There's a Song in the Air!

A year ago on New Year's eve, Agapella still hadn't thought out how 2009 would be. In fact, this year had been one that we set forth into with little direction, vague ideas and much anxiety - not a very safe place to begin. Agapella began the year without a musical director and very quickly, God moved a couple of fearless females to step up because He'd given them musical training and a keener grasp of music in general. Where gaps started to show, other members would step in and plug it. God was the glue of the group, not any one member.

Agapella Reflections on 2009:
- Only God knew we'd stage two sold-out evenings of concerts in July at the NAFA Lee Foundation Theatre! (above)
- Only He foresaw we'd have five more members by year's end.
- No one but Him would have paved the way for us to carol in the Singapore Botanic Gardens the weekend before Christmas.
- It was also this same God who tested our faith when the clouds rolled in that weekend and perfectly timed them to blow over the lawns in front of the Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage when it was 'show' time.

What a mighty God we serve and sing of! All glory to Him!

On the eve of another year, we have some hazy ideas, we have some things on the 'to do' list, but we're not going to fret because we can plan all we can, but God is ultimately in the director's chair and calling the shots. We're not sitting idle for we know the guy up there ain't!

There's much to be done in 2010 and we pray God will allow us more opportunities to touch many more lives, the way He has these last 7 years.

When you have a God Who's such an awesome God, there's always a song in the air!

May God grant you a harmonious New Year!
~ love from all @ AGAPELLA

Christ was Love

This December, I vow to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience. I will have to cut back on nonessential obligations, extensive card writing, endless baking, decorating, and even overspending. I do not want to find myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious family moments, and of course, the true meaning of Christmas.

My son, Nicholas, is in kindergarten this year. It is an exciting season for a six year old. For weeks, he has been memorizing songs for his school’s “Winter Program.” I didn’t have the heart to tell him I’d be working the night of his show. Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with his teacher. She assured me there’d be a dress rehearsal the morning of the presentation. All parents unable to attend that evening were welcome to come then. Fortunately, Nicholas seemed happy with the compromise.

So, the morning of the dress rehearsal, I arrived 10 minutes early, found a spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down. Around the room, I saw several other parents quietly scampering to their seats. As I waited, the students were led into the room. Each class, accompanied by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor. Then, each group, one by one, rose to perform their song.

Because the public school system had long stopped referring to the holiday as “Christmas”. I didn’t expect anything other than fun songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and good cheer. So, when my son’s class rose to sing, Christmas Love”, I was slightly taken back by its bold title. Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates, all adorned in fuzzy mittens, red sweaters, and bright snowcaps upon their heads. Those in the front row, center stage, held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song. As the class would sing “C is for Christmas”, a child would hold up the letter C. Then, “H is for Happy”, and on and on, until each child holding up his portion had presented the complete message,
“Christmas Love”.

The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed her, a small quiet girl in the front row holding the letter “M” upside down, totally unaware her letter “M” appeared as a “W”. The audience of 1st through 6th graders snickered at this little one’s mistake. But she had no idea they were laughing at her, so she stood tall, proudly holding her “W”. Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it together. A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen.

In that instant, we understood the reason we were there, why we celebrated the holiday in the first place, why even in the chaos there was a purpose for our festivities. For when the last letter was held high,
the message read loud and clear:

“CHRIST WAS LOVE”.

And, I believe, He still is…….

By Candy Chand

The Christmas Bell

THE BELL
I KNOW WHO I AM
I am God's child (John 1:12)
I am Christ's friend (John 15:15 )
I am united with the Lord (1 Cor. 6:17)
I am bought with a price (1 Cor 6:19-20)
I am a saint (set apart for God). (Eph. 1:1)
I am a personal witness of Christ. (Acts 1:8)
I am the salt & light of the earth (Matt 5:13-14)
I am a member of the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27)
I am free forever from condemnation ( Rom. 8: 1-2)
I am a citizen of Heaven. I am significant (Phil 3:20)
I am free from any charge against me (Rom. 8:31 -34)
I am a minister of reconciliation for God (2 Cor 5:17-21)
I have access to God through the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:18)
I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms (Eph. 2:6)
I cannot be separated from the love of God (Rom 8:35-39)
I am established, anointed, sealed by God (2 Cor 1:21-22 )
I am assured all things work together for good (Rom. 8:28 )
I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit (John 15:16 )
I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Eph. 3: 12 )
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Phil. 4:13)
I am the branch of the true vine, a channel of His life (John 15: 1-5)
I am God's temple (1 Cor. 3: 16). I am complete in Christ (Col. 2: 10)
I am hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3).. I have been justified (Romans 5:1)
I am God's co-worker (1 Cor. 3:9; 2 Cor 6:1). I am God's workmanship (Eph. 2:10)
I am confident that the good works God has begun in me will be perfected. (Phil. 1: 5)
I have been redeemed and forgiven (Col 1:14). I have been adopted as God's child (Eph 1:5)
I belong to God
Do you know
Who you are?

Santa's Secret Wish

On Christmas Eve, a young boy with light in his eyes,
Looked deep into Santa's, to Santa's surprise,
And said as he nestled on Santa's broad knee,
"I want your secret. Tell it to me."
He leaned up and whispered in Santa's good ear,
"How do you do it, year after year?

"I want to know how, as you travel about,
Giving gifts here and there, you never run out.
How is it, dear Santa, that in your pack of toys
You have plenty for all of the world's girls and boys?
From rooftop to rooftop, to homes large and small,
From nation to nation, reaching them all?"

And Santa smiled kindly and said to the boy,
"Don't ask me hard questions. Don't you want a toy?"
But the child shook his head, and Santa could see
That he needed the answer. "Now listen to me,"
He told the small boy with the light in his eyes,
"My secret will make you sadder, and wise.

"The truth is that my sack is magic. Inside
It holds millions of toys for my Christmas Eve ride.
But although I do visit each girl and each boy
I don't always leave them a gaily wrapped toy.
Some homes are hungry, some homes are sad,
Some homes are desperate, some homes are bad.
Some homes are broken, and children there grieve.
Those homes I visit, but what should I leave?

"My sleigh is filled with the happiest stuff,
But for homes where despair lives, toys aren't enough.
So I tiptoe in, kiss each girl and boy,
And pray with them that they'll be given the joy
Of the sprit of Christmas, the spirit that lives
In the heart of the dear child who gets not, but gives.

If only God hears me and answers my prayer,
When I visit next year, what I will find there
Are homes filled with peace, and with giving, and love
And boys and girls gifted with light from above.
It's a very hard task, my smart little brother,
To give toys to some and to give prayers to others.
But the prayers are the best gifts, the best gifts indeed.
For God has a way of meeting each need.

"That's part of the answer. The rest, my dear youth,
Is that my sack is magic. And that is the truth.
In my sack I carry on Christmas Eve day
More love than a Santa could ever give away.
The sack never empties of love, or of joys
'Cause inside it are prayers, and hopes. Not just toys.
The more that I give, the fuller it seems,
Because giving is my way of fulfilling dreams.

"And do you know something? You've got a sack, too.
It's as magic as mine, and it's inside of you.
It never gets empty, it's full from the start.
It's the center of lights, and of love. It's your heart.
And if on this Christmas you want to help me,
Don't be so concerned with the gifts 'neath your tree.
Open that sack called your heart, and share
Your joy, your friendship, your wealth, your care."

The light in the small boy's eyes was glowing.
"Thanks for the secret. I've got to be going."
"Wait, little boy," Said Santa, "don't go.
Will you share? Will you help? Will you use what you know?"
And just for a moment the small boy stood still,
Touched his heart with his small hand and whispered
"I will"

Launching into Christmas 2009

It's the seventh Christmas for Agapella, but for five members this weekend, it marks their inaugural Christmas season with our group.

We kicked into full gear this Christmas season at Bethesda Serangoon church yesterday evening with half an hour of carols that we shared with a gathering of close to two hundred. The graciousness displayed by members of the church was palpable, warmingd our hearts and voices.

Seated at the back of the hall on the second floor of the family church, Daniel (Loke) leaned over and in a hushed tone amidst the backdrop of carols in the background, said it finally felt like Christmas. To which I replied, "Yes, all the lights in Orchard Road don't quite give you that same spirit of Christmas".

Regardless of whether you've been celebrating the Christ of Christmas many years over or for the first time this year, we pray you'll see things with a fresh perspective, and I won't be surprised it'll be a 180-degree turn from how you've always viewed the season.

Alas, a Saviour has been born!