Dear COA Family,

“It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
to sing praises to your name, O Most High;
to declare your steadfast love in the morning,
and your faithfulness by night,
to the music of the lute and the harp,
to the melody of the lyre.
For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work;
at the works of your hands I sing for joy.”
Psalm 92:1-4

The psalmist gives us the reason for giving thanks and praising God – He has made us
glad by His miraculous and wonderful working in our lives!

And the past week has been one in which God has especially filled our hearts with joy at
the extraordinary things He has accomplished in our midst.

Last Sunday, we witnessed with delight the confirmation of 32 of our church members,
comprising adults and youths, older and newer members, from both Chinese and English services.
Each of them has a wonderful story to tell of God’s faithfulness. They were also blessed with the
filling of the Holy Spirit at the service.

A few days before that, we were also thrilled to witness the baptism of 12 elderly residents
and their family members at St Andrew’s Nursing Home (Aljunied). This is the largest number of
baptism candidates we have ever seen at a service in the Home.

Among the members baptised were two residents who are destitute, meaning that
they have grown up with no known family or friends. They were admitted to the
Home with the intervention by MSF. Yet they had the joy of joining God’s family and
have since continually borne witness to the goodness of God in their lives!

Among our church members we were also so glad to hear to God’s healing power at
work, both physically and spiritually! The husband of one of our members had been in a
coma and was on the brink of death due to illness, yet he was miraculously healed after
many interceded for God to preserve and heal him. The even greater news was that he believed
and accepted Christ’s lordship in his life. Praise God!

Beloved, there are so many things to thank God for, which is why the Scriptures call
us to praise our Lord daily with prayer and singing. The use of musical instruments is
also highly encouraged. God has given us the gift of music to praise Him with it.

This can only mean one thing – let us praise the Lord with loud and enthusiastic voices
in songs as we come together to worship Him. We should never be silent or shy in
giving glory to God. He is worthy of all of our exuberant praise!

God bless,
Revd Ian