Easter Letter 2009

23rd March 2009 (LENT)

Holy Week 2009 is not far away. Now is the time when Barker Road Methodist Church (BRMC) strongly confesses from hearts and lips together with other Christians: "Christ was shown with great power to be the Son of God by being raised from death" (Romans 1:4 GNB). Great indeed is the Hope and Promise of the Gospel.

At the heart of it all, Easter is about "breaking news". Life changing, mood altering, breaking news! Nowadays the daily news leaves us depressed. Often, it puts us in a grip of fear producing a loss of confidence. However, the uplifting, breaking news of Eastertide remains powerfully and positively the same: "Jesus Christ is Risen Indeed!" And because He lives, we shall live also! (John 14:19). Many today, think that life is on hold until the authorities or the newspapers tell us that the economy is looking better. For the Christian, life goes on regardless, because of the tomb shattering, breaking news that Jesus lives.

In 1815 the Battle of Waterloo raged at sea between the forces of Wellington and Napoleon. News travelled overland by signals from the southern coasts. Atop Winchester Cathedral the signaler spelt out the message received, to the awaiting capital city. A dense fog appeared just as the words: "Wellington defeated" were finished. The entire city was immediately broken hearted at the news, when suddenly, the fog lifted and again the signals could be seen, now more clearly: "Wellington defeated the enemy!" Joy filled the capital replacing the earlier widespread pathetic sense of defeat.

The power of the Easter good news is like that. It challenges the miserable feeling created by the bad news of current events and points us to the breaking news of the Empty Tomb. Now, we hear news that is good and greater. The stubborn fact of the Empty Tomb of Jesus testifies eloquently to the reality of His Resurrection. It says to science and philosophy: Explain this event! It says to history: Repeat this event! It says to time: Blot out this event! It says to desperate and needy sinners: Believe this event! Herein is Hope for the hopeless: "If you confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised him from death, you will be saved" (Romans 10:9 GNB). In times like these, we need resurrection faith to learn how to bounce back in life after devastating setbacks because we have an awesome God who raised Jesus up. "But I will watch for the LORD; I will wait confidently for God, who will save me. My God will hear me.we have fallen, but we will rise again. We are in darkness now, but the LORD will give us light!" (Micah 7:7-8 GNB).

In 1799 when the armies of Napoleon swept over Europe, as many as 18,000 men appeared over the tiny town of Feldkirch. It was Easter Sunday. The town council met and agreed that they were no match even for this token force of Napoleon's mighty army. After much discussion, the old Dean of the church rose and said: "It is Easter! We have reckoned enough in our own strength. Ring the bells and have Easter services as usual and leave the matter in God's hands!" All agreed, as there was nothing else that they could do, other than surrender immediately. Instead, the church bells rang out loudly in honour of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Worshippers hastened to the house of God. The invaders outside heard the bells and concluded (wrongly) that powerful reinforcements had arrived to fight against them. Immediately the soldiers were ordered to break camp and they marched away hastily. Before the bells had ceased ringing, not a single foreign invader was left outside the town of Feldkirch on Easter Sunday 1799. "I will honour those who honour Me," says the LORD God of Israel. (1 Samuel 2:30 GNB). Perhaps some of us may also need our Easter miracle in 2009. May our prayers be no different from that of the apostle Paul's: "All I want is to know Christ and to experience the Power of His Resurrection".(Philippians 3:10 GNB). So come and join us for Holy Week Services and may the Risen Christ surprise us with His Presence there. "Do not be afraid. I am with you!" says the LORD (Isaiah 43:5 GNB).

On behalf of all my fellow Pastors, the Rev CS Wee David, the Rev David Wee BH, the Rev Noel Goh, the Rev See Swee Fang, the Rev Terence Yeo and all our loved ones, together with all the Leaders and Staff (Pastoral and Admin) of BRMC, may I wish you one and all - Blessed Good Friday and Happy Easter 2009. See you in church for Holy Week 2009. Christ has Died! Christ is Risen! And Christ will surely Come Again! Hallelujah!

Grace and Peace

Rev Malcolm Tan O.S.L
Pastor-in-charge