Moreover, with stricter circuit-breaker measures, there is a decreasing chance that we would be able to visit brothers and sisters or have face-to-face fellowship soon. The church has also scheduled for online Sunday school starting mid-April. We will continue our study of the Westminster Confession of Faith in this one-and-a-half-hour period. This also gives time for brothers and sisters to share and pray for each other. It is a new challenge for many, especially the adults. To learn online, you first need to download video-conferencing applications on either your phone or computer, and then log on to attend class at the scheduled time. During class, there may be much noise interference and video quality that is not ideal, with network disconnections, et cetera. These would affect our learning and sharing. They are not, however, the most important elements. Most important is that everyone has a heart for fellowship. This mindset would help us overcome the obstacles in learning and adapting to new technologies. During this time when Covid-19 wreaks havoc and economic downturn, brothers’ and sisters’ fellowship and support becomes more crucial. Our online gathering differs from that of non-Christians. We may share our griefs. More importantly, when we fellowship in the name of the Lord, God will be in our midst. He will hear our prayers and answer them. “Again, truly I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything they ask for, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them” (Matt 18:19-20). We must continue to fellowship in the Lord and support each other.

This pandemic has changed our church life, altered our worship and fellowship structure. I hope, however, that this does not affect our worship towards God as well as our care and concern for each other. In fact, it’s especially during these times of difficult situations due to the pandemic that we practice and realise the truth of our faith. No one would be able to avoid the onslaught brought on by the pandemic. The extent to which each of us experience it would be different. When we just think about the difficulties we face, there may be others, including brothers and sisters-in-Christ, who may be facing greater difficulties. This is the time for us to help each other and to love each other. Although we all have our hardships. When we could, we should help those who are in greater need. “Not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others” (Phil 2:4). Recently, the government handed out assistance to Singaporeans. Some expressed their willingness to transfer these funds to charities or to others who are in greater need. This may be a kind act that we can emulate. Undoubtedly, you or your family would need to make sacrifices to help someone outside the family. But is this not the example that Jesus set for us? “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35). Let us, as children of God, through love and courage give light in these times of darkness to those around us. Let them witness the reality of Jesus Christ.