Worship

Which hymns would you choose to sing for Missions Sunday? Might you consider hymns that do not specifically mention missions? In the topical index of The United Methodist Hymnal (UMH), there are at least 26 hymns under the category “Mission & Outreach” (UMH 567-593). There are an additional six hymns which are found under other […]

If you look closely at the collection of hymns in The United Methodist Hymnal (UMH), a significant number come from many parts of the world other than the United States of America or Europe. It was the intention of the editorial committee to include hymns representing the ethnic diversity of The United Methodist Church. The […]

Festive background: Gifts from the heaven   “What gift can we bring, what present, what token?” goes the first line of the hymn “What Gift Can We Bring” (UMH 87) by composer and hymn-writer, Jane Marshall. An apt hymn to be sung this month, as churches start to remind us of our annual pledges, and […]

A stained glass window in the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris, France, depicting the baptism of Christ. Picture by Jorisvo/Bigstock.com In the second of a two-part series on the topic of baptism, we address the Methodist distinctives on baptism, and infant baptism. How is Methodist baptism different from other Christian denominations? Let’s first look at […]

In the first of a two-part series on the topic of baptism, we explore its meaning, and the “who, what, when” of baptism for Methodists. Part two will address infant baptism and other details. The practice of baptism stands for several affirmations: the forgiveness and washing away of sins by the sprinkling of the blood of […]

Great is the Lord Mighty in power So rich is His mercy And strong is His hand “Day by Day” – Nigel Goh and Kevin Lam   Never have words rung so true. This past year, Truthmin has had the great privilege of putting together Offerings: You are Worthy, a CD project, comprising songs that […]

“Christ the Lord is Risen Today” (UMH 302) is a classic hymn that is sung by both the Protestant and Roman Catholic churches. It is published in 982 hymnals. The original Latin version of the hymn by an anonymous poet is traced back to the early 14th century. The text was later translated to German, […]

  Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days Lord! Who throughout these forty days For us didst fast and pray, Teach us with Thee to mourn our sins And close by Thee to stay. As Thou with Satan didst contend, And didst the victory win, O give us strength in Thee to fight, In Thee to conquer […]

The challenge especially for well-fed Christians in Singapore is to reclaim the spiritual discipline of fasting, to set aside time to abstain from food and other indulgences, either as a partial fast, or if health permits, as an absolute fast. This is so that we can focus on prayer, our spiritual wellbeing, our relationship with […]

Worship architects are wise to truly understand what takes place in worship and who the participants are. “There’s a method to my madness!” Have you ever heard anyone use this little idiom? It’s usually said with a smile when someone is trying to convince someone else that their crazy approach to doing something isn’t so […]

O Christ the Healer O Christ, the healer, we have come To pray for health, to plead for friends. How can we fail to be restored, When reached by love that never ends?   From every ailment flesh endures Our bodies clamour to be freed; Yet in our hearts we would confess That wholeness is […]

  The Canticle of Zechariah Blessed be the God of Israel who comes to set us free, Who visits and redeems us, and grants us liberty. The prophets spoke of mercy, of freedom and release; God shall fulfil the promise to bring our people peace. Now from the house of David a child of grace […]