COMMUNION SERVICE

Thank God for the English Communion Services we have had at the RELC for a couple of weeks already since Reformation Sunday on October 25. The Chinese worship service resumed in full with Communion being served on the last Lord’s Day of the month. All services were fully attended. It was such a joy to gather together as God’s people to worship Him physically albeit in small groups of 50 with safe distancing in place.

Purpose of the Lord’s Supper

Communicant members of the church should not miss out on Holy Communion when it is served. It is a means of grace for our spiritual nourishment. The Westminster Larger Catechism (Q168) states, “The Lord’s Supper is a Sacrament of the New Testament, wherein, by giving and receiving bread and wine according to the appointment of Jesus Christ, his death is showed forth; and they that worthily communicate feed upon his body and blood, to their spiritual nourishment and growth in grace; have their union and communion with him confirmed; testify and renew their thankfulness and engagement to God, and their mutual love and fellowship each with other, as members of the same mystical body.” Do plan and purpose in your heart to partake of Holy Communion once a month. As stated in the Larger Catechism, the Communion Service (aka the Lord’s Supper) is helpful to “our spiritual nourishment and growth in grace.”

Preparing for the Lord’s Supper

How do we prepare ourselves to partake of the Lord’s Supper? The Westminster Larger Catechism (Q171) states, “They that receive the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper are, before they come, to prepare themselves thereunto, by examining themselves of their being in Christ, of their sins and wants; of the truth andmeasure of their knowledge, faith, repentance; love to God and the brethren, charity to all men, forgiving those that have done them wrong; of their desires after Christ, and of their new obedience; and by renewing the exercise of these graces, by serious meditation, and fervent prayer.”

Partaking of the Lord’s Supper

How should members partake of the bread and the cup at the time when they are administered? The Westminster Larger Catechism (Q174) states, “It is required of them that receive the Sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, that, during the time of the administration of it, with allholy reverence and attention they wait upon God in that ordinance, diligently observe the sacramental elements and actions, heedfully discern the Lord’s body, and affectionately meditate on his death and sufferings, and thereby stir up themselves to a vigorous exercise of their graces; in judging themselves, and sorrowing for sin; in earnest hungering and thirsting after Christ, feeding on him by faith, receiving of his fullness, trusting in his merits, rejoicing in his love, giving thanks for his grace in renewing of their covenant with God, and love to all the saints.”

In light of the spiritual benefits that can be gained from partaking of the Lord’s Supper, let us make every effort to attend the Communion Services.

FAR EASTERN BIBLE COLLEGE

End-of-Term Thanksgiving

FEBC will join True Life BPC’s prayer meeting on Friday night for its end-of-term thanksgiving via Zoom. Usually the church would join the College for its end-of-term thanksgiving service held at the FEBC Hall. However, this is not possible this time because of Covid-19 restrictions.

TLBPC and FEBC have a symbiotic relationship. It was the College that gave birth to the Church—TLBPC started out as FEBC Lord’s Day Service in 2003. The Church has since been a blessing to the College. TLBPC would spend time praying for FEBC this Friday night. We shall hear the testimonies of some of the students who will be leaving us after their graduation on Saturday. There is a couple who will not only graduate together, they will also be joined in holy matrimony soon after, namely Cornelius and Abigail, son of the Rev Dr Das Koshy and daughter of the Rev Dr George Skariah who are both alumni of FEBC together with their wives, Carolyn and Bessy respectively. Rev Koshy will be the Lord’s messenger that night.

45^th Graduation Service

The Far Eastern Bible College will be conducting its 45^th Graduation Service on Saturday, November 14 at Calvary Pandan Bible-Presbyterian Church. The service will be without its usual “pomp and circumstance” due to Covid-19 restrictions. It will be a simple, private ceremony without fanfare. Attendance is by invitation only. Nevertheless, it will be a meaningful and joyous occasion for the 24 who will be graduating with their hard-earned diplomas:

Certificate of Religious Knowledge (CertRK)
Choy Hui Xian Eunice
Chui Ziyang Marcus
Jeffrey Setiawan
Lucy Palusia

Certificate of Biblical Studies (CertBS)
Chew Yoon Chong Winston
Tan Chung Huat Josiah

Diploma in Theology (DipTh)
Jeong Young Joo
Kang Song Han
Jenerose Brava Sagayoc
Yong Choon Leong
Loreto Mulhay Yubat

Bachelor of Theology (BTh)
Chew Kai Sheng David
Khoo May Lynn
Tadahito Yamazaki

Master of Religious Education (MRE)
Abigail Sarah George
Mega Tuti Mawarniat Zega

Master of Divinity (MDiv)
Choi Jeong Geun
Cornelius Koshy
Rachel Leong Ann Lee
Li Qicheng Kelvin
Maritus
Murniwati Mendrofa
Ra Chae Won

Doctor of Religious Education (DRE)
Nelson Noel Ng’uono Were

The Rev Dr Park Seung Kyu, the Principal of the Bible College of East Africa (BCEA) in Tanzania, will be the graduation speaker. He will speak on the topic “Theological Education in a Disintegrating World” (2 Tim 4:1–5). The Rev Dr Park’s wife—Dr Ra Chae Won—will be conferred the degree of Master of Divinity. Equipped with her degree, she will join him as missionary to Tanzania. Their two daughters, Angela and Joyce, continue as undergraduate students at FEBC. The elder daughter Angela is in the final year of her BTh studies.

Board and Faculty will take the Dean Burgon Oath as per norm.

Daily Vacation Bible College

Since the Covid-19 travel restrictions are still in place, no one is going for their holidays overseas, and foreign students are stuck in college during the vacation break, what better thing to do than to continue studying God’s Word.

Four Daily Vacation Bible College (DVBC) courses will be offered from November 16 to December 13: (1) Harmony of the Gospels by Rev Dr Jeffrey Khoo, (2) Thinking and Study Skills by Carol Lee, (3) Biblical Phonetics by Joycelyn Chng, and (4) Writing and Speaking Clearly by Judith D’Silva. Only “Harmony of the Gospels” (1 credit) will be open to the public; the rest are strictly for the full-time students of FEBC.

“Harmony of the Gospels” is a study of the four Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) which have been interwoven into a single narrative. Emphasis is placed on the correct biblical presuppositions in studying the Gospels, and in harmonising the differences found in them and reconciling apparent discrepancies in select parallel and difficult texts. Sign up today at www.febc.edu.sg.

Support the School of Prophets

If you wish to support FEBC with a love gift, you may do so digitally via this QR code:

Far Eastern Bible College
UEN: T04CC1760B

“He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward” (Matt 10:41).

DON’T MISS OUT ON HOLY COMMUNION

The weekly Lord’s Day communion services will be held at RELC Rooms 603/604 according to the following schedule:

English Communion Service I: 9.00–10.00 am
English Communion Service II: 10.15–11.15 am

Please register your attendance for the communion service beforehand at our church website: www.truelifebpc.org.sg.