We will be holding Good Friday and Easter Sunday services! Find out more here

A Forgiven People Celebrating Good Friday and Easter

Good Friday

It is written in the Book of Isaiah 53:4-5: “Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.”

This year, GBC celebrated Good Friday with an 8 pm service held at the sanctuary. Led by a band of musicians including violinists, flutists and more, with worship leaders Lup Meng and Carrie, the congregation sang with one mind “So we share in this Bread of Life / and we drink of His sacrifice / as a sign of our bonds of peace / around the table of the King” before partaking in the Lord’s Supper together.

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A dramatized reading of Scripture by Lawrence, Wendy, Chuan Sin and Ps Oliver re-enacted for us the events from the Last Supper leading up to Jesus’ crucifixion on the Cross. These were followed by the congregation’s response through worship songs such as the Gethsemane Hymn and Man of Sorrows. As a church, we confessed in prayer our sins of turning away from God and not taking His divine sovereignty seriously. “All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.” (Isaiah 53:6)

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Pastor Arnold preached the message of reconciliation – a significant result of Christ’s death on the Cross. He taught that the Bible reveals our need for reconciliation with God; Romans 5 describes our state before receiving Christ as ‘helpless’, ‘ungodly’, ‘sinners’ and ‘enemies’ of God. He who was ‘the offended’ initiated the reconciliation. Pastor Arnold then went on to describe the blessings and calling that come with reconciliation to God.

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Nee Kiah presented to the congregation a moving rendition of the song “I walked today where Jesus walked”, accompanied by Helen on the piano. Ps Ollie then ended the service with the benediction, “Go forth, live as a forgiven people”.

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Easter Sunday

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A mixed choir of men and women had been practising weeks before. Today they presented to the congregation an original worship song written by our very own Caleb Yap, Jesus is Risen. Elder Jonathan Yao then opened the service with a prayer and call to worship, with song leaders Toshi and Belinda leading the congregation in joyful praise of our Lord Jesus, who lives! Reciting the Apostle’s Creed, the congregation reaffirmed its beliefs in the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.

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This Easter was also a special day for Andrea Quah, Ashley Tan and Joseph Ng as it was a day they entered the baptismal waters at GBC. Being raised also with Jesus, read more about their baptism experience here.

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Ashley on the left, Joseph in the middle, accompanied by Ps Bobby on the right.

Preaching from the passage of 2 Cor 4, Pastor Arnold encouraged us to hold on to the eternal perspective; looking forward to being with Jesus again is what will support us through the difficult and challenging times that we will face in our present bodies. As we strive on in this earthly pilgrimage as Christians, we are moving from the land of the dying to the land of the living. “And there we’ll find our home / our life before the throne; / we'll honour Him in perfect song / where we belong.” (There is a higher throne, Kristyn Getty)

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The service was followed by a discipleship seminar conducted by Samuel Beh on Jesus’ death and resurrection and how we can respond.

This bright and sunny Easter weekend, let us take the time to reflect and act upon the meaning of our Lord Jesus’ death on the cross, and his glorious resurrection.

Now my debt is paid

It is paid in full

By the precious blood

That my Jesus spilled

 

Now the curse of sin

Has no hold on me

Whom the Son sets free

Oh is free indeed!

["Man of Sorrows", written by Brooke Ligertwood and Matt Crocker]