A fabulous Christmas bash ended a great year for CHC members and their friends.
Contributed By Victor Lim fei
More than 300 members and their friends from the 20 cell groups under the pastoral care of zone supervisors, Andreas and Marie Skogvard, gathered at Roland Seafood Restaurant on Dec. 10, 2010, for their zone’s Christmas Party.
The atmosphere was abuzz with excitement and anticipation of what the evening had to offer. Many arrived early to help out with the decorations and set-up, have rehearsals or just simply to catch up with their friends from the other cell groups. Even before the event commenced, the banquet hall was alive with conversations amongst old friends and new. Laughter and merriment filled the air as people mingled freely around the tables.
Veteran emcee, Gary Sim, hosted the evening with self-deprecating humor and wit, drawing attention and piquing interest from the audience on the program lineup. In addition to the delectable food presented in a traditional Chinese eight-course dinner style, the program committee had assiduously planned performances and games that promised to entertain and delight everyone.
They did not disappoint. First up was an introduction by the Skogvards who explained the significance and meaning of Christmas. Amidst their sharing of anecdotes and jokes, the message they articulated was clear: Jesus Christ is the reason for the season and He is the celebrity to be celebrated at Christmas parties. The light-hearted and refreshing manner in which the message was clearly communicated was not only appropriate for the setting but also engaging to the many new friends who were invited for the event.
Next up was a segment of impromptu performances where a representative from every cell group formed teams to compete for the best rendition of a comedic segment from the local movie, Just Follow Law, which starred Fann Wong and Gurmit Singh. Three teams performed their re-enactment of the scene to the delight and amusement of the audience. The winning team brought the house down with their creative and hilarious adaptation of the scene mischievously parodying the church. The rousing applause and catcalls at their judging crowned their deserving win.
Following that was a performance by the zone’s very own band comprising Chin Khen Theen, Kelvin Teo and Kenny Lim on guitar, and Theresa Tan as the lead vocalist. They led the people in singing familiar carols, ushering the festive spirit and bringing a sense of the good old warm and fuzzy feeling all round. The audience went around greeting, hugging and shaking hands to the climactic tune of “We Wish You A Merry Christmas.”
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| PHOTOS: Cassia Seah and Edwin Chiam |
The boisterous evening ended with the highly anticipated lucky draw where shopping vouchers worth hundreds of dollars were given away. What was perhaps most touching and befitting the season of giving was the generosity of two cell group leaders, Jelaine Ang and Kathy Goh and a ministry leader, Tan Wenxiang. They volunteered to forgo their wins and requested for a re-draw so that the prizes could go to a member or a new friend instead. Their simple selfless act spoke volumes of the people they are and the God they represent.
Tan Yew Meng, director of the School of Architecture & Built Environment at Singapore Polytechnic and long time CHC member, said, “Good food, great fellowship, what more can I ask for at a fabulous year end Christmas gathering?” Bruce Lee, a cell group leader, added, “Fun, friendship and warmth—this is Christmas, this is my family.” These sentiments are, undoubtedly, not theirs alone.
