest. it felt humbling. it felt like another "unworthy." it was an honour. I left the room with a real sense of peace.
i guess the thing is this: we all are servants... and yet we all are served.
i went away thinking about Jesus at my feet... washing.... then i thought of myself... at the feet of my father.... and how many times he has washed my feet...
i thought of myself at the feet of those who have hurt me....humbling myself, forgiving, letting go... washing their feet and inadventently washing my own. gently disssolving all the emotional bruises.
It is a powerful thought at this time of the year.
I hope it stays with me this holy week and until easter.
love you guys heaps.
S
Lenten Reflection
Hey all. i hope everyone who was present at today's lenten reflection benefited from it in some way. thank you jon and ronald for the effort put in, i'm sure more than one person was touched by it.
i'm sure ya'll are tired of hearing from me, so i'm gonna get one of the other comm members to write a post about today's reflection as well as the stations of the cross we did at St Joseph's Church on friday. look out for his/her thoughts and some personal insight sometime this week. in the mean time, here's the lyrics of the first song we played which i find truely summarises the take home message from today.
The Basin and the Towel by Michael Card
In an upstairs room
A parable is just about to come alive.
And while they bicker about who’s best
With a painful glance He’ll silently rise.
Their Savior Servant must show them how
Through the will of the water
And the tenderness of the towel.
And the call is to community
The impoverished power that sets the soul free.
In humility to take the vow,
That day after day we must take up
The basin and the towel.
And the space between ourselves sometimes
Is more than the distance between the stars.
By the fragile bridge of the servant’s bow
We take up the basin and the towel.
have a good week ahead! remember, next sunday is Palm Sunday. dress code is white top, black bottom, guys remember your ties! and please be in church at 8am because we need to run through the procession and give you your positions! thanks!
love.
i'm sure ya'll are tired of hearing from me, so i'm gonna get one of the other comm members to write a post about today's reflection as well as the stations of the cross we did at St Joseph's Church on friday. look out for his/her thoughts and some personal insight sometime this week. in the mean time, here's the lyrics of the first song we played which i find truely summarises the take home message from today.
The Basin and the Towel by Michael Card
In an upstairs room
A parable is just about to come alive.
And while they bicker about who’s best
With a painful glance He’ll silently rise.
Their Savior Servant must show them how
Through the will of the water
And the tenderness of the towel.
And the call is to community
The impoverished power that sets the soul free.
In humility to take the vow,
That day after day we must take up
The basin and the towel.
And the space between ourselves sometimes
Is more than the distance between the stars.
By the fragile bridge of the servant’s bow
We take up the basin and the towel.
have a good week ahead! remember, next sunday is Palm Sunday. dress code is white top, black bottom, guys remember your ties! and please be in church at 8am because we need to run through the procession and give you your positions! thanks!
love.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
NEW MEMBERS!
so everyone! i am proud to announce, today at recruitment drive, we got 2 new girls, Jasmine and Natalie who are both 13! you will all get to meet them tomorrow at practice after mass!
also, there's a guy named Edmund who wants to play the bass for us. he's not really into singing much so when he asked one of the other choirs where he could go, they directed him to us because of our band! so maybe our superstarr KC Meals won't be so taxed no more, plus with his O Levels this year yes?
blessings blessings! make the new blood feel welcome tomorrow everyone!
LOVE.
also, there's a guy named Edmund who wants to play the bass for us. he's not really into singing much so when he asked one of the other choirs where he could go, they directed him to us because of our band! so maybe our superstarr KC Meals won't be so taxed no more, plus with his O Levels this year yes?
blessings blessings! make the new blood feel welcome tomorrow everyone!
LOVE.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Dates to Remember
Alright, Lent and Easter Season means many many many dates for you guys to remember and to show up for! Here goes:
17th March Saturday 3pm - 5pm: Ministry Day
we need friendly talkative SMILING volunteers to come down and manage the booth! Let me know if you can make it please!
23rd March Friday 7pm - 9pm: Outdoor Stations of the Cross at St. Josephs Church at Bukit Timah
this is a choir thing so i'll need to know how many of you would like to come, it'll be a nice experience to do this together with the life-sized statues and everything. we'll hire a bus if we have to. i STRONGLY encourage ya'll to come yeah. it's part of our spiritual growth together
Combined Choir for Easter Vigil Practices: Wednesday 25th March and Wednesday 4th April 8pm - 10pm and Friday 30th March 9pm - 10pm (after stations).
there are very few practices because most of the practices will be done by the individual choirs during our own time, so you need to attend only these 3 important dates to sing with the combined choir. it is compulsory for everyone unless you come and talk to me and i tell you otherwise.
1st April Sunday: Palm Sunday
the dress code for palm sunday will be white top and black bottom, guys please remember your ties. following the mass, we'll have breakfast as usual but instead of practice we'll be having a lenten retreat so that we can all prepare for Holy Week. it will take the place of practice and will end by 1pm.
5th April Thursday: Maundy Thursday Mass
our choir has been assigned to sing for this mass, it starts at 8pm and it is followed by the adoration for half an hour. we'll be doeby 10pm latest. Dress code is ALL BLACK formal
6th April Friday: Good Friday Mass
we were not asked to sing for the 3pm or the 5.30pm mass but please do go for mass on your own.
7th April Saturday: Easter Vigil Mass
jon will let us know what time to be in church by. the dress code is of course formal, with no colour specification.
8th April Sunday: Easter Sunday
i know the previous night will leave us all shagged and tired, but please show up or mass the next morning, it is as important as the night before. dress code is formal yet again, and there will be no practice after the mass. i might even give ya'll chocolate eggs ;)
if anyone has any questions, do call me or you can post your comments below.
Love.
17th March Saturday 3pm - 5pm: Ministry Day
we need friendly talkative SMILING volunteers to come down and manage the booth! Let me know if you can make it please!
23rd March Friday 7pm - 9pm: Outdoor Stations of the Cross at St. Josephs Church at Bukit Timah
this is a choir thing so i'll need to know how many of you would like to come, it'll be a nice experience to do this together with the life-sized statues and everything. we'll hire a bus if we have to. i STRONGLY encourage ya'll to come yeah. it's part of our spiritual growth together
Combined Choir for Easter Vigil Practices: Wednesday 25th March and Wednesday 4th April 8pm - 10pm and Friday 30th March 9pm - 10pm (after stations).
there are very few practices because most of the practices will be done by the individual choirs during our own time, so you need to attend only these 3 important dates to sing with the combined choir. it is compulsory for everyone unless you come and talk to me and i tell you otherwise.
1st April Sunday: Palm Sunday
the dress code for palm sunday will be white top and black bottom, guys please remember your ties. following the mass, we'll have breakfast as usual but instead of practice we'll be having a lenten retreat so that we can all prepare for Holy Week. it will take the place of practice and will end by 1pm.
5th April Thursday: Maundy Thursday Mass
our choir has been assigned to sing for this mass, it starts at 8pm and it is followed by the adoration for half an hour. we'll be doeby 10pm latest. Dress code is ALL BLACK formal
6th April Friday: Good Friday Mass
we were not asked to sing for the 3pm or the 5.30pm mass but please do go for mass on your own.
7th April Saturday: Easter Vigil Mass
jon will let us know what time to be in church by. the dress code is of course formal, with no colour specification.
8th April Sunday: Easter Sunday
i know the previous night will leave us all shagged and tired, but please show up or mass the next morning, it is as important as the night before. dress code is formal yet again, and there will be no practice after the mass. i might even give ya'll chocolate eggs ;)
if anyone has any questions, do call me or you can post your comments below.
Love.
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
The First One
Hey Ho Everyone!
Firstly, welcome to the new generation of information highway! You can visit this blog for latest happenings, announcements and such, and maybe some gossip. hahaha! Also look out or postings related to our faith, some views about certain issues and links to sites that would be of interest to you.
Basically, help us make use of this site as a place where we can all discuss things, plan things and just get to know one another even more than we already do. so get cracking people! comment on stuff or suggest things we can do and plan, ideas that you have etc. it's YOUR blog.
ANNONCEMENT!
We're singing for stations of the cross this friday 9th March at 8pm. Be in church at 7.30pm please!
Love.
Firstly, welcome to the new generation of information highway! You can visit this blog for latest happenings, announcements and such, and maybe some gossip. hahaha! Also look out or postings related to our faith, some views about certain issues and links to sites that would be of interest to you.
Basically, help us make use of this site as a place where we can all discuss things, plan things and just get to know one another even more than we already do. so get cracking people! comment on stuff or suggest things we can do and plan, ideas that you have etc. it's YOUR blog.
ANNONCEMENT!
We're singing for stations of the cross this friday 9th March at 8pm. Be in church at 7.30pm please!
Love.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)