Thursday, April 01, 2021

Reflections For Good Friday - 2021 - Ms Elaine Sung


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Reflections for Good Friday 2021

Another year has zipped by and here I am, rambling again! Current situation  contrasts with the environment when ‘Reflection 2020’ was written.  Then, due to many cancelled events, I could send my write-up ahead of schedule. 1 year on, it’s a different scene! 4 days to Good Friday and I am at Draft #1!  Though we are still in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, most activities have resumed in some form or other. Lessons learnt at the onset of the pandemic seems long forgotten… until Andy comes a-calling! 😊 

Going to church was a Sunday routine…who would have imagined church doors to be closed due to the pandemic!!  Seriously, God! At a time when people need You, need to hear Your Word, need to experience You – there is no access!! What’s the big idea? But, wait a minute…isn’t God omnipresent?  He is everywhere, He is not confined to a building, His presence is not restricted to the walls of worship halls, He certainly can teach (and in my case, rebuke) anytime, anywhere!

Articles have been written about how God is using the online church services to reach homes, much like how the early church gathered. Some have also said this pandemic is God’s way of shaking us out of apathy and complacency. Regardless of one’s view, we can agree that all have been impacted by the pandemic. So, what has God taught me in the past year?  I shall highlight 2 key lessons.

Well, for a start, I have learnt not to take going to church for granted!!  Church has always been a place of solace for me. Schooled in a mission school, the chapel was my go-to place to muster courage before heading home with a colourful report book. Since coming to faith, weekly service is a time to pause and be quiet before Him and be refreshed by worship and God’s Word.  How thankful and grateful I was when church doors could re-open albeit with restricted numbers and movement. 

Secondly, ask not what the church can do for me but rather, what I can do for the church. Expectations are high with regards to how church should respond to the increasing pastoral and financial needs of the congregation. We grumble and fret at the slow response to improve the weekly online service, we want a slick production, we want live worship, we want text, we want graphics, many “we wants”. But, hey! We are in this together!  Pastors and church staff are grabbling with new ways of doing things. All had to respond immediately to the changes despite reservations. I remember at the start of circuit breaker, Pastors had to preach from their homes! Some were clearly out of their comfort zone in front of the camera! But, they were willing, their heart was to reach the sheep God has entrusted them with. As a long-time church member, I should be asking how I can help in such a time as this. There are so many ways to step forward if only I would think less of my own comfort & convenience. 

Is Easter different in a pandemic? No, because His message of the Cross is still the same, but the pandemic has increased the urgency to share God’s love to those who are hurting and in desperate need of the Good News. I as a child of God rise up to the occasion. Romans 15:13, Blessed Easter everyone! 

Written by Ms. Elaine Sung.
Many thanks Elaine.

Connect to her other articles-


O Mighty Cross - YouTube Video by Analyn Solano. Thank You.

O Mighty Cross 

O mighty cross,

Love lifted high
The Lord of life
Raised there to die

His sacrifice on Calvary
Has made the mighty cross
A tree of life to me

O mighty cross,
What throne of grace
He knew no sin,
Yet took my place
His sacrifice on Calvary
Has made the mighty cross
A tree of life to me

O mighty cross,
O Christ so pure
Love held Him there,
Such shame endured
His sacrifice on Calvary
Has made the mighty cross
A tree of life to me

O mighty cross,
My soul's release,
The stripes He bore,
Have brought me peace
His sacrifice on Calvary
Has made the mighty cross
A tree of life to me

 

Songwriters: David Baroni / John Chisum

O Mighty Cross lyrics © Integrity's Praise Music, Integrity's Hosanna! Music.


Images - A Personal Collection, Google.

Video - YouTube - Analyn Solano.


Live at City Hall, Newcastle, England 1968. 
Cliff Richard, 'What A Friend We Have In Jesus'

31 comments:

Cedric Collars said...

Thank you Ms Elaine Sung on your reflections. Yes sometimes we are too much in haste that we forget to slow down and reflect. Thanks for reminding us all. Have a happy and Holy Easter to you and all the readers and contributes.

JERRY FERNANDEZ (NEU FACES) said...

Agreed - Elaine Sung - Pandemic increased many to pray , even praying outside churches even to the point of kneeling on the ground.
Getting into churches only by booking online. NOW THEY WANT TO SHOUT OUT TO THE MERCIFUL & FORGIVING LORD.
Brother Andy Blessed & Holy week 🙏

ANONYMOUS said...

Blessings and Thanks, Andy.
I used to do the 15 stations on the road at Queen of Peace Church carrying the bronze Cross.
My knees were bruised and skin tore, but nothing like what Jesus went through.
I served as altar boy for 8 years there back in 1959.
So can't complain. 😀

PETER HAN (TOKYO SQUARE) said...

On Good Friday May the sacrifice of our Saviour give you strength.
And May his blessings always be with you and your family.

JERRY SARAM said...

Good morning - On this Good Friday, may the Lord bring Peace to your heart, Happiness to your home and Blessings to your life.
Have a blessed day. 🙏😇👼😷

SWEE LENG said...

Wishing you a blessed Good Friday

CYLIN said...

Andy, yes a blessed weekend to you n family too.
Indeed, because He lives, we can face tomorrow .
Keep well.

RICHARD RAJOO said...

Thank you and God Bless.

OLIVER BALASINGAM said...

Good Friday
May the Lord light up your way
To eternal bliss.

RICHARD TOH said...

Thanks, Andy !
Blessed Good Friday to you too !!

DR P.C. said...

Oh, fulfilling one of the ten commandment, honor our parents ...
the Rabbis say this is only the minmum expected conduct for children haha !

Downtown cathedrals just sounded their church bells ... their Passover service ...
singing the old hymn ... Old Rugged Cross.

CLARENCE PERERA said...

AT THE CROSS
I saw my reflection and arrogance.
I saw YOU crying and YOU our Almighty LORD JESUS our GOD pray for our humble heart with amazing grace

YOU our Almighty LORD JESUS our GOD love us and our love ones more than we are. In spite of my sinful and selfish way and who I am. We saw our salvation, beauty of faith, amazing grace and your forgiveness to us and our love ones. We all know that we are Worshipping YOU our Almighty LORD JESUS our Living GOD and is the only one that has conquered the happening and is ALIVE

Heavenly Father,
Thank You for your Amazing love and let our attitudes and deeds reflect our status in YOU as YOU saved us and our love ones by your grace, we want to be compassionate and kind, honouring YOU with our walk and talk. Teach us to walk in ways that glorify Your Name. In Jesus' gracious Name we pray, Amen.

MRS. S. LAI said...

Blessed Good Friday to u n R.
����

ANTHONY TAN said...

Good article.
I like it.
Am forwarding to all my chats group n church members.

SUNNY ONG GL said...

Blessed Holy week.
May the presence of God be with us all.🙏👍

CHEW HEE HONG said...

HE WAS WOUNDED FOR OUR TRANSGRESSIONS
CRUSHED FOR OUR INIQUITIES;
BY HIS WOUNDS WE ARE HEALED
ISAIAH 54 700 BC.

AUDIE NG said...

REMEMBERING
GOOD FRIDAY

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Thanking Ms Elaine Sung for her elegant yet strong message for Good Friday and friends and readers for their replies.

May you all have a Blessed weekend.

FACEBOOK said...

THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING FOR LIKING THE ARTICLE

Eunice Chua
Ann Rowena Lim
Freda Hanum
Jimmy Appudurai-chua
Ser Kiong Tan
Ngoc Thuy

WILFRED LIM said...

A BLESSED GOOD FRIDAY TO YOU TOO ANDREW.
GOD BLESS THE WORLD.

ELAINE SUNG [AUTHOR OF POST] said...

Sitting in church this morning n looking at
the black cloth draped over a life-sized cross,
an acronym came to mind-
C hrist's
R esolute
O bedience
S aved
S inners

CEDRIC COLLARS - WRITER/MUSICIAN/PERTH AUSTRALIA said...

Thanks Andy and an equally blessed Holy Week and Easter week too. 🙏🐤🐣

WILLIAM LEONG [TORONTO/CANADA] said...

Happy n A BLISSFUL Good Friday my friend.

EDWARD TAN ['THE JETS' - LEAD GUITAR] said...

Hello.. Andy...
Long time got this lockdown stuck in our home ground.
Cannot move in or out.. Very very stressful.
What about you.. Stay safe bro...

ANDY: Pop Music Not Pills. © said...

Best to keep in touch Edward.
THANKS for reply.
Glad you're ok.
Please take care.
When you're in SG gimme a call.
Cheers.
HAPPY EASTER.

AND THANKS TO EVERYONE ELSE FOR THE COMMENTS AND HUGE RESPONSE TO THIS POST BY MS. E. SUNG.

J. [CANADA] said...

Take care and stay safe.
Wishing you all a very Happy Easter!
Warmest and fondest...

JIMMY APPUDURAI-CHUA - ENGLAND said...

Happy Easter dear Andy xx

FREDA HANUM TEEPEES said...

Happy Easter Andy 🐇🐰🐣😀

EUNICE CHUA [TERTIARY STUDENT] said...

Happy easter Andy Young ! 🙏🏼

MICHAEL GOH [POP SINGER] said...

HAPPY EASTER ANDY. GOD BLESS YOU!

ERICBRONSON WONG [HONGKONG] said...

SELAMAT CHANTEK
SENSATIONAL SATURDAY
HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY