Author: Eden Liew

(L to R) Rev Edwin Tan (陈永强牧师) NCCS Associate General Secretary, Elder Kevin Lee (李振财长老) NCCS Honorary Treasurer,  Bishop Anthony Loh (罗嘉俊会督) NCCS Vice President,   Rt Rev Dr Caleb Soo (苏立忠会正[博士]）NCCS Vice President, Bishop Philip Lim (林建隆会督)  NCCS President,  Rev Wu Wei（吴巍牧师）President of the China Christian Council/NJUTS Principal, Mr Zhou Xuebin（周学斌先生）NJUTS Staff Member of Overseas Relations Desk, Rev Huang Jinbin（黄金斌牧师）NJUTS Director of Students’ Ministry Office/Associate Professor of Church History, Ms Zhao Jingwen （赵静文女士）NJUTS Director of Research and Publication, Rev Tang Yongquan (唐勇权牧师) NJUTS Administrative Director,   Dr Zhang Lixia（张丽霞博士）NJUTS Lecturer of Chinese Church History

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[English version]

《在争战的世界里迎接那真正的和平之光》

亲爱的主内弟兄姐妹：

在这后疫情又处处充满动乱、 争战的日子里，我们再次迎接庆祝主耶稣基督的降生。每一年，当我们记念和平之君耶稣基督的降生，这提醒我们：真正的和平或平安不是来自充塞心机的罪人，而是来自那位愿意进入我们世界、进入我们生命的救主。

先知在以赛亚书:9:6说：‘’ 因有一婴孩为我们而生，有一子赐给我们，政权必担在他的肩头上，他名称为奇妙，策士，全能的神，永在的父，和平的君‘’。如今，世界仍充满动荡：疾病、战争、经济压力、家庭张力、心灵疲惫……但圣诞提醒我们：神没有撇下我们。祂不是在远方观看，而是亲自道成肉身，进入我们的混乱之中， 给我们带来心灵的安稳与真正的和平。

圣诞的信息，就是 神与我们同在（Immanuel）。祂与软弱的人同在，与孤单的人同在，与寻求方向的人同在,与在黑暗中的人同在。无论你在今年经历了怎样的挑战、流泪或重担，主都愿意在圣诞再次向你说：“不要怕，我与你同在。”

因此，这个圣诞，不只是庆祝，更是一个邀请：

— 邀请我们重新仰望基督，使疲惫得力；
— 邀请我们重新回到神面前，使迷失得找回方向；
— 邀请我们彼此相爱，使基督的光透过我们的生命照进社群与国家。

愿我们在忙碌的节期中，停下来聆听天使的宣告：“在至高之处荣耀归与神！在地上平安归与祂所喜悦的人！”（路 2:14）真正的平安，不是环境无风无浪，而是有耶稣的同在。真正的喜乐，不是拥有一切顺利，而是知道神永不离弃。

愿今年的圣诞节，使你的家充满爱，你的心充满盼望，你的脚步再次走在主的呼召中。让我们带着基督的光，成为国家中的祝福，成为社区里的平安使者，成为家庭中的希望之声。

祝大家：
圣诞快乐，恩典满溢，愿主的平安临到每一个家庭！

苏立忠会正（博士） 
新加坡基督教会理事会副主席

[English version]

亲爱的弟兄姐妹们：

愿天父和主耶稣基督赐予您和您的家人恩典与平安！

我们将于2025年11月30日进入将临期。将临期指的是耶稣基督曾经在两千年前降临人间，藉着祂的生、死、复活和升天带来救恩。如今基督徒也期盼基督第二次将临，届时祂将以肉身重返人间，迎接教会并审判万国。

作为基督徒，在将临期，我们纪念基督的第一次降临，并满怀期待地迎接祂的第二次降/来临。从这个意义上说，诗篇90篇12节中摩西的话语，为我们提供了如何满怀期待地迎接祂第二次降/来临的重要提醒: “ 求你指教我们怎样数算自己的日子，好叫我们得着智慧的心。（诗篇 90:12）

“数算自己的日子”可以理解为认识到生命的短暂。第12节是对前5节（第7-11节）的回应。前面的经文强调了上帝的愤怒、人的罪恶以及生命的短暂。上帝向人发怒是罪的后果，而罪必带来报应。死亡导致的短暂人生正是罪的后果之一。然而，现代人常常难以理解死亡与罪之间的联系。这正是罪的诡诈。我们往往不会将死亡与罪联系起来。我们需要明白这一点才能活出正确的生命。我们之所以会死，是因为我们得罪了上帝，而罪只能通过献祭来赎罪。在旧约中，这指的是持续不断地献祭牲畜来赎罪。在新约中，我们藉着上帝羔羊耶稣基督完美的献祭，得享罪得赦免。

因此，在这将临期，愿我们时刻谨记与他人分享耶稣基督福音的紧迫感，愿我们对耶稣的渴慕与日俱增。

愿主赐福给你，保护你。
愿主向你微笑，恩待你。
愿主向你显出他的恩惠，赐给你平安。

章剑文大主教 ( 博士 )
新加坡基督教会理事会副主席

[信函的中文翻译]

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Grace and peace to you and your family from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ!

We will be entering the season of Advent on 30 November 2025. The literal meaning of the word “advent” is “coming” or “arrival”. The season of Advent refers to the coming of Jesus Christ to earth to provide salvation through his life, death, resurrection, and ascension. Christians now anticipate a second advent when Christ will return to earth in bodily form to receive the church and to judge the nations.

As Christians, in the season of Advent, we commemorate Christ’s first coming to earth and live in anticipation of his second coming. In this light, the words of Moses in Psalm 90:12 offer an important reminder on how to live in anticipation of his second coming.

 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. Psalm 90:12

“To number our days” can be interpreted as understanding the brevity of life. Verse 12 is a response to the 5 preceding verses (v 7 – 11). These earlier verses highlighted God’s anger, sin, and brevity of life. God’s anger towards man is the result of sin, and sin has consequences. The brevity of life, brought about by death, is one of the consequences of sin. However, the modern mind often struggles to comprehend the connection between mortality and sin. This is the deceitfulness of sin. We do not connect mortality with sin. We need to see that to live right. We die because we have sinned against God, and sin can only be dealt with through sacrifice. In the Old Testament, it is the ongoing sacrifice of animals for the atonement of sin. In the New Testament, it is through the perfect sacrifice of the Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, that we receive full forgiveness of our sins.

So, in this season of Advent, may we be reminded of the urgency to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with others, and may our need for Jesus grow deeper day by day.

May the LORD bless you and protect you. 
May the LORD smile on you and be gracious to you. 
May the LORD show you his favour and give you his peace.

Abp Dr Titus Chung
Vice President NCCS

Seated (R – L)   Bishop Philip Lim (President); Bishop Anthony Loh (Vice-president); Elder Kevin Lee (Treasurer)
Standing (R – L)  Sr Pastor Sampath Vincent; Mr Jason Wong; Elder Timothy Chew; Mr Kelvin Lee; Pastor Joshua Marip; Mr Jeremiah Goh; Rev Dr Ngoei Foong Nghian (Gen Sec)

[信函的中文翻译]

Dear Members and Friends of NCCS,

 SG60 is also a time for us to reflect on our multicultural Singapore for God has given the Church a unique blessing: in the same city, we have congregations that worship primarily in English, and others in Chinese, Tamil and many more.

 On the surface, this may seem like a simple language difference, but spiritually, it is a beautiful picture of diversity within unity.  Yet, if we remain confined to our own language circles without interaction or collaboration, we risk missing the blessing of the Body of Christ living as one. Our different language churches may be distinct yet they are complementary.  Each community carries a divine calling and unique strengths that the other needs:  “For the body does not consist of one member but of many.” (1 Corinthians 12:14).

 As a Chinese-speaking pastor, I believe that in God’s eyes, English and Chinese-speaking churches in Singapore are not two parallel worlds, but members of one Body, designed to complete each other. For instance, when English-speaking churches have fruitful experiences in marketplace ministry, youth work, or digital outreach, sharing these with Chinese-speaking congregations multiplies impact. Conversely, the cultural insights and family ministry strengths of Chinese churches can help English- speaking congregations serve locally with greater warmth and relevance.

 Thus when society sees the Church transcending language, culture, and generational divides, we embody Jesus’ prayer in John 17: “…that they may be one…so that the world may believe that you sent me.”

 Truly, the diversity of churches in Singapore is God’s gift. When we lay aside barriers, appreciate one another, and share our resources, we will fulfill the Great Commission more effectively and display the glory of Christ in our city.

 “May our Lord grant us humility and love, that all our churches may be one in Christ, so that the world will see God’s glory and give praise.”  Amen.

 Yours in Christ,

Rt Rev Dr Caleb Soo | Vice-President
National Council of Churches of Singapore

Aug 25 Newsletter

尊敬的新加坡基督教会理事会成员与朋友：

 SG60庆典也是我们反思多元文化新加坡的时刻，因为神赐给我们一个独特的恩典：在同一座城市里，既有以英语为主的教会群体，也有以中文、泰米尔语等为主的教会群体。

表面上，这似乎只是语言的差异，但在属灵上，这正是一幅多元合一的图画。然而，如果我们各自在自己的圈子里努力，却缺乏交流与合作，我们就有可能容易错过基督身体合一所带来的祝福。我们不同语言的教会虽然各异，却是互补的。每个群体都承载着神的托付，也拥有彼此需要的恩赐。 保罗提醒我们：“身子原不是一个肢体，乃是许多肢体“（林前 12:14）。

 作为一位讲华语的牧者，我深信在神眼中，新加坡的英语与华语教会不是两个平行世界，而是同属一个身体，被设计为彼此成全。例如，英文堂在多元事工上发展成熟：职场与专业群体事工、青年与跨文化宣教、数字化与创意事工的运用，都走在前列，也更容易与国际网络接轨。反过来，华文堂在中华文化与代际牧养上有深厚根基：熟悉家庭关系、长者与社区关怀、文化节庆布道（如农历新年、清明、中秋）等，触角贴近人心。

 因此，当社会看到教会跨越语言、文化与世代的隔阂，在基督里彼此欣赏、互相成全，正活出了耶稣在约翰福音17章所祈求的：“使他们合而为一……叫世人相信你差了我来。”   诚然，英华教会的多元，是神给新加坡教会的礼物。若我们愿意放下隔阂、欣赏彼此、共享资源，我们将更有效地完成大使命，也在社会中显出基督的荣耀。

 “愿主赐下谦卑与爱心，使众教会在基督里合而为一，让世人见证神的荣耀并归赞美与祂。”   阿们。

 在主里与您同行的

苏立忠会正(博士)
新加坡基督教全国教会理事会副主席

[信函的中文翻译]

Dear Members and Friends of NCCS,

In the calendar of the Christian year, there is a huge segment of time known as “ordinary time”. This “ordinary time” occurs in two sections of the church calendar – one section is between Epiphany and Lent, which is about 6 weeks and the other much longer section is between Pentecost and Advent, which is about 25 weeks. We are now in ordinary time. A total of about 31 weeks, which is equivalent to about 60% of the time in a year, is considered ordinary time.

While it is good to celebrate the major Christian occasions (e.g. Easter Sunday, Christmas, etc), we are also called to recognise that there are longer stretches of time when apparently nothing much is happening. The message to you and me is clear, discipleship is as much about steady faithfulness in the daily routines of life as it is about special events and happenings!

Isn’t it true that much of life is ordinary as we all have long stretches of time when nothing much seems to be happening and we are engaging with the mundane task of daily living. Yet, here is the paradox, God can be found in the ordinary, and the ordinary can be made special! We all remember the story of Moses and the burning bush. God appeared to Moses when he was going about his daily routines (Exodus 3).

May the Lord find us faithful by his grace in ordinary times and special moments.

Yours in Christ,

Archbishop Dr Titus Chung | Vice-President
National Council of Churches of Singapore 

Aug 25 Newsletter

尊敬的新加坡基督教会理事会成员与朋友：

在基督教的年历中，有一段漫长的时期被称为“平常期”。这段平常期在教会年历中分为两个阶段：第一个阶段介于显现节与大斋节期之间，大约持续六周；另一个更长的阶段介于五旬节与降临节之间，大约持续25周。我们此刻正处于平常期。全年总计约31周――相当于全年60%的时间――都属于平常期。

庆祝重大基督教节日（如复活节、圣诞节等）固然美好，但我们更需要意识到：生命中那些看似平淡的漫长岁月也是同样重要的。这其中给我们的启发是清晰的――门徒之道不仅是在特殊活动中时刻的热闹，也关乎在日常生活中保持坚定的忠诚！

诚然，生命中多数时光都平平淡淡。当我们日复一日面对生活中的琐碎事务时，常会觉得岁月平凡无奇。然而正是在这平凡中藏着奇妙悖论：上帝也会出现在平凡的日子里，平凡日子也可化为不平凡！我们都记得摩西和燃烧的荆棘的故事。上帝在摩西忙于日常事务时向他显现（出埃及记第三章）。

愿主的恩典保守我们，无论身处平凡岁月或神圣时刻，始终持守忠诚。

在主里与您同行的

章剑文大主教 ( 博士 )
新加坡基督教会理事会副主席

A faith-based charity, with a long-standing ministry in Singapore, is embarking on redevelopment of its building, anticipated to start in January 2026. This necessary undertaking will require them to relocate their operations for approximately 1.5 to 2 years. They are reaching out to churches in Singapore who may have available premises suitable for lease during this transitional period. Their space needs include office area, meeting rooms, and adaptable areas for weekday and occasional Saturday activities catering to youth with special needs and youth at risk.

Understanding the vital community work this ministry undertakes, they are hopeful to negotiate charity lease rates. This presents a unique opportunity for a church with underutilized space to partner in a meaningful way, providing a temporary home that will allow this charity to continue their impactful outreach. If your church has suitable facilities and is open to discussing lease possibilities, we encourage you to connect with Weimin at +6594306987 (hph). Your support will be much appreciated.