National Day Thanksgiving Service 2017:

Christian Churches Gather to Give Thanks for Singapores Good Leadership

By Mr Edmond Chua, Pastoral Admin Officer of St Andrews Cathedral

Being a first world nation is both a blessing and a responsibility.

This was the sense with which participants, including community and national leaders, at
the National Day Thanksgiving Service conducted on Thursday night (August 17) were left.

Preaching from the Bible in Jeremiah 29:4-14 and Matthew 5:13-16, Bishop Rennis
Ponniah, the President of the National Council of Churches of Singapore (NCCS) which
organises the yearly event that follows Singapores National Day celebrations, expressed
gratitude toward government and community leaders.

The Right Reverend Ponniah, who is the Anglican Bishop of Singapore and the Dean of St
Andrews Cathedral, thanked God for the integrity, foresight and sound policies of our
government leaders who set the example of putting the nation before self.

He modelled appreciation for the city-states remarkable public servants who work
sacrificially, fairly, and effectively, its judiciary that is committed to interpret and apply the
law with an even hand and intellectual rigour; and for its community leaders who build
relationships of trust and work for the common good.

During his sermon, Bishop Ponniah called on Christians to practise Christian ethics, pray
for the shalom or wellbeing of the nation, and proclaim good news.

The NDTS event was attended and participated in by members of various Christian
denominations and featured items in the various languages of the republic. Pastors and
participants from different churches led in a time of worship and intercession.

A particularly poignant and moving segment of the programme comprised an earnest

prayer for help for those with gambling addictions, support for ex-offenders, and youth
looking for direction in life.

The grand event, filled as it was with joyous singing unto the Lord, was appositely wrapped
up with a congregational singing of the famous hymn A Mighty Fortress Is Our God,
composed by the sixteenth century Protestant Reformer Martin Luther, in commemoration
of the fifth centennial of the momentous event this year.

Recording of Bishop Rennis Ponniahs message

Photos courtesy of Dolly Choeng, Mr Eddie Chen & Mr Simon Ng

Items & Worshippers