New Years' Service in Exile

Sunday service on sanctuary stage.

Felix Lim spoke about the theme of Exile at ECBC Sunday, January 4th as the congregation was moved from the pews to the stage for the worship service. Felix discussed many examples of exile and how God works in times of exodus or exile. The first service of 2009 refreshed the congregation as the worship leader organised an intimate gathering without the use of microphones or computer projections and reverted back to the hymnbook for much of the songs. Coincedentally, the relocation from the pews to the stage fit in with the exile message of the sermon.

To the worship leader Lincoln Ho, he wanted the one time event to be a way of taking out often distracting technological advances and replacing it with the bare elements that focus on fellowship and textual application and meaning of lyrics. Symbolically, Lincoln thinks that it was also a way to represent every member as equally important as they were placed as 'sacrifices' on the altar in reverence of the Lord. The difference in the service also allowed congregation members to redefine the boundaries and variations of worship at ECBC, as well as a way lead into the 2009 ECBC church theme: 'Growing in Christ'.

To help reflect on the Bible passage during worship (Matthew 26:36-44), the lyric to 'As We Gather' was rewritten as 'Gethsemane'. The last verse is an added verse to "As We Gather".

Gethsemane
L. Ho

Jesus took the three disciples out to pray
Poured his heart out as he knew it was the day
His soul was overwhelmed to death as they stayed with him
Facing down he fell and prayed
Facing down he fell and prayed

“Father, if You could please take it from Your Son”
As the body’s weak the burden feels a tonne
He found them sleeping as they knew not what was coming
May it be Your kingdom come
May it be Your will be done

As we come here Lord, we bow before Your throne
As we worship here, we sanctify Your home
Take our burdens & our comforts - let us hear You
As we’re called to be Your own
As we’re called to be Your own