What’s On

华语崇拜 – 重返卫斯理堂

MANDARIN SERVICE- HOMECOMING

The Mandarin Service is returning to Wesley Hall at 10.30am from 11 Sep 2022. 

华语崇拜将于9月11日重返卫斯理堂，恢复上午10:30的主日崇拜。

Let’s invite our Mandarin-speaking friends and family to worship alongside our English services on Sunday mornings at the same time.

欢迎弟兄姐妹参加我们圣山上的主日崇拜。阿们。

Safe Measures Update

From Monday, 29 Aug 2022, the wearing of masks will be optional in indoor settings. ​

We advise members and visitors to keep exercising individual and social responsibility, and to stay home if you are feeling unwell. 

Please refer to the MOH COVID-19 Phase Advisory for the latest guidelines. ​

BRMC’s response to the repeal of Section 377A

The Government has announced that it will repeal Section 377A of the Penal Code, which criminalises sex between men. At the same time, it has promised to protect the definition of marriage from being challenged constitutionally in the courts (1).

In response, the pastoral leadership of Barker Road Methodist Church stands in alignment with the National Council of Churches of Singapore (NCCS) and the Methodist Church in Singapore (MCS). We understand “same-sex sexual acts as contrary to God’s order” and affirm “the position of one man and one woman in a monogamous marriage relationship”(2).

We note the rationale and reasoning behind the repeal, and “trust that this decision was not taken lightly” (3). Members and visitors are encouraged to refer to the detailed statements put out by NCCS and MCS to better understand our position in light of more debates to come, within and without the church.

The decision to repeal s377A is contentious and potentially divisive. The pastors would like to encourage our congregational family at BRMC to recognise God’s sovereignty, and to uphold one another in love and compassion whilst we seek to live out God’s standards of holiness.

As we continue to promote our understanding of family, please pray for divine wisdom for the leaders of our country, community and homes.

“Though we walk a long and broken road
We are here to bear each other’s load
And forgive as You’ve forgiven us
Let us walk in love for we are one”

(Excerpt from “We Are One (In the Father’s Love)” by Emu Music;
Theme song of BRMC Sermon Series 2022: We Are Family)(4)

References

(1) PM Lee’s NDR speech: https://www.pmo.gov.sg/Newsroom/National-Day-Rally-2022-English
(2) The National Council of Churches of Singapore Response to Government’s Decision on the Repeal of Section 377A: https://nccs.org.sg/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/NCCS-EngChi-Stmt-on-s377A-20220823.pdf
(3) MCS Response to the Repeal of S377A of the Penal Code: https://www.methodist.org.sg/index.php/what-s-happening/789-mcs-response-to-repeal-of-section-377a-penal-code
(4) BRMC Sermon Recordings & Study Guides: https://www.brmc.org.sg/services/sermons/

New Sermon Series: We Are Family

“Sister, let me wipe your tears
Brother, let me bear your fears
Come on, every daughter, every son
Let us walk in love for we are one”

(lyrics from We Are One, by Emu Music)

What does it mean to live as God’s family? To be a faithful family and a family of faith?

Join in our upcoming sermon series starting 13 August to 18 September as we hear God’s Word about both our biological and marital families, and our church family.

Please refer to the pulpit calendar for more information.

2022 TRAC Special Session Update

Congratulations to Pastor Gilbert Lok for being elected to the office of Deacon at the 2022 Trinity Annual Conference (TRAC) Special Session on 16 July.

He will be ordained at TRAC in November, which Barker Road Methodist Church will be hosting.

In the video below, Ps. Gilbert explains to one of our youths what ordination means.

Preparing for TRAC 2022

We are preparing to host the annual gathering of pastors and laity of the 21 English-speaking Methodist churches in Singapore in November.  

The 47th Session of the Trinity Annual Conference (TRAC), to be held 21-24 November 2022, will mark almost a year of Rebuilding Koinonia as BRMC congregations return to pre-pandemic service timings and activities this year.

BRMC members can look forward to celebrating the ordination of Pastor Gilbert Lok to the Office of the Deacon at TRAC. After the event, he will wear the clerical collar and may then be addressed as Reverend Gilbert Lok. 

The last time BRMC hosted TRAC was almost 20 years ago, in 2003.  

As many as 300 delegates are expected over the four days.  

Watch this space

Join us in demonstrating the hospitality of Jesus to our brothers- and sisters-in-Christ from the Methodist church family, and celebrating community through service – as ushers, musicians, prayer partners and other roles.  

So, save the dates and watch this space for volunteer calls in the coming months.  

What is TRAC?

TRAC is an annual meeting where delegates reflect on past programmes, and to discuss God’s direction for us as a family of Methodist churches. Election of certain office holders may also be held in some years at TRAC.  

The conference is scheduled to be held on site, subject to last minute changes that may arise due to the ongoing pandemic. It was held online last year.  

Key sessions will still be livestreamed, for e.g. the Ordination and Closing Service of TRAC 47th Session.  

The Trinity Annual Conference (TRAC) is also the organisation that trains and manages our pastors. Under the Methodist system, pastors are not tied to a specific church, and are often reassigned after several years.