BPCIS UPDATE

“Golgotha is the place where the Son of God was lifted up, that all men might be drawn to him.” Augustine of Hippo

First, the bad news. For the first time since we began our Easter Sunrise Service at MacRitchie Reservoir in 1957, our application for the use of the venue was not approved. After appeals through different channels, and exploring other options, we decided we will take a break this year. Let us be thankful to the Lord, and to our authorities, for the opportunity to meet the Lord in the early dawn at such serene natural park setting—for almost 70 years!

Our Good Friday services will continue as in past years, this year in three host churches: Shalom (East), Zion Bishan (Central) and Mount Carmel (West). Details of locations and services are already publicised in all our churches. Let us make time to remember our Lord, and look to the Cross of Golgotha (Matthew 27.33), the theme of this year’s services. 

For churches that observe the Lent season, we have completed the fifth week, today being Palm Sunday, tomorrow beginning the Holy Week leading to Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Lent is a season of lament, reminding us that we live in a world – both global and personal – filled with loss and sadness, conflict and pain. In the Psalms of Lament, the psalmists cry out to God: “How long, O LORD? Will you forget me forever?” “Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD! Hear my voice!” “All this has come upon us, though we have not forgotten you…”(Psalms 13, 130, 44). 

We can sense their struggle and anguish, also our part in the lifelong journey with our Lord. Not all will be peace and joy, not all with clear and easy answers. Life is messy, so is the Cross, at the place of the skull (Golgotha), not a pleasant thought or sight. But through the Cross (not around it), we find true joy and deep peace. At our Good Friday services, we will end with an altar call, an opportunity for us to stand and dedicate (or re-dedicate) our lives wholly and without reservation to our Lord Jesus. 

As we enter Holy Week, let us prepare our hearts to meet our Lord Jesus at the cross, then our Lord again at the empty tomb. We won’t be at MacRitchie Reservoir this year, but still, meet Him whenever you are, in the early dawn, watching the sun rise over our city in a garden. 

“Golgotha is the mountain of shame that was transformed into the throne of God’s glory.” John Stott

Pastor David Wong
General Secretary, BPCIS