Mother’s Day at CHC was a celebration of all moms, young and old, and a lesson in how to show love to one’s mother.
Contributed By Melissa Chen
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| CN PHOTO: Aaron Low | |
Mother’s Day is the day each year when the world commemorates and honors mothers everywhere. City Harvest Church celebrated Mother’s Day over the weekend services with a fitting greeting to all mothers—senior pastor Kong Hee called them the “VIPs” for the day. The highlight of the services was a Mother’s Day drama that showed the extent of a mother’s love, based on three different real life accounts.
In one story arch, a longsuffering mother works overtime to provide her son serving in the army, all the material comforts he desires. In another, a single mother grapples with feelings of abandonment when her daughter wins an overseas scholarship. The final story tells of a mother who suspects that her daughter has fallen pregnant, by her Caucasian boyfriend, a speculation fused by her own elderly mother’s assumptions.
The drama was reinforced by a three-point sermon preached by Kong which encouraged all church members to present three “gifts” of love to their mothers.
The Gift Of Acceptance
Quoting Exodus 20:12 “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long upon the land which the LORD your God is giving you,” Kong stressed that mothers should always be given significance and esteem through forgiveness and acceptance, regardless of past pains and heartaches.
He further explained that God has ordained all moms to be a “vehicle” to bring their children into this world. “We didn’t choose our mothers; just as our mothers did not choose us.”
The Gift Of Appreciation
“We should always appreciate and show thanksgiving to our moms for all the things that she has done for us, and not take her for granted. We have to be generous in our praises to our moms,” stressed Kong. “When there is no appreciation, there is no motivation.”
The Gift Of Affirmation
Kong also taught the congregation to show respect for their mothers, and to encourage their moms to develop her fullest potential and fulfill her purposes that God has planned for her life. “Acceptance is past-oriented but affirmation is future-oriented!”
Kong added, “We need to be courteous to our mothers and listen to their advice even though we may not always agree with them.”
A warm tribute was paid to all mothers who attended the service—they were each presented a red rose and the entire church prayed a prayer of blessing over their lives. Kong also gave a special salute to all single mothers who have painstakingly raised up their children, having to fulfill both the maternal and paternal role in the family.
The service ended with Kong sharing from John 13:34-35, a most appropriate reminder of the unconditional love mothers show: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
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| CN PHOTO: Alvin Loh | |
Tan Hui Ching, 30, said, “The message was very clear and practical. It helps us strengthen not only our relationships with our moms, but also with others around us.”
Kee Wei Lin Kyla, 20, said, “My mom was smiling and identifying with the different scenarios of the drama! I am so happy to see her so impacted and touched by the drama. This was the first time she listened to the preaching and understood the message. What amazed me was that she could even remember the jokes that Pastor Kong told!”
Ben Lee, 21, said, “The service was heart-warming, with hugs and flowers given to the mothers. Also, the drama team has again succeeded in moving us to tears, while cracking us up at the same time!”
Sherry Ang, 32, said, “It was mummylicious! I have never felt so affirmed and appreciated before! It is a privilege to be a mother at CHC, and it is definitely a joy to be able to celebrate Mother’s day here!”
